Many Broadway shows facing final curtain

NEW YORK, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- More than a dozen of New York's Broadway plays and musicals have announced they will stop all showings by the end of January.

The New York Times reported Sunday that among the closing productions, which represent nearly half of all current Broadway showings, are a rendition of "Hairspray" and a performance of the musical "Spring Awakening."

Final curtains also will fall this month on "Young Frankenstein," "13" and "Boeing-Boeing."

The closings will be emotional last connections for theater fans and family members of production stars who show up to cheer on their favorite Broadway performers.

The Times said other potential audience members for the final performances include former cast members who return to witness the closing of their former play or musical.

Tony Award winners Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein have already revisited their former "Hairspray" stomping grounds to bid adieu to the production, the newspaper said.