Theatre Register

Roger Rees

Shows · Roger Rees

Director 1944–2015 On stage 19742015

Roger Rees (5 May 1944 – 10 July 2015) was a Welsh-American actor and director. He won an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as the lead in The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. He also received Obie Awards for his role in The End of the Day and as co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher. Rees was posthumously inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in November 2015. On television, he played Robin Colcord in Cheers and Lord John Marbury in The West Wing. He also appeared as the Sheriff of Rottingham in Mel Brooks' Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

On stage 8 productions, 41 years

1974 London Assurance Palace Theatre · Revival · directed by Howard Panter 45 perf.
1981 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Plymouth Theatre · Original · directed by Trevor Nunn 49 perf.
1993 The Red Shoes Gershwin Theatre · Original · directed by Stanley Donen 5 perf.
1995 Indiscretions Ethel Barrymore Theatre · Original · directed by Sean Mathias 220 perf.
1996 The Rehearsal Criterion Center Stage Right · Revival · directed by Nicholas Martin 55 perf.
2000 Uncle Vanya Brooks Atkinson Theatre · Revival · directed by Michael Mayer 49 perf.
2013 The Winslow Boy American Airlines Theatre · Revival · directed by Lindsay Posner 53 perf.
2015 The Visit Theatre not recorded · Revival · directed by John Doyle 39 perf.

Each row is a staging this name appears in the cast list of, read from the production record rather than from the person record. The person record names works instead, and a work cannot say which run somebody was in — that is how Elaine Stritch ends up filed under Show Boat 1927 when she was in the 1994 revival. No row here says what part was played, because no cast list records it.

Worked with more than once1 names

David Threlfall 2 productions

Both names in the same cast list, more than once. It is not evidence of a partnership — a long-running company puts the same forty people together every night — but it is where one would start looking. 1 of these names are not links because we hold no record behind them; the name is set from the identifier and its punctuation may be wrong.

Also credited on1 work

Peter and the Starcatcher

These come off the person record, which names a work and not a production. So we can say this name is attached to the work and we cannot say which staging, or in what capacity. For a composer or a writer that is the whole career we hold; there is no cast list to find them in.

In the literature8 passages

  • The other cast members were not as tolerant, especially Eileen Atkins and Roger Rees. Kathleen is a very likeable woman, but to the English cast members, in particular, her conduct was inexcusable.ebooks/Schoenfeld, Gerald/Mr. Broadway_ The Inside Story of the Shuberts, the Shows, and the Stars - Gerald Schoenfeld.txt
  • The final billing page, with Steve Barton replacing Roger Rees in the starring role.ebooks/Suskin, Steven/B001T4YWBO EBOK - Steven Suskin.txt
  • JOHN WOODVINE, ROGER REES, EMILY RICHARD in “THE LIFE AND ADVENTURES OF NICHOLAS NICKLEBY”’theatre-pdfs/A Pictorial History of the American Theatre, 1860-1985 (Blum).txt
  • CAST The Nickleby Family: Nicholas Nickleby (Roger Rees), Kate (Emily Richard), Ralph (John Woodvine), Mrs. Nickleby (Priscilla Morgan)theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1981-82 Season, v. 38 (Willis).txt
  • Closed Jan. 3, 1982 after limited engagement of 102 performances and 7 previews. Recipient of 1982 "Tonys" for Best Play, Best Actor (Roger Rees), Best Direction, Best Scenic Design. It was also cited as Best Play by Drama Critics Circle.theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1981-82 Season, v. 38 (Willis).txt
  • DOUBLE DOUBLE by Eric Elice & Roger Rees. Director, Munson Hicks; Sets, John Falabella. CAST: Michele Farr, Francois Giroday. PETER PAN. Director, Fran Soeder; Sets, James Leonard Joy. CAST: Sergio Aguirre, Toi Campbell, David Carlton, Melody Combs, Michael Cumpsty, Stanton Cunningham, Zack Finch, Andy Greenway, Joel Imbody, Ken Jennings,…theatre-pdfs/Theatre World/Theatre World, 1988-89 Season, v. 45 (Willis).txt

Passages naming this person, found by keyword across 178 books. A keyword match is not a biography, and a common name will pull in the wrong one.

What this page does not know

  • What this person played. No cast list we hold records a character against a performer.
  • Which of the credits above the roles on this record — director — apply to. The roles sit on the person and never on a credit, so a director who also acted looks the same here as one who did not.

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