Broadway Runs Out of Superior Donuts on Jan. 3

By Kenneth Jones
03 Jan 2010

Superior Donuts stars Jon Michael Hill and Michael McKean
Superior Donuts stars Jon Michael Hill and Michael McKean
Photo by Robert J. Saferstein

Superior Donuts, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Tracy Letts (August: Osage County), ends its Broadway run at the Music Box Theatre on Jan. 3.

The workplace comedy-drama about the stagnant life of a doughnut shop owner, and how it gets shaken up by a new employee, stars Michael McKean. A booking period through March 28, 2010, had been previously announced.

Tina Landau directs the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production, which also features Jane Alderman, Kate Buddeke, Cliff Chamberlain, Michael Garvey, Jon Michael Hill (as the brash newcomer), Robert Maffia, James Vincent Meredith and Yasen Peyankov.

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Superior Donuts had its world premiere at Steppenwolf's home in Chicago in 2008 and was slightly revised before it moved (this fall) to Broadway, where it was largely embraced by critics. It opened at the Music Box Oct. 1 after previews from Sept. 16.

According to he producers, "Arthur Przybyszewski (McKean) owns a decrepit donut shop in the uptown neighborhood of Chicago. Franco Wicks (Hill), a black teenager who is his only employee, wants to change the shop for the better. This comedy-drama, set in the heart of one of Chicago's most diverse communities, explores the challenges of embracing the past and the redemptive power of friendship."

The Steppenwolf production of Superior Donuts is produced on Broadway by Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Jerry Frankel, Awaken Entertainment, Debra Black, Chase Mishkin, Karmichelle Productions/Robert G. Bartner, Carole & Barry Kaye/Irv Welzer, Andrew Asnes, Rebecca Gold, Kathleen K. Johnson, George Kaufman, Charlie McAteer, Terry Schnuck, Michael Gardner/David Jaroslowicz, Roy Gottlieb/Raise The Roof Two, Dena Hammerstein/Pam Pariseau, and Stewart F. Lane/Bonnie Comley.

Tickets are currently on sale through Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200.