A spokesperson for Flower Drum Song confirmed that the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical will not perform March 7 due to the strike of the Broadway musicians. The musical, which is due to close March 16, will resume performances "following the resolution of strike action by Local 802." Ticket buyers should exchange or apply for refunds at point of purchase.
The producers of La Bohème at the Broadway Theatre also elected to cancel the March 7 performance and will continue rehearsing their three rotating casts (with virtual orchestra). Tickets can be exchanged or refunded at the Broadway Theatre.
The performances are the first casualties of the hours-long strike.
Union pickets are lining up in front of Broadway theatres. Producers and union leaders are still negotiating, hoping to attain an agreement before tonight's 8 PM curtain.
Actors' Equity is expected to soon reveal whether it intends to support the musicians' strike. *
Flower Drum Song marked the return to Broadway of Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, who won her Best Actress in a Musical prize for her work as Kim in Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Miss Saigon. In Flower Drum Song Salonga portrays Mei-Li, a Chinese immigrant who arrives in San Francisco, having been shipped in a crate from her homeland in China. The remainder of the cast includes Randall Duk Kim (Master Wang), Jodi Long (Madame Liang), Sandra Allen (Linda Low), Alvin Ing (Chin), Allen Liu (Harvard), Hoon Lee (Chao) and Ma-Anne Dionisio (Little Girl). The ensemble comprises Susan Ancheta, Raul Aranas, Rich Ceraulo, Eric Chan, Marcus Choi, Emily Hsu, Telly Leung, J. Elaine Marcos, Daniel May, Marc Oka, Lainie Sakakura, Yuka Takara, Robert Tatad, Kim Varhola and Ericka Yang.
Robert Longbottom, who helmed Broadway's Side Show, directs and choreographs, with music adaptation and direction by David Chase. The creative team also includes Robin Wagner (sets), Gregg Barnes (costumes), Natasha Katz (lighting), ACME Sound Partners (sound), Don Sebesky (orchestrations), Seymour Red Press (musical coordinator), David Brian Brown (hair), Perry Cline (production stage manager), Tom Kosis (associate director), Darlene Wilson (associate choreographer) and Jamie H. J. Guan (Chinese Opera consultant).
Flower Drum Song plays the Virginia Theatre, which is located at 245 West 52nd Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. The musical plays Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8 PM, with matinees Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 PM and Sundays at 3 PM. Tickets, priced between $65 and $95, are available by calling Telecharge at (212) 239-6200. For more information, go to www.flowerdrumsong.com.
