May 17, 2007

Stoppard's 'Rock 'N' Roll' to hit Broadway in October

Tom Stoppard's newest play, "Rock 'N' Roll," will begin its Broadway run October 19 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre with opening night set for November 4, according to the New York Times. Primary members of the British cast, including Rufus Sewell, will make the transfer as well.

The witty and poignant drama is set in Communist-era Czechoslovakia with significant trips to Cambridge, England. It deals with the trade-offs made to protect ideas complex and as simple as having the freedom to play your rock 'n' roll records. Stoppard, who was born Czech but raised in England, dedicated the play to dramatist and former Czech president Vaclav Havel, who attended the London premier along with Mick Jagger. They're both referenced in the play itself, along with the likes of Syd Barrett, (who lived a secluded life in Cambridge after departing Pink Floyd,) the Beach Boys and Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention.

"Rock N Roll" premiered in England last year, where it was named best new play by the London Critics' Circle. Trevor Nunn directed there, as he will on Broadway. For his turn as Czech dissident Jan, Sewell won the Olivier, London Evening Standard and London Critics’ Circle awards. Other members of the cast making the transfer to Broadway include Brian Cox, Sinead Cusack, Nicole Ansari and Alice Eve, according to the NY Times report.

Ticket information will be announced shortly, Playbill reports.

Stoppard's three-part "The Coast of Utopia" closed on Broadway this past weekend and is up for 10 Tony awards.

Earlier: 'Spring Awakening,' 'Utopia' lead Tony nominations
Stoppard's 'Rock 'n' Roll' coming to Broadway in fall
Havel in residence and Plastic People of the Universe
Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden for ... fried cheese

May 17, 2007 11:51 AM in Broadway

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