The Tony Award-winning Play Side Man will make a schedule change as of Sept. 7, eliminating Monday night performances and adding an extra Sunday afternoon show.
In mid-summer, former Brat-Packer Andrew McCarthy took over the role of Clifford. McCarthy replaced Scott Wolf (TV's "Party of Five"), who played his last performance on July 17.
McCarthy, known for such films as "Mannequin," "Weekend at Bernie's," "Heaven Help Us," "Pretty in Pink" and "St. Elmo's Fire," was generally acknowledged as a member of "The Brat Pack" -- a group of teen actors in the 1980s who starred in John Hughes-helmed films like "The Breakfast Club," "Weird Science," and "Pretty in Pink." Other Brat Pack members included Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, Emilio Estevez, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall and Jon Cryer.
In recent years, McCarthy has turned to the boards, having earlier in the year starred in Horton Foote's The Death of Papa at Hartford Stage. McCarthy replaced the previously-announced Matthew Broderick in that production, when the latter pulled out to accompany Night Must Fall into an extended commercial run. McCarthy's other credits include The Boys of Winter on Broadway.
Adding McCarthy marks the third time in its long run that Side Man has opted to bring in a young star to perk up box-office receipts. When the show moved from The Roundabout to its current home at The John Golden Theatre, Christian Slater was cast to play Clifford. The show plans to continue its open run and is currently selling tickets through October. Much of the new interest in the play comes thanks to a big box-office boost that accompanied the winning of a major Tony Award like "Best Play."
Warren Leight's jazz-based drama celebrated its one year anniversary March 3, with much of the original cast on board. The show tells how a man's love of jazz ruins his marriage -- and his wife's sanity.
The drama began its New York life at CSC March 3, 1998, before its move to the Roundabout and then to Broadway's John Golden Theatre.
For ticket information on Side Man at Broadway's John Golden Theatre, call (212) 239-6200.
