Charles Busch pulls new play from Manhattan Theater Club season

Playwright Charles Busch (The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, Psycho Beach Party) has yanked his latest play, Our Leading Lady, from the Manhattan Theater Club's current season, according to Variety. The show was to have had its world premiere in March, but Busch said, "I've done a number of shows recently that I think would have done better if they'd played out of town first, including Taboo," referring to the Rosie O'Donnell-produced musical about Boy George that lost its Broadway investment and closed after 100 performances. "The very people who complain that New York City doesn't see new plays are the same people shining the spotlight on your every move," Busch added. Our Leading Lady tells the story of real-life actress Laura Keen, who was onstage at Ford's Theater when Abraham Lincoln was assassinated. While Busch often plays the lead female role in his stage productions--Allergist's Wife was an exception--he tells Variety, "I think it would be better to cast a woman."