BROADWAY NEWS: Cult musical favorite HEATHERS returns to NYC in 2025!!!

by | Sep 7, 2024 | Blog, Broadway, News, off broadway, Shows

A dark blue background with the skyline of New York illuminated by a bright blue light behind. White and red text reads: 'DEAR DIARY... HEATHERS THE MUSICAL. HOLD YOUR BREATH AND COUNT THE DAYS...'

Earlier this week, we got the most exciting news for all Theater fans to FREEZE OUR BRAINS out. The cult smash hit Heathers is officially making it’s way back to our New York City backyard NEXT year. A TBD Venue and dates are set to be announced soon. No word if it’s going ON or OFF Broadway.
The show will be the same staging as it was done 10 YEARS AGO when it first premiered OFF BROADWAY & since then has been expanded worldwide. That team features direction by Andy Pickman and choreography by Gary Lloyd.
For those not familiar, HEATHERS is a musical based on 1988 dark teen comedy of the same name. Set in an 80’s High School, it follows an underdog trying to survive the social jungle of High School with 3 of the most popular girls….. all with the name “Heather”. As she meets a new kid, her world turns upside down going into a life of rebellion, hate, revenge, and murder on her rivals. It coped with themes of bullying, teen suicide, sexual assault, and school violence. It features an original score and book by Laurence O” Keefe and Kevin Murphy. Songs include BEAUTIFUL, CANDY STORE, FREZE YOUR BRAIN, NEVER SHUT UP AGAIN. DEAD GIRL WALKING, and SEVENTEEN.
HEATHERS THE MUSICAL was conceived around 2008 by Andy Cohen and J. Todd Harris who secured the rights to the original film. They had 3 sets of concerts industrial readings both in Los Angeles, CA and our New York City backyard.
The show would have its world premiere in LA at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in 2013. The success earned an early following on social media bringing the show to NYC the following year.
The Off Broadway run in 2014 played a 6-month run at New World Stages. With Andy Fickman’s direction, the original Off Broadway cast was led by….
Barrett Wilbert Weed as “Veronica Sawyer,
Ryan McCartan as “JD”,
Jessica Keenan Wynn as “Heather Chandler”,
Elle McLemore as “Heather McNamara”,
Alice Lee as “Heather Duke”,
& more.
The reviews for the Off-Broadway run were positive. It also got nominated for both the Drama Desks and the Lucille Lortel Awards.
A few years later, HEATHERS went through some updates making it’s way overseas to the UK. Its reception went even crazy out there. It played multiple engagements on London’s West End plus toured all around there.
Since then, the show has also been performed in Schools, Community, and Regional Theaters?
Can’t wait to return to the CANDY STORE?!!!

 

BROADWAY NEWS: Hannah Shankman is FUNNY GIRL Tour’s new GREATEST STAR!!

by | Sep 7, 2024 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News

HELLO GORGEOUS!! The current National Tour of the most recent Broadway revival of Funny Girl has found a brand new…. GREATEST STAR to come. It has been revealed that Broadway veteran Hannah Shankman will take on the iconic lead role of “Fanny Brice” starting September 24th, 2024 in Seattle, WA.
Shankman (who was also in Hair, WICKED, Les Miserables, and The Band’s Visit) is truly no stranger to the role that made Barbra Streisand a household name. She first played the part in a Regional production at the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre in Missouri. For the past year, she served as the alternate and standby for the production’s recently departed lead Katerina McCrimmon. Shankman’s performance as “Fanny” was well received.
Shankman performs with a cast alongside….
Grammy winner Melissa Manchester as her mother “Mrs. Brice”,
Stephen Mark Lukas as “Nick Arnstein”,
Isziah Montaque Harris as “Eddie Ryan”,
Walter Coppage as “Florez Ziegfeld”,
& more.
The tour of FUNNY GIRL is expecting to hit the following upcoming cities in North America….
Seattle, WA,
Spokane, WA,
Salt Lake City, UT,
Tempe, AZ,
Omaha, NE,
Cincinnati, OH,
Kansas City, MO,
Denver’s, CO,
Madison, WI,
Pittsburgh, PA,
West Palm Beach, FL,
Boston, MA,
Austin, TX,
New Orelans, LA,
Columbus, OH,
Schenectady, NY,
& more.
Check the official schedule when FUNNY GIRL will MARCH THAT BAND out to a city near you.
Who is excited?

