Rialto Chatter: Weisslers to Take THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS to Bway?

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, the highly anticipated new Kander and Ebb musical now in previews at the Vineyard Theatre, may be preparing itself for a Broadway transfer as early as this season, pending the availability of a theater.  Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that heavy-hitting producers Fran and Barry Weissler have invested $400,000 into THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, and writes that  "If the reviews are strong, they'll move it to a small Broadway house, very possibly before this year's Tony cutoff date, should a theater become available."

To read Riedel's full profile on THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, click here.

Previews began Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre on February 12.  The production will officially open on March 10.

With music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, and a book by David Thompson, THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS is a stirring new musical that explores the infamous 1930's 'Scottsboro Case', in which a group of innocent African-American teenagers are falsely accused of a terrible crime -- ultimately provoking a national outrage that sparked the American Civil Rights movement.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS reunites Vineyard Theatre with John Kander, book writer David Thompson and Susan Stroman -- who along with the late Fred Ebb -- previously collaborated on TheVineyard's revival of FLORA, THE RED MENACE in 1987.

The 13-member cast of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will feature two-time Tony winner John Cullum, Colman Domingo, Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Sean Bradford, Josh Breckenridge, Derrick Cobey, Rodney Hicks, KendRick Jones, Forrest McClendon, Julius Thomas III, Sharon Washington, Cody Ryan Wise and ChristIan White.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS has set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Kevin Adams and sound design by Peter Hylenski. David Loud is music director; orchestrations are by Larry Hochman.

Vineyard Theatre is the recipient of the Tony Award for the musical AVENUE Q and continues as producer of the musical's current production at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard has also produced the musical [title of show] on Broadway. One of the nation's leading non-profit theatre companies dedicated to new plays, new musicals and bold programming, The Vineyard has produced the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE. The Vineyard has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works and developed innovative educational collaborations. Recent productions include Tarell Alvin McCraney's acclaimed WIG OUT!. The Vineyard opened its 2009-2010 season with the enormously popular play A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo, which The Vineyard has announced is expected to receive a commercial Off-Broadway production later this season. This spring, The Vineyard will produce the world premiere of Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN and the new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS by Mariana Elder, Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller, directed by Joe Colarco, in co-production with Playwrights Horizons.

Vineyard Theatre is under the guidance of Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director, and Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell, Executive Director.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS will perform Tuesdays at 7 pm., Wednesdays through Fridays at 8 pm; Saturdays at 3 and 8 pm and Sundays at 3 pm.

For more information about Vineyard Theatre call the box office at 212 353 0303 or visit www.vineyardtheatre.org.