Broadway's Hand To God to close on 3 January 2016

Robert Askins' comedy Hand to God, directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel, has announced that it will play its final performance at Broadway's Booth Theatre on 3 January 2016.

It has also announced that the production will transfer to London's West End and begin performances at the Vaudeville Theatre on 5 February 2016.

Producer Kevin McCollum commented:

"Having played an extraordinary 9-month run on Broadway, London is the natural next step for a new American play that is this exciting. We are thrilled that Hand to God will soon be experienced by audiences all over the world."

Synopsis: Hand to God centers on shy, inquisitive student Jason, who finds an outlet for his burgeoning creativity at the Christian Puppet Ministry in the devoutly religious, relatively quiet small town of Cypress, Texas. Jason's complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door and - most especially - his mother are thrown into further upheaval when Jason's hand puppet Tyrone - once soft-spoken - takes on a shocking and dangerously irreverent personality all its own. As Tyrone's influence over Jason steadily grows, the play explores the startlingly fragile nature of faith, morality, and the ties that bind us.

The production received five 2015 Tony Award nominations including Best Play, Direction of a Play (Moritz von Stuelpnagel), Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Steven Boyer), Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Geneva Carr), and Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Sarah Stiles).

The cast currently features Steven Boyer as Jason/Tyrone; Geneva Carr as Margery; Marc Kudisch as Pastor Greg; Sarah Stiles as Jessica; and Michael Oberholtzer as Timothy.

Hand to God features scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, costumes by Sydney Maresca, lighting by Jason Lyons, sound by Jill BC DuBoff, puppet design by Marte Johanne Ekhougen, and fight direction by Robert Westley.

- by Tom Millward