by Mike Haber | Aug 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
THE KING HAS RETURNED! This week has been very emotional and exciting as the companies of some of the hottest tickets on the Great Bright Way (all fully vaccinated) have reunited IN-PERSON to begin rehearsals to relaunch their Broadway runs. One of those notable shows was the New York company of Disney’s Award winning phenomenon
The Lion King.
For the first time since being in isolation for 17 1/2 months, here is longtime cast member
Tshidi Manye as “Rafiki” and the Broadway cast bringing that magic of the Savanah back to life. From their 1st day of rehearsals back in the lobby of the Minskoff Theatre, here they are going full out singing the musical’s powerful opening number…… CIRCLE OF LIFE. It also includes an inspirational opening remark from the show’s director, creator, and designer Tony winner
Julie Taymor.
Tissues ready before watching.
The Broadway company of THE LION KING is set to make audiences ROAR again at the Minskoff Theatre starting September 14th, 2021.
It marks as the 2nd company to open following the show’s London production last month.
The show is also expecting to relaunch its ongoing North American National Tour later this Fall plus its various companies around the world.
Who is ready to once again FEEL THE LOVE TONIGHT?!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
HEY THERE, BROADWAY FANS!! We are only 38 DAYS AWAY from celebrating The Great Bright Way’s return with Broadway’s Biggest Night of the Year….. The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. We got more of your favorite Broadway showstopping performances from previous telecasts coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Are you ready for more?!!!
At # 38 today on our countdown, we take a trip to an iconic nightclub in 1930’s Berlin (led by an authentic flamboyant Master of Ceremonies) with the only thing that you do is LEAVE YOUR TROUBLES OUTSIDE. Not only do you experience the acts in this club, we discover the stories of some of its patrons including the club’s headlining star attraction and her romance to an American writer. You also see a doomed-romance between a German Boarding house owner and her Jewish fruit vendoring elderly suitor. All of this is happening during World War II at the time of the Nazis’ rise to power. We are talking about the legendary
Cabaret. Based on
Christopher Isherwood‘s 1939 short novel GOODBYE TO BERLIN) and John Van Druten’s 1951 play I AM A CAMERA, the musical features a score by
John Kander & Fred Ebb along with a book by Joe Masteroff.
From the 1967 telecast, the iconic
Joel Grey in his legendary Tony and Oscar winning performance as “The Emcee” performs a medley of the show’s signature opening number WILLKOMMEN.
CABARET was initially first conceived in the 1950’s. Originally the musical was technically supposed to be a straight play with music. Composer and book writer Sandy Lewis was already working on a musical adaptation of the novel GOODBYE TO BERLIN. One day, he discovered that producer David Black’s option on both GOODBYE TO BERLIN and its source material from the original novel I AM A CAMERA was invalid and was bought by acclaimed director and fellow producer Hal Prince. With Joe Masteroff on board to work on the book, they both agreed that Wilson’s score failed to capture the essence of late-1920s Berlin. They fired Wilson and got John Kander and Fred Ebb on board. In addition came choreographer Bob Fosse. While going through the writing of music for the play, Kander and Ebb realized that the score would actually fit better as a book musical. New dialogue and characters were written and initial music that was being written for the play were cut now incorporating songs that would fit the plot. In addition, the top of the show began very differently than a traditional musical people knew today. Instead of an Overture, the show now famously begins with a drumroll.
Following a tough out of town tryout in Boston, CABARET officially arrived on Broadway in 1966 at the Broadhurst Theatre (and later transferred twice to the Imperial and the Broadway Theatre) where it played a total of 1,186 performances. Under the direction of Hal Prince and choreographed by Bob Fosse, the show starred…
Joel Grey (and later Martin Ross) as “The Emcee”,
Jill Haworth (and later Anita Gillette and Melissa Hart) as the iconic TOAST OF MAYFAIR herself “Fraulein Sally Bowles”,
Bert Convy as “Clifford Bradshaw”,
Lotte Lenya as “Fraulein Schneider”,
Jack Gilford as “Herr Shultz”
Peg Murray (later Mara Landi and Rhonda Gemignani) as “Fraulein Kost”.
The original production was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 1967 winning 8 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST PERFORMING BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Joel Grey).
Following the success of the original production on Broadway, CABARET went on to become a huge smash in London’s West End and around the world. The show would later be revived three times on Broadway.
