BREAKING NEWS: Following a successful sold out run Off Broadway, Second Stage Theater is bringing it’s acclaimed revival production of Harvey Fierstein’s TORCH SONG back to Broadway this Fall. It will make it’s way back to the Helen Hayes Theatre (now run by Second Stage and where the show originally made it’s Broadway Debut 36 years ago). No word has been made on when the show will officially begin previews but Opening Night set for November 1st, 2018.
In addition, this production that was directed by Tony nominee Moises Kaufman will feature acclaimed stage and screen performer Michael Urie reprising performance of “Arnold Beckoff” and Tony and Oscar winner Mercedes Ruehl reprising her role of “Mrs. Beckoff”.
TORCH SONG was the debut play from Award winning actor and writer Harvey Fierstein. It tells the story of a Jewish drag queen on a journey to find happiness in New York City.
The show was originally conceived as one act shows premiering at different times and later put into 3 acts as TORCH SONG TRIOLOGY. The first part THE INTERNATIONAL STUD premiered Off-Off Broadway in February 1972 at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club running for 2 weeks before making it’s way Off Broadway at the Players Theatre for only 72 performances. The second part THE FUGUE IN THE NURSERY premiered also at LaMama in 1979.
A few months later both 1 act plays along with an additional final chapter entitled WIDOWS & CHILDREN FIRST was written and the show became what it is today as TORCH SONG TRILOGY. The first production as TORCH SONG TRILOGY opened Off Broadway uptown at the Richard Allen Center in the Fall of 1981 before making it’s way down to Greenwich Village’s Actors’ Playhouse running for 117 performances in January 1982. It did so well, the production was then moved to Broadway at the Little Theatre (at the time which was becoming what we know it today as Helen Hayes Theatre) running for 3 years and a complete total of 1,230 performances.
The cast of the original production featured…
Harvey Fierstein as “Arnold Beckoff”,
Joel Crothers as “Ed”,
Paul Joynt as Alan,
Tony winner Matthew Broderick as ”David”,
and Estelle Getty as “Mrs. Beckoff.”
The original Broadway production went on to win both it’s 2 Tony Awards nominations in 1983 for Best Play and Best Leading Actor in a Play (for Harvey Fierstein).
In 1988, a film version of TORCH SONG TRILOGY was released earning rave reviews. The cast featured Harvey Fierstein and Matthew Broderick reprising their roles from Broadway along with Brian Kerwin as “Ed” and Anne Bancroft as “Mrs. Beckoff”.
The show became an instant hit for Regional Theaters and a recent successful Off Broadway revival. Today, the show has now been considered as simply TORCH SONG.
Who is excited about TORCH SONG back on Broadway?
Harvey Fierstein’s Torch Song, Starring Michael Urie & Mercedes Ruehl, Will Transfer to Broadway
On the heels of a celebrated 2017 run at off-Broadway’s Second Stage,?Harvey Fierstein’s iconic play Torch Song?will return to Broadway this fall. The revival, …
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