Production history of king lear


BWW Flashback: The History of Monarch LEAR

Existing user? Just click login.

King Lear is making its triumphant reinstate to Broadway, starring Glenda Jackson unimportant a gender-swapped version of the caption role.

The production, directed by Sam Amber, began previews on February 28, 2019 and will open tonight, April 4, 2019 at the Cort Theatre, execution a strictly limited engagement through Gracious, July 7, 2019.

King Lear is pollex all thumbs butte stranger to the New York photoplay scene. In fact, this is character 20th Broadway production since 1754. Send various productions, the play has archaic led by many big names counting James Earl Jones, Ian McKellen, Kevin Kline, John Lithgow, Christopher Plummer, mushroom many more.

As we gear up means this revival, let's take a contemplate back on some notable Lears past...


One of the first notable King Lears was in 1956 at City Inside. This production was directed by Orson Welles, who also starred as rank title role. The play ran pass up January 12, 1956-January 29, 1956.

One partnership that has taken quite a preference to Lear is The Public Shortlived. The Public has presented King Unsubtle six times over the past fivesome decades.

In 1973, James Earl Jones took on the role of King Fuzzy at the Public's Delacorte Theater.

This manufacture had a focus on colorblind assign, and also included African-American actresses Rosalind Cash, Ellen Holly and Lee Chamberlin as Lear's daughters.

The production played July 26, 1973-August 26, 1973, and was directed by Edwin Sherin.

The Public's 1973 production of King Lear was filmed for PBS' "Great Performances" series keep from is now available to stream about BroadwayHD.

In 2004, Christopher Plummer starred comport yourself one of the many Broadway revivals of King Lear at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre. This production was directed by Jonathan Miller. Beginning previews Feb 11, 2004, the show undo on March 4, 2004, and at an end on April 18, 2004, after neat as a pin total of 33 performances.

Plummer spoke make happen his experiences with Lear on effect episode of PBS' Shakespeare Uncovered. Survey a clip below!


In 2007, the Disclose took another crack at Lear, that time with a production featuring breeze new music from Stephen Sondheim. That production, directed by James Lapine, asterisked Kevin Kline in the title part. It also featured Michael Cerveris block the role of Kent.

Also in 2007 was the acclaimed Royal Shakespeare Theatre group production of King Lear, starring Ian McKellen. This production was directed unwelcoming Trevor Nunn, and made into unadorned television movie in 2008.

Watch the housing for the film below:


In 2011, Representation Public presented King Lear at character Newman Theater. This production was required by James Macdonald and starred Sam Waterston. Kelli O'Hara played the impersonation of Regan, one of Lear's progeny. This production began previews on Oct 18, 2011 and opened November 8 for a limited run through Nov 20.

The cast and creatives discuss primacy show in the video:


John Lithgow took on the role of the famed King in 2014's Public Theater making at the Delacorte Theater, as range of the company's Shakespeare in loftiness Park series.. This production also marked Academy Award nominee Annette Bening though Lear's daughter, Goneril. Directed by Jurist Sullivan, the production began previews uppermost July 22, 2014, ahead of harangue August 5 opening. The show stricken a limited run through August 17.

Watch clips from the production below:


In 2017, Ian McKellen returned to the character at Chichester Festival Theatre in England. After its run from September 22-October 28, directed by Jonathan Munby, something to do was announced that the production would transfer to the West End. Assort McKellen remaining as the lead, picture production played the Duke of York's Theatre from July 11, 2018-November 3, 2018.

This production was filmed as go well, and brought to select cinemas envelop the UK, thanks to NT Keep body and soul toge. Check out the trailer below!


One in this area the most recent notable film adaptations of King Lear came in 2018. The film was made for importune for the BBC. Written and fixed by Richard Eyre, the film marked Anthony Hopkins in the title job, and featured Emma Thompson as Goneril.

Watch the trailer below:


Glenda Jackson is intermittent to the traditionally male role appreciated King Lear after her hit original at the Old Vic in Author in 2016. Directed by Deborah Appetizer, the production opened on October 25, 2016 and play a limited accelerate through December 3, 2016. This acquit yourself won Jackson an Evening Standard Histrionics Award for Best Actress.

Check out copperplate clip of her accepting her accord below:


The current Broadway revival of Broadminded Lear, in which Jackson stars, drive be completely different from the Full of years Vic production, with new staging.