by Mike Haber | Aug 28, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
PLEASE BROADWAY FANS, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?!! We are getting close each day to The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. Yup, Broadway’s biggest night is just 29 DAYS AWAY. What an unforgettable exciting time it is to be celebrating the magic of Live Theater making a comeback. With all this in mind, we at New York Broadway Tours continue to get us in the mood with our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. We have many more legendary performances coming up from previous telecasts.
At # 29 on our countdown, we take you to a small town in Iowa in the year of 1912 where a traveling salesman turns out to be…..a con artist. The man convinces the naïve residents in starting their own marching band. After all of the money is collected for Musical Instruments, Uniforms, Books, and Lessons, the con salesman would then skip town before the town realizes they have been tricked. However, his world turns upside down when he meets and falls for the town’s Librarian. We are talking about “Professor Harold Hill”….. Better known as
The Music Man. The show features an original score and book by Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey.
From the 1971 telecast (featuring many of Broadway’s biggest names reprising their legendary performances for one night only), Robert Preston in his signature performance as the titular role of “Harold Hill” and the cast perform one of the show’s most notable songs. We are talking about the legendary OG rap number on the Great Bright Way…..YA GOT TROUBLE.
The Music Man was inspired by Meredith Wilson’s 1948 memoir entitled AND THERE I STOOD THERE WITH MY PICCOLO talking about his early life in Iowa and playing in a John Phillip Sousa band. The book did so well, he originally conceived his story as a Musical Television special. However, it did not work out. Wilson later teamed up with Franklin Lacey to edit the book of the show.
In the original script, the character of ” Harold Hill” had literally an 8 minute monologue which slowed down the show. They read through it and Wilson started seeing it more as a lyric. The long monologue was then changed into an entire musical named as an early version of rap. That song happened to be YA GOT TROUBLE. The inspiration for the leading lady role of “Marian The Librarian” was a woman that Wilson met during World War II named Marian Seely who was a medical librarian in Utah.
After many years of rewrites, the show had its World Premiere in 1957 at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre for 1,375 performances. Under the direction of Morton DaCosta and choreographed by Onna White, the cast starred….
Tony winner Robert Preston (later
Eddie Albert and Bert Parks) as “Professor Harold Hill”
The original production was nominated for 9 Tony Awards that same year winning 5 including BEST MUSICAL, BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Hannah Lee), and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Barbara Cook).
The show went on to become a worldwide hit. It was later revived 3 times in New York City.
In 1965,
New York City Center presented a limited run of 16 performances. The creative team featured direction by Gus Schirmer Jr. and choreography by Vernon Lusby. The cast featured…
and
Gaylea Byrne as “Marian”.
The show was then brought back to New York City Center in 1980 for another short stint of 29 performances. This time, the creative team under the direction and choreography by Michael Kidd featured a cast led by ….
and
Meg Bussert as “Marian”.
Both New York City Center engagements did not receive any Tony Award nominations or wins.
The most recent Broadway revival of THE MUSIC MAN on Broadway happened in 2000 at the Neil Simon Theatre running for a total of 721 performances. This production was directed and choreographed by Tony winner Susan Stroman. The cast starred…
Tony nominee Rebecca Luker as “Marian”.
The revival was nominated for 8 Tony Awards that year including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost all the categories.
Most recently, it was announced that THE MUSIC MAN will officially be marching its way back to Broadway. Originally, it was slated to begin in 2020 but was delayed several times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As of now the production is set to finally begin this holiday season. Previews will begin December 20th, 2021 and Opening Night set for February 10th, 2022 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre. Under the direction of Tony winner
Jerry Zaks and choreography by Tony winner
Warren Carlyle, it will feature an all-star cast led by…
Award winning stage and screen favorite
Hugh Jackman as “Professor Harold Hill”
In addition to THE MUSIC MAN being a successful stage musical. It also became a huge hit on the screen as well.
The original film adaptation was released in 1962 from
Warner Bros. Pictures. Featuring its original creative team under the direction of Morton DaCosta and choreography by Onna White, the cast featured…
Robert Preston reprising his Tony winning performance as “Professor Harold Hill”
The original film was nominated for 6 Oscars that year winning only 1 for BEST SCORE.
In 2003, THE MUSIC MAN was captured on film again. This time it was made as a TV Movie for
Disney/ABC. Under the direction of Jeff Bleckner and choreography by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall., the cast starred…
The TV movie remake was also nominated for 5 technical
Emmy Awards.
THE MUSIC MAN today is a popular show still performed in schools, community, and regional theatres worldwide.
