Variety reports that
John Doyle's staging of
Company, recently a hit at the Cincinnati Playhouse, will play the Barrymore Theatre when it opens this November.
As with Doyle's hit revival of
Stephen Sondheim's
Sweeney Todd, Company features its cast doubling as the show's orchestra. Doyle recently picked up a Tony Award for his stripped-down
Sweeney staging. Raul Esparza (
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Taboo), who received acclaim for playing bachelor Bobby in Ohio, will lead the cast of 14 at the Barrymore, which last played host to the Johnny Cash show
Ring of Fire.Also in the show are Cincinnati cast members
Barbara Walsh (
Hairspray, Falsettos), Keith Buterbaugh,
Matt Castle, Robert Cunningham,
Angel Desai, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Kristin Huffman, Amy Justman, Heather Laws, Leenya Rideout, Fred Rose, Bruce Sabath and
Elizabeth Stanley.
With music and lyrics by Sondheim and a book by George Furth, traces the love life of bachelor Bobby, whose interactions with his married friends force him to re-evaulate his choices about commitment. Fragmented in structure and slangily, sexily modern in content, Company marked the first musical in the groundbreaking collaboration between Sondheim and director Harold Prince.
Company features musical direction and orchestrations by Mary-Mitchell Campbell, set design by David Gallo, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, and lighting design by Thomas C. Hase. The production is capitalized at around $4 million.Company, starring Dean Jones (who was soon after replaced by Larry Kert), Elaine Stritch and others, opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 26th, 1970 and ran for 705 performances. The show won six Tony Awards--including Best Musical, Best Score, Best Book and Best Scenic Design (for Boris Aronson). Company featured direction by Prince; he was aided by Michael Bennett, who delivered the show's choreography.