Free Dirty Rotten Cast Album Offer Draws Thousands to Imperial Theatre April 27

By Kenneth Jones
April 27, 2005

More than 4,500 fans stood in a blocks-long line at the Imperial Theatre April 27 for a CD giveaway and starry signing event celebrating the new cast album for Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Fans appeared at the Imperial Theatre as early as 6 AM to be assured of a free album. The discs were distributed 11:30 AM-1 PM. The show's cast, including stars John Lithgow, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott and Joanna Gleason, and composer David Yazbek, were on hand to sign discs before their Wednesday matinee performance.

By noon, "the line was blocks-long, stretching across the theatre district," according to a statement. And yes, indeed, about 4,500 discs were distributed, a spokesman told Playbill.com.

The giveaway is a first in Broadway history, and meant to generate buzz for the David Yazbek-Jeffrey Lane show based on the film of the same name.

The Ghostlight Records CD will not be available anywhere else until it hits stores on May 10. Between April 27 and May 27, free discs will also be offered to theatregoers attending performances of the musical comedy. The total number of free CDs given away will be 50,000.