B'way Update: Patriots to Open at the Barrymore

Will Kean as Vladimir Putin in
Patriots which will open at the Barrymore
Credit: Marc Brenner

Well, that was fast. No sooner did I report about the rumor yesterday that Peter Morgan's Patriots would open at either the now available Barrymore or Belasco, then it's announced today the play about Vladmir Putin's rise to power would be going into the Barrymore (where Harmony is about to close) for a limited, 12-week engagement starting with previews on April 1 and opening April 22. This will make for an extremely crowded final week before the Tony eligibility cut-off of April 25. The Heart of Rock and Roll, the Huey Lewis jukebox musical, will also be opening on April 22.

Tony nominee Michael Stuhlbarg (The Pillowman, A Serious Man, The Shape of Water) will play the lead role of Russian billionaire Boris Berezovsky and repeating his Olivier Award-winning role of Putin will be Will Kean. 

B'way Update: Ohio Closes; What Will Move into the Belasco or Barrymore?

The cast of How to Dance in Ohio
Credit: Curtis Brown

Another new show has announced its closing. How to Dance in Ohio will join the soon-to-shutter Harmony and play its final performance at the Belasco Theater on Feb. 11 after 27 previews and 72 regular performances. The musical inspired by Alexandra Shiva's documentary on autistic young adults preparing for a dance at their center, opened on  Dec. 10.

"Developing new work is always a risk, but producing this show was an endeavor we eagerly accepted,” said the producers in a statement. “We're incredibly proud that this original, joyful, and life-affirming musical has deeply moved countless audience members at the Belasco Theatre and beyond. Broadway has been changed forever because of How to Dance in Ohio and all the artists involved. We look forward to seeing its legacy continue in new and exciting ways."