Following her smash limited-run Broadway engagement, Elaine Stritch may be hitting the road. Producers are currently exploring the possibilities of a U.S. tour for Elaine Stritch at Liberty, as well as a London visit, Playbill On-Line has learned.
The London gig would be a extended sit-down production. The potential is high for a repeat of the actress' commercial and critical success Off Broadway and on. Stritch relocated to London for a good number of years in the middle of her career—a subject covered is her autobiographical show. There she appeared in many plays, as well as a British television show.
At Liberty has been praised by several London papers, the drama critics of which made special trips to Manhattan to review the production.
Nothing definite has been announced as yet about a national tour or London transfer. The Broadway engagement ends on May 26.
Elaine Stritch isn't the only female theatre veteran of a certain age at liberty on the New York stage anymore—since the Off-Broadway opening of her autobiographical solo show, Barbara Cook and Bea Arthur have also commandeered Broadway stages to general acclaim. Also due on Broadway is a solo outing by British actor Simon Callow, The Miracle of Charles Dickens. But she was the first out of the gate and her act remains one of the top draws of the season. After a couple weeks of previews, beginning Feb. 6, Elaine Stritch at Liberty, a sold-out smash at The Public Theater, officially opened at the Neil Simon Theatre on Feb. 21.
Due to the strenuous nature of the performance, which includes songs musical-directed by Rob Bowman and orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, the 77-year-old Stritch performs the show five times a week, 8 PM Wednesday-Saturday and 5 PM Sunday. Only 80 performances are scheduled.
The Broadway run is produced by John Schreiber, Scott Sanders of Creative Battery, Margo Lion and Robert Cole, in association with Roy Furman and The Public Theater/NYSF.
Designers are Riccardo Hernández (set), Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer (lighting), Paul Tazewell (costume) and Acme Sound Partners (sound).
Tickets range $40-$85. The Neil Simon Theatre, current home of The Music Man, which ends Dec. 30, is at 250 W. 52nd Street. For information, (212) 307-4100.
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Elaine Stritch At Liberty opened at The Public Theater Nov. 7 to rave reviews. Previews began Oct. 26. The show broke box office records at The Public for how quickly tickets sold and was extended three times.
