Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience.
Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in The Audience on Broadway has been much anticipated. Mirren starts previews tonight for the show, which will open on March 8 and run through June 28 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The play, which is written by Peter Morgan and directed by Stephen Daldry, offers a fascinating premise revolving around 60 years of private, weekly meeting between the queen and her prime ministers. Continue reading
McDonald will make at least 50 appearances from Feb 13 through Sep 5.
Audra McDonald, who won her sixth Tony for her portrayal of Billie Holliday in Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar And Grill, performs at a pace that would be daunting to most. He schedule is all encompassing and diverse. McDonald has earned plaudits for her roles in various Broadway shows, including Ragtime, A Raison in the Sun, and Porgy and Bess. Here’s a look at a few of the appearances that are upcoming.
If you would like to see this great performer live on stage, you’ll have plenty of opportunities. She starts her winter tour, which will play Boston, New York, and Los Angeles, on February 13 at the University of Connecticut. Her final “winter tour” date is July 15, 2015 at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA.
McDonald won her sixth Tony portraying Billie Holliday.
After her 32-city tour, McDonald will appear in Spamalot, which is part of the Hollywood Bowl’s 2015 summer season. She opens July 31 and closes August 2. After her run in Spamalot, she will appear at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the Eugene O’Neill classic A Moon for the Misbegotten from Aug. 5-23. The six-time Tony-winner will star with Tony Award nominee Will Swenson.
Plus, McDonald will perform in a Sing-A-Long Sound of Music on June 26, which will pay homage to the 50th anniversary of the Academy Award winning movie starring Julie Andrews. On September 1 and 3, she will perform American Classics with the American Ballet Theatre and the L.A. Philharmonic.
The multi-award winning McDonald always seems to be involved in five or six upcoming projects. The ultimate performer, McDonald is equally at home in plays and musicals. Try to see her, as she will perform across America at least 45 times from February through September. She is one of out finest performers.
Patti LuPone to star in Shows for Days by Douglas carter Beane.
Patti LuPone, star of numerous Broadway shows and Tony winner, returns to Broadway in a new play by Douglas Carter Beane. The play is an autobiographical piece entitled Shows for Days. Jerry Zaks will direct the play, which opens June 29 at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. Previews will begin June 4.
LuPone with Winger in The Anarchist.
LuPone, who last appeared on Broadway with Debra Winger in David Mamet’s The Anarchist, is now performing in The Ghosts of Versailles at the L.A. Opera. Her Broadway stage credits include two Tony winning performances, one for her portrayal of Mamma Rose in the revival of Gypsy and the other for her creation of the role of Eva Perón in the Broadway premiere of Evita. Other stage appearances include leads in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Sweeney Todd, and Anything Goes. She also had a 68-performance run with Evita co-star Many Patinkin in An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, which ran at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre from November 21, 2011 to January 13, 2012.
The autobiographical stage rendering by Beane is drawn from his experience as a teen in Reading, Pennsylvania. The play focuses on a 14-year-old named Car who becomes inspired by a woman running a community theatre group at the Prometheus Theatre. The woman, played by LuPone, has dedicated her life to the theatre group, producing, directing, designing, and starring in their productions. Further casting and creative team members will be announced at a later date for Shows for Days.
Parsons, in Harvey, will star in An Act of God.
Emmy winner and Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons will play the ultimate roe, God, in the Roundabout production of An Act of God. An Act of God, which is being adapted by David Javerbaum, who wrote the book of the same name, will preview May 5, 2015, at Studio 54 and will open on May 28 for a limited run. Parson played Elwood P. Dowd in the Roundabout’s crucially acclaimed revival of the comedy Harvey.
Neal Patrick Harris singing “It’s not just for gays anymore.”
As a former executive producer and writer of The Daily Show with John Stewart, Javerbaum won 11 Emmys. He won two more for his work with co-writer Adam Schlesinger in creating two songs for Neil Patrick Harris for two different Tony telecasts, including the opening number for the 2011 show, which featured the hook that Broadway’s “not just for gays anymore.” Javerbaum with co-writer Schlesinger was also nominated for a 2008 Tony for the score of the musical Cry-Baby.
Javerbaum commented on his upcoming production of the play An Act of God, saying, “I am deeply disappointed that Jeffrey Finn has decided to produce this show. It will force me to continue my unwanted professional association with God, an abstract entity who has given me nothing but discomfort and agita. It is my desperate hope that we close out of town.”
