I have updated a lot of this information, based on the info I received
today from the Old Vic Theatre.

Most important...

85% of the tickets for Kevin Spacey's first run (through June 18h) have
already been sold.
Once the TPS reviews appear in the London papers on May 11th, it is
quite likely that tickets for the remainder of Kevin Spacey's first run
will sell out immediately. So if you are still plannng to buy TPS
tickets for Kevn's initial run, then you should do so as soon as
possble. HC







<><><><><><><><><><><>

ABOUT THIS INFORMATION


I have put together some information for The Philadelphia Story to make
it easier for people who are planning to go see the play at the Old Vic
Theatre in London. If I've missed anything important, or if there is
inaccurate info in this email, I'd appreciate it if you would email me
privately so I can make the necessary corrections. Thank you, HC:)

I will send out updates on this information periodically, but you can
always find a copy of the most recent update in the files section of
KSTV-UK:

KSTV-UK - files section
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KSTV-UK/files







<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
OLD VIC THEATRE - INFORMATION


Old Vic Theatre
11-1 The Cut, London, SE1 8NB


* The Philadelphia Story - Ticket Information
* The Philadelphia Story - Purchasing Tickets
* General Websites
* Maps
* Maps & Driving Instructions
* General Information
* Old Vic Theatre - Pit Bar
* Friends of the Old Vic - discounts/special offers
* The Philadelphia Story - Kevin Spacey's performance schedule
* The Philadelphia Story - more about the play







* * * * * * * *
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY - TICKET INFO



    Dates

May 3 to September 3 2005

Kevin Spacey is only performing until June 18th 2005; he is expected to
return to TPS on August 8th 2005. As of May 10th, the Old Vic had not
announced the actor who will be filling in for Kevin Spacey while Spacey
is on location shoot for "Superman Returns" in Australia.



    Programme for "The Philadelphia Story"

Programmes for "The Philadelphia Story" may be purchased at The Old Vic
Theatre for £4 each. The programme includes information about the
cast and the play, as well as TPS production photo stills.



    Ticket Availability

85% of the tickets for Kevin Spacey's first run (through June 18h) have
already been sold.

Weekend tickets (friday night & saturday matinee/night) are almost
completely sold out. The few tickets that remain are for the less
expensive tickets at the back of the theatre.

The best selection of remaining tickets is for monday, tuesday, and
wednesday (matinee) performances.

Once the TPS reviews appear in the London papers on May 11th, it is
quite likely that tickets for the remainder of Kevin Spacey's first run
will sell out immediately.

At the present time, only "Friends of the Old Vic" may purchase TPS
tickets for August 8th - Sept. 3rd schedule. The general public should
be able to purchase tickets for this time period sometime in June.



    Ticket Prices

All prices are in pounds sterling. The Old Vic Theatre box office
charges a £2.50 booking fee per transaction (as opposed to per
*ticket*); this fee is waived for "Friends of the Old Vic". Booking
agents may also charge an additional amount for booking fee and VAT.


Monday - Wednesday:
Stalls: £40, £35, £15, £12
Dress Circle (1st tier): £40, £35, £20, £15, £12
Lilian Baylis (2nd tier): £20, £15, £10

Thursday - Saturday:
Stalls: £42.50, £35, £15, £12
Dress Circle (1st tier): £42.50, £35, £20, £15, £12
Lilian Baylis (2nd tier): £20, £15, £12


Super Seats: £100

* "Super Seats" are the best seats in the house. Included in this
package is some champagne and a TPS programme.


Under-25s / Student Tickets

* 100 seats for every performance are set aside for "under-25s", and
each of these tickets is £12. The front two rows of the theatre, as
well as some upper circle seats, are set aside for this ticket program.
These tickets may be purchased over the phone or at the box office.
These tickets must be picked up at the box office and a proper photo
I.D. (which shows date of birth) must be presented.







* * * * * * * *
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY - PURCHASING TICKETS




Friends of the Old Vic - annual membership (£35)

If you are planning to see a number of Old Vic productions during the
year, you may want to review the additional benefits provided through
the "Friends of the Old Vic" membership (£35 annually).



* * * *
OLD VIC THEATRE BOX OFFICE



    Box Office Number

Old Vic Theatre Box Office - 0870 060 6628

* USA telephone calls - include the international code (011), then the
UK country code (44), and finally the TEN digit number (remove the first
"zero" from the number). So the Old Vic Theatre Box Office number you
would dial would be 011-44-870-060-6628



    Box Office Hours

Mondays to Saturday: 10:00 - 20:00



    Types Of Payment Accepted

Amex, Mastercard, Visa (credit and debit), Switch/Maestro, cash, cheques
(with guarantee card)

* Credit/debit cards - These tickets can either be sent to the card
owner or picked up at the box office. Take a photo ID and the credit
card used to make the booking; the cardholder will be required to sign
for the tickets.

