The last performance of the Broadway hit, Contact, on Sept. 1 (EST), will be broadcast live on PBS. The program is part of the "Live from Lincoln Center" series. The telecast will will begin at 9 PM EST—an unorthodox curtain time, but in keeping with past PBS specials.
The Tony-winning musical has made a home out of Lincoln Center Theater's Vivian Beaumont Theatre since March 2, 2000. Before that, it had a run Off-Broadway at the Mitzi E. Newhouse. Contact won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical. The choreography of Susan Stroman and the performances of original stars Karen Ziemba and Boyd Gaines were also honored.
The final show can only be viewed live in East Coast markets. Stations in other time zones, as well as selected eastern cities, will delay the broadcast by anywhere from one hour to a few days.
The following is the airing schedule for the top 30 U.S. markets. The schedules were set on Aug. 9 and may have changed. Please check local listings. Times are Eastern Standard Time (EST) except where indicated.
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At a recent performance of Contact, a patch of seats had been removed from the rear of the Vivian Beaumont's orchestra. A platform was erected in the space and upon it was mounted a 25-foot boom with a camera attached. Seats were also removed in the front of the house to install a track for another camera. Two additional, manually-supported cameras were positioned mid orchestra. Rehearsals are expected to run Thursday through Saturday.
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As first reported by Playbill On-Line, the current cast of Alan Campbell, Charlotte d'Amboise and Colleen Dunn will be featured on the live special.
Alan Campbell, who played scenarist and lover to Glenn Close on Broadway in Sunset Boulevard, is suicidal advertising exec Michael Wylie, the role created by Tony winner Boyd Gaines. Campbell replaced D.W. Moffett beginning March 19. Moffett, who joined the cast Sept. 4, 2001, gave his last performance on March 3.
Campbell plays alongside Charlotte d'Amboise and Colleen Dunn, who also joined on Sept. 4.
The dependable d'Amboise (Chicago) took on Karen Ziemba's role of a repressed Italian housewife, circa 1950s, who escapes her life through dance fantasies. Ziemba won a Tony for her performance.
Dunn stepped into the charmed shoes and saffron frock of Deborah Yates, who made an indelible impression as the mysterious, elusive and silent Girl in the Yellow Dress, the object of Campbell's character's desire. Dunn was seen in the recent Broadway revival of Follies, the latest in a long string of Broadway musicals credits which include The Will Rogers Follies, Sunset Boulevard, Ain't Broadway Grand and Legs Diamond.
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The casting in the major roles for the final performance is as follows:
Part I: Swinging
Girl on the Swing - Joanne Manning
Frenchmen - Seán Martin Hingston, Scott Taylor
Part II: Did you Move?
Wife - Charlotte d'Amboise
Husband - Danny Mastrogiorgio
Part III: Contact
Michael Wiley - Alan Campbell
Girl in the Yellow Dress - Colleen Dunn
Bartender - Danny Mastrogiorgio
Jack - Jack Hayes
Johnny - Seán Martin Hingston
Joe - Robert Wersinger
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For ticket information for Contact call, (212) 239 6200.
