Machinal, Starring Rebecca Hall, Begins Performances on Broadway

Golden Globe nominee Rebecca Hall makes her Broadway debut in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Machinal, which begins performances December 20 at the American Airlines Theatre. Written by Sophie Treadwell and directed by Lyndsey Turner, the play is scheduled to open on January 16, 2014.

Inspired by the infamous 1927 murder trial of Ruth Snyder, Machinal tells the story of a young woman (Hall) who works as a stenographer in the industrial male-dominated world of the 1920s. She finds her only joy in an illicit love affair, but when reality sets in and she must return to her routine existence, she’ll go to any lengths to regain her freedom.

In addition to Hall, the cast includes Suzanne Bertish, Michael Cumpsty (The Winslow Boy) and Morgan Spector. Machinal will feature set design by Es Devin, lighting design by Jane Cox, costume design by Michael Krass and sound design by Matt Tierney.

Machinal first premiered on Broadway in 1928 (with a young Clark Gable in his Broadway debut) before opening in London in 1931 under the title The Life Machine. The show received a West End revival in 1993 and earned a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Revival.