By Andrew Gans
28 Sep 2004

Although the York Theatre Company's The Musical of Musicals — The Musical! will finally end its record-breaking run Oct. 2, there is talk that the acclaimed production may transfer to another theatre for an open-ended run.

The hit musical, the longest-running show in the York's 35-year history, will have played 14 previews and 194 performances when it ends its run on Saturday. In a statement, York producing artistic director James Morgan said, "Let me just say that this show has legs. I would urge all its many fans to watch for an exciting announcement very shortly about where these legs take it to. We are very sad to see it go; the critics praised, the audiences raved, and in short it's been very good for us. We managed to prosper through the traditionally slow summer months, the convention, even the Orange Terror Alert."

The musical is ending its York run due to space issues. "We must close," said Morgan, "to start our 36th season with our fall 'Musicals in Mufti' series of concert musicals, including Henry, Sweet Henry and Frank Loesser's Greenwillow. The Muftis are followed by the first mainstage production of our 36th season, Souvenir, a play with music by Stephen Temperley."

The Musical of Musicals — featuring music by Eric Rockwell, lyrics by Joanne Bogart and a book by Rockwell and Bogart — is a satire of various musical theatre genres. One story is played five times, each in the style of a different musical theatre composer or team, including Rodgers and Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim. The musical was nominated for a 2004 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical, and the CD is now available in stores on the Jay Records label.

The Musical of Musicals plays Monday-Saturday evenings at 8 PM, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30 PM. Tickets, priced $55, are available by calling (212) 868-4444 or by visiting www.smarttix.com. The York Theatre is located at 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street.