Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Broadway: What Shows Are Closing?

Broadway: What Shows Are Closing?

Good thing I didn't make a bet to eat my Next Fall Playbill if it didn't post closing notices.

A couple days ago, I had predicted that due to its lackluster box office performance in the already tiny Helen Hayes Theatre coupled with no Tony wins that it would likely shutter soon. But its producers say, for now anyway, that it's their goal to remain open through summer.

UPDATE (June 23, 2010) - Next Fall has posted its closing notice for July 4.

So what shows are closing?

So far, none as a direct result of Sunday night's Tony Awards.

In fact, this year's Best Play Red announced just yesterday that its limited run would close as scheduled on June 27, which is really too bad because it offers those fortunate enough to see it two of the year's most magnificent stage performances (Alfred Molina and Eddie Redmayne). That is, unless you count those being offered over at the Cort Theatre for this year's Best Revival of a Play Fences with the two other stellar performances (Denzel Washington and particularly Viola Davis). Fences currently remains on schedule to close its limited engagement on July 11.

But here is the full list of Broadway shows currently scheduled to close:

June 27, 2010:

Hair - Al Hirschfeld Theatre

(SOB Review: *** out of ****)

On June 9, it was announced that the 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Music otherwise known as "The American Tribal Love Rock Musical" would shutter on June 27, 2010, after 29 previews and 519 regular performances (over and above those Hair extensions in Central Park during the summer of 2008).

Most of this revival of Hair's original cast may be seen in London through September 4. Plus, a tour commences this October at the Shubert Performing Arts Center in New Haven, Connecticut.


Red - John Golden Theatre

(SOB Review: **** out of ****)

An import from London's Donmar Warehouse, this year's Tony Award-winning Best Play has only been scheduled for a very limited run. That engagement will conclude as scheduled on June 27, 2010. Red will have played 22 previews and 101 regular performances.

Look for John Logan's work to be mounted by regional theatres throughout the United States over the next couple years, albeit with different direction and casts.


Sondheim On Sondheim - Studio 54

(SOB Review: **1/2 out of ****)

This limited engagement initially was set to finish this past Sunday but was extended by two weeks. When it closes on June 27, 2010, this revue will have played 37 previews and 76 regular performances.

As for a life beyond? Unless there's a tour, which seems highly unlikely, it's hard to imagine regional mountings given how a major portion of the show incorporates Stephen Sondheim's own words via video. Plus, there are already several other Sondheim songbook revues out there.

July 11, 2010:

Everyday Rapture - American Airlines Theatre

(SOB Review: *** out of ****)

The last-minute, surprise hit run that managed to garner Tony nominations has always been a limited run and is scheduled to close on July 11, 2010. When it shutters, Everyday Rapture will have played 11 previews and 85 regular performances.

Although Sherie Rene Scott is portraying a semi-fictionalized version of herself, there's no reason why enterprising regional theatre companies couldn't pick up this show a la Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen's semi-autobiographical [title of show]. Yet Scott herself seems to be keeping the door open to returning to her character for a tour, although "it wouldn't be for another year."

Fences - Cort Theatre

(SOB Review: ***1/2 out of ****)

Director Kenny Leon's camp at this year's Tony-winning Best Revival of a Play has been so silent over the past few days that you can't help but wonder if they're secretly working toward extending their limited run past July 11, 2010, which is nearly sold out. Or are they waiting to announce something else like a new cast and/or a tour?

If the show closes as scheduled, it will have enjoyed 13 previews and a mere 80 regular performances. But why do I have this hunch....


August 15, 2010:

Lend Me A Tenor - Music Box Theatre

(SOB Review: ***1/2 out of ****)

The single most hilarious Broadway show I saw all year was initially an open-ended run. But on May 21, a closing notice was posted for August 15, 2010, which marks the end-date for its ensemble's contracts. Tony-nominated for Best Revival of a Play, Lend Me A Tenor will have played 25 previews and 153 regular performances.

There's no word on any plans for this production beyond Broadway, but Ken Ludwig's farce is already regularly mounted by regional and community theatres.


August 21, 2010:

Race - Ethel Barrymore Theatre

(SOB Review: *1/2 out of ****)

Yesterday, Eddie Izzard, Dennis Haysbert and Afton C. Williamson join the cast of this David Mamet play as replacements for James Spader, David Alan Grier and Kerry Washington, respectively (Richard Thomas remains). Currently, the show is scheduled to close August 21, 2010, after 23 previews and 297 regular performances.

