Hedda Gabler, Starring Blanchett, Begins Performances at BAM, March 1

The Sydney Theatre Company's production of Henrik Ibsen's Hedda Gabler, featuring Academy Award-winning film star Cate Blanchett, will begin its run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Harvey Theatre on March 1st and run for four weeks through March 26th.

Directed by Robyn Nevin, the artistic director of STC, adapted by Andrew Upton and starring the Australian-born Blanchett in the title role of drama's most famous bored housewife, the show also stars Hugo Weaving (The Matrix, Lord of the Rings trilogy) as Judge Brack. Annie Byron, Justine Clarke, Julie Hamilton, Anthony Weigh and Aden Young are also among the cast.

"Just home from a six-month honeymoon, Hedda struggles to come to terms with a marriage to a man she finds numbingly dull and the possible pregnancy that threatens to seize hold of her body and future. She quickly realizes that the roots of convention run deep and, out of boredom as much as anything else, begins to indulge in hateful games, manipulating the fates of all who enter her orbit...she eventually goes too far, setting in motion a string of riveting, ultimately tragic events," according to press notes.

Hedda Gabler was a sold-out hit in Sydney in 2004. The BAM production will feature sets by Fiona Crombie, costumes by Kristian Fredrikson, lighting by Nick Schlieper, and original music by Alan John.

Blanchett, who was previously seen in a West End revival of Plenty, was also Oscar-nominated for her performance in Elizabeth--the film that boosted her to film stardom. Other movie credits include Little Fish, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Missing, Bandits and Veronica Guerin.

For tickets to Hedda Gabler (which is mostly sold out), visit www.bam.org.