Evans and Russell Will Be George and Dot in Broadway's Sunday in the Park

By Ernio Hernandez
07 May 2007

Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell in Sunday in the Park with George.
Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell in Sunday in the Park with George.

Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell — the Olivier Award-winning stars of the London run of Sunday in the Park With George — will head the cast of the upcoming Broadway revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical.

Roundabout spokespersons confirmed the casting, which was thought to be in the works when Actors' Equity Association granted the British actors permission to appear in the New York run. Union spokesperson Maria Somma previously confirmed the agreement to Playbill.com (March 20).

Evans and Russell — who starred as George and Dot, respectively — will reprise their turns when The Menier Chocolate Factory production of Sunday in the Park with George begins previews on Broadway Jan. 18, 2008, at Studio 54. Sam Buntrock directs the Roundabout Theatre Company presentation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical, which opens Feb. 14 for a limited run.

Additional casting and designers for the production are yet to be announced.

Boyett Ostar will co-produce the New York run with David Babani, who heads the Menier Chocolate Factory, Caro Newling for Neal Street Productions and Mark Rubinstein. The revival first bowed at the Menier before moving to the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End. The show earned five Olivier Awards including Outstanding Musical Production. PS Classics released the London cast album.

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Sunday in the Park with George originally opened at Broadway's Booth Theatre on May 2, 1984, where it ran for 540 performances. Starring Mandy Patinkin as George and Bernadette Peters as Dot, the premiere Broadway company also included Barbara Bryne as the Old Lady, Brent Spiner as Franz, Charles Kimbrough as Jules and Dana Ivey as Yvonne. Sondheim's score — which was nominated for a Tony Award — features such titles as "Finishing the Hat," "Putting It Together," "Children and Art," "Move On" and "Beautiful." Sunday in the Park received ten Tony Award nominations, winning two — Scenic Designer (Tony Straiges) and Lighting Designer (Richard Nelson). It was also awarded a Pulitzer Prize.

The production continues Roundabout's relationship with the work of composer Sondheim, having produced revivals of Company (1995), Follies (2001), Assassins and Pacific Overtures (both in 2004). Sunday follows the latter two, which also played Studio 54.

Tickets will go on sale in September by phone at (212) 719-1300 or online at www.roundabouttheatre.org. The Studio 54 box office is located in Manhattan at 254 West 54th Street.