by Mike Haber | Oct 22, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
ROYAL NEW: Sir
Andrew Lloyd Webber has been making the rounds of press today celebrating the return of
The Phantom of the Opera as it re-haunts Broadway tonight. Moments ago while being interviews on
MSNBC, the legendary composer confirmed that his new musical adaptation of
Cinderella will be coming to Broadway next year!!!
This new
Cinderella comes following the success of the show’s debut in London’s West End earlier this Summer. Talks are still being made that the production is expecting to be led by its original London star
Carrie Hope Fletcher.
PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a stage version of the Disney film we love or a revival of the
Rodgers & Hammerstein version (that was previously on Broadway back in 2013), This is a brand new contemporary take on the classic story we all know in love. The story is still the same…. a young girl with big dreams who is forced to work as a household servant by her jealous stepmother and stepsisters. One day, an announcement is made for a Royal Ball which the handsome Prince seeks for a bride. However, the stepmother and sisters prevent the household servant girl from attending. Luckily everything changes when the girl has her wish become a reality by her Fairy Godmother. What’s also different about this version is that “
Cinderella” is more of a rebel. It also explores very familiar what’s going on in the world today how gender relationships are rethought. Plus, it deals with the critical thematic element concerns beauty shaming. Some of the songs have already become singles including BAD CINDERELLA, SO LONG, ONLY YOU, LONLEY YOU, I KNOW HAVE A HEART, FAR TOO LATE, and more.
This new version was originally developed through a set of readings and workshops at the Other Palace Theatre in May 2019. It was well received that the next steps were to do a full-scale production.
This new CINDERELLA was initially slated to have its premiere in the West End originally in the Summer of 2020. However, it was delayed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite being in quarantine, the company still held continued development labs from home.
Most recently, the show finally premiered in London’s West End at the Gillian Lynne Theatre. Under the direction of Laurence Connor and choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, the cast was is led by…
Carrie Hope Fletcher and Georgina Onuorah alternating as the title role,
Newcomer Ivano Turco as “Prince Sebastian”,
Rebecca Trehearn as “The Queen”,
Laura Baldwin as stepsister “Adele”,
Georgina Castle as stepsister “Marie”,
CINDERELLA originally began previews on June 25th, 2021 under extreme COVID-19 and Delta Variant safety precautions. The show originally was performed at a limited 50% capacity. The show was slated to officially open on July 20th, 2021. However, the plug was pulled after a cast member tested positive for COVID-19. A few days later, it was revealed that the show will go on. The company took a 4 week hiatus and officially had its long awaited Opening Night on August 18th, 2021 earning RAVE reviews and now playing to a FULL CAPACITY.
Along with the production, a full concept album of the musical’s entire score was released on July 9th, 2021. It included its main cast including Fletcher, Onitri, and Turco, it featured an all-star lineup of some familiar faces appearing just for this recording including….
Helen George,
Todrick Hall,
and
.
We know this version will be getting TONS of buzz during Awards season!!
No word has been said on what Theater the show will run in, the starting time, or casting. Stay tuned.
VIDEO: Andrew Lloyd Webber Confirms CINDERELLA Broadway Transfer on MSNBC (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Oct 22, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
YOU OUGHTA KNOW, there are people out there who are NOT happy to some shows are back on the Great Bright Way. Last night’s re-Opening Night of the Tony and Grammy winning
Jagged Little Pill was met with protests outside the show’s home of the Broadhurst Theatre. This demonstration comes following recent backlash the
Alanis Morissette musical has been receiving in the way its deals with certain themes in the show plus some extreme toxic behavior in the work place. All of this consisted of…..
1. A dramatic storyline change for the character of “Jo” (now played its Tony winning star
Lauren Patten) being changed from its World Premiere Cambridge tryout to Broadway, Originally, the character was initially supposed to be transgender. Later on as it was preparing to hit Broadway, the creative team changed “Jo” to being cisgender.
2. The show’s former original standout Ensemble member Nora Schell dealing with hell from the stage management. While still in previews, Schell (who goes by They/Them pronouns) was FORCED to postpone a surgery to receive treatment for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Each extended rescheduling made them feel worse.
