A new Jez Butterworth play has been announced for Broadway. “The Hills of California” will begin previews on Sept. 11 and open on Sept. 29 for a limited engagement at the Broadhurst Theatre. Sonia Friedman Productions, No Guarantees Productions, Neal Street, Brian Spector and Sand & Snow Entertainment with Stephanie P. McClelland will produce the Main Stem transfer from London’s West End. Tony Award winner Sam Mendes will repeat his work as director.
In “The Hills of California,” a set of sisters returns to their coastal England childhood home where their mother is dying. Alternating between the 1970s and the 1950s, the family examines the decisions that led to their present circumstances. The play opened on Feb. 8 at the West End’s Harold Pinter Theatre, and is scheduled to complete its limited run there on June 15. The production earned two Olivier Award nominations, including Outstanding New Play.
Butterworth won the 2019 Tony Award for Best Play for “The Ferryman.” Butterworth’s other Broadway credits include 2011’s “Jerusalem” and 2014’s “The River.”
Mendes collaborated with Butterworth on the aforementioned “Ferryman,” winning a Tony for his direction. Mendes won a second directing Tony for helming 2021’s “The Lehman Trilogy.”
The “Hills of California” creative team will feature associate director Zoé Ford Burnett, Tony-nominated composer Nick Powell, Tony-nominated choreographer Ellen Kane, Tony-winning scenic and costume designer Rob Howell, Tony-nominated lighting designer Natasha Chivers, sound designer Powell and arrangers Powell and Candida Caldicot, the latter of whom will serve as musical supervisor.
Casting, by Jim Carnahan and JV Mercanti, will be announced.
