Frost/Nixon Recoups Entire Broadway Investment

Frost/Nixon, the new play by Peter Morgan, starring Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, directed by Michael Grandage, has recouped its investment on Broadway.  The production paid back its $2.5 million capitalization during the week ending July 29, 14 weeks after opening on Broadway.

"I am thrilled for the Donmar Warehouse, the wonderful cast and everyone else associated with Frost/Nixon," says lead producer Arielle Tepper Madover.  "The success of the play is not only terrific for first-time playwright Peter Morgan and director Michael Grandage, both making their Broadway debuts, but also encouraging to all producers who present plays on Broadway commercially."

The play is produced on Broadway by Arielle Tepper Madover, Matthew Byam Shaw, Robert Fox and Act Productions; David Binder, Debra Black, Annette Niemtzow/Harlene Freezer & The Weinstein Company.

Frost/Nixon began previews on March 31 and opened on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on April 22.  The production continues its strictly limited run through August 19 only, prior to the start of shooting the film version. The play transferred to London's West End following a sold-out run at the Donmar Warehouse. Prior to coming to Broadway, the production played at the Gielgud Theatre through February 3.  A U.S. National Tour will go out in the fall of 2008.

Directed by Michael Grandage, the cast of ten is led by three-time Tony Award winner Frank Langella as President Richard Nixon and Michael Sheen (The Queen) as Sir David Frost, both of whom will reprise their roles in the film version.  Langella received 2007 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for his performance.

In addition to Langella and Sheen, the cast features Remy Auberjonois (John Birt); Shira Gregory (Evonne Goolagong); Roxanna Hope (Caroline Cushing); Corey Johnson (Jack Brennan); Stephen Kunken (Jim Reston); Stephen Rowe ( Swifty Lazar/Mike Wallace); Triney Sandoval (Manolo Sanchez); and Armand Schultz (Bob Zelnick).

"How was it that a famous British talk-show host, with a playboy reputation, was the one to elicit the apology that the rest of the world was waiting to hear from a former U.S. President?," state press notes.  "This fast paced new play takes audiences into the minds of Richard Nixon and David Frost and shows the determination, conviction and lengths that these two men and their closest confidantes went to as they took the stage in one of the most hard fought political interviews in history."

Visit www.frostnixononbroadway.com for tickets and more information.

Photo of Frank Langella by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.