'Silence! The Musical' to close Dec. 30

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NEW YORK, Nov. 28 (UPI) -- "Silence! The Musical," a stage parody of the big-screen thriller "Silence of the Lambs," will end its New York run Dec. 30, producers said Wednesday.

When it wraps its 18-month run, the production will have played a total of 447 performances and eight previews.

Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through Aug. 13, 2011, "Silence!" was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theaters twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in Manhattan's Times Square.

"The laugh-out-loud raunchy satire, 'Silence! The Musical,' features a singing chorus of floppy eared lambs narrating the action as Buffalo Bill gleefully dances a hoedown while kidnapping hapless Catherine Martin," a press release said.

"Even Dr. Lecter, scary as ever, sings about the life he'd like to lead someday outside the prison walls. Ever since 'Silence!' moved uptown last summer to the Elektra Theatre, the enthusiastic audience response has become even more vocal. Just last week, as Buffalo Bill was singing about his psychotic predilection for plus-sized females in 'Are You About a Size 14?,' a woman in the front row shouted out: 'Don't look here, buddy. I'll [expletive] you up!'"

Featured in the cast are David Ayers, Pamela Bob, Harry Bouvy, Ashlee Dupre, Natalie Joy Johnson, Howard Kaye, James Moye, Topher Nuccio, Ronica V. Reddick, Sam Rogers, Kimberly Stern and Doug Trapp.