Exit The King: William Sadler completes cast

William Sadler completes the cast for the broadway production of Eugene Ionesco�s Exit The King, joining the previously announced Geoffrey Rush, Susan Sarandon Lauren Ambrose and Andrea Martin.

Translated by Neil Armfield and Geoffrey Rush and directed by Neil Armfield, Exit The King will open at the Barrymore Theatre on 26 Mar 2009, following previews from 7 Mar 2009. This limited engagement will run for 14 weeks only, through to 14 Jun 2009 2009.

In Exit The King, the heaters aren�t working, the sun won�t rise, the throne room�s filthy and there�s a great big crack opening up in the wall. Queen Marguerite is making preparations for the inevitable, but Queen Marie refuses to accept it�s time. Yet the signs are unmistakeable: King Berenger is dying. And he�s not going to go gracefully.

Geoffrey Rush led a critically-acclaimed production of Exit The King, directed by Neil Armfield and produced by The Company B and Malthouse Theatre at the CUB Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne, Australia on 28 Mar 2007, and at Belvoir Street Theatre in Sydney, Australia on 13 Jun 2007.

The show opened to excellent reviews: "Magnificent Production... the adaptability and ease of Rush's performance is staggering" (Sydney Morning Herald); "Rush... is extraordinary at every turn... a landmark production in the history of theatre in this country" (Financial Review); "Nothing can be faulted - this is a triumph." (Australian Stage); "A production that's triumphant on many levels." (Variety).

Exit The King will be produced on Broadway by Stuart Thompson, Robert Fox, Howard Panter, Tulchin/Bartner, Scott Rudin and The Shubert Organization.

The design team for Exit The King includes Dale Ferguson (Set & Costume), Damien Cooper (Lighting), Russell Goldsmith (Sound). John Rodgers is the Composer.

Lauren Ambrose (Queen Marie) made her Broadway debut in 'Awake and Sing!' (Hennie Berger: 2006 revival). This season Ambrose performed the role of 'Ophelia' in 'Hamlet' for New York�s Public Theater, Shakespeare in the Park Festival and she previously received critical acclaim in the role of 'Juliet' in 'Romeo & Juliet' also for The Public Theater. In the UK, she appeared in Sam Shepard�s 'Buried Child' at the National Theater in London. Ambrose received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her work in the critically acclaimed HBO series 'Six Feet Under.'

Andrea Martin (Juliette) won a Tony Award for her portrayal of 'Alice Mille' in 'My Favorite Year' (1992) She was nominated Tony's for her roles in 'Candide' (Old Lady: 1997 revival), 'Oklahoma!' (Aunt Eller: 2002 revival) 'Fiddler on the Roof' (Golde - replacement: 2004 revival) and 'Young Frankenstein; (Frau Blucher: 2007). Her film credits include 'Wag the Dog,' 'All I Want for Christmas,' 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch,' 'The Producers,' and the independent smash hit, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.'

Geoffrey Rush (King Berenger) has been appearing regurlarly on stage in Australia since 1970. His recent stage credits include 'Diary of a Madman,' 'Life X 3,' 'The Popular Mechanicals,' 'The Alchemist,' 'Hamlet.' He won an Oscar in 1997 for his work in the film 'Shine,' and a Bafta for the movie 'Elizabeth.' However, he is most probably most famous for his role as 'Captain Hector Barbossa ' in all three of the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' films. He was awarded an Emmy for his work in the mini-series 'The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.'

Susan Sarandon (Queen Marguerite) will be making her first Broadway appearance since her debut in the short lived 'An Evening With Richard Nixon and...' (1972). Sarandon won an Academy Award for her role as 'Sister Helen Prejean' in 'Dead Man Walking' and awarded a BAFTA for Best Actress for her work in 'The Client.' Other films include 'Atlantic City, Thelma & Louise and Lorenzo's Oil.'

William Sadler's Broadway credits are 'Julius Caesar' (Julius Caesar: 2005 revival) and 'Biloxi Blues' (Sgt. Merwin J. Toomey: 1985). Eugene Ionesco (Playwright). Exit The King is being presented on the 100th anniversary of Eugene Ionesco�s birth. Born in Slatina, Romania on November 26, 1909, Ionesco, grew up in France but returned to Romania after his parents divorced in 1925. Known as one of the founders of the Theatre of the Absurd, his plays include The Bald Soprano (1950), The Lesson (1951), The Chairs (1952), The New Tenant (1955) and Rhinoceros (1959).

Neil Armfield (Director and Co-Translator) was involved in the formation of Sydney�s Company B and served as its first Artistic Director. He has worked extensively in Australia and around the world, winning such accolades as the Sydney Theatre Critics� Circle Awards for both Best Director and Best production, the Major Award for Significant Contribution to Sydney Theatre, many Green Room Awards, Australian Film Institute Awards for Best Director for mini-series 'Edens Lost' 1989, and for Best Adapted Screenplay with Luke Davies for 'Candy,' 2006 (which starred Geoffrey Rush, Heath Ledger and Abbie Cornish). In 2007, Armfield was awarded Officer of the Order of Australia for his service to the arts.

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