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In that same tradition, New York will this fall receive a stage production of Singin' in the Rain. The show comes from the same Paris theatre that sent An American in Paris across the pond, the Théâtre du Châtelet. Of course, Rain is a much earlier property than Paris. Betty Comden and Adolph Green adapted their famous "Singin' in the Rain" film script for the stage for a 1985 Broadway mounting that was directed and choreographed by Twyla Tharp. Though the show ran 367 performances, it was not considered a commercial success.
The Paris production bowed March 12, 2015. Directed by Robert Carsen, who also designed the lighting, the production played 15 performances through March 26. It returns Nov. 27 for a more substantial run through Jan. 17, 2016. The in odd move possibly aimed at tourists, the French staging is performed entirely in English with French surtitles.
No specific Broadway dates, theatre or actors have been announced, but the theatre said it is joining forces with Weinstein Live Entertainment (Finding Neverland) on the transfer.
A representative for the New York production told Playbill.com that the Broadway cast will be a combination of new and existing cast members from the Châtelet staging. If it goes well, there are other Gene Kelly musicals out there still waiting for a stage adaptation.
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Producers Scott Rudin and Barry Diller will present the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Stephen Karam’s praised play The Humans beginning Jan. 23, 2016, at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre. The ensemble cast currently featured in the Off-Broadway staging will make the move.
The announcement follows earlier talks that Rudin had set his sights on a Broadway transfer for the acclaimed show, helmed by Tony winner Joe Mantello. An official opening night is scheduled for Feb. 18.
The cast features Cassie Beck, Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell, Lauren Klein, Arian Moayed and Sarah Steele. Performances of the current Off-Broadway engagement run through Jan. 3, 2016, at Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre.
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Among the questions that Broadway’s fall 2015 line-up asked were: Do the past Off-Broadway hits Sylvia and Dames at Sea have a home on Broadway?
The answer the Broadway Gods gave back is, apparently, "No." Both shows posted closing notices this week.
The Broadway debut of Dames at Sea — a revival of the Off-Broadway musical that is best remembered for having helped launch the career of Bernadette Peters — will end its run Jan. 3, 2016, at 3 PM at the Helen Hayes Theatre. The production officially opened Oct. 22 following previews that began Sept. 24. When it closes, the tap-dancing extravaganza will have played 32 previews and 85 regular performances.
The Broadway debut of A.R. Gurney’s canine-themed comedy Sylvia, meanwhile, will play its final performance at the Cort Theatre Jan. 3, 2016. Upon closing, the production will have played 27 previews and 79 regular performances.
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John Cleese and his pals over at "Monty Python’s Flying Circus" have, over the years, gotten in the habit of taking sketches first seen on the trailblazing 1960s-70s British comedy program and performing them live onstage.
Now Cleese will bestow the same treatment upon "Fawlty Towers," the popular British series about an irascible innkeeper (played by Cleese himself), which the actor-comedian created after "Monty Python."
Producers Michael Coppel, Philip McIntyre and Louise Withers have announced that they will present the world premiere of Cleese’s stage adaptation of the show, called Fawlty Towers – Live on Stage. If you want to see it, however, you’ll have to head Down Under; it is set to tour Australia and New Zealand, beginning in August 2016.
Though "Towers" can't boast of the vast influence on comedy that "Python" wielded, the show does nonetheless enjoy a cult following. The show is written by Cleese, with direction by Caroline J. Ranger. According to the comedian, "There have been many requests in the past 40 years to adapt 'Fawlty Towers' for the stage. I now sense the time is right."
