Parsons (following the Broadway run) again directs the staged reading (with original music by Yukio Tsuji) for the California venue. The show began performances April 14 for a run scheduled through May 14.
Pacino reprises his Broadway turn Herod opposite Kevin Anderson (Brooklyn, Death of a Salesman) as John the Baptist, Roxanne Hart (Passion, Loose Ends) as Herodias and Jessica Chastain (Rodney's Wife, The Cherry Orchard) in the title role. The story follows the legend of King Herod who lusted after the young daughter of his wife, who in turn longed for the imprisoned John the Baptist.
The ensemble also includes Jill Alexander, Brian Delate, Daryl Dismond, Ralph Guzzo, Robert Heller, Jack Maxwell, Geoffrey Owens, René Rivera, Steve Roman, Joe Roseto, Ed Setrakian and Jack Stehlin.
Shukkan Hue Kolenaty serves as costume consultant, Howard Thies provides lighting design and Erich Bechtel is sound consultant.
The reading-style staging was developed by Pacino and Parsons. "We made the decision to mount Salome in this way because we felt it would better serve Wilde's text," said Pacino. "A staged reading yields a significant style unlike any other - it allows an audience the freedom to imagine and connect to the play in a different way." "Salomaybe?" will be the title of a documentary, directed by Pacino, in the style of his 1996 film "Looking for Richard," which spliced together scenes from William Shakespeare's Richard III and actors rehearsing Richard III with commentary on the work by actors. The new film is expected to complete production this year.
Pacino talks about the play on the show's developing website — which also features a production blog — online at www.salomeinla.com.
Original Broadway producers Robert Fox, Daryl Roth and Amy Nederlander present the Los Angeles run. This Salome was developed at the Actor's Studio and presented at St. Ann's Warehouse in Brooklyn, New York (November 2002), then played the Bardavon 1869 Opera House in Poughkeepsie, NY (February 2003) before playing on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (April 2003). David Strathairn originally played Jokanaan/ John the Baptist and Marisa Tomei starred as Salome in a cast that also featured Dianne Wiest.
Pacino, known for his work in film (including an Academy Award-winning turn in "Scent of a Woman"), made his Broadway debut in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie?, earning a Tony Award. He also won a Tony for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel. Other stage work includes Richard III, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Indian Wants the Bronx, The Connection, Tiger at the Gates, The Local Stigmatic, Camino Real, American Buffalo and Hello, Out There. He appeared in and directed a 1996 revival of Hughie.
Tickets for Salome are on sale at the Wadsworth Theatre, 11301 Wilshire Blvd. on the Veterans Administration Grounds, and by phone at (213) 365 3500 as well as online at www.WadsworthTheatre.com.
