Andy Karl will star in Groundhog Day from 16 March 2017

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

It has now been confirmed that two-time Tony nominee Andy Karl will indeed reprise his West End role as Phil Connors in the forthcoming Broadway transfer of Groundhog Day, which garnered rave reviews at London's Old Vic Theatre over the summer. Previews will begin at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre on 16 March 2017, before a previous announced official opening on 17 April 2017.

Andy Karl earned Tony nominations for his performances in 'Rocky' (2014) and 'On the Twentieth Century' (2015). His other Broadway credits include 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood,' '9 to 5,' 'Legally Blonde,' 'Jersey Boys,' 'Wicked,' and 'Saturday Night Fever.'

Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

Click HERE to read our 5-star review of the West End premiere production on our London Theatre partner site.

The creative team of Groundhog Day features seven of the creators of the West End and Broadwy hit Matilda, who reunited for the project. These include director Matthew Warchus, composer and lyricist Tim Minchin, choreographer Peter Darling, costume & set designer Rob Howell, lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, sound designer Simon Baker and orchestrator & musical supervisor Christopher Nightingale. They team up with original screenplay co-writer Danny Rubin to bring Groundhog Day to the stage.

Synopsis: "Groundhog Day is the story of Phil Connors, an arrogant Pittsburgh TV weatherman who, when sent to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, finds himself caught in a time loop where he is forced to repeat the same day again and again... and again. As each day plays out exactly the same as before Phil becomes increasingly despondent, but is there a lesson to be learned through his experiences, will he ever unlock the secret and break the cycle?"

The Broadway production is co-produced by André Ptaszynski for Whistle Pig Productions and Lia Vollack for Columbia Live Stage.

The 1993 film, with a screenplay by Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis, based on a story by Rubin, and directed by Ramis, starred Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, and Chris Elliott. Released by Columbia Pictures, it was one of the top grossing films of 1993.

The August Wilson Theatre is the Broadway home of the long-running jukebox musical Jersey Boys, which will play its final Broadway performance on 15 January 2017.

- by Tom Millward

Andy Karl in Groundhog Day

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