Equus plays final performance on Broadway

The Broadway revival of Peter Shaffer's Tony Award-winning drama, Equus, plays its final performance on 8 Feb 2009, as scheduled. The show played 156 regular performances and 21 previews.

The drama opened at the Broadhurst Theatre on 25 Sep 2008, following previews from 5 Sep 2008.

The show received mostly good reviews: "A shimmering piece of theater. Equus is a don't miss." (NY Theatre Guide); "Oddly arid revival ." (NY Times); "He's (Radcliffe) terrific and gives a passionate performance." (NY Daily News); "Equus is a dramatic symphony scintillatingly played" (Back Stage).

Actor Daniel Radcliffe, star of the 'Harry Potter' movies made his Broadway debut in the play. The production caused controversy when it opened in London because Radcliffe - 17 years old at the time - appeared in full nudity (as he does on Broadway). The role almost cost Radcliffe his contract in the future 'Harry Potter' movies, with the producers initially expression concern that Radcliffe may no longer be suitable to play the 'innocent' child wizard, loved by millions of children who read JK Rowlings' popular novels.

Radcliffe is joined by fellow 'Harry Potter' movie actor Richard Griffiths, who plays psychiatrist 'Martin Dysart'. Much loved British actor Richard Griffith's recently came to the attention of Broadway audiences when he played the leading role of 'Hector' in Alan Bennett's 'The History Boys', for which he received a 2006 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play.

Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths revive their roles for the Broadway production of Peter Shaffer's Equus, which played to full houses at London's Gielgud Theatre from 27 Feb - 9 Jun 2007

The cast also features Kate Mulgrew, Anna Camp, Carolyn McCormick, Lorenzo Pisoni, T. Ryder Smith, Graeme Malcolm and Sandra Shipley, along with Collin Baja, Tyrone Jackson, Spencer Liff, Adesola Osakalumi and Marc Spaulding.

In Equus, Alan Strang seems a normal, obedient 17-year old with a passion for horses. Then one night he blinds six horses with a hoof pick. What drove him to it? His life seems routine, his family loving and his pursuits harmless, and yet he has been placed under psychiatric surveillance - an unresponsive patient who is woken each night by terrible nightmares. Only psychiatrist Martin Dysart seems able to grasp the answer to this psychological puzzle.

The play caused controversy because actor Daniel Radcliffe (Alan Strang) appears in full Equus is being produced on Broadway by David Pugh and Dafydd Rogers."

As in the London production Equus will be directed by Thea Sharrock, who will be making her Broadway debut. Her London credits include: 'Voyage Round My Father' (2006), 'Heroes' (2005), 'Blythe Spirit' (2004), 'Free' (2002) and 'Top Girls' (2002).

The Broadway production is designed by John Napier, with lighting design by David Hersey and sound design by Gregory Clarke.

Equus was first produced on Broadway in 1974, and ran for 1209 performance. That production, which starred Peter Firth as 'Alan Strang' and Anthony Hopkins as 'Martin Dysart' and was directed by John Dexter, won two 1975 Tony Awards, Best Play and Best Director.

The 1977 movie adaptation of the play, starred Peter Firth and Richard Burton, was nominated for three Oscar's and earned Jenny Agutter a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role as 'Jill Mason'.