The first Broadway revival happened in 1987 where Hal Prince recreated his original staging back on the Great White Way. In addition, some of the dialogue and new songs were included for this engagement. It played Broadway’s Imperial Theatre (and later transferred to the Minskoff Theatre) for 261 performances. This remounting of Prince and Fosse’s original staging starred…
Joel Grey reprising the role of “The Emcee”,
Alyson Reed (later Mary Munger) as “Fraulein Sally Bowles”,
Greg Edelman as “Clifford Bradshaw”,
Regina Resnik (Iater Peg Murray as “Fraulein Schneider”,
Werner Klemperer as “Herr Shultz”,
and
Laura Mae Lyng as “Fraulein Kost”,
That first Broadway revival was nominated for 3 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. It lost all the categories.
Later in 1998, a new production of CABARET (that originally came from London’s
Donmar Warehouse in 1993) was produced by the
Roundabout Theatre Company playing Broadway’s Henry Miller Theatre (now the Stephen Sondheim Theatre). 6 months into the run, a construction hoist collapsed which blocked access to the Theater. To keep the show going, Roundabout moved the production reopening (and making history as the first Broadway show produced) at Studio 54 for the remainder of its run. Under the direction of Sam Mendes and choreography by Rob Marshall, this 1998 revival ran for a complete total of 2,377 performances. This production was well known for its intimate staging turning the entire auditorium into a real-life working KIT KAT CLUB in Berlin (featuring table seating). In addition, this production featured the cast doubling up as the orchestra. The cast starred…
The late
Natasha Richardson (later
Jennifer Jason Leigh,
Susan Egan,
Joely Fisher,
Gina Gershon,
Debbie Gibson,
Katie Finneran, Teri Hatcher, Melina Kanakaredes, Jane Leeves, Molly Ringwald,
Brooke Shields, and Lea Thompson) as “Fraulein Sally Bowles”
Mary Louise Wilson (later Alma Cuervo, Polly Bergen,
Carole Shelley, and Blair Brown) as “Fraulein Schneider”,
Michelle Pawk (later Candy Buckley and Victoria Clark) as “Fraulein Kost”.
That revival was nominated for 10 Tony Awards that same year in 1998 winning 4 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST PERFORMING BY A LEADING ACTOR & ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Alan Cumming and Natasha Richardson).
Most recently in 2014, Roundabout brought back that acclaimed 1998 revival of CABARET (as seen in this video) for a limited engagement at Studio 54 that ran for 423 performances. The remounting of Mendes and Marshall’s acclaimed revival was led by…
Alan Cumming reprising the role of “The Emcee”,
Linda Emond as “Fraulein Schneider”,
Tony nominee Danny Burnstein as “Herr Schultz”,
Bill Heck as “Clifford Bradshaw”,
Gayle Rankin (later Hani Furstenberg) as “Fraulein Kost”.
This revival was nominated for 2 Tony Awards for BEST FEATURED ACTOR & ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Danny Burstein and Linda Emond), but lost in all of its categories.
Not only did CABARET do well on stage but it was also a huge smash on the big screen. The legendary film was released in 1972. The film was well known for incorporating some of the new songs that would now be used in all the stage productions including MEIN HERR, MAYBE THIS TIME and THE MONEY SONG. The film was also met with a little controversy due to its themes of corruption, sexual ambiguity, false dreams and Nazism. In addition, one of the scenes in the film TOMORROW BELONGS TO ME caused confusion to audiences, thinking it was an anthem of the Nazis. All of this caused a whole lot of backlash to composers Kander & Ebb getting accused of anti-Semitism. Under the direction and choreography by Bob Fosse, the cast starred…
Joel Grey reprising his Broadway performance of “The Emcee”,
Michael York as “Brian Roberts” (formerly “Clifford Bradshaw”),
Elisabeth Neumann-Viertel as “Fräulein Schneider”,
Helen Vita as Fräulein Kost.
The film went on to be nominated for 10 Oscars that same year, winning 8 including Best Actress in a Leading Role (for Liza Minnelli) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role (for Joel Grey). Joel Grey made history as one of the few actors ever to win the Oscar, the Golden Globe, and the Tony for the same role.
CABARET today continues to be performed in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
Doesn’t this show remind you that every day LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL?!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 18, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!! It’s 39 DAYS AWAY till Broadway’s biggest night of the year…. The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. Our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more Broadway powerhouse performances from the past telecasts. Seriously, this is getting our anticipation in the air and also celebrating the return of Live Theater to the Great Bright Way.
