Abraham, Hearn, Schuck, Henner, Kane, Malina, Ragusa Will Sing Grumpy Old Men

By Kenneth Jones
September 29, 2008

Grumpy Old Men: The Musical, inspired by the 1993 movie that starred Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, will get a starry Manhattan reading in October 2008. F. Murray Abraham and George Hearn will play the title codgers.

The reading of the Broadway-aimed show by composer Neil Berg, lyricist Nick Meglin and librettist Dan Remmes will also feature Chicago and "Taxi" veteran Marilu Henner (as Ariel, the role created by Ann-Margret), Carol Kane ("Taxi," Wicked), Vicki Lewis ("Newsradio," Damn Yankees), Joshua Malina ("The West Wing"), Ken Page (Cats, Ain't Misbehavin'), Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Ragtime, Paper Mill's Kiss Me, Kate) and Conrad John Schuck (a longtime Daddy Warbucks in Annie in New York and nationally) as Grandpa Gustafson.

Jeff Gardner and Ken Denison are the producers.

Glenn Casale (who helped reinvent the musical Peter Pan for Cathy Rigby, to Tony-nominated success) directs the story of two aging men, "Max and John, neighbors, who have been feuding for most of their lives," according to production notes. "They are re-united in friendship through the love and compassion of their new neighbor across the street, the beautiful, eccentric, and charming Ariel."

Oscar winner and Broadway veteran, Abraham ("Amadeus") and Emmy and Tony Award winner George Hearn (Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, Sunset Blvd.) are the two grumpy neighbors Max and John, originally played by Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon, respectively, in The Warner Bros. motion picture comedy.

Executive producer Ken Denison stated, "This is an outstanding opportunity to bring back to Broadway some of our finest veteran performers."

Emmy Award winner Kane will play the role of Punky, "a role created specifically for this musical adaptation of the piece, alongside Drama Desk Award winner Ken Page as her Uncle Chuck," according to a Sept. 29 announcement.

The remaining roles will be played by Bjorn Johnson, Carter Calvert, David Beach, Klea Blackhurst, Joy Hermalyn, Danielle Lee Greaves, Ron Wisniski and Tad Wilson.

Industry inquiries can be made via e-mail to info@grumpyoldmenthemusical.com.