Catch Them While You Can! Seven Soon-to-Close Broadway Plays You Shouldn’t Miss

Broadway had a bumper crop of fabulous plays on the boards this season, from revivals like The House of Blue Leaves to new offerings like Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo. Several of these productions will soon be exiting the scene, and we don’t want you to miss out! Read on to find out which plays will soon be disappearing from the Great White Way, and why you should make plans to see them ASAP.


The House of Blue Leaves
John Guare’s genre-defying play, set on the day of the Pope’s visit to New York City in 1965, stars Ben Stiller as Artie Shaughnessy, a middle-aged, middle-class zookeeper and aspiring songwriter who dreams of hitting the big time, Jennifer Jason Leigh as his vivacious mistress and Edie Falco as his mentally unstable wife.
See It For: Falco in a Tony-nominated performance as Artie’s schizophrenic wife Bananas, which she discussed with Broadway.com here.
Closing: This Saturday, June 25 at the Walter Kerr Theatre



Born Yesterday
In this classic Garson Kanin comedy, Nina Arianda stars as not-so-ditzy blonde Billie Dawn, the mistress of corrupt businessman Harry Brock (TV favorite Jim Belushi). Tony winner Robert Sean Leonard co-stars as Paul Verrall, a journalist Brock hires to educate his showgirl girlfriend, a process that reaps unexpected consequences.
See It For: Broadway.com Fresh Face and Tony nominee Arianda in her show-stopping Broadway debut!
Closing: This Sunday, June 26 at the Cort Theatre



The Importance of Being Earnest
In Oscar Wilde’s bubbly comedy of mistaken identities, the upper crust characters skewer the mores of Victorian society with relish, reserve and Wilde’s signature rapier wit. Brian Bedford does double duty as director and performer in the play, aided by Broadway favorites like Santino Fontana and Jayne Houdyshell.
See It For: Director Bedford’s Tony-nominated performance as the ‘gorgon’ Lady Bracknell, which he discussed with Broadway.com here.
Closing: This Sunday, June 26 at the American Airlines Theatre



Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
This topical drama from Pulitzer Prize finalist Rajiv Joseph is narrated by the title tiger, played by funnyman Robin Williams in his Broadway debut. He tells the story of the intertwined lives of two American Marines and one Iraqi gardener as they search for friendship, redemption and a toilet seat made of gold.
See It For: Broadway.com Fresh Face Arian Moayed, who earned a Tony nomination for playing Musa, the gardener who works as a translator after war ravages his home life.
Closing: July 3 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre



Ghetto Klown
John Leguizamo’s latest one-man show traces his life story from his childhood in Queens to his rise as a Hollywood star. Using projections, film clips and Leguizamo’s spot-on impression, the show recalls his days as an aspiring actor, his difficult relationships with his parents as well as his romantic pursuits and movie career.
See It For: Leguizamo’s inimitable style as a solo artist, which he discussed on an episode of Broadway.com’s Show People.
Closing: July 9 at the Lyceum Theatre



The Normal Heart
The Tony-winning revival of Larry Kramer’s landmark play about the early days of the AIDS crisis stars Joe Mantello as Ned Weeks, a crusader modeled on Kramer himself. Mantello is joined by a starry, perfectly cast ensemble to tell this heart-wrenching tale of love and activism.
See It For: Tony Award-winning performances from Ellen Barkin as a fiery doctor and John Benjamin Hickey as Mantello's lover.
Closing: July 10 at the Golden Theatre



The Motherf**ker with the Hat
Comedian Chris Rock is making his Broadway debut in this Tony-nominated play from Stephen Adly Guirgis. It tells the story of Jackie, newly released from prison and struggling to remain sober while reuniting with his longtime girlfriend, a crack-smoking live wire named Veronica.
See It For: A trio of Tony-nominated performers, all of whom spoke with Broadway.com about their roles:  Bobby Cannavale as the recovering Jackie, Elizabeth Rodriguez as Veronica and Yul Vazquez as Jackie's flamboyant cousin.
Closing: July 17 at the Schoenfeld Theatre