by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
FIRST LOOK: Grammy Award winner
Jennifer Nettles (last seen in
Chicago) is about to wow Broadway audiences once again from being a MERRY MURDERESS to now baking some of the most delicious pies as the new leading lady of the strictly limited engagement revival of
Waitress this week.
We are so happy to share with you a new promo photo that has been released of the acclaimed country singer in costume as pregnant pie maker “Jenna Hunterson”.
Nettles first performance as “Jenna” in WAITRESS replacing
Sara Bareilles (who plays her final performance TODAY) is set for this Tuesday night, October 19th, 2021 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. She will play a month long run through November 24th, 2021. She joins the cast the same day as a previously announced lineup of new cast members joining consisting of…..
Acclaimed stage and screen star
Erich Bergen (best known for appearing in the film version of
Jersey Boys and on TV’s
Madam Secretary) will return to the Diner playing the first of 2 limited engagement stints and temporary replacing
Drew Gehling as the hottest doctor in town….. “Dr. Pomatter”.
Nik Dodani (recently in the film adaptation of
Dear Evan Hansen) replacing original standout Tony nominated star
Christopher Fitzgerald (who returns to prepare for the revival of
Company) in the role of the awkward, nerdy, and magical “Ogie”
Other new cast members that recently just joined consisted of….
Tour veteran cast member
Maiesha McQueen who replaced Charity Angél Dawson (now back preparing to relaunch Mrs.
Doubtfire) as “Becky”
Break a leg this week Jennifer and the new cast members!!
Happy Trails to Sara and all the newly departed cast members.
Who is excited?
How amazing does Jennifer look as “Jenna”?!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Backstage with Amada, Backstage with New York Broadway Tours, Blog, Broadway, Broadway Audience, Festivals & Events, New York City Broadway Tours, News, Shows, Times Square Theatre District
If you enjoyed our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN last month, there is more showstopping Broadway favorites coming up. As many of you know within the next 39 DAYS, it’s ready gonna be Thanksgiving as we ring in the holiday season. You know what that means?!!!
LET’S HAVE A PARADE!!! November 25th, 2021 will be Thanksgiving Morning where we get to wake up to celebrating New York’s legendary MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET. We of course are talking about The 2021
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year’s parade promises to be spectacular as it will be the first parade in 2 years to have spectators in-person. In case anyone may not know, last year’s event was cancelled for experiencing LIVE IN PERSON due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it was done as a combination of a pre-recorded and live event on
NBC and
CBS without the crowds and not that many participants.
With the world starting to make its way back to normal, this year’s edition promises to make up for all that lost time. The parade will include all of its notable moments including…..
The Giant Balloons,
Spectacular Floats,
High Energy Clowns,
Spectacular Marching Bands,
Santa Claus,
some of the biggest names in show business (Film, TV, and Music),
and
so much more.
However, the big highlighted moment when its comes to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade for us is……. THE BROADWAY PERFORMANCES!!! If you’ve seen the NBC telecasts, they are performed in front of the Macy’s store in Herald Square on 34th Street. Meanwhile the CBS telecast features the performances pre-recorded on location somewhere in NYC or at their Broadway Theater.
With the Broadway acts, we are pleased to announce beginning October 26th, 2021 on the 30 DAY mark…. we at New York Broadway Tours will be presenting our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN.
Every morning leading to the parade, we will be sharing with you our favorite showstopping performances from Broadway’s biggest night of the year from both previous NBC and CBS telecasts of the parade. It will feature many of your favorite shows. Get ready to sing along, share your reactions, and excitement. We also will be giving some fun facts about the history of many of these unforgettable Musicals we all love.
The Parade will air traditionally both on NBC (in front of that famous Macy’s Store in Herald Square on 34th Street) and on CBS (live from Times Square).
Let’s celebrate the return of coming together once more and of course Broadway being back!!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
WHAT CAN HE DO, MY DEAR. TO CATCH YOUR EAR?!! HE LOVES HER MADLY, MADLY MADAME LIBRARIAN….. MARIAN!!!! Award winning versatile stage and screen star
Hugh Jackman is preparing to head back to the Great Bright Way this Fall in Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man. Earlier last week on social media, the
X-Men,
OKLAHOMA!, The Boy From Oz,
Les Miserables, and
Greatest Showman shared a video of appreciation for his leading lady in the upcoming revival herself 2 time Tony winner
Sutton Foster in support of her new book HOOKED: HOW CRAFTING SAVED MY LIFE out now!!
For those who may not know, Foster’s book HOOKED is part memoir and guidebook. It follows the versatile stage and screen star as she shares personal, funny, and intimate stories along with reflecting how crafting has kept her sane while getting through the highs and lows of family, love, and show business. Along with the personal stories, it will also have some fun TO-DO tutorials including crochet patterns, recipes, and so much more.
