Arcadia: Tom Stoppard revival coming to Broadway

Tom Stoppard's 1995 Tony-nominated Arcadia will return to New York this spring for a limited engagement in a new production directed by five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux.

Arcadia will open at the Ethel Barrymore Theatr on 17 Mar 2011, following previews from 25 Feb, where it will play a limited engagement through to 19 Jun 2011.

In a statement, playwright Sir Tom Stoppard said, "Since its first production in 1993, Arcadia has become the play of mine which has been done the most in the U.S., so I'm really delighted that it's coming back to New York. David Leveaux and I have had very good experiences on Broadway with 'Jumpers' and 'The Real Thing,' so I'm especially pleased that Arcadia is returning under his direction."

The production is arriving on Broadway from London's West End, where it played at the Duke of York's Theatre from 27 May - 12 Sep 2009, where it opened to mostly excellent reviews: A toothsome entertainment that also thrills...curious, sophisticated and killingly funny (Evening Standard); Poignant and touching revival...an evening that gives such pure uncomplicated pleasure (The Independent); David Leveaux's strongly acted revival leaves me feeling that it's Sir Tom's finest play (The Times); The depth, breadth and scope of the play are exhilarating (Financial Times).

Arcadia is set in April 1809 in a stately home in Derbyshire. 'Thomasina,' a gifted pupil, proposes a startling theory, beyond her comprehension. All around her, the adults, including her tutor 'Septimus,' are preoccupied with secret desires, illicit passions and professional rivalries. Two hundred years later, academic adversaries 'Hannah' and 'Bernard' (Lia Williams and Billy Crudup) are piecing together puzzling clues, curiously recalling those events of 1809, in their quest for an increasingly elusive truth.

The Broadway production's cast will feature Margaret Colin, Billy Crudup, Raúl Esparza, Glenn Fleshler, Grace Gummer, Edward James Hyland, Byron Jennings, Bel Powley, Tom Riley, Noah Robbins, David Turner and Lia Williams.

Billy Crudup, who received a 2007 Tony Award for his performance in Stoppard's 'The Coast of Utopia,' made his Broadway debut in the 1995 production of Arcadia, in the role of 'Septimus Hodge.' In this upcoming production, he will play 'Bernard Nightingale.' Crudup also received Tony nominations for his work in 'The Pillowman' (2005), and 'The Elephant Man' (2002).

Raul Esparza (Valentine Coverly) has received four Tony Award nominations for starring roles on Broadway in 'Speed the Plow' (2009), 'The Homecoming' (2008), 'Company' (2007) and 'Taboo' (2004).

Lia Williams (Hannah Jarvis) made her Broadway debut in David Hare's 'Skylight' for which see received a 1997 Tony Award nomination (and an Olivier Award nomination in London).

David Leveaux's previous collaborations with Tom Stoppard include the Tony Award-winning revival of 'The Real Thing' (which also played at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Broadway) and the Tony-nominated revival of 'Jumpers.' For both productions, he received Tony Award nominations for his direction. He also received Tony nominations for his direction of 'Nine,' 'Anna Christie,' and 'A Moon for the Misbegotten.'

Arcadia is produced on Broadway by Sonia Friedman Productions, Roger Berlind, Stephanie P. McClelland, Scott M. Delman, Robert G. Bartner, Olympus Theatricals and Doug Smith.

The creative team for Arcadia will be announced at a later date.