After several years of development (and a few different titles), the production, which began previews Oct. 28, marks Sondheim's first new musical to arrive in New York since Passion in 1994.
Tony Award-winning director John Doyle, who guided the conceptual revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company to Broadway, helms the latest incarnation of the Sondheim-Weidman work. Performances continue through Dec. 28.
Tony winner Michael Cerveris and Alexander Gemignani star as the eccentric Wilson and Addison Mizner, respectively, in the two-hour work that spans 40 years of American history, from the Gold Rush to the Florida real-estate boom in the 1930's. Press notes for the work, which is performed without an intermission, read: "Road Show is the story of two brothers whose quest for the American dream turns into a test of morality and judgment that changes their lives in unexpected ways."
Road Show also features Alma Cuervo (Wicked national tour) as Mama; Aisha de Haas (Caroline, or Change on Broadway) in the ensemble; Claybourne Elder (White Widow at Times Square Art Center) as Hollis; Colleen Fitzpatrick (Mother Courage and Her Children at Shakespeare in the Park) in the ensemble; Mylinda Hull (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels on Broadway) in the ensemble; Mel Johnson, Jr. ("Star Trek: Deep Space Nine") in the ensemble; Orville Mendoza (Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare in the Park) in the ensemble; Anne L. Nathan (Roundabout's Sunday in the Park With George on Broadway) in the ensemble; Tom Nelis (Iphigenia 2.0 at Signature) in the ensemble; William Parry (Passion on Broadway) as Papa; Matt Stocke (The Wedding Singer on Broadway) in the ensemble; William Youmans (The Farnsworth Invention on Broadway) in the ensemble; and Kristine Zbornik (A Catered Affair on Broadway) in the ensemble.
Sondheim penned the score to Road Show, which features a book by Weidman; the duo previously collaborated on Pacific Overtures and Assassins. In addition to his directorial work, Doyle has designed the physical production for Road Show. The musical also boasts costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick and musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell.
The New York debut of Road Show marks a circuitous homecoming for the musical, which was seen in a 2006 workshop presentation at the Public, under its previous title Bounce. Bounce was originally to have made its way to Broadway in 2004 following engagements at the Goodman and the Kennedy Center. The musical has undergone several workshops, titles and rewrites, with Sam Mendes at one time attached as the director of the then-titled Wise Guys in 1999.
The Road Show performance schedule is Tuesdays at 7 PM; Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 PM; Saturdays at 2 PM and 8 PM; and Sundays at 2 PM and 7 PM. The Public has added 2 PM Wednesday matinees on Nov. 26, Dec. 10 and 17. A Monday evening performance has also been announced for Dec. 22 at 8 PM.
For tickets phone (212) 967-7555 or visit PublicTheater.
The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.
