Jez Butterworth's new play The Hills of California officially opened September 29 at Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre, and it is quite the sight and sound to behold.
Set in a swelteringly hot 1970s summer, the piece sees the Webb sisters returning to their childhood home in the English seaside town of Blackpool. One sister hasn't been heard from in two decades, but her siblings hope that with their mother close to death upstairs that she might reappear after all.
The play-with-music, which previously played an Olivier-nominated run in London, flashes back to the Webb sisters when they were younger and trying to become a singing group on par with the Andrews Sisters. The play builds to an all-important audition for the family quartet; check out their performance in the video above.
With Sam Mendes at the helm, The Hills of California reunites the team behind the Off-Broadway, West End, and Broadway bows of Butterworth’s The Ferryman.
A number of the original West End company have reprised their performances on Broadway, including Olivier winner and Tony nominee Laura Donnelly as Joan and Veronica, Leanne Best as Gloria, Ophelia Lovibond as Ruby, Helena Wilson as Jill, Nancy Allsop as Patty and Young Gloria, Sophia Ally as Young Ruby, Lara McDonnell as Young Joan, and Nicola Turner as Young Jill.
They are joined by Bryan Dick as Jack Larkin, Richard Short as Bill, David Wilson Barnes as Luther St. John, Richard Lumsden as Mr. Potts, Ta'Rea Campbell as Penny, Liam Bixby as Tony, Ellyn Heald as Mrs. Smith, Cameron Scoggins as Dr. Rose, and Max Roll as Mr. Smith. Understudies Sawyer Barth, Erin Rose Doyle, Sadie Veach, Liz Pearce, Jessica Baglow, and Q. Smith round out the company.
The London production's creative team reprise their work on Broadway, including scenic and costume designer Rob Howell, lighting designer Natasha Chivers, composer and sound designer Nick Powell, choreographer Ellen Kane, and music supervisor Candida Caldicot. Powell and Caldicot also serve as arrangers. U.K. casting is by Amy Ball, U.K. young persons' casting is by Verity Naughton, and U.S. casting is by Jim Carnahan and JV Mercanti.
