CINEMA NOUVEAU SCREENS CRITICALLY-ACCLAIMED BROADWAY PRODUCTION OF JOHN STEINBECK’S OF MICE AND MEN

“A moving masterpiece” – Time

“James Franco is fantastic” – Time Out New York

“Chris O’Dowd is a revelation“ – Entertainment Weekly

The critically-acclaimed Broadway production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men releases at Cinema Nouveau theatres on Saturday, 06 December for a limited season, as part of National Theatre Live. This production is directed by Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro and features an all-star cast, including Academy Award nominee and Golden Globe winner James Franco, BAFTA and Tony Award nominee Chris O’Dowd, Leighton Meester and Tony and Olivier Award winner Jim Norton.

The production was filmed at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre in front of a live audience and will have six screenings at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town: 06 December at 17:00; 07 December at 14:30; 09 December at 11:30; 16 December at 17:00; 17 December at 11:30; and 18 December at 17:30.

Nominated for two 2014 Tony Awards, the production shattered the house record at the Longacre Theatre multiple times during its limited 19-week engagement, grossing over a million dollars in its final week. This was the first time any show grossed $1 million in one week at the Longacre Theatre, as Of Mice and Men became the first “hit” of the spring 2014 Broadway season.

Of Mice and Men tells the story of George (James Franco) and Lennie (Chris O'Dowd), an unlikely pair of friends drifting from job to job across the farms and fields of California, holding fast to their dream of one day having an acre of land they can call their own.

The production also stars Ron Cephas Jones, Alex Morf, Joel Marsh Garland, James McMenamin, Jim Ortlieb and Jim Parrack.

The creative team for Of Mice and Men includes scenic design by Tony Award winner Todd Rosenthal, costume design by the international, Emmy Award-winning designer of the London 2012 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Suttirat Larlarb, lighting design by 2014 Tony Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Rob Milburn & Michael Bodeen, original music by David Singer, fight direction by Thomas Schall, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Calleri Casting.

The Broadway play is produced by David Binder, Kate Lear, Darren Bagert, Adam Zotovich, Latitude Link/Piedmont Productions, Raise the Roof, Paula Marie Black, Marc Turtletaub, Ruth Hendel/Barbara Whitman, Marianne Mills/Jayne Baron Sherman, Martin Massman, Judy Kent/Wendy Knudsen, Kevin Niu, Michael Watt and The Shubert Organization.  101 Productions Ltd is the executive producer.

Of Mice and Men releases on South African screens on Saturday, 06 December, for six exclusive screenings:  06 December at 17:00; 07 December at 14:30; 09 December at 11:30; 16 December at 17:00; 17 December at 11:30 and 18 December at 17:30 – only at Cinema Nouveau theatres in Johannesburg, Pretoria, Durban and Cape Town.  Bookings are now open. The running time of this production is 2hrs 30mins, including a 20-min interval.

For booking information on Of Mice and Men, download the Ster-Kinekor App on any Nokia, Samsung Android, iPhone or Blackberry smart phone for updates, news and to make a booking. Visit www.cinemanouveau.co.za or sterkinekor.mob. Follow us on Twitter @nouveaubuzz and on Facebook at Cinema Nouveau. For queries, contact Ticketline on 0861 Movies (668 437). The loyalty club discounts and benefits for cardholders of the SK Club, Discovery Vitality and Edgars Club, apply for all National Theatre Live productions.

National Theatre Live enables audiences to experience the best of British theatre throughout the year, as the NT brings cameras into the auditorium to record and broadcast performances from stage to screen. Over three and a half million people have experienced a National Theatre Live broadcast via satellite, both live and time-delayed, in more than 2000 venues in over 40 different countries around the world, including South Africa. National Theatre Live events are distributed outside the U.K. through New York-based BY Experience, the pioneer of global live “alternative content” digital cinema events.

Watch the trailer for Of Mice and Men here: http://sterkinekor.com/?cinemaID=11#/trailer/6579/Of%20Mice%20and%20Men%20%28NT%20Live%29/

Hi-res images for this production are available at: www.skpictures.co.za

Forthcoming productions from National Theatre Live to be screened at Cinema Nouveau in South Africa include:

JOHN  (releases on 10 January 2015)

‘Powerful and absorbing. Physically fuelled. - Evening Standard

Internationally renowned DV8 Physical Theatre brings its powerful new production to the National Theatre. JOHN authentically depicts real-life stories, combining movement and spoken word to create an intense and moving theatrical experience.

Lloyd Newson, DV8’s Artistic Director, interviewed more than 50 men asking them frank questions, initially about love and sex. One of those men was John. What emerged was a story that is both extraordinary and touching. Years of crime, drug use and struggling to survive lead John on a search in which his life converges with others, in an unexpected place, unknown by most.

JOHN contains adult themes, strong language and nudity. Suitable for 18yrs+.

TREASURE ISLAND (releases on 14 February 2015)

Robert Louis Stevenson’s story of murder, money and mutiny is brought to life in a thrilling new stage adaptation by Bryony Lavery, broadcast live from the National Theatre.

It’s a dark and stormy night. The stars are out. Jim, the inn-keeper’s granddaughter, opens the door to a terrifying stranger. At the old sailor’s feet sits a huge sea-chest, full of secrets. Jim invites him in – and her dangerous voyage begins.

Not one of us must breathe a word of what we’ve found…

Suitable for 10yrs+.