PAST PERFORMANCES

The 2000-2001 Season

BELASCO THEATRE

March 8 - July 14, 2001

Blythe Danner

Gregory Harrison

Judith Ivey

Treat Williams

Considered by many to be one of the greatest musicals of all time, Follies takes place onstage at the once-spectacular, but now crumbling Weissman Theatre, where on the eve of its demolition, ghosts from its past return and showgirls from decades ago reunite - and remember - one last time.

Seamlessly merging the past and present, James Goldman's book achieves an amazing complexity of structure and depth of feeling. Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics transcend the merely marvelous to achieve greatness. This Roundabout production, directed by Matthew Warchus and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, was the first major New York staging of Follies since it was first presented on Broadway in 1971.

The all-star cast featured Blythe Danner as Phyllis, Gregory Harrison as Ben, Judith Ivey as Sally, Treat Williams as Buddy, Polly Bergen as Carlotta, Marge Champion as Emily, Betty Garrett as Hattie, Joan Roberts as Heidi, Donald Saddler as Theodore, Jane White as Solange, Carol Woods as Stella and Louis Zorich as Dimitri.

Image: Blythe Danner

AMERICAN AIRLINES THEATRE

October 20, 2000 - February 4, 2001

"Ravishing! David Leveaux's production is enthralling!" - Fintan O'Toole, Daily News
"Juliette Binoche is exquisite!" - Linda Winer, Newsday
"Liev Schreiber is one of the most gifted
      and complex actors of his generation!" - Ben Brantley, The New York Times
"John Slattery is brilliant!" - Jacques le Sourd, Journal News

Juliette Binoche

Liev Schreiber

John Slattery

by Harold Pinter
directed by David Leveaux

The high price of passion is examined when a love affair destroys a marriage and sabotages a friendship. Robert and Jerry were best friends. Robert and Emma were married. Jerry and Emma were lovers; welcome to the tangled emotional world of betrayal.

BETRAYAL features an all-star cast. Juliette Binoche who received the Academy Award for her performance in The English Patient will play Emma. Liev Schreiber (Moonlight at Roundabout, Emmy Award nomination for his role as Orson Welles in HBO's RKO 281: The Battle Over Citizen Kane) and John Slattery (recurring roles on "Sex and the City" and "Judging Amy") round out the cast directed by David Leveaux (2000 Tony® Award-winning production of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing). Mr. Leveaux also helmed the Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony® Award winning production of Anna Christie.

BETRAYAL continues Roundabout Theatre Company's long association with Harold Pinter. Roundabout has produced the American premieres of Ashes to Ashes (1999) with Lindsay Duncan and David Strathairn, and Moonlight (1995) with Blythe Danner and Jason Robards, among others.

February 17 - May 13, 2001

"Sensational! A brilliant production -- a recipe for theatrical heaven!" - Charles Isherwood, Variety
"Scrumptious and sexy!
     Alan Cumming is delightful! Jennifer Ehle triumphs!" - Elysa Gardner, USA Today
"Sparkling, stylish and hilarious!
     Dominic West is downright charming!" - Clive Barnes, New York Post
"Hysterical! A divine cast!" - Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Henry Leutwyler NYC

Alan Cumming

Jennifer Ehle

Dominic West

by Noel Coward
directed by Joe Mantello

DESIGN FOR LIVING is a witty, sophisticated comedy that takes a trio of decadent artists on a scintillating romp through London, Paris and New York in search of true love in the year 1932. Otto the painter, Leo the playwright and Gilda, the impulsive beauty who decorates interiors, are all in love - with each other. When the burden of Otto and Leo's battle for Gilda's attentions becomes too much for her to bear, she bows out on them both and marries a dependable art dealer. Two years later, Gilda is met by Otto and Leo who show up on her doorstep.

Noel Coward's sensuous ménage à trois comedy was written in 1932, and was to become one of Noel Coward's greatest successes. Roundabout's production features Tony Award-winners Alan Cumming (Cabaret) and Jennifer Ehle (The Real Thing) with Dominic West (28 Days). Helming the production is Roundabout's Associate Artist, Joe Mantello (The Mineola Twins).

June 15 - September 16, 2001

"A MAJOR Barbara! Breathtaking!
     Dazzlingly witty and effortlessly entertaining!" - Howard Kissel, Daily News
"God Bless Roundabout Theatre Company for keeping classic theatre alive on Broadway,
     and God Bless Daniel Sullivan's staging! A Winner!" - Clive Barnes, New York Post
"The Wisest, Wittiest Play On Broadway!
     Cherry Jones is one of the finest actresses of our generation!" - Michael Sommers, Star-Ledger
"FOUR STARS! (out of four) A Magnificent Production!
     David Warner is perfect!" - Elysa Gardner, USA Today
"Absolutely Superb! Dana Ivey is perfection!" - Robert Feldberg, Bergen Record

Written by one of the greatest playwrights of the English-speaking world, Shaw's classic tale pits daughter against father in matters both domestic and spiritual with timeless humor and compelling drama. Barbara Undershaft (Cherry Jones), an idealistic Salvation Army worker, believes it is her duty to reject her father's comfortable life, achieved through the unscrupulous sales of munitions, and save lost souls from impoverishment. Directed by Daniel Sullivan (Proof, Dinner with Friends, A Moon for the Misbegotten), this is the ultimate Shaw masterwork you don't want to miss!

