BroadwayWorld.com's Guide to January 2011 Show Closings

By: Jan. 01, 2011
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BroadwayWorld offers highlights of the several productions which will complete their Broadway runs in January, 2011.


Closing January 2, 2011

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
First Preview: 09/20/2010
Opened: 10/13/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Book by Alex Timbers; Music by Michael Friedman; Lyrics by Michael Friedman. Directed by Alex Timbers; Choreographed by Danny Mefford.

Producers: The Joseph Papp Public Theater / New York Shakespeare Festival (Oskar Eustis: Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson: Executive Director), Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Norton Herrick & Herrick Entertainment, Susan Quint Gallin/Mary Lu Roffe/Jennifer Manocherian, Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley, Universal Pictures, Nancy C. Paduano/Harold Thau, Toula C. Phillips and Center Theatre Group (Michael Ritchie, Artistic Director; Charles Dillingham, Managing Director).

Original Cast: James BarryHeath CalvertMaria Christina-OliverasAiden EyrickErin FelgarDarren GoldsteinGreg HildrethJeff HillerEli JamesJoe JungLucas Near-Verbrugghe, Kristine NielsenCameron OcasioBryce PinkhamNadia QuinnMaria Elena RamirezKate Cullen RobertsBen Steinfeld, Benjamin WalkerEmily Young.

This spring's biggest downtown hit was undoubtedly Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. The New York Times called it "the season's best musical” and audiences flocked to The Public Theater to see what the daring young creative team Alex Timbers (writer/director) and Michael Friedman (composer/lyricist) had cooked up. By populist demand, their bloody brilliant show packed up its tight, tight jeans and moved to Broadway!

In Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, rising star Benjamin Walker reprises his role as America's first political maverick. A.J. kicked British butt, shafted the Indians and smacked down the Spaniards all in the name of these United States -- who cares if he didn’t have permission? An exhilarating and white-knuckled look at one of our nation’s founding rock stars, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson recreates and reinvents the life of “Old Hickory,” from his humble beginnings on the Tennessee frontier to his days as our seventh Commander-in-Chief. It also asks the question, is wanting to have a beer with someone enough reason to elect him? What if he’s really hot?
 
Brief Encounter
Studio 54
First Preview: 09/10/2010
Opened: 09/28/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Written by Noël Coward; Adapted by Emma Rice. Directed by Emma Rice.

Producer: Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes: Artistic Director; Harold Wolpert: Managing Director; Julia C. Levy: Executive Director; Gene Feist: Founding Director).

Original Cast: Joseph AlessiDorothy Atkinson, Damon DaunnoGabriel EbertEdward JayAnnette McLaughlinAdam PleethTristan SturrockHannah Yelland.

Brief Encounter is an imaginative new work that combines elements of Noël Coward’s beloved screenplay, and the one act play on which it was based, with song, dance and Technicolor displays of emotion.

This breakout hit from London’s Kneehigh Theatre played a sold out run at St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn,

NY and has also played critically acclaimed engagements at ACT and the Guthrie Theater.
 
Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas
Marquis Theatre
First Preview: 12/09/2010
Opened: 12/14/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Directed & Choreographed by Barry Lather.

Producers: Gregory Young, Jon B. Platt, Magic Arts & Entertainment and Newspace Entertainment.

Original Cast: Matthew Fish, Karl Hendrickson, Jermaine Johnson, Kelene Johnson, Makinzee Love, Richard McAmish, Donny OsmondMarie Osmond, Jessie Thacker, Jaymz Tuaileva, Ashley Williams, Ivy Michelle Williams.

In the holiday tradition of the "Osmond Family Christmas" television specials, Donny & Marie invite you and your family to join them to celebrate the joy of the season in true Osmond fashion, in person, as the pair share a Broadway stage for the first time. With their trademark show-stopping Christmas production numbers, Donny & Marie - A Broadway Christmas features your favorite hits mixed with the irresistible chemistry that made them international stars.
 
