Captain America is making his Broadway debut ? sans the superpowers.
Film actor Chris Evans is set to star in this month?s revival of the 2001 play Lobby Hero, alongside Michael Cera (This is Our Youth), Bryan Tyree Henry (The Book of Mormon, The Fortress of Solitude), and Bel Powley (Arcadia, Elephants). Written by award-winning playwright Kenneth Lonergan in the ?90s and brought to life on-stage by Trip Cullman, Broadway World reports that Lobby Hero began previews in March 1 and will premiere on Monday, March 26, at the newly renovated Helen Hayes Theatre.
Personal versus professional
?Typically, I play guys who are little more taciturn and selfless ? leaders. This guy is not that,? Evans told the press in a statement about his character, Bill. The unpredictable partner to an intense rookie cop (Powley), Evans? character clashes with a young security guard (Cera) and his stern boss (Henry) in the lobby of a Manhattan apartment. The unassuming setting transforms from a simple waiting area to the site of a murder investigation, with the four characters blurring the lines between the personal and professional aspects of life.
Lobby Hero originally premiered over 17 years ago Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons under the helm of Drama Desk and Obie Award winner Mark Brokaw. It was subsequently staged in the John Houseman Theatre and made its UK premiere at the Donmar Warehouse in 2002. Cullman?s iteration of Lobby Hero is the play?s fifth overall, and the first time it is done by a different director.
Regarding Lonergan?s four-character script, Curtain Up?s Elysse Summer describes it as, ?a most smoothly plotted and crowd pleasing play.? Lonergan, whose most recent work in the film Manchester by the Sea has given him plenty of fresh accolades, manages to paint a vivid slice of contemporary Manhattan life within the two-hour play, with an emphasis on humor and its manifestations in moral struggles.
Expanding horizons
Lobby Hero is another one of Evans? courageous moves to push for further career growth beyond his most famous role: Captain America in Marvel?s Cinematic Universe. Part of this endeavor is his starring role in Marc Webb?s upcoming feature Gifted, as well as the 2014 film Before We Go, which Evans directed, produced, and starred in.
Still, one cannot deny the influence of his superhero roles in propelling Evans? career to new heights. Prior to his role as Captain America, Evans starred as the Human Torch in Fantastic Four as well as its 2007 sequel, The Rise of the Silver Surfer. He then made a natural transition into America?s hero in his first Marvel film in 2011 with Captain America: The First Avenger. Since then, Evans has worked within the Marvel Cinematic Universe as one of its most important protagonists. The Washington Post argues that Evans? role is a major factor in Captain America?s success, with which he has starred in a total of eight released films thus far, with two more set to hit theaters in the coming years.
His role as Captain America has helped herald in an unprecedented golden age of superhero movies, which, in turn, has helped develop a number of different merchandise and related activities. The global success of Marvel?s superheroes has brought about a whole slew of superhero-themed books, toys, television shows, and games. Many of the games on the Slingo gaming platform, for one, have been influenced directly by this superhero craze, with games like Wonder Woman and Thunderstruck among its roster inspired by DC and Marvel characters. Such titles allow superhero fans to enjoy a new dimension of entertainment related to their respective idols. In this way, superhero culture continues to both sustain and be perpetuated by superhero films, with Chris Evans leaving an indelible mark on the industry as a whole.
We at New York Broadway Tours can?t wait to see what he brings to the table ? or in this case, the stage ? on his very first Broadway endeavor.
RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS. Hope you all had a great extra hour of sleep. We are only 18 days away from The 90th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicking off the holiday season. It’s time for another Broadway showstopper in our TOP 20 BROADWAY AT THE MACY’S PARADE COUNTDOWN playing you the best of performances from the NBC and CBS telecasts.
At # 18 on our countdown, we take you to Manhattan in the roaring 1920’s where a girl from Kansas first arrives in the big apple to begin a new life and goes updated with the latest fashion at the time (the flapper attire). We of course are talking about the 2002 Tony Award winning Best Musical Thoroughly Modern Millie.
From the 2002 NBC telecast and fresh off her Tony win a few months earlier, Sutton Foster in the title role of Millie Dillimount and the company show off their 1920’s style and dancing in front of the Macy’s in Harold Square for a performance of the show’s title song.
THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE (based on the acclaimed 1967 film of the same name) played Broadway’s Marquis Theatre in 2002 where it ran for 935 performances. The show continues to be a popular show performed in schools, community, and regional theatres.
FUN FACT: Sutton Foster was originally cast in the Ensemble and understudy for Millie during the show’s pre-Broadway tryouts at La Jolla Playhouse. Around the time of previews, Erin Dilly (who initially was supposed to play the title role) got ill and dropped out. Foster got moved up to the fulltime lead and the role launched her to stardom!!
Who got their 1920’s down after seeing this performance?
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS. We are only 19 days away from 90th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and we are continuing our TOP 20 BROADWAY AT THE MACY’S PARADE countdown playing you the best from the Broadway hour from the NBC or CBS telecasts.
At # 19 on our countdown has been considered as one of Disney’s first attempts at Broadway musicals which was an acclaimed triumph. We of course are talking about the stage adaptation of the great classic story of Beauty and the Beast.
From the 1995 NBC telecast, Broadway favorite Marc Kudisch as everyone’s favorite strong, vain, & evil huntsman Gaston, Kenny Raskin as his spazzy & funny sidekick LeFou, and cast members take us to the tavern in Harold Square to perform the classic showstopping drinking song (originally from the animated film) giving a cheer for GASTON. Get ready to raise a glass!
BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (based on the beloved Oscar winning Disney animated film) premiered in 1994 at Broadway’s Palace Theatre and later transferred to the Lunt Fontanne Theatre where it played a total of 5,507 performances. It’s currently the 9th Longest Running Show in Broadway History. There are still productions (schools, community theatres, regional theatres, and more) performing around the world.
Be sure to catch Disney’s upcoming all star live action remake of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST in Theaters on March 17th, 2017. Coming up March 17th, 2017, It will feature all the songs we loved from the animated film plus some new songs from Alan Menken and Tim Rice written especially for the live action remake. Sadly, it will not feature Menken and Rice’s songs that were written for the stage version.
How about that glass clinking showstopper?!
We are so excited to introduce our friend Ben Cameron and his show Broadway Sessions! We have partnered with them to share Broadway experiences and we hope that you will take the time to check his show out!
Broadway Sessions is NYC?s Ultimate Post Theatre Extravaganza. Each Thursday night, after the curtains fall on Broadway, host Ben Cameron (from Broadway?s Wicked, Aida and Footloose) welcomes a new Broadway cast to perform, interact with the audience and bare their souls in this zany musical theatre variety show. Broadway Sessions is in it?s 9th hit season. Open Mic follows every show and once a month we go ALL OPEN MIC. Come get up close and personal with Broadway?s brightest at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd and 9th. Doors at 10pm (for our singing for shots pre show, which is a riot) with showtime at 11pm!!!
Words can not describe the devastation of what happened in Orlando this Sunday. My heart is mourning for the families and friends who lost someone they loved. As a musical theatre performer, my theatre family always consisted of talented people of all shapes and sizes, genders, and sexual identities. It didn’t matter who or where you came from, only that you were doing your role or your part. Life is like that. We are all different for a reason and for those people who don’t seem to understand someone who is different, it scares them which is why tragedies like this happen. I don’t want anyone to feel left out or alone. I don’t want anyone to be scared or misunderstood. I created the tour “Gay Greenwich Village Piano Bar Pub Crawl” for that specific reason; so that not only would you be able to come and see a beautiful area of New York City, but you would also get to meet real New Yorkers who might be GAY and who live, work, sing, dance and share their stories with us. Their struggles, their triumphs, and their LOVE. We are all LOVE. As Lin-Manuel said in his speech at the Tony’s last night… “Love is Love is Love is Love Is LOVE!”
As a small business-owner, all I can offer is a discount code to come and join me for a tour. My family is YOU. If you are joining us here in New York during Pride Month and want to experience a GAY-friendly fun event with a friend, then simply visit our website page and use the code “WeAreOrlando” for 50% off tickets for the tour. Only active for 2 or more persons.
The link to the tour is here:?https://newyorkbroadwaytours.com/product/piano-pub-crawl
