Allison Janney to Star in The Autumn Garden at Williamstown; Season Schedule Changes Announced

Allison Janney will play Constance Tuckerman in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of Lillian Hellman’s The Autumn Garden, and Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit has been added to the 2007 lineup of productions. The festival has also announced that James Naughton, Hunter Foster, Kaitlin Hopkins, and William Ivey Long will participate this year.

Blithe Spirit, directed by Maria Mileaf, will run July 18-29 on the Main Stage. The play concerns author Charles Condomine and his second wife, Ruth, who arrange for the eccentric local mystic, Madame Arcati, to hold a séance. As a result, Charles’ first wife, Elvira, is summoned from beyond the grave to rally all the powers of heaven and hell to darken Charles and Ruth’s lives.

The Autumn Garden, directed by David Jones, will run August 15-26 on the Main Stage. It will star Janney, who has appeared on Broadway in A View From the Bridge and Present Laughter. The actress is a four-time Emmy Award winner for her role of C.J. Craig on TV’s The West Wing; her film credits include American Beauty and The Hours, and she will be seen as Prudy Pingleton in the film version of the musical Hairspray.

On July 30, James Naughton will give a benefit concert on the Nikos Stage, performing a program of Broadway classics and standards. A star and director of many Williamstown Theatre Festival productions, Naughton is a two-time Tony Award winner for his work in Chicago and City of Angels.

Foster, who will play Jack in the world premiere production of Party Come Here (July 25-August 5, Nikos Stage), has starred on Broadway in such shows as Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors, and The Producers. Hopkins, who will play Liberty in Party Come Here, has appeared on Broadway in Noises Off and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Off-Broadway in The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Bare, and Bat Boy, and at Williamstown in The Opposite of Sex. Long, who will design costumes for Herringbone (June 14-24, Center Stage), has 54 Broadway productions to his credit and is a five-time Tony Award winner, as well as a 2006 inductee to the Theatre Hall of Fame.

Due to the addition of Blithe Spirit and for other reasons, some of the production dates for the 2007 Williamstown Theatre Festival have changed. Visit www.wtfestival.org for updated information.