Debbie Reynolds in "Irene". Image via YouTube.
Hurricane Irene, like any diva with big lungs and a keen eye, has set her sights on Broadway and is currently due to hit New York for a Sunday matinee. As of this post, there are no show cancellations but keep an eye on The Broadway League’s website for current weather alerts. (I’ll update this story if I hear any specifics.)
[UPDATE 1:39pm: The New York International Fringe Festival has canceled all events for Sunday, August 28. Book of Mormon Actor’s Fund performance postponed. NY Times reporting that mass transit system will shut down at noon on Saturday.]
[UPDATE 4:00pm: War Horse at Lincoln Center and Disney Theatricals have canceled Broadway shows for Saturday and Sunday. A number of Off-Broadway houses are following suit. Check in with your theater if you are holding tickets. I expect most of the shows will now do the same.]
[UPDATE 4:24pm: Broadway.com is reporting that ALL Broadway performances are canceled for Saturday and Sunday.]
And what will it look like if this headline maker decides to take New York by storm? Luckily, history can give us a clue. The last time Irene hit the Great White Way, she was a perky whirlwind played by Debbie Reynolds making her 1973 Broadway debut. The show overcame bad out-of-town reviews and cast changes to become a sizable hit. Let’s hope history doesn’t repeat itself.
As a sort of anti-rain dance, let’s watch Debbie singing her show biz heart out in a song from her Irene…
