Extra, Extra: The Front Page Opens on Broadway Tonight | Playbill

News Extra, Extra: The Front Page Opens on Broadway Tonight The company includes Nathan Lane, Robert Morse, Jefferson Mays, Holland Taylor, and more.
Nathan Lane, Robert Morse and Holland Taylor Monica Simoes, Joseph Marzullo/WENN
The Front Page, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur’s classic 1928 comedy set in the world of the Chicago newspaper business, officially opens October 20 at 5:30 PM following previews that began September 20 at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 W. 44th St.).

The star-studded company comprises Nathan Lane, John Slattery, John Goodman, Jefferson Mays, Sherie Rene Scott, Holland Taylor and Robert Morse, along with Dylan Baker, Patricia Conolly, Halley Feiffer, Dann Florek, John Magaro, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Christopher McDonald, David Pittu, Joey Slotnick, Lewis J. Stadlen, Micah Stock, and Clarke Thorell.

Jack O’Brien directs the revival, which is playing a limited engagement through January 29, 2017.

“The press room of Chicago’s Criminal Courts Building is buzzing with reporters covering the story of an escaped prisoner,” according to press notes. “When star reporter Hildy Johnson (Slattery) accidentally discovers the runaway convict, he and his editor Walter Burns (Lane) conspire to hide the man from the other reporters, while they chase the biggest scoop of their careers.”

The tradition of having critics attend and review the opening-night performance, which went out of fashion in the 1970’s, is being revived for this production as an “homage to the glory days of print media, during which time The Front Page is set,” according to a press release. An early curtain time has been set to allow the critics extra time to write and file their reviews.

The Front Page premiered August 14, 1928, at the Times Square Theatre, in a production staged by George S. Kaufman. The play was heralded for its rapid-fire dialogue written by former newspaper men Hecht and MacArthur, and was one of four hits in a row in the early career of its producer, Jed Harris.

The Broadway revival features set design by Douglas Schmidt, costume design by Ann Roth, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt, and sound by Scott Lehrer.

The Front Page is produced by Scott Rudin.

Tickets are on sale via Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6200.



(Updated October 20, 2016)

 
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