Roundabout Theatre Company presents Design for Living directed
by Joe Mantello
Starring Alan Cumming, Jennifer Ehle, Dominic West
Performances begin Friday, February 16 opening Thursday,
March 15 at the American Airlines Theatre
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Design for Living at the American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street).Design for Living begins previews Friday, February 16th, 2001; with an opening night scheduled for Thursday, March 15th, 2001.
Directed by Joe Mantello, Design for Living stars Alan Cumming (Otto), Jennifer Ehle (Gilda), Dominic West (Leo) and features Marisa Berenson (Grace), John Cunningham (Ernest), T. Scott Cunningham (Henry) and Jenny Sterling (Miss Hodge).
Design for Living is a witty, sophisticated comedy that takes a trio of decadent artists on a scintillating romp through London, Paris and New York in search of true love in the year 1932. Otto the painter, Leo the playwright and Gilda, the impulsive beauty who decorates interiors, are all in love - with each other. When the burden of Otto and Leo's battle for Gilda's attentions becomes too much for her to bear, she bows out on them both and marries a dependable art dealer. Two years later, Gilda is met by Otto and Leo who show up on her doorstep.
Noel Coward's sensuous ménage à trois comedy was written in 1932, and was to become one of Noel Coward's greatest successes.
Biographies:
Jennifer Ehle (Gilda) received a Tony Award for Best Actress and an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for her role as Annie in The Real Thing. Theatre: For the Royal National Theatre: Summerfolk; for the Royal Shakespeare Company: The Relapse, The Painter of Dishonour and Richard III (1996 season); also: Tartuffe (Playhouse), Breaking the Code (Tour). Television: Melissa, Pride and Prejudice (BAFTA Best Actress Award), Beyond Reason, Pleasure, Self Catering, The Maitlands, Micky Love and The Camomile Lawn. Film: Possession, Sunshine (Genie Award nomination for Best Actress), This Year's Love, Bedrooms and Hallways, Wilde (BAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress), Paradise Road and Backbeat.
The original production of Design For Living opened on Broadway on February 6th, 1933 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The production starred Alfred Lunt as Otto, Lynn Fontanne as Gilda and Noel Coward as Leo who also directed the play. Design For Living was revived at The Circle In The Square Theatre on June 20th, 1984. The revival production starred Jill Clayburgh as Gilda, Raul Julia as Leo and Frank Langella as Otto, directed by George C. Scott.
Dominic West is appearing with permission of Actors' Equity Association pursuant to an exchange program between American Equity and British Equity.
Design for Living will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. with Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday matinees at 2:00 p.m.., with the following exceptions: Early 7:00PM curtains on February 20, 21, 22, 23 and March 13, 14, 16, 17; 7:30PM Sunday evening performance on February 18; there is no performance on March 8. Tickets will go on sale first week in Feb.
Tickets range from $40-$65 and are available by calling Roundabout Ticket Services at 212-719-1300 or at the box office at the American Airlines Theatre at 227 West 42nd Street.