Signature Not Extending Witches of Eastwick an Extra Week

Contrary to previous reports, Signature Theatre's American Premiere production of The Witches of Eastwick, starring Emily Skinner, Christiane Noll, Jacquelyn Piro-Donovan and Marc Kudisch, will not be extended an additional week.

As of now, the production is slated to close as originally planned on July 15th. Cameron Mackintosh produces the show, which recently opened to strong reviews.

"The musical, based on the John Updike novel and the 1987 Warner Bros. film, made its initial debut in London in 2000, where it played to mixed reviews and unexceptional business. Following extensive revisions to add a darker edge, Mackintosh hopes the new incarnation will click with U.S. auds, perhaps propelling the production to New York or other regional dates," writes Variety.

Skinner (The Full Monty, Tony-nominee for Side Show) plays Alexandra, with Noll (Jekyll & Hyde, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues) as Jane and Donovan (Les Miserables, Miss Saigon) as Suki.  Kudisch (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Assassins) plays the devilish Darryl Van Horne.  The Witches of Eastwick, directed by Eric Schaeffer, plays The MAX, the 299-seat double-height black box space located in Signature's new two-theater complex in Arlington, VA, which opened in January.

Schaeffer originally developed The Witches of Eastwick, based on the novel by John Updike and the Warner Bros. motion picture, with book writer and lyricist John Dempsey, composer Dana P. Rowe, and producer Mackintosh — the same creative team behind the American premiere of The Fix presented at Signature in 1998.  Schaeffer directed The Witches of Eastwick world premiere in London's West End at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and Prince of Wales theatres to great critical acclaim.   "In the tiny New England town of Eastwick, Rhode Island, three unhappy women innocently plot and conjure for their perfect man over a heady brew oF Brownies and weak martinis.  When their longings are made flesh in the arrival of one Darryl Van Horne, all hell breaks loose.  Quite literally.  The devilishly good Witches of Eastwick flies into Signature for its American premiere courtesy of the same creative team who brought us The Fix," state press materials.

Tickets are $37 to $63 and are sold through Tickets.com (800) 955-5566 and online at www.signature-theatre.org starting October 31, 2007.  Discounts are available for students, seniors (60+), military and groups of ten or more.  The Signature Box Office is open Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and during performances.

Photo by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd. - Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Christiane Noll and Emily Skinner

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