At # 39 on the countdown, we have one of the most iconic musicals ever written. It follows the story of one of the craziest, bossiest, and no nonsense stage mothers of all time…. “Rose Thompson Hovick” (aka “Mama Rose”). We are talking about GYPSY!!! Based on a memoir by Rose Louise Hovick (aka
Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous Vaudeville stripper in the world), the show features a score by
Jule Styne and
Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents.
From the 2008 telecast, Tony winners
Patti LuPone as “Mama Rose”,
Laura Benanti as “Louise”, and Boyd Gaines as “Herbie” from that year’s recent Broadway revival brings down the house with a roof-shaking performance of one of the musical’s signature tunes EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES.
GYPSY originally was conceived as a project by producer David Merrick and written for
Ethel Merman after reading Gypsy Rose Lee’s memoir. After being fascinated by a certain chapter, he approached Lee in obtaining the rights to adapt her story into a stage musical. With book writer Arthur Laurents and composer Stephen Sondheim (following the success of West Side Story) and hiring Jule Styne (by Merman’s request) and a rocky struggle with finding more people, the team began work on the show.
GYPSY originally premiered on Broadway in 1959 at the Broadway Theatre (and later transferred to the Imperial Theatre) for 2 previews and 702 performances. Under the direction and choreography of Jerome Robbins, the original production starred….
the legendary first belter of Musical Theatre, Ethel Merman, as “Mama Rose”
Sandra Church (later Julienne Marie) as “Louise”,
Jack Klugman as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 1960 including BEST MUSICAL, but lost all of its categories.
Following the success of the original Broadway run, GYPSY went on to tour across America and around the world. The show was later revived on Broadway four times.
It first debuted in London’s West End in 1974. Due to its overwhelming success, the production transferred overseas touring North America and then eventually made its way to Broadway. It played the Winter Garden Theatre for a limited run of 4 previews and 124 regular performances. Under the direction of Arthur Laurents and choreographed by Robert Tucker (still playing tribute to Jerome Robbins staging), the first revival starred…
Zan Charisse as “Louise,”
Rex Robbinson as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 3 Tony Awards in 1975 winning only 1 for BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Angela Lansbury).
The second Broadway revival happened in 1989. Following a brief pre-Broadway tour across America, this production played the St. James Theatre (and later transferring to the Marquis Theatre) for 35 previews and 582 regular performances. Under the direction once again by Arthur Laurents and the choreography re-staged by Bonnie Walker, the cast featured…
Crista Moore as “Louise,”
Jonathan Hadary (later Jamie Ross) as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 4 Tony Awards in 1990, winning 2 for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Tyne Daly).
The third Broadway revival happened in 2003 playing the Shubert Theatre for 33 previews and 451 regular performances. Under the direction of Sam Mendes and choreography by Jerry Mitchell, this cast starred…
Bernadette Peters (who previously appeared as “Baby June” in the original production’s first National Tour and later temporary Maureen Moore) taking on the role of “Mama Rose”,,
John Dossett as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 4 Tony Awards that same year including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Bernadette Peters). However, it lost all the categories.
The most recent Broadway revival of GYPSY happened in 2008. Following a triumphant Summer engagement at
New York City Center part of its ENCORES season. The show returned to the St. James Theatre for 27 previews and 332 regular performances. Under the direction once again by Arthur Laurents and choreography re-staged by Bonnie Walker, the cast starred….
Patti LuPone as “Mama Rose”,
Laura Benanti as “Louise”,
This revival was nominated for 7 Tony Awards winning 3 for BEST LEADING ACTRESS, BEST FEATURED ACTOR, and BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines, and Laura Benanti).
FUN FACT: That most recent revival was well known for a little onstage drama that happened on the second-to-last night before it closed. At the January 10th, 2009 evening performance during the show’s finale number ROSE’S TURN, a pair of audience members were taking flashed photographs which is completely illegal at a Broadway show. The flashes almost caused LuPone to trip before knowing that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! She stopped the show, went out into the audience, screamed at the illegal photographers, and kicked them out. From there, she started the number all over. Someone at the same time sneaked audio of that incident, which went viral on YouTube.
