Stage: King Lear
Frank Langella to star in King Lear at Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn
Frank Langella is to star as King Lear at Chichester and Brooklyn Academy of Music. The three time Tony Award-winning, Oscar nominated Broadway and film star will play the title role in a new production of Shakespeare’s King Lear opening at Chichester Festival Theatre this autumn, prior to transferring to the Harvey Theater at BAM in New York.
Jonathan Church, Artistic Director at Chichester Festival Theatre, says: “We are absolutely delighted to announce that this legendary American actor has accepted our invitation to lead the company of King Lear here at Chichester; and equally delighted to be returning to BAM after our previous collaboration, Macbeth,
in 2008.”
BAM Executive Producer Joseph V. Melillo adds: “I am thrilled to welcome one of our greatest actors to the BAM stage in January. The Chichester Festival Theatre production of King Lear will provide New York audiences the opportunity to experience Mr Langella perform perhaps the most challenging role in the Shakespearean canon. It will be a significant theatre experience and a momentous occasion.”
King Lear will be directed by Chichester Associate Director Angus Jackson and designed by Robert Innes Hopkins.Following the Minerva Theatre run, the production will transfer to BAM, New York, from 7 January–9 February 2014.
Frank Langella earned one of his three Tony Awards for his performance as Richard Nixon in the acclaimed production Frost/Nixon (Donmar Warehouse, West End and Broadway). He was also the recipient of an Olivier Award nomination and an Oscar nomination for the same role in the film version. His additional Tony Awards were for roles in Seascape and Fortune’s Fool, as well as three more nominations for Man and Boy, Dracula and Match.
In 2013/2014 Langella will star in six films including Grace Of Monaco opposite Nicole Kidman, Muhammad Ali’s Greatest Fight opposite Christopher Plummer, directed by Stephen Frears, and Draft Day opposite Kevin Costner.
King Lear, Minerva Theatre, Chichester, Thursday 31 October–Saturday 30 November 2013, 01243 781312, www.cft.org.uk
