| The Hills of California | |
|---|---|
 West End Promotional Poster | |
| Written by | Jez Butterworth |
| Directed by | Sam Mendes |
| Date premiered | 27 January 2024 |
| Place premiered | Harold Pinter Theatre, London |
| Original language | English |
| Setting | 1976, Blackpool |
The Hills of California is a play written by British playwright Jez Butterworth.
The synopsis from the press release of the play stated;
Set in 1976's Blackpool, The Hills of California takes place in the driest summer in 200 years, with beaches and hotels packed to capacity. Far from the tourist thoroughfares, the Webb Sisters cram into the guest house of their former home as their mother lies dying.
On 11 October 2023, it was announced that the play would make its world premiere at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London's West End. The show is scheduled to run for a strictly limited run from 27 January to 15 June 2024. It will be directed by Sam Mendes, designed by Rob Howell, lighting design by Natasha Chivers, sound design, composer, and arranger Nick Powell; choreographed by Ellen Kane and musical supervisor and arrangement by Candida Caldicot. It will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Neal Street Productions. [1] [2]
The show is scheduled to transfer to the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway. Previews are expected to begin on September 11 with an official opening night scheduled for September 29, 2024, with Sam Mendes directing. The principal cast from the London production were announced to reprise their roles. [3] Full casting is still to be announced. [4]
| Character | West End [5] |
|---|---|
| 2024 | |
| Veronica / Joan | Laura Donnelly |
| Gloria | Leanne Best |
| Ruby | Ophelia Lovibond |
| Jillian | Helena Wilson |
| Dennis / Jack Larkin | Bryan Dick |
| Bill / Mr Halliwell | Shaun Dooley |
| Luther St Joan Dr | Corey Johnson |
| Mr Potts / Joe Fogg | Richard Lumsden |
| Penny / Biddy | Natasha Magigi |
| Young Gloria | Nancy Allsop |
| Young Ruby | Sophia Ally |
| Young Joan | Lara McDonnell |
| Young Jill | Nicola Turner |
| Mr Smith | Will Barratt |
| Mrs Smith | Georgina Hellier |
| Tony | Alfie Jackson |
| Patty | Lucy Moran |
| Rose | Stevie Raine |
| Year | Award | Category | Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Laurence Olivier Awards [6] | Best New Play | Jez Butterworth | Nominated |
| Best Actress | Laura Donnelly | Nominated |
Sir Samuel Alexander Mendes is a British film and stage director, producer, and screenwriter. In 2000, Mendes was appointed a CBE for his services to drama, and he was knighted in the 2020 New Years Honours List. In 2000, Mendes was awarded the Shakespeare Prize by the Alfred Toepfer Foundation in Hamburg, Germany. In 2005, he received a lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of Great Britain. In 2008, The Daily Telegraph ranked him number 15 in their list of the "100 most powerful people in British culture".
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Disney Theatrical Productions Limited (DTP), also known as Disney on Broadway, is the stageplay and musical production company of the Disney Theatrical Group, a subsidiary of Disney Entertainment, a major division and business unit of The Walt Disney Company.
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Craig Michael Saavedra is an American film producer, director, and two time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer. He is married to cinematographer/director Joaquin Sedillo.
Jeremy "Jez" Butterworth is an English playwright, screenwriter, and film director. He has written screenplays in collaboration with his brothers, John-Henry and Tom.
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The Ferryman is a 2017 play by Jez Butterworth. Set during The Troubles, it tells the story of the family of a former IRA volunteer, living in their farmhouse in rural County Armagh, Northern Ireland in 1981.
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