Hurt cancels acting gig at MTC

Hollywood actor William Hurt, who was to star in the Manitoba Theatre Centre's production of The Tempest, has been forced to cancel his appearance.

MTC artistic director Steven Schipper learned by e-mail last week that Hurt could not fulfill his commitment to play the role of Prospero in the fall production. Schipper says Hurt, 56, blamed the cancellation on a "personal setback."

"He's a good man, a man of his word, and this was an extremely difficult thing for him, too. I know he's profoundly apologetic," Schipper told CBC News on Tuesday.

Schipper is looking for another actor to take on the role of Prospero in the play, which will run at MTC's Mainstage from Oct. 12 to Nov. 4.

"I know that he'll return he's made that clear," he added. "I don't know what the new play would be, but I'm sure we will have William Hurt here at MTC again."

When Hurt played the lead role in MTC's production of Richard III in 2003, subscription sales skyrocketed. Schipper says MTC is offering refunds to disappointed Hurt fans.

"We are offering the opportunity to cancel one's subscription, if the only reason one subscribed was to see William Hurt," he said.

Hurt won an Academy Award for Kiss of the Spider Woman and was nominated for roles in A History of Violence, Children of a Lesser God and Broadcast News.