Broadway shuffle: L.A. show moves in, ‘Superstar’ could go

Some on- and off-Broadway shuffles were announced Tuesday: “Small Engine Repair” is New York bound while”Jesus Christ Superstar”could exit sooner than expected.

Playwright-actor John Pollono’s twisted buddy comedy “Small Engine Repair,” which premiered last year in Los Angeles at the Rogue Machine Theatre, will be playing off-Broadway at MCC Theater from May 16 through June 23, 2013.

Pollono and Jon Bernthal (“The Walking Dead”) will reprise their roles from the Los Angeles production; no further casting was announced. MCC alum Jo Bonney will direct.

“Small Engine Repair” earned some L.A. accolades, includng the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Playwriting. In April, critic Margaret Gray wrote in The Times that the show was a “stunning investigation of classism, sexism, the lonely joys and terrors of bringing up a child, and the limits and possibilities of friendship.”

Meanwhile, the producers of “Jesus Christ Superstar” announced that unless ticket sales improve, the Broadway musical will close July 1.

The Gospel-based rock opera, which has an open-ended run at New York’s Neil Simon Theatre, come July will have played 116 performances since its March 22 premiere.

“Superstar” received two Tony nominations this year: for revival of a musical (the award went to the Gershwins’ “Porgy and Bess”) and for featured actor in a musical, Josh Young (who lost to Michael McGrath for “Nice Work If You Can Get It”).

RELATED:

‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ on Broadway: What did critics think?

Theater review: ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at La Jolla Playhouse

Theater review: Rogue Machine’s ‘Small Engine Repair’ at Theatre Theater