The new play “Life of Pi” is set to open at Broadway’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Mar. 30, 2023. Previews will begin on Mar. 9.
The play, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti from Yann Martel’s best-selling novel, won five 2022 Olivier Awards, including Best New Play. Producers announced last week that “Life of Pi” will have its North American premiere with American Repertory Theater at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from Dec. 4 through Jan. 29, 2023.
“Life of Pi” unfolds when a cargo ship sinks in the Pacific Ocean and its lone human survivor, Pi, finds himself stranded on a lifeboat with a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a Royal Bengal tiger. Martel’s novel was adapted into an Oscar-winning film in 2012.
“It was daunting, creatively, exciting, and always collaborative,” says playwright Chakrabarti of writing the stage adaptation. “To be able to tell this story the way I imagined it, to create the world using my references and viewpoint has been an extraordinary gift.”
She continued, “It is a beautiful, visceral, magical show, a story of survival which all of us can fundamentally relate to after the effects of the pandemic. I am beyond thrilled that we will bring this play to Broadway.”
Directed by Max Webster, the production features scenic and costume design by Tim Hatley, puppet and movement direction by Finn Caldwell, puppet design by Caldwell and Nick Barnes, video design by Andrzej Goulding, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Carolyn Downing, original music by Andrew T Mackay and dramaturgy by Jack Bradley.
Casting for the Broadway production will be announced at a future date.
“Life of Pi” will be produced on Broadway by Simon Friend, Daryl Roth, Hal Luftig, Mark Gordon, Playing Field, Tulchin/Bartner Productions, Gavin Kalin, Hunter Arnold, Hall Smalberg Winkler, 42nd.club, Elizabeth Armstrong, Eilene Davidson, Federman Jenen Productions, Susan Gallin, Independent Presenters Network, John Gore Organization, Kuhn Dodani, Harriet Leve, Mary Lu Roffe, Catherine Schreiber, Anthony Tang, Triple Threat Productions, American Repertory Theater and Sheffield Theatres. Aaron Lustbader and Hanna Osmolska will serve as executive producers.
“Life of Pi” currently plays Wyndham’s Theatre in London’s West End.
