Cate Blanchett's 'STREETCAR' at Kennedy Center Sells Out Before Opening, 10/31

Sydney Theatre Company's A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, directed by Liv Ullmann, has embarked on its U.S. Tour. The production, which played the Sydney Theatre from 1 September to 10 October 2009, featuring STC Co-Artistic Director Cate Blanchett as Blanche DuBois, is now in previews at run at The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington from October 29th to November 21st 2009 - with an opening night of October 31 - and Brooklyn Academy Of Music (BAM), New York from November 27th to December 20th 2009.  The Washington D.C. engagement is now completely sold out.

The play is the story of the mental and emotional demise of a determined, yet fragile, repressed and delicate Blanche DuBois and her tragic downfall in the squalid French Quarter apartment of her sister and animalistic brother-in-law. 

STC Artistic Directors Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett said: "We're thrilled the production will tour to the United States. Working with director Liv Ullmann is an extraordinary opportunity for the Australian artists and creative team and it will be exhilarating for Sydney Theatre Company to tour a classic American play, as seen through our eyes, back to an American audience."

Director, actor and author, Liv Ullmann's name is synonymous with European cinema and theatre. She played a number of major roles as a permanent member of the Norwegian Theatre in Oslo as well as in productions in Sweden, Australia, London's West End and on Broadway. In film she is particularly well known for her collaborations with Ingmar Bergman and has been honoured with numerous awards and nominations. As director, Ullmann's work includes Sofie and Kristin Lauransdotter, both of which she also scripted, as well as Faithless, Private Confessions and Paul Claudel's Break of Noon. She is the author of two books translated into more than 24 languages.

With Andrew Upton, Cate Blanchett has been Co-Artistic Director of Sydney Theatre Company since January 2008. For the Company, she has previously performed in Hedda Gabler, Sweet Phoebe, Kafka Dances, Top Girls and Oleanna and has directed The Year of Magical Thinking, Blackbird and A Kind of Alaska. Other theatre credits include productions with the Almeida, London, Company B and Griffin. She will also perform in STC's forthcoming The War of the Roses as part of Sydney and Perth Festivals in early 2009. Sydney Theatre Company's A Streetcar Named Desire is part of the 2009 Main Stage program to be announced in full in September 2008.

Tickets for the BAM production are available. The production will play the Harvey Theater, Nov 27 and 28, Dec 1, 2, 3**, 4, 5, 8-12, 15-19 at 7:30pm; Nov 28, Dec 2, 5, 9, 12, 16, and 19 at 2pm; Nov 29, Dec 6, 13, and 20 at 3pm. Tickets are $30, $65, $95 (Tues-Thurs); $40, $80, $120 (Fri-Sun) and can be purchased by calling 718.636.4100 or by visiting BAM.org (**A Streetcar Named Desire: Belle Rêve Gala, performance begins at 8pm)

Photo Credit: Sarah DeBoer/Retna Ltd.