by Mike Haber | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, News, off broadway, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: Still feel unsafe and can’t make it to NYC to see the historical relaunched production of
The Public Theater‘s Shakespeare in the Park?!! No worries. It has just been announced that show….. MERRY WIVES is set to be filmed for
PBS‘ Award winning series
Great Performances.
Under the direction of Saheem Ali, get ready to experience one of
William Shakespeare‘s notable comedies in a whole new way for this generation. Set in South Harlem, amidst a vibrant and eclectic community of West African immigrants, it’s a celebration of New York City about tricks of the heart .Filmed at the Delacorte Theatre in
Central Park, MERRY WIVES features an unbelievable all-black cast led by…..
Jacob Ming-Trent (Broadway’s
Shrek the Musical and various shows with Shakespeare in the Park) as “Falstaff”,
Tony nominee Pascale Armand (Broadway’s
Eclipsed) as “Madam Ekua Page”,
MERRY WIVES originally began its summer long engagement last month on July 6th, 2021. It had its official opening night on August 6th, 2021 where it will continue to run through September 18th, 2021 at the Delacorte Theatre.
The production has earned rave reviews from critics and audiences everywhere. Truly one of the most powerful productions to celebrate the return of our New York Theater scene after a rough 17 months.
An official airing date on PBS will be announced at a later time.
by Mike Haber | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
DELICIOUS NEWS: The Tony and Grammy nominated smash hit
Waitress will be doing something very powerful and inspiring for its strictly limited Broadway return this Fall. The company will pay tribute to the legacy of its late cast member Tony nominee
Nick Cordero naming one of the pies after him kept on the onstage diner chalkboard every night.
The onstage pie that will be considered a special every night in tribute to this incredible talent will be called….. THE LIFE YOUR LIFE PIE!! The name comes from an original song that Cordero wrote & recorded which became his mantra. Also earlier this year, his wife Amanda Kloots named her recently released memoir after that mantra.
Nick Cordero (who originated the role of the drunk and abusive “Earl” in WAITRESS original Broadway cast in 2016) tragically died from an intense 4 month long battle with COVID-19. He was 41 years old.
Every performance will be dedicated to this incredible talent. We miss Nick every single day. RIP
WAITRESS returns for its encore Broadway revival at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It will run from September 2nd, 2021 through January 9th, 2022.
by Mike Haber | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
RAZZLE DAZZLE NEWS!!!! THEY HAD IT COMIN’ indeed!!! Casting has been announced for the return of the legendary long running revival of
Chicago on Broadway this Fall. Set to REACH FOR THE GUN 8 times a week…… AND ALL THAT JAZZ….. will include a lineup of familiar cast members and newbies….. fully diverse!!!
Directed by Tony Award winner
Walter Bobbie and featuring the iconic
Bob Fosse choreography that was re-updated and staged by the late
Ann Reinking, CHICAGO’s returning cast will include…..
Bianca Marroquin who will now graduate from playing “Roxie Hart” after over 20 YEARS and 4,000 performances to now playing the role of Queen MERRY MURDERESS herself “Velma Kelly”,
Ana Villafañe (Broadway’s ON YOUR FEET and TV’s
New Amsterdam and the upcoming Night Court) will step into the role of aspiring vaudeville star turned killer “Roxie Hart”,
Tony winning legend Lillias White (Broadway’s Barnum,
Dreamgirls,
Cats, Carrie,
Once On This Island, Fela along with various films and TV shows) will return to the long-running production playing THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS, THE COUNTESS OF THE CLINK, and the MISTRESS OF MURDEROUS ROW herself “Matron “Mama” Morton”,
longtime cast member Ray Bokhour will return as MR. CELLOPHANE himself “Amos Hart”,
longtime cast member Ryan Lowe returns as gullible and optimistic operatic reporter “Mary Sunshine”,
Casting for the role of THE SILVER TOUNGE PRINCE OF THE COURTROOM himself “Billy Flynn” will announced at a later time.
