The drama, based on the screenplay (by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry) and novel (by Charles Webb) of the same name, began previews March 15, 2002, at the Plymouth Theatre and opened April 4, 2002. Directed and adapted by Terry Johnson, The Graduate will have played a total of 380 performances and 24 previews.
A national tour is planned, with some engagements already announced (Indianapolis Nov. 25-30, Louisville Dec. 9-14). Critics didn't embrace the show, but audiences admitted the show they had a good time at the show, which was presented complete with some songs by Simon & Garfunkel, whose work is heard on the famous 1967 movie soundtrack.
The initial investment was recouped last summer. This adaptation played a popular run in London before it crossed the pond for this all-new production — with its brief top-of-the-show nude scene of Mrs. Robinson intact.
During its run with original star Kathleen Turner (as Mrs. Robinson) in 2002, crowds cheered the stars — including the young movie stars Jason Biggs (as grad Benjamin) and Alicia Silverstone (as fiancee Elaine, daughter of Mrs. Robinson) — at the stage door every night, much to the dismay of Frank Langella and Alan Bates, who slipped virtually unnoticed out of the stage door of the Music Box across the street, where the Russian play, Fortune's Fool was less noisily received. Bates and Langella took home Tony Awards for acting.
Lorraine Bracco, who plays Tony Soprano's analyst on the hit HBO series "The Sopranos," currently portrays Mrs. Robinson opposite John Lavelle's Benjamin, with Andrea Anders as Elaine. Bracco has extended her Broadway debut engagement by one week in order to remain in the show until its final performance. Others in the company include Mark Blum as Mr. Braddock, Colin Stinton as Mr. Robinson, Christopher Coucill as the Hotel Clerk and Psychiatrist, Autumn Dornfeld as the Assistant Desk Clerk, Kate Skinner as Mrs. Braddock, Susan Cella as the Stripper, Ben Feldman as the Bellhop and John Hillner as the Priest.
Designers of The Graduate are Rob Howell (set and costumes) and Hugh Vanstone (lighting). John Reid and Sacha Brooks produced.
