Doctor Dolittle Tour to Play Last Performance in PA on October 2nd

By: BWW News Desk Sep. 28, 2005

The national tour of Doctor Dolittle is coming to a close due to paltry ticket sales. A notice, proclaiming the closing, was posted yesterday in Hershey, PA.

The tour will now conclude after Doctor Dolittle wraps up its engagement in Hershey, PA on October 2nd. According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "Sunday's performance could be the last of a national tour that was booked into next June," states the article. "Producer Van Kaplan said he had no choice. Ticket sales have been bad and presenters have had 'great losses,' he said." The tour is likely to lose all of its $3 million investment.

Doctor Doolittle had been scheduled to play almost two dozen more American cities. The show was set to play its last engagement in Grand Rapids, Michigan in June, 2006, although a recent postponement of the Chicago engagment pushed it back to August of 2006. The plans for the Chicago stint, which was to have occured this October, leave a glimmer of hope for the show though producers had "no additional comment" relating to the future of the tour. Nick Scandalios, a producer with Nederlander Presentations, Inc. stated, "While we are extremely proud of Doctor Dolittle on stage, it simply is not translating to ticket sales and finding its audience."

"Broadway In Chicago Season Series ticket holders will be the first to see the production and will get their new tickets in early 2006. All other ticket holders can request a refund by contacting their ticket point of purchase," stated press notes for the Chicago engagement.

Tom Hewitt (The Rocky Horror Show, Dracula) plays the plum title role of the doctor who talks to the animals, while Nancy Anderson (Wonderful Town, Kiss Me, Kate) plays Emma Fairfax, his love interest. Rounding out the principal roles are Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy) as Matthew Mug, Ed Dixon (Les Misérables, The Iceman Cometh ) as Albert Blossom, Eric Michael Gillett as General Bellows/Straight Arrow; Shadoe Alan Brandt as Tommy Stubbins/Duck and Susan J. Jacks as Polynesia. The show features a cast of 26.

The tour (which originated at the Pittsburgh CLO) marks the American premiere of the show, which features music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse (Jekyll and Hyde, Stop the World--I Want to Get Off). The musical was previously staged in London; numerous changes were made from shore to shore. The creators also created a somewhat darker world than that portrayed in the film, with the show opening on the title character's trial--for murder. Glenn Casale (Peter Pan) directed, with Scott Ellis (She Loves Me) credited as "artistic consultant." Tony winner Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie) handled choreography, while Disney's Michael Curry took care of the visual effects of the show, including its puppets. Also on the creative team are Ken Billington (lighting), Kim Scharnberg (orchestrations), Michael Duff (music direction), Sam Lutfiyya (music coordinator), David Chase (dance arranger), Paul Rubin (flying choreographer), David H. Lawrence (hair designer), Ann Hould-Ward (costumes).

For more information, visit www.doctordolittlethemusical.com.

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