Holland Taylor-Led ANN to Open at Vivian Beaumont Theater on March 7

Bob Boyett and Harriet Newman Leve have just announced that ANN, a new play written and performed by Emmy Award-winning actress Holland Taylor, will open on Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street) Thursday, March 7, 2013. ANN is a no-holds-barred portrait of the unforgettable Governor of the Lone Star State, Ann Richards. The play is directed by Benjamin Endsley Klein, and is produced by Bob Boyett and Harriet Newman Leve in association with Lincoln Center Theater. ANN is executive produced by Kevin Bailey who has spearheaded the production since its inception.

ANN played to sold-out audiences at Galveston's Grand 1894 Opera House in the summer of 2010, San Antonio's Empire Theatre in the fall of 2010, and Austin's Paramount Theatre in the spring of 2011. In the fall of 2011 the new play opened to critical acclaim at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre, and went on to have a smash hit run at Washington DC's Kennedy Center in winter of 2011/2012. First preview date, playing schedule and ticketing information including Lincoln Center Theater Membership advance sale date to be announced shortly.

"I am so passionate about this new American play which also happens to be written by one of this generation's greatest actors," said producer Bob Boyett, "We have been waiting for the right time and venue to bring this piece to New York, and are so pleased the Beaumont became available at this moment as it is the ideal theater for our play"

"My artistic journey with ANN has been the soulful ride of a lifetime," said Holland Taylor, "Ann's friends felt she was 'born under a special star,' and how can I not feel that light has shone on our path all the way here."

"We are thrilled to continue our association with Bob Boyett, and we are very grateful that he has extended the opportunity for our Members to see Holland Taylor in this wonderful play in our already busy LCT season" said Lincoln Center Theater's Artistic Director André Bishop.

Holland Taylor steps into the shoes of Ann Richards, the impassioned Governor of Texas who dedicated her life to empowering, expanding and enriching the lives of her constituents, friends and family. ANN is an inspiring and hilarious new play that brings you face to face with a complex, colorful and captivating character bigger than the state from which she hailed. Taylor takes the audience on a journey, neither political nor a history lesson, swirling together the past and present to reunite Ann Richards with old friends and introduce her to a new generation.

ANN began as a project and quest for Taylor to understand what it was about this housewife, mother, grandmother, leader and iconic patriot that affected so many people so deeply. Writing the play became a four year journey for Taylor, crisscrossing the country, interviewing people who knew the Governor, watching countless hours of video coverage, and pouring over reams of Richards' personal and public papers at the University of Texas. In the end, her greatest resources were the family, friends, staff and colleagues of the Governor who allowed Holland to "know" Ann Richards.