Bradley Cooper stars in Broadway revival of 'The Elephant Man'

NEW YORK, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Bradley Cooper returned to the stage Sunday in the Broadway revival of Bernard Pomerance's The Elephant Man.

The 1979 production takes place at The Booth Theater, the same location where it debuted more then three decades ago.

Cooper plays the title character, John Merrick, a brilliant, but deformed man.

"I've been doing it for so [many] years I don't think about it anymore," Cooper said about the body transformation he underwent for the role. "But I remember when I first did it back in, 99, it's all I thought about was like the breathing and the thing, and so I barely even knew what the hell I was saying. But now 14 years later it feels very much like I just kind of go away and he comes in."

On opening act, the actor's performance was warmly welcomed by a full house, including the likes of John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Emma Stone, Jon Hamm, John Lithgow, Jennifer Westfeldt, Bobby Cannavale, Hilary Duff, Alyssa Milano, Ruth Wilson, Danny Masterson, Bryan Batt and Harvey Weinstein.

The revival of The Elephant Man also stars Patricia Clarkson and Alessandro Nivola and is directed by Scott Ellis. The play will run through February 15, 2015.