GYPSY was previously rumored to return to Broadway with a fifth revival based on its recent 2016 West End production that swept the
Olivier Awards. It was set to star Imelda Staunton as “Mama Rose”. However, nothing ever came of it.
GYPSY continues to be a popular musical done in schools, community, and regional theaters around the world.
Not only was this show a smash on stage, GYPSY was captured on film 3 TIMES!!!
The original film was released in 1962 from
Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the direction of Mervin LeRoy, the cast was led by….
Rosalind Russell as “Mama Rose”,
That original film was a huge box office success. It was nominated for various Awards including 3 Academy Awards and 6 Golden Globes (winning only 1 for BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL (for Rosalind Russell).
GYPSY’s 2nd screen makeover happened in 1993 as a film-for TV musical. Under the direction of Emile Ardolino, the cast was led by….
Bette Midler as “Mama Rose”,
Cynthia Gibb as “Louise”,
Jennifer Rae Beck as “June”,
Peter Riegert as “Herbie”.
Also earning critical praise, this TV movie was nominated for various Awards including 12
Emmy Awards (winning 1 for OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION) and several Golden Globes (winning several including BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV FILM for (Bette Midler).
The most recently captured presentation was a filmed performance of the 2016 West End revival (that was rumored to come to Broadway). It aired originally in the UK before later debuting here in the States on
PBS’ Award winning
Great Performances. Under the direction of Jonathan Kent, the cast was led by…
Peter Davison as “Herbie”.
GYPSY is truly the ultimate love letter to show business!!
Doesn’t this musical make you wanna shout “SING OUT LOUISE”??!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 17, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
WHAT’S UP BROADWAY FANS?!! Things are about to get hot as we are celebrating the return of Live Theater and Broadway’s biggest night!!! The 74th Annual
Tony Awards are just 40 DAYS AWAY!!! We at New York Broadway Tours are continuing to get our groove going again each morning playing you our favorite performances from previous telecasts on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN!!! Are you ready for more toe-tapping performances?
At # 40 on our countdown is a show that is truly a celebration of something we can all relate to…. The feeling of wanting to have that strong connection with someone and fall in love. This is CONTACT. Created and conceived by Susan Stroman, this is NOT your traditional Broadway Musical. This show is mainly told as a “Dance Play” with all the music pre-recorded in 3 one-acts consisting of….
Act 1 is entitled SWINGING – It’s a contact improvisational dance inspired by Fragonard’s painting THE SWING. Set in an 18th-century French forest clearing, it follows a servant and his master wanting to win the heart of the young lady on the swing. Much of the action takes place on a moving swing. Its themed music features a beautiful rendition of
Rodgers & Hart‘s MY HEART STOOD STILL played by Stéphane Grappelli.
Act 2 is entitled DID YOU MOVE – Set in Queens, New York at an Italian Restaurant in the year 1954, the story follows a “not-happy” marriage of a small-time gangster and his wife. There, the wife dreams of the day wanting to escape her abusive husband through dance. It’s themed music features Edvard Greig’s ANITRA’S DANCE, Tchaikovsky’s WALTZ FROM EUGENE ONEGIN, and Bitzet’s FARANDOLE….. all recorded by the
New York Philharmonic and conducted by one of Broadway’s very own
Leonard Bernstein.
Act 3 is the show’s official title CONTACT – Set in Manhattan in the present day, it follows the lives of 2 Manhattan apartment dwellers at a crossroads. At a bar, one of the men is smitten by a beautiful woman in a yellow dress. In order to win her heart, the man learns to gain the confidence in making contact with another human being. It’s themed music features a lot of contemporary popular pop/rock hits along with Jazz standards including Squirrel Nut Zippers’s PUT A LID ON IT,
Dion DiMucci‘s legendary RUNAROUND SUE, Prima’s SING, SING, SING, and so much more.
From the 2000 telecast, here is the company performing one of the musical’s big dance showstoppers. From that 3rd act, this is cast dancing it out to Robert Palmer’s signature 1988 song SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE.
CONTACT was first conceived in the mid 90’s by Susan Stroman and her late husband
Mike Ockrent. It was loosely inspired by an event that Stroman experienced at a dance club in the Meat Market district. There, she noticed a woman in a yellow dress believing “She’s gonna change someone’s life tonight”. Inspired by that one event, it gave the duo the idea of creating a show told through dance of the feeling’s people have when being in contact with other people.
