Jan Maxwell to Star in Broadway's Coram Boy

Principal casting has been announced for the Broadway company of Coram Boy, The National Theatre's production of the play adapted by Helen Edmundson from the award-winning novel by Jamila Gavin, with direction by Melly Still. Tickets will go sale beginning Sunday, February 18.

The play will begin preview performances on Monday, April 16 and will open on Wednesday, May 2 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street).

The cast of 40 will feature Jolly Abraham (Bombay Dreams) as "Molly," Uzo Aduba as "Toby," Jacqueline Antaramian (Julius Caesar) as "Mrs. Hendry," Bill Camp (Heartbreak House) as "Otis Gardiner," Dashiell Eaves (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) as "adult Thomas Ledbury," Xanthe Elbrick as "young Alexander/Aaron," Tom Riis Farrell (Dirty Blonde) as "Thomas Claymore," Brad Fleischer (Pig Farm) as "Meshak," Karron Graves as "Isobel Ashbrook," Laura Heisler as "Edward Ashbrook," Angela Lin as "Miss Price," David Macdonald (Two Shakespearean Actors) as "Lord Ashbrook," Quentin Maré (Julius Caesar) as "Frederic Handel," Tony Award-nominee Jan Maxwell (Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang) as "Mrs. Lynch," Kathleen McNenny (The Constant Wife) as "Mrs. Milcote," Cristin Milioti (The Lieutenant of Inishmore) as "Alice Ashbrook," Charlotte Parry (The Real Thing) as "young Thomas Ledbury," Christina Rouner as "Lady Ashbrook," Ivy Vahanian as "Melissa/Angel," Wayne Wilcox (Suddenly Last Summer) as  "adult Alexander Ashbrook," along with an on-stage choir that will be announced shortly.

Currently playing to sold-out houses at The National Theatre in London, Coram Boy "is an epic adventure set in 18th-century England featuring more than 40 performers onstage along with seven musicians. Coram Boy has played two sold-out engagements at The National Theatre, winning the 2006 Time Out Live Best Play Award and receiving rave reviews from the UK critics," press notes state.

"The play is based on Jamila Gavin's best-selling novel, winner of the prestigious 2000 Whitbread Children's Book Award, which author Philip Pullman describes as "a rich and almost gothic drama, full of dastardly villains, cold-hearted aristocrats, devoted friends and passionate lovers, set against a background of cruelty, music and murder."

Coram Boy tells the tale of two orphans at the Coram Hospital for Deserted Children:  Toby, saved from an African slave ship and Aaron, the abandoned son of the heir to a great estate.  A story of fathers and sons, set in the dark heart of 18th-century England, Coram Boy is filled with danger and excitement. A thrilling adventure that is also moving and uplifting, the play is recommended for audiences ages 12 and older, adults, and young adults."

The play is designed by Ti Green and Melly Still, with lighting design by Paule Constable, music by Adrian Sutton and sound design by Christopher Shutt. The music director is Constantine Kitsopoulos and the fight director is Thomas Schall.

Coram Boy is the latest National Theatre production to be produced on Broadway by Boyett Ostar Productions.  Previous plays include Alan Bennett's Tony Award-winning Best Play, The History Boys, directed by NT Director, Nicholas Hytner, as well as the recent productions of Jumpers, Democracy and The Pillowman.

Beginning Sunday, February 18th, tickets are available to the general public by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200, (800) 432-7250 outside the NY metro area, or online at www.Telecharge.com. Beginning Monday, March 26th, tickets will be available at the Imperial Theatre box office (249 West 45th Street).

Tickets prices range from $56.25 - $101.25. All prices include a $1.25 facility fee.

 Photo of Jan Maxwell by Linda Lenzi