Holland Taylor to Lead Pre-Broadway Run of ANN at Kennedy Center, 12/17-1/15

Ann, a new play written and performed by Emmy Award-winning actress Holland Taylor, is a no holds barred portrait of the unforgettable governor of the Lone Star State, Ann Richards. Directed by Benjamin Klein, with scenic design by Michael Fagin, costume design by Julie Weiss, lighting design by Matthew Richards, projection design by Zachary Borovay, sound design by Ken Huncovsky and wig design by Paul Huntley, Ann is produced by Bob Boyett.

Holland Taylor steps into the shoes of Ann Richards, the impassioned governor of Texas who dedicated her life to empowering, expanding, and enriching the lives of her constituents, friends, and family. Ann is an inspiring and hilarious play that brings you face to face with a complex, colorful, and captivating character bigger than the state from which she hailed. Holland Taylor takes the audience on a journey, swirling together the past and present to reunite Ann Richards with old friends and introduce her to a new generation.

Ann began as a "project" and quest for Ms. Taylor to understand what it was about this housewife, mother, grandmother, leader and iconic patriot that affected so many people so deeply. Writing the play became a three year journey for Ms. Taylor, crisscrossing the country, interviewing people who knew the Governor, watching countless hours of video coverage, and pouring over reams of Richards' personal and public papers at the University of Texas. In the end, her greatest resources were the family, friends, staff, and colleagues of the Governor who allowed Ms. Taylor to "know" Ann Richards.

No stranger to playing strong women, Holland Taylor has performed on stage, screen and television portraying a range of characters as varied as a Harvard law professor in Legally Blonde, a sultry judge in The Practice (Supporting Actress Emmy for Drama) and the mother of Charlie Sheen and Jon Cryer in Two and a Half Men. Taylor has also played both ends of the political spectrum with conviction, from conservative Nancy Reagan on the right to Ann Richards on the left. The New Yorker has called Holland Taylor "the first vaudeville Gentile we ever saw." Her long list of credits includes Baby Mama and Romancing the Stone. She can currently be seen on CBS's top?rated Two and a Half Men. Her New York stage performances include Bess in Breakfast with Les and Bess, the original productions of Butley opposite Alan Bates, and A.R. Gurney's The Cocktail Hour. Ms. Taylor is active at the Stella Adler Schools and has given talks about the work and cultural contribution of this great teacher.

Performances of Ann will run December 17, 2011 to January 15, 2012 in the Eisenhower Theater evenings at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Additional matinee performances will take place on December 22 and January 12. There will be no matinee performances on December 17 and 25 and no evening performances on December 18, 24, and January 15. Tickets are on sale and start at $54. The evening performance on December 31 begins at 8:30 p.m. and includes admission into the Kennedy Center's New Year's Eve party in the Grand Foyer. Purchases can be made in-person at the box office, online, or by calling (202) 467-4600 or (800) 444-1324 . Subscription packages are available for purchase by calling (202) 416-8500 or by visiting kennedy-center.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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