Following her Tony-winning limited-run Broadway engagement, Elaine Stritch will hit the West End.
Variety reported that Elaine Stritch at Liberty will land at the Old Vic on Oct. 1 for an Oct. 9 opening. Sally Green, Mark Goucher and Barry and Fran Weissler will produce the eight-week run. The show won the 2002 Tony for Special Theatrical Event.
Talk of the London gig has been in the air for months. The potential is high for a repeat of the actress' commercial and critical success Off-Broadway and on. Stritch relocated to London for a good number of years in the middle of her career—a subject covered is her autobiographical show. There she appeared in many plays, as well as a British television show "Two's Company."
In addition, At Liberty has been praised by several London papers, with drama critics making special trips to Manhattan to review the production.
As in Manhattan, Stritch will play a limited schedule of five shows a week. An extension of the run is possible. George C. Wolfe will again direct the piece, which was put together by Stritch and critic John Lahr. No word yet on the details of a U.S. tour for Elaine Stritch at Liberty
Designers are Riccardo Hernández (set), Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer (lighting), Paul Tazewell (costume) and Acme Sound Partners (sound).
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Elaine Stritch At Liberty opened at The Public Theater Nov. 7, 2001, to rave reviews. Previews began Oct. 26. The show broke box office records at The Public for how quickly tickets sold and was extended three times.
After a couple weeks of previews, beginning Feb. 6, Elaine Stritch at Liberty officially opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on Feb. 21.