Variety reports that the play, which was to have bowed at the theatre company's Off-Broadway space in March, will be replaced by Ron Hutchinson's Moonlight and Magnolias. That comedy, which world premiered at Chicago's Goodman Theatre, concerns the writing of the script for the film classic "Gone With the Wind." About the withdrawal of Our Leading Lady, Busch told the industry paper, "It is my decision to withdraw Our Leading Lady. I've done a number of shows recently that I think would have done better if they'd played out of town first, including Taboo." He also added, "The very people who complain that New York City doesn't see new plays are the same people shining the spotlight on your every move."
Our Leading Lady concerns the life of actress Laura Keen, who was on the stage of Ford's Theatre the night that President Lincoln was assassinated. Busch, who has been working on the play for nearly three years, says that some of the decision to delay the play's premiere is due to his indecision on casting the lead role. "I had thought I might play her," Busch told Variety, "but now I think it would be better to cast a woman."
Manhattan Theatre Club was the launching ground for Busch's The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, which received rave reviews and later transferred to Broadway, playing 777 performances at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.