The News (musical)

The show went through tryouts at the Burt Reynolds Jupiter Theatre in Jupiter, Florida.^[6] It later played for two weeks at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut, starting September 24.^[7] The show began previews at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway on October 18, 1985, opening on November 7 and closing on November 9. In all, the show played 22 previews and 4 performances on Broadway.^[8]

A year after its Broadway failure, another production was staged in London with a new cast, most notably Richard O'Brien as Killer. The show opened on September 18, 1986, at the Paramount City theatre (formerly known as the Windmill Theatre, known for its nude revues), and ran for approximately one month.^[9] Patrons were seated at tables and drinks were served, creating a "theatre club atmosphere".^[10]

In 2002, Tulane University Theatre (where Schierhorn was then teaching in the drama department) staged what they described as the first American production of The News in 17 years. Schierhorn co-directed the production with choreographer Beverly Trask.^[4][11]

The following are the members of the original Broadway cast (in alphabetical order, as they appeared in the show's programme):^[12]

• Cheryl Alexander – Reporter
• Frank Baier – Circulation Editor
• Jeff Conaway – Executive Editor
• Anthony Crivello – Killer
• Michael Duff – City Editor
• Jonathan S. Gerber – Feature Editor
• Anthony Hoylen – Talk Show Host
• Patrick Jude – Reporter
• Lisa Michaelis – Girl (daughter of Executive Editor)
• Charles Pistone – Reporter
• John Rinehimer – Sports Editor
• Peter Valentine – Style Editor
• Billy Ward – Managing Editor

Critical reception of The News was overwhelmingly negative. In The New York Times, Frank Rich wrote that "every minute of The News, as it happens, is agony".^[13] Writing for the Associated Press, Michael Kuchwara called the show "ludicrous and distasteful".^[2] Writing for New York magazine, John Simon described it as "a monstrosity so noxious and nauseating, so sophomoric and witless, so pretentious and pointless, and, above all, so loud, that past horrors seem to beckon from the oubliettes of memory".^[3]

Critics disparaged virtually every aspect of the show. The set design was criticized as "unattractive" and "dingy", with Rich writing that the newsroom had been "inexplicably designed to resemble a sushi bar". Costumes were derided as cheap and ugly. Many reviewers found the plot confusing. The music was described as too loud and "aggressively screechy".^[13] Reviews were also critical of the cast, with Michaelis' portrayal of Executive Editor's 15-year-old daughter widely considered inept. Simon wrote that she looks "30 and appalling".^[3] Some faint praise was given to Crivello's portrayal of Killer, with Simon writing that he "at least tries for a genuine performance", and Kuchwara calling his song "Shooting Stars" the best of the evening.^[2] Some reviewers speculated that the show had combined its two acts into one after previews to prevent the audience from escaping during intermission.^[2][13]

The News was nominated for Best Original Score at the 40th Tony Awards. The New York Times noted that the nominees were the only four productions eligible in the category that year.^[14]

The London production received a positive review in The Times. Andrew Rissik wrote that the show combined two clichés (a cynical view of tabloid journalism, and a melodramatic story of "loneliness and broken dreams") into an "invigorating and enjoyable" product. He praised Richard O'Brien's performance as Killer, writing that he "held the evening together" with his sinister stage presence.^[15]