by Mike Haber | Jul 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, Shows
ON THE MARQUEE: HELLO! The Award winning smash hit musical comedy The Book of Mormon is set to return to the Great Bright Way this Fall. One of our friends was so kind enough to share with us THE MOST AMAZING updates to the front of house billboards outside the show’s home of Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre.
With
The Book of Mormon returning, the production is expecting to feature various changes. Following last summer’s
Black Lives Matter protests, the show itself received so much backlash with its portrayal of Africans (since about 85% of the musical takes place in Uganda). Work will be made to the show’s score and book by its creators (Trey Parker, Matt Stone and Robert Lopez) to make it less offensive. These changes will go also to all future companies as well.
In addition, it returns without its main head producer Scott Rudin. Earlier this year, the producer had dropped from all his Broadway projects following recent reports of his horrific, arrogant, abusive, monstrous, ugly, and tyrannical behaviors towards people in the work place.
The Broadway company of THE BOOK OF MORMON will make audience BELIEVE that TOMORROW IS A LATTER DAY once again beginning November 5th, 2021. Other productions of the show set to reopen will also include its London company and UK/ Ireland Touring productions. More companies will be going out as well.
by Mike Haber | Jul 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, Shows
As we all know, the story of THE KING AND I is set in the medieval Kingdom of Siam (before it was renamed Thailand). It tells the story of “Anna Leonowens”, a British school teacher who has been hired to educate the royal children of a strict, stern, and very stubborn king (as part of the drive to modernize his country). It features all the notable Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II songs we know in love like I WHISTLE A HAPPY TUNE, GETTING TO KNOW YOU, I HAVE DREAMED, and SHALL WE DANCE.
This Animated version was only the 2nd time THE KING AND I was translated from stage to screen. The original version was released in 1956 starring
Deborah Kerr and of course the legendary
Yul Brynner (who won both the Tony and the Oscar for this musical).
With making this timeless musical an Animated film as family friendly, several songs from the stage version was cut and changes were updated to the storyline. Some of these changes included….
The love story of “Tuptim” was changetd to her falling in love with King’s eldest son “Prince Chualalongkorn”. Sadly, the role of “Lun Tha” was cut,
The removement of “Lady Thaing”,
“The Kralahome” being changed into becoming the main antagonist with his very own sidekick created for the Animated film named “Master Little”.
The changing of the ending as happy…… Instead of “The King” dying from a heart condition, he is injured in a battle against “The Kralahome” who tries to kill him. He lays in bed, recovers in a few days and they have their romantic dance,
The removement of THE SMALL HOUSE OF UNCLE THOMAS BALLET, WE KISS IN A SHADOW, and SOMETHING WONDERFUL. SHADOW and WONDERFUL however was heard in the end credits and performed by
Barbra Streisand.
It also featured several roles being double casted (both for acting and singing). Under the direction of Richard Rich and a screenplay by Peter Bakalian, Jacqueline Feather, and David Seidler, the voice over cast included….
Oscar nominee Miranda Richardson (with Tony nominee
Christiane Nolls singing voice) as “Anna Leonowens”,
Martin Vidnovic (who previously played “Lun Tha” in the 1977 Broadway revival) as “The King”,
Armi Arabe (with Tracy Venner Warren’s singing voice) as “Tuptim”,
Allen D. Hong (with
David Burnham’s singing voice”) as “Prince Chualalongkorn”,
Tony nominee Ian Richardson as “The Kralahome”,
The Animated film was a huge flop receiving negative reviews and was a huge box office bomb.
Ironically when this Animated film came out, 8 months later came another adaptation of THE KING AND I….. based on the original story that inspired the musical…..
Anna and the King.
Check out the trailer below.
Who remembers this Animated version of THE KING AND I?
by Mike Haber | Jul 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: That NAUGHTY lineup of Delta Variant cases of COVID-19 are causing more destruction to our community. It has just been announced that production of the upcoming film adaptation of the Award winning
Matilda The Musical is currently on hold.
Filming was put on halt due to an outbreak of COVID-19 POSITIVE on the set. No word has been said on who caught it. As of now, the shoot has been suspended for the next 10 days.
The film version of MATILDA THE MUSICAL is set to debut on
Netflix beginning December 2022. It will also be released in UK Theaters as well.
Our hearts go out to the entire cast, crew, musicians, and creative team.
by Mike Haber | Jul 16, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, Shows
FIRST LOOK & LISTEN: Tony Award winner
Ben Platt has a huge whirlwind year ahead. Along with reprising his Tony Award winning performance as the titular role in the film adaptation of
Dear Evan Hansen, the versatile stage and screen star is set to release his sophomore studio album REVERIE. Pre-orders for the album is available now.
To get us into the mood, Platt released a brand new music video for the album’s 2nd single HAPPY TO BE SAD. The song is very relatable. Very catchy. Soooooo great!!!!
With things slowly making its way back to normal, we can expect a lot going on for Ben with promoting the album coming up. Hopefully later on in the year or next year of 2022…. a tour.
by Mike Haber | Jul 13, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News
BREAKING NEWS: Tony Award winner
Ben Platt (set to appear on the big screen reprising his Tony winning performance in the film adaptation of
Dear Evan Hansen) is set to release his sophomore solo album REVERIE next month. It will be released on August 13th, 2021 from
Atlantic Records.
Platt recently released a brand new single entitled IMAGINE this past April. The 2nd single from the album TBD will be out this Friday, July 16th, 2021 (along with pre-ordering your copy).
With things making its way back to normal, we can expect a lot going on for Ben with promoting the album including a tour.
This album comes off the success of the versatile stage and screen star’s debut album SING TO ME INSTEAD which was released back in 2019. That album earned rave reviews. In support of the album, Platt embarked on a triumphant headlining concert tour across North America. It became one of the fastest sold out concert tours ever!!! The final show of the tour at New York’s famed
Radio City Music Hall was captured on a film for a concert film available now on
iTunes.
Who is excited?
Ben Platt Announces Sophomore Album ‘Reverie’ (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Jul 12, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, Shows
EXPECTO PATRONUM: The Award winning smash hit
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is set to relaunch its Broadway run now a few days early than expected. The WIZARDING WORLD will now reopen its doors beginning November 12th, 2021 at the Lyric Theatre.
As previously announced with its return, the entire production will be fully re-staged, updated, and performed as a ONE PART play. This will be updated for all companies here in North America. However,
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will only continue being performed as its traditional TWO PARTS at its inaugural home in West End company (set to reopen October 14th, 2021 at London’s Palace Theatre).
Who is ready to return to HOGWARTS in a whole new way?!!
