Casting complete for The Real Thing

The Roundabout Theatre Company have announced Ronan Raftery as the final member of the cast of its upcoming revival production of Tom Stoppard's The Real Thing, directed by Sam Gold, which will open at the American Airlines Theatre on 30 Oct 2014, following previews from 02 Oct 2014, where it will play a limited engagement through to 04 Jan 2015.

Mr Raftery will take on the role of Billy. A native of Dublin, Ireland, his theatre credits include the Shakespeare's Globe production of 'The Comedy of Errors', as well as the National Theatre productions of 'Juno and the Paycock' and 'The Silver Tassie', and the West End production of 'The Shawshank Redemption' at the Wyndham's Theatre.

The full cast of The Real Thing therefore includes Oscar nominee Maggie Gyllenhaal (Annie), Bafta Award winner Ewan McGregor (Henry), (who will both be making their Broadway debuts), Tony Award winner Cynthia Nixon (Charlotte), Josh Hamilton (Max), Alex Breaux (Brodie), Madeline Weinstein (Debbie) and Ronan Raftery (Billy).

Synopsis: "Henry (Ewan McGregor) is a playwright not so happily married to Charlotte (Cynthia Nixon), the lead actress in his play about a marriage on the verge of collapse. When Henry's affair with their friend Annie (Maggie Gyllenhaal) threatens to destroy his own marriage, he discovers that life has started imitating art. After Annie leaves her husband so she and Henry can begin a new life together, he can't help but wonder whether their love is fiction or The Real Thing."

The creative team behind The Real Thing features scenic design by David Zinn, costumes by Kaye Voyce, lighting by Mark Barton and sound design by Bray Poor.

Tom Stoppard is a British playwright whose Broadway credits include 'Rock 'n' Roll' (Tony nomination), 'The Coast of Utopia: Parts 1, 2 and 3' (Tony Awards), 'The Invention of Love' (Tony nomination), 'Arcadia' (Tony nomination), 'The Real Inspector Hound and The Fifteen Minute Hamlet,' 'Artist Descending a Staircase,' 'The Real Thing' (Tony Award), 'Night and Day,' 'Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth,' 'Dirty Linen & New-Found-Land,' 'Travesties' (Tony Award), 'Jumpers' and 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead' (Tony Award).

The Real Thing premiered on Broadway in 1984 starring Jeremy Irons as 'Henry' and Glenn Close as 'Annie,' directed by Mike Nichols. The show won the Tony Award for Best Play, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress.

It was revived on Broadway in 2000 starring Stephen Dillane as 'Henry' and Jennifer Ehle as 'Annie,' directed by David Leveaux. Once again it won Tony's for the show's two major principal cast members, as well as a Tony for Best revival, and a nomination for David Leveaux for Best Director.

- by Tom Millward