Thomas Kail Talks LOMBARDI

The new American play LOMBARDI, starring Dan Lauria and Judith Light, goes into rehearsal later this month for its Broadway engagement at the Circle in the Square Theatre. The production will begin previews on Thursday, September 23, 2010 and officially open on Thursday, October 21.

Wall Street Journal sports writer Scott Cacciola recently spoke with director Thomas Kail from Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where the production just completed a well-received out-of-town run.

The article begins: Thomas Kail, the director of the new play "Lombardi," paid a recent visit to Sonny Jurgensen, the Hall of Fame quarterback. It was part of Mr. Kail's laborious research into the life of Vince Lombardi, the legendary coach of the Green Bay Packers.

Mr. Jurgensen played for Lombardi in 1969, when the coach spent his final season in the NFL with the Washington Redskins, and he told Mr. Kail that there was a seminal moment when Lombardi pulled the quarterback aside and said something important: "I just want you to be the best version of yourself. Don't be anybody else. I want you to be you."

The story resonated with Mr. Kail, who said he has grown to admire the way that Lombardi-sometimes gruff, sometimes misunderstood-sought to communicate and connect with his players. Mr. Kail said he views his job in much the same way, even if his methods are different.

To read the rest of the feature, click here <http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703545604575407570130201854.html>.

Written by Academy Award winner Eric Simonson, LOMBARDI is based on the best-selling biography When Pride Still Mattered: A Life of Vince Lombardi, by Pulitzer Prize winning author David Maraniss. Joining producers Tony Ponturo and Fran Kirmser as special producing partner is the National Football League, marking the organization's first foray on Broadway.

The cast features Dan Lauria and Judith Light as Vince and Marie Lombardi, Keith Nobbs as Michael McCormick, Bill Dawes as Paul Hornung, Robert Christopher Riley as Dave Robinson and Chris Sullivan as Jim Taylor.

For more on LOMBARDI, log onto http://www.lombardibroadway.com,
or follow LOMBARDI on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/Lombard

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.