Elf: The Musical
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
First Preview: 11/02/2010
Opened: 11/14/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Book by Bob Martin and Thomas Meehan; Music by Matthew Sklar; Lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Directed & Choreographed by Casey Nicholaw.

Producer: Warner Brothers Theatre Ventures.

Original Cast: Timothy J. AlexSebastian ArcelusCallie CarterCara CooperLisa GajdaAsmeret GhebremichaelMatthew Gumley, Blake HammondJenny HillStacey Todd HoltEmily HsuMark JacobyNancy JohnstonMarc KesslerBeth LeavelMatt LoehrMichael MandellMichael McCormickMatthew SchechterMichael James ScottAmy SpangerNoah WeisbergGeorge WendtLee A. WilkinsValerie WrightKirsten Wyatt.

One of the most beloved Hollywood holiday hits of the past decade is born again – on the Broadway stage! Elf is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child transported to the North Pole. Buddy is raised unaware that he is actually a human, until his enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth and Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father and discover his true identity. Faced with the harsh reality that his father is on the naughty list and his half-brother doesn’t believe in Santa, Buddy is determined to win over his new family and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Featuring an all-star creative team led by three time Tony-nominated director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone, Spamalot), Tony-winning book writers Thomas Meehan (The Producers) and Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone) and the Tony-nominated songwriting team of Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), Elf is the one present everyone wants this holiday season. So discover your inner Elf at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
 

Fela!
Eugene O'Neill Theatre.
First Preview: 10/19/2009
Opened: 11/23/2009
Closes: 01/02/2011

Book by Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones; Music by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; Lyrics by Fela Anikulapo-Kuti; Conceived by Bill T. Jones, Jim Lewis and Stephen Hendel. Directed & Choreographed by Bill T. Jones.

Producers: Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter and Will & Jada Pinkett Smith, Ruth & Stephen Hendel, Roy Gabay, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Edward Tyler Nahem, Slava Smolokowski, Chip Meyrelles/Ken Greiner, Douglas G. Smith, Steve Semlitz/Cathy Glaser, Daryl Roth/True Love Productions, Susan Dietz/Mort Swinsky, Knitting Factory Entertainment, Alicia Keys.

Original Cast: Anne V. AndreCorey BakerHettie Vyrine BarnhillLauren De VeauxNicole Chantal De Weever, Elasea DouglasRujeko DumbutshenaCatherine Foster, Rasaan Elijah "Talu" Green, Shaneeka HarrellAbena KoomsonIsmael KouyatéGelan LambertFarai MaliangaKevin MamboShakira MarshallAfi McClendonMaia McKinneySahr NgaujahAdesola OsakalumiJeffrey PageSaycon SengblohDaniel SotoJill M. ValleryLillias White, J.L. WilliamsIris WilsonAimee Graham Wodobode.

His story inspired a nation. His music inspired the world. The Tony Award-winning Fela!, is the true story of the legendary Nigerian musician Fela Kuti, whose soulful Afrobeat rhythms ignited a generation.

Inspired by his mother, a civil rights champion, he defied a corrupt and oppressive military government and devoted his life and music to the struggle for freedom and human dignity.

Fela! is a triumphant tale of courage, passion and love, featuring Fela Kuti’s captivating music and the visionary direction and choreography of Tony-Award winner Bill T. Jones.


The Pee-Wee Herman Show
Stephen Sondheim Theatre
First Preview: 10/26/2010
Opened: 11/11/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Production created and conceived by Paul Reubens; Written by Paul Reubens and Bill Steinkellner; Additional Material by John Paragon. Directed by Alex Timbers; Choreographed by Wendy Seyb.

Producers: Scott Sanders Productions, Adam S. Gordon, Allan S. Gordon, Élan V. McAllister, Roy Miller, Carol R. Fineman, Scott Zeilinger Productions/Radio Mouse Entertainment and StylesFour Productions/RAndy Donaldson/Tim Laczynski.

Original Cast: Oliver DalzellLexy FridellJesse GarciaHaley JenkinsPhil LaMarrMatt LeaboJosh MeyersJohn MoodyEric NovakAdam PagdonJohn ParagonDrew PowellPaul ReubensLance RobertsCeasar SamayoaJessica ScottLynne Marie StewartAmanda VillalobosChris de Ville.

