Netflix is set to make its Broadway producing debut with the upcoming play Patriots, created by Peter Morgan. The play, which has already had a successful run at London’s Almeida Theatre and the Noël Coward Theatre, will arrive on Broadway on April 1 for a 12-week engagement. The opening night at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre is scheduled for April 22.
Set in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union, Patriots tells the story of the rise of oligarchs like billionaire Boris Berezovsky and a little-known deputy mayor of St. Petersburg named Vladimir Putin. Michael Stuhlbarg will portray Berezovsky, while Will Keen will take on the role of Putin. The play explores their complex relationship as Berezovsky turns to Putin when a successor to President Boris Yeltsin is needed. However, Putin’s ruthless rise threatens Berezovsky’s reign, leading to a confrontation between the two powerful and flawed men.
Netflix’s involvement in the production was announced in a press release, along with the completion of the casting for the large ensemble. Other producers involved in the project include Sonia Friedman Productions, Nederlander Presentations, Richard Winkler, Stephanie P. McClelland, Ted Snowdon, Jamie deRoy/Ken Greiner, and Richard Batchelder.
This is not the first collaboration between Sonia Friedman Productions and Netflix. They previously worked together on the London stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow. The Broadway cast of Patriots will consist of 18 members, including Stella Baker, Ronald Guttman, Alex Hurt, Rosie Benton, Jeff Biehl, Peter Bradbury, Camila Canó-Flaviá, Marianna Gailus, Paul Kynman, Adam Poss, and Nick Rehberger. Benjamin Bonenfant, Danielle Chaves, Joe Forbrich, and Tony Ward will serve as understudies.
The creative team behind Patriots includes set designer Miriam Buether, co-costume designers Deborah Andrews and Miriam Buether, lighting designer Jack Knowles, sound designer and composer Adam Cork, projection designer Ash J Woodward, and movement director Polly Bennett.
With Netflix’s involvement in the production, Patriots is sure to captivate audiences with its compelling story and talented cast. As the streaming giant makes its Broadway producing debut, theater enthusiasts can look forward to a unique and engaging theatrical experience. Don’t miss the chance to witness the clash of power and ambition in this gripping play.
