Man For All Seasons, A (2008) Production Files

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Identifier: MANSEASONS2008
Inclusive Dates: 2008
Extent:
Production Files documenting the 2008 production of Robert Bolt's A Man for All Seasons at the American Airlines Theatre.  Directed by Doug Hughes, with set design by Santo Loquasto, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by David Lander, original music and sound design by David Van Tieghem, and hair and wig design by Tom Watson.

The production starred Frank Langella as Sir Thomas More, with Peter Bradbury as Matthew, his steward, Jeremy Strong as Richard Rich, Michel Gill as the Duke of Norfolk, Maryann Plunkett as Alice More, Hannah Cabell as Margaret More, Dakin Matthews as Cardinal Wolsey, Zach Grenier as Thomas Cromwell, Triney Sandoval as Eustace Chapuys, the Spanish Ambassador, Michael Esper as William Roper, Patrick Page as King Henry VIII, Patricia Hodges as Catherine Anger, Charles Borland as The Jailer, George Morfogen as Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury, Emily Dorsch as the Barmaid and others, and Curt Bouril, Alex Cole, Elizabeth Gilbert, Miguel Govea, Einar Gunn, and Andy Lutz as attendants.  Charles Borland, Peter Bradbury, Emily Dorsch and Patricia Hodges were understudies, as well as Ray Virta.

This production does not appear to have been nominated for any awards.
A Man For All Seasons is based on the true story of Sir Thomas More, the 16th century Chancellor of England, who refused to endorse King Henry VIII's divorce of his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, in favor of Anne Boleyn.  A staunch Catholic, More was a man of principle but also objected so strongly to the Reformation movement that he tortured and made religious martyrs of a number of Prostestants in the name of upholding moral right.  More was ultimately destroyed by his rival, Thomas Cromwell, and the indignant King Henry. "It would seem that a play tackling such an important moment in history would have to be epic in scale, but the brilliance of Bolt is how he brought this battle of politics, religion and ideals down to human scale.  The scenes are not overpopulated with the teeming crowds of Henry's court, but rather they are small groupings of the key players, meeting in dark passages and behind closed doors--the few planning the fate of the many." (Roundabout)

The work was written in 1954 as a radio play for the BBC; it was then turned into a live BBC television episode, and in 1960 was reworked for the stage and first performed at London's Globe Theatre (now the Gielgud Theatre). The play quickly tranferred to the US and had its first Broadway run from 1961 - 1963; it was also produced previously at Roundabout in 1986, starring Philip Bosco.
Production files span two Hollinger boxes consisting of 18 folders, a Playbill, a few marketing flyers, a Samuel French version of the script and a cast/family photo.  

Digital holdings on the Archive 1 server include the following folders:
Costume Design (25 jpeg scans of costume renderings, hard copies of which are in the costume design production files folder)
Education (the Upstage study guide)
Media (mp3 and .wav files of interviews with Doug Hughes, Frank Langella and David van Tiegham; Hiptix, Wine, G&L and Opening Night photos; B Roll footage and radio clips)
Playbill (23 jpeg scans)
Press (select Archive scanned press)
Production Photographs (select and 792 general photographs)
Show Art

There is a second copy of the cast/family photo in the Photographs cabinet.

There is a related collection of "A Man For All Seasons" marketing materials on the Marketing shelves, and the poster for the production can be found on both Archive 1 and on the Poster shelves. Contracts have been removed and housed in the Contracts cabinets; these are confidential and access is restricted.
Access Restrictions: Open and available to approved researchers by appointment only. See folder details for specific restrictions.
Preferred Citation: A Man For All Seasons 2008, Roundabout Theatre Company Archive
Related Staged Production

Man For All Seasons, A (2008)

This box contains the following folders:
Artistic File
Author's Agreement File
NYPL Taping File
Set Design File
Flame Certification File
Props File
Lighting Design File
Costume Design File
Script File
Calling Script File
Rehearsal Schedules File
House Reports File
This box contains the following folders:
Casting Sessions
Opening Night
Tony Voters
House Seats
Press
Education

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