Tom Hardy Journeys Goodman's Long Red Road, a World Premiere, Starting Feb. 13 | Playbill

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News Tom Hardy Journeys Goodman's Long Red Road, a World Premiere, Starting Feb. 13 Goodman Theatre's world-premiere production of The Long Red Road, Brett C. Leonard's play about a man haunted by his past, begins Feb. 13 in Chicago. Philip Seymour Hoffman directs a cast that includes London stage and screen star Tom Hardy, making his U.S. stage debut.
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Long Red Road star Tom Hardy in rehearsal Photo by Liz Lauren

The run was extended by one week before it began. Performances will play to March 21 in the Goodman's Owen Theatre. The troupe also includes Marcos Akiaten, Greta Honold, Chris McGarry, Fiona Robert and Katy Sullivan. Opening night is Feb. 22.

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Hardy ("Blackhawk Down," "Band of Brothers," "Star Trek: Nemesis") plays "the complex central role of Sam — a character the playwright penned specifically with Hardy in mind — whose hard-drinking does little to quell the devastating memories of a past that haunts him," according to Goodman notes.

Hoffman, who makes his Chicago directorial debut with The Long Red Road, said, "To be in Chicago directing Brett Leonard's heartbreaking play under the guidance of Bob Falls is beyond exciting and daunting and wonderful. I'm grateful everyone at the Goodman made it possible for Tom to jump the pond and be with us. Chris, and Greta and Fiona and Marcos and Katy — all incredibly gifted actors — round out a cast that this play deserves and demands."

The Long Red Road "is a raw and provocative new play about how one person's anguish can tear a family apart," according to Goodman notes. "Sam attempts to drink away his past and exorcise his demons on an Indian reservation in South Dakota, where he has been trying to forget his role in a tragic accident with his family. When a visitor from his past arrives on the reservation, Sam is forced to face his guilt — and take a harrowing look at the man he has become." Hardy's London stage credits include Blood and In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings at the Royal Court Theatre and New Hampstead Theatre, for which he received the London Evening Standard Theatre Award for Outstanding Newcomer and a nomination for The Laurence Olivier Award for Most Promising Newcomer. Other stage credits include The Man of Mode (National Theatre), Festen (Almeida) and Roger and Vanessa (Latchmere).

His film and television credits include the roles of Heathcliff and Bill Sykes in the Masterpiece Classic retellings of "Wuthering Heights" and "Oliver Twist," Guy Ritchie's "RocknRolla," "The Take," "The Virgin Queen," "Layer Cake," "Thick as Thieves," "Blackhawk Down," "Band of Brothers" and more. His highly acclaimed performance as Charlie Bronson in Nicolas Winding Refn's "Bronson" won him Best Actor honors at this year's British Independent Film Awards, as well as a London Critics' Circle nomination for British Actor of the Year.

Hoffman's theatre directing credits include the world premieres of The Little Flower of East Orange, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Our Lady of 121st Street, Jesus Hopped the 'A' Train and In Arabia, We'd All Be Kings, all written by Stephen Adly Guirgis and produced by LAByrinth. As an actor, Hoffman's theatre credits include Jack Goes Boating (The Public Theater), Long Day's Journey Into Night (Broadway), The Seagull (The Public Theater/New York Shakespeare Festival), True West (Broadway) and more. Hoffman will next be seen in the film version of Jack Goes Boating, which he also directed. Recent film credits include "Pirate Radio," "Synecdoche, NY," "Doubt," "The Savages," "Charlie Wilson's War," "Before the Devil Knows You're Dead" and "Capote."

For tickets and information, visit GoodmanTheatre.org, the box office (170 North Dearborn) or call (312) 443-3800.

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Director Phillip Seymour Hoffman and the Company.
 
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