Doesn’t this show make you want to march and walk out singing the songs?
by Mike Haber | Aug 28, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
ON THE MARQUEE: Yesterday, Broadway experienced another DELICIOUS front of house billboard get updated in over a year. We are talking about the limited engagement return of the Tony and Grammy nominated smash
Waitress the Musical. Our hearts are beating with excitement… not a BAD IDEA… to share with you this photo taken outside the revival’s home at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
WAITRESS will be RE-OPENING UP starting this upcoming week on September 2nd, 2021. It will run through January 9th, 2021.
PLEASE NOTE: Through October 7th, 2021, the show’s composer Tony nominee and Grammy winner
Sara Bareilles will play the lead role of “Jenna Hunterson”. Announcement for who will take over will be revealed at a later time.
by Mike Haber | Aug 27, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!! RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!!! We are only 30 DAYS AWAY till Broadway’s biggest night of the year…. The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. We got more of the greatest musical showstoppers coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. This is truly the ultimate celebration as we gear also for the return of Live Theater after a previous rough and sad year. Here comes another big Broadway favorite!!!
At # 30 on our countdown, we go to New York City back in time to the year of 1899 during the historical time of the Newsboys Strike. This is of course Disney’s acclaimed smash hit
Newsies. With a score by
Alan Menken, lyrics by
Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein, it’s based on the 1992 cult Disney film of the same name.
From the 2012 telecast, Tony nominee
Jeremy Jordan as “Jack Kelly”. Kara Lindsay as “Katherine Plumber”, and the original Broadway cast perform 2 of the musical’s toe-tapping anthems ONCE AND FOR ALL and SEIZE THE DAY.
.
NEWSIES initially was a huge box office flop when the original 1992 film (starring
Christian Bale) was released. However, following numerous airings on the
Disney Channel, it earned a huge cult following. At the same time with Disney already having worldwide success with acclaimed projects on Broadway, fans petitioned it to be translated into a stage musical. Alan Menken and the Disney team decided to give it a shot.
After a brief set of early development readings and workshops, the show originally premiered at New Jersey’s
Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 for a complete sold out run. With the overwhelming response, NEWSIES transferred to Broadway the following year in 2012 playing the Nederlander Theatre. The initial run was technically supposed to be a 6 month limited engagement. However, thanks to it selling out and people were dying to see it, the team decided to have the show as an open ended before ending its official run in 2014. The Broadway run lasted for an incredible 1,005 performances. Under the direction of Jeff Calhoun and choreography by Christopher Gattelli, the cast starred…
Kara Lindsay (later
Liana Hunt) as “Katherine Plumber”,
John Dossett as “Joseph Pulitzer”,
Tommy Bracco (later Clay Thompson) as “Spot”,
& more.
The show was nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 2012 winning only 2 for BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Alan Menken) and BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Christopher Gattelli).
Following its Broadway run, the show embarked on an acclaimed 2 year National Tour traveling all across America. It played 784 performances in 65 cities all across North America. It also featured some additional updated to the production including a new song for the character of “Crutchie” in the 2nd act entitled LETTER FROM THE REFUGE. With its original creative team reunited, the tour cast was led by….
Stephanie Styles (later
Morgan Keene) as “Katherine Plumber”,
Steve Blanchard as “Joseph Pulitzer”,
Zachary Sayle (later Andy Richardson) as “Crutchie”,
Angela Grovey (later Aisha de Haas) as “Medda Larkin”,
Jacob Kemp as “Davey”,
Jeff Heimbrock as “Spot”,
& more.
Towards the end of the tour, the final show in LA was captured on film for a theatrical release from
Disney and
Fathom Events release and available now on Amazon. The filmed performance was at the
Hollywood Pantages Theatre. With Jeff Calhoun and Christopher Gattelli on board, the filmed performance featured the majority of the original cast from Broadway reprising their roles joined on stage with several of the tour cast members including…
Jeremy Jordan as “Jack Kelly”,
Kara Lindsay as “Katherine Plumber”,
Steve Blanchard as “Joseph Pulitzer”,
Andrew-Keenan Bolger,
Aisha de Haas as “Medda Larkin”,
Ben Fankhauser as “Davy”,
Tommy Bracco as “Spot”,
and more.
Currently, the licensing is now available for all FANSIES to put on their own productions of NEWSIES worldwide. Productions are being played everywhere from Schools, Community, and Regional Theaters all over.
Doesn’t this show make you wanna join in the fight?!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 26, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News
BREAKING NEWS: Broadway’s Palace Theatre is preparing to FINALLY be raised up later this year.
TSX Broadway took to social media today sharing a photo of the renovation and construction still in works. They also shared a post of everything is starting to get into place at the legendary Broadway house will be raised 29 feet above street level.
With the Palace being raised, it’s also making way for BOTH more retail shops and a brand new 470-foot hotel here in Manhattan.