Not a lot is presently known about the show except that it is not a musical and it will certainly be a comedy. When it was initially published in 2011 the book was described by the Washington Post as being “like The Bible, if The Bible were narrated by Mel Brooks on crack-laced manna,” while the New York Times said that it was “fearless…. A recklessly funny series of gags about all things religious and quite a few things secular too.”
More information will be forthcoming about An Act of God.
George Takei stars in Allegiance.
The Broadway musical Allegiance treats a subject matter that has been investigated in books and film but rarely on stage and certainly not in a memorable musical. Allegiance, a musical set 60 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese, is the story of a Japanese-American family forced to leave their California farm for an internment camp. Now seen by many historians as a terrible action by the U.S. government and as a black eye on the U.S., after Pearl Harbor thousands of Japanese-American families were forced to leave their homes and were remanded to these camps for years.
Allegiance at the Old Globe Theatre.
Allegiance, with a book by Marc Acito and music and lyrics by Jay Kuo, begins 60 years to the date after the attack on Pearl Harbor. A young reporter has tracked down World War II veteran Sam Otsuka (George Takei) and wants to know his story. Although Sam is reluctant to tell it, he does share what was his family’s often painful and divisive journey during World War II.
Allegiance is a story of hopes betrayed but not lost and of the struggle of Sam, his sister, Kei, and the rest of his family. Sam and Kei must wrestle with extreme emotions that include patriotism and allegiance to America and the feelings they have for their Japanese roots and traditions. In this musical an entire world is transformed.
Although the theatre is not yet known, the dates are, as Allegiance is set to preview on Broadway starting October 6, 2015 and to open November 8, 2015. The musical is directed by Stafford Arima whose credits include the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz and the “revisal” of the musical Carrie, which was also produced Off-Broadway. Arima directed the premiere production of Allegiance in 2012 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. More information will be forthcoming on Allegiance.
Broadway vet Robert Creighton will star.
Cagney!, a high-powered musical about an equally high-powered performer, James Cagney, will receive its New York premiere this May. It will be produced by the York Theatre Company, which is celebrating 40 years of developing new stage musicals as well as presenting revivals of classic shows. The new musical, which features a book by Peter Colley and music & lyrics by Robert Creighton and Christopher McGovern, will be directed by Bill Castellino and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse. In 2010, Cagney! Won Florida’s Carbonell award for “Best New Work.” Two of its previous productions have set box office records.
Broadway vet Robert Creighton will star as Cagney. Creighton, who made his Broadway debut in 2003 in Laughing Room Only, a show conceived by and starring comedian Jackie Mason, has been in various Broadway musicals, including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Chicago and Anything Goes.
Cagney as George M. Cohan.
The musical follows Cagney, the legendary film star who started out in vaudeville, from his Lower East Side origins, through his song and dance period, to his becoming a massive Hollywood star. Augmenting the original score are various George M. Cohan songs, which are often associated with Cagney due to the fact that the film star played Cohan, one of America’s most popular stage performers, in the movie Yankee Doodle Dandy. During his long film career, James Cagney played a wide range of characters including war heroes, heartless gangsters, and corrupt politicians.
Tough guy Cagney.
The musical, which is performed by a cast of six, offers insights into the caring, highly intelligent, and eminently skilled actor who created some of Hollywood’s most memorable tough guys. Cagney is noted for having given the following advice when he was asked what the secret to acting was, “Learn your lines, kid.”
Performances for the new musical Cagney! will begin on Tuesday, May 19, 2015 at 7:00 p.m. The limited run will end on Sunday, June 21, 2015. The York Theatre Company is located at Saint Peter’s with its entrance on East 54th Street, a bit east of Lexington Avenue.
Tony winner Falsettos back on Broadway spring 2016.
James Lapine, who directed the original 1992 Broadway production of Falsettos, will direct the show again. The musical, which is a combination of two one-act musicals, The March of the Falsettos and Falsettoland, will be on a Broadway stage in spring 2016. The original production won the 1993 Tonys for Best Score (Finn) and Best Book of a Musical (Lapine and Finn).
Falsettos original Broadway cast.
Falsettos is the story of a family that is a mish mash of folks, including Marvin, who was married to Trina, but who revealed he was gay and left her to be with Whizzer. Marvin wants “A Tight Knit Family,” and the musical focuses on this simple but difficult to attain dream. Marvin must negotiate numerous relationships, including those with Whizzer, Trina, Jason, his 10-year-old son, and Dr. Mendel, a psychiatrist who Marvin is seeing and who, upon meeting Trina, is instantly attracted to her.
