NEW YORK — Producer Eric Falkenstein says Katie Holmes was a natural to make her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller's "All My Sons."
"Katie's not really a celebrity type. She's done brilliant work in films like 'Pieces of April' and 'The Ice Storm.' And is perfect for the role," Falkenstein tells the New York Post.
Last month, it was announced that the 29-year-old actress would star alongside Oscar winner Dianne Wiest, Tony winner John Lithgow, and Patrick Wilson in the play, which is due to open in the fall.
The play is based on a true story about a businessman named Joe Keller who knowingly sold faulty airline parts to the U.S. government during World War II. The defective parts later caused several planes to crash, killing 21 men. The truth eventually comes out when the man's son marries his business partner's daughter, to be played by Holmes. Once Keller's secret is revealed, his life quickly begins to unravel.
["Her character] starts as a simple, sweet, average Midwesterner, and by the finale gets up the gumption to stand and confront what's wrong," Falkenstein explains. "A natural sweetheart who can sniff out phonies, Katie basically has that exact moral fiber."
It will be the first play for Holmes since high school, but Falkenstein says that is not a concern.
"She's a student. Inquisitive. Took notes at our first table-read. Asked questions. Loves being around theater people. When she signed on she came here to a bare rehearsal room for a read-through. She didn't ask for anything. She was just sweet and deferential," he says.
With rehearsals scheduled to begin this summer, Falkenstein says Holmes and her husband, Tom Cruise, are packing their bags and planning to move to the Big Apple with their daughter Suri.
"She and Tom are committed to keeping the family together, so they have to get an apartment here," he says.
"All My Sons" was first performed on Broadway in 1947, winning Tony Awards for Miller and director Elia Kazan. A year later, it was adapted into a feature film, starring Edward G. Robinson and Burt Lancaster. It was also made into a TV movie in 1987.
- Comment
