The play debuted at the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City, California, directed by Moisés Kaufman.[7] It ran from May 10, 2009, to June 7, 2009.[7] The creative team included sets by Derek McLane, costumes by David Zinn, and lighting by David Lander.[7][8] Another production ran at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles from April 14, 2010, to May 30, 2010.[9] Kevin Tighe starred as the Tiger.[10]
A Broadway production opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 31, 2011, following previews from March 11. The show played a "strictly limited" engagement until July 3, 2011.[11] Again directed by Kaufman, the Broadway cast featured Robin Williams in the title role, with Glenn Davis as Tom, Brad Fleischer as Kev, Hrach Titizian as Uday, Sheila Vand as Hadia, Necar Zadegan as Leper, and Arian Moayed as Musa.[12] Robyn Goodman, Kevin McCollum, and Jeffrey Seller produced this production along with the Center Theatre Group.[13][14] The New York Times estimated that Bengal Tiger was expected to cost at least $3 million.[15] The production marked Williams' final Broadway appearance and his only performance in a play on Broadway before his death in 2014. He had previously appeared on Broadway in a stand-up comedy engagement.[16]
Bengal Tiger had its southeast regional premiere at Carolina Actors Studio Theatre in Charlotte, North Carolina on October 11, 2012.[17] In San Francisco the play premiered at San Francisco Playhouse in October 2013 where it received rave reviews.[18]
