BWW Flashback: LUCKY GUY, Starring Tom Hanks, Closes on Broadway Today

LUCKY GUY, starring two-time Academy Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Tom Hanks in the world premiere production of Nora Ephron's final work, has broken the record three times as the highest grossing play in Broadway history. The show was nominated for six 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Play, with Courtney B. Vance winning for Best Featured Actor in a Play, and Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer winning for Best Lighting Design of a Play. Directed by two-time Tony Award-winner George C. Wolfe, LUCKY GUY opened April 1, 2013 at the Broadhurst Theatre, and closes today, July 3, 2013. BroadwayWorld takes you back to LUCKY GUY's beginnings on Broadway below!

The production also stars Maura Tierney (Alice McAlary), Christopher McDonald (Eddie Hayes), Peter Gerety (John Cotter); Courtney B. Vance (Hap Hairston); Peter Scolari (Michael Daly) and Richard Masur (Jerry Nachman/Stanley Joyce); with Brian Dykstra (Brian O'Regan); Michael Gaston (Jim Dwyer); Dustyn Gulledge (Dino Tortorici); Andrew Hovelson (Reporter); Deirdre Lovejoy (Louise Imerman/Debby Krenek); Danny Mastrogiorgio (Bob Drury/John Miller) and Stephen Tyrone Williams (Abner Louima). The production also features Paula Jon De Rose, Joe Forbrich, Thomas Michael Hammond and Marc Damon Johnson.

The production features scenic design by David Rockwell, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, sound design by Scott Lehrer and lighting design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer. Projection design is by batwin + robin productions. Casting is by Jordan Thaler/Heidi Griffiths. Technical supervisor is Peter Fulbright. Production stage manager is Jane Grey. General manager is 101 Productions.

Nora Ephron began her professional career as a reporter at The New York Post in 1962 and Lucky Guy marks a return to her journalistic roots. Her new play is about the scandal- and graffiti-ridden New York of the 1980s, as told through the story of the charismatic and controversial tabloid columnist Mike McAlary (Tom Hanks). Lucky Guy is the third collaboration between Tom Hanks and Nora Ephron, following the films Sleepless in Seattle and You've Got Mail.

From his sensational reporting of New York's major police corruption to the libel suit that nearly ended his career, Lucky Guy dramatizes the story of McAlary's meteoric rise, fall and rise again.

Tom Hanks made his Broadway debut in LUCKY GUY, which began previews at the Broadhurst Theatre on March 1st. Check out BroadwayWorld's first look at Hanks and the cast in action in the photos and video!

BroadwayWorld was on hand for the most star studded opening of the season, LUCKY GUY's first bow on April 1. Check out photos below from the happy and emotional opening night curtain call as George C. Wolfe came onstage and the cast is surprised by a beautiful digital portrait of writer Nora Ephron!

On April 6th, BroadwayWorld collected a fun "Saturday Intermission Pic" or #SIP from LUCKY GUY star Tom Hanks. Check it out below!

LUCKY GUY star Hanks was honored with his very own portrait at Sardi's on May 23. BroadwayWorld was there for the unveiling and you can check out coverage below!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of the 2013 Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, and brings you special coverage of George C. Wolfe, a nominee for Best Direction of a Play for LUCKY GUY. Check out what he had to say below!

LUCKY GUY officially recouped its $3.6 million capitalization costs as of the week ending on April 28, 2013, eight weeks after beginning performances. The world premiere production of Nora Ephron's final work also broke a record three times as the highest grossing play in Broadway history.

Now, 2013 Tony nominee Tom Hanks may be taking Nora Ephron's LUCKY GUY to London. The actor is in talks for a West End opening in 2014, and he elaborated during an interview on the 2013 Tonys red carpet, saying there are still "no definite plans to take Lucky Guy to London", but that "the idea's in our hearts if not in our pocketbooks - yet."

Here's to LUCKY GUY's possible West End debut and beyond!