New Musical Vanities Sets Broadway Theater and Opening Date

The new Broadway musical adaptation of Jack Heifner's hit play Vanities has announced a theater and opening date for its 2009 Broadway premiere. The musical, written by Heifner, with music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, will start previews at the Lyceum Theatre on February 2, with opening night set for February 26, directed by Judith Ivey. 

The show will star previously announced cast members Lauren Kennedy Spamalot, Side Show as Mary, Sarah Stiles Avenue Q, …Spelling Bee as Joanne and Anneliese van der Pol Beauty and the Beast, TV’s That’s So Raven as Kathy. The Broadway production will have musical staging by Dan Knechtges.

Vanities spans the turbulent 60s through the late 80s and explores how important friends are as one faces life’s defining moments: growing up, getting older and getting over it. The musical was originally produced at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA in the summer of 2006 and was showcased at the 2006 National Alliance for Musical Theatre NAMT Festival of New Musicals, and recently finished a pre-Broadway run at the Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena, California.

The creative team includes scenic designer Anna Louizos In the Heights, White Christmas, costume designer Joe Aulisi Charlie’s Angels, lighting designer Paul Miller Legally Blonde, sound designer Tony Meola Wicked, music director Carmel Dean Spelling Bee and orchestrator Lynne Shankel Cry-Baby.