Play On!
Musical - Original
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Data not verified
- First Preview: March 4, 1997
- Opening Date: March 20, 1997
- Closing Date: May 11, 1997
- Previews: 19
- Performances: 61
Book: Cheryl L. West
Synopsis
William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night is re-set in 1940s Harlem to the music of Duke Ellington. In this retelling, would-be songwriter Vy must disguise herself as a man to get her songs heard by bandleader Duke and sung by the Cotton Club's star singer Lady Liv.
Opening Night Cast
 |
Carl Anderson | Duke |
 |
Yvette Cason | Miss Mary |
 |
André De Shields | Jester |
 |
Cheryl Freeman | Vy |
 |
Lawrence Hamilton | Rev |
 |
Larry Marshall | Sweets |
 |
Tonya Pinkins | Lady Liv |
Opening Night Production Credits
| Cheryl L. West | Book | |
| Duke Ellington | Composer | |
 |
Sheldon Epps | Director |
| Mercedes Ellington | Choreographer | |
| James Leonard Joy | Scenic Design | |
| Marianna Elliot | Costume Design |
Awards
Drama Desk Award
| Year | Category | Name | Winner/Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | André De Shields | Nominee |
Drama League
| Year | Category | Name | Winner/Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Distinguished Production of a Musical | Nominee |
Tony Award
| Year | Category | Name | Winner/Nominee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Actress in a Musical | Tonya Pinkins | Nominee |
| 1997 | Featured Actor in a Musical | André De Shields | Nominee |
| 1997 | Orchestrations | Luther Henderson | Nominee |
Grosses
| Week Ending | Week # | This Week Gross Potential Gross | Diff $ | Avg Ticket Top Ticket | Seats Sold Seats in Theatre | Perfs (Prev) | % Cap This Week | Diff % Cap |
| May 11, 1997 | 50 | $140,424 - |
$21,757 | $23.49 $70.00 |
5979 1030 |
8 0 |
72.56% | 11.77% |
| May 4, 1997 | 49 | $118,667 - |
-$2,906 | $23.69 $70.00 |
5009 1030 |
8 0 |
60.79% | -15.75% |
| Apr. 27, 1997 | 48 | $121,573 - |
$560 | $19.28 $70.00 |
6307 1030 |
8 0 |
76.54% | 5.53% |
| Apr. 20, 1997 | 47 | $121,013 - |
- | $20.68 $70.00 |
5851 1030 |
8 0 |
71.01% | - |
| See All Grosses | ||||||||
Totals |
||||||||
| Last 4 Weeks |
$501,677 - |
$21.79 | 23146 32960 |
32 0 |
70.22 % | |||
| Cumulative |
$1,402,692 - |
$22.94 $70.00 |
61278 82400 |
61 19 |
74.37 % | |||
