True West (Broadway)
TRUE WEST by Sam Shepard opened on Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theatre on March 2, 2000 and closed on July 29, 2000 after 21 previews and 154 performances.
Produced by Ron Kastner; Associate Producer: Sandi Johnson
Directed by Matthew Warchus; Scenic Design by Rob Howell; Costume Design by Rob Howell; Lighting Design by Brian MacDevitt; Sound Design by Jim van Bergen; Associate Director: William Joseph Barnes and Incidental music by Claire van Kampen
Starring from opening until June 18: Philip Seymour Hoffman (Austin & Lee alternated roles & played Austin on opening night), John C. Reilly (Lee & Austin alternated roles & played Lee on opening night), Robert LuPone (Saul Kimmer), Celia Weston (Mom)
Standby: Philip LeStrange (Saul Kimmer) and Lois Markle (Mom)
Replacement cast from June 21 until closing: Josh Brolin (Austin), Elias Koteas (Lee), Philip LeStrange (Saul Kimmer) Celia Weston (Mom)
Standby: Stephen Berger (Saul Kimmer) and Lois Markle (Mom)
General Manager: Roy Gabay; Company Manager: Alan R. Markinson
Production Stage Manager: William Joseph Barnes; Production Supervisor: Gene O’Donovan and Aurora Productions; Stage Manager: Jill Cordle
Fight direction by Rick Sordelet; Press Representative: Boneau / Bryan-Brown; Online Marketing by Toby Simkin / BuyBroadway Online Inc.; Casting: Jim Carnahan
As Founder and CEO of Theatre.com and BuyBroadway.com. The pioneer in moving the Broadway industry onto the internet. The theatre press branded me as “Toby is the man pushing theatre, kicking and screaming, into cyberspace.” What started in 1989 as a Broadway industry service called ShowCall via dialup BBS for members of the League of American Theatre Producers evolved onto the world wide web in the early 90’s, and shortly after this, the vast majority of Broadway shows (starting with my production of Victor/Victoria) and theatrical organizations followed. The “Super site of Broadway” became a publicly traded company, prior to my re-branding it as Theatre.com at the Minskoff Theatre.
Described by Variety Magazine as a “marketing powerhouse“, it was the single largest theatre community in the world with over 180,000 active members (in the 1990’s this was massive). From buying official Broadway tickets and souvenirs, providing detailed global show listings, interactive show study & educational guides, live streaming shows and events (including many Opening Nights live broadcasts), industry news from major theatre journalists, pictures and videos, games, messaging directly to Broadway cast’s backstage or even licensing a musical, theatre.com offered it all in a single, easy-to-use interface to theatregoers globally.
Holed up in their mother’s California house, screenwriter Austin and lowlife Lee wrestle with big issues—and each other, leading to the airing of old resentments and some unexpected twists in the relationship. Matthew Warchus’ production of True West was originally commissioned by the West Yorkshire Playhouse in a co-production with the Donmar Warehouse.