Disco Is Dead

As expected, Saturday Night Fever will close on December 30 after 500 performances and 35 previews at the Minskoff Theater, a production spokesperson confirmed to Broadway.com. This comes following yesterday's report that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer will open at the Minskoff on April 26, 2001.

Saturday Night Fever recently celebrated its one year anniversary, having opened at the Minskoff on October 21, 1999. The show received almost unanimous critical pans. Donald Lyons of the New York Post wrote: "With amazing precision, the 1999 Broadway musical Saturday Night Fever jettisons everything exciting in the movie and lovingly preserves everything mediocre."

For the week ending November 5, Saturday Night Fever reported playing at 64.27% capacity. Despite gossip, the musical will not move to another Broadway house. A national tour is in the works.

Saturday Night Fever features classic disco tracks such as "Night Fever," "Disco Inferno" and "Stayin' Alive." Nan Knighton adapted the story for the stage. Arlene Phillips directed and choreographed the production. Additional creative team members include Robin Wagner scenic design, Andy Edwards costume design, Andrew Bridge lighting design and Mick Potter sound. Robert Stigwood produced the production.

The musical features Sean Palmer as Tony Manero, a streetwise kid from Brooklyn with a talent for disco dancing. Tony dreams of leaving his dead-end life behind and when he meets Stephanie, played by Paige Price, his life starts to change. He dumps old companion, Annette, played by Orfeh, and partners up with Stephanie to win a disco dancing challenge.

All three leads have been with the production since the beginning. Palmer is the only significant shift in the cast, moving from the ensemble role of Joey to the lead role of Tony. The casting change occurred after the original Tony, James Carpinello, left the production in early July. Other cast members include: Paul Castree, Michael Paternostro, Andy Blankenbuehler, Danial Jerod Brown and Andy Karl.