Born in Georgia and grew up in Michigan, Foster has a huge love for performing. Along the way with trying to make it, she experienced many personal experiences from bullying, a fraught relationship with her agoraphobic mother; her painful divorce from
Christian Borle that made the tabloids, how she found love again with Ted Griffin, her struggles with fertility, her happiness with her adoptive daughter Emily, and the thrills she found throughout her show biz career consisting of her legendary performances on Broadway (including
Thoroughly Modern Millie,
Little Women,
The Drowsy Chaperone,
Young Frankenstein,
Shrek the Musical,
Anything Goes, and Violet) and on TV (during both Bunheads and Younger). Throughout all those experiences, Foster was able to keep her happiness with the magic of a cross stitch needle and her unbelievable craft skills.
After 2 delays, Tony winners Jerry Zaks and Warren Carlyle’s new revival of THE MUSIC MAN will finally march its way into Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre. Previews will begin December 20th, 2021 and the official Opening Night is scheduled for February 10th, 2022.
by Mike Haber | Oct 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
Discover the story behind an intense kidnapping as
Lucas Hnath‘s one woman play
Dana H. opens on Broadway TONIGHT at the Lyceum Theatre!!! The play (starring Deirdre O’Connell) is part of the ongoing rotational lineup of Off Broadway’s
Vineyard Theatre repertory THE LYCEUM PLAYS series.
Break a leg to Deirdre, the crew, and creative team!!!
Happy Opening DANA H!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
ALL I WANTED WAS THE DREAM…. and now its come true. Today marks the 18th Anniversary of the Broadway debut one one of the most critically acclaimed shows that has still earned a huge cult following with fans everywhere….. THE BOY FROM OZ.
For anyone who may not know, the story tells the story about the rise & fame of acclaimed flamboyant Australian singer-songwriter
Peter Allen. He was known for being the first husband to
Liza Minnelli before later became gay falling in love with partner model Gregory Connell. With a book by Nick Enright and Martin Sherman, the musical featured a full catalog of songs made famous by Peter Allen himself. Notable songs include NOT THE BOY NEXT DOOR, I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME, DON’T CRY OUT LOUD, and of course….. (as seen below featuring its breakout star
Hugh Jackman and the Broadway company) the showstopping I GO TO RIO.
The show originally had its world premiere in Australia at Her Majesty’s Theatre in Sydney back 1998. It was a huge success before later touring the continent including Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. It ran for a complete total of 2 years and 766 performances. Under the direction of Gale Edwards, that premiere cast consisted of….
It went on to be nominated for 8
Helpmann Awards (which is considered the Australian version of the
Tonys) taking home 4 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Todd McKenney).
With the success of the Australian run, THE BOY FROM OZ began to expand in trying to get the show to go International. That first place since its premiere….. our New York City backyard.
THE BOY FROM OZ made its Broadway debut at the Imperial Theatre in the Fall of 2003 at the Imperial Theatre. The production ran for a year long run of 32 previews and 365 performances. With an updated book and new direction by Philip William McKinley, the cast was led by…..
Hugh Jackman in a breakout Broadway debut as “Peter Allen”,
Tony winner Jarrod Emick as “Greg Connell”,
Mitchel David Federan as “Young Peter”,
The reviews were mixed but the cast earned critical praise especially for Hugh Jackman. Despite running for a year, the show was still able to have recouped its investment of $8.25 million after closing.
It also would go on to be nominated for 5 Tony Awards in 2004 including BEST MUSICAL. It took home only 1 for BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Hugh Jackman – who also ironically was hosting the Tonys at the same time). The show would also get a glory at the
Drama Desk winning 2 for OUTSTANDING LEADING and FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Jackman and Fowler). They also received 3 special HONOREES at the
Theatre World Awards (for Jackman, Keating, and Federan).
2 years after the Broadway production closed, THE BOY FROM OZ made its way back to Australia with an ARENA TOUR production. Under the direction of
Kenny Ortega, this spectacular arena staging was led by…..
Hugh Jackman reprising his Tony winning Broadway performance of “Peter Allen” for his hometown crowd,
Angela Toohey reprising her Australian performance as “Liza Minnelli”
Chrissy Amphlett reprising her Australian performance as “Judy Garland”,
Murray Bartlett reprising his Australia performance as “Greg Connell”,
Colleen Hewett as “Marion Woolnough”,
Shardyn Fahey-Leigh as “Young Peter”,
It later returned to Australia in 2010 with a brand new production featuring Todd McKenney reprising his OG performance as “Peter Allen”.
THE BOY FROM OZ was also performed in Peru and in Perth.
The licensing for the show is owned by
David Spicer Productions. It has been performed in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
HAPPY 18 YEARS THE BOY FROM OZ ON BROADWAY!!!
Any fans of THE BOY FROM OZ out there?!!!
How spectacular was that number?!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GET READY CAUSE HERE THEY COME!!!! After 19 1/2 month dark, the Tony Award winning smash hit
Ain’t Too Proud is back. It’s totally not JUST YOUR IMAGINATION indeed…. the hit musical about the rise and fame of The
Temptations reopens tonight at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre.
It makes us on CLOUD 9 to see this toe-tapping smash hit back on stage where it belongs!!!
Along with the show reopening on the Great Bright Way tonight, AIN’T TOO PROUD is set to finally launch its North American National Tour this Holiday season in a city near you.
Break a leg to the cast, crew, musicians, and creative team.
WELCOME BACK AIN’T TOO PROUD!!!
