The producers of Epic Proportions are definitely thinking in terms of zany. Recent cast-members added to the production, alongside previously announced Kristin Chenoweth, include Alan Tudyk, Ruth Williamson and Ross Lehman. Tudyk came to New York's attention playing a host of characters in the Gilda Radner-based comedy, Bunny Bunny and recently starred in Paul Rudnick's The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told; Williamson is a veteran of the Charles Busch campy camp and played over-the-top roles in The Green Heart and Queen Amarantha, as well as the Martin Short Little Me; Lehman replaced Mark Linn Baker as Hysterium in the recent Broadway revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The Forum.
Other cast-members of Epic Proportions include Jeremy Davidson (La Terrasse at MTC; Nijinksy's Last Dance in Washington DC); Richard Ziman (Not About Nightingales) and Tom Beckett (Communicating Doors, The Father at the Roundabout). According to production spokesperson Bill Coyle (reached July 14), one other male role has yet to be cast.
Previews for Epic Proportions, which were supposed to start Aug. 17, have now been pushed forward to Sept. 1, while the opening date has been changed from Sept. 16 to Sept. 30 at the Helen Hayes Theatre. Tickets will go on sale via Telecharge (212) 239-6200 in August, with the street box office likely to open two-to-three weeks before previews.
Jerry Zaks, who staged the aforementioned Forum revival and performed last-minute triage on The Capeman, will direct Epic Proportions, a comedy by Larry Coen and David Crane. The show is produced by Brent Peek, Mark Schwartz, Bob Cuillo, Bob Barandes and Matthew Farrell. Designing the show are David Gallo (set), who also designed the aforementioned Bunny Bunny; Paul Gallo (lighting), William Ivey Long (costumes) and Aural Fixation (sound).
A look at Hollywood during the Studio Era, Epic Proportions takes place on the set of a 1930s Biblical epic. Chenoweth (a Tony winner for You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown), Davidson and Tudyk are three sides of a love triangle; most of the actors play "a cast of thousands." Coen and Crane penned the script three years ago but were waiting for Zaks to come available to direct. Co-author Crane is the co-creator of the TV sitcoms "Friends" and "Veronica's Closet" and serves as executive producer on "Jesse."
Tickets go onsale in mid-August. TeleCharge phone. ShowTix for Groups 302-7000.
