John Lithgow Returns to Broadway in Giant With a Role That’s “Charming and Appalling”
- Joel Crump
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
John Lithgow is back on Broadway, and for him, the decision to return is simple. “You return to Broadway every chance you get,” he shared on opening night of Giant, reflecting on his long-awaited return to the stage. Though his career has spanned film, television, and theater, Lithgow made it clear that live performance remains at the heart of what he loves most.
That return also comes with a remarkable milestone. “Since 1973, I have acted in every single theater on West 45th street… except for that one,” he said with a laugh, pointing to the one Broadway house he has yet to play. The moment highlighted not just his humor, but the depth of his history in New York theater, a career that has quite literally spanned blocks of Broadway.
In Giant, Lithgow takes on one of his most complex roles yet, portraying Roald Dahl in a story that examines the fallout of a real-life controversy that reshaped the author’s legacy. The play, written by Mark Rosenblatt and directed by Nicholas Hytner, immediately drew him in. “It’s a brilliant piece of writing from a first-time playwright,” Lithgow said, praising the collaboration behind the production and the strength of the script.
What excites him most is the character at the center of it all. “It’s a play about an extremely compelling character… very charming and appalling,” he explained. “We character actors, we love the chance to grapple with a character like that.” That complexity is exactly what gives Giant its edge, offering audiences a layered and often uncomfortable portrait of a larger-than-life figure.
Despite being set decades in the past, Lithgow emphasized the play’s striking relevance today. “You can’t imagine a play more timely,” he said, noting how global events shifted the way the story is received. “The extraordinary thing is it’s a play set 40 years ago, and yet it couldn’t be more contemporary.”
Following a celebrated West End run and multiple Olivier Award wins, Giant arrives on Broadway as both a gripping character study and a timely piece of theater, anchored by Lithgow’s performance. For more information on Giant visit gianttheplay.com.
