A brief history of JAWS making-of play 'The Shark Is Broken'
You can catch The Shark Is Broken from 25th July 2023 at the Golden Theater, New York, NYC.
The Shark Is Broken is a play written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, and directed by Guy Masterson. It is a comedic exploration of the behind-the-scenes drama that took place during the filming of the 1975 film Jaws, which was directed by Steven Spielberg and starred Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and Richard Dreyfuss.
The Shark Is Broken" had its first showing on July 24, 2019, at the Rialto Theatre in Brighton, England, for a three-day run. Following this debut, it moved to the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, where it was staged at the Assembly George Square Studios from August 2, 2019, until August 25, 2019. In the production, Ian Shaw took on the role of his father, Robert Shaw, with Liam Murray Scott playing Richard Dreyfuss and Duncan Henderson as Roy Scheider.
Ian Shaw took on the role of his father, Robert Shaw, with Liam Murray Scott playing Richard Dreyfuss and Duncan Henderson as Roy Scheider.
Originally planned to premiere in the West End at the Ambassadors Theatre in May 2020, the production had to be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After the closures, "The Shark Is Broken" finally began its run at the Ambassadors Theatre on October 9, 2021, with Shaw and Murray Scott returning to their respective roles, and Demetri Goritsas stepping in as Roy Scheider.
Initially, the show was supposed to conclude on January 15, 2022, but due to its success, the run was extended until February 13, 2022. On February 11, 2022, Sonia Friedman, the lead producer, announced that the show had recouped its investment and hinted at future productions.
Shaw and Murray Scott return to their respective roles, and Demetri Goritsas stepping in as Roy Scheider.
On June 8, 2022, it was revealed that "The Shark Is Broken" would have its North American premiere at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Ontario. The production began its preview shows on September 25, 2022, and had its official opening night on September 30, 2022, before closing on November 6, 2022. Shaw, Goritsas, and Murray Scott all returned to their roles for this production.
In April 2023, plans were unveiled for a Broadway run of the play, spanning 16 weeks. The previews for the Broadway production will commence at the John Golden Theatre on July 25, 2023, leading up to the official opening on August 10, 2023. Ian Shaw will reprise his role as his father, Robert Shaw. Additionally, on June 20, 2023, it was announced that Alex Brightman and Colin Donnell would take on the roles of Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider, respectively. This Broadway run is expected to end on November 19th 2023.
Words by Ross Williams
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