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The Present Broadway Original Cast


The Present Broadway

Variously known as Platonov, Wild Honey, Fatherlessness and The Disinherited, Anton Chekhov's untitled first play was not discovered until 1920, some 16 years after the playwright's death.

Andrew Upton's adaptation is set post-Perestroika in the mid-1990s at an old country house where friends gather to celebrate the birthday of the independent but compromised widow Anna Petrovna (Blanchett). At the center is the acerbic and witty Platonov (Roxburgh) with his wife, his former students and friends and their partners. They may appear comfortable, but boiling away inside is a mess of unfinished, unresolved relationships, fuelled by twenty years of denial, regret and thwarted desire.

Original

Anna Bamford, a graduate of WAAPA in 2012, has an impressive theatre background including her role in The Present with the Sydney Theatre Company (STC), alongside her notable television appearances in "Wonderland" and "Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries." more...

Cate Blanchett made her Broadway debut in 2017 in "The Present," earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Play. more...

Andrew Buchanan, known for his dynamic performances with Queensland Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, and La Boite Theatre Company, brought his extensive stage experience to the cast of The Present, showcasing his versatility honed through roles in classics like Macbeth and Hamlet, as well as contemporary productions such as God of Carnage and Cosi. more...

David Downer, one of Australia's most accomplished actors, has an extensive repertoire, including his notable performance with the Sydney Theatre Company in "The Present." more...

Martin Jacobs, known for his extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and leading roles across Australia, brought his seasoned talent to the cast of The Present, enriching the production with his diverse experience in theatre, television, and film. more...

Brandon McClelland, an accomplished actor who starred in The Present with the Sydney Theatre Company, graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 2012 and has since garnered notable accolades, including a 2015 Logie Award nomination for Most Outstanding Newcomer. more...

Multi-award-winning actor Jacqueline McKenzie, best known for her role as Diana Skouris in the hit CBS series The 4400, made her Broadway debut in The Present. more...

Marshall Napier, who has an extensive theatre background including his role in The Present with the Sydney Theatre Company (STC), has also appeared in numerous feature films such as Down Under and Griff the Invisible, and television series like "Love Child" and "The Moodys." more...

Susan Prior, who starred in Andrew Upton's Riflemind, directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman, brings her extensive theatre experience, including 10 plays for the Sydney Theatre Company, to her role in The Present. more...

Chris Ryan's extensive theatre work includes his performance in Sydney Theatre Company's production of The Present, showcasing his versatile talent alongside other notable productions like All My Sons and Cyrano De Bergerac. more...

Toby Schmitz, an accomplished Australian actor known for his extensive work in theatre, film, and television, recently showcased his talent in Andrew Upton's The Present, where he performed alongside Cate Blanchett with the Sydney Theatre Company. more...

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Awards and Nominations


2017 Drama Desk Awards
Outstanding Actress in a Play: Cate Blanchett was nominated but did not win.

2017 Tony Awards
Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Cate Blanchett was nominated but did not win.
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