by Mike Haber | Nov 6, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News
For the first time in 2 years, upon 33,000 people will once again be running for their lives as the
New York City Marathon returns. Last year’s event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With it back, it comes at a very exciting timing commemorating the 50th Anniversary of this annual traditions of the ultimate long distant runs through all of New York’s boroughs.
So many people expecting to run tomorrow including one of Broadway’s very own…… Tony Award winner
Kelli O’Hara. Fans will be able to tune in tomorrow morning to see the Broadway favorite run but will also be singing the National Anthem prior before the cannons & running begins.
O’Hara’s participation this year is going to be in support of a powerful cause….. The
Cancer Support Community which offer social and emotional support for people impacted by cancer. This organization that O’Hara is supporting and running for will be in tribute to one of her longtime Broadway friends…. the late 3-Time Tony nominated
Marin Mazzie.
Mazzie sadly passed away in 2018 following a 3 year battle with ovarian cancer. Mazzie and O’Hara shared the stage at several various events and notable played some of the roles including “Lilli Vanessi” in Kiss Me Kate and “Anna Leonowens” in the
Lincoln Center Theater revival of
The King and I.
Go get em Kelli!!!
RUN GIRL!!!
by Mike Haber | Nov 6, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
YIPPEE BROADWAY FANS!!!! Just another day waking up with us New York Broadway Tours as we continue getting our spirits up for the The 95th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade just 19 DAYS AWAY. Between between now and Thanksgiving day is playing our favorite Musical Theater performances from previous telecasts on our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN. It’s time once again for another musical showstopper that has happened live from New York’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. Truly a happy time especially with Live Theater now back in the Big Apple.
At # 19 on our countdown…. Wait!!! We just wanted to take a moment once again to see how incredible the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is being a family-friendly event for all ages. There’s so much that happens during the iconic march from Central Park all the way to Macy’s in Herald Square. Of course we got the floats, balloons, marching bands, celebrities but also some really fun characters from clowns, to explorers, and even some magical whimsical characters. Speaking of whimsical characters, we’ve even had an incredible share of them that have even taken center stage on the Great White Way. The greatest one was iconic characters that were created by the unique genius children’s book writer by the name of
Dr. Seuss. This is
Seussical The Musical!!!! The show features a score and book by
Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty.
From the 2000
NBC telecast, Tony nominee
Kevin Chamberlin as “Horton The Elephant” and the incredible gang of crazy characters from your favorite Dr. Seuss stories take over Herald Square with a performance of the show-stopping BIGGEST BLAME FOOL.
SEUSSICAL was conceived in 1997 by producing company
Livent Inc. who secured the rights of using many of Dr. Seuss’ books in creating a full original Broadway musical paying tribute to his works. They immediately reached out to the perfect duo in mind to create the show. Following the success of their previous collaboration RAGTIME, they hired Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty to do the score and book. Because of Dr. Seuss books being so beloved, the pressure was on. The aim for this new musical was to make it fun, colorful, and a very feel good show. With several years of writing this Dr. Seuss’ show would go through various drafts. Finally in 1999, the show began a set of early development readings and workshop labs.. Reviews from the early reading were positive, setting off a bidding battle to have the show fully produced and go directly onto the New York stage.
Finally in the Fall of 2000, the show had its world Premiere pre-Broadway tryout in Boston, Massachusetts playing the
Colonial Theatre. Early reviews were mixed to negative there. Following its Boston run, many parts of the show went through various changes with the storyline and songs.
A month later, SEUSSICAL finally made its Broadway debut at the Richard Rodgers Theatre where it ran for only for a complete total of 232 performances. Under the direction of Frank Galati and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, the cast was led by….
Kevin Chamberlin as “Horton The Elephant”,
David Shiner (later Rosie O’Donnell and Cathy Rigby) as “The Cat in the Hat”,
The reviews of SEUSSICAL, critics panned the production really harshly. However to keep attempting to raise ticket sales, SEUSSICAL began to have a full lineup of celebrity “Stunt Casting” which gave the production more horrible backlash. Apparently even with the “Stunt Casting”, the show continued to flop at the Box Office and closed right away. Following the final performance, the producers lost over $11 millions it failed to keep the ticket sales alive making it the worst financial flops in Broadway History.
