Chuck Cooper completes the cast of The Cherry Orchard

Tony winner Chuck Cooper completes casting for the Roundabout Theatre Company's upcoming revival of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, which will run for a limited season at the American Airlines Theatre from 15 September to 4 December 2016, with an official opening on 16 October 2016.

Mr Cooper joins the previously announced Diane Lane (Ranevskaya), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Varya), Joel Grey (Firs), Tavi Gevinson (Anya), John Glover (Gaev), and Harold Perrineau (Lopakhin), with Tina Benko, Susannah Flood, Maurice Jones, Quinn Mattfeld, Aaron Clifton Moten, Peter Bradbury, Philip Kerr, Lise Bruneau, Jacqueline Jarrold, Ian Lassiter and Carl Hendrick Louis.

This new production of The Cherry Orchard will be adapted by Tony Award winner Stephen Karam (The Humans), and directed by Simon Godwin.

Described as Anton Chekhov's "masterpiece about a family on the edge of ruin-and a country on the brink of revolution", the play follows Lyubov Ranevskaya and her family's return to their fabled orchard to forestall its foreclosure. It captures a people-and a world-in transition, and presents us with a picture of humanity in all its glorious folly.

First produced in Moscow in 1904, this bittersweet comedy will return Diane Lane to Chekhov, having made her Broadway debut as a child in the 1977 revival of the same play.

The production features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Michael Krass, lighting design by Donald Holder, sound design by Christopher Cronin, movement by Jonathan Goddard and original music by Nico Muhly.

Chuck Cooper won a Tony Award in 1997 for 'The Life.' He last appeared on the Broadway stage in 'Amazing Grace' in 2015. His other Broadway credits include 'Act One,' 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Finian's Rainbow,' 'Lennon,' 'Caroline, or Change,' 'Chicago,' 'Getting Away With Murder,' 'Passion,' 'Someone Who'll Watch Over Me,' 'Rumors,' and 'Amen Corner.'

- by Dom O'Hanlon

Chuck Cooper

Originally published on

Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock exclusive New York theatre updates!

Special offers, reviews and release dates for the best shows in town.

You can unsubscribe at any time. Privacy Policy