Dead Shows Walking
in Seussical
(Photo: Catherine Ashmore)
Even as the theater community was celebrating the 2001 Tony Award nominees at a brunch at the Marriott Marquis this afternoon, everyone was buzzing with news of two or three potential closings this weekend.
In fact, a closing notice for the Barry and Fran Weissler production of Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens‘ Seussical did go up at the Richard Rodgers Theatre just before today’s matinee performance; the show will shutter on Sunday, putting Kevin Chamberlin (the show’s sole Tony nominee) and his fellow cast members out of a job. (As it happens, Chamberlin is out of Seussical this week, working on the new Sam Mendes movie. A spokesman for the production was unsure if the actor’s filming schedule would allow him to appear in the last performance.)
The final curtain will soon fall on Jane Eyre as well, though not quite soon as had been reported earlier today. According to a press representative for the musical at the Brooks Atkinson, “the notice went up on Tuesday night [May 15], and we were supposed to close this Sunday. But Alanis Morissette–who loves the show and is good friends with Paul Gordon, who wrote the music–has given $150,000 to keep the show running one more week through May 27.” Jane Eyre received five Tony nominations, including one for Best Musical and one for Marla Schaffel‘s performance in the title role.
Finally, though a press rep told TheaterMania that no closing of A Class Act has been announced, rumors are flying that the Ed Kleban musical is also on its last legs. Heads up!
