It's been a busy week for New York City's theater scene, with announcements of several shows bound for Broadway...and, sadly, news that two will soon shutter.
Bad news first: A Time to Kill translated John Grisham's debut novel (and the popular movie it inspired) for the stage. This week, the producers announced that the show will close on Sunday, November 17. Performances began at the John Golden Theatre (252 West 45th Street) on September 28, and opening night was October 20.
Bonus: On Thursday, November 14, Grisham himself is scheduled to welcome the audience prior to the 7PM performance of the plau with remarks on the novel, the play and the sequel, his newest book Sycamore Row. For tickets and information on this special event as well as the remaining performances, visit www.atimetokillonbroadway.com.
And First Date, that rarest of creations (a truly original Broadway musical not based on a book, movie or true story), also posted its closing notice, although theater fans will have a bit more time to catch this one: It will run through the holidays (a good pick for couples out Christmas shopping, we say) and close on January 5. Tickets for the musical, which stars Smash's Krysta Rodriguez and Chuck's Zachary Levi, are available at www.Telecharge.com.
But now for the good news! Several new shows have been pegged for Broadway in this season and beyond. Lerner & Loewe's Gigi, the Oscar-winning movie musical that was later adapted for the Broadway stage, will play a pre-Broadway engagement in the Eisenhower Theater at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in January 2015. According to Playbill, the musical will be directed by Eric Schaeffer and adapted by British playwright and Emmy-nominated screenwriter Heidi Thomas. The musical is reportedly aiming to open on Broadway later in 2015.
And here's (arguably) the most head-scratching theater news for the week: Grammy Award-winner Alanis Morissette is adapting her 1995 rock album "Jagged Little Pill" for Broadway. The show will receive a 2014 workshop production, Playbill reports. We hear the musical will include all of the album's songs, including the hits "You Oughta Know," "Hand in My Pocket," "Ironic" and "You Learn" as well as other material from her catalogue and new songs written specifically for the production. No word yet on who will direct, write the book of the musical or star, and no dates or theaters have been announced.