Book-It’s rich history with The Cider House Rules began in the early 90s when Jane Jones, Tom Hulce, and Peter Parnell first began considering adapting Irving’s mountainous work. Countless drafts, workshops, and readings took place along the way to the larger performances in Seattle, LA and New York. In the next several weeks we’d like to share some of the memorabilia from the journey that has brought Cider House to the current day.
Below is the stage manager’s report from the 1995 New Play Workshop at the Seattle Rep’s PONCHO forum. Note that despite running over 4 hours the length didn’t turn off audiences – she calls it a “well paced” performance that while ending after midnight enticed audiences enough to stay for a post play discussion well into the night.
(For you careful readers, yes this workshop was really in 1995, the SM got the date on the form wrong!)
And for your viewing pleasure here are a few photos from rehearsals of this workshop…
Ethan Hawke (Homer) Myra Platt (Candy) and David P. Wichert (Curly Day). Photo by Chris Bennion 1995.
Tom Hulce, Jane Jones, Sarah Brooke (Nurse Edna), Linda Hunt (Nurse Angela), and Michael Winters (Dr. Larch). Photo by Chris Bennions 1995.
Jane Jones, Tom Hulce, Josh Hamilton (Wally), and Myra Platt (Candy) with Dougland Park (Wilbur Walsh/Grant Winkle) in the background. Photo by Chris Bennion, 1995.
