Methinks the Old Grey Lady has, yet again, muddled her facts.

If Red Orchid were a smaller non-Equity house, I could see how the Kane estate's agent would have huffily declared their production "unofficial" in premiere terms. (New Leaf Theatre went through a similar back-and-forth last year with David Hare's agent when they produced The Permanent Way, the final billing was "the first U.S. production of.")

But Red Orchid billed it as the Midwest premiere, which says, to me, that somebody somewhere actually premiered it in the United States even earlier than both Soho Rep and Red Orchid. Maybe Soho has the NY premiere, but I'm not sure what grounds the Times has to announce it as the American premiere.
Bilal | Homepage | 07.07.08 - 9:13 am | #

I had issues with that item, as well.

I know for a fact that the Undermain Theatre, a venerable cutting-edge company in Dallas, produced Blasted in 2004. An old friend played the male lead.

I daresay that may have been the actual first U.S. production.
David | 07.07.08 - 9:59 am | #

More of this discussion taking place at Kris Vire's blog...

http://storefrontrebellion.typep...- premieres.html
Bilal | Homepage | 07.07.08 - 10:58 am | #

Ah ha, thanks for the info guys.
Marisa | 07.08.08 - 12:48 am | #

I saw Blasted at the Loring Playhouse in Minneapolis way back in 1997.

Here's the poster for that production:
http://poniesforchrist.com/illo1.html
Eric Z. | Homepage | 07.08.08 - 11:30 pm | #