John Cullum, recent star of Show Boat and best known for his work in Broadway's Shenandoah, returns to the New York boards March 29 in an Off-Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's All My Sons. The show will open at the Roundabout Theatre's Laura Pels space May 4, and run to June 22.
Barry Edelstein will direct the production, which tells of a World War II munitions maker who cut corners on aircraft engines, then let his partner take the blame when young pilots started falling out of the sky. Years later, his own son uncovers his guilt. Suffering from Joe's mistake are his wife Kate (Linda Stephens) and son Chris (Michael Hayden). Angie Phillips plays Ann Deever, the fiancee of Keller's missing-in-action son. Also in the cast are Jed Diamond (Frank), Sean Fredricks (Bert), Anne Lange (Sue), Keira Naughton (Lydia), Stephen (Jim) and Stephen Barker Turner (George).
The play originally premiered on Broadway, Jan. 29 1947 at the Coronet Theatre and won the NY Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Play.
All My Sons is the second Arthur Miller play produced by the Roundabout at the Criterion Center. During the 1991-92 season, they presented The Price, starring Hector Elizondo, and Eli Wallach, directed by John Tillinger.
Cullum won a Best Actor Tony and Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in Shenandoah. He also won a Tony for On the Twentieth Century, though he's better known for his work on the CBS-TV series, "Northern Exposure." Linda Stephens appeared on Broadway in the revival of Damn Yankees and Off-Broadway in the musical adaptation of Wings. Director Edelstein staged this production of All My Sons at last season at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. His other credits include WASP and Other Plays, and The Merchant of Venice at the New York Shakespeare Festival.
Designing Sons will be Narelle Sissons (sets), Angela Wendt (costumes), Donald Holder (lights) and Kurt B. Kellenberger (sound).
To mark the 50th Anniversary of All My Sons and Miller's extraordinary career as a whole, Roundabout will hold its annual gala on Thursday April 24. The evening will include a performance of Sons, followed by dinner following at the Millennium Broadway Hotel. Tickets start at $500. For information on the gala call (212) 719-9393.
For regular tickets ($45) to All My Sons at the Laura Pels Theatre, 1530 Broadway, call (212) 869-8400.
-- By David Lefkowitz
