Love Letters now stars Alan Alda and Candice Bergen

From the 9 November through to 5 December 2014 the rotating cast of the Broadway revival of A.R. Gurney's Love Letters, directed by Gregory Mosher, stars Alan Alda and Candice Bergen. The actors assume the roles from original cast member Brian Dennehy and from Carol Burnett, who both played their final performance on 8 Nov 2014.

Alan Alda (Andrew Makepiece Ladd III) is best known for his role as "Hawkeye Pierce" in the TV series "MAS*H" for which he won four Primetime Emmy Awards. Other TV credits include "The West Wing," "The Big C" and "The Blacklist". Alda was nominated for an Oscar for his role as "Senator Ralph Owen Brewster" in the movie "The Aviator." He last appeared on Broadway when he played 'Shelly Levene' in the 2005 revival of 'Glengarry Glen Ross,' for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.

Candice Bergen (Melissa Gardner) is best known for her leading role as " Murphy Brown" in the sit-com of the same name which ran for 10 years and for which she won five Primetime Emmy Awards. Other notable TV work includes 'Boston Legal' in which she starred as 'Shirley Schmidt'. Her film credits include 'Gandhi' for which she was nominated for a BAFTA Award and "Starting Over" which earned her an Academy Award nomination. Bergen has previously starred on Broadway in the 2012 revival of 'Gore Vidal's The Best Man' and the 1984 premiere of 'Hurlyburly.'

The rotating cast for Love Letters originally featured Brian Dennehy and Golden Globe winner Mia Farrow. Emmy Award winner and Tony nominee Carol Burnett took over from Mia Farrow on 11 October 2014.

The remaining cast schedule for the production is as follows:
Stacy Keach and Diana Rigg who will star from 6 December 2014 - 9 January 2015.
Martin Sheen and Anjelica Huston from 10 January 2015 - 15 Febuary 2015.

A.R. Gurney's Love Letters opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on 18 September 2014, following previews from 13 September, where it is scheduled to close on 15 February 2015.

The play opened to good reviews: Sweet, elegant and touching (NY Daily News); Craftily written (NY Post); Both seasoned actors slide easily into their carefully shaded roles (NY1/Time Out); Surprisingly affecting (The Record).

Love Letters features an all-star rotating cast of Broadway and Screen veterans, bringing the two-hander to life, each in a different way. The production also features scenic design by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Jane Greenwood and lighting by Peter Kaczorowski, and is produced on Broadway by Nelle Nugent, Barbara Broccoli, Frederick Zollo, Olympus Theatricals, Colleen Camp and Kenneth Teaton.

The play centres on a pair of friends, rebellious Melissa Gardner and straight-arrow Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. The pair have exchanged notes, cards and letters with each other for over 50 years - from grade school, through summer vacations, to college, and well into adulthood. Throughout their lives they have discussed their dreams, hopes, failures, successes and difficulties. Once the letter are finished - the real question remains. Does the real love of their live exist a mere letter away?

Love Letters originally opened off-Broadway in March 1989 in a production which starred Kathleen Turner and John Rubinstein. The play changed its cast every week, and included performers such as Victor Garber, Julie Harris, Christopher Reeve and Christopher Walken. The show transferred to Broadway in October 1989 and featured further guest appearances from Lynn Redgrave and Stockard Channing.

- by Alan Bird