* Checks - The check must either be drawn on a bank in the UK, or be an
international check which is made out in pounds sterling (£). Tickets
paid for by check should be picked up at the box office (photo ID must
be shown at time of pickup).



* * * *
TICKETMASTER.CO.UK


Note: Ticketmaster is just one of any number of booking agents you may
use. I've listed the Ticketmaser info because they are well known
outside of the UK (especially in the USA). HC



    Ticketmaster Numbers

Ticketmaster UK: 0870 154 4040
International (Ticketmaster): +44 161 385 3500



    Types Of Payment Accepted

Amex, Mastercard, Visa (credit and debit), Switch/Maestro, cash, cheques
(with guarantee card)



    Box Office Information Accepted

Collect from the venue on the day of the show in the hour before the
start of the performance. Take the credit card used to make the booking
and Ticketmaster reference number with you. The cardholder will be
required to sign for the tickets.



    Ticketmaster.co.uk Website

"The Philadelphia Story" ticket availability from Ticketmaster.co.uk
<http://cobrand.ticketmaster.co.uk/cgi/asp_events/cobrandperfname.asp?searchname=Philadelphia_Story&vaxname=uk1&venuenum=391&category=Attractions&brand=uk_atg_oldvic&affiliate=L456>
<http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/venue/147847?start=1&rpp=20&searchtype=>

Ticketmaster.co.uk may also charge an additional amount for booking fee
and VAT.







* * * * * * * *
GENERAL WEBSITES


Old VIc Theatre - official website
http://www.oldvictheatre.com

TourUK - Old Vic theatre
http://www.touruk.co.uk/london_theatres_halls/oldvic_theatre1.htm

Urban75 - Old VIc theatre: 360º panoramic view
http://www.urban75.org/vista/oldvic.html







* * * * * * * *
MAPS


Multimap (best map) - Old Vic Theatre
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?X=531500&Y=180000&scale=10000&coordsys=gb

Michelin (very good map) - Old Vic Theatre
<http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/mapPerformPage?expressMap=false&act=&pim=true&strAddress=11-1+The+Cut&strCP=SE1+8NB&strLocation=London&strCountry=1138&productId=&x=22&y=11>

Streetmap.co.uk - Old Vic Theatre
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?X=531403&Y=179930&A=Y&Z=1

View London - Old Vic Theatre
<http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/london_maps_search.asp?Postcode=SE1%208NB&Name=Old%20Vic%20Theatre>

Ticketmaster - West End theatre map
http://media.ticketmaster.co.uk/en-gb/img/static/feature/map.pdf

--
Multimap - map of SE1 8NB, London
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=SE1+8NB

Multimap - map of SE18NB, London
http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=SE1%208NB






* * * * * * * *
MAPS & DRIVING INFORMATION


LondonTown.com - Old Vic Theatre - series of maps for nearby transit and
parking (also restaurants and entertainment
http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Entertainment/The_Old_Vic/8f5f/

MapQuest - driving directions to Old Vic Theatre, [11-1] The Cut, London
SE1 8, GB
<http://www.mapquest.com/directions/europe.adp?do=nw&un=m&cl=EN&ct=EU&rsres=1&go=1&2a=The+Cut&2c=Waterloo&2z=SE1+8NB&2y=GB&CID=lfddwid&1y=GB&1c=&1z=&dir=Get+Directions>

Michelin map - driving directions to Old Vic Theatre, [11-1] The Cut
<http://www.viamichelin.com/viamichelin/gbr/dyn/controller/mapPerformPage?strAddress=%5B11-1%5D+The+Cut&strCP=SE1+8&strLocation=London&strCountry=EUR&image2.x=25&image2.y=11>







* * * * * * * *
GENERAL INFORMATION



Old Vic Theatre
The Cut / Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8NB



    Directions

Situated on the corner of The Cut and Waterloo Road, close to the rear
entrance of Waterloo Station.

Area - Southwark



    Public Transportation

Nearest rail: Waterloo (200m) Take Exit 2 and turn right; and Waterloo
East

Nearest tube: Waterloo (Bakerloo and Northern lines) (200m); also
Southwark (?)

Bus routes: 1, 4, 26, 68, 76, 77, 149, 168, 171, 172 (?), 176, 188, 341,
501, 505, P11, D1 (buses to/from Waterloo)

Nearest taxi pick-up point is at Waterloo station.



    Parking

No public car parks in the area. There is ample on street parking
available after 18:00.

NCP in Coin Street. NCP in Peabody Square.

1 bay for blue badge holders in Webber Street, plus meters.



