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Elizabeth McGovern in Ava: The Secret Conversations. Credit: Jeff Lorch |
Elizabeth McGovern (
Downton Abbey, Time and the Conways) returns to the New York Stage this summer in
Ava: The Secret Conversations, which she also wrote. Based on a series of interviews legendary Hollywood star Ava Gardner held with writer Peter Evans, the production previously played Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse, and will begin previews at City Center's Stage I, July 30-Sept. 13, with an Aug. 7 opening. Aaron Costis Ganis (
Blue Bloods) will play Evans. Tony nominee Moritz von Stuelpnagle (
Hand to God, Present Laughter) directs. The interviews covered Gardner's storied film career which included
The Killers, Show Boat, The Barefoot Contessa, Mogambo, On the Beach, and
The Night of the Iguana, her marriages to Mickey Rooney, Artie Shaw, and Frank Sinatra, and her relationship with Howard Hughes. (Gardner's turbulent affair with George C. Scott and her romance with bullfighter Luis Miguel Dominguin are not mentioned in press materials.)
“I am beyond thrilled to bring ‘Ava: The Secret Conversations’ to New York,” McGovern said in a statement. “Gardner’s life was one of incredible complexity, and I feel so privileged to step into her world and share her story onstage at New York City Center this summer.” McGovern will also be seen on screen this fall in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the final installment in the TV and film franchise.
Jackman and Schreiber Go Audible: Hugh Jackman and Liev Schreiber will headline two plays in repertory Off-Broadway from Audible and Together, the production company headed by Jackman and
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Ella Beatty, Hugh Jackman, Liev Schreiber, Maggie Siff, and Justice Smith. |
Tony and Oliver-winning producer Sonia Friedman. Jackman and Ella Beatty (
Ghosts) will star in
Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes by Hannah Moscovitch (April 28--June 18) and Schreiber, Maggie Siff, and Justice Smith will co-star in Jen Silverman (
The Roommate)'s adaptation of August Strindberg's
Creditors (May 10--June 18). Both works will be directed by Ian Rickson and play the Minetta Lane Theater.
Misconduct will feature Jackman as a novelist who becomes involved with a promising student (Beatty).
Creditors (1888) is about a mysterious triangle at a seaside resort and was last seen in NYC at BAM in 2010 in a production directed by Alan Rickman.
Audible and Together will work with TDF to offer free tickets to 25% of the house at every performance to a range of community members who often experience barriers to attending theater such as seniors and students. In additions, 25% of tickets to every performance will be made available at $35 through a digital lottery and at the box office. Both plays will be recorded by Audible and made available at a later date.