New Actors to Fill in for 3 History Boys Stars this Summer

A trio of actors--all of whom appeared in The History Boys in its London run at The National Theatre--will fill in for members of that show's current Broadway cast in the coming months.

From July 18th through July 23rd, Desmond Barrit (A Midsummer Night's Dream on Broadway) will step in for Richard Griffiths, who won this year's Best Actor in a Play Tony Award. The latter will be shooting a film. Maggie Steed ("Shine On Harvest Moon") will replace France de la Tour--who also won a Tony--from July 12th through August 20th. On those same dates, Olivier Award-nominee Malcolm Sinclair will assume Clive Merrison's role.

The play which recently netted the 2006 Tony Award for Best Play, recently extended its limited run through October 1st; it was originally to have closed on September 3rd.

The History Boys won six of its seven Tony nominations. In addition to Best Play, it won Best Director of a Play (Nicholas Hytner), Best Leading Actor in a Play (Griffiths), Best Featured Actress in a Play (de la Tour), Best Set Design of a Play (Bob Crowley), and Best Lighting Design of a Play (Mark Henderson). The play has won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Olivier, Evening Standard and London Critics' Circle Awards for Best Play. It also recently recouped its investment, and its box office intake was doubled upon the Tony wins.

The History Boys opened Sunday, April 23 at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) after previews beginning Friday, April 14. "An unruly bunch of bright, funny sixth-form boys in pursuit of sex, sport and a place at university. A maverick English teacher at odds with the young and shrewd supply teacher. A headmaster obsessed with results and a history teacher who thinks he's a fool. Alan Bennett's The History Boys is about staffroom rivalry, the anarchy of adolescence and the purpose of education," according to press notes.

Performances are Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00 PM, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2:00 PM, Sunday at 3:00 PM at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street. Tickets are available through www.telecharge.com or by calling 212-239-6200, and at the Broadhurst Theatre box office.