Off-Broadway's The Fantasticks Won't Close After All

After an earlier announcement that the long-running musical The Fantasticks at Snapple Theater Center would end its run, producers have announced that they will now be able to keep the musical open. Two donors have stepped in and pledged to keep the production running, making the May 3 performance a 55th-anniversary celebration of the opening of the show in 1960 — not a farewell.

"Over the past few weeks, two longtime fans of the show called yelling at me for not letting them know the show was closing," said producer Catherine Russell. "Each offered financial help to keep the show running in NYC. I initially declined the offers, but after much thought and consideration, I've decided to accept their generous offers that will help keep The Fantasticks alive. I was surprised and moved to see the enormous outpouring of emotion and attention the closing announcement received. People called the box office crying and telling stories about the first time they saw the show. I didn't realize how many people love the show and feel like it's an important part of their lives. The Fantasticks truly is a treasured and iconic piece of NYC that should live on."

The Fantasticks, featuring music by Harvey Schmidt and book, lyrics, and direction by Tom Jones, follows a boy and girl who fall in love and then quickly grow apart. The score includes hit songs such as "Try to Remember," "Soon It's Gonna Rain," and "They Were You."

The current cast of The Fantasticks features Edward Watts as the Narrator, Daniel Berryman as The Boy, Samantha Bruce as The Girl, Donald Corren as The Boy’s Father, Joe Dellger as The Girl's Father, MacIntyre Dixon as The Old Actor, Michael Nostrand as The Man Who Dies, and Drew Siegla as The Mute. The production also features Dave Schoonover, Rita Markova, and Tom Flagg.

For tickets to The Fantasticks, click here.