Theater News

Nerds, With Rory O'Malley and Bryan Fenkart, Postpones Broadway Engagement

The musical will not open this season after all.

Rory O'Malley as Bill Gates and Bryan Fenkart as Steve Jobs in a promotional image for the new Broadway musical Nerds.
Rory O'Malley as Bill Gates and Bryan Fenkart as Steve Jobs in a promotional image for the new Broadway musical Nerds.
(© Matthew Murphy)

Due to the loss of a major investor, the upcoming Broadway production of the new musical Nerds has postponed its run. Directed by Casey Hushion, the show was scheduled to begin previews March 31 at the Longacre Theatre, with an opening night set for April 21.

Nerds explores the rise and rivalry of tech pioneers Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. The announced Broadway company included Tony nominee Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon) and Bryan Fenkart (Memphis) will star as tech pioneers Gates and Jobs, alongside Patti Murin (Holiday Inn) as Sally, Lindsay Mendez (Dogfight) as Myrtle, Rob Morrison (Avenue Q) as Paul Allen, Benny Elledge (Chicago) as Steve Wozniak, and Kevin Pariseau (Legally Blonde) as Tom Watson. The ensemble will be made up of Tracee Beazer, Pierce Cassedy, Luther Creek, Joshua Franklin, Katie Lee Hill, Raymond J. Lee, and Bethany Moore.

Nerds features a book and lyrics by Jordan Allen-Dutton and Erik Weiner, with a score by Hal Goldberg. It had its premiere at the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival, before playing a 2007 run at the Philadelphia Theatre Company, where it received Barrymore Awards for Outstanding Original Music and Outstanding New Play. It ran in 2013 at North Carolina Theatre and played a return engagement at Philadelphia Theater Company. Along with technology titans Jobs and Gates, the character list also includes Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak and Microsoft cofounder Paul Allen.

A national tour is expected to be in the works.