Mary Stuart: starring Janet McTeer & Harriet Walter to play at the Broadhurst from 30 Mar

Following a sold out run at the Donmar Warehouse and in London�s West End, Janet McTeer and Harriet Walter will recreate their performances on Broadway in Friedrich Schiller�s classic play, Mary Stuart.

The critically praised new version by Peter Oswald and directed by Phyllida Lloyd, will open on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre on 19 Apr 2009, following previews from 30 Mar 2009.

The production is designed by Anthony Ward, with lighting by Hugh Vanstone and sound by Paul Arditti.

Further casting and ticket information will be announced soon.

The acclaimed production played at London's Donmar Warehouse from 20 Jul - 3 Sep 2005, and then transferred to London's Apollo Theatre where it played from 7 Oct 2005 - 14 Jan 2006.

The London production starred Janet McTeer and Walter Harriet, who are to recreate their roles for Broadway, and also featured David Burke, James Fleet, Barbara Jefford, Rory Kinnear, Tam Dean Burn, Stephen Fletcher, Guy Henry, David Horovitch, Rufus Wright.

For a Queen to stand, a Queen must fall. Written by Friedrich Schiller in 1800, Mary Stuart is an account of the extraordinary relationship between England's Elizabeth I (Harriet Walter) and her rival cousin, Mary Queen of Scots (Janet McTeer)." Mary was beheaded for treason.

The drama opened to excellent reviews in the London press: "Fine production...Terrific acting, terrific theatre, terrific Schiller." (Times); "Exhilarating production" (Guarding); "In Phyllida Lloyd's magnificent new revival, is to recognise that Schiller's figments of fancy are underpinned by a sure grasp of deep-running political processes." (Daily Telegraph) and " In every way, it is a engrossing evening." (The Stage).

Ben Brantley, of the New York Times, hailed this production of Mary Stuart as �Ripping. A stage burner of a revival. Mary Stuart is portrayed to a red-blooded fare-thee-well by Janet McTeer. Queen Elizabeth I is portrayed with glittering iciness by Harriet Walter. Mary Stuart has never seemed more pertinent than it does in this vivid incarnation, staged by Phyllida Lloyd.�

"I am thrilled we are bringing our work to Broadway again,� Donmar Artistic Director Michael Grandage said about the transfer. �After the success of Frost/Nixon last year, I am particularly delighted that American audiences will now get to experience one of the Donmar's great classical productions."

This will be the second revival of Schiller's Mary Stuart on Broadway. The play first bowed on Broadway in 1900. It had it's first revival in 1971 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, directed by Jules Irving, and starred Salome Jens as 'Mary Stuart' and 'Nancy Marchand ' as 'Queen Elizabeth'.

Janet Mcteer (Mary Stuart) last appeared on Broadway when she made her Broadway debut in 'A Doll's House' (1997 revival) playing the role of 'Nora Helmer,' for which she was awarded the 1997 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play - she won the 1997 Olivier Award for her performance in the production's London run. Her other London credits include: 'Duchess of Malfi' (National Theatre), 'God of Carnage,' 'Simpatico' (Royal Court) and 'Taming of the Shrew' (Globe).

Walter Harriet (Elizabeth I) won the the 2005 Evening Standard Award for Best Actress for her performance as Elizabeth in Mary Stuart. Harriet last appeared on Broadway when she made her Broadway debut in 'All's Well that Ends Well' (1983). Her London credits include: 'Antony and Cleopatra,' 'The Children's Hour' (National Theatre), 'Dinner,' 'Life x 3, 'Much Ado About Nothing,' 'Old Times' and 'The Royal Family.'

Phyllida Lloyd is the director of the hit musical 'Mamma Mia!', her London credits include: 'Boston Marriage' (Donmar Warehouse), 'The Duchess of Malfi' (National Theatre), 'Hysteria,' 'Prime of Miss Jean Brodie' (National Theatre), 'The Threepenny Opera' (Donmar Warehouse) and 'Way of the World' (National Theatre).

German playwright Friedrich Schiller (1759�1805) began writing as a means of escape during his enforced military service. After penning his first play, 'The Robbers' (1782), his work was discovered by his superiors and he was forbidden to write. He deserted and lived under an assumed name, working as a court playwright and stage manager. His other plays included 'Intrigue and Love' (1784), 'Don Carlos' (1787), 'Wallenstein�s Camp' (1798), 'The Piccolomini' (1799), 'Wallenstein�s Death' (1799), 'Mary Stuart' (1800), 'Maid of Orleans' (1801) and 'William Tell' (1804). He formed a close friendship with Goethe, and their collaboration made the Weimar Theatre one of the most prestigious in Germany. He died in 1805 of tuberculosis.

Peter Oswald's (New Version) original work includes 'The Swansong of Ivanhoe Wasteway,' 'Allbright,' 'Valdorama,' 'Augustine�s Oak' and 'The Golden Ass'; translations include Schiller�s 'Don Carlos,' Sophocles� 'Oedipus Tyrannos', Racine�s 'Phaedra,' 'Fair Ladies at a Game of Poem Cards,' Lorca�s 'Dona Rosita The Spinster' and a stage adaptation of the Sanskrit epic 'The Ramayana.'