The Shark Is Broken officially opened on Broadway August 10, and the stars were out to celebrate.
The comedy—about the on-set struggles between the three leads of the film Jaws—is scheduled for a limited engagement through November 19. Check out photos from the opening-night festivities below; attendees included Christian Slater, LaChanze, Tuc Watkins, and more. Read the reviews here.
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
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.
Shaw makes his Broadway acting debut in the work as well, playing his father Robert Shaw, who starred as the grizzled shark hunter Quint in Jaws. Shaw is joined on stage by Alex Brightman, playing a young Richard Dreyfuss, and Colin Donnell as Roy Scheider. Guy Masterson directs.
READ: Ian Shaw Takes a Bite Out of Broadway With His Play The Shark Is Broken
Peter Bradbury, Stephen Dexter, and Coby Getzug are understudies.
The production also has 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 are by Campbell Young Associates. Kate Wilson is the dialect coach and Patrick McCollum is the movement director.
Timothy R. Semon 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 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 Broadway bow is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis and GFour Productions in association with Tulchin Bartner Productions, Eilene Davidson Productions, LD Entertainment, No Guarantees, Jane Bergère, Richard Batchelder, Larry Magid, Theatre Tours International LTD, Shooting The Breeze, Cue To Cue Productions/Jamie deRoy, Marc Goldman/Richard & Claudia Beeny, Jill Lenhart/Yara Shoemaker Couture, Moellenberg/Hornos, Pinnacle Productions/Bill Hanney, and Jesse Singer/Matthew Levy.
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
