BWW Flashback: CASA VALENTINA Ends Broadway Run Today

Casa Valentina, the new play by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, closes today, June 29, 2014, after having played 79 performances. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through Casa Valentina's beginnings on Broadway!

The cast for Casa Valentina featured Drama Desk Award winner Reed Birney (Taking Care of Baby at MTC, Blasted), Tony Award winner John Cullum (The Scottsboro Boys, "ER"), Tony Award winner Gabriel Ebert (Matilda, 4000 Miles), Obie Award winner Lisa Emery (Lonely, I'm Not; Iron at MTC), Tony Award nominee Tom McGowan (Wicked, "Everybody Loves Raymond"), Drama Desk Award nominee Patrick Page (Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Cyrano de Bergerac), Larry Pine (The Royal Family, "House of Cards"), Drama Desk Award winner Nick Westrate (Loot, Tribes), and Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee Mare Winningham (Picnic, "Hatfields & McCoys").

The creative team for Casa Valentina included Scott Pask (scenic design), Rita Ryack (costume design), Justin Townsend (lighting design), Fitz Patton (original music & sound design), Jason Hayes (hair, wig & makeup design), and Thomas Schall (fight direction).

Back in 1962, most men went to the Catskill Mountains to escape the summer heat, but others took the two-hour drive to escape something else entirely: being men. Nestled in the land of dirty dancing and borscht belt comedy sat an inconspicuous bungalow colony that catered to a very special clientele: heterosexual men whose favorite pastime was dressing and acting as women. It was paradise for these men-white-collar professionals with families-to spend their weekends discreetly and safely inhabiting their chosen female alter egos. But when they got the opportunity to share their secret lives with the world, these "self-made women" had to decide whether the freedom they would gain by emerging from hiding was worth the risk of personal ruin.

Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy

Casa Valentina began previews on April 1 and officially opened on April 23 on Broadway at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Scroll down for BWW's first coverage (by photographer Walter McBride) of the company meeting the press and Richard Ridge's interview with the cast and creatives.

Just before opening night in April, BroadwayWorld got a first look of the cast on stage (photos by Matthew Murphy) and video highlights of the show!

Multi-Tony Award-winning writer, actor and activist Harvey Fierstein was also featured in a discussion all about his Casa Valentina at a talkback this in March. Scroll down to watch a complete video of the conversation.

On the opening night, Richard Ridge caught up with the cast to discuss Casa Valentina with them.

Casa Valentina received four Tony nominations. The show itself goes beyond the conventional plot lines. And, while it may be ending its extended Broadway run, there's a chance that it may head to the big screen. But until then, farewell to Casa Valentina.