Gallagher has been battling a severe sinus infection that has kept him out of the production since Feb. 21. The actor returned for one performance, March 3, but it was determined that additional time was needed for his recovery. He will now miss the March 6 evening performance and March 7 matinee. The production is hopeful that they will welcome the return of their leading man in time for the 8 PM performance March 7.
Gallagher has been absent from the production during the height of press performances, a time in which members of the press and critics are invited to attend. Roundabout Theatre Company previously pushed back the show's scheduled March 12 opening night by three days in order to make up for the star's absence. On the Twentieth Century will now officially open March 15. The limited 20-week engagement will continue through July 5 at the American Airlines Theatre as scheduled.
Roundabout has also worked to re-schedule reviewing critics in order to catch Gallagher in the role. It's been a classic overnight Broadway opportunity for understudy James Moye, who has performed the role of Oscar Jaffe in Gallagher's absence since Feb. 22.
The musical — featuring music by Cy Coleman and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green — premiered on Broadway in 1978 under the direction of Harold Prince and won Tony Awards for Best Original Score and Best Book of a Musical. Here's how Roundabout bills the classic: "It's nonstop laughs aboard the Twentieth Century, a luxury coach travelling from Chicago to New York City. Luck, love and mischief collide when the bankrupt theater producer Oscar Jaffe (Gallagher) embarks on a madcap mission to cajole glamorous Hollywood starlet Lily Garland (Chenoweth) into playing the lead in his new, non-existent epic drama. But is the train ride long enough to reignite the spark between these former lovers, create a play from scratch, and find the money to get it all the way to Broadway?"
For more on the show, click here.
The American Airlines Theatre on Broadway is located at 227 West 42nd Street. For tickets, call (212) 719-1300 or visit RoundaboutTheatre.org.