BROADWAY NEWS: Alyssa Milano is Broadway’s next “Roxie Hart” in Chicago this Fall!!

by | Sep 7, 2024 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

Chicago Image

RAZZLE DAZZLE NEWS: Acclaimed actress and singer Alyssa Milano is about to show off those Jazz Hands at THE COOK COUNTY JAIL. The Film and TV star will be joining the cast of the long running revival of Chicago this Fall for a limited 8 week run
Beginning September 16th, 2024 through November 10th, 2024 at the Ambassador Theatre, she will make her Broadway Debut as vaudevillian wannabe turned MERRY MURDERESS herself “Roxie Hart”.
Who is stoked to see Alyssa Milano REACH FOR THE GUN?!!

BROADWAY NEWS: Cardoza, Pfeiffer, & Muñoz to join as Moulin Rouge’s new Broadway leads this Fall!!

by | Sep 7, 2024 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR NEWS!! There’s an exciting lineup of new BOHEMIANS heading for the Moulin Rouge this Fall!!! Beginning October 15th, 2024 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, the Broadway company of the Tony winning smash hit will welcome its newest leads….
Solea Pfeiffer (Broadway’s Hadestown along with the National Tour of Hamilton) as the show’s new SPARKLING DIAMOND herself “Satine”,
John Cardoza (Broadway’s Jagged Little Pill and wrapping up his run in The Notebook) as struggling writer “Christian”, a role he originated on the show’s National Tour,
&
International artist Pepe Muňoz (who was a former dancer for Celine Dion) taking over as Latin Tango dancing man “Santiago”.
The show’s current and returning stars will take their final CAN CAN kicks consisting on the following dates…..
Returning original cast member Ricky Rojas will depart this Sunday, September 8th, 2024. During the interim before Muńoz’s start date, both understudies Alexander Gil Cruz and Ricardo A. Zayas will both alternate going on for “Santiago”.
Pop superstar Jojo and the show’s Tony winning original star Aaron Tviet will both take their final bows on October 13th, 2024.
Who is excited for the new stars?!!!

BROADWAY NEWS: Patti LuPone back on Broadway in THE ROOMATE even as Non Equity!!

by | Sep 4, 2024 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, NYBT NEWS

Mia Farrow and Patti LuPone Return to Broadway in THE ROOMMATE ...
At the start of this 2024-2025 Broadway season, one of the first new plays happening right now is Jen Silverman’s new play The Roommate starring Award winning actresses Patti LuPone and Mia Farrow. Under the direction of Tony winner Jack O’Brien, the show is still in previews at the Booth Theatre. It officially open on September 12th, 2024 and running till December 15th, 2024.
The story of ROOMATE follows 2 women who roomate together for the first time & develop an unexpected and life changing friendship. Along the way, they go on a journey of identity, morality, and a second chance of life.
For LuPone (Evita, Anything Goes, Gypsy, and more), it’s her first time back on Broadway not only since the recent revival of Company, it’s her first Broadway credit since she gave up her Actors’ Equity Association card. According to a recent interview, she discussed it was the Supreme Court’s 1963 FINANCIAL CORE RULING, basically those who seek financial core status to pay an amount equal to union dues as a fee. She’s technically non-union and won’t be able to participate in any major union-based events or run in any elections.
Patti dropped out of the Union in 2022 after a report of Theater Etiquette drama gone wrong….. again….. being her final straw!!! We know about LuPone’a legacy known to call audience members out if someone misbehaves at a live performance. Gypsy, Shows for Days, a few solo concerts, and even during Company.
Thoughts?

Disney’s Frozen stage musical proshot coming to Disney+ in 2025!!!

by | Sep 4, 2024 | Blog, Broadway, News, NYBT NEWS

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LET THE STORM RAGE ON!!! Disney’s criticially acclaimed stage adaptation of the Award winning smash hit Frozen will be releasing a PROSHOT on Disney+ next year in 2025!!
The filmed proshot will be a recording of the musical’s London cast. From the stage of the Theatre Royal Drury Lane, it will star the production’s original star Samantha Barks (Broadway’s Pretty Woman: The Musical and the original London staging and film adaptations of Les Miserables) as the icy and powerful SNOW QUEEN herself “Elsa”. No word was mentioned which London cast members from Barks time was filmed.
An official release date will be announced soon.
This proshot will give fans to finally witness the magic and wonder of Frozen live on stage as it wowed audiences on Broadway, in London’s West End, in Australia, its recently closed North American National Tour (which ended after 5 YEARS), and more.
Who is ready to BUILD A SNOWMAN?