    Old VIc Theatre Numbers

Box Office - 0870 060 6628
Friends of the Old Vic - 0870 060 6635
Group Ticket Sales (10 or more) - 0870 060 6644
Old Vic Administration - 0207 928 2651
Pit Bar (reservations) - 0207 928 2975
Young Vic Theatre - 0207 928 6363


* USA telephone calls - include the international code (011), then the
UK country code (44), and finally the TEN digit number (remove the first
"zero" from the number). For example, the Old Vic Theatre Box Office
number you would dial would be 011-44-870-060-6628



    Box Office Hours

Mondays to Saturday: 10:00 - 20:00



    Types Of Payment Accepted

Amex, Mastercard, Visa (credit and debit), Switch/Maestro, cash, cheques
(with guarantee card)



    Box Office Information Accepted

Collect from the venue on the day of the show in the hour before the
start of the performance. Take the credit card used to make the booking
(and, if applicable, the Ticketmaster reference number with you). The
cardholder will be required to sign for the tickets.



    Programme for "The Philadelphia Story"

Programmes for "The Philadelphia Story" may be purchased at The Old Vic
Theatre for £4 each. The programme includes information about the
cast and the play, as well as TPS production photo stills.



    Special Seating Arrangements

There are two wheelchair places available. For disabled bookings please
contact the box office directly.

The venue is fitted with an infa red system for the hard of hearing in
the auditorium. This comes with a number of personal receivers which can
be used with or without hearing aids.

The box office counter is fitted with a standard induction loop at one
position.



    General Information

No video cameras or recording devices

Reserved seating on three levels: Stalls, dress circle, and upper circle
(known as the Lilian Baylis Circle)

Air conditioning

Capacity 1067 aprox.



    Description of the Old Vic Theatre 

The Old Vic is one of the most famous theatres in the world one of the
oldest theatres in London. It was first opened during the Regency, in
1818, and is the only theatre in London from that time still in
business.

Long known as "the actors' theatre", many of the greatest performers of
the last century have played on its stage, including Laurence Olivier,
John Gielgud, Sybil Thorndyke, Edith Evans, Peggy Ashcroft, Alec
Guiness, Vivien Leigh, Ralph Richardson, Michael Redgrave, Peter
O'Toole, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Kevin Spacey.

--
SOURCES USED FOR INFORMATION

Ticketmaster (UK)
<http://cobrand.ticketmaster.co.uk/cgi/asp_events/cobrandperfname.asp?searchname=Philadelphia_Story&vaxname=uk1&venuenum=391&category=Attractions&brand=uk_atg_oldvic&affiliate=L456>

London Theatre Guide - Old Vic Theatre, Philadelphia Story (also
multimap.com info)
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/shows/display/cm/contentId/79798

View London - Old Vic Theatre
http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/ticketshop_venue_391.html







* * * * * * * *
OLD VIC THEATRE - PIT BAR


The Pit Bar is in the basement of the Old Vic, down the stairs to the
left of the entrance. The bar is open until midnight monday to
thursday, and until 1am or 2am on friday and saturday (closed sunday).
Once the evening performance has finished and everyone has left, they
usually rope off the top of the stairs down to bar. This means you have
to go in and out via the outside side entrance. The bar has a lot of
atmosphere; there are a lot of photo stills on the walls from current
and recent plays (including Kevin's plays). The bar gets fairly crowded
and so you have to go quite early to find a place to sit down. They
also serve food which is good but pricey. (Josie)

Pit Bar (reservations) - 0207 928 2975







* * * * * * * *
FRIENDS OF THE OLD VIC


Support us by becoming a Friend and you'll enjoy a range of benefits,
including priority booking for all Old Vic Theatre Company productions.
You'll also receive regular newsletters with behind-the-scenes news,
cast announcements and special offers. You can use the exclusive
Friends line for booking tickets or, if you change your mind for any
reason, there's a free ticket exchange service. And we won't charge you
booking fees.

Friends' Membership £35
To join, phone 0870 060 6635

Old Vic Theatre - Friends of the Old Vic
http://www.oldvictheatre.com/friends.htm







* * * * * * * *
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY - KEVIN SPACEY'S PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE


According to the Old Vic newsletter, Kevin Spacey will star in TPS from
May 3rd through June 18th. Then another actor (yet to be cast) will take
over the role while Spacey works on 'Superman Returns' (SR) in Australia
from June 20th to August 6th. Spacey will then return to TPS for the
remainder of the run from August 8th through September 3rd. The play
will not be extended past the September 3rd date, because Spacey will be
starring in the Old Vic's production of 'Richard II' which opens shortly
after that.

The Old Vic has confirmed that Kevin Spacey *will* be back in TPS as of
August 8th. That said, from what I have read, SR already seems to be
behind schedule in Australia (maybe by as much as a few weeks). SR is a
multi-million dollar film (200+ million, I believe) and Spacey has said
that it's big salary films like SR that help subsidize his stay at the
Old Vic. So, if something's got to give in Spacey's schedule, I don't
think it's going to be SR.

