Stoppard's 'Rock n Roll' Hits Broadway Oct.19

Following its record breaking run last year at the Royal Court Theatre and in London's West End, Rock 'n' Roll, a new play by Tom Stoppard, will begin performances tomorrow, Friday, October 19 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 West 45th Street).  The production, directed by Trevor Nunn, opens Sunday, November 4. 

Rock 'n' Roll, which won the Evening Standard and London Critics' Circle Awards for Best Play, received its world premiere at the Royal Court as part of the theatre's 50th Anniversary celebration and subsequently transferred to the Duke of York's Theatre for a sold-out run.

"It's August 1968, and Russian tanks are rolling in to Prague.  Jan, the Czech student, lives for rock music, Max, the English professor, lives for Communism and Esme, the flower child, is high. By 1990, the tanks are rolling out, the Stones are rolling in and idealism has hit the wall. A deeply felt look at the connection between rock music and revolution, Stoppard's sweeping and witty play spans two countries, three generations and twenty-two turbulent years, at the end of which love remains - and so does rock 'n' roll," explain press notes.

The production features original Royal Court cast members Brian Cox (Max), Sinead Cusack (Eleanor/Esme (Older)), and Rufus Sewell (Jan), with Nicole Ansari (Lenka), Mary Bacon (Gillian/Magda), Alice Eve (Esme (Younger)/Alice), Seth Fisher (The Piper/Policeman), Stephen Kunken (Ferdinand), Quentin Maré (Interrogator/Nigel), Ken Marks (Milan/Waiter), Alexandra Neil (Candida) and Anna O'Donoghue (Pupil).

The premiere of Rock 'n' Roll marks the 40th anniversary since Stoppard was first introduced to Broadway audiences with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.  Stoppard was most recently represented on Broadway with the acclaimed Lincoln Center Theater production of The Coast of Utopia, which last season won a record-breaking seven Tony Awards, including Best Play.

Set design is by Robert Jones, costume design is by Emma Ryott, lighting design is by Howard Harrison and sound design by Ian Dickinson.

For the preview period of October 19 through November 4, performances of Rock 'n' Roll are Monday through Saturday at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM.  After November 4, performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM, Sunday at 3 PM.

Tickets may be purchased by calling TeleCharge at 212-239-6200, online at www.telecharge.com or at the Jacobs Theatre box office (242 West 45th Street). www.RocknRollThePlay.com