Some of the more memorable numbers from Falsettos include Four Jews in a Room Bitching, March of the Falsettos, Jason’s Therapy, and What Would I Do? Ultimately, the journey is Marvin’s. He eventually comes to grips with many of the challenges of his life, related to love, family, and responsibility.
Producer Jordan Roth said, “I am part of a large club of theater lovers who were changed by this show, who passionately believe that Falsettos is ‘our show.’ I can’t wait to have our show on Broadway again.” Yet to be determined are the show’s theatre, dates, creative team, and cast.
Owens and Clark
Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical will have its world premiere at the Dallas Theater Center this fall, running from September 2 through October 11. Hew Haw, the extremely popular country music variety show, which ran from June 15, 1969 to September 19, 1992, was set in Kornfield Kounty. It included some of the best pickers and grinners in the business, including Roy Clark and Buck Owens; comedy sketches, and many pretty ladies.
2015 Grammy nominee Brandy Clark
Directed by Gary Griffin, Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical, the show features a book by Robert Horn and a score by two country music stars: 2015 Grammy nominee Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally. Like the TV show, the stage musical takes place in present day Kornfield Kounty.
The musical tells the story of Misty Mae. She is a beautiful, hometown country gal who has very big dreams that reside in the big city of Tampa. She follows those dreams and then returns to Kornfield Kounty with a new heartthrob. Her slick boyfriend does not impress Misty Mae’s family or friends. Has love blinded this country girl; is the love of her life a fancy city grafter; will life ever be normal again? These are just a few of the pressing questions in Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical.
There has been no formal Broadway announcement regarding Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical. The musical did have a reading in December 2013. But the creative are first class and include set design by John Lee Beatty, costumes by Mara Blumenfeld, and choreography by Denis Jones. Director Griffin made his Broadway debut in 2005 when he helmed The Color Purple.
New Musical First Wives Club premieres in Chicago
The new musical, First Wives Club, which is based on the hit 1996 movie and Olivia Goldsmith’s best selling novel of the same name, is now in rehearsals in Chicago. The show is slated to run from February 17-March 29 and then it has its eyes on Broadway. The musical stars Tony Award-winner Faith Prince, Christine Sherrill, and Carmen Cusack.
Stars Faith Prince, Christine Sherrill, and Carmen Cusack.
The story in this musical comedy is one of revenge. The phrase “hell hath no fury as a woman scorned” certainly rings true in First Wives Club, as three former college friends reunite after each has been dumped by their respective husbands for young women. The three friends decide to make sure that they wreak revenge on the men they believed in, sacrificed for, and loved. Their vengeance is clever, motivated, and exacting. The relationships, situations, and characters collide for ongoing hilarity as the three divorced women are vindicated.
There’s a lot of energy, comedy, and drive that goes into their plan.
Those in charge of putting this show together artistically are premium players. The book for the musical is by Linda Bloodworth Thomason (Designing Women), the score, which includes originals and classics, is by Motown legends Holland-Dozier-Holland, and direction is by Simon Phillips who staged the stunning Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical. Thomason, who is a five-time Emmy nominee, has built her reputation by having created some of the most empowered female characters that have graced pop culture.
Veteran producer Elizabeth Williams heads a team that includes Paul Lambert and Jonas Neilson. Williams’ most recent Broadway efforts include Waiting for Godot and No Man’s Land, starring Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart, and Catch Me if You Can. To get to Chicago for tech rehearsals, Williams, whose flight was cancelled due to bad weather, took a 24-hour train ride. The show will play its run in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre. The show is expected to go to Broadway.
Larry David was christened last night, Monday, February 2, 2015. Symbolically, that is, as the sultan of the comic schlemiel and schlimazel performed for the first time on Broadway in the first play he’s authored for The Great White Way. The Monday night crowd at the Cort Theatre had a sort of David laugh and love fest.
This is a show that has an automatic following, as two shows that he created, Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO), have had droves of loyal fans who love David’s humor. In Seinfeld, Jason Alexander played the character based on David. In Curb Your Enthusiasm, David plays himself. The same seems to be true in Fish in the Dark.
David in rehearsal for Fish in the Dark.
David has said that the comedy Fish in the Dark was inspired by the death of a friend’s father. And although that situation may not seem to be fitting as inspiration for a comedy, in Larry David’s world it is. The characters David plays are guys who dress sort of casual-sloppy, like what they like, and say what they think without any filter.
The focus of Fish in the Dark is on two brothers, one played by David and the other by Ben Shenkman. Together they attempt to deal with the death of their dad while life goes on around them. There are a lot of David moments, such as wondering if you should tip the doctor, asking is it okay to bring a date with you when you visit someone in the hospital, and wondering what country most looks like death itself? (It’s Norway.)
