Kevin Spacey Becomes Old Vic Artistic Director???

The invitation which came through to Whatonstage.com offices on Friday was surely one of the most tantalising ever: "(Producer) Sally Greene invites you to meet Kevin Spacey and Elton John at the Old Vic". Okay then! But what's it all about? Both Spacey and John are on the board of the Old Vic Theatre Trust and are taking part tomorrow in a high-profile, star-studded fundraising concert for the theatre (See News, 28 Jan 2003) so one presumed the event was to generate further exposure for those efforts. But the front page of today's Times suggests that it's much more than that. According to the newspaper, Spacey - who's been an increasingly active supporter of the Old Vic since appearing there in the Almeida's 1998 production of The Iceman Cometh - is to be announced as the theatre's artistic director. The article also suggests that Spacey will use tomorrow's press conference as an opportunity to speak publicly about his sexuality, which has been a subject of media speculation for many years. A year ago, Greene informally announced, in an interview with the Evening Standard, that director Matthew Warchus (whose West End successes include Art and, this past year, Madness musical Our House) was to become Old Vic artistic director, but that never came to pass. At the moment, there is no artistic director for the theatre, which acts primarily as a receiving house for productions such as the current Sheffield Crucible transfer of The Tempest, starring Derek Jacobi. Tomorrow's press conference at which, the invitation promises, Spacey will "discuss his involvement in the future of the Old Vic", takes place at noon. Check back in Whatsonstage.com News tomorrow afternoon for all the facts and a full report from the event. How exciting is that!?

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