Calista Flockhart to Take on a London Lead?

By James Inverne
November 4, 2003

What do you do when your signature TV show ends its run? In the case of Calista Flockhart, if rumors are to be believed, do a show in London’s West End.

There have been rumors for at least a year about the "Ally McBeal" star taking on a number of London-based projects. First there was to be a stage version of The Philadelphia Story produced by Duncan Weldon’s Triumph Productions. Weldon’s office confirmed to Playbill On-Line that Flockhart’s scheduling difficulties caused her to pull out of that project, though he still has hopes of mounting the show with a different big-name lead, but that’s unlikely to happen for at least a year.

Next came rumors of Ibsen's A Doll’s House. But first on her agenda, according to Variety, may be Eugene O’Neill’s early play Anna Christie. Slated to direct is Royal Court chief Ian Rickson. It would be the first time that new-work specialist Rickson has tackled a classic— though he’s no stranger to commercial success, having had a West End long-runner with his production of Conor MacPherson’s spooky play "The Weir".

Flockhart started her career on stage, in productions including The Glass Menagerie and Three Sisters. And her screen credits include a movie version of "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" (opposite Kevin Kline).

Though contracts reportedly have yet to be signed, Sonia Friedman is expected to produce – and she’s got a reputation for getting her star, be it Madonna, Joan Plowright or, perhaps on this occasion, Calista Flockhart.