Some great news for you New Yorkers:

New Yorkers will have a chance to see the Sydney Theater Company’s celebrated production of “Uncle Vanya� with Cate Blanchett and Hugo Weaving next summer. The production, which received rave reviews when it appeared last August at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, will be presented at City Center from July 19 through July 28 as part of the Lincoln Center Festival, a festival spokeswoman, Eileen McMahon, said. Ms. Blanchett plays Yelena, and Mr. Weaving plays Astrov in the farcical-yet-heartbreaking production, which was staged by the Hungarian director Tamas Ascher. Ms. Blanchett’s husband, Andrew Upton, provided the actors a new English translation of Chekov’s in 1897 play in Russian.

Source: New York Times

The Sydney Theatre Company’s Uncle Vanya has been named the best play of the year by the Washington Post after what the newspaper’s critic described as the city’s strongest year of theatre in a decade.

The production, starring Oscar winner Cate Blanchett and Oscar nominee Jacki Weaver as well as Richard Roxburgh and Hugo Weaving, enjoyed a three-week run at Washington’s Eisenhower Theatre in August.

Acclaimed US critic Peter Marks put the play, a portrait of rural Russian life, in the top spot on his annual list of Washington theatre’s top 10.
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“[It] had the mesmerising power to stun an audience out of complacency over the classics and transform ones view of a masterpiece,” he said.

Marks added that it had been an exceptional year for the city’s theatre scene.

“Of all the top 10 lists I’ve assembled over the years, compiling this year’s drove me the craziest,” he said on the newspaper’s website.

“That’s how strong 2011 has been for Washington theater – the best, in fact, in my decade of steady theater-going in the region.”

Source: Sydney Morning Herald

Stylelist interviewed Cate recently and you can read it in our press archive!

Cate Blanchett – who has been serving as SK-II’s Global Brand Ambassador for four years now – had actually been a fan of the skincare line six years prior to becoming the company’s spokesperson. She calls the pairing a “happy accident,� since she’s been using the products ever since a friend suggested the Facial Treatment Essence for uneven skin tone. In honor of using SK-II for the past decade, the actress met with a few editors to discuss the line, as well as the products she uses everyday. When conversation turned towards their incredibly glowifying face masks, Blanchett (who’s currently in a production of Chekov’s Uncle Vanya in Washington D.C.) mentioned how she’d actually put one on in the theater right before heading to the interview in New York. As far as other secrets to her beyond-luminous skin (seriously, the woman radiates), she attributes consistency and of course SK-II’s miracle-working ingredient pitera (a blend of vitamins, amino acids, minerals and organic acids). While Blanchett was forthcoming with the details of her skincare regimen, she also disclosed the contents of her makeup bag, what it was like to play Bob Dylan and the unexpected place that truly inspires her.

Got the video and captures added from the ‘Channel 9 News PBS’ interview Cate and her co-star Richard Roxburgh!

GALLERY LINKS:
- News Segments: Channel 9 News PBS – August 15, 2011

Such a a nice review on Cate, so I just had to post it:

I’ve always loved Cate Blanchett as a movie actress, but when I saw her as Blanche Du Bois in the Sydney Theatre Company’s “A Streetcar Named Desire,” I thought she was overblown and even campy. For me it was the kind of grand-dame performance that often throws a production completely off-balance, and is just as often over-praised.

But she made me believe that she’s a stage dazzler last weekend, when I saw the Sydney Company’s production of Chekhov’s “Uncle Vanya” at the Kennedy Center.

Source: Baltimore Sun

There is so many reviews on Cate and Uncle Vanya and they are so positive, which is really fun – but not too surprising for us fans Here is one from The Accidental Thespian:

Cate Blanchett is a glowing flame that lights several damaging fires as she navigates the courting of herself by both Vanya and, Astrov, the latter of whom she tries desperately to resist her own attraction to him. Ms. Blanchett navigates delicately Yelena’s unlikable side as she befriends and betrays her stepdaughter, Sonia.

If you want to read more reviews go to our forum to read many more!

A new interview by PBS from yesterday (August 15) with Cate and with actor Richard Roxburgh, whom Cate starred together with in Thank God He Met Lizzie in 1997, read more about the film here. Always a good thing waking up to a new interview You can read the whole transcript in the press archive as well.

From Queen Elizabeth to Bob Dylan, Cate Blanchett has engaged and surprised audiences in a variety of roles and become one of the world’s most admired film stars.

But Cate Blanchett came from the theater. And to the theater she’s returned – in a big way.

In 2008 she and husband Andrew Upton, a writer and director, became artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company. Last year they brought a production of Streetcar Named Desire to the U.S. with Blanchett in an acclaimed performance as Blanche Dubois.

Now they’re back at Washington’s Kennedy Center with another classic: Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, with renowned Chekhov interpreter Tamas Ascher directing, and an all-star cast of Australian actors, including Richard Roxburgh.

Monday on the NewsHour, I talk with Blanchett and Roxburgh about their work in the theater and why they chose to do Uncle Vanya.

Source: PBS

There is several reviews praising Cate and the rest of the cast of Uncle Vanya and you can some of the reviews at New York Times, Baltimore Sun, Washingtonian and Mena FN.

I also added a new promotional photoshoot of the cast and some behind the scenes footage!

Staged by the Hungarian director Tamas Ascher — and featuring a brilliant daredevil performance by Cate Blanchett as a chipped trophy wife — this “Uncle Vanya� gets under your skin like no other I have seen. For what is created here is an ever-pulsing portrait of just how impossible and essential it is to live in close quarters with those maddening creatures called human beings, especially those you regard (Heaven help you) as family.

GALLERY LINKS:
- Theatre: Uncle Vanya

Here is the promised photos from the latest event and Cate is stunning in her Armani dress. I really like her make up and the over all look!

This is what Just Jared said about the event:

Cate Blanchett is picture perfect in Armani at the opening night reception for the Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Uncle Vanya on Saturday (August 6) in Washington, D.C.

The 42-year-old Aussie actress and her husband, Andrew Upton, currently serve as the artistic directors of the company.

The opening night celebration was hosted by Australian Ambassador Kim Beazley, who posed for photos with Cate and is pictured inside.

FYI: Uncle Vanya, a play by Anton Chekhov, was first published in 1897 but was adapted for the production by Andrew. The Sydney Theatre Company also performed the play down under in November!

GALLERY LINKS:
- Events in 2011: August 6 – ‘Uncle Vanya’ Reception Hosted by The Embassy of Australia

Cate attended the “Uncle Vanya” Reception Hosted by The Embassy of Australia in Washington, DC, August 6.

I will add photos as soon as I get home today and it will be both MQs and HQs!

She looked gorgeous in a black Armani dress and I can’t wait to see more pics and be able to get a closer look on the outfit. And I will post more about the event itself as I find information on it.