Exhilarating! Geoffrey Rush ascends to Broadway royalty! Making his Broadway debut in what is possibly the oddest, funniest agony in the history of the theatre, Rush is never less than virtuosic! New York Post

Brutally funny. This has to be the liveliest death on record, brought to life like a fire-trailing comet by Geoffrey Rush. His knockout portrayal is hilariously spastic. The rest of the cast follows him in style. Lauren Ambrose’s overripe emotionalism is the perfect counterpoint to the acerbic pragmatism in Susan Sarandon’s sustained coolness. Andrea Martin is superb. The presentation is genius, luring us into raw and very real emotional territory. The New York Times

A crowning achievement! Ionesco’s account of a ruler who squanders his time is well worth yours. Director Neil Armfield culls excellent work from the cast. Geoffrey Rush gives a flamboyant, hilariously physical performance that becomes profoundly moving. Lauren Ambrose is wonderful. USA Today

See it by all means! This sterling revival is a production of rip-snorting vitality. Geoffrey Rush's performance is the stuff Tony’s are made of! And the supporting ensemble leaves little to be desired. Exit the King is the real thing! The Wall Street Journal

Eugene Ionesco

Translated By Neil Armfield & Geoffrey Rush

Neil Armfield

Lauren Ambrose, Brian Hutchinson, Andrea Martin, Geoffrey Rush, William Sadler and Susan Sarandon

Company B and Malthouse Melbourne's sell-out production, Exit the King, is now playing at the Barrymore Theatre, Broadway. Oscar winner Geoffrey Rush makes his Broadway debut in his acclaimed role as the absurd King Berenger, and Hollywood matriarch Susan Sarandon, in her first Broadway appearance since 1972, plays the strong and spiteful Queen Marguerite.

King Berenger is getting old – 400 years old, to be exact – and his health is failing. His country is failing (his empire is down to six people). His marriage is failing (his first marriage already failed). But his pride has most definitely not failed, and despite being told his time is up, the ancient ruler refuses to get off the stage without a fight.

It has been announced that Exit the King has been nominated for four 2009 Tony Awards. Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for Geoffrey Rush, Best Set Design of a Play for Dale Ferguson, Best Costume Design of a Play for Dale Ferguson and Best Sound Design of a Play for Russell Goldsmith. This adds to the impressive list of award nominations the production has already received in recent weeks (see full list below). The Tony Awards presentation ceremony will be held on Sunday, 7 June at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

Tony Award nominations:
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play – Geoffrey Rush
Best Scenic Design of a Play – Dale Ferguson
Best Costume Design of a Play – Dale Ferguson
Best Sound Design of a Play – Russell Goldsmith

Drama Desk Award nominations:
Outstanding Revival of a Play – Exit the King
Outstanding Actor in a Play – Geoffrey Rush
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – Andrea Martin
Outstanding Set Design of a Play – Dale Ferguson

Outer Critics Circle Award nominations:
Outstanding Actor in a Play – Geoffrey Rush
Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play – Andrea Martin

Drama League Awards Nominations:
Distinguished Revival of a Play    
Distinguished Performance – Geoffrey Rush
Distinguished Performance – Susan Sarandon

Venues and Ticket Information

Barrymore Theatre, 243 West 47th Street, New York

Previews begin: Saturday 7 March 2009
Opening night: Thursday 26 March 2009
Closing: Sunday 14 June  2009

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