Following a brief early development lab, the show officially arrived in our New York Theater scene at
Lincoln Center Theater in the Fall of 1999. It first started downstairs at LCT’s OFF-Broadway home at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. It would later move upstairs LCT’s bigger ON-Broadway house at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in the Spring of 2000 running for a complete total of 1,041 performances. Under the direction and choreography of Susan Stroman, the cast featured….
Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines (later Alan Campbell and John Bolton),
Tony Award nominee Deborah Yates (later Colleen Dunn),
The show was an instant smash hit earning critical acclaim and taking home glory at Awards season. The show was nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 2000 winning 4 including BEST MUSICAL.
FUN FACT: Despite the show taking home BEST MUSICAL category in all its Awards (the Tonys, the
Drama Desk, and the
Outer Circle Critics), controversy sparked over the win. The reason is because this musical used PRE-RECORDED MUSIC & NO LIVE SINGING. The Tonys committee would go on to create a brand new category…. BEST SPECIAL THEATRICAL EVENT. That nomination category would be presented for only 10 years and retired in 2009.
With the success of the Broadway production, CONTACT would later dance its way with several companies around the world including London’s West End. Hungary, Poland, China, and Korea. It later launched several Regional productions in North America.
CONTACT was also captured on film in the Fall of 2002. The Broadway production’s legendary final performance was recorded for
PBS‘ Award winning series Live From Lincoln Center winning a Primetime Emmy Award for OUTSTANDING CLASSICAL MUSIC-DANCE PROGRAM.
How high energetic was that performance?!!!!
(1) “Contact” Musical by Susan Stroman at 2000 Tony Awards – YouTube
by Mike Haber | Aug 16, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! It’s just 41 DAYS till we celebrate Broadway’s biggest night and the return of Live Theater of the year with The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. We have more of the most legendary performances from previous telecasts on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. All of this promises to give you chills and goosebumps.
At # 41 on our countdown is a thrilling musical featuring nature vs nature plot. It follows 2 fraternal twins that were separated at birth, one was raised wealthy and the other poor. The different environments take the twins to opposite ends of the social spectrum. In addition, they both fall in love with the same woman which causes a rift and leads to a tragic conclusion. This is the story of the Johnstone Twins….. Better known as the
Blood Brothers. This musical features a score and book by
Willy Russell.
From the 1993 telecast,
Warwick Evans as “The Narrator”, Stephanie Lawrence as “Mrs. Johnstone”, Con O’Neill as “Mickey Johnstone”, Mark Michael Hutchinson as “Eddie Lyons”, and the original Broadway cast perform a medley of TELL ME IT’S NOT TRUE and SUNDAY AFTERNOON / MY BEST FRIEND,
BLOOD BROTHERS was initially conceived as a school straight play by Willy Russell. It was first performed at the Fazakerley Comprehensive School in Liverpool in 1981. He would later then upgrade the story by translating it into a musical, developing it for the Liverpool Playhouse in 1983. It was a huge success, the production transferred to London’s West End playing the Lyric Theatre for a 5 month run. Under the original direction of Alan Dossor, the cast was led by….
Andrew Schofield as “The Narrator”,
Barbara Dickson as “Mrs. Johnstone”,
Wendy Murray as “Mrs. Jennifer Lyons”,
Andrew C. Wadsworth as “Eddie Lyons”,
George Costigan as “Mickey Johnstone”,
Peter Christian as “Sammy Johnstone”,
Amanda York as “Linda”,
And
Alan Leith as “Mr. Richard Lyons”.
The original production was a modest success. It was nominated and won BOTH its categories at that year’s
Olivier Awards for both BEST NEW MUSICAL and BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Barbara Dickson).
The production immediately embarked on 2 National Touring productions in 1984 and then launched a brand new production in 1987. It toured the UK first before returning the following year to London’s West End playing the Albery Theatre (now the Noël Coward Theatre) and later the Phoenix Theatre. This 1988 revival went on to make Theater history as the 3rd Longest Running Show in West End History playing over 10,000 performances closing in 2012. Under the direction of
Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson, this revival’s original London cast was led by….
Warwick Evans as “The Narrator”,
Kiki Dee as “Mrs. Johnstone”,
Joanne Zorian as “Mrs. Jennifer Lyons”,
Robert Locke as “Eddie Lyons”,
Con O’Neill as “Mickey Johnstone”,
Richard Croxford as “Sammy Johnstone”,
Annette Ekblom as “Linda”,
And
Jeffrey Gear as “Mr. Richard Lyons”.
