WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? Announces Broadway Closing

An exquisite production from the performances to the set. All around superb, in my opinion. I do hope they can re-mount at a later date but perhaps that is wishful thinking.

Well, I am glad I saw this when it was around. This really sucks, though, as it was a great production. I am sad for those who now won't get to see it.

THE CONNERS was beginning production about a week or so after the show’s limited engagement so Metcalf couldn’t extend even if this revival never closed. Hopefully it returns next year during her next hiatus which would be around the same time this revival started.

I'm absolutely gutted.

I didn't get to see this, and it was one of the ones I was most looking forward to.

CopleyScott17 said: "If they are able to remount (hopefully!) is there any chance they would bring back Eddie Izzard? I'm unclear about why he left the production to begin with, but I think he'd be amazing in the role."

Everett was perfectly lovely in the role. They can do as they wish (obviously, it's a business) but I find it difficult to believe they wouldn't consider remounting it with this cast intact.

Updated On: 3/21/20 at 10:11 AM

I can't imagine this with Laurie again anytime soon, isn't she scheduled to do Death of a Salesman next season with Nathan Lane?

everythingtaboo said: "I can't imagine this with Laurie again anytime soon, isn't shescheduled to do Death of a Salesman next season with Nathan Lane?"

They're in discussions to do Salesman next year, but they could always bump that over to 2022 and move Virginia Woolf over to Spring 2021. Could they put the sets in storage? Has that ever happened before? Metcalf pretty much had a Tony in the bag for this one and the production itself was likely to win Best Revival. I just can't fathom this one just disappearing into thin air. All that work from all those artists.

Rudin is a powerful man. If anyone can revive this, it's him. *fingers crossed*

This is total supposition on my part, so if anyone knows more, please feel free to correct me -- but I would guess - if a producer can successfully file an insurance claim due to closing related to the coronavirus, the entire production would have to close finitely.

I'm guessing if the producer wanted to bring the production back, he would essentially have to create a new production LLC, and raise all funds again from scratch. In other words, on paper, a return would have to be a 'different' production. And in such a scenario, while the budget might be less (if they are able to recycle sets, costumes, and previously employed actors who require less rehearsal time) they would still have to raise the funding anew.

Sure, some of the investors who put in the first time might come back on board (especially if they essentially made their money back from an insurance claim) but -- and this is also the business side of the theatre -- producers like Scott Rudin have also been able to see (pre-coronavirus scare) how a production like VIRGINIA WOOLF was selling. If they gleaned that it likely wasn't going to return on its investment in any situation, they may simply be good to move on.

It sounds like this staging was a total triumph for Metcalf. I wouldn't be surprised to see her revisit the role at some point, but perhaps not again on Broadway.

Updated On: 3/21/20 at 11:02 AM

I had tickets to this for the day after the closure of Broadway. To say I'm disappointed I'll never have another chance to see it is a huge understatement, though I completely understand why under the circumstances. Bummer.

BenElliott said: "Stephen75 said: "That was my thinking too, but if Rudin was toying with other options with this production, why would he say something so definitive so early? I feel like he could have said “We are exploring other options” “we are currently faced with schedulint issues, but we hope to remount this production one day when the theatre community is back up and running.” It still is so mind-boggling he would let this production die on the vine so easily."

Probably so he could collect the insurance money. I still feel like he'll remount this in the near future."

Oh true. Didn't even think of that. He seems to be a pretty smart businessman, so I don't doubt he has his reasons. I agree with you though. It just seems crazy how this production, with the actress who he has gone on record as saying is the best actress in this country, in a sure-fire critically acclaimed, probably award winning performance, would just be gone like that. Maybe something can be worked out with The Conners, who even knows if TV production will be back up in time. Also, Salesman is pretty much confirmed (well, was, who knows what condition Broadway will be in to produce plays now) but Lane did mention his TV schedule could prevent it. So maybe something opens up next Spring.

I get it's a different show and different circumstances, but look at something like How I Learned To Drive. We don't know it's fate yet, but would MTC really just let something like that go away and never come back? I hope for some of these more commercial prospects, we will see returns.