Promises, Promises Revival, Starring Chenoweth and Hayes, Sets Broadway Dates

It’s official: Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy winner Sean Hayes will co-star in the first-ever Broadway revival of Promises, Promises, which has booked the Broadway Theatre beginning March 27, 2010. Directed and choreographed by Rob Ashford, the musical will open on April 25.

Featuring a score by Burt Bacharach (music) and Hal David (lyrics) and a book by Neil Simon, Promises, Promises tells the story of Chuck Baxter (Hayes), a charming young employee at the Consolidated Life Insurance Company. In an effort to advance at the company, Chuck lends executives his apartment for their extramarital romantic trysts. But things become slightly complicated when Fran Kubelik (Chenoweth), the object of Chuck’s affection, becomes the mistress of one of his executives. More casting and creative team members for the forthcoming revival will be announced in the near future.

Based on the 1960 Academy Award-winning Billy Wilder film The Apartment starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, Promises, Promises debuted on Broadway in 1968 at the Shubert Theatre and ran for 1,268 performances through January 1, 1972. The show includes hits such as “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” “Knowing When to Leave” and the title song.

Chenoweth won her first Emmy Award in September for the cancelled TV series Pushing Daisies. She won a Tony Award in 1999 for You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown and was also nominated for Wicked in 2004. Other Broadway credits include Steel Pier, Epic Proportions and The Apple Tree. On TV, she’s been seen on her short-lived sitcom Kristin, The West Wing, Glee and the TV-movie versions of Annie and The Music Man. She will next be seen as a guest judge on American Idol. Big screen credits include RV, Stranger than Fiction, Running with Scissors, Deck the Halls and Four Christmases.

Hayes, who made his New York stage debut in Damn Yankees at City Center Encores!, will make his Broadway debut in Promises, Promises. He won an Emmy and received six Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Jack on Will & Grace and played Jerry Lewis in the TV movie Martin & Lewis. His films include The Bucket List, Pieces of April, The Cat in the Hat, Billy's Hollywood Screen Kiss and Cats and Dogs.

The Broadway revival of Promises, Promises will be produced by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Candy Spelling and The Weinstein Company.