La Bête Revival, Starring Rylance, Pierce & Lumley, Sets Dates for London and Broadway Runs

The previously announced revival of David Hirson’s La Bête starring Tony winners Mark Rylance (Boeing-Boeing) and David Hyde Pierce (Curtains; TV's Frasier) and Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley has set dates for a summer run in London and Broadway premiere in the fall. Directed by Matthew Warchus, the production will premiere at the West End’s Comedy Theatre from June 26 to September 4, with opening night set for July 7. Broadway previews will begin on September 23, with opening night on October 14 at a Shubert theater to be announced.

Joining Rylance, Pierce, and Lumley in both London and New York are Stephen Ouimette, Lisa Joyce, Greta Lee, Robert Lonsdale, Michael Milligan, Liza Sadovy, Sally Wingert, Deanne Lorette and Steve Routman.

Set in 17th century France, the Moliere-inspired La Bête is a farce written in iambic pentameter. The play centers on Elomire (Pierce), a high-minded classical dramatist who loves only the theater, and Valere (Rylance), a low-brow street clown who loves only himself. When the fickle princess (Lumley) decides she’s grown weary of Elomire’s royal theater troupe, he and Valere are left fighting for survival as art squares off with ego in a literary showdown for the ages.

Co-produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber, the play’s 1991 Broadway premiere featured Dylan Baker, Michael Cumpsty, John Michael Higgins and the Tony-nominated Tom McGowan, but ran for only 25 performances. The play had better luck when Alan Cumming headlined the London production, which won the Olivier Award for Best Comedy.

Warchus' production will feature design by Mark Thompson, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, music by Claire van Kampen, and sound by Simon Baker.

La Bête will be produced in London and New York by Scott Landis & Sonia Friedman Productions, Roger Berlind, Robert G. Bartner/Norman Tulchin, Bob Boyett/Tim Levy, Roy Furman, Max Cooper, Philip Morgaman/Frankie J. Grande and Bud Martin.