Groundhog Day the Musical announces Broadway Transfer

Broadway transfer finally announced.

The London production of Groundhog Day the Musical has now officially announced its eagerly anticipated Broadway transfer.

The New York production will open at the August Wilson Theatre, following the departure of Jersey Boys after an 11 year run, with an official press night set for 17 April 2017. Previews will begin in March, and the show will open in time for the Tony Award nomination cut off date, making the musical, and its leading man Andy Karl, eligible for top prizes. The Broadway production will produced by Matthew Warchus and André Ptaszynski for Whistle Pig, and Lia Vollack for Columbia Live Stage. Producer Scott Rudin departed the production before the London opening.

The show had its world premiere at the Old Vic Theatre in London on 16 August 2017, following previews from 15 July. It concludes its London run on 19 September. It is thought the the show will return to London's West End following the New York opening in the 2017/18 season.

Sources close to the production told the New York Post that the creative team will be making lots of changes to the show in order to make it ready for New York audiences. Despite a strong review form the New York Times' Ben Brantley, New York critics tends to be sharper than their London counterparts, especially when it comes to British musicals arriving on Broadway. Back in 2013 the RSC's production of Matilda was greeted with mainly favourable notices, but lost out at the Tony Awards to homegrown American musical Kinky Boots.

Groundhog Day will be once again directed by Matthew Warchus, with a score by Tim Minchin, choreography by Peter Darling and set and costume design by Rob Howell. It has been adapted for the stage by Danny Rubin based on his 1993 film of the same name.

Andy Karl will reprise his role as cynical Pittsburgh TV weatherman Phil Connors with full casting to be announced.