On today's LIVE with Kelly and Michael's a special Pre-Oscar celebration, Academy Award winner Forest Whitaker talked about making his Broadway debut in the revival of Eugene O'Neill's HUGHIE, now in previews. "It's such a vulnerable feeling," says the actor of stepping out on a Broadway stage for the very first time. Watch his appearance below:
Eugene O'Neill's
Hughie stars Academy Award® winner, Golden Globe Award® winner & BAFTA winner
Forest Whitaker (The Last King of Scotland, The Butler, Southpaw) and Tony Award® winner
Frank Wood (Side Man, Angels In America, Clybourne Park). The show will officially open on Thursday, February 25, 2016 at Broadway's Booth Theatre (222 West 45 Street). Directed by Tony Award® winner and Olivier Award® winner
Michael Grandage (Photograph 51, Red, Frost/Nixon), Hughie will play 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.
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.
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.
Photo credit: David M. Russell, Disney/ABC Home Entertainment and TV Distribution.