Thousands of NYC Students See HUGHIE with New 'Access for All' Initiative

The producers of Eugene O'Neill's Hughie, starring Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker and Tony Award winner Frank Wood, directed by Tony Award winner Michael Grandage, recently announced the launch of ACCESS FOR ALL, a partnership with Broadway For All. ACCESS FOR ALL is a ticket access initiative which will afford thousands of New York area students from across all socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds the opportunity to experience the highest quality theatre on Broadway.

Through Broadway For All's partnership with Teach For America and NYC schools, ACCESS FOR ALL will provide thousands of students from underserved communities access to tickets to Hughie (a $5 suggested donation will be paid for each ACCESS FOR ALL ticket). In addition to seeing Hughie on Broadway, student groups will have an opportunity to attend a talk-back with the cast and will be provided with a study guide, created by producer Rachel Weinstein, which includes historical and biographical background about the play as well as activities and discussion questions to further explore the themes of the play.

Today, February 24, the first group of ACCESS FOR ALL students will attend the matinee performance of Hughie, made possible by contributions through producer Adam Zotovich.

"Broadway For All is thrilled to partner with Hughie to launch our new ACCESS FOR ALL ticket initiative. Our mission is for American stages to reflect our country's diversity, and that extends to audiences as well," said Osh Ghanimah, founder and CEO of Broadway for All. "HUGHIE is the ideal partner for this goal: a classic American play with a diverse cast and a visionary director. We hope by making tickets to Hughie accessible for all students, we will inspire and cultivate both artists and audiences committed to creating and supporting work that is inclusive for all."

ACCESS FOR ALL is modeled after the MGC Futures Initiative, which the Michael Grandage Company launched to ensure accessibility to all his West End productions.

Initially founded through the Presidential Public Service Fellowship program at Harvard University, Broadway For All is a NYC-based not-for-profit whose mission is to transform the American stage and screen to reflect the diversity of America. Broadway For All trains young artists from all socio-economic levels and all ethnic backgrounds in a world-class summer conservatory - led by professionals from the Broadway, television and film industries - in order to shape a new generation of artists, leaders and advocates who are impassioned to create inclusive work for all. You can support Broadway For All by making a tax deductible contribution at www.broadwayforall.org.

Eugene O'Neill's Hughie opens Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Broadway's Booth Theatre (222 West 45 Street), in a strictly limited engagement. Michael Grandage reunites with the entire creative team from his Tony Award winning production of Red and his current West End hit Photograph 51 starring Nicole Kidman including Tony Award winner Christopher Oram (Sets & Costumes), Tony Award winner Neil Austin (Lights) and Tony Award winner Adam Cork (Composer & Sound). Each designer received a Tony Award for their work on the production of Red.

Summer, 1928. New York City. Beyond the bright lights of the Great White Way, a small-time gambler and big-time drinker returns to the faded hotel he has made his home. He encounters a new night clerk at the front desk and as the early hours of the morning give way to another dawn, he continues to chase the American Dream in order to survive. Hughie is a rarely seen theatrical masterpiece that beautifully explores redemption and offers a unique insight into the human condition.

HUGHIE premiered on Broadway in 1964 with Jason Robards in the role of "Erie" Smith. The role of "Erie" has been played by illustrious actors such as Burgess Meredith, Ben Gazzara and Al Pacino.

HUGHIE is produced by Darren Bagert, Michael Grandage Company, Adam Zotovich, Joan Raffe & Jhett Tolentino, Arielle Tepper Madover, Martin McCallum, Debbie Bisno, CJ E&M, Jeffrey Finn, Hagemann Rosenthal Associates, Stacey Mindich, Bob Boyett, Seaview Productions, Taylor Weinstein Theatricals, Julie Boardman, Falkenstein Simons LTD, Michael Watt and The Shubert Organization. Casting is by Calleri Casting. 101 Productions, Ltd. serve as Executive Producers.