Porgy and Bess to Close in London; 'Fiddler' on the Way

Whatsonstage.com reports that on May 5th, Trevor Nunn's West End revival of Porgy and Bess will close in order to make room for a new production of Fiddler on the Roof starring Olivier Award-winner Henry Goodman as Tevye.

It was previously announced that Porgy and Bess will transfer to Broadway during the 2007-2008 season at a theatre to be announced.  As with the London staging, Richard Frankel, Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and Tulchin/Bartner Productions will produce.

Porgy and Bess, which opened at the Savoy on November 9th, 2006, had previously extended its run through October 27th, 2007.  The 1935 work, which features music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Heyward and Ira Gershwin and a book by Heyward (based on his and Dorothy Heyward's Porgy), concerns the romance between the title characters, two African-American denizens of poverty-stricken Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina.  Its score includes such classics as "Summertime," "I Got Plenty O' Nothin,'" "Bess, You Is My Woman Now," and "My Man's Gone Now."  The production stars Clarke Peters and Nicola Hughes in the title roles, as well as Cornell John as Crown, Dawn Hope as Serena, and OT Fagbenle as Sportin' Life.

The West End production of Fiddler on the Roof, the classic musical with a score by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick and a book by Joseph Stein, based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, will begin previews at the Savoy on May 19th and open on May 29th for a limited run.  The production originated at the Sheffield Theatre, where it was seen from November of 2006 to January of 2007  Goodman, who is currently appearing in the English National Opera production of The Gondoliers, won Olivier Awards for The Merchant of Venice and Assassins, and has also been seen in Guys and Dolls, Chicago, Angels in America and more.  He had previously played Tevye in the Sheffield Theatre production of Fiddler on the Roof.

Lindsay Posner (Fool for Love) will direct the new production of Fiddler, which follows the joys and tribulations of a Jewish milkman and his family in a Russia beset by anti-Semitism and changing traditions. As with the Sheffield Theatre production, Fiddler will also star Beverly Klein as Golde, with Julie Legrand and Victor McGuire, among others.

Kim Poster for Stanhope Productions and Bulldog Theatrical present Fiddler on the Roof, which is is designed by Peter McKintosh, and also features lighting by Peter Mumford.  Jerome Robbins' original choreography is recreated by Sammy Dallas Bates with additions by Kate Flatt. The original production of Fiddler on the Roof, starring Zero Mostel, ran for 3242 performances after opening at the Imperial Theatre in September of 1964.  It won nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

Photo - Henry Goodman