Broadway Has More Closing Shows than Opening in March and April

Once again, Broadway has a lot more family members saying “Good-bye” than new arrivals in March and April. The following are some of the shows that are leaving and arriving on the Great White Way:

On March 2nd, The Farnsworth Invention will be leaving the Music Box Theatre. After showing 34 previews and 104 performances, Hank Azaria and newcomer Jimmi Simpson will be leaving the stage as the curtain falls for the last time on this show. Opening on December 3rd, The Farnsworth Invention tells the story of Philo T. Farnsworth, the self taught boy who became the inventor of the television and David Sarnoff of RCA who wanted the invention for himself. If you liked The West Wing, be sure to catch this show as it was made by the same creator, Aaron Sorkin.

Later in March, another popular play will be closing, entitled The 39 Steps. Based off the Alfred Hitchcock movie of the same name, The 39 Steps is a comedic espionage murder mystery with 150 roles played by four amazing cast members. Currently playing at the American Airlines Theatre and starring Charles Edwards who traveled with the West End production, This show is sure to please anyone who appreciates true acting talent. Starting on January 4th, 2008 and officially opening on January 15th, 2008, the lights will lower for the last time on March 29th, 2008.

Opening in March, Secrets of a Soccer Mom will open at the Snapple Theatre Center. This Kathleen Clark play tells the story of three soccer moms who leave behind their spot on the sidelines and compete in a mother-son soccer game. After working together on Clark’s Southern Comforts, this will be Clark’s and director Judy Ivey’s second collaboration. Secrets of a Soccer Mom will be hitting the field on March 5th.

One show that 5 Minutes to Curtain will continuously update you on a show that is opening in December. Recently, many adult-targeted movies have been hitting Broadway including Young Frankenstein, The 39 Steps, The Color Purple and Xanadu. If you take a closer look, children’s movies have also made a huge impact on the theatre scene as well, such as The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Tarzan, Mary Poppins and Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas. As you may notice, Disney has had a role in many of those shows listed above, but one other film-making company has entered the playing field. Dreamworks has released it’s hit series Shrek into the theatre world with Shrek the Musical when it hits the The Broadway Theatre in December of 2008. Three roles have already been filled to this day. Sutton Foster, known for her major roles in Thoroughly Modern Millie, Young Frankenstein and The Drowsy Chaperone, will be playing Princess Fiona, the female lead and counterpart to Shrek. Christopher Sieber, currently playing Sir Dennis in Spamalot will be playing Lord Faruaad. Receiving a 2005 Tony nomination, Sieber is also known as a TV actor, playing the dad to the Olsen twins in “Two of a Kind”. Keela Lewis-Evans will playing Dragon, Donkey’s love interest. Evans was last seen alongside Foster in The Drowsy Chaperone. Shrek the Musical will be performing an out-of-town tryout in Seattle from August 14th to Sept. 21st before starting NY previews on November 8th.

Keep tuning into www.fusion726.com/5mins for further news on Shrek the Musical and other shows arriving and departing Broadway.