The show featured tons of replacement throughout its long run.
The London revival earned 2 more Olivier Award nominations for its BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Con O’Neill) and BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Kiki Dee). However it lost both its categories.
Along with its life in London’s West End, BLOOD BROTHERS went on to become a worldwide smash hit overseas. It included productions in Australia, South Africa, and Czech Republic. It also would later make its way to our New York Theater scene.
In 1993, the London revival production of BLOOD BROTHERS made its Broadway debut at the Music Box Theatre where it ran for 13 previews and 840 regular performances. Under the direction of Bill Kenwright and Bob Tomson, the cast was led by….
Warwick Evans reprising (later
Richard Cox, Domenick Allan, and Adrian Zmed) as “The Narrator”,
Barbara Walsh (later Regina O’Malley) as “Mrs. Jennifer Lyons”,
Mark Michael Hutchinson (later Shaun Cassidy and Ric Ryder) as “Eddie Lyons”,
Con O’Neill reprising (later Phillip Lehl and David Cassidy) as “Mickey Johnstone”,
James Clow as “Sammy Johnstone”,
Jan Graveson (later Shauna Hicks) as “Linda”,
Ivar Brogger as “Mr. Richard Lyons”.
The original Broadway production of BLOOD BROTHERS was nominated for 6 Tony Awards including BEST MUSICAL. However, it lost all the categories. It did however take home a Drama Desk Award for OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Mark Michael Hutchinson).
Today, there are still productions of BLOOD BROTHERS playing around the world. It has been done in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
How thrilling is this musical?!!
#TonyAwards #CountdownToTheTonys #NYBTTop50TonyAwardsCountdown #BroadwaysBiggestNight #BroadwaysBack #TheShowMustGoOn #ThisIsBroadway #livetheaterreturns
Bloodbrothers Musical 1993 Tony Awards – YouTube
by Mike Haber | Aug 15, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
AHOY BROADWAY FANS!! Come on board with your friends at New York Broadway Tours!! We are celebrating the return of Live Theater and Broadway’s biggest night of the year just 42 DAYS AWAY. We are talking about The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. We have more of our favorite showstoppers from previous telecasts coming on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Are you ready to sail with us as we belt and tap our hearts out?!!!
Since we’re on the topic of sailing, our choice at # 42 on our countdown takes us aboard a ship traveling from New York to London. There, we meet a stowaway in love with a young heiress, who is engaged to a wealthy and stuffy lord. Along the way, a nightclub singer and a second-glass gangster join forces and come to the stowaway’s aid helping him win the heart of the girl of his dreams. This is
Anything Goes. This musical features an iconic score by Cole Porter (that have gone on to become Great American Songbook standards) along with a book by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse.
From the 2011 telecast, Tony Award winner
Sutton Foster as “Reno Sweeney” and the cast of the recent
Roundabout Theatre Company revival tap their hearts out performing the musical’s Act 1 finale title song itself ANYTHING GOES.
ANYTHING GOES was originally first conceived in the early 1930’s by producer Vinton Freedley. He was living on a boat and officially left the US to avoid his creditors. At the time, he wanted to create a musical specially for one of the greatest first major powerhouse belters of that era….
Ethel Merman. With hiring P.G. Wodehouse and Guy Bolton writing the book and hiring Cole Porter, work on the show began. Its early stages include various changes in the show title (CRAZY WEEK, HARD TO GET, and eventually what it is today as ANYTHING GOES) and the storyline.
FUN FACT: The original storyline of ANYTHING GOES originally involved a bomb threat, a shipwreck, and human trafficking on a desert island. However, after news of the SS Morro Castle sinking in 1934 (which caused over 138 people killed), they decided to last minute change the script so it would NOT scare the audience and think of that horrible disaster.
ANYTHING GOES made its Broadway debut in 1934 at the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre) where it ran for 420 performances. Under the direction of Howard Lindsay with choreography by Robert Alton, the original cast was led by….
the late and legendary Ethel Merman in one of her many signature performances (later Benay Venuta) as “Reno Sweeney”,
Victor Moore as “Moonface Martin”,
May Abbey as “Evangeline Harcourt”,
William Gaxton as “Billy Crocker”,
Bettina Hall as “Hope Harcourt”,
Leslie Barrie as “Lord Evelyn Oakleigh”,
It was well received by Theatergoers.
