The Vineyard Theater's production of the new Tina Landau-Ricky Ian Gordon musical Dream True, which officially opened April 17 and then had been extended, will close May 8. The musical's engagement was originally supposed end May 1, but a generally positive review in the New York Times helped raise public consciousness of the musical.
Musical star Judy Kuhn heads the cast of Landau and Gordon's new musical. Also in the story of two friends growing up in America are Daniel Jenkins, star of Broadway's Big, and Jeff McCarthy, a veteran of Side Show. Kuhn most recently appeared in the Drama Dept. revival of the Irving Berlin-Moss Hart revue As Thousands Cheer. Her Broadway credits include Chess, Sunset Boulevard and She Loves Me.
The Vineyard Theater was forced to halt the April 8, preview performance of the show when a child performer injured himself in the middle of the show. Vineyard artistic director Douglas Aibel told Playbill On-Line that young Jase Blankfort dislocated his shoulder, bringing the show to a halt. Blankfort was taken to the hospital and was feeling better the next day. Dream True had already pushed back its opening date from April 14 to April 17.
Gordon and Landau teamed once before, for En Garde Arts's production of Stonewall. Otherwise, Gordon is primarily known for his work in the classical music and opera fields. Landau collaborated with composer Adam Guettel on both Floyd Collins and Saturn Returns.
Dream True, inspired by the George du Maurier novel "Peter Ibbetson," cover five decades in the lives of two boyhood friends, taking them from Wyoming to New York City. This is no ordinary friendship, however: the two pals are able to communicate through dreams. One of the friends turns into a gay activist, with the two meeting years later on a New York City Street. Also in the cast are Jessica Molaskey (Dream), Francis Jue, Bryan T. Donovan, Michael Cole, Alex Bohen, Blankfort and Steven Skybell. Deirdre Lovejoy, originally cast, left the show during rehearsals to take a role in the Arena Stage production of How I Learned to Drive. She was replaced by Amy Hohn.
In the past, the Vineyard has produced such musicals as Polly Pen's Bed and Sofa and Christina Alberta's Father.
For information on Dream True call (212) 353-3874.
-- By Sean McGrath and Robert Simonson
