American director JJ Abrams is set to produce the award-winning West End comedy The Play That Goes Wrong as it moves to Broadway.
Now in its third year at The Duchess Theatre after winning the 2015 Olivier Award for best new comedy, the play will also open at The Lyceum Theatre in 45 Street next April.
The original West End cast, including Matthew Cavendish, Bryony Corrigan and Rob Falconer, will star in the show as it tells the story of a drama group who attempt to stage a 1920s murder mystery until, of course, everything goes horribly wrong.
We can officially announce, @playgoeswrong will be going to Broadway and is being co-produced by none other than JJ Abrams!! pic.twitter.com/jDp9jF22o8
— Mischief Theatre (@mischiefcomedy) November 14, 2016
Written by Mischief Theatre members, the show introduces the Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society who battle against all odds to make it through to the final curtain call.
JJ, the producer of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the sci-fi thriller series Westworld, described his latest project as a “true honour”.
He said: “I have been a fan of theatre all my life.
“When I saw The Play That Goes Wrong on the West End, I hadn’t laughed that hard, seen something as preposterously absurd or wonderfully hilarious, in ages.
“To be part of the team bringing this inspired comedy to Broadway is a true honour.”
He will be co-producing the show with Kevin McCollum, Kenny Wax, Stage Present Ltd and Catherine Schreiber.
McCollum added: “I love that the Mischief crew started as a group of friends in drama school just trying to make each other laugh and through their inventiveness and ingenuity, have succeeded in making thousands laugh with three plays currently running simultaneously on the West End.
We are so excited for @TimesSquareNYC to be lit up as @BwayGoesWrong pic.twitter.com/rZdddqnOS3
— Play That Goes Wrong (@playgoeswrong) November 14, 2016
“I’m thrilled to be part of the team that brings their “mischief” and lunacy to Broadway. We all really need a good laugh.”
True to McCollum’s description, Mischief founder and writer Henry Lewis commented: “We are delighted that due to an administrative error The Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society will be coming to Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre in place of the RSC’s production of Black Beauty.
“A fresh American audience with no knowledge of our previous work will be a real help to us.
“We would also like to wish the RSC all the best with Black Beauty, which will now be taking place back in England at the Cornley Village Hall.
“We’ll leave the vaulting horse out for you.”
This March, BROADWAY GOES WRONG. Get $25 TICKETS now through 11/23: https://t.co/rCcNbzgSdl pic.twitter.com/kqULR4tKyy
— Play That Goes Wrong (@BwayGoesWrong) November 14, 2016
Now licensed to 29 countries, special pre-sale tickets for the Broadway show are available until November 23 and start at $15 (£12) for balcony seats and $25 (£20) for orchestra and front mezzanine seats.
The New York Times has described it as “a gut busting hit”.
