Frank Langella Stars in KING LEAR at BAM, Starting Tonight
By: BWW News Desk Jan. 07, 2014
Three time Tony Award-winning, Oscar nominated Broadway and film star Frank Langella played the title role in a new production of William Shakespeare's King Lear opening at Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn, prior to transferring to the Harvey Theater at BAM (Brooklyn Academy Of Music) in New York.
Jonathan Church, Artistic Director at Chichester Festival Theatre, 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."
BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo 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.
King Lear ran at the Minerva Theatre, Chichester from Thursday 31 October - Saturday 30 November 2013. Following the Minerva Theatre run, the production will transfer to BAM, New York playing from tonight, 7 January - 9 February 2014.
Frank Langella earned one of his three Tony Awards for his performance as Richard Nixon in the acclaimed production Frost/Nixon (Donmar Warehouse, West End and Broadway). He was also the recipient of an Olivier Award nomination and an Oscar nomination for the same role in the film version. His additional Tonys were for roles in Seascape and Fortune's Fool, as well as three more nominations for Man and Boy, Dracula and Match. His over four decades on Broadway and close to two dozen productions also include, among others, The Father, Present Laughter, A Man for all Seasons and Amadeus.
In 2013/2014 Mr Langella will star in six films including Grace of Monaco opposite Nicole Kidman, Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight opposite Christopher Plummer, directed by Stephen Frears, and Draft Day opposite Kevin Costner. Among his 65 films, recent screen credits include the critically acclaimed Robot and Frank, Starting Out In The Evening, Good Night and Good Luck, Dave and Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.
Chichester Associate Angus Jackson directed the 2013 Olivier Award-winning production Goodnight Mister Tom, and will direct two Festival 2013 productions, If Only and Neville's Island. Jackson's other Chichester credits include The Browning Version (also West End), Bingo (also Young Vic), Wallenstein and Funny Girl. He has also directed Elmina's Kitchen, Fix Up, Rocket to the Moon and The Power of Yes for The National Theatre.
Designer Robert Innes Hopkins renews his collaboration with Jackson following their previous Chichester productions: Goodnight Mister Tom (UK tour and West End), Bingo (also Young Vic) and Wallenstein. Other credits include Clybourne Park (Royal Court Theatre and West End), The Malcontent and The Comedy of Errors (both RSC), and the National Actors Theatre production of The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, which featured Al Pacino in the title role.
Tickets for King Lear at BAM - visit BAM.org.
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