Kennedy Center Mame May be Broadway Bound

By: Jun. 16, 2006
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The New York Post's Michael Riedel has reported that the Kennedy Center's hit production of Mame, starring Christine Baranski, may settle in for a Broadway run at the Palace for a limited run beginning in July--if the show isn't curtailed by production expenses.

"Last week, the Nederlanders, who have the rights to the show, and producer Fran Weissler attended a performance. Weissler - who, with her husband, Barry, would co-produce the show with the Nederlanders at the Palace Theater for 20 weeks, beginning July 15 - had a few quibbles with the production but on the whole was pleased, sources said. She visited the cast backstage and was optimistic about a move to Broadway," he writes.

However, Riedel notes that the cost of a potential Broadway transfer might keep the production from moving to the Palace. Although the Kennedy Center has agreed to give the producers the "5 million dollar physical production" in exchange for billing, the Weisslers reportedly underestimated the cost of the transfer. "They initially thought they could bring the show to New York for $2 million to $3 million. It turns out, though, that the actual cost of a transfer is closer to $5 million - which is a lot to get back on a 20-week run."

He also writes that partially due to a large backstage team, the weekly running cost for the show is $600,000. Yet the Weisslers and the Nederlanders are still interested, and a decision should be reached by the beginning of next week.

Mame, starring two-time Tony Award-winner Baranski (Rumors, The Real Thing) as the glamorous aunt of the title, opened at the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theatre on June 1st after beginning previews on May 27th. The show will run through July 2nd.

Directed by Eric Schaeffer, the classic 1966 musical--with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee--will also star Harriet Harris as has-been actress Vera Charles, Max von Essen as older Patrick, Jeff McCarthy as southern gentleman Beauregard Jackson Picket Burnside, Emily Skinner as timid secretary Agnes Gooch and Alan Muraoka as Ito, as well as Harrison Chad as Young Patrick, Ed Dixon as Lindsay Woolsey/Uncle Jeff, Michael L. Forrest as Babcock, Ruth Gottschall as Doris Upson/Madame B., Ethan Langsdorf-Willoughby as Peter, Mary Stout as Mother Burnside, and Harry A. Winter as Claude Upson.
 
Mame "follows the whirlwind adventures of an unconventional aunt and her nephew with a rogue's gallery of memorable characters -- plus encounters with proper society," state press notes.

Visit www.kennedy-center.org for more information for more on Mame.
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