Inherit the Wind Begins Broadway Previews, March 19

Performances of Inherit the Wind begin tonight, Monday, March 19th. Tony Award-winner Christopher Plummer and Tony Award-winner Brian Dennehy star in the production, which will play a limited engagement, through July 6th at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street), directed by Tony Award-winner Doug Hughes.

The play "is a fictionalized retelling of the famous 1925 "Monkey Trial," in which science teacher John Scopes was tried and convicted for teaching Darwin's theory of evolution, violating a Tennessee law that forbade teaching any theory that conflicted with the biblical conception of divine creation.  Mr. Dennehy will play the role of attorney Matthew Harrison Brady (based on William Jennings Bryan), and Mr. Plummer will play attorney Henry Drummond (based on Clarence Darrow)," state production notes.

Inherit the Wind, often considered one of the great plays of the twentieth century, first played on Broadway in 1955 at The National Theatre (now the Nederlander), with Paul Muni and Ed Begley earning Tony Awards for their performances as Drummond and Brady, respectively.  The popular 1960 movie version starred Spencer Tracy and FredEric March, and three television adaptations have also been filmed.   

The play will be produced on Broadway by Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Lawrence Horowitz, Jon Avnet/Ralph Guild, Roy Furman, Debra Black/Daryl Roth, Bill Rollnick/Nancy Ellison Rollnick, and Stephanie McClelland.

Oscar nominated- and Tony Award-winning designer Santo Loquasto will design the sets and costumes for the production.   Brian MacDevitt is the lighting designer. Original music and sound design is by David Van Tieghem. 

Tickets are available by calling Telecharge at 212 239 6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com, and at the Lyceum Theatre box office (149 West 45th Street).  Regular ticket prices are $76.25 - $96.25. Premium pricing is $176.25 - $251.25. Special on-stage seating is $36.25.  Visit www.InheritTheWindOnBroadway.com.

Photo of Brian Dennehy by Mark Rupp