Is He Dead? plays final performance on Broadway

The world premiere of Mark Twain's comedy, Is He Dead?, will play its final performance at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre on 9 Mar 2008. The comedy had been booking through to 1 Jun 2008. When the show closes it will have played 13 previews and 105 regular performances.

Is He Dead? began previews at the Lyceum Theatre on 8 Nov 2007, and was originally scheduled to open on 29 Nov 2007, but due to the strike on Broadway in November 2007 the opening was delayed to 9 Dec 2007.

Is He Dead? is a new comedy by master American novelist and satirist Mark Twain, adapted by David Ives, and directed by two-time Tony Award winner Michael Blakemore.

The comedy opened to mostly good reviews: "What the play lacks in sophistication, it makes up for in charm, disarming humor, and a number of good belly laughs." (New York Theatre Guide); "A delightfully silly and entertaining evening." (New York Daily Post); "Frankly, (its) pretty feeble." (New York Post); "A bit more than a curiosity but far less than a lost masterwork." (NewsDay); "Might be described as classic or wheezing, depending on your taste." (The Record); "This one registers high on the mirth meter." (Variety.)

The 1898 play was discovered by scholar Shelley Fisher Fishkin in an archive of Mark Twain's papers held by the University of California. Bob Boyatt obtained the rights to the play in 2003 and the script was published later that year.

Inspired by the posthumous bidding war that broke out between the United States and France over Jean-Francois Millet�s painting The Angelus, Is He Dead? is a comedy about a group of poor artists who stage the death of their mentor to drive up the price of his paintings. In order for the scheme to succeed, the artists hatch various hilarious plots involving cross-dressing, a full-scale fake funeral, lovers� deceptions, and much more.

The cast for Is He Dead? features Norbert Leo Butz, Jeremy Bobb, Marylouise Burke , Patricia Conolly, Jenn Gambatese, Tony Award nominee Byron Jennings, Tony Award nominee Michael McGrath, John McMartin, David Pittu, Bridget Regan, Tom Alan Robbins.

The design team for Is He Dead? includes scenic design by Peter J. Davison, costume design by two-time Tony Award winner Martin Pakledinaz, and lighting design by Tony Award winner Peter Kaczorowski.

Is He Dead? is produced on Broadway by Bob Boyett, Roger Berlind, Daryl Roth, Jane Bergere, Bob Bartner and O�Boyle-Stevens.