This recent news also caused several of its original cast members to depart the show including Tony nominee Celia Gooding (who originated the role of “Frankie”) and
Antonio Cipriano (who played the role of “Phoenix”). Both performers took to their social medias expressing their support of all those within the LGBTQ+, trans and non-binary communities.
Check out footage of the protest below.
Should JAGGED LITTLE PILL continue or give up it Broadway life?!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 22, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
WHAT A NIGHT POPPETS! Last night, the highly anticipated new musical adaptation of the hit film Mrs.
Doubtfire officially resumed its preview performances on the Great Bright Way. The show returns after over 580 days dark and having just completed 3 PREVIEW PERFORMANCES back in 2020. With several updates and tweaks, fans have been praising the production. Check out footage of the cast taking their well deserved curtain call back at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.
MRS. DOUBTFIRE THE MUSICAL will play its official long awaited Opening Night performance on December 5th, 2021.
Congrats to the full company!!!
WELCOME BACK MRS. DOUBTFIRE!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 22, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
Last night, everything truly was FINE, FINE, FINE as the Tony and Grammy winning smash hit
Jagged Little Pill reopened on Broadway last night after 19 1/2 months dark. Along with its re-opening night, the show celebrated the debuts of 3 of its main new Principals…..
Broadway favorite
Heidi Blickenstaff who temporary fills in for its Tony nominated leading lady Elizabeth Stanley in the role of struggling suburban mother “Mary Jane Healy”,
newcomer Morgan Dudley who replaces Tony nominated star Celia Gooding in the role of rebellious, bisexual, and adopted African American teenage daughter “Frankie Healy”,
newcomer Adi Roy who replaces
Antonio Cipriano in the role of High School student and love interest “Phoenix”.
YOU OUGHTA KNOW that the energy from the sold out crowd at the Broadhurst Theatre (and even despite the show’s ongoing backlash) was on fire. We got footage from that curtain call below.
Along with the cast taking their well deserved Broadway bows back, Tony nominee
Kathryn Gallagher who plays the vulnerable but recently raped victim “Bella Fox” gave a post-show speech leading the cast and audience in a FIRST NIGHT BACK SELFIE!!
WELCOME BACK JAGGED LITTLE PILL!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 22, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
SING ONCE AGAIN WITH ME! After over 580 days dark, he’s back and SOMEHOW HERE AGAIN!! The man behind the half white mask returns to haunt the Great Bright Way with a vengeance. Get ready to once again SURRENDER to THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT as Broadway’s legendary record-breaking longest running show
Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s
The Phantom of the Opera officially reopens TONIGHT at the Majestic Theatre. Truly going to be a spectacular MASQUERADE this evening.
PHANTOM returns to the Big Apple just in time before celebrating its 34th Anniversary this January 2022.
Along with the show’s current updated version of the show’s inaugural London production, this is the currently only major production of PHANTOM that still has its original elements fully from its sets, staging, and the full 27 piece orchestra. Of course, the show will continue to honor of the legacy of its legendary late creators director Hal Prince, choreographer
Gillian Lynne, and set and costume designer
Maria Björnson.
Break a leg to the entire cast, crew, musicians, and creative team!!!
WELCOME BACK PHANTOM BROADWAY!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 21, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
SUGARLAND, BUTTER FLOUR!! Last night, Grammy Award winning singer
Jennifer Nettles (last seen in the revival of
Chicago) returned to Broadway replacing
Sara Bareilles in the leading role of “Jenna Hunterson” in the current limited engagement Broadway revival of
Waitress. We are so happy to share with you a special video the company posted on their social media earlier today of the Country singing one of the show’s beloved songs WHAT BAKING CAN DO.
Catch Jennifer Nettles as “Jenna” in WAITRESS now for a strictly limited engagement till November 24th, 2021 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Waitress Musical on Instagram: “@jennifernettles performs “What Baking Can Do” in her final dress rehearsal before opening night! Don’t miss her stunning run in Waitress…”
