Oct. 4 Matinee of Royal Family Canceled Due to Roberts' Illness; Understudy Will Play Evening Show

By Andrew Gans
04 Oct 2009

Tony Roberts
Tony Roberts
Photo by Aubrey Reuben

Tony Roberts, who plays Oscar Wolfe in the Broadway revival of The Royal Family at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, became ill during the afternoon performance Oct. 4.

Roberts was taken to St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, and the matinee was canceled. Roberts' understudy, Anthony Newfield, will play the evening performance Oct. 4, according to a show spokesperson.

The New York Times reports that hospital spokesperson Jeff Jacomowitz said that Roberts is in stable condition.

The Manhattan Theatre Club Broadway production of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber's The Royal Family, which is now in previews, will officially open Oct. 8 at the Friedman Theatre.

According to MTC, "Follow a famous family of stage stars as they go about the drama of the day: choosing scripts, dashing off to performances, stealing kisses from handsome beaus. But what’s this business about the youngest diva wanting to quit the stage for domestic bliss? Never, darling!"

Tony Roberts received Tony Award nominations for his performances in Play It Again Sam and How Now, Dow Jones. His other theatrical credits include Xanadu, Victor/Victoria, Barefoot in the Park, Don't Drink the Water, Sugar, Absurd Person Singular, Arsenic and Old Lace, They're Playing Our Song, Jerome Robbins' Broadway and The Sisters Rosensweig. He won the London's Critics Poll Award for his performance in the West End mounting of Promises, Promises, and his many screen credits include "Annie Hall," "Play It Again, Sam" and "Serpico."

For tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com; call (212) 239-6200 or (800) 432-7250 or go to Friedman Theatre box office (261 W. 47th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue).

Visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.