Pamela Hunt Leaves Dr. Sex Musical, Ethan McSweeny Fills In

By: Sep. 13, 2005
Enter Your Email to Unlock This Article

Plus, get the best of BroadwayWorld delivered to your inbox, and unlimited access to our editorial content across the globe.




Existing user? Just click login.

Due to creative differences, director Pamela Hunt (The Musical of Musicals) has withdrawn from Dr. Sex, the new musical about Dr. Alfred Kinsey that began previews at off-Broadway's Peter Norton Space (555 West 42nd Street) and will open on September 20th.

While he is not officially the new director--the role has yet to be officially filled--Ethan McSweeny, who helmed Gore Vidal's The Best Man on Broadway, is currently helping out with the production.  McSweeny "has joined the team to help out because of his affection for the project and its long-term potential.  Though Mr. McSweeny will receive no official credit for this production, he looks forward to being involved in its future," according to a press statement.

To allow for more rehearsal time, the September 13th has been cancelled, with performances resuming the next day.

Presented by Richard Ericson and Greg Young, Dr. Sex has a score by Larry Bortniker, with book by Larry Bortniker and Sally Deering. The show featues choreography by Mark Esposito, and musical supervision by Patrick Vaccariello. Brian Noonan (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables) performs in the title role, while three-time Drama Desk nominee Jennifer Simard (Forbidden Broadway SVU, The Thing About Men) plays his devoted wife, Clara; Christopher Corts portrays Wally--the boyfriend of both. Jared Bradshaw, Linda Cameron, David Edwards, Christy Faber, Colleen Hawks, and Benjie Randall are also featured in the cast.

"Dr. Sex is the cleanest show about sex in the history of musical comedy," state production notes. "Set in the 1930s and '40s in Bloomington, Indiana, Dr. Sex explores the loving relationship between Dr. Alfred Kinsey, his wife, Clara...and their handsome boyfriend (and lab assistant), Wally Matthews. When Professor Kinsey, tired of cataloguing American gall wasps, discovers his life's work in human sexual research, Bloomington becomes a hotbed of science and sex. Fun, sweet and outrageously screwball, with toe-tapping music and memorable lyrics, Dr. Sex is the new musical comedy for anyone who's ever had (or thought about having) 'you-know-what.'"

Dr. Sex' design team will include Rob Bissinger (sets), John Carver Sullivan (costumes), and Richard Winkler (lighting); the latter replaced Mary Jo Dondlinger. Dr. Sex was developed at Lehman Engel/BMI workshop; Stages 2002, Theater Building Chicago; and the ASCAP at Disney Workshop; it subsequently had its world premiere at the Bailiwick Theatre, where it became the one of the hits of the Chicago season.

Dr. Sex will run on the following performance schedule during its previews through September 14th: Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8 pm, with Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm and 7 pm. Beginning September 15th, performances will be Monday, Wednesday through Friday evenings at 8 pm, with Saturday at 2 pm and 8 pm, Sunday at 3 pm and 7 pm. Tickets for all performances will be $70 and may be purchased by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or online at www.TicketCentral.com. More information is available online at www.drsexthemusical.com.



Play Broadway Games

The Broadway Match-UpTest and expand your Broadway knowledge with our new game - The Broadway Match-Up! How well do you know your Broadway casting trivia? The Broadway ScramblePlay the Daily Game, explore current shows, and delve into past decades like the 2000s, 80s, and the Golden Age. Challenge your friends and see where you rank!
Tony Awards TriviaHow well do you know your Tony Awards history? Take our never-ending quiz of nominations and winner history and challenge your friends. Broadway World GameCan you beat your friends? Play today’s daily Broadway word game, featuring a new theatrically inspired word or phrase every day!

 



Videos