New York City Broadway Theater Guide

Urban Cowboy

Broadway Musical

Previews  February 27 2003
Opened  March 27 2003
Announced Closing March 29 2003 after 4 performances
Closed May 18 2003

Run 26 previews | 60 performances

Running Time  2 hrs 30 mins | 1 intermission

Tickets  $65 to $95

Prices do not include any taxes, service charges or other charges

Creative  Aaron Latham & Philip Oesterman book | Jeff Blumenkrantz & Jason Robert Brown music & lyrics | Melinda Roy choreographer | Lonny Price director

Opening Night Cast  Matt Cavenaugh | Marcus Chait | Jenn Colella | Leo Burmeister | Sally Mayes | Rozz Morehead | Jodi Stevens

Synopsis  We're back in Gilley's saloon in the boom decade of the 70s. When everybody else was dancing to Donna Summers and the Bee Gees the hard-drivin' guys working the rigs were kicking up a two step with the one that might be (at least for the night). This production includes old favorites from the flick and some updated sounds by Clint Black, the Dixie Chicks and Shania Twain

Notes  This show is typical of the path to Broadway. The first New York City workshop was in December 2001. Rehearsals were due to start February 2002 for an April opening but postponed. Philip Oesterman who, besides collaborating with Aaron Latham on the book, was to direct, died of a heart attack July 2002. The show bowed in Coconut Grove November 2002 and had its sights on the Ambassador Theater but the Shuberts booked Chicago into it instead. It isn't easy to be a Broadway producer. For more twists and turns to the Great White Way see On the Way...Maybe and Lost in Development

If you're somehow not aware of it, the show is based on the 1980 film of the same name starring John Travolta and Debra Winger. While Travolta was by then a huge box-office star, this was Winger's breakout film. Country stars who appeared in the film included Mickey Gillie, Bonnie Raitt and Charlie Daniels; all just a bit more hard driving than Black, Twain and the Chicks