Month: January 2009

It’s a Hit!

Amidst the fears and tears surrounding the current state of Broadway in our local and national economic crises, it’s refreshing to hear that a show is a hit! In the Heights announced that they have recouped their initial investment, after 366 performances. The show, currently playing the Richard Rodgers Theatre and the recipient of the 2008 Tony award for Best Musical, has bucked the contemporary trend where it usually takes upwards to two years (or more) for a Broadway musical to make back its money. It is also on my shortlist of excursions to make over the next several weeks.

Bernadette Peters Guests on "Ugly Betty"

I’ve never actually seen a single episode of this show (my Thursday night is devoted to the NBC lineup), however it’s worth noting that Bernadette Peters is making a guest appearance on “Ugly Betty” tonight at 8PM on ABC. She’s playing a gorgeous Anna Wintouresque fashion magazine titan. You can have a sneak peak at one of her scenes here.

Broadway League Opposes Theatre Ticket Sales Tax

With the economy of New York state in an incredible budget deficit ($13.7 billion… what?!!), Governor Paterson has a plan of action that would involve taxation on everything from sporting events to movie tickets to theatre tickets, citing precedence in other states. The state would implement a tax of four percent. It doesn’t stop there: NYC also finds itself in similarly dire financial straits and is poised to add a four percent tax as well. Given the current economic state and its already negative impact on the NY theatre community, the Broadway League has taken a definitive stand against the taxation. As it’s highly unlikely that producers will lower theatre ticket prices, it looks as if a night at the theatre is just about to get more expensive.

Yet Another Remake of "Bye Bye Birdie"

It was announced today that Adam Shankman, the man who helmed the 2007 film adaptation of the Hairspray musical will present another remake of the classic Strouse & Adams Best Musical winner Bye Bye Birdie.

According to the playbill article, there have been plans for this remake for some time, including the possibility of updating it to the hip-hop era (which leads me to wonder, how would they work the whole drafting plot point, a major one at that). The original 1963 film featured Tony-winning original Dick Van Dyke repeated his stage success opposite Janet Leigh, Ann-Margret, Maureen Stapleton and fellow original company member Paul Lynde. A second made-for-TV remake in 1995 starred George Wendt, Vanessa Williams and Tyne Daly. While the latter is more faithful to the original stage show, neither can beat the original musical comedy as it plays onstage. Which leads me to my query, why is it that there will be three film versions and not a single Broadway revival of this delightful period satire?

Given that Hairspray was a huge success, I can understand the hiring of Shankman to direct and choreograph. However, factoring in Hairspray and its impending film sequel (as well as Bob: the Musical), I think Shankman might consider other musical properties to film or remake. (Whatever happened to that film version of Urinetown?). I say leave Bye Bye Birdie to the stage for right now, and let Shankman work on more original projects.

Plenty of Roads to Try

So many shows closed today. Limited runs and commercial engagements alike came to an end. However, as always, Broadway carries on. Here is a list of the shows that are set to open on the Rialto over the next couple of months.

The American Plan
Gerald Friedman Theatre (MTC)
Wr: Richard Greenberg (revival)
Dir: David Grindley
Previews 1/2. Opens 1/22.
Mercedes Ruehl, Lily Rabe, Benjamin Eakeley, Austin Lysy, Brenda Pressley

Hedda Gabler
American Airlines Theatre (Roundabout)
Wr: Henrik Ibsen (trans: Christopher Shinn)
Dir: Ian Rickson
Previews 1/6. Opens 1/25.
Mary Louise Parker, Michael Cerveris, Paul Sparks, Peter Stormare

You’re Welcome America, A Final Night With President Bush
Cort Theatre
Wr: Will Ferrell
Dir: Adam McKay
Previews 1/20. Opens 2/5.
Will Ferrell (solo)

The Story of My Life
Booth Theatre
Book: Brian Mill
Music & Lyrics: Neil Bartram
Dir: Richard Maltby, Jr.
Previews 2/3. Opens 2/19.
Will Chase, Malcolm Gets

Guys and Dolls
Nederlander Theatre
Book: Jo Swerling & Abe Burrows
Music & Lyrics: Frank Loesser
Dir: Des McAnuff
Previews 2/3. Opens 3/1.
Craig Bierko, Oliver Pratt, Lauren Graham, Kate Jennings Grant, Titus Burgess & Mary Testa

33 Variations
Eugene O’Neill Theatre
Wr & Dir: Moises Kaufman
Previews: 2/9. Opens 3/9.
Jane Fonda

Impressionism
Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre
Wr: Michael Jacobs
Dir: Jack O’Brien
Previews: 2/28. Opens: 3/12.
Jeremy Irons, Joan Allen, Marsha Mason, Andre de Shields, Michael T. Weiss, Aaron Lazar & Margarita Levieva

Blithe Spirit
Shubert Theatre
Wr: Noel Coward
Dir: Michael Blakemore
Previews: 2.26. Opens: 3.15.
Christine Ebersole, Angela Lansbury, Rupert Everett, Jayne Atkinson, Deborah Rush, Simon Jones.