Although the show has already recouped its initial investment, don't be surprised to see it close earlier if the box office doesn't experience a bounce from its new cast.


August 22, 2010:

South Pacific - Vivian Beaumont Theatre

(SOB Review: ***1/2 out of ****)

On February 19, it was announced that this 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Musical would close on August 22, 2010. But when it does, it will have played 37 previews and 1,000 regular performances. The show will go out with a bang as original cast member Kelli O'Hara returns August 10 and again appears opposite Tony-winner Paulo Szot (rumors that Matthew Morrison may also return remain just that -- rumors).

Earlier this year, I caught the South Pacific national tour and I can tell you that it is nearly as good in every way as the Broadway mounting; that tour will last through 2011. Additionally, when the closing notice was posted, it was also announced that there are plans to bring the production to London and Australia.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).


In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.

Labels: Broadway, Closing Notices, Closings, Everyday Rapture, Fences, Hair, Lend Me A Tenor, Next Fall, Race, Red, Sondheim On Sonheim, South Pacific

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, June 16, 2010 7 comments

Sondheim On Sondheim (The SOB Review)

Sondheim On Sondheim (The SOB Review) - Studio 54, Roundabout Theatre Company, New York City, New York

**1/2 (out of ****)

Veritably playing into the hands of the would-be gift-giver in search of the perfect present for the ultimate Stephen Sondheim fan, Sondheim On Sondheim works as a mixed blessing for everyone else.

Now, let me be absolutely clear.

I've long since become a Sondheim-phile. I adore Sondheim. I cherish his music. I've actively sought out his works, including many of the lesser performed ones. Shortly before his 80th birthday, I even had an opportunity to meet him and then listen to him answer countless questions to further illuminate his creative process. In short, I revere him as one of the most intelligent, thoughtful and witty composers in the history of musical theatre. This genius we know as Stephen Sondheim is certainly nothing short of a living treasure.

And there's much to love and admire about this often hagiographic tribute revue, which was conceived and directed by one of Sondheim's frequent collaborators, James Lapine. For starters, compliments of Peter Flaherty's continuously unfolding projection design, Sondheim himself lords over the festivities with a banquet of anecodotes, along with a plethora of individuals trying to sing "Send In The Clowns" with varying success captured on YouTube. Yet I learned more about Sondheim during that aforementioned live Q&A than I did via the video snippets.

This revue does offer tremendous insights into how some of his songs made it into the final works, and how many -- shared here for the first time on Broadway -- did not. One of my favorite moments came as the precursors to Company's "Being Alive" demonstrated a captivating progression of creative thought from "Multitude of Amys" to "Happily Ever After" to that ultimate song to perfectly underscore Bobby's journey throughout the show. And to hear "Being Alive" delivered so gloriously by Norm Lewis was icing on the cake.

All in all, Sondheim On Sondheim carries eight tunes that never made it into the shows for which they were originally written. While it's lovely to hear anything Sondheim has composed (and I ate it up), it becomes resoundingly evident why many of them weren't used.

Then there are the great -- and, alas, not so great performances -- themselves spanning nineteen of his shows.

In addition to Lewis, it was thrilling to finally see the great Barbara Cook perform live (even if the teleprompter hanging off the mezzannine turned on each time she took to the stage); she's still in remarkable voice. Euan Morton and Leslie Kritzer's vignettes from Merrily We Roll Along not only made the best case for a full Broadway revival, but their very public audition should also serve to significantly increase their chances to be cast in it. And a ceremoniously frockless Vanessa Williams added radiance and the most sass since she was defrocked unceremoniously a quarter century ago.

Unfortunately, missteps include the usually reliable Tom Wopat being assigned "Epiphany" from Sweeney Todd; whether it was the song choice or his performance, it just didn't work. The same goes for Erin Mackey and Matthew Scott; they're fine singers, but both seemed out of their element throughout the show and detracted more than they added.

Still, Sondheim On Sondheim ranks as one of those shows I would not -- make that could not -- have missed. Overall, it's a nice tribute, but it pales in comparison to actually seeing one of his exceptional works.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).


In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.

Labels: Barbara Cook, Broadway, Euan Morton, James Lapine, Leslie Kritzer, Musical, Norm Lewis, Revue, Sondheim On Sonheim, Stephen Sondheim, The SOB Review, Tom Wopat

posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Friday, June 04, 2010 0 comments