Multimedia Email this Article Printer-friendly RELATED ARTICLES: 08 Jul 2007 -- Tarzan Swings Out of the Richard Rodgers Theatre July 8 10 May 2007 -- Tarzan Celebrates One Year on Broadway May 10 08 May 2007 -- Tarzan to Celebrate One Year on Broadway with Book Signing 11 Apr 2007 -- Tarzan Star to Play the Triad April 30 28 Mar 2007 -- Rob Evan Joins Disney's Tarzan March 28

By Andrew Gans
23 Jun 2007

Jenn Gambatese and Josh Strickland in Tarzan.

The Disney musical Tarzan — based on the animated film of the same name — will play its final performance at the Richard Rodgers Theatre July 8 at 6:30 PM. When it closes, the musical will have played 35 previews and 486 regular performances.

In a statement Disney Theatrical producer Thomas Schumacher said, "I am disappointed that the Broadway production of Tarzan will close earlier than any of us had hoped, and I would have loved for it to have been as successful in New York as it is now in Holland. Despite this, Tarzan was the Broadway debut for two artists I have long admired and respected, and for this I am extremely proud. The opportunity to work again with the legendary Phil Collins, who expanded his film score for the stage production, and with Bob Crowley in his Broadway directorial debut has been hugely gratifying. I know that as we continue to produce Tarzan around the world, audiences will embrace it with as much enthusiasm as we put into creating it."

Tarzan opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre May 10, 2006. The cast features Josh Strickland in the title role with All Shook Up's Jenn Gambatese as Jane. The musical marked the Broadway directorial debut for Bob Crowley.

The company also features Merle Dandridge as Kala, Robert Evan as Kerchak, Chester Gregory II as Terk, Timothy Jerome as Professor Porter and Donnie Keshawarz as Clayton. Alex Rutherford and Dylan Riley Snyder alternate in the role of Young Tarzan.

Tarzan features a score by Phil Collins. Tony Award winner David Henry Hwang wrote the musical's book based on both the Disney film and the original Edgar Rice Burroughs story "Tarzan of the Apes." The creative team also includes Meryl Tankard (choreography), Pichón Baldinu (aerial design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), John Shivers (sound design), Paul Bogaev (music producer/vocal arrangements) and Doug Besterman (orchestrations).

Tarzan, according to press notes, begins as "a shipwreck leaves an infant orphaned on the West African shore. The helpless baby is taken under the protection of a gorilla tribe and becomes part of their family. When he eventually encounters his first human — Jane Porter, a curious young explorer — both their worlds are transformed forever."

Tickets for Tarzan are available at www.DisneyOnBroadway.com, the Richard Rodgers Theatre box office, and all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling (212) 307-4747.

Patrons with tickets purchased for performances after July 8 should contact the point-of-purchase outlet for information.

Sean Samuels in Tarzan.

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