Set in 1880s New York society, and based on Henry James' novel Washington Square, The Heiress tells the tale of a shy, plain heiress, her emotionally abusive father, and the crafty fortune hunter whose romantic advances set this psychological drama off and running.  This successful revival on Broadway was remarkable for many reasons.  It starred an actress who crossed the country on her days off to reap Hollywood's finest awards for her role in Zero Dark Thirty.  It also co-starred a British heartthrob featured in Downton Abbey, whose 7.9 million American viewers clearly added attention to this already high-profile Broadway production. But what became abundantly clear during The Heiress's limited engagement was that the real star of the show was the play itself, intriguing audiences with its timeless and compelling plot. 

Who’s Who in the Cast: Jessica Chastain as Catherine Sloper, Dan Stevens as Morris Townsend, David Strathairn as Dr. Austin Sloper, and Judith Ivey as Lavinia Penniman.

Playwrights: Ruth and Augustus Goetz
Director: Moisés Kaufman
Theater: The Walter Kerr Theatre
Opening Date: November 1, 2012

SMP’s Favorite Moment: Jessica Chastain’s nightly transformation from “Hollywood IT girl” to plain Catherine Sloper.

Read the Play: The Heiress is available from Dramatists Play Service, and can be purchased here.  The source material, Henry James’ novel Washington Square can be purchased here.

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