Jez Butterworth's new play The Hills of California, which will cross the pond for a Broadway bow this fall, has some new steam behind the scenes.
Manhattan Theatre Club has joined producers Sonia Friedman Productions, No Guarantees Productions, Neal Street, Brian Spector, and Sand & Snow Entertainment, with Stephanie P. McClelland, to present the Broadway premiere.
The Hills of California will be available to MTC subscribers as the third production in the company’s Broadway 2024-25 season. Subscriptions for MTC’s 2024-25 season are available now.
Performances will begin September 11 ahead of a September 29 opening night at the Broadhurst Theatre. Sam Mendes is at the helm, reuniting with Butterworth after staging the Off-Broadway, West End, and Broadway bows of his The Ferryman.
A number of the original West End company are coming with the production, including Olivier winner and Tony nominee Laura Donnelly as Joan/Veronica, Leanne Best as Gloria, Ophelia Lovibond as Ruby, Helena Wilson as Jill, Nancy Allsop as Young Gloria, Sophia Ally as Young Ruby, Lara McDonnell as Young Joan, and Nicola Turner as Young Jill.
They will be joined by Bryan Dick, Richard Short, David Wilson Barnes, Richard Lumsden, Ta'Rea Campbell, Sawyer Barth, Ellyn Heald, Cameron Scoggins, and Max Roll. The company understudies will be Erin Rose Doyle, Sadie Veach, Liz Pearce, Jessica Baglow, Liam Bixby, and Q. Smith.
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.
The London production's creative team will 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. 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.
Sign up for a ticket presale at TheHillsofCalifornia.com.
See photos from the West End premiere:
Ophelia Lovibond in The Hills of California
Nicola Turner, Nancy Allsop, Lara McDonnell, and Sophia Ally in The Hills of California
Leanne Best in The Hills of California
Laura Donnelly and Lara McDonnell in The Hills of California
Laura Donnelly, Nicola Turner, Nancy Allsop, Lara McDonnell, and Sophia Ally in The Hills of California
Laura Donnelly in The Hills of California
Helena Wilson in The Hills of California