Pee-Wee Herman is an American icon. His groundbreaking Saturday morning television show and hyperkinetic, bow-tied persona shaped a generation. Now, at long last, Pee-wee's starring on Broadway in a live extravaganza!

Big, bold and uniquely fabulous, The Pee-Wee Herman Show is a stage play with music that reunites Pee-wee (the one-and-only Paul Reubens) with the beloved Playhouse gang - Miss Yvonne, Mailman Mike, Cowboy Curtis, Jambi the Genie, Pterri, Conky, Chairry and many more! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Pee-wee's Playhouse come to wacky, unpredictable life!

Get ready to be amazed, scream real loud and laugh even louder at The Pee-Wee Herman Show. It's so good, you’ll want to marry it!
 
Promises, Promises
Broadway Theatre
First Preview: 03/27/2010
Opened: 04/25/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Book by Neil Simon; Music by Burt Bacharach; Lyrics by Hal David. Directed & Choreographed by Rob Ashford.

Producers: Broadway Across America (John Gore, CEO; Thomas B. McGrath, Chairman; Beth Williams, COO & Head of Production), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, The Weinstein Company, Terry Allen Kramer, Candy Spelling, Pat Addiss, Bernie Abrams/Michael Speyer and Takonkiet Viravan/Scenario Thailand.

Original Cast: Cameron Adams, Ashley AmberHelen AnkerBrooks AshmanskasNathan BalserPeter BensonWendi BergaminiKristin ChenowethNikki Renée DanielsSarah Jane Everman, Katie FinneranTony GoldwynSean HayesSeán Martin HingstonChelsea KrombachKeith KühlKen LandDick LatessaMatt LoehrMayumi MiguelBrian O'BrienSarah O'GlebyAdam PerryMegan SikoraMatt WallRyan WatkinsonKristen Beth Williams.

It’s Manhattan. It’s the '60s. And the city is back in full swing, in Broadway’s first-ever revival of Promises, Promises - starring Emmy® Award winner Sean Hayes (Will and Grace) as the enterprising associate on the way up, and Tony Award® winner Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked) as the cafeteria waitress whose romantic troubles have got her down. This smart and sexy musical is based on the Oscar®-winning Billy Wilder film, The Apartment.

The creative team is a perfect cocktail: a splashy score by the Academy Award®-winning team of Burt Bacharach and Hal David, including such songs as "I'll Never Fall In Love Again" and the straight-up swinging title tune… Add a book that takes turns tickling your funny bone and breaking your heart, courtesy of the legendary Neil Simon… Top it all off with a sparkling blend of direction and choreography by Tony Award® winner Rob Ashford—and you’ve got an intoxicating evening of Broadway magic.
 
West Side Story
Palace Theatre
First Preview: 02/23/2009
Opened: 03/19/2009
Closes: 01/02/2011

Book by Arthur Laurents; Music by Leonard Bernstein; Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Translations: Lin-Manuel Miranda. Directed by Arthur Laurents; Originally Directed and Choreographed by Jerome Robbins; Original Co-Choreographer: Peter Gennaro; Choreography Reproduced by Joey McKneely.

Producers: Kevin McCollum, James L. Nederlander, Jeffrey Seller, Terry Allen Kramer, Sander Jacobs, Roy Furman/Jill Furman Willis, Freddy DeMann, Robyn Goodman/Walt Grossman, Hal Luftig, Roy Miller, The Weinstein Company and Broadway Across America (John Gore, CEO; Thomas B. McGrath, Chairman; Beth Williams, COO & Head of Production).

