by Mike Haber | Aug 9, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, NYBT NEWS
ALL ABOARD! Get ready to once again take the ROAD TO HELL! Casting for both the return of the Broadway production plus the upcoming North American Tour of the Tony and Grammy winning smash hit
Hadestown has officially been announced. Under the direction of
Rachel Chavkin, original cast members expecting to return to the New York company will include…..
Tony nominee Amber Gray as “Persephone”,
The show’s OG Villian Tony nominee Patrick Page is also expecting to return but not till later on. The celebrate KING OF VILLIANS is currently working on a film and will return to HADESTOWN beginning November 2nd, 2021.
When the show officially re-opens on Broadway early this Fall, the role of the wicked “Hades” will be played temporary by another Broadway great no stranger to playing bad guys himself…. Tony Award nominee Tom Hewitt (Broadway’s
Rocky Horror,
The Lion King, Dracula,
Peter Pan, and
Chicago).
Additional casting will include original cast member Jewelle Blackman, original swing Jessie Shelton, and newcomer cast member Mariand Torres as “The Fates”. Sadly with this announcement, it was revealed that the original 2 “Fates” themselves
Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer and Kay Trinidad had both departed the production.
Meanwhile for HADESTOWN’s upcoming National Tour, the cast that will be bringing this powerful show all across North America will consist of….
HADESTOWN original cast member Kimberly Marable (who also appeared in Broadway’s
The Lion King) will play “Persephone” full time after previously understudying the role in the Broadway production,
Belén Moyano, Bex Odorisio, and Shea Renne will be the touring “Fates”,
Congrats to all new cast members and all those returning!!
The Broadway production of HADESTOWN is set to reopen at the Walter Kerr Theatre starting September 2nd, 2021. Meanwhile, the show’s National Tour will have a preview week long run in Greenville, SC starting October 5th, 2021. It will have its official Opening launch on October 13th, 2021 for a 4 week run in our nation’s Capitol in Washington D.C.. From there, it will be coming to the following cities across North America…..
Boston, MA,
Columbus, OH,
Detroit, MI,
Appleton, WI,
New Orleans, LA,
Houston, TX,
Dallas, TX,
Memphis, TN,
Philadelphia, PA,
Minneapolis, MN,
Tucson, AZ,
Los Angeles, CA
San Diego, CA,
San Francisco, CA,
Salt Lake City, UT,
Miami, FL,
Orlando, FL,
Hartford, CT,
and
so much more.
WE RAISE OUR CUPS to this groundbreaking show back better than ever!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 9, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
RISE & SHINE SUPER BROADWAY FANS EVERYONE! Today marks 48 DAYS till we celebrate Broadway’s biggest night of the year….. The 74th Annual Tony Awards. Been a rough past year and a half without Live Theater. However, the Great Bright Way is making its comeback and we are celebrating with our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. With Broadway’s return, this community has come together to celebrate the art Live Theater is & what can we do to make it a BRIGHTER BROADWAY…… especially when it comes to diversity. Are you ready for more of Broadway’s best?!!!
Speaking of diversity, our choice at # 48 on our countdown takes us to the New York City cabaret and jazz club scene…. 1940’s era. That classic big band era playing the latest hottest beat called swing. This particular show celebrates that legacy. This is AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. This musical is a revue celebrating the music of the acclaimed jazz entertainer Fats Waller (which the show is named after his famous song). It also includes a book by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby Jr.,
From the 1978 telecast, the legendary talents of Tony winners André De Shields and the late Nell Carter along with Ken Page, Tony nominee Charlayne Woodard, and the late Armelia McQueen perform a toe-tapping medley of LADIES WHO SING WITH THE BAND and OFF-TIME.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ originally premiered in February of 1978 as a cabaret act part of Manhattan Theatre Club’s former East 73rd Street cabaret space. It earned so much critical praise that the full show was expanded into a full-scale Broadway production. It immediately moved to the Great Bright Way in the Spring of that very same year opening at Broadway’s Longacre Theatre before transferring to the Plymouth Theatre (now the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre) and the Belasco Theatre. It ran for a complete total of 1,618 performances. Under the direction of Richard Maltby Jr. and choreographed by Arthur Faria, the cast was led by…..
The original production was nominated for 5 Tony Awards that very same year winning 3 for BEST MUSICAL, BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Nell Carter), and BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL (for Richard Maltby Jr). It also won various other Awards including being the recipient of 2 Theatre World Awards and the Drama Desk for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL.
