Souvenir to Open at the Lyceum Theatre on November 10
Stephen Temperley's Souvenir, which was a hit at the York Theatre last season, is coming to Broadway. The show, starring Judy Kaye as Florence Foster Jenkins, is scheduled to open at the Lyceum Theatre on November 10, according to The New York Times.
Souvenir centers on the musical career of Jenkins, a wealthy woman with a striking lack of talent. In 1932 she met mediocre pianist Cosme McMoon and the two teamed up in the hope of achieving success in the music world. Over the next 12 years, their bizarre musical partnership earned them extraordinary cultish fame, and their awkward pairing evolved into a friendship as full of light and warmth as the spotlight they shared, culminating in a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall.
Souvenir, directed by Vivian Matalon and featuring Donald Corren as McMoon, ran at the York Theatre from December 1, 2004 to January 16, 2005. In his Broadway.com Review of that mounting, William Stevenson wrote: "Stephen Temperley's Souvenir is subtitled 'A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins.' The use of the word 'fantasia' is hardly promising, but this 'play with music' has its bright moments. On the other hand, it's just too long and often slow. It does, however, boast a marvelous performance by Judy Kaye in the leading role."