Original Cast: George AkramNicholas BaraschSteve BassettKyle BrennJoshua BuscherIsaac CalpitoMike CannonHaley CarlucciMatt CavenaughPeter John ChursinMadeline CintronKyle CoffmanLindsay DunnYurel EchezarretaCody Green, John Arthur Greene, Joey HaroEric HatchManuel HerreraCurtis HolbrookMatthew HydzikMarina LazzarettoChase MadiganYanira MarinMichael MastroMileyka MateoKaitlin MeshAngelina MullinsKat NejatKaren Olivo, Christian Elan Ortiz, Pamela OttersonDanielle PolancoSam Rogers, Michael Rosen, Amy RyersonJennifer SanchezManuel SantosJosefina ScaglioneLee SellarsTro ShawMichaeljon SlingerRyan SteeleTanairi Sade VazquezGreg VinklerMark Zimmerman.

More than fifty years ago, a show about New York City changed musical theatre forever. Now, it's coming home to make history once again.  WEST SIDE STORY returns to Broadway in a groundbreaking new production directed by its legendary librettist, Tony Award® winner Arthur Laurents.

From the first notes to the final breath, WEST SIDE STORY is one of the most memorable musicals and greatest love stories of all time.  Mr. Laurents' book remains as powerful, poignant and timely as ever.  The score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim -- a collection of standards that includes "Tonight," "America," "Maria," "I Feel Pretty" and "Somewhere" -- is widely regarded as one of the best ever written. And the extraordinary, Tony-winning winning choreography by Jerome Robbins completely changed the language of Broadway dance.  This production offers a bold new design that builds on the show's raw power and emotion to create a fresh experience unlike any that came before it.
 
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Belasco Theatre
First Preview: 10/08/2010
Opened: 11/04/2010
Closes: 01/02/2011

Book by Jeffrey Lane; Music by David Yazbek; Lyrics by David Yazbek. Directed by Bartlett Sher; Choreographed by Christopher Gattelli.

Producer: Lincoln Center Theater (André Bishop: Artistic Director; Bernard Gersten: Executive Producer).

Original Cast: Julio AgustinDe'Adre AzizaLaura BenantiDanny BursteinJohn CarrollAlma CuervoJustin GuariniMurphy GuyerRachel Bay JonesNina LafargaNikka Graff Lanzarone, Patti LuPoneYanira MarinSean McCourtBrian Stokes MitchellVivian NixonMary Beth PeilLuis SalgadoJennifer SanchezJohn SchiappaSherie Rene ScottSamantha ShaferPhillip SpaethMatthew SteffensCharlie Sutton.

When Pedro Almodóvar arrived in town in 1988 to show his new film at the New York Film Festival he became an instant sensation. Channeling the burst of energy and freedom in post-Franco Spain, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown was one of the most unusual and exhilarating new films in years. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Foreign Film, and quickly became not just a classic, but a favorite.

Now, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN is a new musical based on the film. LCT's Resident Director, Bartlett Sher, still happily reeling from his achievement on South Pacific, leads the extraordinary collaborators Jeffrey Lane (book) and David Yazbek (music and lyrics). Lane and Yazbek, the team behind Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, have taken Almodóvar's tale and infused it with their own wry, comic style and an irresistible Spanish beat.

Both touching and hilarious, it's a story about women and the men who pursue them... finding them, losing them, needing them, and rejecting them. At the center is Pepa (Sherie Rene Scott) whose friends and lovers are blazing a trail through 1980s Madrid. And why do they all keep showing up at her high-rise apartment? Gazpacho anyone?

Along with Pepa, there's her missing (possibly philandering) lover, Ivan (Brian Stokes Mitchell); his ex-wife of questionable sanity, Lucia (Patti LuPone); their son Carlos (Justin Guarini); Pepa's friend, Candela (Laura Benanti), and her terrorist boyfriend; a power-suited lawyer (De'Adre Aziza) plus a taxi driver (Danny Burstein) who dispenses tissues, mints and advice in equal proportion. Mayhem and comic madness abound, balanced by the empathy and heart that are trademarks of Almodóvar's work. And of Bartlett Sher's too.
 

Closing January 9, 2011

A Free Man of Color
Vivian Beaumont Theatre
First Preview: 10/21/2010
Opened: 11/18/2010
Closes: 01/09/2011

Written by John Guare. Directed by George C. Wolfe; Choreographed by Hope Clarke.

