'Eyre' unmoored after lonely Tony trip
Tuner was losing $100g per session recently
It's not the first time a closing notice has gone up for "Jane Eyre."
On May 15, the show's producers announced to the cast that the Paul Gordon/John Caird musical, based on Charlotte Bronte's classic gothic novel, would call it quits on May 20. The next day the notice came down when Alanis Morissette, a friend of Gordon, came through with the necessary funds. The pop star's friendly gesture cost $150,000.
"Jane Eyre" opened on Dec. 10 and had been losing about $100,000 a session in recent weeks. Show was capitalized at $7.3 million. Over the past couple of months, it appeared that the producers were keeping their production running in hopes of obtaining major Tony nominations. On May 7, "Jane Eyre" received five: best musical, actress in a musical (Marla Schaffel), score (Gordon and Caird), book (Caird) and lighting (Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer).
Morissette's cash injection kept "Jane Eyre" open during the week of the League of American Theatres and Producers' convention of road presenters, many of whom are Tony voters. On May 20, the Drama Desk Awards chose Schaffel as best actress in a musical, and she was considered a strong contender for the Tony Award.
Price to pay
Meanwhile, Lonny Price was released from New York Hospital to appear on the Tony telecast on Sunday. He has suffered from a perforated colon.
Price directed, co-wrote the book (with Linda Kline) and stars in "A Class Act," which had been nominated for best musical and book, among other awards. Despite his medical condition, he insisted on performing in the scheduled televised number, a compilation of Edward Kleban songs from the stage musical.
After his TV appearance on CBS, Price re-entered New York Hospital. On Monday, a spokesman for the show said Price was resting and could not be reached for comment.
