National Theatre’s The Seafarer Due on Broadway in Fall

National Theatre artistic director Nicholas Hytner has extended the theater’s partnership with Broadway producers Boyett Ostar Productions (Bob Boyett and Bill Haber) to present NT productions in the United States. The deal, initially struck in 2003 for three years, is being renewed on an annual basis, continuing now through to summer 2008.

Currently, Boyett Ostar is presenting the NT production of Coram Boy on Broadway and will produce Conor McPherson’s The Seafarer on Broadway this fall.

Boyett Ostar pays $450,000 per year in exchange for first-look US transfer rights for all NT productions. The partnership has so far brought Broadway stagings of Tom Stoppard’s Jumpers, Michael Frayn’s Democracy, Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, and has been credited with spurring increased momentum for British talent and product on the other side of the Atlantic, which others have also capitalized on.

“I’m thrilled that Boyett and Haber are continuing to support the National,” says Hytner. “They’ve shown extraordinary commitment in taking a wide variety of plays from the NT repertoire to American audiences. Thanks to their enthusiasm, our work has never had a higher profile in the United States. It’s the best of relationships — one that just keeps getting better.”