A limited engagement revival of playwright Jason Miller’s award-winning drama, “That Championship Season,” opened March 6 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Gregory Mosher directs the ensemble cast: Chris Noth, Kiefer Sutherland (in his Broadway debut), Brian Cox, Jim Gaffigan, and Jason Patric, son of the late playwright.

The story centers around four former high school basketball stars (Noth, Sutherland, Gaffigan and Patric). They gather in Scranton, PA, around their ailing coach (Cox) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their win in the state championship game. But as long-held grudges are revealed and their friendships are threatened, they begin to question the value of competition and its meaning in their lives.

The play — which won a Pulitzer Prize, Tony Award and New York Drama Critics Circle Award — made its Broadway debut in 1972. The work went on to become a feature film in 1982, also written and directed by Miller. Its 2011 revival is produced by Robert Cole, Frederick Zollo, and the Shubert Organization.

TFL and ATBS for ticketing professionals

“That Championship Season” began previews February 9 at the 1,071-seat Jacobs Theatre, where it has seen an average capacity of 89 percent. Regular ticket prices range from $61.50 to $129, with premium seats priced from $176.50 up to $226.50. Leading up to opening night, the play’s three weeks of previews resulted in a total gross of $1,704,059, based on the Broadway League’s numbers.

Evening performances are scheduled Tuesday at 7 p.m., and Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. Matinees are Wednesday and Saturday at 2 p.m., and Sunday at 3 p.m. The limited engagement’s closing night is May 29, 2011.

Jacobs Theatre is located at 242 West 45th Street in New York, NY. “That Championship Season” runs approximately one hour and 50 minutes, with an intermission. More scheduling and ticketing details are available on the production’s official Web site.

Opening Night: “That Championship Season”

Publication Critic Review
Variety Marilyn Stasio “…what this ensemble really lacks is team identity.”
New York Times Ben Brantley “Mr. Mosher’s direction is self-consciously stagy (you can imagine the blocking directions penciled into each actor’s script), and there is little natural flow or friction among the performances.”
USA Today Elysa Gardner “…a capably crafted and solidly acted show…”
TheaterMania David Finkle “…the cast brings this emotionally charged drama to urgent and abrasive life. “
Hollywood Reporter David Rooney “…they fail to get under their characters’ skin or the audience’s in a play that seems past its expiration date.”
New York Daily News Joe Dziemianowicz “Director Gregory Mosher maximized the power of Arthur Miller’s ‘A View From the Bridge’ last season, but he’s stymied by this less durable work.”
New York Post Elisabeth Vincentelli “Gregory Mosher’s star-studded production…is a train wreck.”
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