August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean Postpones First Preview

By Robert Simonson
02 Nov 2004

August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean, which has been struggling over the past week to replace a shortfall in its $2 million production budget, has cancelled its Nov. 4-14 performances.

An official press release read, "Following the loss of a major investor, August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean will not begin preview performances on Thursday, November 4 at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th Street) as originally scheduled.  Tickets have been taken off sale through Sunday, November 14 while replacement funds are sought by the producing team of Jujamcyn Theaters and The Araca Group.  A revised performance schedule and official opening date are to be announced shortly. Consumers who have tickets for performances from Thursday, November 4 through Sunday, November 14 should go to their point of purchase to exchange for a future performance or for a refund."

The announcement fell short of saying that Nov. 16 would be the play's first preview.

The trouble began late in October, when a major investor pulled out of the venture, taking an unspecified chunk of the $2 million capitalization with them. The unexpected loss of cash sent lead producer Benjamin Mordecai in search of new investors. Meanwhile, the load-in of the production's set into Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre has been delayed, and a new marquee remains unhung.

Sources say producers of the drama have recently reached out to the music mogul Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Combs is close with director Kenny Leon and star Phylicia Rashad, with whom he worked on last season's box office hit A Raisin in the Sun.

Gem ended a Boston run on Oct. 30. It was to have begun previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre on Nov. 4 and open Nov. 11.

The production has been somewhat bedeviled in the past couple months. While in Boston, the play was furnished with a new director and a new star.

The producers announced Sept. 17 that Anthony Chisholm would take over for Delroy Lindo in the role of Solly Two Kings. Lindo left the production due to "creative differences," a statement read. Chisholm is under the direction of Kenny Leon, who replaced Marion McClinton when the latter was hospitalized on Aug. 31.

The staging stars last season's Tony Award-winner, Phylicia Rashad (A Raisin in the Sun), as Aunt Ester, Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Caesar and LisaGay Hamilton as Black Mary. The cast also features John Earl Jelks as Citizen Barlow and Raynor Scheine as Rutherford Selig.