The American premiere of Richard Nelson's drama, Goodnight Children Everywhere, begins performances May 7 at Playwrights Horizons in New York City.
The 1997 work, currently being seen at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Barbican Theatre, is about reconstructing the idea of family after war: A brother and three sisters separated by World War II are reunited in 1945 London.
Nelson will direct his own work.
Nelson, an American, has often seen his work produced in England first. He usually takes Anglo-American relations as his subject. Past plots have features a group of American academics touring England (Some Americans Aboard); expatriate Brits living -- miserably -- in America (New England); and the famous rivalry between English tragedian William Macready and American actor Edwin Forrest which resulted in the bloody Astor Place Riot of 1849 (Two Shakespearean Actors). He also wrote the libretto for the musical, Chess, among other works and adaptations.
The company includes Jon DeVries, Heather Goldenhersh, Kali Rocha, John Rothman, Chris Stafford, Robin Weigert and Amy Whitehouse. Designers are Thomas Lynch (set), Susan Hilferty (costumes), James F. Ingalls (lighting) and Raymond Schilke (sound).
Performances are the Playwrights' Anne G. Wilder Theatre, 416 W. 42nd St. For ticket information, call (212) 279-4200.
The staging follows the popular Playwrights Horizons run of Christopher Durang's Betty's Summer Vacation, closing April 18 after three extensions and curiosity from commercial producers.
-- By Kenneth Jones
