The Orca's voyage at the Golden Theatre on Broadway has come to an end. The Shark Is Broken, the behind-the-scenes play about the three stars of the 1975 movie Jaws, finishes its limited engagement November 19. Previews began July 25 and the show officially opened August 10. At time of closing, it will have played 18 previews and 118 regular performances.
With a script co-written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, the comedy takes audiences behind the scenes as the film's three stars try to cope with foul weather, a temperamental mechanical shark, and each other's egos. The film is considered the first summer blockbuster and earned three Academy Awards. However, the on-set squabbles between stars Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss became Hollywood fables.
Shaw plays his father Robert, the English actor who starred in the film as the grizzled shark hunter Quint. Alex Brightman plays a young Dreyfuss (who did attend the production) and Colin Donnell plays Roy Scheider.
READ: Ian Shaw Takes a Bite Out of Broadway With His Play The Shark Is Broken
The Shark Is Broken premiered at Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2019, and opened in the West End in 2021, where it was nominated for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play at the 2022 Olivier Awards.
![The Shark Is Broken_Broadway_Production Photos_2023_Colin Donnell, Ian Shaw, and Alex Brightman_HR](http://assets.playbill.com/editorial/_embeddedGallerySize/Colin-Donnell-Ian-Shaw-and-Alex-Brightman-in-THE-SHARK-IS-BROKEN-Photo-by-Matthew-Murphy_2023-08-07-212934_oizp.jpg)
![The Shark Is Broken_Broadway_Production Photos_2023_Ian Shaw_HR](http://assets.playbill.com/editorial/_embeddedGallerySize/Ian-Shaw-in-THE-SHARK-IS-BROKEN-Photo-by-Matthew-Murphy.jpg)
Ian Shaw in The Shark Is Broken
Ian Shaw and Alex Brightman in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell, Ian Shaw, and Alex Brightman in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell, Ian Shaw, and Alex Brightman in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell, Alex Brightman, and Ian Shaw in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell, Alex Brightman, and Ian Shaw in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell and Ian Shaw in The Shark Is Broken
Colin Donnell and Alex Brightman in The Shark Is Broken
Alex Brightman, Ian Shaw, and Colin Donnell in The Shark Is Broken
Alex Brightman, Ian Shaw, and Colin Donnell in The Shark Is Broken
Alex Brightman in The Shark Is Broken
Alex Brightman and Ian Shaw in The Shark Is Broken
Peter Bradbury, Stephen Dexter, and Coby Getzug are understudies for the production.
Guy Masterson makes his Broadway directorial debut, leading a creative team that includes scenic and costume design by Duncan Henderson, lighting design by Jon Clark, sound design and original music by Adam Cork, and video design by Nina Dunn. Wig design and construction is by Campbell Young Associates. Kate Wilson is the dialect coach and Patrick McCollum is the movement director.
Timothy R. Simon serves as production stage manager, and Justin Gleiberman is the company manager. Production management is by Aurora Productions and general management is by TT Partners, Rebecca Habel. Casting is by Jim Carnahan and Alexandre Bleau of Jim Carnahan Casting.
The Broadway bow is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, and GFour Productions, with Tulchin Partner Productions, Eileen Davidson Productions, LD Entertainment, No Guarantees, Theatre Tours International LTD/Shooting the Breeze, Richard Batchelder, Jane Bergère, Larry Magic, Cue to Cue Productions/Jamie deRoy, Tara Shoemaker Couture/Jill Lenhart, Marc Goldman/Richard and Claudia Beeny, Moellenberg/Hornos, and Jesse Singer/Matthew Levy.
![The Shark is Broken_Broadway_Opening Night_2023_Colin Donnell, Alex Brightman, and Ian Shaw-HR](http://assets.playbill.com/editorial/_embeddedGallerySize/2023-08-10-Playbill_The-Shark-is-Broken-Opening-16.jpg)
![The Shark is Broken_Broadway_Opening Night_2023_Tom Kirdahy_HR](http://assets.playbill.com/editorial/_embeddedGallerySize/2023-08-10-Playbill_The-Shark-is-Broken-Opening-107.jpg)
Tom Kirdahy
Elizabeth Stanley and Christopher J Hanke
Elizabeth Stanley and Christopher J Hanke
Nikki M. James
Nikki M. James
Jesmille Darbouze and Dan Amboyer
Jesmille Darbouze and Dan Amboyer
Jesmille Darbouze
Jesmille Darbouze
Dan Amboyer
Dan Amboyer
Alex TImbers and Rebekah Melocik
Alex TImbers and Rebekah Melocik
Tuc Watkins and Andrew Rannells
Tuc Watkins and Andrew Rannells
Deborah Roberts and Al Roker
Deborah Roberts and Al Roker
Amir Arison
Amir Arison
LaChanze
LaChanze
Max von Essen
Max von Essen
Orfeh
Orfeh
James Wesley
James Wesley
Brenda Braxton
Marina Squerciati
Marina Squerciati
Christian Slater
Christian Slater
Dawn Iglehart and James Monroe Iglehart
James Monroe Iglehart
James Monroe Iglehart
Dawn Iglehart and James Monroe Iglehart
Jamie deRoy
Jamie deRoy
Patti Murin
Patti Murin
Elizabeth Teeter and guest
Kym Johnson-Herjavec and Robert Herjavec
Robert Herjavec
Robert Herjavec
Julie Klausner
Julie Klausner
Seth Greenleaf and Sonia Friedman
Joseph Nixon
Joseph Nixon
Duncan Henderson
Nina Dunn
Nina Dunn
Guy Masterson
Guy Masterson
Coby Getzug, Stephen Dexter, and Peter Bradbury
Coby Getzug, Stephen Dexter, and Peter Bradbury
Stephen Dexter
Stephen Dexter
Peter Bradbury
Peter Bradbury
Coby Getzug
Coby Getzug
Alex Brightman
Alex Brightman
Colin Donnell, Alex Brightman, and Ian Shaw
Colin Donnell, Alex Brightman, and Ian Shaw
Colin Donnell
Colin Donnell
Ian Shaw
Ian Shaw
Alex Brightman, Ian Shaw, and Colin Donnell
Alex Brightman, Ian Shaw, and Colin Donnell
Alex Brightman, Ian Shaw, and Colin Donnell