David signing autographs.
From the moment David entered into the scene, the audience was enthralled. The theatre of fans saw the Larry David they know- the guy dressed in a floppy sport jacket, wearing a blousy T-shirt, ironed khakis, and comfortable sneakers. They were at home with him and with the lines he said and had written, some of which were straight from his HBO series. Those familiar lines seemed to sit just fine with the first night audience.
Many fans waited outside the stage door to catch a glimpse of David. The writer/actor signed autographs and clumsily chit chatted, noting that he had to do the show again tomorrow. Overall it was a good first preview for David and company. Fish in the Dark opens on March 5 for a limited run.
Webber’s latest, School of Rock, offered open calls in NYC and Chicago.
The new Andrew Lloyd Webber show School of Rock, The Musical, which he has developed with Glenn Slater and Julian Fellowes, offered young Broadway hopefuls and teen musicians the chance to strut their stuff in an open call yesterday. Dozens showed up to get a chance to be seen and heard.
The Logo for the stage musical.
There were teens and pre-teens, many of them rock guitarists, and all with dreams of being in show business. Some were from just a few blocks away and others travelled four or more hours to wait in the unkind weather and be seen. The musical also ran a concurrent open casting call for young performers in Chicago.
The kids were auditioning to be art of the young rock band that is formed by a substitute teacher at a private school. A variety of talents are needed, including guitarists, bass players, drummers, and vocalists.
The musical is based on the 2003 hit Hollywood comedy of the same name, which starred Jack Black. The film was produced by Paramount Pictures and directed by Richard Linklater. The movie was exceedingly popular and highly praised. It grossed more than $130 million worldwide.
The film centers on Dewey Finn (Jack Black). Finn is a young guy who wants to be rock star, but is having a tough time getting any traction in his career. In fact, he can’t make ends meets at all, and so he pretends to be a substitute teacher and lands a teaching gig at a prestigious private school. He realizes that his fifth grade class has some awesome rock chops and decides to organize them into a rock band in order to win the Battle of the Bands contest.
Jack Black was a big hit in the musical.
The new songs have not yet been announced by the stage musical; songs from the film that may be used include “School of Rock,” “Fight,” “Heal Me, I’m Heartsick,” and “It’s a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock ‘n’ Roll).”
School of Rock, The Musical will preview at the Winter Garden Theatre starting Monday, November 2, 2015. It is scheduled to open December 6. Laurence Connor, who directed the current Broadway revival of Les Miserables, will direct the musical, and JoAnn M. Hunter will choreograph.
Anna Louizos will design scenery and costumes, Natasha Katz lighting, and Mick Potter sound. Nina Lannan is the Executive Producer for School of Rock, The Musical.
Williams’ comedy, Mrs. Doubtfire, to be stage musical.
The hit film Mrs. Doubtfire, in which Robin Williams starred as a dad who cross-dresses and becomes an aging housekeeper in order to see his kids, is being made into a stage musical. The news was first heard in an interview on January 22nd broadcast Entertainment Weekly Radio with Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken.
Alan Menken announced he is composing the score.
Alan Menken revealed that he and David Zippel were writing the music and lyrics, respectively, for, Mrs. Doubtfire, and Harvey Fierstein the book. Menken and Zippel collaborated on the Disney animated film Hercules. Fierstein’s latest hit is the long running musical Kinky Boots, which he co-wrote with Cyndi Lauper. Menken is presently represented on Broadway by the musical Aladdin.
Menken observed, “Harvey Fierstein is writing the book, David Zippel is writing the lyrics, I’m writing the music, and it’s going very well. It’s in its early stages, and that’s probably all I can say. We’re really enjoying working on it.”
Fierstein, who will write the book for the musical, played Williams’ brother in the film.
The movie Mrs. Doubtfire was popular with fans when it came out in 1993, but it got mixed reviews from critics. Along with starring in the movie, Williams served as the producer. Other stars included Fierstein and Sally Fields.
Although it received low grades from some reviewers when it was first released, over the yearsMrs. Doubtfire has found some redemption. The movie was listed 67th in the American Film Institute’s 100 Years, 100 Laughs: America’s Funniest Movies, which is a ranking of the 100 funniest movies of the 20th century. Also, Bravo ranked it 40th on its list of 100 Funniest Movies of All Time.
Williams, beloved by many as a comedian and actor, shocked the world this past August with his suicide. He was, at that time, preparing to star in the sequel to Mrs. Doubtfire. The musical is in its early stages of development.
