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 | Blog, Broadway, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: The new Tom Kitt, Michael Kore, and James Lapine musical
Flying Over Sunset has rescheduled its long awaited Broadway launch by a few days this Fall 2021. Led by Tony nominees Carmen Cusack,
Tony Yazbeck, and
Harry Hadden-Paton), it will now begin previews starting November 11th, 202 and will have its official Opening Night on December 13th, 2021 at the Vivian Beaumont at
Lincoln Center Theater
FLYING OVER SUNSET was originally scheduled to begin its previews on March 12th, 2020 which turned out to be the day when Broadway and Live Theater shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, the original Opening Night was slated for April 16th, 2020. It only had 1 performance prior the day before. the shutdown…. a private invited Industrial Dress Rehearsal. At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been delayed twice…. Originally for the Spring of 2021 and then its initial Fall launching time with previews initially to begin November 4th, 2021 and Opening Night slated for December 6th, 2021.
by Mike Haber | Jul 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: With Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s
Pass Over set to become the first new straight play to open on Broadway since the shutdown, an announcement was made today about ongoing COVID-19 safety protocols for the production. Theatergoers attending a performance will be required of the following….
proof to show you have taken the COVID-19 vaccination with an FDA or WHO-authorized vaccine,
Guests under the age of 16 that have NOT been vaccinated or those who are unable due to a disability or religious belief will be required to take a NEGATIVE result from either a COVID-19 PCR test (at least 72 hours prior to showtime) or a COVID-19 antigen test taken (within 6 hours prior to the performance),
Face Masks must been worn when moving around the Theater, being in the lobby, or using the restrooms. However, you will have the optional opportunity to take it off is at your seat.
Currently, there have been reports of COVID-19 positive rates going up once again. This is all for everyone’s continue safety and health.
PLEASE NOTE: These policies will be in place till the possibility of it changing either in September or sooner.
PASS OVER begins performances at Broadway’s August Wilson Theatre for a limited 9 week engagement starting next month. Previews begin August 4th, 2021, the official Opening Night is set for September 20th, 2021, and will run through October 10th, 2021.
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 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
We are giving standing ovations from our homes!!!
Disney on Broadway‘s LIVE AT THE NEW AM concert…… WOW!!!!!!
Happy Closing LIVE AT THE NEW AM!!! Thank you for getting our happiness back and going!!! We cannot wait to be sitting back on those seats again.
How fabulous was that?!!!!
