1. ZOOM IN to 'The Graduate' marquee 2. ZOOM OUT poster 3. WS media and fans waiting outside the theater 4. SOT John McEnroe, tennis champion: "I think this is going to be very exciting. This is good for Broadway. We always need a little boost." 5. MS John Waters, film director 6. SOT John Waters: "Well I haven't seen it yet..you know, how she plays it. I mean I think that she is a very aggressive Mrs Robinson" 7. MS photographers 8. WS photographers and crowd 9. MS Amy Irving, actress 10.SOT Amy Irving: "Actually I saw it in London, so I already know how good she is, and I am excited to see the new cast and I'm here to be supportive to my friend Kathleen." 11.CU cameraman 12.SOT Amy Irving: "As far as the controversy, I don't know. I remember it from London and I remember what a big deal it was and having see it in London, she looks amazing." 13.ZOOM OUT fans outside the theater 14.Clip of Kathleen Turner and Jason Biggs on stage 15.Clip of Alicia Silverstone and Jason Biggs on stage 16.WS finale 17.MS people leaving theater 18.SOT Art Garfunkel, musician: "I had a good time. I enjoyed the show. I love being with my woman, and the show was a treat 19.SOT Judd Hirsch, actor: "I loved it, this is my protege. This boy, Jason (Biggs), he came alive, I saw a guy become a star on the stage." 20.CU Jason Biggs, actor, leaving the theater 21.MS Alicia Silverstone, actress, leaving the theater 22.MS Kathleen Turner, actress, leaving the theater STORYLINE: THE GRADUATE DEBUTS ON BROADWAY On Thursday night, the record-breaking West End production 'The Graduate', opened in New York, with the largest pre-opening advance for a play in Broadway history. Despite the lacklustre reviews, the British produced play has taken 5.3 million US dollars ahead of its New York opening. The stage version of Mike Nichols' 1967 classic movie brings movie star Kathleen Turner back to the role as the seductive Mrs. Robinson, this time baring all in front of 'American Pie' actor Jason Biggs. 'Clueless' star Alicia Silverstone plays Turner's daughter and Biggs' girlfriend. The launch night audience included 'Traffic' actress Amy Irving - a friend of Turners, and 'Independence Day' actor Judd Hirsch who played opposite Jason Biggs on the young star's broadway debut 'Conversations with My Father' in 1991. Singer-songwriter Art Garfunkel, film director John Waters and tennis champion John McEnroe were also on hand. The story of 'The Graduate' tells of Benjamin Braddock's struggle to comes to terms with his future prospects after graduating from college. Benjamin is lethargic about starting life after university, and frustrates his parents' ambitions by initially rejecting their suggested partner for him, the daughter of family friends, Elaine Robinson. He is shaken out of his apathy after not Elaine but her mother, Mrs Robinson, initiates an affair with him. After indulging in regular casual sex with his parents' friend, played by Archer, Benjamin comes to the realisation that he is, in fact, in love with her daughter Elaine. He then discovered the reasons behind the calculating Mrs Robinson's interest in him - to prevent him and Elaine getting together. 'The Graduate's producers say that the play is one of the hottest tickets in Broadway right now. The scene where Kathleen Turner drops her towel and stays naked on stage for more than 15 seconds, made the American audiences lining up at the box office. The success though, comes despite 'The Graduate's failure to impress the US critics. The Boston Herald said it was 'a mess' and 'precious in the worst sense of the word', while the Boston Globe called it an 'alternatively amusing and frustrating theatre piece.' You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/84388e297f68e7b1803c52f316b4b525 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 21 Jul 2015
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