BREAKING NEWS: The highly anticipated upcoming Broadway revival of David Mamet‘s American Buffalo will officially be happening after all. This new production directed by Neil Pepe is set to make its long awaited debut at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre (current home of Chicken and Biscuits) for a strictly limited 16 week engagement beginning Spring 2022.
Previews will now begin March 22nd, 2022 and will finally officially open on April 14th, 2022….exactly two years after it was originally scheduled to open while in the midst of their initial rehearsals.
That’s not all, the all-star casting is still expecting to be the same as it was prior to Broadway being shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, It will star….
Tony & Emmy winner Laurence Fishburne as “Donny”,
Oscar winner Sam Rockwell as “Teach”,
and
Emmy winner, Broadway, & Glee favorite Darren Criss as “Bobby”.
For a little fresh recap, AMERICAN BUFFALO tells the story of a pair of ne’er-do-wells and a young intern plotting the robbery of a coin in a seedy second-hand junkshop…. the coin is a valuable Buffalo nickel.
The play originally premiered in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre in 1975. Under the direction of Gregory Mosher, that world premiere cast was led by…
A year later, the show moved Off Broadway playing the Theatre at St. Clements Church in 1976. Also directed by Gregory Mosher, this cast was led by….
Michael Egan as “Donny”,
Mike Kellin as “Teach”,
and
J.T. Walsh as “Bobby”.
The production took home the Obie Award for BEST NEW PLAY.
Another year later, AMERICAN BUFFALO made its ON Broadway debut at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre where it played only 122 performances. With direction this time by Ulu Grosbard, the Broadway premiere cast was led by….
Kenneth McMillian as “Donny”,
Robert Duvall as “Teach”,
and
John Savage as “Bobby”.
It was nominated for 2 Tony Awards that year for BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY and BEST SCENIC DESIGN. However it lost the categories. However it won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for BEST AMERICAN PLAY.
The show would later be revived various times on the New York stage. The first revival started out Off Broadway and the Downtown Circle in the Square Theatre in 1981. Under the direction of Arvin Brown, it was led by….
2 years later, the production transferred to Broadway playing the Booth Theatre for only 100 performances. With Arvin Brown’s direction, the cast starred….
J.J. Johnston reprising his World Premiere performance as “Donny”,
Al Pacino reprising the role of “Teach”,
and
James Hayden as “Bobby”.
It was nominated for a 1984 Tony Award for BEST REVIVAL but lost the category.
FUN FACT: James Hayden passed away 6 hours following a performance back in November 1983. He died from a heroin overdose while on the phone with his estranged wife in his upper westside apartment. Understudy John Shepard took on the role of “Bobby” fulltime for the remainder of the run.
In 2000 following a triumphant production in London, AMERICAN BUFFALO was revived again Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company. Under the direction of Neil Pepe (who is coincidentally directing the upcoming 2021 revival), this cast was led by….
Phillip Baker Hall as “Donny”,
William H. Macy this time starring as “Teach”,
and
Mark Webber as “Bobby”.
The most recent Broadway revival happened in 2008 playing the Belasco Theatre which was a huge flop in critics and disappointing ticket sales. It only played 28 performances total. Under the direction of Robert Falls, this cast was led by….
Today the show is a popular performed in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
Along with its life on stage, AMERICAN BUFFALO was also an acclaimed film from The Samuel Goldwyn Company. It was released in 1993. Under the direction of the play’s world premiere direction Gregory Mosher, the film starred…
Dustin Hoffman as “Treat”,
Dennis Franz as “Donny,,
and
Sean Nelson as “Bobby”.
We are so excited for the newly start date of this acclaimed dark drama back on the Great Bright Way.
Who is excited?!!!!
