Fish In The Dark, Larry David‘s runaway Broadway hit, has extended its limited run and will make a go of it with two new stars: The previously announced Jason Alexander, replacing David as Norman Drexel, and now Glenne Headly, replacing Rita Wilson as Norman’s wife Brenda. Headly and Alexander take over the roles beginning June 9 at the Shubert-owned Cort Theatre, with David and Wilson bowing out after the June 7 matinee. The run has been initially extended six weeks, through July 18.
While Fish In The Dark got no love from the Tony Awards nominating committee, which sent the freshman comedy away empty-handed, audiences can’t get enough of the show. It also stars Rosie Perez, Jayne Houdyshell, Ben Shenkman and Lewis J. Stadlen and has been SRO since approximately day one, boasting one of the Street’s highest per-ticket average prices. The recasting and extension will provide a noteworthy test of David’s brand appeal: Will audience interest remain as high once the star has left his show?
Alexander, whose George Costanza character on Seinfeld was modeled on the NBC series co-creator himself, is certain to lure his own strong Hollywood and Broadway following to the Cort. Headly last appeared onstage in NYC in an acclaimed 2013 off-Broadway production of Beth Henley’s The Jacksonians. A onetime mainstay of Chicago’s Steppenwolf troupe, she won Emmy nominations for roles on Lonesome Dove and Bastard Out Of Carolina, and will soon be seen on HBO’s Criminal Justice.
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