Complete casting has been announced for Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Clifford Odets’ The Big Knife, starring two-time Tony nominee Bobby Cannavale. Tony winner Doug Hughes directs the production, which will begin previews on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre on March 22. Opening night is scheduled for April 16, with the limited engagement concluding on June 2.
In addition to Cannavale, The Big Knife will star Rachel Brosnahan as Dixie Evans, Marin Ireland (Reasons to Be Pretty) as Marion Castle, Billy Eugene Jones (The Mountaintop) as Russell, Richard Kind (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Marcus Hoff, Adam Rapp as Hank Teagle, Ana Reeder (Hedda Gabler) as Connie Bliss, Reg Rogers (A Free Man of Color) as Smiley Coy, Joey Slotnick as Buddy Bliss, Brenda Wehle (Come Back, Little Sheba) as Patty Benedict and Chip Zien (The People in the Picture) as Nat Danzinger.
Set during the golden age of Hollywood, The Big Knife follows film star Charlie Castle (Cannavale), whose studio has been forced to cover up a mistake that could have ended his career. When a woman with insider knowledge threatens to come forward, the studio heads will stop at nothing to protect Charlie's secret. Charlie must decide what lengths he's willing to go to before just quitting the business for good.
The design team will feature sets by John Lee Beatty, constumes by Catherine Zuber, lighting by James F. Ingalls and sound and original music by David Van Tieghem.
The new revival will mark the first Broadway revival of the play, which premiered at the National Theatre in 1949. It is also the second Odets play of the season (his boxing drama Golden Boy currently runs at the Belasco Theatre).