RIALTO CHATTER: Robert Lindsay to Return to Broadway in ONASSIS?

Michael Riedel reports in today's New York Post that "ONASSIS" which is set to begin performances next month in the West End, starring Tony-winner Robert Lindsay might had next to Broadway in 2011, bringing the star back to New York after 25 years. 

Robert Lindsay will return to the West End stage to star in the title role of Martin Sherman's new play "ONASSIS", which will be directed by Nancy Meckler. "ONASSIS" will open at the Novello Theatre on Tuesday 12 October 2010, following previews from Thursday 30 September 2010. The limited London season will finish on Saturday 5 February 2011. "ONASSIS" will also feature Lydia Leonard as Jackie Kennedy and Anna Francolini as Maria Callas.

"ONASSIS" is the story of the last years in the life of Aristotle Onassis, and of his passionate and interwoven relationships with Jackie Kennedy and Maria Callas, and his son Alexandros. Based on material from Peter Evans' book "Nemesis", "ONASSIS" is an explosive account of how those in positions of enormous power and wealth often live lives detached from the realities and moral codes of everyday existence.

Robert Lindsay has a distinguished career including on television "Citizen Smith", "Jake's Progress" and "GBH", for which he won a BAFTA Award for Best Actor. His films include "Divorcing Jack", "Genghis Cohn" and "Remember Me". His award-winning theatre includes "The Entertainer", "Richard III", "Oliver!", for which he won the Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical and "Me and My Girl", for which he won the Olivier Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical and, when it transferred to Broadway, the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Robert Lindsay can currently be seen in the hugely successful BBC television series "My Family" with Zoë Wanamaker.

The cast will also include Tom Austen, Liz Crowther, Ben Grove, Robert Hastie, John Hodgkinson, Sue Kelvin, Graeme Taylor and Gawn Grainger.

Martin Sherman has written plays including "Bent" and "When She Danced", the book for the musical "The Boy from Oz" and the screenplays for "Alive and Kicking" and "Mrs Henderson Presents". Nancy Meckler recently directed the RSC productions of "The Comedy of Errors" and "Romeo & Juliet" and she is an artistic director of Shared Experience. "ONASSIS" will be designed by Katrina Lindsay, with lighting by Ben Ormerod, music by Ilona Sekacz, sound by John Leonard, video and projection design by Lorna Heavey, choreography by Lizzi Gee and casting by Gabrielle Dawes CDG.

Lydia Leonard playing Jackie Kennedy has an extensive television career, recently including "Ashes to Ashes", "Casualty 1907", "The Long Walk to Finchley" and "The 39 Steps" her stage credits include "Frost/Nixon" at the Donmar Warehouse and she has appeared on stage at both the RSC and the National Theatre. Anna Francolini playing Maria Callas has appeared in many West End productions including "Merrily We Roll Along" and "Company", both at the Donmar Warehouse and "Caroline or Change" at the National Theatre, whilst her television work includes "This is Dom Joly" and "Jonathan Creek".

Performance times at the Novello Theatre will be Mondays-Saturdays at 7.30pm, with Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2.30pm. Tickets, priced from £10.00 to £49.50, are available from the Novello Theatre Box Office on 0844 482 5170 or at www.onassistheplay.com. Prior to London, "ONASSIS" will play the Derby Theatre from 9-25 September 2010.

The Chichester Festival Theatre production in association with Derby Live of "ONASSIS" will be presented in London by Aukin/Vogel for DAP Ltd, Playful Productions, ACT Productions and Bob Bartner.