A Magical Evening

Last night, Tony Award winner Vanessa Redgrave made a triumphant return to Broadway in the devastating solo piece The Year of Magical Thinking, at the Booth Theatre.

The play was adapted by author Joan Didion from her best-selling memoir, which she wrote in reaction to the sudden death of her husband, writer John Gregory Dunne.

The production is directed by noted playwright David Hare, who has starred in his own solo show, Via Dolorosa.

After the opening night performance, Redgrave was greeted by her equally celebrated sibling, Lynn.

Also on hand were Vanessa's son, Carlo Nero; her daughter, actress Joely Richardson (right); and Joely's daughter, Daisy Bevan...

...as well as writer Dominick Dunne (right), John Gregory's older brother, and Dominick's son, actor Griffin Dunne.

The superstar-studded crowd of first-nighters included Jane Fonda, who co-starred with Redgrave in the film Julia, for which Vanessa won an Academy Award...

..the dashing Pierce Brosnan, who has signed to play the role of Sam Carmichael in the upcoming film version of Mamma Mia!...

...Tony winner Stockard Channing, whose new film Sparkle is due out later this spring...

...the lovely Claire Danes, who plays the younger version of Redgrave's character in the upcoming film Evening and who's currently getting attention for her GAP commercial with Patrick Wilson...

...the amazing Bill Nighy, a definite Tony contender for his work in Hare's The Vertical Hour earlier this season...

Oscar-winning actress Marisa Tomei, who will take her turn in the director's chair for the upcoming Naked Angels project, Armed and Naked in America...

...the fabulous Christine Baranski. who gave a memorable performance in Paul Rudnick's Regrets Only at Manhattan Theatre Club...

...cabaret star Karen Akers, who'll return to the Algonquin Hotel's Oak Room on April 17 with a show dedicated to composer Jule Styne...

...and two Emmy Award winners: talk show host Rosie O'Donnell and daytime drama legend Linda Dano.

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