The Roundabout Theater Company announced on Thursday that it is postponing its planned Broadway revival of the musical "The Full Monty" and replacing it with a production of Eugène Ionesco’s play "Rhinoceros." This scheduling change shifts the lineup for the current Broadway season, with "Rhinoceros" now set to open on April 25 at the Todd Haimes Theater, the venue originally designated for "The Full Monty."

The Roundabout cited “cast availability” as the reason for the postponement of "The Full Monty," which had been scheduled as the final opening of the season. The company has not yet provided a new date for the musical’s return. “Rhinoceros” will begin previews on April 7 with a limited run scheduled to conclude on June 13.

Ionesco’s 1959 absurdist play, which explores themes of conformity and fascism through the story of a French town whose residents transform into rhinoceroses, has a notable Broadway history dating back to a 1961 production featuring Zero Mostel and Eli Wallach. This current staging originated at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where it played in August and September with actors Paul Giamatti, John Turturro, and Tatiana Maslany. For the Broadway production, the cast will include Turturro, Tony Shalhoub, and Maslany.

The production is directed by Diane Paulus, artistic director of the American Repertory Theater and a Tony Award-winning director with multiple Broadway credits, including revivals of "Pippin" and "Hair," as well as recent work on "Waitress," "Jagged Little Pill," and the Off Broadway immersive show "Masquerade."

The three lead actors bring extensive theater experience alongside their film and television careers. Tony Shalhoub is a four-time Tony nominee and 2018 winner for best leading actor in a musical for "The Band’s Visit." Maslany has appeared on Broadway in "Network" and "Grey House," while Turturro has performed in the 2003 production of "Life x 3" and various Off Broadway shows.

This programming change reflects a broader trend on Broadway toward plays over musicals, as rising production costs have made long-running musical revivals more financially challenging. Currently, four musical revivals remain on Broadway this season, including "The Fantasticks," which is scheduled to begin previews next week, and three planned for early next year: "Evita," "The Sound of Music," and "Damn Yankees."

Several new musicals are also slated to open on Broadway soon. These include "Wanted" and "Galileo" later this year, followed by early 2025 openings of "Dolly," "Purple Rain," "Paddington," and "Warriors." Additionally, a new production of "Dirty Dancing" is planned, though its classification as a new musical or revival remains uncertain due to prior touring versions.