Though the Broadway transfer of Olivier winner Operation Mincemeat is slated to begin previews February 15, the marquee of the Golden Theatre is still dark. The reason? New tariffs on imports from China imposed by President Donald Trump, DKC/O&M (who handles press inquiries for the production) president and Rick Miramontez told AP News. Playbill confirmed the information with production representatives.
The marquee was set to be illuminated by ceramic LED bulbs supplied by Satco, which were originally scheduled to be delivered earlier this month. After Trump announced a 10% tariff on imports from China February 1, the production was told they will arrive by March at the earliest. The marquee sat blank for a suspiciously long time even with the show's first preview looming. It now has the Operation Mincemeat logo apparatus in place, but sans light bulbs.
Previews will still continue as scheduled, with an official opening night set for March 20.
Operation Mincemeat is written and composed by comedy group SpitLip, comprising David Cumming, Felix Hagan, Natasha Hodgson, and Zoë Roberts. Director Robert Hastie will reprise his work for the Broadway bow, along with choreographer Jenny Arnold.
As previously announced, the original London cast, including Cumming, Claire-Marie Hall, Hodgson, Olivier winner Jak Malone, and Roberts, will each make their respective Broadway debuts in the transfer. They will be joined by understudies Brandon Contreras, Sam Hartley, Jessi Kirtley, Gerianne Pérez, and Amanda Jill Robinson.
The creative team will include Olivier-nominated set and costume designer Ben Stones (Standing at the Sky’s Edge), Tony and Olivier-winning lighting designer Mark Henderson (The History Boys), Tony-nominated sound designer Mike Walker (Charlie & The Chocolate Factory), Tony-nominated orchestrator Steve Sidwell (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), Olivier-nominated music director and supervisor Joe Bunker (Spring Awakening), production stage manager Karen Moore (Elf), and casting director Carrie Gardner (&Juliet).
Set in 1943, Operation Mincemeat explores the true story of a secret military operation meant to turn the tide of the war. With the Allies losing, the British military develop an idea: to use the well-dressed corpse of a homeless man to feed Hitler and his advisors incorrect information. The show opened in London's West End in 2023, going on to win two 2024 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical and Best Actor in a Supporting Role, for Jak Malone.
The story has previously been adapted into three books, a TV episode, a play, and two films. The latest adaptation was the 2022 movie starring Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald, Penelope Wilton, and Mark Gatiss.
The Broadway run is being produced by Avalon in association with SpitLip.
Visit OperationBroadway.com.
