London's Donmar Warehouse has announced its spring 2011 season. The Donmar will present works from William Shakespeare and Harold Pinter as well as Broadway hit The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
The season kicks off with a mounting of King Lear directed by Donmar Artistic Director Michael Grandage. Lear begins performances December 3 and runs through February 5, 201. Derek Jacobi will play the title role. The cast also includes Tom Beard, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Stefano Braschi, Ron Cook, Michael Hadley, Paul Jesson, Gwilyn Lee, Gina McKee, Justine Mitchell, Alec Newman and Ashley Zhangazha. The production features scenic design by Christopher Oram, lighting design by Neil Austin and sound design by Adam Cork. After its run at the Donmar, King Lear will embark on an eight-week national tour. The production will also be broadcast to 22 countries across the world on February 3 as part of the Nation Theatre Live's screening season.
Spelling Bee is next on the agenda. It begins on February 11, 2011 and runs through April 2. The musical is directed by Jamie Lloyd and features scenic design by Christopher Oram, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Nick Lidster and Terry Jardine and choreography by Ann Yee. Alan Williams will serve as musical director. Spelling Bee features a score by William Finn and a Tony Award-winning book by Rachel Sheinkin. No cast has been announced at this time.
The Donmar's season also features the first major London revival of Harold Pinter's Moonlight. Performances of the show will run from April 7 through May 28. Bijan Sheibani will direct. The piece will feature set design by Bunny Christie and lighting design by Jon Clark.
On May 30 the Donmar welcomes back novelist Josephine Hart for Poetry Week with Josehine Hart. She will read a variety of poetry alongside a yet to be announced roster of England's leading actors through June 3.
The season closes with Mike Poulton's updated version of Schiller's Luise Miller. Felicity Jones stars in the drama about powerful young man who falls for the daughter of a poor musician. Michael Grandage will direct.