The critically acclaimed play “Buyer & Cellar,†an Off Broadway show starring Michael Urie (“Ugly Bettyâ€) as a struggling actor who goes to work for Barbra Streisand, recouped its $500,000 capitalization in just nine weeks of performances at the Barrow Street Theater, the producers announced Thursday.
Few Off Broadway shows ever turn a profit, and even fewer do it this quickly. But “Buyer & Cellar†received strong reviews last spring in its first production at the 99-seat Rattlestick Playwrights Theater, then transferred to its current 199-seat house in late June. The show recouped in late August, according to the lead producer, Darren Bagert, and has grossed more than $1 million at Barrow Street, which has a strong track record of profitability. Another play there, “Tribes,†recouped after its first 10 months of performances last year.
Mr. Urie is set to perform “Buyer & Cellar†next year in Los Angeles and Chicago, the producers said, and talks are under way for productions in San Francisco, Toronto, and Dallas. The play is by Jonathan Tolins and directed by Stephen Brackett.
