Graduate Tour Has Four Mrs. Robinsons, Including Linda Gray and Kelly McGillis

By Kenneth Jones
July 19, 2003

The national tour of The Graduate, the Broadway hit based on the film and book of the same name, will boast no less than four Mrs. Robinsons, including Kelly McGillis and Linda Gray, but it all begins with Jerry Hall Aug. 9.

The tour launch at San Francisco's Curran Theatre continues in the City by the Bay with actress-model Hall to Sept. 7, and her tenure in the show lasts to Oct. 26. Her colleagues include Rider Strong as Benjamin and Devon Sorvari as Elaine. Jonathan Kaplan plays the title character later in the run of the tour.

Kelly McGillis ("Witness," "Top Gun," "The Accused," and DC's Shakespeare Theatre) is the latest actress announced to play the seductive matron in the Terry Johnson-penned adaptation.

With Jonathan Kaplan as Benjamin and Devon Sorvari as Elaine, McGillis is Mrs. Robinson in a handful of cities March 16-June 27, 2004, following stints by Linda Gray (with Kaplan and Sorvari, Nov. 11-Jan. 4, 2004) and Lorraine Bracco (with Kaplan and Sorvari, Jan. 6-March 14, 2004).

Bracco, of "The Sopranos," was a replacement Mrs. Robinson in the Broadway run that originally starred Kathleen Turner.

Linda Gray is known to fans of TV's "Dallas" as Sue Ellen Ewing.

This latter-day play version of the Buck Henry-Mike Nichols film classic originated in London. The tour is directed by Peter Lawrence. Terry Johnson adapted and directed in London and Broadway. Lawrence assisted Johnson on Broadway.

The play was an audience favorite on Broadway, though critics were not so friendly. In New York, Jason Biggs played Benjamin (the Dustin Hoffman film role) and Alicia Silverstone was Elaine Robinson.

The tour schedule follows. The road production will likely continue beyond June 2004.

Jerry Hall

San Francisco Aug. 9-Sept. 7 Curran Theatre
San Diego Sept. 9-14 Civic Theatre
Austin, TX Sept. 16-21 Bass Hall
Houston Sept. 23-Oct 5 Hobby Center
Los Angeles Oct. 7-26 Wilshire Theatre

Linda Gray

Appleton, WI Nov. 11-16 Fox Cities P.A.C.
Minneapolis Nov. 18-23 State Theatre
Indianapolis, IN Nov. 25-30 Clowes Auditorium
Columbus, OH Dec. 2-7 Ohio Theatre
Louisville Dec. 9-14 Kentucky Center
Cincinnati Dec. 16-28 Aronoff Center
Pittsburgh Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2004 Heinz Hall

Lorraine Bracco

Baltimore Jan. 6-18, 2004 Mechanic Theatre
Raleigh, NC Jan. 20-25, 2004 Memorial Auditorium
Boston Jan. 27-Feb 8, 2004 Colonial Theatre
Ft. Myers, FL Feb 10-15, 2004 Barbara Mann PAH
Birmingham, AL Feb. 17-22, 2004 BJCC Concert Hall
Chicago, IL Feb. 24-March 14, 2004 Shubert Theatre

Kelly McGillis

Philadelphia March 16-21, 2004 Merriam Theatre
New Haven, CT March 23-28, 2004 Shubert Theatre
Milwaukee March 30-April 4, 2004 Marcus Center
Providence, RI April 13-18, 2004 Providence P.A.C.
Hartford, CT April 20-25, 2004 The Bushnell
TBA April 27-May 9, 2004
Nashville May 11-16, 2004 Tennessee P.A.C.
TBA May 25-30, 2004
Detroit June 1-20, 2004 Fisher Theatre
Charlotte, NC June 22-27, 2004 Ovens Auditorium