To quote Madeline Kahn in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles -- she speaking of cowboys, me speaking of Broadway shows -- "They're always coming and going and going and coming... and always too soon." 

Granted, my cockeyed optimism -- I so hate to watch the summer exodus of shows I have come to love and respect - generally trumps any wariness I may have regarding any announced upcoming shows that fall into the "Oh, please, God, not another revival of that!," and "What in the name of Edward Albee could they possibly be thinking?," cracker barrel. But, not being a producer with costs to cover, I defer to all decisions based on bottom lines.

THE GOINGS:

The last week or so - including yesterday - has not only been filled with confirmations of Broadway's previously announced summer closings (some, admittedly, limited runs), it has also added to the list. And I need hardly point out that the day after the Tony Awards (that will 6/14/10), several more shows will be leaving the Great White Way wrapped in defeat and/or disappointment.

But why jump the theatrical gun?  Let's stick to the scheduled-to-depart:

JUNE 6^th:

         A Behanding in Spokane Featuring a brilliant, Tony-nominated performance by Christopher Walken. This was a limited run, no doubt because Walken-- and his glorious duffle bag of idiosyncrasies -- is in increasing demand.

            God of Carnage With its third Broadway cast -- Jeff Daniels, Janet McTeer, Dylan Baker & Lucy Liu - is calling it quits even before the originally posted closing date of June 27^th. Not for lack of talent, mind you, just Summer Slump 101.

JUNE 20^th:   

           A Little Night Music This just posted. Sigh. Good-bye Lansbury & Zeta-Jones (both Tony-nominees), you and your fellow cast members were awesome.

JUNE 27^th: 

         Red Another limited run. This one with two killer performances by actors Alfred Molina & Eddie Redmayne, adding up to two Tony nominations: Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and a Featured Actor in a play, respectively.

        Sondheim on Sondheim The Tony nominee for this part-musical review/part-documenatry is diva Barbara Cook, known for her interpretation of Sondheim - although other cast members (most notably, Vanessa Williams and Tom Wopat were certainly worthy . Like most Roundabout productions, S on S entered the fray with an assigned cut-off date.

JULY 11^th:  

        Everyday Rapture One heck of a replacement for Roundabout's thwarted Lips Together, Teeth Apart Sherie Rene Scott's Off-Broadway should not be missed before its short run -- yes, limited! --ends. Also worth noting: the show's CD is dynamite: highly recommended!

            Fences Like there's a snowball's chance in hell that leading man Denzel Washington would be able to commit to an open run.  Washington, his leading lady, Viola Davis, and featured actor Stephen McKinley Henderson are all up for Tonys & this could be an acting trifecta come 6/13.

AUGUST 22^nd: 

     South Pacific Oh, this incomparable revival - originally a limited run that ran amok once audiences caught on to its overall wonderfulness --  will be missed when it bows out after two & half years. Plus factor: the production's original Emile de Beque - Paulo Szot - is back in the show for its last --summer!-- months.

 AUGUST 23^rd: 

     Race  David Alan Grier  is up for a Tony - very deserved.  Meanwhile, before the month of June is out, Mamet hit will have three new cast members to finish out the run (which has been extended due to audience demand). Here's the rundown: Afton C. Williamson will replace Kerry Washington on 6/15;  and starting 6/21 Eddie Izzard will take over for James Spader, while Dennis Haysbert will step in for Grier. Richard Thomas will continue in his role through closing night.

On the horizon: THE COMINGS.

Posted on May 19, 2010 - by