'Desire' headed to Broadway

Chicago production to highlight O'Neill festival

By STEVEN OXMAN

Dennehy

Robert Falls’ production of “Desire Under the Elms,” starring Brian Dennehy, is headed for a Broadway run after its January preem at the Goodman Theater in Chicago, where the previously announced production will serve as the centerpiece of the org’s upcoming fest dedicated to scribe Eugene O’Neill.

The "August: Osage County" team of Jeffrey Richards, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel will produce in New York. The rarely revived 1924 play, inspired by Greek tragedy, hasn’t been seen on the Rialto since 1952.

The Goodman also announced other details of its O’Neill fest, including arrangements for Dutch and Brazilian companies to import O’Neill productions as well as a remounting of the Wooster Group’s “The Emperor Jones.”

Director Ivo Von Hove will bring company Toneelgroep Amsterdam to Chicago with his production of “Mourning Becomes Electra,” which will be presented in Dutch with English supertitles.

Sao Paolo’s Companhia Triptal of Brazil, which has dedicated itself to the early work of O’Neill since 2002, will present three of the scribe’s Sea Plays, “Bound East for Cardiff,” “In the Zone” and “The Long Voyage Home,” under the umbrella title “Homens ao Mar (Sea Men).” Presented in Portuguese, shows will run in repertory over three weekends.

“The Emperor Jones,” directed by Elizabeth LeCompte, premiered at the Wooster Group in 1993 and has been restaged many times since. Show features actress Kate Valk in the title role.

The Goodman will soon name one more production for the festival, expected to be a revival of “The Hairy Ape” from a local Chicago company.