Irwin and Turner 5-City WOOLF? Tour Begins Tonight

The eagerly anticipated national tour of Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? -- starring Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin -- begins performances tonight, Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007 at the Eisenhower Theater, part of The Kennedy Center Theater Series. Mr. Irwin and Ms. Turner -- who will reprise their starring roles as George and Martha in the widely acclaimed, recent Broadway and London productions of Mr. Albee's beloved classic -- are joined by Kathleen Early as Honey and David Furr as Nick in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? The production is directed by Anthony Page.

The five-month, five-city tour of "WOOLF" will play the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater through January 28th, and continue on through May with stops in Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco and Tucson. (Full schedule listed below.)

When Kathleen Turner -- who earned the 2006 London Evening Standard Award for Best Actress in a Play for her performance as Martha -- and Bill Irwin -- who earned a 2005 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as George -- opened on Broadway in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? in 2005, the critics were unanimous in their praise of the production and its players: Ben Brantley of The New York Times hailed the production as "a pulse racing masterpiece. As Martha, Kathleen Turner secures her berth as a first-rate, depth-probing actress in a stunning, gorgeous performance. The brilliant Bill Irwin's George is boldly conceived and chilling."

The Broadway production received six 2005 Tony Award nominations, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Revival of a Play and Best Costume Design. In addition to the Tony Award to Mr. Irwin in 2005, Edward Albee received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theatre.

"WOOLF" then went on to play the West End last year. London's Daily Telegraph raved, "Kathleen Turner is sensational, and Bill Irwin triumphs. They are the most thrilling double act on the London stage."

In WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? , Mr. Irwin and Ms. Turner portray one of the most vivid and famous couples ever written for the stage, George and Martha, for whom marriage is a battleground in Mr. Albee's hilarious and deeply moving play. Mr. Furr, as Nick and Ms. Early as Honey, portray the young academic couple who become blood sport during a booze-drenched party at George and Martha's.

Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski and sound design by Mark Bennett and Michael Creason.

Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? is produced by Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Daryl Roth, Scott Rudin, Terry Allen Kramer, Roger Berlind, James L. Nederlander and Nick Simunek. Joey Parnes serves as the Executive Producer.

Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Tour Dates:
Washington, D.C.
Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater
January 4-28, 2007

Los Angeles, California
Ahmanson Theater
February 6-March 18, 2007

Chicago, Illinois
La Salle Bank Theatre
March 27-April 8, 2007

San Francisco, California
Theatre, TBD
April 11-May 12, 2007

Tucson, Arizona
Music Hall
May 15-20, 2007