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Uma Thurman to Make Broadway Debut in ‘The Parisian Woman’ Uma Thurman to Make Broadway Debut in ‘The Parisian Woman’
(about 4 hours later)
Uma Thurman will make her Broadway debut this fall in a political drama by Beau Willimon, the creator of “House of Cards.”Uma Thurman will make her Broadway debut this fall in a political drama by Beau Willimon, the creator of “House of Cards.”
Ms. Thurman will star in “The Parisian Woman,” which, despite its title, is about a woman in Washington, D.C., who is trying to get her lover to help her husband become attorney general. The play is inspired by a 19th-century French boulevard play, “La Parisienne,” by Henry François Becque. Ms. Thurman will star in “The Parisian Woman,” which, despite its title, is about a woman in Washington who is trying to get her lover to help her husband become attorney general. The play is inspired by a 19th-century French boulevard play, “La Parisienne,” by Henry François Becque.
“It’s contemporary, it’s sharp, it’s witty and it’s a grown-up piece of material,” Ms. Thurman said in a telephone interview. “I think it moves beautifully, and I felt like it was a good part for me.”“It’s contemporary, it’s sharp, it’s witty and it’s a grown-up piece of material,” Ms. Thurman said in a telephone interview. “I think it moves beautifully, and I felt like it was a good part for me.”
Ms. Thurman, of course, is a well-known movie star whose most familiar works include “Pulp Fiction” and the “Kill Bill” films. She has one previous stage credit — a 1999 Off Broadway appearance in a contemporary adaptation of Molière’s “The Misanthrope,” presented by the Classic Stage Company. Her performance was not well received by critics, but she said she has benefited from the experience. Ms. Thurman, of course, is a well-known movie star whose most familiar works include “Pulp Fiction” and the “Kill Bill” films. She has one previous stage credit: a 1999 Off Broadway appearance in a contemporary adaptation of Molière’s “The Misanthrope,” presented by the Classic Stage Company. Her performance was not well received by critics, but she said that she had benefited from the experience.
“It was a very long time ago, and certainly it was a very difficult piece to do,” she said. “It was a baptism of sorts. I worked with lots of really great actors, but I couldn’t have chosen something more difficult, and I learned a lot.”“It was a very long time ago, and certainly it was a very difficult piece to do,” she said. “It was a baptism of sorts. I worked with lots of really great actors, but I couldn’t have chosen something more difficult, and I learned a lot.”
Ms. Thurman said she had been looking for years for an opportunity to return to the stage.Ms. Thurman said she had been looking for years for an opportunity to return to the stage.
“I’ve given my whole life to performance; many of the pieces I’ve done have been very dramatic and rehearsed,” Ms. Thurman said. “That’s the part I’ve enjoyed the most — the exploration of language, the theatricality — and I’m looking forward to something of real depth and complexity.”“I’ve given my whole life to performance; many of the pieces I’ve done have been very dramatic and rehearsed,” Ms. Thurman said. “That’s the part I’ve enjoyed the most — the exploration of language, the theatricality — and I’m looking forward to something of real depth and complexity.”
“The Parisian Woman” has been in the works for years. The Flea Theater, a small Off Off Broadway nonprofit, commissioned it in 2011 from Mr. Willimon, a onetime Democratic political operative whose “Farragut North” ran Off Broadway in 2008 and was adapted for film three years later, directed by George Clooney under the title “The Ides of March.”“The Parisian Woman” has been in the works for years. The Flea Theater, a small Off Off Broadway nonprofit, commissioned it in 2011 from Mr. Willimon, a onetime Democratic political operative whose “Farragut North” ran Off Broadway in 2008 and was adapted for film three years later, directed by George Clooney under the title “The Ides of March.”
In 2012, the new play, at the time with the film director Joel Schumacher attached, was looking for a larger venue than the Flea, and Mr. Willimon said that Broadway was one possibility. But the project instead went in a different direction; in 2013 it was staged at South Coast Repertory in Southern California, directed by Pam MacKinnon, with Dana Delany in the title role. It received mixed but encouraging reviews. In 2012 the new play, at the time with the film director Joel Schumacher attached, was looking for a larger theater than the Flea, and Mr. Willimon said that Broadway was one possibility. But the project instead went in a different direction; in 2013 it was staged at South Coast Repertory in Southern California, directed by Pam MacKinnon, with Dana Delany in the title role. It received mixed but encouraging reviews.
Ms. Thurman said that Ms. MacKinnon, a Tony Award-winning director whom she met through a mutual acquaintance, suggested she read “The Parisian Woman.” Ms. Thurman said that Ms. MacKinnon, a Tony Award-winning director whom she met through a mutual acquaintance, suggested that she read “The Parisian Woman.”
“I read it and I loved it,” she said. “It was exactly what I was hoping to find.” Ms. Thurman then participated in table readings of the play, but said her appearance in a production was delayed by a horse-riding accident last year; she said she has now recovered from her injuries. “I read it and I loved it,” she said. “It was exactly what I was hoping to find.” Ms. Thurman then participated in table readings of the play, but said her appearance in a production was delayed by a horse-riding accident last year; she said that she has now recovered from her injuries.
Ms. MacKinnon will direct the Broadway production. Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, and Steve Traxler are the producers. Ms. MacKinnon will direct the Broadway production. Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch and Steve Traxler are the producers.
It is scheduled to open Nov. 30, at a theater yet to be announced. The Flea’s role as commissioning theater will be acknowledged with a billing credit and a royalty, according to Jackie Green, a spokeswoman for the production; South Coast Repertory will also receive billing credit and a royalty. It is to open on Nov. 30, at a theater yet to be announced.
“We found the play in its original French, thought it had a lot to say about current politics, and thought that Beau Willimon would be the perfect writer to shape it,” said Carol Ostrow, producing director of the Flea. “We think Broadway is a terrific place for the play to shine.” Ms. Thurman’s intention to perform in the play was previously reported by Showbiz 411.
Ms. Thurman’s intention to perform in “The Parisian Woman” was previously reported by Showbiz 411.
“I’m truly excited,” she said. “This will take a lot of courage and a lot of hard, hard work, but I welcome the hard work right now.”“I’m truly excited,” she said. “This will take a lot of courage and a lot of hard, hard work, but I welcome the hard work right now.”