Ben Stiller Talks Broadway Return; BLUE LEAVES

Talking at the premiere of LITTLE FOCKERS, Ben Stiller talked to BlackFilm.com about his upcoming return to Broadway. Stiller said ""Yeah, there's a real history with my family and the play ‘The House of Blue Leaves' because my mother was in the original production in 1971 and that's where I met John Guare, the playwright. It was the first job I really got in 1986, playing the son in the play. To come back and play the father, it's come full circle in that way. My relationship with John has been so long, I'm looking forward to it. It's something I never really thought about doing until the idea got presented to me. I'm really a fan of the director David Cromer, and excited to dwell into it. It's an unknown thing, but I'm looking forward to it."

It was confirmed last week that Jennifer Jason Leigh will join previously announced Edie Falco and Ben Stiller will be joining the Broadway revival of John Guare's of THE HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES. The production, which is to open in the Spring, will play at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Stiller will play Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper who dreams of being a songwriter, and Falco his schizophrenic wife named 'Bananas'.

The production, produced by Scott Rudin, will officially open at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre on Monday, April 25, 2011. Previews begin Monday, April 4, 2011.

Ben Stiller made his Broadway and professional debut as Ronnie Shaughnessy in the 1986 Tony-winning production of The House of Blue Leaves. Now, 25 years later, he makes his first return to Broadway, in the same play and this time in the role of Artie Shaughnessy. Edie Falco, who previously appeared on Broadway in Side Man, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, & 'night, Mother, will play Artie's wife Bananas Shaughnessy. Jennifer Jason Leigh, who made her Broadway debut in Cabaret and also appeared in Proof, will play Artie's Mistress Bunny Flingus. Visionary director David Cromer is responsible for the critically acclaimed and award-winning reimagining of Our Town, the musical adaptation of The Adding Machine and Orson's Shadow.

The remainder of the cast will be announced soon.