The show would eventually debut overseas in London’s West End in 1979.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ was later revived on Broadway in 1988 at the Ambassador Theatre for a strictly limited engagement of 184 performances. It reunited BOTH the full creative team and original cast, all reprising their performances.
That remounted revival would be nominated for a Tony Award again that same year for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost the category.
It later launched several National Tours both in 1995 (that almost went to Broadway) and then later in 2008 commemorating the show’s 30th Anniversary.
Along with its success on stage, AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ was also captured on film. In 1982 filmed the show directly for television with the original cast and aired on NBC, It was well received being nominated for 8 Primetime Emmy Awards that year. It took home 2 for INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCE IN A VARIETY OR MUSIC PROGRAM (both for Nell Carter and Andre De Shields).
Today, there have been productions of AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’ produced in Regional Theaters and around the world.
How soulful and toe-tapping was that performance?
#TonyAwards #CountdownToTheTonys #NYBTTop50TonyAwardsCountdown #BroadwaysBiggestNight #BroadwaysBack #TheShowMustGoOn #ThisIsBroadway #livetheaterreturns
by Mike Haber | Aug 8, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Broadway Audience, News, Shows
WE ALL NEED SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN! After 17 months, celebrated powerhouse performer
Linda Eder has made her long awaited return back to the concert stage. The
Jekyll & Hyde relaunched her ongoing tour last month in Maine for a 2 night engagement at the
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre. Of course with her ongoing vlogging on YouTube, Eder gave us a VIP pass into the experience being back on the concert stage.
However this episode of her YouTube vlog is a little bittersweet and emotional. It was announced that Eder’s longtime collaborator Grammy Award Billy Jay Stein has officially stepped down as both her Musical Director and Producer after 24 YEARS. Stein has been keeping himself very busy with various works on upcoming Broadway projects, playing in the pit on various shows, having his own band, and so much more. The video features Eder paying tribute to her longtime friend giving him so much love, support, and happy success in his future.
Eder will continuing touring again beginning September 17th, 2021 in Morristown, NJ before making her way to the following cities…..
Stokie, IL,
Vienna, VA,
Ridgefield, CT,
Englewood, NJ,
Aventura, FL,
Del Ray, FL,
Palm Beach, FL,
Irvine, CA,
Palm Spring, CA,
Venice, FL,
and
Eder’s concert are rotating shows accompanied by either a small band or some of the world’s greatest Symphony Orchestras.
No word has been said on who will be taking over as Musical Director for Eder’s upcoming concerts.
Happy Trails Billy!!
Welcome Back to the road Linda!!!
Thoughts on Billy’s departure?
How amazing is Linda Eder?!!
End of an Era! – YouTube
by Mike Haber | Aug 8, 2021 | Blog, Casting, Shows
SPIT, SPOT!! After 17 months of being abruptly shutdown, everyone’s favorite PRACTICIALLY PERFECT nanny is back!! The West End revival of Disney’s Award winning stage adaptation of
Mary Poppins reopens its run at London’s Prince Edward Theatre tonight.
With anticipation in the air, check out to see what “Mary” herself has been doing leading up to this highly anticipated moment. Here is the production’s Olivier Award nominated leading lady
Zizi Strallen as the titular role taking a brief JOLLY HOLIDAY stroll through London before its back to caring for THE BANKS CHILDREN.
We want to wish the full company a happy 1st night back!!!
Break a leg to the full cast, crew, musicians, and creative team.
by Mike Haber | Aug 8, 2021 | NYBT NEWS
SUGAR, BUTTER, REUNION….. RE-OPENING UP!!! Earlier this week, the cast of the Tony and Grammy winning smash hit
Waitress reunited for the first time in over 17 months as they begin rehearsals for the upcoming limited engagement Broadway revival next month.
Get ready for a powerful and emotional performance as the show’s composer and leading lady
Sara Bareilles, Charity Angél Dawson, Caitlin Houlahan, and the cast gather around at their first reunion table read performing the show’s opening song itself that sets the mood of Broadway’s return….. OPENING UP!!!
WAITRESS will play a strictly limited engagement at Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre starting September 2nd, 2021 and will run through January 9th, 2022.
PLEASE NOTE: Bareilles will stay with the production as “Jenna” through October 17th, 2021. Announcements for who will take over afterwards will be revealed at a later time.
How DELICIOUS was that?!!!
Watch Sara Bareilles and Broadway Waitress Cast Sing “Opening Up” on First Day of Rehearsal – YouTube
