This enduring drama has played on Broadway five times! A story of love, betrayal and a coming of age for a young woman in the 1850s.
Catherine Sloper, a shy young girl from a rich family, falls desperately in love with a dashing young fortune hunter. When he proposes to her for financial gain, Catherine naively accepts, none the wiser. Though Catherine’s father sees through the scheme, his daughter will not be convinced. When the truth does come to light, Catherine finds within herself a quiet strength that alters the course of her life.
The Heiress premiered on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on 29 September 1947. Directed by Jed Harris, the production featured Fiona O’Shiel, Basil Rathbone, Patricia Collinge, Wendy Hiller and Katharine Raht. The Heiress has been revived on Broadway four times – at New York City Center, the Broadhurst Theatre, the Cort Theatre and the Walter Kerr Theatre. The 1995 revival starred Cherry Jones, Philip Bosco, Jon Tenny and Frances Sternhagen. The 2012 revival starred Jessica Chastain, David Strathairn, Dan Stevens, Judith Ivey and Anneliese van der Pol.