London producer Sonia Friedman told the New York Times that a Broadway run would not happen until at least later in the year because of co-star DeVito's shooting schedule for the FX series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."
Sunshine Boys would mark the Broadway debut for screen star DeVito, who told the Times, "I wouldn't want to come to New York in something frivolous, just doing shtick. There’s a sadness in the relationship between these two men that really got to me, and I think it’d surprise American audiences who might have a certain expectation about a Neil Simon comedy — and about me."
The Sunshine Boys officially opened May 17 at London's Savoy Theatre, following previews that began April 27, for a 12-week run through July 28.
It is directed by Thea Sharrock, with designs by Hildegard Bechtler, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Adrian Johnston and sound by Ian Dickinson for Autograph. It is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions and Richard Willis.
Also in the cast are Rebecca Blackstone, Nick Blakeley, Peter Cadden, Johnnie Fiori, Adam Levy and William Maxwell. In the play, "kings of comedy, Willie Clark (DeVito) and Al Lewis (Griffiths), aka The Sunshine Boys, haven’t spoken to each other in years. When CBS call for the vaudevillian greats to be re-united for a nostalgic History of Comedy, past grudges resurface as they take centre stage once more. Ageing ailments aside, can this legendary double-act overcome their differences for one last show?"
The Sunshine Boys was first produced on Broadway in 1972 and was later adapted for film and television. Sam Levene and Jack Albertson played Lewis and Clark in the stage premiere directed by Alan Arkin. Neil Simon's 1975 Academy Award-winning film adaptation starred George Burns as Lewis and Walter Matthau as Clark and was directed by Herbert Ross. Woody Allen and Peter Falk played the vaudevillian pair in the television version, directed by John Erman.
To book tickets, contact the box office on 0844 871 7687, or visit www.sunshineboystheplay.com for more details.
