Marc Camoletti's "classic sixties comedy of errors," translated by Beverley Cross and Francis Evans, began previews at Broadway's Longacre Theatre April 19 following an acclaimed run in London. Mark Rylance, who starred in the London production, repeated his work for Broadway audiences, earning a Tony Award for his work. The play, directed on Broadway and in London by Matthew Warchus, officially opened May 4.
Lead producer Sonia Friedman told Variety, "This was never an automatic fit for London, either, given that it was sort of a dead play. But I decided to do it because I thought people needed to laugh. . . .In New York the word of mouth kicked in quickly and it really just skyrocketed. The wraps defied all the slow trends over the summer, and even in this climate of uncertainty it's still doing fine."
Grosses for the Broadway run to date, according to the industry paper, are at $9.2 million.
A North American tour of the comedy is currently being packaged to kick off in fall 2009. No casting has been announced for the tour.
Boeing-Boeing won 2008 Tony Awards for Best Play Revival and Best Actor (Mark Rylance) and Drama Desk Awards for Best Play Revival and Best Actor (Rylance). The show received four additional Tony nominations. Boeing-Boeing features a design by Rob Howell, lighting by Hugh Vanstone, original music by Claire Van Kampen, sound by Simon Baker and curtain call by Kathleen Marshall. The play is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Bob Boyett, Act Productions, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert G. Bartner, The Weinstein Company, Susan Gallin/Mary Lu Roffe, Broadway Across America, Tulchin/Jenkins/DSM, and The Araca Group.
In the comedy, "an architect living in Paris has been successfully juggling three flight attendant fiancées with his housekeeper reluctantly playing romantic air-traffic controller as they fly in and out of his swank bachelor pad. But when an old school pal visits, things get rather turbulent. Schedules change, flights are delayed and chaos ensues in this whirl of mayhem and matchmaking."
For tickets and information, visit Telecharge.com or BoeingOnBroadway.com.
*
Paige Davis and Rebecca Gayheart will join Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance, Greg Germann and Missi Pyle in Boeing-Boeing on Broadway beginning Oct. 7.
The original Broadway cast featured Rylance and Baranski as well as Bradley Whitford, Gina Gershon, Kathryn Hahn and Mary McCormack; the latter was Tony-nominated for her performance.
