The multi-Tony-winning cast of the Broadway hit The Beauty Queen of Leenane will remain through Jan. 3, 1999. The extended stay is courtesy of a special agreement with Actors' Equity, which governs the comings and goings of British and Irish actors. Previously, the actors were to stay only through October, at which time an American cast was to be brought in.

Leenane's cast includes Brian F. O'Byrne, Anna Manahan, Marie Mullen and Tom Murphy. All four received Tony nominations and the latter three won the award. The show's director, Garry Hynes, also claimed a Tony.

The ironically titled Beauty Queen tells of an elderly woman who tries to spoil her homely 40-year-old daughter's first (and possibly last) chance for romance.

Leenane opened Feb. 26 at the Atlantic Theatre Company, and sold $125,000 worth of tickets the next day, which Atlantic Artistic Director Neil Pepe told Playbill On-Line "may be a record for Off-Broadway." He said by noon Feb. 28 the show's entire run, originally scheduled through Apr. 19, was sold out.

Martin McDonagh's hit drama completed its Broadway transfer Apr. 23 when it reopened at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The show made back its $1.2 million investment in only seven weeks. Tickets for the Broadway run are on sale via Telecharge: (212) 239-6200. Producers for the Broadway move are Atlantic Theatre Company, Randall Wreghitt, Chase Mishkin, Steven M. Levy and Leonard Soloway, in association with Julian Schlossberg and Norma Langworthy. Wreghitt, Mishkin, Levy and Soloway are also behind the successful commercial transfer of Drama Dept.'s As Bees in Honey Drown.