Producer: Lincoln Center Theater (André Bishop: Artistic Director; Bernard Gersten: Executive Producer).

Original Cast: Yao AbabioPeter BartlettNicole BeharieAshley BryantArnie BurtonRosal ColónVeanne CoxPaul F. DanoStephanie DiMaggioKyle FabelSara GettelfingerDerric HarrisDavid Graham Jones, Justina MachadoDavid ManisJoseph MarcellJohn McMartinNick Mennell, Mos, Howard W. OvershownTeyonnah ParrisPostell PringleEsau PritchettBrian ReddyReg RogersTriney SandovalRobert StantonWendy Rich StetsonJerome StiglerSenfaub StoneyDavid Emerson Toney, Jeffrey Wright.

John Guare is back at Lincoln Center Theater. The celebrated playwright of Six Degrees of Separation, Chaucer in Rome, and The House of Blue Leaves has written a new play that is by turns astonishing, raucous and panoramic. A comedy of grand scale -- with a cast of 32 -- made to order for the Beaumont Stage.

A FREE MAN OF COLOR is set in the boisterous New Orleans culture that existed just prior to the historic Louisiana Purchase. Before law and order took hold. Before class, racial and political lines were drawn. When New Orleans was still a parade of beautiful women and good-looking men, flowing wine and pleasure for the taking.

At the center of this Dionysian world is Jacques Cornet (Jeffrey Wright), who commands the men, seduces the women, preens like a peacock and cuts a wide swath through the city and the province. But, it is 1801 and the map of New Orleans is about to be redrawn. The Louisiana Purchase will bring American rule to New Orleans, challenging the chaotic, colorful world of Jacques Cornet and all that he represents.

George C. Wolfe makes his LCT debut directing A FREE MAN OF COLOR. Mr. Wolfe won Tony Awards for directing Angels in America and for Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk. He also directed, among others, Jelly's Last Jam, Caroline or Change and Elaine Stritch at Liberty.
 
A Little Night Music
Walter Kerr Theatre
First Preview: 11/24/2009
Opened: 12/13/2009
Closes: 01/09/2011

Book by Hugh Wheeler; Music by Stephen Sondheim; Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Directed by Trevor Nunn; Choreographed by Lynne Page.

Producers: Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, The Menier Chocolate Factory, Roger Berlind, David Babani, Sonia Friedman Productions, Andrew Fell, Daryl Roth/Jane Bergere, Harvey Weinstein/Raise the Roof 3, Beverly Bartner/Dancap Productions, Inc., Nica Burns/Max Weitzenhoffer, Eric Falkenstein/Anna Czekaj, Jerry Frankel/Ronald Frankel, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer.

Original Cast: Stephen R. BuntrockErin DavieBradley DeanKatherine Leigh DohertyAlexander HansonHunter Ryan HerdlickaAngela LansburyLeigh Ann LarkinAaron LazarRamona MalloryMarissa McGowanBetsy MorganKaren MurphyJayne PatersonJustin PattersonErin StewartKevin David ThomasKevin VortmannKeaton WhittakerCatherine Zeta-Jones.

Nominated for 4 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical, the first Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony Award-winning masterpiece A Little Night Music, directed by Tony Award®-winner Trevor Nunn, based on Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles of a Summer Night, is set in a weekend country house in turn of the century Sweden, bringing together surprising liaisons, long simmering passions and a taste of love's endless possibilities. This production originally starred Academy Award–winner Catherine Zeta-Jones and five-time Tony Award®–winner Angela Lansbury. It now stars Tony®, Grammy® & Golden Globe® Award winner Bernadette Peters and Tony® & Emmy ®Award winner Elaine Stritch.
 
In the Heights
Richard Rodgers Theatre
First Preview: 02/14/2008
Opened: 03/09/2008
Closes: 01/09/2011

Book by Quiara Alegría Hudes; Music by Lin-Manuel Miranda; Lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Directed by Thomas Kail; Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler.

Producers: Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Jill Furman,

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