The original Broadway production of ANYTHING GOES did not receive any Tony Awards because those Awards were NOT created until 1947.
A year after its Broadway debut, the show went on to sail to London’s West End playing the Palace Theatre for only 261 performances.
The show would later go on to earn even a higher well received audience with its various revivals especially in our New York Theater scene.
ANYTHING GOES would later be revived 3 times here in New York City. In addition during each run of the show, the libretto kept getting revised. New dialogue was added in, several songs from cut or lost a verse of a song. In addition, songs from other Cole Porter musicals were recycled.
The first major New York revival happened in 1962. However, it was an OFF Broadway revival. Under the direction of Lawrence Kasha and Choreography by Ronald Fields, this production played the Orpheum Theatre. It ran for 239 performances. This cast consisted of…
Eileen Rodgers as “Reno Sweeney”,
Mickey Deems as “Moonface Martin”,
Lois Holms as “Evangeline Harcourt”,
Hal Linden as “Billy Crocker”,
Barbara Lang as “Hope Harcourt”,
Kenneth Mars as “Lord Evelyn Oakleigh”,
There were no major Awards for this Off Broadway run.
The 2nd revival (and first major ON Broadway revival) happened in 1987 playing the Vivian Beaumont at
Lincoln Center Theater running for 784 performances. Under the direction of Jerry Zaks and choreography by Michael Smuin, the cast featured…
Bill McCutcheon as “Moonface Martin”,
Anne Francine as “Evangeline Harcourt”,
Kathleen Mahony-Bennett as “Hope Harcourt”.
Anthony Heald as “Lord Evelyn Oakleigh”,
This revival was nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1988 winning 3 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL.
FUN FACT: This revival was very sentimental for Patti LuPone. On a dark Monday night from the show, she married her longtime husband Matthew Johnston. The ceremony was held on the stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. The set was fully updated with the set of the wedding scene from the show. It also included real life doves flying over the auditorium.
With the success of the 1987 Broadway revival, the production transferred to London’s West End with Elaine Paige as “Rene Sweeney” at the Prince Edward Theatre. It also made its way to Australia.
The most recent revival of ANYTHING GOES happened in 2011 from Roundabout Theatre Company playing the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The run was initially scheduled to run for 4 months. However due to an overwhelming response, the production was extended for an entire year. When it closed, the revival played a total of 553 performances. Under the direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, this cast included….
Jessica Walter as “Evangeline Harcourt”,
2 time Tony nominee
Laura Osnes (later Erin Mackey) as “Hope Harcourt”,
Tony and Olivier nominee Adam Godley as “Lord Evelyn Oakleigh”,
That most recent revival was nominated for 9 Tony Awards that same year winning 3 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL.
The success of the Roundabout Theatre Company revival, it embarked on a full year-long North American National Tour with Rachel York as “Reno Sweeney”.
Currently, this recent acclaimed Roundabout production made its long awaited debut overseas 10 YEARS LATER in London’s West End. The cast is led once again by Sutton Foster BOTH reprising her performance as “Reno Sweeney” and making her long awaited West End debut. It’s been one of the first few musicals to be performed since Live Theater has been shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, It’s playing now through October 17th, 2021 at the Barbican Theatre.
ANYTHING GOES today is a popular show still performed in schools, community, and regional theatres worldwide.
Along with its success on stage, ANYTHING GOES was captured on film TWICE!!! However, it has 2 separate storylines. The one that was more close to the stage musical was released in 1936. From Paramount Pictures and directed by Lewis Milestone, the cast was led by….
Ethel Merman reprising her Broadway performance as “Reno Sweeney”,
Charles Ruggles as “Moonface Martin”,
Bing Crosby as “Billy Crocker”
Ida Lupino as “Hope Harcourt”.
Arthur Treacher as Sir Evelyn Oakleigh,
Later on another version of ANYTHING GOES was released in 1956. However, it was NOT based on the stage show. It was a completely different story about two entertainers scheduled to appear in a Broadway show traveling to Europe, where each discovers the perfect leading lady for the female role. Ironically it was also released from Paramount Pictures. It still featured several of the notable tunes from the musical.
Because of the previous records, the original 1936 film later had a title change as TOPS IS THE LIMIT.
How about those DE-LOVELY toe-tapping sailors?!!!!
