SadnessFrom Playbill.comtitle of show] — the new musical that would rather be nine people's favorite thing than 100 people's ninth favorite thing — will play its final performance at the Lyceum Theatre Oct. 12, the producers announced Sept. 19.
When it closes, the musical will have played 13 previews and 102 performances.
Previews began at the Lyceum July 5 with an official opening July 17.
Originally produced at the Vineyard Theatre in 2006, the entire original cast — including co-creators Jeff Bowen (score) and Hunter Bell (book) as well as co-stars Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff — made the leap to the Broadway stage. A Chorus Line's Michael Berresse, who helmed the acclaimed Off-Broadway run, also directs the Broadway version, which features musical director-arranger Larry Pressgrove onstage playing the electric keyboard. (Standbys are Courtney Balan and Benjamin Howes.)
The Broadway staging is produced by the Vineyard as well as Kevin McCollum, Jeffrey Seller, Laura Camien, Roy Miller, Kris Stewart.
[title of show], according to press notes, "takes a thoroughly unique and comical look at the pleasures and perils of the artistic process as two struggling writers [Bell and Bowen] and two struggling actresses [Blackwell and Bickenstaff] take on the seemingly impossible task of creating a new musical about creating a new musical. Now with Broadway as their destination, the quartet's saga continues anew as they face mounting pressures and deadlines, and are nearly thrown off-track by disagreements, day jobs and insecurities in this funny and unforgettable look at the birth of a musical as it finally comes to life on the Great White Way."
The creative team also includes Neil Patel (set design), Chase Tyler (costume design), Ken Billington and Jason Kantrowitz (lighting design) and ACME Sound Partners (sound design).
[title of show] debuted in 2004 at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Bowen, Bell and Berresse each won a 2006 Obie Award for work on the subsequent 2006 Off-Broadway production at the Vineyard Theatre.
An original cast recording was released on Ghostlight Records, and the creators have kept the show alive through the internet series, "The [title of show] Show," which is available for viewing by visiting www.titleofshow.com/toscasts.htm. The webcast is all about the troupers' seemingly improbable notion of getting [title of show] to Broadway.
Song titles include "Untitled Opening Number," "Two Nobodies in New York," "An Original Musical," "Monkeys and Playbills," "Part of It All," "I Am Playing Me," "What Kind of Girl Is She?," "Die Vampire, Die!," "Filling Out the Form," "September Song," "Secondary Characters," "Development Medley," "Change It, Don't Change It"/"Awkward Photo Shoot," "A Way Back to Then," "Nine People's Favorite Thing" and "Finale."
It was recently announced that The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization has acquired the stock and amateur rights to [title of show]. The Organization will also represent Bowen's score through Williamson Music, which is currently developing a song book that will reflect the latest incarnation of the musical. Stock and amateur rights to [title of show] are not currently available, although when rights do become available, the news will be announced on the R&H website, www.rnh.com.
Show times at the Lyceum are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 3 and 8 PM and Sundays at 3 and 7 PM.
Tickets are priced $26.50, $51.50 and $101.50, with the exception of Saturday matinee and evening performances, which are priced $36.50, $61.50 and $111.50. The Lyceum Theatre is located in Manhattan at 149 West 45th Street. For more information visit www.titleofshow.com.
im kinda bummed about this. [TOS] was the show i wanted to see the most whenever i got to go to NYC again. but alas now i'll only get to see it if some miracle happens.
i've listened to the off broadway soundtrack for [TOS] and i really like it and it fits my personality. plus, i can kinda relate( in a odd way) to the whole idea of the show-struggling to make something of yourself, getting past your own self doubt, getting recognized for your talent.
it just sad that small shows like [TOS] and Xanadu have to close while show like Phantom continue to separate tourists from their hard earned money. screw you economy! *theatre kid sigh*
