Bruce Willis to make Broadway debut in Misery
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures have officially announced that Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Bruce Willis will make his Broadway debut, alongside Obie Award winner Elizabeth Marvel in the stage adaptation of Stephen King's thriller Misery. The play is written by Academy Award winner William Goldman, directed by Will Frears, and expected to play a strictly limited engagement on Broadway (at a theatre yet to be named) in Fall 2015.
Producer Mark Kaufman released the following statement:
"Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures has a mission to explore new ways to tell our stories on stage while collaborating with the most creative artists working in theater today. Misery is an outstanding psychological thriller and we have been working closely with William Goldman and Will Frears to develop this play for Broadway. Bruce Willis, who is making his Broadway debut, and Elizabeth Marvel are two great actors who are absolutely perfect to play these characters. I expect this production will be a suspenseful and exciting night of theatre on Broadway."Synopsis: "Successful romance novelist Paul Sheldon (Willis) is rescued from a car crash by his 'Number One Fan,' Annie Wilkes (Marvel), and wakes up captive in her secluded home. While Paul is convalescing, Annie reads the manuscript to his newest novel and becomes enraged when she discovers the author has killed off her favorite character, Misery Chastain. Annie forces Paul to write a new 'Misery' novel, and he quickly realizes Annie has no intention of letting him go anywhere. The irate Annie has Paul writing as if his life depends on it, and if he does not make her deadline, it will."
The world premiere of Miserywas staged at Bucks County Playhouse in Fall 2012.
The creative team for Misery features scenic design by David Korins, lighting by David Weiner and sound design by Tony Award winner Darron West.
Misery is produced on Broadway by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures (Mark Kaufman), Castle Rock Entertainment (Martin Shafer & Liz Glotzer) and Raymond Wu.
Stephen King's novel was first published in June 1987, with a film adaptation following in 1990. The movie was directed by Rob Reiner and starred James Caan and Kathy Bates, with the latter winning an Oscar and Golden Globefor Best Actress for her performance.
Bruce Willis won both a Golden Globe and Emmy Award for 'Moonlighting' in 1987. He also received a Golden Globe nomination for 'In Country' in 1990, and won a second Emmy Award for guest starring in 'Friends' in 2000. His movie career includes such box office hits as the 'Die Hard,' 'Sin City,' 'The Expendables,' and 'RED,' franchises, along with 'The Sixth Sense,' 'The Fifth Element,' 'Armageddon,' 'G.I. Joe: Retaliation ,' 'Looper,' 'Unbreakable,' 'The Whole Nine Yards,' 'Twelve Monkeys,' and 'Pulp Fiction.'
Elizabeth Marvel's has previously appeared on Broadway in 'Picnic,' 'Other Desert Cities,' 'Top Girls,' 'Seascape,' 'An American Daughter,' 'Taking Sides,' and 'Saint Joan.' Her many off-Broadway credits include Obie Award-winning performances in 'Hedda Gabler,' 'A Streetcar Named Desire,' 'Therese Raquin,' and 'Misalliance.' On screen, she has appeared in 'House of Cards,' 'A Most Violent Year,' Lincoln,' 'True Grit,' 'Burn After Reading,' 'The Bourne Legacy,' and 'The District.'
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