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
, 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鈥檚 original co-screenwriter Danny Rubin, Groundhog Day arrived on Broadway March 17 after premiering at London鈥檚 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鈥檚 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 , with choreography by Peter Darling, and scenic and costume designs by Rob Howell 鈥� the same team behind the West End and Broadway hit Matilda, which Minchin also scored.
鈥淚t has been a joy to share Groundhog Day over and over again with Broadway audiences,鈥� the show鈥檚 producers said in an earlier statement. 鈥淲e could not have asked for a more magnificent, devoted company to bring Danny Rubin鈥檚 heartfelt words, Tim Minchin鈥檚 dynamic score, and Matthew Warchus鈥� 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.鈥�
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 鈥楬ope鈥� for 半岛体育鈥檚 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.
Flip through production photos below:
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Andy Karl Relives the Same Day in the Latest Groundhog Day Photos
Andy Karl Relives the Same Day in the Latest Groundhog Day Photos
The new musical from Tim Minchin and Danny Rubin will open officially April 17.
Lovers of the 1993 film starring Bill Murray need not worry about the adaptation 鈥渞uining鈥� the story鈥攊n fact, they should rush to the August Wilson Theatre.
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