Lust. Seduction. Deception. Harold Pinter’s Tony Award-winning masterpiece The Homecoming returns to Broadway now that the strike is over. But before that, 300 friends of Broadway Cares were invited to a special free sneak preview rehearsal run-thru on Sunday, November 25, at New World Stages.

Homecoming director Daniel Sullivan and his stars Ian McShane, Raul Esparza, Eve Best, Michael McKean, James Frain and Garethe Saxe performed a reading of the play that they’ve been rehearsing as a benefit for Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. With a house full of family, friends and showbiz folk, plus a surprise visit from Chelsea Clinton pictured above with Ian McShane.

Word got out, props and set pieces were loaded, people lined up for a full house and – best of all – following a terrific appeal by Raul Esparza and with the cast of THE HOMECOMING handling the BC/EFA buckets….we raised $4,176. An extraordinary amount in a 300 seat house!!!

The 40th anniversary revival stars Golden Globe Award-winner Ian Mcshane (“Deadwood”), two-time Tony-nominee Raúl Esparza (Company, The Normal Heart), Tony-nominee Eve Best (A Moon for the Misbegotten), Oscar-nominee Michael McKean (The Pajama Game, Hairspray), James Frain (“The Tudors”, The Count of Monte Cristo) and Gareth Saxe (Heartbreak House). Tony Award-winner Daniel Sullivan (Stuff Happens, Rabbit Hole, Proof) directs.

We were covered by NY1 and Broadway.com’s Bruce Glikas, who we thank for these photos. We also have to thank THE HOMECOMING’s producer Jeffrey Richards; general manager Albert Poland, stage manager (and BC/EFA Trustee) Roy Harris and the entire company.