Is He Dead? to Close; Patrick Stewart's Macbeth Headed for Lyceum

Is He Dead?, a farcical comedy by Mark Twain as adapted by David Ives, opened on December 9 to excellent reviews, particularly for Norbert Leo Butz's star turn as an artist who pretends to be dead and poses as his own sister to drive up the value of his paintings. But the 19-day Broadway stagehands strike, which halted previews and delayed the show's opening, coupled with the fact that a dozen plays opened on Broadway before and after the strike, proved disastrous for Is He Dead? The production began advertising "last weeks" and played to 52.96% of capacity on a gross of $182,931 for the week ending February 24.

"I'm so glad that we were able to bring this remarkable play and production to Broadway," producer Bob Boyett said in a statement. "The show got great reviews and we are a victim of the strike last November which took away our momentum right as we were opening. I am grateful that the Broadway run has brought attention to the play, which I know will be seen in productions all over the world in the future."

In addition to Butz, the cast of Is He Dead? includes Jeremy Bobb, Marylouise Burke, Patricia Conolly, Jenn Gambatese, Byron Jennings, Michael McGrath,John McMartin, David Pittu, Bridget Regan and Tom Alan Robbins.

The Stewart production of Macbeth opened last summer at the Chichester Festival and moved to the West End, winning the star the Evening Standard Award for his performance. Set in an industrial chamber that is equally military hospital ward, kitchen, torture chamber, and abattoir, Goold's eerily modern Macbeth rings with the echoes of Stalinist terror. The production's sold-out six-week engagement at BAM ends on March 22 before beginning a 63-performance run at the Lyceum.