The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told , Paul Rudnick's hit retelling of the Judeo Christian creation story, will likely move into the Minetta Lane Theatre for an extended commercial run. Producers have been searching for a likely theatre since the show opened at the New York Theatre Workshop on Dec. 14 to largely positive notices and quickly sold out its run through Jan. 10.
Negotiations are reportedly still underway, but if all goes well, the comedy will open at the Minetta Lane Jan. 29. Scott Rudin, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch and Mark Routh will produce. If it moves, Fabulous will be the first Rudnick play to enjoy a commercial run since Jeffrey, which ran Off-Broadway for more than a year in the early '90s.
In the play, Rudnick ponders what it would be like had God started out by making Adam and Steve, rather than Adam and Eve. Adam and Steve (along with Jane and Mabel) take us on a journey from Mesopotamia to a K Mart on Christmas Eve as they struggle for faith and search for God.
Rudnick's comedy made its debut this summer at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. As he did at Williamstown, frequent Rudnick collaborator Christopher Ashley will direct. Rudnick's comedies include Jeffrey, The Naked Eye, Mr. Charles and I Hate Hamlet, as well as scripts for the films "In & Out" and "Addams Family Values."
The NYTW cast features Obie Award winner Joanna Adler (Benita Canova ), Becky Ann Baker (Titanic), Peter Bartlett, Juan Hernandez, Lisa Kron (101 Humiliating Stories ), Orlando Pabotoy, Amy Sedaris, and Alan Tudyk (Bunny Bunny ). The set design for Fabulous is by Michael Brown, costumes are by Susan Hilferty, lighting design is by Donald Holder with sound by Darron L. West. Katherine Meisle recently joined the cast. Meisle replaces Jenny Bacon, who broke a bone in her foot during a recent performance, causing the show to delay its opening until Dec. 14. The original opening was to have been Dec. 10. Fabulous began previews Nov. 14.
Meisle is a veteran of such Broadway productions as The Rehearsal and London Assurance , both at the Roundabout.
For tickets ($45) or more information call (212) 460-5475. NYTW will continue its CheapTix program, holding a limited number (usually 10-16) of tickets and puttin them on sale two hours before each performance for $10 each.
-- By Robert Simonson
