Blog Posts For Tag: Broadway

Last week it was reported that the Book of Mormon would be retaining its Tony Award winning cast until 2013. Well, evidently, the casting is not as clear cut. Andrew Rannells, who stars as Elder Kevin Price, might not be part of that returning cast. First, he is going to have to take a few weeks off to head to Los Angeles to work on the new Ryan Murphy sitcom. During those weeks an understudy would have to take his place. Of course, the bigger concern is not that Rannells will be missing for a few weeks, but that he will be gone for an extended period of time, taking up the role for the entire season.

The newest generation of Disney stars has a new role model and that role model is Daniel Radcliffe. First he makes enough money to retire by the time he is 16 by starring in the Harry Potter franchise. Next he showed his junk in Equus to bust that squeaky clean image. Then he finished it all off with a move toward legitimacy by starring in the big Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

The nature of success for a Broadway musical has remained quite the same since the advent of film. First, a show makes to Broadway and sells out, quickly recouping the producers’ investment. Then a national tour is launched. In the post-Lion King world of big budget theater this means that the Broadway show and the tour run concurrently. Add a West End run and then all this leads to a big budget production of a different kind, the kind that graces the silver screen. War Horse quickly concluded along these lines, but it now has Broadway brethren (or perhaps a cousin, since War Horse conquered the London before crossing the Atlantic) in the Rock of Ages.

Most often it is those on stage who fear the written word, but this time the barrels of ink and reams of paper have gotten Ben Brantley in trouble. Noted New York Times theater critic was busy lauding praise upon Hugh Jackman and used a term that sent the collective Internet into a tizzy. He referred to the actor as bisexual.

War Horse’s ascension may seem a recent phenomenon, but time has come to announce cast changes. The most important character, the horse Joey, will always remain. However, the role of Albert Narracott, the boy in desperate search for Joey, will be passed on from Seth Numerich to Andrew Durand. Durand’s Broadway resume is quite impressive, so War Horse tickets for the production at the Vivian Beaumont Theater should remain as popular as ever after the cast change on January 12, 2012.

The summer heat can be fun, but later in July and August it can bring muggy, saturated days. Thankfully it is now November and the fall breeze is in full effect, offering a refreshing blast of lightly chilled air before the temperatures become downright bitter. Broadway is not immune to this sudden change, as the summer big-budget blockbusters like Spider Man and Sister Act have given up their time on the media, and more dramatic offerings grace the live stage. The 2011 theatrics include two world-renown actors and two very serious tomes.

The first War Horse trailer intrigued audiences, gently tugging at the heart strings across the English-speaking world, but this second War Horse trailer takes a tight grip and pulls back as hard as it can. Watching this extended War Horse trailer makes me hold my breath as the title screens and the soft symphonic movie music make me want to cheer while sitting in my chair.

Josh Gad is a busy fellow these days. He is starring in a hit Broadway musical and is cashing in on his new found popularity by landing a gig as a voice over artist on MTV and playing more prominent film roles. Gad has basically ensured that he will be the biggest star once Book of Mormon tickets are collected for the original cast’s final bow.

Wicked the Musical has done more than simply wow audiences; it has been a huge break for many of its principle actors and actresses, especially those who originated the roles. Norbert Leo Butz is one of those actors. He portrayed Fiyero in the original production.

Sometimes you just have to take a moment to take in a story and let the disbelief wash away before contemplating a new Broadway project. It certainly seems like producers are searching for anything to adapt with a musical score. It certainly seemed that way with Spider Man Turn Off the Dark, but this latest project may seem a more unlikely quest.

Not too long ago I remember reading reviews of Julie Taymor’s version of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. One particular reviewer took a turn at being an oracle and stated that the musical would do well during the busy tourist season in the summer, but audiences would shrink and leave the Foxwoods Theatre half empty come fall and winter. Well, the show was rewritten, the preview period extended to record length, and now it appears the reviewer may have to eat his words. Reeve Carney, who portrays Peter Parker and Spider-Man, has had his contract extended to May 12, 2012.

Developing and staging a successful Broadway musical is a difficult task. There are years of workshops and a few tryout runs to perfect the show that one day may be so lucky as to grace the stage of a major Broadway venue. That it the norm, but there are always exceptions to that arduous and spirit breaking process and the runaway hit The Book of Mormon is that very exception.

While War Horse continues to wow audiences as the best performing non-musical over here on Broadway, it also remains a favorite back in its homeland. War Horse tickets to the New London Theatre have been extended until February 2013. This follows the welcoming of its millionth audience member and continuously breaking West End attendance records.