West Side Story
Palace Theatre
Music: Leonard Bernstein
Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim
Book & Dir: Arthur Laurents
Previews: 2/23. Opens: 3/19.
Matt Cavenaugh, Josefina Scaglione, Karen Olivo, Cody Green & George Akram

Irena’s Vow
Walter Kerr Theatre
Wr: Dan Gordon
Dir: Michael Parva
Previews: 3/10. Opens: 3/29.
Tovah Feldshuh

Hair
Al Hirschfeld Theatre
Music: Galt McDermott
Book & Lyrics: Gerome Ragni & James Rado
Dir: Diane Paulus
Previews: 3/6. Opens: 3/31.
Gavin Creel

Reasons to Be Pretty
Lyceum Theatre
Wr: Neil LaBute
Terry Kinney
Previews: 3/13. Opens: 4/2.
Marin Ireland, Stephen Pasquale, Thomas Sadoski

Rock of Ages
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
Wr: Chris d’Arienzo
Dir: Kristin Hanggi
Previews: 3.20. Opens: 4.7.
Casting has yet to be announced, though I would assume the off-Broadway cast would transfer.

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Belasco Theatre
Wr: August Wilson
Dir: Bartlett Sher
Previews: 3/19. Opens: 4/16.
Casting has yet to be announced.

Mary Stuart
Broadhurst Theatre
Wr: Friedrich von Schiller; trans. Peter Oswald (revival)
Dir: Phyllida Lloyd
Previews: 3/30. Opens: 4/19.
Janet McTeer, Harriet Walter, Brian Murray, Michael Countryman, John Benjamin Hickey, Michael Rudko, Robert Stanton, Maria Tucci, Chandler Williams, Nicholas Woodeson

Accent on Youth
Gerald Friedman Theatre (MTC)
Wr: Samson Raphaelson (revival)
Dir: Daniel Sullivan
Previews: 4.7. Opens: 4.21.
David Hyde Pierce, Charles Kimbrough, Lisa Banes, Mary Catherine Garrison, Byron Jennings

The Philanthropist
American Airlines Theatre (Roundabout)
Wr: Christopher Hampton
Dir: David Grindley
Previews: 4.10. Opens: 4.26.
Matthew Broderick

9 to 5
Marquis Theatre
Music & Lyrics: Dolly Parton
Book: Patricia Resnick
Dir: Joe Mantello
Previews: 4.7. Opens: 4.30.
Alison Janney, Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, Marc Kudisch, Andy Karl, Kathy Fitzgerald, Justin Bohon, Ann Harada, Lisa Howard

Waiting for Godot
Studio 54 (Roundabout)
Wr: Samuel Beckett (revival)
Dir: Anthony Page
Previews: 4.10. Opens: 4.30.
Nathan Lane, Bill Irwin, John Goodman, David Strathairn

Tickets are available through Telecharge or Ticketmaster. You can also find great discount codes at BroadwayBox.com, Playbill Club Offers and Theatremania. Or, if the mood strikes, check out and see if you’re eligible for TDF. Most shows offer rush/lottery programs for day of performance tickets and there is also the inevitably reliable TKTS booths.

Shows currently offering discounts: August: Osage County, Spring Awakening, Mamma Mia!, In the Heights, Chicago, Gypsy, The Little Mermaid, The Phantom of the Opera, Shrek the Musical, The 39 Steps (soon moving to the Helen Hayes), Equus, Mary Poppins, Speed the Plow, Guys and Dolls, Hedda Gabler, Pal Joey, Soul of Shaolin, Spamalot, The American Plan, All My Sons, and The Story of My Life.

This doesn’t even begin to cover all the Off-Broadway shows that are available as well. Get thee to a theatre!!

Quote of the Day

This year, as you watch the lights dim on a performance that has meant something to you, that has made something happen in your heart or your head, you may see the real human being through the mask of the fictional characters a little more vividly. The chorus kid with the megawatt smile, the all-but-legendary musical diva with a devoted following, the up-and-coming young leading man — when the curtain falls they will all return to being actors anxiously awaiting their next engagement, at a scarily perilous time for everybody. So keep clapping, please, and a “Bravo!” or two would surely be appreciated.

– Charles Isherwood in today’s NY Times article “Big Finales, All Together Now: A Month of Broadway Closings”

Once Before It Goes

Can you believe that it took until this afternoon for me to see Hairspray for the first time? I’d seen the original 1988 film, listened to the original cast album and just a few weeks ago caught the finale of the musical film at the Virgin Megastore with Roxie (where we made our initial plans to see this). With the return of Tony winning originals Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur, it became our mission to see this particular show that for whatever reasons fell by the wayside.

The show is a gem from start to finish, quite possibly the strongest of the contemporary musical comedies that have been coming around this decade (and especially one where the script and score are equals; witty, playful and most importantly, funny). Fierstein is a giving a diva turn for the ages, taking on the challenges of playing a middle-aged woman with great success. If you’ve seen the performance, you know what I’m talking about. If you haven’t, believe when I say that he exceeds the hype. Winokur, in spite of the fact she’s turning 36 in a few weeks, is as youthful as ever and has exudes great charm as Tracy.

I also can’t recall a late-run cast that was as polished and focused as this final Hairspray company. The actors were alive and not just going through motions as you can (and I have) witnessed at other long-running hits. Bravo to the director (Jack O’Brien), the choreographer (Jerry Mitchell, whose stage work far surpasses what is seen in the film) and the stage manager for giving NY audiences a show as vibrant and fresh at the end of it’s run as it was at the beginning. It’s sad that this show, which I think should have a couple more years left in its run, is closing tomorrow. Or perhaps I’m more sad that I can’t go back to the Neil Simon to enjoy it again. In spite of the end of the NY run, the beat goes on in London, on tour and will continue in the future when this becomes a mainstay of educational theatre.