Michael Ball Not to Return to The Woman in White Before Closing

Today's New York Post reports, and sources confirm that THE WOMAN IN WHITE star Michael Ball will not return to the show before it's February 19th closing due to a "severe sinus problem." Earlier reports described the star as suffering from a "serious viral infection" which has kept him out of the show in recent weeks.

THE WOMAN IN WHITE will play its final performance at Broadway's Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway) on Sunday, February 19, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. The show began previews on Friday, October 28, 2005 and played 20 preview performances. It will have played 109 regular performances since its opening night Thursday, November 17, 2005.

'We are enormously proud to have produced THE WOMAN IN WHITE on Broadway," said producer Bob Boyett. 'It is a groundbreaking piece of musical storytelling and at the forefront of pioneering new technology with its innovative design. The production and the performances of this extraordinary cast have given pleasure to hundreds of thousands of people in London and New York while Andrew Lloyd Webber's glorious score has been hailed by critics as his best since The Phantom of the Opera.

'Unfortunately, early in previews, the show experienced a number of medical problems among the cast. Maria Friedman performed admirably through a diagnosis of breast cancer and its treatment and Michael Ball battled a serious viral infection. As a result of these and other health issues among the company, audiences got to see the entire original cast perform just 31 of the 108 performances played to date since the show's first preview."

Composer Lloyd Webber added, "There have been performances when two or more leads have been absent due to illness. I'm not sure even The Phantom of the Opera could have survived the illnesses which have beset this wonderful company."

'We look forward to working with Sonia Friedman and The Really Useful Group," said Boyett, 'on plans for a reconfigured production of THE WOMAN IN WHITE for both London and a US national tour."

Though it was previously announced that Maria Friedman would take a medical leave of absence beginning February 12th, she will continue in the role of Marian Halcombe through the final performance.

Directed by Trevor Nunn (Nicholas Nickleby, Cats, Les Miserables), with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber (Cats, The Phantom of the Opera), lyrics by David Zippel (City of Angels) and a book by Charlotte Jones (Humble Boy), THE WOMAN IN WHITE stars Maria Friedman and Michael Ball.

A sweepingly romantic new musical of romance and deception, THE WOMAN IN WHITE captures the lush atmospherics of its source, Wilkie Collins's sensational Victorian thriller. The tale begins when a dashing young man, employed as the art tutor to two devoted sisters, is stranded at a remote railway station. Out of the darkness looms a woman, a mysterious figure dressed in white, desperate to share a chilling secret. He and the sisters soon find themselves trapped in a web of betrayal and greed, the victims of a seemingly flawless crime. Together they will need all their resourcefulness and courage to outwit a hugely charismatic and ingenious villain. THE WOMAN IN WHITE also stars Angela Christian, Adam Brazier, Jill Paice, Ron Bohmer and Walter Charles.

THE WOMAN IN WHITE is produced by Boyett Ostar Productions, Nederlander Presentations Inc., Sonia Friedman Productions Ltd., The Really Useful White Company, Inc., Lawrence Horowitz/Jon Avnet, Ralph Guild/Bill Rollnick, Live Nation/PIA and Thomas L. Miller.

Tickets may be purchased by visiting Ticketmaster.com, by calling 212-307-4100 or visiting the Marquis Theatre box office. Visit www.womaninwhitethemusical.com for more information.