The laughter will finally run out Feb. 7, when the Roundabout Theatre's popular revival of Little Me, starring Martin Short and Faith Prince, ends its run on Broadway.
By Feb. 7, the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh-Neil Simon tuner, reworked by director-choreographer Rob Marshall, will have played 50 previews and 101 performances. The musical began previews Oct. 8, 1998, opened Nov. 12 and extended (while still in previews) to Jan. 24 and again to Feb. 7.
The run of the elaborate show, said to have the most complicated set in Roundabout history, was virtually sold out. A longer run starring the comic actor (of TV's "SCTV" and "Saturday Night Live") was not possible, as Short did not want to be away from his family in California for an extended period of time.
As of Feb. 5 there was no confirmation of plans for a previously talked about commercial run of the show in Los Angeles, where Short lives. Calls to producers Barry and Fran Weissler, who expressed interest in the show, were not returned, and agents for Short and Prince did not comment (Feb. 5) on their clients' upcoming projects.
The 1960 comic musical based on the satiric memoir by Patrick Dennis tells of the rags-to-riches life of Belle Poitrine and the many men in her life, all played by one actor (Sid Caesar in the original, Short in 1998-99). In the original, Belle was played two actresses (representing young and older selves), but Marshall chose to cast only Prince (Guys and Dolls) in 1998. The apparently short-lived Little Me is to be preserved on a cast album, recorded Feb. 1 in New York. The Varese Sarabande disc is expected for release March 9.
Songs include "Real Live Girl," "I've Got Your Number" and "The Other Side of the Tracks."
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In December 1998, producer Fran Weissler confirmed that negotiations for an L.A. run were in progress, saying: "We have talked about it; we did want to move it with Martin [Short] because he wants to be there with his family."
Weissler also said a Los Angeles venue for the show hadn't been determined.
A spokesperson from Short's New York agency (William Morris) in December 1998 confirmed that negotiations were in progress earlier this year, but told PBOL, "It's not set, yet."
Faith Prince's agent Gary Gersh (Innovative Artists) also indicated in December 1998 negotiations were under way, but added that nothing was definite. "Faith has the contractual right to do it and would like to do it in L.A.," he said.
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The musical co-stars two veterans of Off Broadway's Forbidden Broadway revue, Michael McGrath and Christine Pedi. McGrath was showcased in the Broadway musical Swinging on a Star and was a well-received Groucho in Off-Broadway's The Coconuts. He was also an original cast member of Secrets Every Smart Traveler Should Know.
Also in the show are soap star Michael Park and Charles Busch veteran, Ruth Williamson (The Green Heart ), alongside Brooks Ashmanskas, Peter Benson, Michael Arnold, Jeffrey Hankinson, Ned Hannah, Denis Jones, Michael McEachron, Roxanne Barlow, Caroline Liadakus, Susan Misner, Cynthia Onrubia, Joey Pizzi, Josh Prince and Courtney Young.
962's Little Me has music by Coleman (City of Angels, Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies ), lyrics by Carolyn Leigh and book by Simon. Songs in Little Me, include "I've Got Your Number," "Real Live Girl" and "Be A Performer."
Short's Little Me role was originated by Sid Caesar and recreated in the 1980s by Victor Garber. Short appeared in the Encores!' concert staging last season of Promises, Promises.
For tickets and information on Roundabout shows call (212) 719-1300.
