Mark Rylance May Travel to Jerusalem on Broadway

There may be back to back Broadway roles this season for Tony winner Mark Rylance. According to the New York Times, Rylance, currently earning rave reviews in the limited engagement of La Bete on Broadway, will likely return to the Great White Way in the spring to reprise his Olivier Award-winning performance as Johnny Byron in Jez Butterworth’s play Jerusalem.

Rylance told the Times that Jerusalem director Ian Rickson is also on board for the Broadway production, as is his co-star Mackenzie Crook, pending approval by Actors' Equity Association. “It’s all moving ahead well for Jerusalem, especially now that Mackenzie is coming over, because I wasn’t sure I could do it without him,” Rylance said. “Everyone seems on board for the spring, the final arrangements seem underway.”

Jerusalem centers on Johnny Byron, a rural degenerate and wanted man. On the morning of the local county fair this modern-day Pied Piper is a wanted man. The council officials want to serve him an eviction notice, his children want their dad to take them to the fair, Troy Whitworth wants to give him a serious kicking and a motley crew of mates wants his ample supply of drugs and alcohol.