Geoffrey Beevers, Michael Elwyn, Richard McCabe & Rufus Wright Will Reunite with Helen Mirren in THE AUDIENCE on Broadway

By: Sep. 30, 2014
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The producers of Peter Morgan's The Audience, starring Academy Award winner Helen Mirren, announced today that Geoffrey Beevers, Michael Elwyn, Richard McCabe, and Rufus Wright, all of whom were in the smash London run of the play, will join the Broadway company.

Stephen Daldry directs the limited engagement at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 West 45th Street. Previews begin on February 17 and opening night is March 8. It runs through June 28 2015. The rest of the 18-member company will be announced in the future, including five more Prime Ministers.

For sixty years Elizabeth II has met each of her twelve Prime Ministers in a weekly audience at Buckingham Palace. Both parties have an unspoken agreement never to repeat what is said, not even to their spouses.

The Audience imagines a series of pivotal meetings between the Downing Street incumbents and their Queen. From Churchill to Cameron, each Prime Minister uses these private conversations as a sounding board and a confessional - sometimes intimate, sometimes explosive. In turn, the Queen can't help but reveal her own self as she advises, consoles and, on occasion, teases. These private audiences chart the arc of the second Elizabethan Age, from the beginning of Elizabeth II's reign to today. Politicians come and go through the revolving door of electoral politics, while she remains constant, waiting to welcome her next Prime Minister.

Geoffrey Beevers will play the Queen's equerry, the officer in the royal household who attends or assists the royal family. On the British stage Mr. Beevers has been seen in A Servant to Two Masters, Henry VIII, and The Comedy of Errors. Films include Clash of the Titans, The Curse of the Pink Panther and Victor/Victoria and television includes "Inspector Morse," "Sherlock Holmes" "Poirot" and "Doctor Who."

Michael Elwyn is cast as Anthony Eden (PM from 1955-1957) who is widely regarded as one of the least successful British Prime Minister's of the 20th Century as a result of his disastrous foreign policy during the Suez crisis. Mr. Elwyn has appeared in the UK productions of Rope (Almeida), Solid Gold Cadillac (West End), Jumpers (Norwich Playhouse), andThree Sisters (Royal Exchange Manchester). On television he has been seen in "Foyle's War," "EastEnders," and "Walk with Destiny."

Richard McCabe plays Harold Wilson (PM 1964-1970 and 1974-1976) who served as Prime Minister during the "Swinging Sixties" and is remembered for the liberalisation of laws on censorship, divorce, homosexuality, immigration, abortion and the abolition of capital punishment. Mr. McCabe's credits include the films The Constant Gardener, Notting Hill andPersuasion. TV includes "Wallander," "Foyle's War," and "Jane Eyre." His stage credits include A Tender Thing (RSC);Bingo opposite Patrick Stewart (Young Vic); and Yes, Prime Minister (West End).

Rufus Wright is cast as David Cameron, the current Prime Minister, who is the youngest person to hold the office in 200 years. His stage credits include The 39 Steps (West End), Frost/Nixon (Donmar and West End), and Mary Stuart (Donmar and West End). Films include The Quantum of Solace and Spy Game. He has been seen on television in "Foyle's War," "EastEnders," and "Extras."

Helen Mirren received the Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play for her role as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience, reprising her Academy Award winning role from the film The Queen, also written by Peter Morgan. The recipient of two Golden Globe, three BAFTA, three Screen Actors Guild and four Emmy Awards, Ms. Mirren has been seen previously on Broadway in A Month in the Country (1995) and Dance of Death (2001).

The production is designed by six-time Tony Award winner Bob Crowley with lighting by two-time Tony Award winner Rick Fisher, sound by Tony Award winner Paul Arditti, and music by Paul Englishby.

The Audience is produced by Matthew Byam Shaw for Playful Productions, Robert Fox and Andy Harries.

Tickets for The Audience are now on sale through www.telecharge.com.



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