The production represents Langella's first Broadway appearance since his Tony-nominated 2011 performance in Man and Boy. His most recent New York appearance was King Lear at the Brooklyn Academy of Music in 2013.
The Father (Le Père) debuted in Paris in 2012, winning the Molière Award, the national theatre award of France. Two-time Tony Award winner Christopher Hampton translated the play into English. London's The Guardian newspaper gave the fall 2014 West End production of the drama a rare five-star review, calling it "a savagely honest study of dementia," and named it best play of the year.
Beginning previews March 22, 2016, and opening April 12 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, the Broadway production will be directed by Doug Hughes and will be produced under the auspices of the Manhattan Theatre Club.
According to production notes, The Father "offers a fascinating look inside the mind of Andre (Frank Langella), a retired dancer living with his adult daughter Anne and her husband. Or is he a retired engineer receiving a visit from Anne who has moved away with her boyfriend? Why do strangers keep turning up in his room? And where has he left his watch?"
The play has no connection to August Strindberg's 1887 drama The Father other than the title. Langella won the 2007 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for playing President Richard Nixon in Frost/Nixon, a role he created to widespread acclaim at London’s Donmar Warhouse, and later recreated on film, earning him an Oscar nomination as Best Actor. Langella won his two other Tonys for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Fortune’s Fool and Seascape. In addition, he received Tony nominations for Match and Dracula. He collaborated with director Doug Hughes previously on A Man for All Seasons.
Additional casting and creative team members will be announced in the coming weeks.
For more information on MTC, visit ManhattanTheatreClub.com.
New and renewing MTC subscribers can join the 2015-16 season by calling The MTC Clubline at (212) 399-3050. Single ticket information will be announced at a later date.
