RIALTO CHATTER: HABIT OF ART Headed for Broadway in 2011?

The UK Daily Mail is reporting that Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art is hoping to move to Broadway in the Spring of 2011. The production began playing at the National Theatre's Lyttleton Theater in November 5, 2009 and will be broadcast in April 2010 live to cinema screens worldwide. It's expected that the leads, Richard Griffiths, Alex Jennings and Frances de la Tour would accompany the production as well. 

Richard Griffiths recently replaced Michael Gambon in the the National Theatre's production of Alan Bennett's The Habit of Art. Griffiths took over the role of poet WH Auden opposite Alex Jennings as Benjamin Britten. Michael Gambon is said to be withdrawing from the production due to health reasons. Th eNicholas Hytner-directed production is slated to begin previews on November 5. 

The Habit of Art focuses on the tumultuous relationship between Britten and Auden, imagining a meeting between the one-time friends 25 years after they last spoke. Griffiths and Jennings will be joined on-stage by Frances de la Tour, Adrian Scarborough,John Heffernan, Elliot Levey and Stephen Wight. The production is designed by Bob Crowley, with lighting by Mark Henderson and sound by Paul Groothuis.

According to the National Theatre online, Richard Griffiths created the role of Hector in Alan Bennett's The History Boys at the National Theatre, on international tour, on Broadway and on film, winning the Evening Standard, Critics' Circle, Laurence Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Actor.

 For further information and to purchase tickets, visit www.nationaltheatre.org.uk.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.