Jason Robert Brown's 13 Announces Broadway Closing Date
Jason Robert Brown’s 13 has set a closing date. The new musical, directed by Jeremy Sams, will play its final performance on January 4, 2009 after 22 preview and 105 regular performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
The first Broadway show to star an all teenage cast and band began previews on September 16 and opened on October 5. It features a book and lyrics by Brown Parade, The Last Five Years and a book by children's author and songwriter Dan Elish Born Too Short, Confessions of an 8th Grade Basket Case and TV and film writer Robert Horn Designing Women. The show was choreographed by Tony Award nominee Christopher Gattelli South Pacific. Tom Kitt, composer of High Fidelity and Next to Normal, serves as music director. The production features scenic and costume design by David Farley, lighting design by Brian MacDevitt and sound design by Jon Weston.
"In my entire career I have never seen so much talent in a single company as I have in 13. The joy and enthusiasm of the cast and band is genuinely matched by Jason's remarkable music and the stellar creative team. I am happy to announce that although 13 is saying goodbye to Broadway, we've received much interest in a national and international tour," said Bob Boyett, 13's lead producer.
13 is described as a hilarious, high-energy musical for all ages about discovering that cool is where you find it, and sometimes where you least expect it. Evan Goldman has it all: He's popular, has the perfect family and lives in the greatest city in the world, New York. That is until his parents get divorced and he's forced to move with his Mom to Indiana. Uprooted from his old life, he has to make new friends and somehow maneuver his way through the minefield of high school to become part of the "in-crowd."
The cast features Al Calderon, Eamon Foley, Caitlin Gann, Ariana Grande, Aaron Simon Gross, Elizabeth Egan Gillies, Malik Hammond, Joey La Varco, Delaney Moro, Eric M. Nelsen, Graham Phillips, Allie Trimm, Brynn Williams. Also in the cast are Riley Costello, Henry Hodges, Mary Claire Miskell, Liana Ortiz, Max Schneider and Corey J. Snide. The onstage teen band members are Lexi Bodick, Zac Coe, Adam Michael Kaufman, Zach Page, Chris Raymond and Charlie Rosen.
The show earned the LA Drama Critics' Circle Award for Best Production and Best Musical Score for its world premiere production at Center Theatre Group/The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles December 22, 2006 - February 18, 2007 and also ran at Goodspeed's Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT May 8, 2008-June 9, 2008.