Bent
Bent © 1978, 1998 by Martin Sherman. All rights reserved.
CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are warned that Bent is fully protected under existing copyright laws, and that all rights including professional and amateur theatrical productions, motion pictures, public reading, radio and television broadcasting, and the rights of translation into foreign language are strictly reserved. All inquiries about this play should be addressed to the author’s agent—Nina Reznick, 28 E. 10th St., New York, NY 10003.
Michael Gross (Greta), David Marshall Grant (Rudy), and Richard Gere (Max) in Bent, at the New Apollo Theatre, 1979. (Photo by James Hamilton. Reprinted with permission from the John Willis Theatre World/Screen World Archive.)
Michael York (Max) and Jeffrey DeMunn (Horst) in Bent, at the New Apollo Theatre, 1980. (Photo by Jody Caravaglia. Reprinted with permission from the John Willis Theatre World/Screen World Archive.)
Bent was originally presented at London’s Royal Court Theatre on May 3, 1979. It was produced by Eddie Kulukundis by arrangement with Jack Schlissel. It was directed by Robert Chetwyn, designed by Alan Tagg, and the lighting was by Robert Bryan. The music was by Andy Roberts, the sound was by John Del’Nero, and the assistant director was Antonia Bird. The stage manager was Chloe Wright, the deputy stage manager was Simon Hall, the assistant stage manager was David Lockwood, the costume supervisor was Francis Roe, and the production photographer was John Haynes. BENT is BASED ON FACT. Bent was originally given a staged reading at the 1978 National Playwrights Conference of the Eugene O’Neill Memorial Theater.
Cast
| Max | Ian McKellen |
| Rudy | Jeff Rawle |
| Wolf | Simon Shepherd |
| Lieutenant | Haydn Wood |
| 2nd Lieutenant | Jeremy Arnold |
| Greta | Ken Shorter |
| Freddie | Richard Gale |
| Horst | Tom Bell |
| Guard on train | Haydn Wood |
| Officer | Gregory Martyn |
| Corporal | John Francis |
| Captain | Peter Cellier |
Bent was first presented in the U.S. on Broadway at the New Apollo Theatre on Sunday, December 2, 1979. It was produced by Jack Schlissel and Steven Steinlauf. It was directed by Robert Allan Ackerman, the settings were by Santo Loquasto, and the lighting was by Arden Fingerhut. The costumes were by Robert Wojewodski, the music was by Stanley Silverman, and the coproducers were Lee Minskoff and Patty Grubman. Special effects were by Randy McAndrews, the production associate was Gilbert Wang, the wardrobe was by Clarence Sims, and the production assistants were Karen Gromis and Marjorie Ornston. The general manager was Jay Kingwall, the company manager was Al Isaac, the press was by Jeffrey Richards, Warren Knowlton, Alan Eichler, Marjorie Ornston, Robert Ganshaw, Helen Stern, and Karen Gromis, and the stage managers were Robert Bennett and Donald Walters The photographer was James Hamilton.
Cast
| Max | Richard Gere |
| Rudy | David Marshall Grant |
| Wolf | James Remar |
| Guard | Kai Wulff |
| Guard | Philip Kraus |
| Greta | Michael Gross |
| Uncle Freddie | George Hall |
| Officer | Bryan E. Clark |
| Guard | John Snyder |
| Horst | David Dukes |
| Captain | Ron Randell |
| UNDERSTUDIES: | |
| Max, Officer, Capt., Uncle Freddie | David Davies |
| Horst | Gregory Salata |
| Rudy | James Remar |
| Greta | John Snyder |
| Wolf | Kai Wulff |
| Guards | Michael Morrows |
For Alan Pope and Peter Whitman