If Spacey has to stay in Australia past August 6th then, from the Old
Vic's perspective, their worst case scenario is that they would have to
refund some people their money for their TPS tickets (of course, they
would also have to deal with the angry folks who bought these tickets).

But for Kevin Spacey fans who had bought these tickets, there would be a
huge disappointment at not being able to see Spacey in TPS (because I'm
sure the rest of the TPS run would be sold out by then). For fans who
would be flying into London from other parts of the world, this
situation would be even more disappointing.

My personal recommendation would be that -- if you are going to buy TPS
tickets for Spacey's reprise run from August 8th-September 3th -- then
you should buy them as close to the end of this run as possible. This
way you would be fairly certain that Spacey would be back from Australia
by then and back on stage in TPS. HC:)







* * * * * * * *
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY


Play by Philip Barry. Directed by Jerry Zaks with designs by John Lee
Beatty, costumes by Tom Rand, lighting by Hugh Vanstone and sound by
Fergus O'Hare..

Phillip Barry's sparkling and witty Broadway comedy, never before seen
in the West End.

Rich, haughty and spoilt, Tracy Lord is about to get married for the
second time, to the solid but stuffy George Kittredge. But she's
reckoned without Macaulay Connor, a reporter who's been sent to cover
her wedding in the country near Philadelphia, and her quick-thinking,
free-drinking first husband C K Dexter Haven. The presence of both men
at her pre-nuptial party, the collision of the volatile emotions of the
trio, combined with a drunken midnight swim, provokes Tracy into
learning some painful lessons, and taking an unaccustomed look into her
own heart.

Phillip Barry's delicious and sparkling comedy of manners and character
takes a critical but affectionate look at the values and behaviour of
the American ultra-rich. The Philadelphia Story is a compelling mixture
of wit, satire and romance, with a freewheeling heroine who delights,
exasperates and moves us in equal measure.

Cast includes Jennifer Ehle as 'Tracy Lord', Oliver Cotton, Nicholas Le
Prevost, Richard Lintern, Julia McKenzie, Damian Matthews, Talulah Riley
and Lauren Ward. Kevin Spacey as CK Dexter Haven from 3 May to 18 June
2005 only. A casting announcement for performances from 20 June to 6
August will be made in due course. All other actors will appear
throughout the duration of the run.

Please Note: Age limit 5 plus.

Kevin Spacey's London West End credits include The Iceman Cometh (The
Old Vic Theatre 1998, transfer from The Almeida Theatre) and National
Anthems (The Old Vic Theatre 2005).

Oliver Cotton's recent London credits include Brand (Haymarket Theatre
2003), Life x 3 (Old Vic Theatre 2001), Summerfolk (National Theatre's
Olivier Theatre 1999) and Money (National Theatre's Olivier Theatre
1999).

Nicholas Le Prevost's recent theatre credits include Much Ado About
Nothing (Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford 2002, Haymarket Theatre
Royal, London 2002), My Fair Lady (National Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre
2001), Last Dance at Dum Dum (New Ambassadors Theatre 1999), Amadeus
(Old Vic Theatre 1999) and The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (National
Theatre's Lyttelton Theatre 1998).

Julia McKenzie's recent London credits include Fuddy Meers (Arts Theatre
2004), Royal Family (Haymarket Theatre 2001) and Kafka's Dick
(Piccadilly Theatre 1998).

Philip Barry wrote The Philadelphia Story especially for Katherine
Hepburn who, together with her lover Howard Hughes and the Theater
Guild, put up the money for the first production on Broadway. Staged at
the Shubert Theater in 1939, it co-starred Van Heflin as 'Macaulay' and
Joseph Cotton as 'Dexter'. The play was an instant hit, with Hepburn,
previously assailed on all sides for her theatre work, being widely
praised for her fine, deft performance. The play was memorably filmed by
George Cukor in 1940, with James Stewart and Cary Grant starring
alongside Hepburn. The musical version by Cole Porter, filmed as High
Society, had Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra in the leading
roles.

Born in Rochester, New York In 1896, Philip Barry contributed to both
high comedies and serious drama to the American stage. His Paris Bound
and Holiday were two of the most popular comedies of the 1920s; his
other comedies of manners included In a Garden (1925), Tomorrow and
Tomorrow (1931) and The Animal Kingdom (1932). His quasi-allegorical
plays, notably Hotel Universe (1930), The Joyous Season (1934), Here
Come the Clowns (1938) and Liberty Jones (1941), were less well
received. Except for the enduring The Philadelphia Story, his work is
now largely forgotten. He died in 1949.




(5/10/05)

*************************************************