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.
Theatre: 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.