It only received 1 nomination at the
Tony Awards in 2001 for BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Kevin Chamberlin). However, the category was lost.
Following its short lived Broadway life, SEUSSICAL began a life touring all across North America and eventually a brief limited 90 minute abbreviated version Off Broadway by
TheatreworksUSA at the
Lucille Lortel Theatre in 2007. It later made its later arrival in London’s West End debut in 2012. Today, is a popular show performed in schools, community, and regional theaters around the world.
Who is feeling like a WHO or any of the notable SEUSS characters after that performance?
by Mike Haber | Nov 5, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Christmas Caroling (Times Square), News, Shows
In honor of the
Radio City Christmas Spectacular officially back today, little throwback for super fans of this National Treasure. From 1999-2005, the show had a notable commercial jingle that would be heard on both TV and on the Radio. We have the full length version below sung by Broadway veteran and celebrated vocalist
Mike Eldred (who previously appeared on the Great Bright Way in
Les Miserables and The Civil War).
Just like the song, the jingle inspires everyone that even in the most difficult times and that Live Theater is back, FILL YOUR HEART WITH CHRISTMAS this year & many years to come.
The 2021 edition of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is now running in previews. The show will have its official Opening Night on November 9th, 2021 and will run till January 2nd, 2022.
Who remembers this commercial?
How incredible is Mike’s voice?!!
by Mike Haber | Nov 5, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
ALL RISE!!! Emmy winner Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear is set to join the cast of the powerful Broadway production of
To Kill a Mockingbird next year. Beginning January 5th, 2022 at the Shubert Theatre, the actor (best known for his roles in Talk Soup, As Good As It Gets, The Kennedys and
Modern Family) will take over the role of head lawyer “Atticus Finch”.
Kinnear succeeds original and returning leading man Emmy winner and Tony nominee
Jeff Daniels who will end his limited engagement on January 2nd, 2022.
by Mike Haber | Nov 5, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Christmas Caroling (Times Square), News, Shows
Get ready to once again FILL YOUR HEART WITH CHRISTMAS as one of New York City’s legendary national treasures return. We are talking about one of the most famous shows that has continued to be a holiday tradition for so many people since its debut in 1933. We are talking about the iconic
Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular starring the world famous Radio City
Rockettes.
This beloved show is back for the first time in 2 years since last year’s edition was sadly cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, The Rockettes giving us those high kicks again LIVE, Santa, and all their holiday friends are back to give us a proper WHITE CHRISTMAS that we’ll never forget making up for all that lost time. Fans can expect all the great moments from PARADE OF THE WOODEN SOLDIERS, THE RAG DOLLS, NEW YORK AT CHRISTMAS, and the beautiful THE NATIVITY.
This year’s edition begins previews TONIGHT, it will officially open on November 9th, 2021, and will run till January 2nd, 2022 at New York’s famed Radio City Music Hall.
Break a leg to the Rockettes, the cast, crew, musicians, and creative team!!!
WELCOME BACK CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR!!!
by Mike Haber | Nov 5, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
HELLO!!! After 20 months dark, WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE MOST AMAZING SHOW is back. Tonight, the Tony & Grammy Award winning smash hit musical comedy
The Book of Mormon will once again MAN UP as it officially reopens at Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre tonight.
For tonight’s reopening, it also be the first time Theatergoers will experience a brand new 2.0 version of The Book of Mormon. Following the news of the events of the
Black Lives Matter demonstrations, the show itself received so much backlash with its portrayal of Africans (since about 85% of the musical takes place in Uganda). Work has been 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 also 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.
This evening promises to be the ultimate comeback as Theater fans all gather together to say HASA DIGA to COVID-19.
Break a leg to the full cast, crew, musicians, and creative team!!
WELCOME BACK THE BOOK OF MORMON!!
I BELIEVE that today and TOMORROW IS A LATTER DAY!!!