Blanchett will Bring UNCLE VANYA to Kennedy Center in August

Awesome news! – thanks Maria for the headups.

Sydney Theatre Company’s acclaimed production of Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Andrew Upton and directed by Tamás Ascher, will tour to the Kennedy Center in Washington, USA, with performances from 4 to 24 August 2011.

The entire original cast – John Bell, Cate Blanchett, Sandy Gore, Hayley McElhinney, Anthony Phelan, Richard Roxburgh, Andrew Tighe, Jacki Weaver and Hugo Weaving – will reprise their roles for the production which was a critical and box office triumph at Sydney Theatre in November and December 2010.

More than 47,300 people saw the play during its Sydney run with every performance completely sold out. The production received exceptional reviews, described as “gloriously fresh, funny and poignant” (John McCallum, The Australian), “a magnificently mounted and playful production” (Elissa Blake, Sun Herald) and “a triumph” (Alex Lalak, Daily Telegraph). “This enthralling production surprises and delights, and leaves you feeling profoundly moved” said Jo Litson in the Sunday Telegraph and “across the board the performances are exceptional” wrote Jason Blake in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Sydney Theatre Company’s last engagement at the Kennedy Center was in 2009 with A Streetcar Named Desire, which was subsequently awarded three prestigious Helen Hayes Awards including for Outstanding Non-Resident Production.

General Manager Patrick McIntyre said: “We’re thrilled to be taking the show to the US capital as part of Sydney Theatre Company’s ongoing commitment to international dialogue with artists and audiences around the world through collaborations and touring. There has been keen international interest in this production and we’re delighted that the very busy schedules of the exceptional cast and creative team will allow for this engagement at the Kennedy Center.”

Cast: John Bell, Cate Blanchett, Sandy Gore, Hayley McElhinney, Anthony Phelan, Richard Roxburgh, Andrew Tighe, Jacki Weaver, Hugo Weaving.

Director: Tamás Ascher. Dramaturg: Anna Lengyel. Set Designer: Zsolt Khell. Costume Designer: Gyorgyi Szakacs. Lighting Designer: Nick Schlieper. Composer/Sound Designer: Paul Charlier.