Behind the Curtain: 'Chinglish' to fold, 'The Mountaintop' recoups and more

Broadway's bilingual 'Chinglish' to fold
Another new play without a major star bites the dust on Broadway. "Chinglish," the bilingual comedy about an American businessman trying to cut a major deal in China despite major cultural differences (including his inability to speak Mandarin), will close at the end of the month after just 128 shows.

'The Mountaintop' recoups investment
Despite earlier speculation, "The Mountaintop" - the historical fantasy play starring Samuel L. Jackson and Angela Bassett that imagines a chance encounter between Martin Luther King and a motel maid - won't extend its run and will close on Sunday. However, its producers announced that the play has recouped its $3.1 million investment. I haven't noticed any other plays making that announcement lately.

'Anything Goes' revival extended to September
If you have yet to set sail with the Broadway revival of "Anything Goes," extra time has been granted to take the musical-comedy cruise. Roundabout Theatre Company announced that the production, which was slated to close in April, has been extended through Sept. 9. It is not clear if Sutton Foster will remain with the show till then.

'Clybourne Park' confirmed for Broadway
It's finally been officially confirmed that Bruce Norris' Pulitzer-winning play "Clybourne Park," a biting exploration of race relations and gentrification loosely inspired by "A Raisin in the Sun," will play Broadway this spring. Bernard Gersten, executive director of Lincoln Center Theater, told me this months ago, and I broke the news in this column.

Spotted...
Spike Lee, Alan Alda, Cheyenne Jackson and Edie Falco at the opening night of "Porgy & Bess."

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