Irwin & Turner Virginia Woolf? Plays Chicago 3/27-4/8

By: BWW News Desk Feb. 28, 2007

Edward Albee's beloved classic WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? starring Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin will appear in Chicago for a limited engagement as part of its five-city, five-month national tour. The award-winning and critically acclaimed production will play the LaSalle Bank Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) from March 27 through April 8, 2007.

When Kathleen Turner and Bill Irwin – who earned the 2005 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance as George – opened on Broadway in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? in 2005, the critics were unanimous in their praise of the production and its players: Ben Brantley of The New York Times hailed the production as "a pulse racing masterpiece. As Martha, Kathleen Turner secures her berth as a first-rate, depth-probing actress in a stunning, gorgeous performance. The brilliant Bill Irwin's George is boldly conceived and chilling." Ms. Turner and Mr. Irwin are joined by Kathleen Early as Honey and David Furr as Nick.

The Broadway production received six 2005 Tony Award nominations, including Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Revival of a Play and Best Costume Design. In addition to the Tony Award to Mr. Irwin in 2005, Edward Albee received a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the theatre.

"WOOLF" then went on to play the West End in 2006 and earned Ms. Turner an Evening Standard Award for Best Actress. London's Daily Telegraph raved, "Kathleen Turner is sensational, and Bill Irwin triumphs. They are the most thrilling double act on the London stage."

In WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, Mr. Irwin and Ms. Turner portray one of the most vivid and famous couples ever written for the stage, George and Martha, for whom marriage is a battleground in Mr. Albee's hilarious and deeply moving play. Mr. Furr, as Nick, and Ms. Early, as Honey, portray the young academic couple who become blood sport during a booze-drenched party at George and Martha's.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? has stood at the cornerstone of Edward Albee's career since the play became an overnight sensation in 1961, and won the playwright his first Tony Award.

In addition to WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, Ms. Turner also appeared on Broadway in THE GRADUATE, INDISCRETIONS, and an acclaimed revival of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, for which she received her first Tony Award nomination. Her numerous film credits include "Body Heat," "Romancing the Stone," "War of the Roses," "Accidental Tourist," "Prizzi's Honor," and "Peggy Sue Got Married," for which she received a Best Actress Oscar nomination.

Along with his Tony winning performance in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Mr. Irwin has also appeared on Broadway opposite Sally Field in Edward Albee's THE GOAT, FULL MOON, LARGELY NEW YORK, THE REGARD OF FLIGHT and ACCIDENTAL DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST. New York's Signature Theatre devoted its entire 2003-2004 season to his work. His films include Woody Allen's "Scenes from a Mall" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

David Furr portrayed Nick in the Broadway engagement of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? He recently received critical acclaim for his performance in Denver Center Theater Company's production of ALL MY SONS, winning a Henry Award for supporting actor in a play. Kathleen Early portrayed Girl in the Off-Broadway production of Mr. Albee's THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY. Ms. Early has toured nationally as Juliet in ROMEO & JULIET, and originated roles for tours by TheatreWorks/USA.

Mr. Albee is the three-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of such celebrated plays as THE ZOO STORY, AMERICAN DREAM, TINY ALICE, A DELICATE BALANCE (Pulitzer Prize and 1996 Tony Award for Best Play Revival), SEASCAPE (Pulitzer Prize), THREE TALL WOMEN (Pulitzer Prize), THE PLAY ABOUT THE BABY and THE GOAT, which earned him his second Best Play Tony Award in 2002.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? is directed by Anthony Page, who previously directed the London productions of A DELICATE BALANCE, THREE TALL WOMEN and THE GOAT. He received the Best Director Tony Award in 1997 for A DOLL'S HOUSE. WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski and sound design by Mark Bennett & Michael Creason.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? is produced by Elizabeth Ireland McCann, Daryl Roth, Scott Rudin, Terry Allen Kramer, Roger Berlind, James L. Nederlander and Nick Simunek. Joey Parnes serves as the Executive Producer.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? appears in a limited engagement at Chicago's LaSalle Bank Theatre (18 W. Monroe St.) from March 27 – April 8, 2007. The performance schedule is as follows:

Tuesday, March 27                  8:00 pm
Wednesday, March 28             7:30 pm
Thursday, March 29                 7:30 pm
Friday, March 30                     8:00 pm
Saturday, March 31                  2 & 8 pm
Sunday, April 1                        2:00 pm
Tuesday, April 3                       7:30 pm
Wednesday, April 4                  7:30 pm
Thursday, April 5                      7:30 pm
Friday, April 6                          8:00 pm
Saturday, April 7                      2 & 8 pm
Sunday, April 8                        2:00 pm

Tickets range in price from $22.50 - $72.50 and are available at Broadway In Chicago Box Offices (18 W. Monroe, 24 W. Randolph St. and 151 W. Randolph St.), through the Broadway In Chicago Ticket Line at (312) 902-1400, at all Ticketmaster ticket centers (including all Carson Pirie Scott stores, Hot Tix, select Coconuts and fye stores) or online at ticketmaster.com. Groups of 20 or more may receive a discount by calling (312) 977-1710.

WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? is part of the 2007 Walgreens Broadway In Chicago Season Series.

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