The actual Theater will include a brand new entrance on 47th Street, an 80-foot-long marquee, plenty of space for upcoming big elaborate productions, a newly expanded lobby with twice as many restrooms, and more. In addition, all the notable historical pieces from the Theater’s legendary design including its chandelier and decorative plaster balcony fascia will BOTH be restored.
More announcements and details will be shared soon.
by Mike Haber | Aug 26, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR NEWS! A few days ago, the Broadway company of the Tony Award nominated smash hit
Moulin Rouge have all reunited for the first time in 18 months since the shutdown. Currently, the cast is the midst of rehearsals for relaunching its Broadway run next month.
Making us want to CAN CAN with excitement seeing all the incredibly talented faces from the original cast back together consisting of…..
Tony nominee Aaron Tviet as “Christian”,
Tony & Olivier nominee Sahr Ngaujah as “Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec”,
Broadway and West End favorite
Tam Mutu as “The Duke of Monroth”,
Ricky Rojas as “Santiago” aka “The Narcoleptic Argentinean”,
Tony nominee Robyn Hurder as “Nini Legs-in-the-Air”,
and members of its Ensemble.
The show also welcomes some incredible new cast members joining the Ensemble and most importantly….. the show’s new leading lady
Natalie Mendoza who replaces original cast member Tony winner (and nominee for this show)
Karen Olivo as “Satine”.
MOULIN ROUGE was one of the first Broadway shows to have been effected by the spread of the coronavirus. Following just an incredible 6+ months into its triumphant run of SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR rave reviews & sold out crowds every night, the news was revealed to the company about an extreme virus spreading the world. Many people thought it was just the usual flu season with still following safety precautions. However, things began to take a horrific turn for the worse in February 2020 as the BOHEMIANS themselves one by one began to feel ill. Company members began to call out non-stop….. a crazy record which included several performances getting cancelled along with low ticket sales. With safety precautions of this new illness, the show preventing the cast from doing post-show backstage tours and the popular stage door (signing autographs & taking photos). Eventually on March 12th, 2020, the show was shutdown like all Broadway shows on March 12th, 2020. Several months into Quarantining, cast members did not know that they caught COVID-19 including Tviet and Burnstein. Luckily despite Delta Variant cases rising and people being vaccinated, things are starting to make their way back to normal.
MOULIN ROUGE will once again make audiences COME WHAT MAY starting September 24th, 2021 at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre.
Along with the Broadway production, MOULIN ROUGE is also set to launch long awaited new companies around the world including….
London’s West End at the Piccadilly Theatre,
a North American National Tour,
an Australian company (where it all began) playing Melbourne’s Regent Theatre.
WELCOME BACK TO THE MOULIN ROUGE!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 26, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
FIRST LOOK: Get ready to feel like an ISLANDER as you experience the Award winning groundbreaking smash hit
Come From Away coming to
Apple TV+ next month. We are so happy to share with you another trailer that has just been released of this filmed proshot.
Filmed in front of a live audience consisting of Frontline Workers at Broadway’s Gerald Schonefeld Theatre, it features scenes from the production along with the cast performing 2 of its highlighted songs WELCOME TO THE ROCK and SOMEWHERE IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
As previously announced, this filmed cast of the 9/11 musical features a combination of both original and replacement cast members from the Broadway production including….
Jenn Colella who returned for this filmed production still in the midst of this pandemic reprising her 2017 Tony nominated portrayal as “Captain Beverly Bass” (the first female pilot of
American Airlines), “Annette”, and others,
Petrina Bromley as “Bonnie,” and others,
Joel Hatch as “Claude” and others,
Caesar Samayoa as “Kevin J.”, “Ali”, and others,
Q. Smith as “Hannah” and others,
Astrid Van Wieren as “Beulah” and others,
Sharon Donaldson-Wheatley as “Diane” and others
Tony LePage as “Kevin T” and others,
Emily Walton as “Janice” and others
Jim Walton as “Nick”, “Doug”, and others.
COME FROM AWAY’s filmed Broadway proshot will be available on AppleTv+ starting September 10th, 2021….. just 1 day before the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th, 2001 terror attacks.
Meanwhile for those who plan to see the show LIVE, the Broadway production will reopen at the Gerald Schonefeld Theatre starting starting September 21st, 2021. Currently,
Come From Away is playing right now in London’s West End and on hold right now in Australia. The US National Tour and sit-down Toronto companies will reopen later this year.
Also on that very same day of the September 10th, 2021 AppleTV+ proshot release, COME FROM AWAY will also be presenting a free ONE NIGHT ONLY concert production in Washington D.C. in front of the
Lincoln Memorial.
Get your tissues out before watching!! We’re a mess already.
Come From Away — Official Trailer | Apple TV+ – YouTube
