Nine to close 14 Dec 2003

Wed 3 Dec 2003 Nine to close 14 Dec 2003 The Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Nine is to close early 14 Dec 2003 at Eugene O'Neill Theatre after a run of 9 months. ( The show was booking to 1 Feb 04) Nine, which began previews on 21 Mar 2003 and opened officially on 10 April 2003, will have played 23 previews and 285 regular performances. The show currently stars John Stamos (Guido Contini), Eartha Kitt (Liliane La Fleur), Mary Stuart Masterson (Luisa), Rebecca Luker (Claudia) and Sara Gettelfinger (Carla). The show has book by Arthur Kopit, music & lyrics Maury Yeston (Italian adapted by Mario Fratti). It is directed by David Leveaux, with choreography by Jonathan Butterell. The show received mostly good notices from the popular press: BEN BRENTLEY of the NEW YORK TIMES says "ravishingly inventive and tuneful score. JOHN SIMON of the NEW YORK MAGAZINE says "The lyrics are engaging, the music lilting." ELYSA GARDNER of USA TODAY says �offers more style than sustenance.� � ROMA TORRE of NY1 says "moments of joy and confusion" Nine's central character, and only man in the musical, is Guido Contini, a film director in the Fellini mold. He has been contracted to write and direct a film, but is unable to come up with a suitable plot. After recent box office failures, he finds himself drifting towards a nervous breakdown. Guido finds himself examining his past flawed relationships with the many women who have come through his life and struggles to act his mature age of 40 as opposed to Nine. The songs in Nine include: "Guido's Song," "Only With You," "Folies Berg�res," "Be Italian," "Unusual Way," "The Grand Canal," "Simple" and "Be On Your Own." The new Broadway cast recording is available on PS Classics. Nine received two 2003 Tony� Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Performance for a Featured Actress in a Musical (Jane Krakowski), three Drama Desk Awards and three Outer Critics Circle Awards. Original company members Antonio Banderas (Guido Contini), Chita Rivera (Liliane La Fleur) and Mary Stuart Masterson (Luisa) were all nominated for Tony� awards.