Not So Melancholy: Broadway's Hamlet Recoups Investment

By Kenneth Jones
04 Nov 2009

Hamlet star Jude Law
Hamlet star Jude Law
Photo by Johan Persson

Playwright William Shakespeare might have a Broadway career ahead of him. The current Broadway engagement of The Donmar Warehouse production of Hamlet, starring Jude Law and directed by Michael Grandage, has fully recouped its $2.5 million capitalization costs as of the week ending Nov. 1.

The production of the classic tragedy about the melancholy Prince of Denmark began performances at the Broadhurst Theatre on Sept. 12 and opened Oct. 6. It is playing a limited run through Dec. 6.

"I'm delighted that Hamlet has proved to be such a success in New York," stated Michael Grandage, artistic director, Donmar Warehouse. "It is always a privilege to be part of any Broadway season and it has been particularly exciting to see so many people engaging with our first Shakespeare abroad. After Frost/Nixon, Mary Stuart and now Hamlet, I hope the Donmar can continue to build a strong relationship with New York over the coming years."

Producer Arielle Tepper Madover stated, "My partners and I are very proud of Michael Grandage's production and this wonderful company, led by the gracious, talented Jude Law. It's heartening to see that Shakespeare can be a commercial success on Broadway, as well as seeing so many young audience members at the Broadhurst experiencing their first Shakespeare production. This is the third Donmar show I've produced in New York after Frost/Nixon and Mary Stuart and I look forward to our future collaborations."

The cast features Ross Armstrong (Cornelius), Harry Attwell (Guildenstern), Ron Cook (Polonius, 1st Gravedigger), Ian Drysdale (Osric), Peter Eyre (Ghost of Hamlet's Father, Player King), Jenny Funnell (Player Queen), Michael Hadley (Barnardo, Priest, Captain), Colin Haigh (Member of the Court), Sean Jackson (Reynaldo), Geraldine James (Gertrude), Jude Law (Hamlet), Gwilym Lee (Laertes), James Le Feuvre (Member of the Court), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Ophelia), John MacMillan (Rosencrantz), Kevin R. McNally (Claudius), Henry Pettigrew (Marcellus, 3rd Player, 2nd Gravedigger,), Matt Ryan (Horatio), Alan Turkington (Francisco, Fortinbras, 4th Player) and Faye Winter (Member of the Court).

Award-winning actor Jude Law was last seen on Broadway in 1995 when he made his Tony Award-nominated debut in Jean Cocteau's Indiscretions (Les Parents Terribles). He'll star as Dr. Watson in Guy Ritchie's film "Sherlock Holmes," being released on Dec. 25 and Tony in Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus," being released on Sept. 24, and "Repossession Mambo." Other films include "The Talented Mr. Ripley" (BAFTA Film Award), "Wilde" (Evening Standard British Film Award), "Cold Mountain," "Road to Perdition," "Closer," "Alfie," "The Aviator" and "Sleuth," among others.

The company of Hamlet is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association.

Performances are Tuesday at 7 PM, Wednesday at 2 PM and 7:30 PM, Thursday and Friday at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 2 and 8 PM, Sunday at 3 PM.

Tickets are available through Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6200 or www.telecharge.com.

A limited number of $35 tickets, subject to availability, will be made available for purchase by students at the Broadhurst Theatre box office on the day of the performance only. One ticket per valid student ID. Tickets are subject to availability and the number of student tickets for each performance may vary.

Visit www.HamletBroadway.com.