Hot Off the Presses! Previews Begin for The Columnist, Starring John Lithgow

The world premiere of David Auburn’s The Columnist begins previews April 4 at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, the play stars two-time Tony Award winner John Lithgow in the title role and will officially open April 25.

Set at a time when columnists are kings and Joseph Alsop (Lithgow) wears the crown, The Columnist paints a portrait of a man who is beloved, feared and courted in equal measure by the Washington political world at whose center he sits. As the 1960s dawn and America undergoes dizzying change, the intense political drama Joe is embroiled in becomes deeply personal as well.



The Columnist also features Tony nominee Stephen Kunken as journalist David Halberstam, Tony winner Boyd Gaines as Joseph’s brother Stewart, Margaret Colin as Susan Aslop, Grace Gummer as Joseph’s daughter Abigail and Brian J. Smith as Andrei, a young Russian man.

The creative team for The Columnist includes John Lee Beatty (scenic design), Jess Goldstein (costume design), Kenneth Posner (lighting design), John Gromada (original music and sound design), Rocco DiSanti (projection design) and Charles G. LaPointe (hair and wig design).