Then again, the same could have been said of Lane and Samuel Beckett a few years back. And yet the actor turned out a fine Waiting for Godot on Broadway in 2009. So why not O'Neill?
That was perhaps what the man was thinking when he approached Goodman Theatre artistic director Robert Falls about playing Hicky in The Iceman Cometh. Falls is the man to go to these days if you've got O'Neill on your mind. He piloted several of the most acclaimed O'Neill revivals of the past decade or so, including the Long Day's Journey Into Night that appeared on Broadway in 2003.
That production starred Brian Dennehy, as has almost every other O'Neill drama Falls has directed. He even played Hickey back in 1993, when Falls staged the work at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. Dennehy will be on hand in this new Iceman to help Lane out. He will play the supporting role of former anarchist Larry Slade. The show is scheduled to run April 22-June 10, 2012, at the Goodman.
Why Chicago? Said Lane: "If I was going to climb this mountain, I should do it in a city where I feel comfortable and with people with whom I feel comfortable."
Speaking of Dennehy, he's doing a bit of road work this week. The Tony Award-winning actor is playing Sir Toby Belch in Des McAnuff's new production of Twelfth Night, opening July 15 at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. ***
photo by Carol Rosegg |
The production, which had originally been scheduled to play through Aug. 13, has now extended to Aug. 27. Also, beginning July 28 the production will begin to offer Thursday evening performances at 8 PM.
Directed and choreographed by Christopher Gattelli, the cast is headed by Brent Barrett and Jenn Harris. Hunter Bell wrote the book and Al Kaplan penned the music and lyrics.
***
photo by Carol Rosegg |
An Equity casting notice confirms what had been previously mentioned in the media: Producer Alan Wasser is planning a Broadway run of the Aristophanes-inspired musical comedy by book writer Douglas Carter Beane and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn. Director-choreographer Dan Knechtges will repeat his recent Off-Broadway work (which was staged in a gymnasium in Greenwich Village), but this time in a traditional proscenium theatre, most likely the Walter Kerr Theatre.
***
Remember when the word on the street was that Stephen Adly Giuris' play Motherf**ker with the Hat, starring Chris Rock, would close shortly after opening?
Well, this week it recouped its investment.
Also announcing recoupment this week was Ghetto Klown, the solo show conceived by and starring John Leguizamo which opened to decent, but not fantastic reviews. It closed on July 10.
There are plans to bring the production, which was directed by Fisher Stevens, to audiences around the country and the world. In fact, Leguizamo will perform Ghetto Klown in other U.S. cities as well as in South America, where he will offer the show in Spanish. Now, there's versatility.