‘Lady. Doubtfire Postpones Broadway Reopening to April


Broadway musical “Mrs. Doubtfire”, temporarily closed last month As Omicron battered New York City, it announced on Friday that it will delay its reopening to April 14, a month later than expected, to give the theater economy a little more time to recover.

“The good news is that the virus seems to be calming down, but there are still many unknowns,” said series executive producer Kevin McCollum. “Given the trends in tourism and when families and groups will start to feel comfortable, it was clear that April was a better time to open.”

The intervening time has left the show’s cast, crew, and musicians out of work (on “Doubtfire,” at least), but McCollum said he thinks that’s the best way to try to keep their jobs longer. And on Friday, he said he’s invited the entire cast to return, and he’s hopeful they will.

Based on the popular 1993 movie, the musical has had a bumpy road: After an out-of-town run at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater, it began previewing on Broadway on March 9, 2020, just three days before the coronavirus pandemic made it mandatory. all theaters close 19 month breakThe show went on previews last October and opened on December 5. mixed reviewsjust as Omicron caused cases to rise again.

“If there was an award for worst timing for a producer, I would take that award,” McCollum said. “My timing was terrible.”

But McCollum said he believes the show will work if given a chance, and his company, many of whom have been working on the show for several years, is determined to protect their business.

“The easiest way would be to say, ‘Okay, we’re done,’ but the show was telling us we’re not done,” he said. “We never got our sea legs because of the Omicron.”

An added benefit of reopening in April: Tony candidates and voters who couldn’t watch the show before it took a hiatus on January 10 will now have one more chance to do so before they cast their votes. (This year’s Tony schedule has yet to be announced, but the season is expected to end in late April, followed by the nominations, voting, and awards ceremony.)

“Miss. Doubtfire” was written by Karey Kirkpatrick, Wayne Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell and directed by Jerry Zaks. A second production of the show is scheduled to begin performances in Manchester, Englandin September.

“Miss. Doubtfire” was the first. three Broadway shows To announce a temporary closure as the Omicron surge caused a dwindling audience – “To Kill a Mockingbird” closed on January 16 and said it would reopen in a different theater on June 1, while “Girl from the North Country” closed on January 23. and said it hopes to reopen in the spring. (The other six shows have closed completely.)

Unions representing actors and musicians called “Mrs. Doubtfire” plans. D. Joseph Hartnett, director of the stagehands department of the International Alliance of Theater Stage Workers (IATSE), assumes that the stagehands union has not yet heard of the show and that “the production has been, and still is, officially closed. ”



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