Public Theater Announces \'Giant\' Casting

September 10, 2012, 1:00 pm

By PATRICK HEALY

Public Theater executives said on Monday that their fall production of the new musical “Giant,” based on Edna Ferber's epic novel about a powerful Texas ranching family, will star Tony Award nominees Brian d'Arcy James (“Shrek”) and Kate Baldwin (“Finian's Rainbow”) as patriarch Bick Benedict and his wife Leslie, the roles played in the 1956 movie by Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.

The actor P.J. Griffith will play the other main character, the poor ranch hand Jett Rink, a role made famous on screen by James Dean.Other notable names in the cast include Tony winner Michele Pawk (“Hollywood Arms”) as Luz, Bick's resentful sister, and Bobby Steggert (“Ragtime”) as Jordy Jr., Leslie an d Bick's grown son. (Dennis Hopper played Jordy in the film.)

Ms. Baldwin and Mr. Griffith played Leslie and Jett in a production of “Giant” last winter at Dallas Theater Center, and several other actors are returning with the production as well in smaller or ensemble roles.

“Giant” is the latest musical by the admired composer and lyricist Michael John LaChiusa (“Marie Christine,” “Queen of the Mist”) and the director Michael Greif (“Next to Normal,” “Rent”). The production has a book by Sybille Pearson (“Baby”), and is expected to have a running time of about three hours â€" on the long side for a musical, but shorter than an earlier incarnation of the show.

The production is scheduled to begin preview performances at the Public's Newman Theater on Oct. 26, with an opening night of Nov. 13; the show is currently scheduled to run through Dec. 2.