Huntington Presents American Premiere
Of "Two Men Of Florence"

The Huntington Theatre Company will present the American premiere of "Two Men of Florence," by noted historian, Presidential adviser, speechwriter, and author Richard N. Goodwin. Directed by Edward Hall, one of England’s leading directors, associate of London’s National Theatre, and leader of the all-male Propeller Theatre Company, the drama will play March 6 - April 5.

For “Two Men of Florence,” Goodwin turned his attention from the political giants of the 20th century to a battle between two titans of an earlier era. In the play, devout Catholic Galileo Galilei, inspired by his faith and encouraged by his patron, Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, strives to gain a deeper understanding of the scientific truths that explain his world.

When the politically ambitious Barberini ascends to become Pope Urban VIII, he comes to realize that Galileo’s discoveries threaten to rock his Church’s very foundation. The two old friends unexpectedly find themselves on opposing sides of a battle between reason and faith as each comes to realize the personal cost of passionately advocating for their beliefs.

The cast is led by Tony and Emmy Award-winning Edward Herrmann (at right) -- “Gilmore Girls,”“The Practice,” “Eleanor and Franklin” -- as Pope Urban VIII, and Drama Desk Award winner and Broadway and film actor Jay O. Sanders (left) -- “Pygmalion,” “Stuff Happens,” “Revolutionary Road” -- as Galileo Galilei.

Hall commented, “It’s extraordinary to me that more people haven’t written about the 16th and 17th centuries, a time when the world changed completely. At the beginning of the 16th century, we thought the earth was the center of the universe and a largely literate population lived their lives based on that. Through the century, all of that slowly began to change because of great figures like Copernicus, Bruno, and Galileo, working under the patronage of Urban VIII, who’s been cast as the villain, but who wasn’t. The truth is a lot more complicated than that.”

Hall saiys that Goodwin "tells a particularly contemporary story in this play – one about what happens when ideologies clash. Not just religious ideologies, but philosophical ones, and those that challenge the way we live. And the backdrop of this story is an extraordinary war, in part being fought over money, politics, and territory, and in part being fought over what is the right set of beliefs through which we should live our lives. Plays about beliefs are always contentious things. I hope this will be a contentious evening in the theatre.”

Goodwin began his career as the lead prosecutor of the quiz show scandals of the 1950s. That chapter in his memoir about the experience became Robert Redford’s film “Quiz Show,” in which Rob Morrow plays Goodwin. He next served as assistant special counsel to President John. F. Kennedy and as special assistant to President Lyndon B. Johnson. After resigning from the White House, he joined the anti-war movement and directed Eugene McCarthy’s 1968 Presidential campaign in New Hampshire and Wisconsin; thereafter, he served as campaign adviser to Senator Robert F. Kennedy until Kennedy’s death in June 1968.

Goodwin authored a number of the most memorable speeches of the last decades, including John F. Kennedy’s Latin America speeches, Johnson’s Great Society and civil rights speeches (including the “We Shall Overcome” and Howard University speeches), Robert F. Kennedy’s South African speech, and Al Gore’s concession speech in 2000. He is also the author of The Sower’s Seed: A Tribute to Adlai Stevenson; Triumph or Tragedy: Reflections on Vietnam; The American Condition; Remembering America: A Voice from the Sixties; Promises to Keep;” and is a contributor to The New Yorker magazine. Goodwin and his wife, historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, are long-time residents of Concord.

Hall’s Propeller Company production of “The Merchant of Venice” and a revival of his “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (Drama Desk Award nominations, Best Director and Best Production) are currently touring the U.K. prior to beginning a world tour that includes New York and Tokyo. His production of “Rose Rage” (an adaptation of “Henry VI, Parts I-III”) was nominated for an Olivier Award in London before touring the U.K. and the world, where it received Jeff Awards for Best Play, Director, and Ensemble in Chicago. Hall is an associate director at the Old Vic and the Watermill Theatre and an associate at the National Theatre. He directed the world premiere of “Two Men of Florence,” then titled “The Hinge of the World.” (The Huntington is presenting the American premiere of the play under its new title.) Hall is the son of acclaimed British director Sir Peter Hall.

Edward Herrmann received a Tony Award for his performance in “Mrs. Warren’s Profession” and an Emmy Award for his guest appearance on “The Practice.” He portrayed President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the acclaimed television mini-series “Eleanor and Franklin” and most recently appeared on television in the popular series “Gilmore Girls.”

Jay O. Sanders recently appeared on Broadway in the revival of “Pygmalion” with Claire Danes and Off Broadway as President George W. Bush in The Public Theater’s acclaimed production of “Stuff Happens.” He appeared in the films “Revolutionary Road,” “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Cadillac Records,” and last appeared in Boston in the title role of Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s 2003 production of “Macbeth.”

The cast also includes Diego Arciniegas , Dermot Crowley, Joe Curnutte, Nat DeWolf, Jeremiah Kissel, Andy Paris, Joel Rainwater, Peter Van Wagner and Molly Schreiber.

For tickets and information, call 617 266-0800 or visit www.huntingtontheatre.org.

-- OnStage Boston