Frank Langella To Star In King Lear In Chichester
Huge news from the fine folks at Chichester Festival Theatre today as they have announced King Lear will take up the end of Autumn slot at the Minerva Theatre.
Shakespeare seems to be very in with theatregoers at the moment, with Michael Grandage putting on two pieces in his season at the Noel Coward, the Mark Rylance double header of Richard III and Twelfth Night getting a Broadway transfer and all manner of other productions popping up, all with excellent casts.
Chichester’s Lear will be no exception, the titular monarch to be played by Three time Tony Award-winning, Oscar nominated Broadway and film star Frank Langella.
The production will open on October 31st and run until the 30th of November, when it will transfer to the Harvey Theater at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music) in New York.
Chichester Festival Theatre’s Artistic Director Jonathan Church said: “We are absolutely delighted to announce that this legendary American actor has accepted our invitation to lead the company of King Lear here at Chichester; and equally delighted to be returning to BAM after our previous collaboration,Macbeth, in 2008.”
While Joseph V. Melillo, Executive Producer at BAM added, “I am thrilled to welcome one of our greatest actors to the BAM stage in January. The Chichester Festival Theatre production of King Lear will provide New York audiences the opportunity to experience Mr Langella perform perhaps the most challenging role in the Shakespearean canon. It will be a significant theater experience and a momentous occasion for BAM.”
King Lear will be directed by Chichester Associate Director Angus Jackson and designed by Robert Innes Hopkins.
Tickets for King Lear at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester: Previews (31 October – 5 November)/Press Night: £24.50, Evenings/Matinees: £32. Evenings 7.45pm except Press Night (Friday 8 November, 7.00pm). No evening performance Wednesday 13 November. Midweek matinees Wednesday 13 November 3.00pm, Thursday 28 November 1.00pm. Saturday matinees 2.45pm. For further details, visit cft.org.uk or call 01243 781312.
Booking will open to Friends of Chichester Festival Theatre on Thursday 27 June at 10.00am. Booking for all opens on Thursday 4 July.
