Once Around the Sun to Close Earlier Than Expected

Once Around the Sun will not make it through to the end of its limited engagement at the Zipper Theatre. The tuner, scheduled to shutter on October 16, will now close on October 7.

The musical centers on a struggling rocker Asa Somers, who is offered the chance to take a leap of faith into his dream at the risk of betraying family, lifelong friends and true love. The show has music and lyrics by Robert Morris, Steven Morris and Joe Shane and a book by Kellie Overbey.

Once Around the Sun, directed by Jace Alexander, opened off-Broadway on August 11. In his Broadway.com Review of the piece, Kevin Manganaro wrote: "A rock musical pretty much has one requirement: It needs to rock. Once Around the Sun, the new musical currently playing off-Broadway at the Zipper Theatre, is one of the least rocking rock musicals in recent memory. It lacks the attitude, wit and originality of the musical styles it apes, and a leaden book weighs down its passable cast." In addition to Somers, Once Around the Sun stars Maya Days, Caren Lyn Manuel, Jesse Lenat, Kevin Mambo and John Hickok. Producers recently announced the show would open on Broadway in fall 2006, but that was before this premature closing.