Two Broadway Shows, One Opening Night

The producers of the upcoming Broadway productions of 9 to 5 and Waiting for Godot are playing their own game of chicken: Both shows are scheduled to open the same day, April 30. But in the battle for audience attention that is the Broadway season, this is a no-no.

From Playbill:

The Broadway theatre is a small world, and it's easy to step on another show's toes. The quickest way to do this is to throw your production's coming-out party on the same night as someone else's...

In the spring, however, as the season approaches its official conclusion and the Tony Awards loom, the landscape gets pretty crowded and shows' paths toward the finish line can cross.

At this point, neither side has blinked. But insiders still expect the producers to come to an agreement and change the opening date for one show -- even though April 30 has added significance because it is the final day of the 2008-09 Broadway season.

Read the full Playbill story to find out more about the history of theatre reviews, previews, and opening nights; the most popular nights to open a new Broadway show; the secrets of theatre scheduling; thoughts from producers and executives; plus more about 9 to 5 and Waiting for Godot.

-- Daniel Lehman