SEMINAR Cancelled This Evening on Broadway

Tonight's (Thursday) 8pm performance of SEMINAR on Broadway has been cancelled due to the show's star, Alan Rickman, suffering from an acute respiratory infection. He is hopeful to return to the show tomorrow, for their scheduled Friday night performance. 

Producer Jeffrey Finn said, "On behalf of all the producers, we deeply regret having to cancel tonight's performance of SEMINAR due to Alan Rickman coming down with an acute respiratory infection. Mr. Rickman has never missed a stage performance in his entire career. He, the producers and the entire Company are deeply disappointed not to be able to deliver a show this evening. We all feel it's in the best interest for everyone to be as healthy as possible prior to our opening this coming Sunday. We will resume performances tomorrow night, Friday, November 18."

Two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman (Private Lives, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, the Harry Potter franchise) is making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck (Mauritius, The Understudy, Omnium Gatherum, The Family of Mann, Spike Heels, NBC's upcoming "Smash").

Directed by acclaimed Obie Award winner Sam Gold (Circle Mirror Transformation, The Aliens, Tigers Be Still, Kin, The Coward) in his Broadway debut, the production also stars Tony Award nominee Lily Rabe (The Merchant of Venice, Steel Magnolias, last summer's lauded A Doll's House at Williamstown), Obie Award winner Hamish Linklater (The School for Lies, Twelfth Night, "The New Adventures of Old Christine"), film and television star Jerry O'Connell (Jerry Maguire, Stand By Me, "The Defenders," "Crossing Jordan") in his Broadway debut and actress Hettienne Park (Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide... at The Public, "The Good Wife").

Produced by Jeffrey Finn, Jill Furman, John N. Hart Jr., Patrick Milling Smith, Roy Furman, David Ian,David Mirvish, Amy Nauiokas and James Spry, SEMINAR will have its official Opening Night on Sunday, November 20 at 6:30 PM.

In SEMINAR, four aspiring young novelists (Ms. Rabe, Mr. Linklater, Mr. O'Connell and Ms. Park) sign up for private writing classes with Leonard (Mr. Rickman), an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this provocative new comedy.

The production features set and costume design by Tony Award nominee and two-time Obie Award winner David Zinn, lighting design by Drama Desk Award nominee Ben Stanton and original music and sound design by two-time Drama Desk Award winner John Gromada.

An internationally-renowned actor of stage, screen and television, Alan Rickman returns to the Broadway stage for the first time since being nominated for a Tony Award for his acclaimed starring performance as Elyot in the 2002 production of Noel Coward's Private Lives. He previously made his Broadway debut and earned his first Tony Award nomination as Valmont in the 1987 U.S. premiere production of Les Liasions Dangereuses. On film, he is perhaps best known for his iconic performances as Professor Severus Snape in the Harry Potter franchise and Hans Gruber in the 1988 hit Die Hard, as well as award-winning roles in such films as Sense and Sensibility and, more recently, Sweeney Todd and Bottle Shock.

Tickets for SEMINAR are $51.50-126.50, with Premium seating also available. Tickets can be purchase by visiting www.telecharge.com, calling (212) 239-6200 or going in person to The Golden Theatre box office (252 West 45th Street).

The performance schedule for SEMINAR during previews is Monday through Saturday evenings at 8PM and Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2PM during previews (please check for holiday week variances). After the November 20 opening, the performance schedule will be Tuesday through Thursday evenings at 7PM, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM, Wednesday and Saturday matinees at 2PM and Sunday matinees at 3PM.