Jeff Daniels & Michelle Williams to star in Blackbird

Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels and three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will officially return to Broadway in David Harrower's Blackbird, directed by Joe Mantello. Previews begin on 5 February 2016 at the Belasco Theatre, before an official opening on 10 March and a limited 18-week run through to 12 June 2016.

Synopsis: "Blackbird explores the relationship between the middle-aged Ray and the now 27-year-old Una. The two last encountered each other 15 years earlier, when Ray was taken into custody following their illegal sexual affair. Despite Ray's attempts to form a new identity, Una finds him and confronts him at his office."

The play originally premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 2005, and later transferred to London's West End to win the 2007 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Play. The drama's off-Broadway premiere was staged by the Manhattan Theatre Club and helmed by Joe Mantello at New York City Center Stage I in Spring 2007, starring Jeff Daniels alongside Allison Pill.

The creative team behind Blackbird features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Ann Roth, and lighting design by Brian MacDevitt.

Blackbird is produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin.

Jeff Daniels earned a Tony nomination in 2009 for his performance in 'God of Carnage.' His other Broadway credits include 'Redwood Curtain,' 'The Golden Age,' and 'Fifth of July.' His off-Broadway credits include 'Blackbird,' 'Lemon Sky,' and 'Three Sisters,' amongst others. He won an Emmy Award in 2013 for his role as Will McAvoy in 'The Newsroom,' along with two further Emmy nominations in 2014 and 2015. He also has a total of four Golden Globe nominations. His most notable screen credits include 'Dumb and Dumber,' 'The Martian,' 'Looper,' 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' 'The Squid and the Whale,' '101 Dalmatians,' and 'Speed.'

Michelle Williams made her Broadway debut in 2014 as Sally Bowles in the Roundabout revival of 'Cabaret.' She also appeared in the off-Broadway productions of 'Smelling a Rat' and 'Killer Joe.' She has been nominated for three Academy Awards: 'My Week with Marilyn' (2012), 'Blue Valentine' (2011), and 'Brokeback Mountain' (2006). She also won a Golden Globe and earned a BAFTA nomination for 'My Week with Marilyn,' received a Golden Globe nomination for 'Blue Valentine', and a further Golden Globe nomination and BAFTA nomination for 'Brokeback Mountain.' Her other notable screen credits include 'Dawson's Creek,' 'Shutter Island,' 'Suite Française,' and 'Oz the Great and Powerful.'

- by Tom Millward