Photo Flash: In Rehearsal with TACT's THE KILLING OF SISTER GEORGE

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre, the critically-acclaimed and Drama Desk nominated Off-Broadway company, presents the first New York revival in 30 years of The Killing of Sister George, the controversial 1964 play by Frank Marcus. The first production of the company's 22nd Season will be directed by TACT Company Member Drew Barr, who directed the company's Fall 2012 production of Brian Friel's Lovers. Performances begin at Theatre Row's Beckett Theatre (410 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Avenues) on Tuesday, September 23, 2014. Opening night is set for Tuesday, October 7 at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through November 1, 2014. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

In The Killing of Sister George, gin-swilling, cigar-chomping June Buckridge plays the beloved Sister George on the popular BBC Radio drama,Applehurst. When it looks like BBC executives might kill off Sister George to raise ratings, June's precarious personal world heads into a tailspin.

The cast will include TACT Company Members Cynthia Harris (Lost in Yonkers, The Cocktail Party, TACT Co-Artistic Director Emeritus), Darrie Lawrence (Tales From Red Vienna, Children), Margot White (The Farnsworth Invention, Romersholm) and Guest Artist Caitlin O'Connell (Mothers and Sons, 33 Variations) making her TACT debut.

The creative team is comprised of Narelle Sissons (sets and costumes), Mary Louise Geiger (lights), and Daniel Kluger (sound and original music). Jeff Meyers is Production Stage Manager and Kelly Burns is Assistant Stage Manager.

The Killing of Sister George, the groundbreaking drama about the nature of sexual identity, power and politics in a changing world, was first produced in England in 1964, where after an unsuccessful tour it opened in the West End's Duke of York Theatre with a cast that included Beryl Reid, Eileen Atkins and Lally Bowers and became something of a sensation. The Evening Standard named it Best Play for 1965 (joint award with John Osborne's A Patriot For Me) and awarded Ms. Atkins as Best Actress. The following year, the ladies travelled across the pond to open at the Belasco Theatre, while the West End production transferred to the St. Martin's Theatre with a cast that included Hermione Baddeley in the title role. Ms. Reid was awarded the 1967 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her portrayal of June while Ms. Atkins was nominated. In 1968, the play was adapted for the screen and the film starred Ms. Reid (recreating her stage role), Susannah York and Coral Browne. Due to the graphic nature of one of the scenes, the film received the newly created 'X' rating severely limiting its screening ability and it quickly disappeared. Ms. Reid was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress in a Drama. TACT's production will be the first time the play has been seen in New York in 30 years.

The Killing of Sister George will play the following performance schedule: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 - $58.00 and are available by visiting www.telecharge.com or calling (212) 239-6200. Tickets are also available at the Theatre Row box office (410 West 42nd Street (between 9th & 10th Avenues) between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. daily. To learn about the benefits of TACT membership, visit www.tactnyc.org or call (212) 645-8228.

Photo Credit: Marielle Solan Photography

Cynthia Harris, Darrie Lawrence, Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White

Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White

Cynthia Harris, Darrie Lawrence

Cynthia Harris, Caitlin O'Connell, Drew Barr, Margot White, Darrie Lawrence

Diane Brandt (TACT Advisory Council member), Margot White, Cynthia Harris, Drew Barr, Caitlin O'Connell

Darrie Lawrence, Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White, Cynthia Harris

Darrie Lawrence, Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White, Cynthia Harris

Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White, Cynthia Harris

Cynthia Harris

Darrie Lawrence, Caitlin O'Connell

Drew Barr, Darrie Lawrence, Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White, Cynthia Harris

Darrie Lawrence, Caitlin O'Connell, Margot White, Cynthia Harris