Children of a Lesser God sets final Broadway performance

Kenny Leon's revival of Children of a Lesser God will play its final performance at Studio 54 on May 27, 2018.

Producers of the Broadway revival of Mark Medoff's 1980 Tony Award-winning "Best Play" Children of a Lesser God, directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon, have posted a closure notice for the production, which will now play its final performance at Studio 54 on May 27, 2018. The revival began previews on March 22, 2018, tonight, officially opened on April 11 and was initially booking through to September 9, 2018, in its open-ended engagement.

Producer Hal Luftig commented: "I'm very proud of the work Kenny Leon, our remarkable cast, and creative team have done to bring this beautiful production to life. Mark Medoff's beautiful play has once again shown audiences the power of open and honest communication. In a world where we too often talk over each other and struggle to be heard there is immense power when you open your mind and start listening."

Synopsis: "Children of a Lesser God tells the story of James Leeds, a new teacher at a school for the deaf, and Sarah Norman, the school's one-time star student who has stayed behind as its cleaning woman rather than venturing out into the hearing world. James immediately takes a keen interest in Sarah, and tries to persuade her to communicate orally by lip reading. They soon embark on an emotional journey that will teach them both new ways of communicating and loving and, in the process, they build a romance beyond words."

The cast of Children of a Lesser God includes TV favorite Joshua Jackson (as James Leeds) and Lauren Ridloff (who was recently awarded a Tony Award nomination for her Broadway debut performance as Sarah Norman), alongside Drama Desk Award nominee Kecia Lewis (as Mrs. Norman), Julee Cerda (as Edna Klein), Treshelle Edmond (as Lydia), Emmy Award winner Anthony Edwards (as Mr. Franklin), and John McGinty (as Orin Dennis).

The creative team features original music two-time Grammy Award winner Branford Marsalis, scenic design by Tony Award winner Derek McLane, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Tony Award nominee Mike Baldassari, sound design by Jill BC Du Boff.

This new production was first mounted on the Fitzpatrick Main Stage during Berkshire Theater Group's 2017 summer season, garnering wide critical acclaim and shattering box office records. The BTG production ran from June 22 through to July 22, 2017 in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

The first staging of Children of a Lesser God on Broadway took place in 1980 and earned three Tony Awards, including "Best Play," as well as two Tonys for its leading actors Phyllis Frelich and John Rubinstein. It ran for more than two years and went on to be adapted for the silver screen, earning five Academy Award nominations and winning Marlee Matlin an Oscar for "Best Actress" in 1987. Ms. Frelich and Ms. Matlin remain the only deaf actresses to have ever won the Tony Award and Academy Award, respectively, for leading roles.

Joshua Jackson previously made his off-Broadway debut in the Second Stage Theater's 2016 production of Smart People. He is perhaps best known for his TV roles as Cole Lockhart on "The Affair," as Peter Bishop on "Fringe," and as Pacey Witter on "Dawson's Creek." Other notable screen credits include "Cruel Intentions," "Urban Legend," and the "Mighty Ducks" franchise.

Children of a Lesser God is produced on Broadway by Hal Luftig and Craig Haffner, alongside Tamar Climan, Sanford Block, and deaf activist, model and actor Nyle DiMarco.

Children of a Lesser God Tickets are available now for performances through to May 27, 2018.

^{(Photo by Matthew Murphy)}