Julia Roberts set for Broadway debut

Julia Roberts

This recent but undated photo, supplied by the producers of 'Three Days of Rain,' shows Paul Rudd and Julia Roberts in a scene from the Broadway production of 'Three Days of Rain.' The play opens Wednesday, April 19, 2006, after three weeks of sold-out preview performances. The play also stars Bradley Cooper. (AP Photo/Producers of 'Three Days of Rain,Joan Marcus)

NEW YORK - Julia Roberts, Movie Star, officially becomes Julia Roberts, Stage Star, when the Oscar winner opens Wednesday on Broadway in a revival of Richard Greenberg's "Three Days of Rain."

Not that her marquee status was in doubt during the play's three weeks of sold-out preview performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Each night, as the performance ends, fans gather behind barriers and across 45th Street from the Jacobs to catch a glimpse and get Playbills autographed. The theater's security team has set up an exclusive pen for ticket holders, who can line up on one side of the stage door.

Last Thursday, for example, a few hundred people had gathered on either side of the stage door and across the street. A half dozen police officers patrolled the area, shouting, "Off the streets! Everyone up on the sidewalks, now!" But the crowd grew as passers-by joined in. When traffic stopped a bus directly in front of the theater, the crowd across the street broke into loud boos and catcalls, which coincidentally greeted Roberts as she finally emerged from the theater.

She signed a couple of programs in haste and jumped into a black SUV.

At least one fan forgave Roberts for her brevity. "To be honest, she would have been trampled had she stuck around since people were jumping in front of the bus to get a look," said Erin Rosa. "Julia waved from the van — that's good enough for me."

Those demanding more than a quick look at Roberts have pretty much purchased all the tickets for the play's entire run, which ends June 18. The show, which also stars Paul Rudd and Bradley Cooper, could possibly extend for a few more weeks. The theater's next tenant, " Martin Short Fame Becomes Me," begins previews July 22 and opens Aug. 10.

For Broadway, Roberts' appearance during one of the theater's busiest springs in years, has been a huge event and a public-relations blessing.

"A major film or TV star appearing on Broadway, or in any theater for that matter, brings with them a number of assets," said Howard Sherman, executive director of the American Theatre Wing. "First and foremost, there's the talent that has lofted them into the position of being a star.