New York City Broadway Theater Guide

Hedda Gabler

Broadway Drama

Previews  January 6 2009
Opened  January 25 2009
Limited run  March 29 2009

Run  21 previews & 74 performances

Producer

Manhattan Theatre Club

Creative

Henrik Ibsen author
Christopher Shinn adaptation
Ian Rickson director

Ann Roth costume design
Natasha Katz lighting design
Hildegard Bechtler scenic design
John Gromada sound design

Synopsis

Multi-triangular relationships are used as devices to explore love, or lack of love, deceit, guilt, jealousy, power. Did we leave anything out?

Hedda, who previously loved Eljert, is now married to Jorgen. Eljert, a former drunk, is Jorgen's academically re-energized rival. When Hedda finds that her husband is in a financial bind she takes steps to derail Eljert's apparent success and his relationship with Mrs Elvstedand

Tragedy ensues. Judge Brack makes it know to Hedda that he knows the true circumstances

More tragedy

Broadway Show History

...is sometimes quite long

This is at least the 19th production of Hedda Gabler on Broadway. The most recent revival prior to this was a 2001 staging at the Ambassador Theater with Kate Burton in the lead

The Internet Broadway Data Base shows that the first Hedda Gabler to play what is considered a Broadway theater opened March 30, 1898, at the Fifth Avenue Theater with Elizabeth Robins as Hedda. The play was revived quite often during the first three decades of the Twentieth Century then, though still quite frequently, not as often. The longest absence from a Broadway house was from 1971 through 1994

October 1903 at the Manhattan Theater. 8 performances with Mrs Fiske as Hedda

November 1904 again at the Manhattan Theater. 24 performances, again with Mrs Fiske

November 1904 at Daly's Theater. 4 performances with Nance O'Neill in the lead. Yes, dueling Heddas!

November 1906 at the Princess Theater. Aja Nazimova as Hedda in a 40-performance Henry Miller production

March 1907 at the Bijou Theater. Ms Nazimova again, Mr Miller again, 32-performances this time

November 1907 at the Lyric Theater. Two performances produced by Liebler & Co. No other information

April 1918 at the Plymouth Theater. Ms Nazimova for 24 performances

May 1924 at the 48th Street Theater. Eight performances with Claire Eames. Roland Young plays Judge Brack

January 1926 at the Comedy Theater. Emily Stevens in for 59 performances

March 1928 at the Civic Rep. Eva Le Gallienne and 15 performances

February 1929 at the 49th Street Theater. Blanche Yurka as Hedda for 25 performances

November 1936 at the Longacre Theater. Thirty years and Alla Nazimova is still playing Hedda, this time for 32 performances

January 1942 at the Longacre again. Katina Paxinou in for 12 performances

February 1948 at the Cort Theater. Ms Le Gallienne, 15 performances

February 1971 at the Playhouse Theater. Claire Bloom, 56 performances

July 1994 at Criterion Center. Kelly McGillis as Hedda, Laura Linney maybe as Mrs Thea, 33 performances