Andrew Garfield, alongside Nathan Lane, will be starring in a revival of ‘Angels in America,' on Broadway this upcoming spring at the Neil Simon Theater. Garfield, who's credits include “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Social Network,” is reprising his role of Prior Walter, a gay man with AIDS.
The critically-acclaimed play is deemed one of the most important works of the 20th century, due to its raw portrayal of the AIDS crisis during the Reagan administration. The show, with the subtitles ‘A Gay Fantasia on National Themes,' is broken into two parts, “Millennium Approaches,” and “Perestroika.” Both plays have been praised by audiences, winning both a Tony Award for best new play (“Perestroika”), and a Pulitzer Prize (“Millennium Approaches).
The Hollywood Reporter's review called it “no mere exercise in nostalgia. For a work known for its blend of mordant reality and fantasy, personal and political, theatricality and endurance-challenging ambition, now reveals another characteristic: prescience. … This triumphant production also seems timely, identifying exactly what we need in our own, trying times.”
Garfield sparked controversy this past summer, when he gave some insight into how he prepared for his role at the London theater stating, “I am a gay man right now just without the physical act – that’s all.” He went on to say how he used “RuPaul's Drag Race,” as a mirror for his own acting, upsetting many people in the LGBTQ community who believed his role was a clear depiction of cultural appropriation from a white actor. Following the backlash, Garfield blamed the media for twisting his words.
After its successful run in London, earlier this year, the show is moving to New York for an 18-week run with a preview date set for Feb. 23, before their big debut on March 21. Garfield, along with six other members of the London cast, are set to be reprising their roles this upcoming March. The play will be produced by Tim Levy, the director of NT America, and Jordan Roth, the president of Jujamcyn Theaters.
Related: Andrew Garfield Says Sites Twisted His Words About His Gay Role
