Award-winning show to start in February at Brooklyn Academy of Music for upcoming season.
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) is set to showcase an award-winning revival of the classic play “A Streetcar Named Desire” next spring. The production features Irish actor Paul Mescal in the iconic role famously portrayed by Marlon Brando. This highly anticipated show is the centerpiece of BAM’s upcoming season, as the nonprofit organization aims to recover from recent economic challenges and leadership transitions.
Originally penned by Tennessee Williams, “A Streetcar Named Desire” tells the story of a struggling Southern woman’s disruptive visit to her sister and brother-in-law in New Orleans. The play, which won a Pulitzer Prize, premiered on Broadway in 1947. The recent Olivier Award-winning revival originated at London’s Almeida Theater in 2022 before moving to the West End in 2023. Along with the production’s accolades, both Paul Mescal and Anjana Vasan received Olivier Awards for their portrayals of Stanley and Stella Kowalski, respectively. Vasan and Patsy Ferran, reprising her role as Blanche DuBois from the London production, will join Mescal in the BAM staging.
Critics have lauded the London production as “an electrifying ensemble production,” showcasing the talents of the cast. Mescal, known for his work in “Normal People” and “All of Us Strangers,” is making his American theater debut with “A Streetcar Named Desire.” Additionally, he will star in “Gladiator II,” further raising his profile in the entertainment industry.
Directed by Rebecca Frecknall, the production will first return to the West End from Feb. 3 to 22 at the Noël Coward Theater before heading to BAM for its run from Feb. 28 to April 6. The West End production team, led by ATG Entertainment, a prominent British theater company expanding into New York, is credited as presenting partners for the BAM staging.
In addition to “A Streetcar Named Desire,” BAM’s upcoming season includes a performance of “The Threepenny Opera” by the Berliner Ensemble under the direction of Barrie Kosky. A review by Joshua Barone in The New York Times described the production as “hauntingly enjoyable.” The season will also feature “Macbeth in Stride,” a reimagining of Lady Macbeth as a powerful Black female figure, directed by Whitney White. This production, previously staged at Washington’s Shakespeare Theater Company, was praised by Celia Wren in The Washington Post as “an ingenious meditation on ambition and the Bard.” Both shows are scheduled for April, with “The Threepenny Opera” presented in collaboration with St. Ann’s Warehouse and “Macbeth in Stride” co-produced with Shakespeare Theater Company, Philadelphia Theater Company, and Yale Repertory Theater.
BAM’s diverse season will also include a variety of dance performances, such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Batsheva Dance Company, as well as the annual DanceAfrica event. Music enthusiasts can look forward to performances by Max Richter, while film screenings and children’s programming will also be part of the lineup.
In summary, BAM’s upcoming season promises a rich tapestry of artistic offerings, culminating in the highly anticipated revival of “A Streetcar Named Desire” featuring Paul Mescal in a role that has captivated audiences for decades. With a blend of classic works and innovative interpretations, BAM continues to be a vibrant hub for cultural experiences in Brooklyn and beyond.
Source: The NY Times
