Tony Nominee Kathleen Turner Will Return to the West End in Stephen Sachs' Bakersfield Mist

Tony and Oscar nominee Kathleen Turner will return to London's West End this spring to headline the European premiere of Stephen Sachs' Bakersfield Mist. Turner will star opposite Tony and Olivier winner Ian McDiarmid in the two-hander comedy. Directed by Polly Teale, the play will run at the Duchess Theatre from May 10 through August 30. Opening night is scheduled for May 27.

Inspired by true events, Bakersfield Mist is about Maude, a fifty-something unemployed bartender, who has bought a painting for a few bucks from the thrift store. Despite almost trashing it, she now thinks it’s a Jackson Pollock worth millions. In fact she’s certain it is. But when world-class art expert Lionel Percy flies over from New York and arrives at her trailer park home in Bakersfield to authenticate the painting, he really has no idea what he is about to discover.

Turner received Tony nominations for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which transferred to London’s West End after its 2005 Broadway run, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. She has also appeared on Broadway in The Graduate and Indiscretions and directed the off-Broadway revival of Crimes of the Heart. Turner received an Oscar nomination for her performance in Peggy Sue Got Married. Her other screen credits include Monster House, Serial Mom, Prizzi’s Honor, Body Heat, War of the Roses and Californication.

McDiarmid is most famous for his role as Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine in the Star Wars film series. He received a Tony Award for 2006's Faith Healer and an Olivier Award for his performance in Terry Johnson's Insignificance. McDiarmid appeared most recently in the title role of John Gabriel Borkman at the Donmar Theatre in London.

Bakersfield Mist will feature scenic design by Tom Piper, lighting design by Oliver Fenwick and sound design by Jon Nicholls.