Tony® Award-winner Cherry Jones (A Moon For the Misbegotten, The Heiress, The Night of the Iguana) stars with David Warner (Captain Sawyer in the A&E TV series "Horatio Hornblower: Retribution.") and Dana Ivey (The Last Night of Ballyhoo). Also featured in the cast, directed by Daniel Sullivan (2001 Tony® Award-winner for Proof), are David Lansbury (Hapgood), Denis O'Hare (Cabaret) and Zak Orth (Misalliance).

The Laura Pels Theatre Season at the GRAMERCY THEATRE

September 22 - December 24, 2000

"Thrilling! This is what theatre should be!" - Donald Lyons, New York Post
"Jim Norton and Dearbhla Molloy command the stage!" - Bruce Weber, New York Times

Dearbhla Molloy        Jim Norton

Sean O'Casey's

Thomas Jay Ryan
Directed by John Crowley

One of the greatest of all Irish plays, Sean O'Casey's JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK has delighted audiences since its first production at the Abbey Theatre in 1924. This classic about the trials and tribulations of an indomitable Dublin family captures not just a key moment in Irish history but the character and soul of a nation.

The cast of JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK is led by Dearbhla Molloy as Juno Boyle and Jim Norton as Captain Jack Boyle (last seen on the New York stage as Jack in The Weir), with Thomas Jay Ryan as Joxer Daly, Norbert Leo Butz (who played the Emcee in the National Tour of Roundabout's Cabaret), Gretchen Cleevely (who appeared in Impossible Marriage at Roundabout), Liam Craig, Cynthia Darlow, Jason Butler Harner, Roberta Maxwell (who appeared in Summer and Smoke at Roundabout), George Heslin, Edward James Hyland, John Keating and Tommy Schrider.

Sean O'Casey's JUNO AND THE PAYCOCK was recently voted one of the most important works of 20th Century Theatre, and it is classic drama at its best!

Image: (l to r) Dearblha Molloy, Gretchen Cleevely and Cynthia Darrow

January 30 - May 20, 2001

"Brilliant! Terribly Funny! The Cast Glows!" - Donald Lyons, New York Post
"Gleeful!" - Ben Brantley, New York Times
"Impeccably Acted!" - Charles Isherwood, Variety
"Ghoulishly Funny!" - Michael Sommers, The Star Ledger

Clockwise: Kevin Tighe, Christopher Evan Welch Zoaunne LeRoy and Christopher Carley

Kevin Tighe       Christopher Evan Welch
Christopher Carley       Zoaunne LeRoy

by Martin McDonagh
Directed by Gordon Edelstein

From the author of the Tony Award-winning The Beauty Queen of Leenane comes a wickedly funny new play about matters of life and death. When gravedigger Mick Dowd is given the task of unearthing the bones of his late wife, rumors about his role in her mysterious demise also begin to surface.

A Skull in Connemara stars Kevin Tighe as Mick Dowd, Zoaunne LeRoy as Maryjohnny Rafferty, Christopher Carley as Mairtin Hanlon and Christopher Evan Welch as Thomas Hanlon.

Martin McDonagh emerged three years ago from South London and took the world by storm with his critically acclaimed plays The Beauty Queen of Leenane, The Lonesome West and The Cripple of Inishmaan.

Gordon Edelstein has been ACT's Artistic Director since 1997. He directed Roundabout Theatre Company's acclaimed production of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming starring Roy Dotrice and Lindsay Crouse in 1991.

Image: (clockwise) Kevin Tighe, Christopher Evan Welch, Zoaunne LeRoy and Christopher Carley

June 1 - September 23, 2001

8 AUDELCO AWARDS!
including Dramatic Production of the Year!

"Fresh and Fascinating!
     Phylicia Rashad and Hill Harper are superb!" - Linda Winer, Newsday
"Hilarious! A Summer Stunner!
     Well worth a visit! Michael McElroy is perfection!" - Jacques le Sourd, Journal News
"A Silky-Smooth Production!
     Nona Hendryx's original songs are lush and melodic!" - Bruce Weber, The New York Times
"Engaging! Sheldon Epps directs an
     energetic, witty and well-acted production!" - Robert Dominguez, The Daily News

Phylicia Rashad       Hill Harper

by Charles Randolph-Wright

music by Nona Hendryx
lyrics by Nona Hendryx and
Charles Randolph-Wright

directed by Sheldon Epps

Business is booming at the Clark family funeral home in a small town in South Carolina. With matriarch Tillie (Jewell Robinson) offering unsolicited advice, son Sam Jr. (Randall Shepperd) runs the profitable business, Sam III (Howard W. Overshown) runs with the girls, 12-year-old Reuben (Chad Tucker) runs errands and fashion-conscious mother Peggy (Phylicia Rashad) runs up the credit cards. Smart and stylish and completely out of place in her provincial surroundings, Peggy is a force to be reckoned with. Enlivened by the music of sexy jazz singer Blue Williams (Michael McElroy), Peggy holds court at family gatherings and lays out her grandiose ambitions for her two sons' futures. Recalled by the now-grown Reuben (Hill Harper), BLUE is a comedy about a well-to-do African-American family that abounds with tenderness, acceptance and the search for unconditional love.

Author Charles Randolph-Wright was an original cast member of Broadway's Dreamgirls. His acclaimed production of Guys and Dolls, which he recently directed at Arena Stage, will go out on a national tour next year. Mr. Randolph-Wright is an Associate Artist at Arena Stage.

Phylicia Rashad was seen last year on the New York stage as Zora Neale Hurston in Thulani Davis' Everybody's Ruby. On Broadway she has been seen in Jelly's Last Jam, Into the Woods, Dreamgirls and The Wiz. Ms. Rashad is known around the world for her role as Claire Huxtable in television's "The Cosby Show."

Buy the Soundtrack to BLUE

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