The Orca's voyage at the Golden Theatre on Broadway has come to an end. The Shark Is Broken, the behind-the-scenes play about the three stars of the 1975 movie Jaws, finishes its limited engagement November 19. Previews began July 25 and the show officially opened August 10. At time of closing, it will have played 18 previews and 118 regular performances. 

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. The film is considered the first summer blockbuster and earned three Academy Awards. However, the on-set squabbles between stars Robert Shaw and Richard Dreyfuss became Hollywood fables. 

Shaw plays his father Robert, the English actor who starred in the film as the grizzled shark hunter Quint. Alex Brightman plays a young Dreyfuss (who did attend the production) and Colin Donnell plays Roy Scheider. 

READ: Ian Shaw Takes a Bite Out of Broadway With His Play The Shark Is Broken

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.

close gallery

0 of

Check Out Production Photos of Ian Shaw, Colin Donnell, and Alex Brightman in Broadway's The Shark is Broken

Next Slide  

You may also like

• 
  Photos: Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe Help Lindsay Mendez Get Married
• 
  Photos: Gloria Steinem, Heidi Schreck, Huma Abedin, and Carol Jenkins Attend Panel Discussion at Suffs
• 
  Photos: Lincoln Center Theater's Uncle Vanya Opening Night

Peter Bradbury, Stephen Dexter, and Coby Getzug are understudies for the production.

Guy Masterson makes his Broadway directorial debut, leading a creative team that includes 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 is by Campbell Young Associates. Kate Wilson is the dialect coach and Patrick McCollum is the movement director.

Timothy R. Simon 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 Broadway bow is produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Scott Landis, and GFour Productions, with Tulchin Partner Productions, Eileen Davidson Productions, LD Entertainment, No Guarantees, Theatre Tours International LTD/Shooting the Breeze, Richard Batchelder, Jane Bergère, Larry Magic, Cue to Cue Productions/Jamie deRoy, Tara Shoemaker Couture/Jill Lenhart, Marc Goldman/Richard and Claudia Beeny, Moellenberg/Hornos, and Jesse Singer/Matthew Levy.

close gallery

0 of

Go Inside Opening Night of Broadway's The Shark Is Broken

Next Slide  

You may also like

• 
  Photos: Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe Help Lindsay Mendez Get Married
• 
  Photos: Gloria Steinem, Heidi Schreck, Huma Abedin, and Carol Jenkins Attend Panel Discussion at Suffs
• 
  Photos: Lincoln Center Theater's Uncle Vanya Opening Night