CLYBOURNE PARK Will Play Broadway in Spring 2012

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:22pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/154350-Pulitzer-Prize-Winner-Clybourne-Park-Will-Play-Broadway-in-Spring-2012

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:28pm

I was so bummed I missed this when it was off-Broadway, so this is exciting news!

Updated On: 9/8/11 at 12:28 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:43pm

Ha, I did not like this when I saw it at Playwrights Horizons, but I seem to be in the minority on that score.

I'll give it another chance since so many appear to find something worthwhile in the play, but for me it was a bunch of ideas masquerading as poorly and irritatingly-written characters.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:49pm

Such a wealth of choices to chose from re: Clybourne productions. The original cast/production, the CTG transfer, the Royal Court production, and soon the Steppenwolf in Chicago.

I for one am ecstatic to see this at the Steppenwolf next month.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 12:54pm

Oh, and on that note, is anyone going to see CP in Chicago this week? Previews start tonight.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 1:06pm

CLYBOURNE PARK is the best American play I've seen in a while. The Off-Broadway production of almost two years ago was perfection, top to bottom. One would hope that they'd retain the entire PH cast, but I'd particularly be happy if Christina Kirk reprised her roles.

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 1:08pm

After they released the rights to so many regional theatres that now have the show on their seasons?

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 1:16pm

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

[daredevil]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 1:26pm

I saw the play at Wooly Mammoth theater in DC this summer; I found it interesting and stimulating, but it is very much an ensemble piece; I wonder how they will cast it---if the producers expect to get a big name to take one of the roles?
The subject matter---race attitudes between whites and blacks, is not one often explored on Broadway; it should be interesting to see if the run is profitable and well attended.

[Brick]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 1:49pm

"postmodern"?

This play is as traditional at RAISIN IN THE SUN is itself.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 2:03pm

This is not meant to be snarky at all: What did those who liked the play, especially AC since you thought so highly of it, find in it? I truly am willing to re-evaluate and give this another shot. Just curious what others found to be so wonderful about the first time around.

Also, daredevil, you say the subject matter of race attitudes between whites and blacks is not one often explored on Broadway? It's explored all the time!

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 2:07pm

I thought the writing was sharp and engaging, I found it entertaining and thought-provoking, and probably most importantly, it stayed vivid in my memory long after I saw the actual production. I felt like every character was extremely well-drawn. Now that it's in print I plan to go back and re-read it before seeing it again. And I thought the ensemble at PH was so tight and worked so beautifully together (especially since I'm not usually a fan of several actors who were in that production).

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 2:40pm

I might be seeing it at Steppenwolf this weekend.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 3:22pm

Matt, please report back if you do go. Too bad Tracy Letts couldn't be in it--he'd be perfect in the roles Frank Wood played Off-Broadway.

[Donthatecongratulate]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 10:02pm

There goes Stickfly's Tony.

[VernonGersch]

Posted: 9/8/11 at 11:43pm

great news that LA will get the chance to see two major piecs of drama this season - Clybourne Park and the Donmar's Red

[daredevil]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 10:54am

Whizzer---I suppose you are right about Broadway plays and musicals exploring race relations between blacks and white---two musicals that probably do that (I didn't see either of them) are Memphis and Scottsboro Boys. I think what I meant is that in Clybourne Park, the people dealing with race perceptions, particularly in the second act, are contemporary people, mirror images of immediate audience members, or the children of older audience members. Clybourne Park in Act II deals with the specific issue of race and gentrification; the conflict revolves around a young upscale white couple who need the approval of Lena Younger's great-niece (I think I have that right) to change the architecture of the house. Gentrification and its benefits-non-benefits is an important issue in the city right now. After many pefomaces of the play in DC, prominent Washingtonians of both races lead audience discussions. I hope my point is clearer now.

[mallardo]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 11:33am

Saw it in London - hilarious!! The biggest laughs I have ever heard in a theater. And at the same time deeply poignant and heartfelt.

Casting will be interesting. Every actor gets a chance to shine.

[romgitsean]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 1:39pm

I would've loved to see Tracy in those roles. I only saw it in London last week and I loved it.

Also, I had a previous thread asking this - what company licenses amateur rights for this?

[KChenowethfan]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 4:17pm

I saw the original Woolly Mammoth production here in DC (not the "revival" this summer). I'm also in the minority in that I hated it. The acting was brilliant. The writing not so much- especially Act 2.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 4:41pm

I thought Letts was rumored/announced to be involved in the Chicago at some point, so I must be either making that up or remembering wrong. Especially since the Chicago production is directed by Amy Morton. I'm not super-familiar with Steppenwolf, but I notice that there's only one "ensemble member" in the cast (James Meredith, who plays Albert/Kevin); is this common?

As others have said, this play is a true ensemble piece with rich roles for many different types. I'm excited to see who they'll cast.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 5:53pm

I'm not super-familiar with Steppenwolf, but I notice that there's only one "ensemble member" in the cast (James Meredith, who plays Albert/Kevin); is this common?

1-2 ensemble members per production is pretty standard (or sometimes it's just the director). And there are several ensemble members I don't remember being involved in any productions since I moved to Chicago 10 years ago.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/9/11 at 10:28pm

It didn't get amazing reviews the first time around, right?

[Donthatecongratulate]

Posted: 9/10/11 at 12:48am

The writer, Bruce Norris is a Steppenwolf ensemble member so that more than makes up for the lack of ensemble members acting in it.

[mpd4165]

Posted: 9/11/11 at 12:52am

Just got back from tonight's performance and caught a glimpse of Amy Morton in the audience as well (it's the show's third or fourth preview.) The show was a major surprise. All I had really known that it uses A Raisin in the Sun as it's jumping off point and had recently won the Pulitzer. This was some truly thrilling theatre. At points the entire theater was roaring with laughter, then gasping at the quite beautiful and haunting ending. The ensemble is so strong and the writing manages to not be preachy. It was one of the strongest new plays I've seen in a long while.