‘Indiana Jones’ star Karen Allen heads for the stage

Best recognized for her ability to match wits with Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones, Karen Allen is returning to the stage in an off-Broadway production of Jon Fosse’s 1999 play, “A Summer Day.�

Known for roles in two installments of Steven Spielberg’s action-adventure franchise (including 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull�), Allen had an early career full of recognizable turns including “Starman� and “Animal House,� which marked her film debut in 1978.

Though Allen’s career began on a trajectory toward movies, in 1982 she made her Broadway debut with a role in “The Monday After the Miracle,� as well as an off-Broadway production of “Extremities� in a role that became most associated with Farrah Fawcett. Through the ‘80s and ‘90s her roles became fewer and further between with roles opposite Bill Murray in “Scrooged� and a variety of smaller projects.

Allen currently teaches theater at Bard College and recently turned to direction in a production of Michael Weller’s “Moonchildren� at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.

Performances of “A Summer Day� begin at the Cherry Lane Theatre on Oct. 10.

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