The Best Man: revival recoups its investment

The Broadway revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man recouped its investment during the week ending 26 Aug 2012. The play will conclude its limited engagement on 9 Sep 2012. When the show closes it will have played 31 previews and 178 regular performances.

The Best Man opened at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on 1 Apr 20122, following previews from 6 Mar 2012.

Golden Globe Award winner Cybill Shepherd, Emmy Award nominee John Stamos, Emmy Award nominee Kristin Davis and Tony Award winner Elizabeth Ashley joined the cast this July when original cast members Candice Bergen, Eric McCormack, Kerry Butler and Angela Lansbury departed the production.

Original cast members James Earl Jones, John Larroquette, Jefferson Mays and Mark BlumMichael McKean, will remain with the production through its final performance.

The revival, directed by Michael Wilson, also features Curtis Billings, Corey Brill, Tony Carlin, Donna Hanover, Sherman Howard, Olja Hrustic, Bill Kux, James Lecesne, Dakin Matthews, Angelica Page, Fred Parker, Jr. and Amy Tribbey.

The play opened to mixed, but mostly excellent reviews: Starry but sluggish production (NY Times); Diverting dramedy (NY Daily News); Outrageously entertaining (Record); An unqualified winner (NY1).

The revival was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play, and earned James Earl Jones a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

A play about power, ambition, political secrets, ruthlessness and the race for the presidency, Gore Vidal's The Best Man is set at the national convention where two candidates are vying for their party's nomination during the primary season. It's an inside look at the dirt-digging, double-dealing, triple-crossing chicanery of presidential electioneering.

The creative team features scenic design by Derek McLane, Lighting design by Kenneth Posner, costume design by Ann Roth and sound design by John Gromada.