Jessica Chastain is set to return to the Broadway stage in a new production titled Lost Lear. The upcoming play offers a metafictional interpretation of the Shakespearean classic King Lear. This engagement marks a significant milestone in Chastain's career on the New York stage, as it is her first time appearing in a new work following her acclaimed 2023 revival of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House.
In the production, Chastain will portray Joy, a middle-aged actress who is suffering from early onset dementia. The character's mental state is defined by a single, persistent memory: her past performance in King Lear. As her grasp on the present reality weakens, Joy becomes convinced that she is once again in rehearsal for the Shakespeare play.
The cast includes Corey Stoll, known for his role in Appropriate, and Michael Urie, who has appeared in Once Upon a Mattress and Spamalot. Urie will play the nurse at Joy's care home, a role that requires him to adapt to the character's delusions. Stoll will play Conor, Joy's estranged son, who visits with the intention of telling his mother what he has left unsaid for years. Additional casting details are expected to be announced in the future.
Dan Colley is both the writer and director of the piece. This production represents his directorial debut on Broadway. The official logline describes the dynamic as the nurse taking cues from Joy, stepping into whatever role she needs, while Conor must step into the scene if he hopes to be heard by his mother. The story is described as a limited event and a memory that will be impossible to leave behind.
Lost Lear is scheduled to premiere at the Booth Theatre next spring. Previews are set to begin on March 29, 2027, with the official opening night taking place on April 23. The run will be limited to a 16-week engagement. The play has a history prior to its New York debut, having been workshopped and performed in Ireland in 2022. Since then, it has been staged in various international locations, including New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Scotland.
Colley expressed his excitement about bringing the work to the Broadway stage. He noted that he never imagined the play would reach this level of prominence when it was first created. He added that he is thrilled to share the piece with New York audiences. He also highlighted his eagerness to discover new facets of the work through collaboration with the cast and creative team.