According to TicketNews.com, Wicked once again took the week’s honor as the top overall theater event. With two touring productions and an open-run at the Gershwin on Broadway this is hardly surprising. However, when looking at just the Broadway market, The Book of Mormon dominated the secondary ticket market, selling Book of Mormon tickets at a power score of 31.06 to Wicked’s, which landed at number two, 12.12.

Broadway has been recording and releasing cast recordings since 1931 when Fred and Adele Astaire recording a limited release of songs from the Band Wagon. This was the first step to tearing down the wall between the confines of the theatre and home entertainment and mass media. Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark new music video “Rise Above 1” may have torn down whatever remained standing of that wall.

In the post-Tony Award, post-Fourth of July haze of the humid summer days on the isle of Manhattan, where most producers are simply happy to report recouping investments, one dramatic production boasts an extension. Master Class, the Terrence McNally revival on stage at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, has had its limited run extended a second time, this time until September 4, 2011.

The 65th annual Tony Awards ran like a typical CBS comedy, few surprises but well produced with enough laughs to keep it interesting. The award show began with a hilarious opening number from Neil Patrick Harris and a few choice guests from the Beacon Theatre main floor declared (in song) that Broadway is no longer just for the gay anymore. Then the show officially commenced and the presenters began heaping Tony upon Tony in the Book of Mormon’s award basket (I am not sure this actually exists, but how else would you store nine awards during a live broadcast).

The Book of Mormon is going on tour! This is not an announcement made out of defeat, as it was when Memphis the Musical's quick run on Broadway. No, the Book of Mormon is killing it at the box office, reportedly selling more Book of Mormon tickets than there are seats at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre (102.4 percent according to Playbill's weekly grosses).

Broadway often gets a bad rap. It is known for its penchant for the big Broadway musical with far more elaborate set designs, costumes, light designs, and musicals than the actual plot. Perhaps that is why biopic jukebox musicals and Wicked are so revered and have such staying power, because they either rely on some sort of inherently dramatic story (a biopic) or are inspired by a concerted effort to reframe an old story (Wicked). But every once in a while the New York theater scene redeems itself outside of the musical genre by embracing a touching story (especially if it is from the UK) and that 2011 British import is War Horse.

So here is a simple question: If a Broadway musical is earning well over a million dollars in previews is it possible to truly refer to the musical as an epic failure? This is the angle lost amidst the news that Spider Man Turn Off the Dark has suffered both injuries to the actors and actresses and the now departed director’s pride.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular is set to debut both its national tour and its production at the Radio City Music Hall. On November 5, 2010 the Rockettes will high kick their way into the holidays and Santa will play a little rock and roll.

Al Pacino is coming to Broadway this fall to reprise the role of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice at the Broadhurst Theatre. Pacino seems to have fallen in love with this role, as it will be his second reprisal of the Jewish money-lender who demands a pound of flesh and ultimately death from beloved Antonio.

I have to tell you, this isn’t exactly the hot gossip scoop but it is something I am personally so excited about…. one of my all time favorite shows is back on Broadway. “West Side Story”...who doesn’t just want to start snapping their fingers and dancing the night away with The Jets and The Sharks? The modern day Romeo and Juliet is just a fun show that you won’t want to miss. Who can forget Riff, Bernardo, Anita, Tony and girl named Maria? “The Step It Up and Dance” winner from the Bravo reality TV show, Cody Green, plays Riff and Karen Olivio takes on the role made famous by Chita Rivera, Anita. You might now Olivio from the Broadway show “In the Heights”. IT is just a fun evening with great music and issues that after all this time are still prevalent. And while I am in the theatre mode, I just have to let you know about another oldie but goodie that is back on Broadway – “Hair”. Moving from the 50’s to the 60’s the songs are some of the best, and will make you want to get up and sing. Who can forget “Let the Sun Shine In” and “Aquarius”. If you need a pick me up with all that is going on these days I guarantee great music, hippies, free love, and peace - should help for a little while anyway.

The wonderful world of entertainment continues to cross pollinate. Ideas and stories flow freely from one form to another, from the printed word to stage or the screen, from a stage to television, from any place where an audience can be found to another. This almost incestuous process has its critics, but it cannot be denied. Recently one of the rarest paths of this creative transference has been announced.

Perhaps the most popular musical of the times is story not about a far away made up place like Oz or a biography of a pop group from the ‘60s, but of the theater of war in the Pacific in World War II.