Theater News

Audra McDonald-Led Ohio State Murders to End Broadway Run

The play was scheduled to close in February.

Audra McDonald stars in Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders, directed by Kenny Leon, at Broadway's James Earl Jones Theatre.
Audra McDonald stars in Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders, directed by Kenny Leon, at Broadway's James Earl Jones Theatre.
(© Richard Termine)

The Broadway premiere of Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders, starring six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, will end its run at the James Earl Jones Theatre on January 15. The production began November 11 ahead of a December 8 opening, and was scheduled to run through February 12.

Joining McDonald on stage are Tony nominee Bryce Pinkham, Drama Desk nominee Lizan Mitchell, Mister Fitzgerald, Abigail Stephenson, Brett Diggs, Brooke Gardner, Christina Pedersen, and Gayle Samuels. Tony winner Kenny Leon directs.

Ohio State Murders is described as follows: "When writer Suzanne Alexander (McDonald) returns to her alma mater as a guest speaker, in which she explores the violence in her works, a dark mystery unravels. Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders is an intriguing and unusual suspense play, as well as a socially pertinent look at the destructiveness of racism in our society."

The play was first staged in 1992 at the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, and had its New York premiere at the Duke on 42nd Street in 2007, starring LisaGay Hamilton.

The production marks Kennedy's long-awaited Broadway debut at the age of 91.

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