Theater News

Wonderful Town Cancels This Weekend’s Performances

New York City
Performances of the Broadway revival of the musical Wonderful Town have been canceled this weekend — Friday, November 7 through Sunday, November 9 — because Donna Murphy, who stars as Ruth Sherwood in the show, has the flu and has been advised by her doctor not to perform.

Although a statement from the producers did not explain why Murphy’s role would not be filled by an understudy or standby for these performances, the reality is that Wonderful Town is still in previews and covers are not always rehearsed sufficiently during a preview period to allow them to take on major roles. The show is expected to resume performances on Tuesday, November 11, by which time Murphy will presumably have recovered.

First produced on Broadway in 1953, Wonderful Town has music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and a book by Joseph Fields and Jerome Chodorov. The current revival, directed by Kathleen Marshall, began previews on Wednesday, November 5 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (formerly the Martin Beck) and is scheduled to open officially on Sunday, November 23.