CHICAGO is set to make Broadway HOT once again starting September 14th, 2021 at the Ambassador Theatre.
by Mike Haber | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Shows
FIRST LISTEN: The brand new UK / Ireland Tour of Disney’s inaugural smash hit
Beauty and the Beast is set to debut this week. This new production features some promising magical updates from the show’s original creative team including its sets, costumes, and some LED video updates.
A promising highlight for all super fans of this TALE AS OLD AS TIME includes a previously announced new recording of the show’s opening narration in the PROLOUGE. For this new staging, the voice of “The Prologue Narrator” will be Award winning legend and icon
Angela Lansbury (who was well known for providing the voice of the lovable and caring “Mrs. Potts” from the 1991 Animated film). The versatile stage and screen favorite steps into the shoes of its original both for the 1991 Animated film and the Broadway production…… the late David Odgen Stiers (who also provided the voice of “Cogsworth” in the original movie) telling the audience the opening moments where a selfish, rude, tyrannical, and spoiled prince turned into a hideous monstrous beast.
A brand new teaser commercial was released in the UK today featuring Lansbury’s voice giving those first 4 powerful worlds that truly starts this timeless story of
Beauty and the Beast……. ONCE UPON A TIME.
The New UK / Ireland Tour of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST kicks off this Wednesday, August 25th, 2021 in Bristol before traveling all over the United Kingdom and Ireland.
by Mike Haber | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
EVERYBODY!! LIVE THEATER’S BACK, ALRIGHT!!! It has just been announced that the Olivier Award winning smash hit &
Juliet is heading for Broadway!!!! But first, it will have its North American premiere in Toronto, Canada next Summer!!!
It has been announced that the acclaimed Max Martin hits jukebox musical comedy has rescheduled its run there beginning July 2022 at the Prince of Wales Theatre.
It will bring its full London creative team overseas. The show is directed by Luke Sheppard and choreographed by Jennifer Weber.
For a little reminder, & JULIET is a newly contemporary updated jukebox musical comedic remake on
William Shakespeare‘s famous play
Romeo and Juliet. However, there is a twist…… the story rewrites the play’s initial climatic sad ending on what would have happened if “Juliet” did not kill herself. It features a book by David West Read and the music of familiar pop songs that were written and co-produced by
Max Martin…. best known for writing the hits of
Britney Spears,
*NSYNC,
Backstreet Boys,
Céline Dion,
Katy Perry,
Kelly Clarkson, and so much more. Yup, you can expect to hear songs like LARGER THAN LIFE, BABY ONE MORE TIME, TEENAGE DREAM, THAT’S THE WAY IT IS, ROAR, SINCE U BEEN GONE, and so much more.
The show originally premiered in Manchester, England at the
Opera House Manchester back in October 2019. It officially opened the following month in London’s West End at the Shaftesbury Theatre where it received RAVE reviews and was playing to packed houses every night before COVID hit. Under the direction of Luke Sheppard and choreography by Jennifer Weber, the cast was led by….
Olivier Award winner
Cassidy Janson as “Anne Hathaway” (a.k.a. “Mrs. Shakespeare”) – not the Oscar winning actress and singer we know today,
Olivier Award winner David Bedella as “Lance”,
Arun Blair-Mangat as “May”,
Tim Mahendran as “Francois”,
Jordan Luke Gage as “Romeo”,
The West End production was nominated this past year year for the most 9
Olivier Awards. It took home 3 for its main Principal actors in the categories of BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Miriam-Teak Lee, BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL (for David Badella), and BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL (for Cassidy Janson).
The show’s London company is set to reopen on the West End beginning September 24th, 2021 at the Piccadilly Theatre.
Meanwhile for this new North American premiere in Canada, the show was originally scheduled to debut there back in 2020. However, it was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Casting, Official Start Dates, and plans for Broadway will be revealed at a later time.
Are you ready to ROAR Live Theater?!!!
