David Cromer Will Direct Nicole Kidman in Broadway Revival of Sweet Bird of Youth

By Andrew Gans
17 Sep 2010

Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman

Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman, who made her Broadway debut in The Blue Room, will return to The Great White Way in a revival of Tennessee Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth, the sultry tale of a gigolo and a faded movie star, according to the New York Times.

Ever-in-demand director David Cromer, who helmed the award-winning Off-Broadway revival of Our Town, will direct the production, which will arrive on Broadway next fall.

Scott Rudin will produce.

Nicole Kidman, who received an Academy Award for her work in "The Hours," was also nominated for her role in "Moulin Rouge." The actress made her Broadway debut in The Blue Room. Kidman's other screen credits include lead roles in "Nine," "Australia," "Bewitched," "Cold Mountain," "The Others," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Malice," "Far and Away," "Dead Calm" and "Days of Thunder."

Williams' Sweet Bird of Youth debuted in 1959 at the Martin Beck Theatre with Paul Newman as Chance Wayne and Geraldine Page as Princess Kosmonopolous. Both stars reprised their performances in the 1962 film.

Sweet Bird of Youth, according to previous production notes, "tells the story of a drifter, Chance Wayne, who returns to his home town with a faded movie star, Princess Kosmonopolis, hoping she will be the source of re-uniting him with his childhood sweetheart, Heavenly Finley," according to Studio notes. "Chance has no idea that his past actions have damaged Heavenly's life or that her Mayor father has sworn out an edict on him."