Theater News

Chita Rivera, Renée Fleming, Kathleen Marshall, and More Join Williamstown Theatre Festival 2014 Main Stage Season

Rivera will close WTF’s 2014 summer season in the revival of Kander and Ebb’s ”The Visit”.

Chita Rivera will be among the stars gracing the Williamstown Theatre Festival's stage during the 2014 Main Stage Season.
Chita Rivera will be among the stars gracing the Williamstown Theatre Festival's stage during the 2014 Main Stage Season.
(© David Gordon)

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced a star-studded lineup for its 2014 Main Stage season.

The summer will kick off with a revival of Ring Lardner and George S. Kaufman's June Moon, directed by WTF alum Jessica Stone. The play follows a gullible young lyricist, Fred Stevens, who heads to New York City, eager to join the Tin Pan Alley scene. However, a few seductive distractions threaten to derail his ambitions. The production will run from July 2-13.

Next will be the world premiere of Living on Love, a new comedy by two-time Tony winner Joe DiPietro (Nice Work If You Can Get It), based on the play Peccadillo by Garson Kanin (Born Yesterday). World-renowned soprano Renée Fleming stars as celebrated diva Rachel DeAngelis, who hires a handsome ghostwriter to pen her autobiography in retaliation against her egomaniacal husband, Maestro Vito DeAngelis. He, in turn, hires a lovely young lady to do the same. Three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall (Nice Work If You Can Get It) will direct the production, set to run from July 16-26.

The highly anticipated revival of Kander and Ebb's The Visit, starring Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), will follow, with a run from July 31-August 17. Featuring a book by four-time Tony winner Terrence McNally (Mothers and Sons) and a score by the legendary songwriting team behind Broadway hits like Cabaret and Chicago, the musical follows millionaires Claire Zachanassian as she returns to her poverty-ridden hometown. While the locals see her as their last chance for survival, they soon find that her financial assistance will come at a steep price. Tony-winning director John Doyle (Company) will direct, with choreography by Graciela Daniele.

The productions will be overseen by current producer Stephen M. Kaus, in place of WTF's recently departed artistic director Jenny Gersten, who curated the upcoming season. Manhattan Theatre Club's current artistic producer, Mandy Greenfield, will take over as WTF artistic director beginning September 2014.