Michelle Williams & Jeff Daniels Will Star in Blackbird on Broadway

Three-time Oscar nominee Michelle Williams and Emmy winner Jeff Daniels will headline the Broadway premiere of Blackbird. The 2005 drama by Scottish playwright David Harrower will begin previews on February 5, 2016 at the Belasco Theatre and officially open on March 10. Directed by Joe Mantello, the limited engagement is scheduled to play through June 12.

Since first winning over audiences as Jen Lindley on the hit TV show Dawson’s Creek, Williams has built an extensive film resume with roles in Brokeback Mountain (Oscar nomination), Synecdoche, New York, Blue Valentine (Oscar nomination), Shutter Island, I’m Not There., Take This Waltz, My Week with Marilyn (Oscar nomination), and Oz the Great and Powerful. On stage, Williams appeared off-Broadway in Smelling a Rat and Tracy Letts' Killer Joe and in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard opposite Jessica Chastain at Williamstown Theatre Festival. Williams made her Broadway debut in the recent revival of Cabaret.

Daniels received a Tony nod for God of Carnage. His other Broadway credits include Redwood Curtain, The Golden Age, Fifth of July and Gemini. Daniels' film resume includes Dumb and Dumber, The Purple Rose of Cairo, The Squid and the Whale, The Hours, Good Night and Good Luck and Terms of Endearment. He received an Emmy for his role of Will McAvoy in Aaron Sorkin's HBO series The Newsroom.

Blackbird explores the relationship between the middle-aged Ray and the now 27-year-old Una. The two last encountered each other 15 years earlier, when Ray was taken into custody following their illegal sexual affair. Despite Ray’s attempts to form a new identity, Una finds him and confronts him at his office.

The drama premiered at the Edinburgh Festival in 2005 before transferring to the West End. After winning the 2007 Olivier Award, the play made its off-Broadway premiere at Manhattan Theater Club with The Newsroom co-stars Daniels and Alison Pill. A film adaptation starring Rooney Mara and Ben Mendelsohn is in the early stages of development.

Blackbird will feature sets by Scott Pask, costumes by Ann Roth and lighting by Brian MacDevitt.