Matthew Lombardo's lurid drama — spiced with nudity, profanity and violence seen and unseen — will again be directed by Rob Ruggiero. The tour launches Dec. 6-11 at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston. Rising actor Evan Jonigkeit will again play addict Cody Randall, who is connected to Father Michael Delpapp, to be played by Broadway understudy Timothy Altmeyer. (Stephen Kunken, a Tony Award nominee for Enron, originated the role.)
The play was not embraced by critics, but two-time Golden Globe winner, Academy Award and Tony Award nominee Turner drew interest for her star power and for her voracious performance.
Lombardo's plays include Broadway's Looped and Off-Broadway's Tea at Five, plus Mother and Child and Guilty Innocence.
Ruggiero directed Looped and High on Broadway, plus popular regional engagements of Ella, which he co-conceived, and the recent Goodspeed Musicals revival of Show Boat, among many other works.
Turner returns to Boston for the first time since her Tony-nominated performance as Martha in the 2005 revival of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She also appeared in Broadway's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Indiscretions and The Graduate. Her films include "Prizzi's Honor," "The War of the Roses," "Body Heat," "Peggy Sue Got Married" and "The Jewel of the Nile," among many others. "I am so glad to be continuing my work on this extraordinary play," Turner said in a statement. "High has been a compelling, rewarding experience and I am looking forward to bringing this tour to Boston, a city I love and has been so welcoming to me."
Here's how High is billed: "When Sister Jamison Connelly (Turner) agrees to sponsor a 19 year-old drug user in an effort to help him combat his addiction, her own faith is ultimately tested. Struggling between the knowledge she possesses as a rehabilitation counselor and a woman of religious conviction, she begins to question her belief in miracles and whether people can find the courage to change. High explores the universal themes of truth, forgiveness, redemption and human fallibility."
The High national tour is also aiming for Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, Chicago, San Francisco and elsewhere. No dates have been made public. A London production is also being planned for the summer of 2012.
High is produced by Ann Cady Scott & Timothy J. Hampton in association with The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis.
The design team includes David Gallo (sets), Jess Goldstein (costumes) John Lasiter (lighting) and Vincent Olivieri (sound and original music).
Boston performances are Dec. 6 at 8 PM (post-performance discussion with creative team), Dec. 7 at 8 PM (press performance and Fenway Health Benefit), Dec. 8 at 8 PM, Dec. 9 at 8 PM, Dec. 10 at 2 PM and 8 PM and Dec. 11 at 1 PM and 5 PM. Ticket prices range from $25-$95.
For Boston tickets, visit www.aestages.org or call (617) 824-8000 or visit the Cutler Majestic Box Office, 219 Tremont Street, Boston.
View highlights from the Broadway production:
