Broadway NewsGroundhog Day Plays Final Broadway Performance September 17The Tim Minchin-Danny Rubin musical stars three-time Tony nominee Andy Karl.
By
Adam Hetrick, Ryan McPhee
September 17, 2017
Groundhog Day, the new Broadway musical based on the 1993 film of the same name about a TV weatherman who relives the same day over and over again, ends its run September 17 at the August Wilson Theatre. The production will have played 32 previews and 176 regular performances upon closing.
An 18-month national tour is scheduled to begin next year. Details of a London return for Groundhog Day will be announced in the coming months.
Featuring a score by Tim Minchin and a book by the film’s original co-screenwriter Danny Rubin, Groundhog Day arrived on Broadway March 17 after premiering at London’s Old Vic Theatre last summer. It won the 2017 Olivier Award for Best Musical.
Groundhog Day opened on Broadway April 17 to largely positive reviews from critics. The production was nominated for seven 2017 Tony Awards, including Best Book, Best Original Score, and Best Musical.
Andy Karl (Rocky, On the Twentieth Century, Legally Blonde) received his third Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of cynical Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors, a role he created in the show’s London world premiere. Karl's performance earned him the 2017 Olivier, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Actor in a Musical. The role was originated on screen by Bill Murray.
Despite strong reviews and positive word of mouth, the musical had never managed to reach the $1 million mark at the box office. Groundhog Day's most lucrative week brought in $974,065 (ending May 28). Its latest figures saw a take of $703,895 for the week ending August 13.
Bill Murray and Andy Karl at Groundhog DayBruce Glikas
The musical is directed by Old Vic artistic director Matthew Warchus, with choreography by Peter Darling, and scenic and costume designs by Rob Howell — the same team behind the West End and Broadway hit Matilda, which Minchin also scored.
“It has been a joy to share Groundhog Day over and over again with Broadway audiences,” the show’s producers said in an earlier statement. “We could not have asked for a more magnificent, devoted company to bring Danny Rubin’s heartfelt words, Tim Minchin’s dynamic score, and Matthew Warchus’ ingenious direction to the August Wilson Theatre stage every night. This Punxsutawney family has been through a lot together and as Groundhog Day heads into its final month of performances in New York, we are so proud to be part of a Golden Age of musicals on Broadway.”
Groundhog Day follows Phil Connors, a disgruntled weatherman stuck in small-town America who relives the same day over and over again. As he gets to know associate TV producer Rita Hanson (played by Barrett Doss) for the first time repeatedly, he realizes it’s an opportunity for second, third, and fourth chances.
Completing the cast are Rebecca Faulkenberry, John Sanders, Andrew Call, Raymond J. Lee, Heather Ayers, Kevin Bernard, Gerard Canonico, Rheaume Crenshaw, Michael Fatica, Katy Geraghty, Camden Gonzales, Jordan Grubb, Taylor Iman Jones, Tari Kelly, Josh Lamon, Joseph Medeiros, Sean Montgomery, William Parry, Jenna Rubaii, Vishal Vaidya, Travis Waldschmidt, and Natalie Wisdom.
Watch Minchin Break Down Groundhog Day’s ‘Hope’ for Playbill’s Genesis of a Song series in the video below:
The creative team also includes Ellen Kane (co-choreographer), Christopher Nightingale (orchestrator and musical supervisor), Hugh Vanstone(lighting designer), Simon Baker (sound designer), Paul Kieve (illusions), Finn Caldwell (additional movement), Andrzej Goulding (video designer), Campbell Young Associates (hair and wig design), and Jim Carnahan (casting). David Holcenberg is the music director.
Groundhog Day is produced by Whistle Pig, Columbia Live Stage, and The Dodgers, with Michael Watt.
The August Wilson Theatre, located at 245 West 52nd Street, will next play host to the musical adaptation of Mean Girls.
Lovers of the 1993 film starring Bill Murray need not worry about the adaptation “ruining” the story—in fact, they should rush to the August Wilson Theatre.
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