by Mike Haber | Aug 18, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
LET YOUR MIND START A JOURNEY THROUGH A STRANGE NEW WORLD….. once more! This Fall, the Great Bright Way will once again surrender to THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT at
Andrew Lloyd Webber‘s recording breaking long-running smash hit
The Phantom of the Opera returns to Broadway.
With the anticipation in the air, a brand new TV commercial has been released show New York City following these past 17 months shutdown but the spirit of PHANTOM still around. Yes, it includes those first few iconic sounds of the show’s themed overture.
The Broadway production of PHANTOM will start re-haunting the Majestic Theatre starting October 22nd, 2021.
WATCH: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Teases Return to Broadway With Video of the Streets of NYC! (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Aug 18, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
DEAR FANSENS,
Next month is going to be an unforgettable week and here’s why….
Not only we’re celebrating the return of Broadway, we will also be celebrating the release of the film adaptation of the Award winning smash hit Dear Evan Hansen. Our hearts are filled with anticipation FOR FOREVER as a brand new poster has been released.
The poster features a montage of scenes from this new film featuring its all-star cast. Under the direction of Stephen Chbosky. the film star’s…..
the musical’s original star Ben Platt reprising his Tony Award winning performance as the title role of “Evan Hansen” himself,
Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe winner Julianne Moore as “Heidi Hansen”,
Golden Globe nominee Kaitlin Dever as “Zoe Murphy”,
Oscar nominee Amy Adams as “Cynthia Murphy”,
Colton Ryan as “Connor Murphy” (a part he previously understudied in the Broadway production),
Acclaimed actress and singer Amandla Stenberg as “Alana Beck”,
Acclaimed actor and comedian Nik Dodani as “Jared Kleinman”,
&
Danny Pino as “Larry” (who is now updated as the stepfather of “The Murphy Family”).
The film will have some unique updates including brand new Ensemble characters created specifically for the film. New to the world of this powerful show will include Broadway favorites….
Isaac Powell (who was appearing on Broadway prior before COVID hit in the revival of West Side Story) as school jock “Rhys”,
Demarius Copes (recently seen on Broadway prior before COVID in the just recently abruptly closed Mean Girls) as “Oliver”,
and
Gerald Caesar as “Josh”.
You can expect to hear all the beloved Pasek and Paul songs from the musical (including WAVING THROUGH A WINDOW, FOR FOREVER, and YOU WILL BE FOUND). In addition, the duo themselves wrote several new songs especially for the film.
Along with the new movie, we cannot wait to experience this powerful musical back on stage when Live Theater reopens its doors.
As previously mentioned, the Broadway production of Dear Evan Hansen will reopen at the Music Box Theatre starting December 11th, 2021.
Along with the Broadway company’s return, DEAR EVAN HANSEN will also re-launch its various productions worldwide. The London company reopens at the Noel Coward Theatre starting October 26th, 2021. From there, the North American National Tour will re-kick off December 7th, 2021 in Greensboro, NC before traveling to more than 30 cities across both the USA and and Canada.
WORDS FAIL to describe our excitement. Once again, we seriously cannot wait to go WATCH, WATCH, WATCHIN’ this movie at our local movie Theaters.
SINCERLEY ME
(and everyone at New York Broadway Tours)
P.S. Who is excited?!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 18, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
Donovan joins the previously announced 5-person tasty Ensemble cast consisting of…..
Emmy Award winner Ron Cephas Jones (TV’s
This Is Us along with Broadway’s Gem of the Ocean, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, and last seen in the recent revival of
Of Mice and Men),
Lucille Lortel Award nominee Kara Young (Off Broadway’s All The Natalie Portmans) in her On Broadway debut,
Reza Salazar (no stranger working with Lynn Notage in the Broadway debut of
SWEAT and appeared in the original 2019 premiere of this play in Minneapolis).
Under the direction of Kate Whoriskey, CLYDE’S will have a delicious Broadway debut at the Hayes at
Second Stage Theater. Previews begin November 3rd, 2021 and the Opening Night is set for November 22nd, 2021. It will run for a strictly limited engagement through January 16th, 2022.
by Mike Haber | Aug 18, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!! It’s 39 DAYS AWAY till Broadway’s biggest night of the year…. The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. Our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more Broadway powerhouse performances from the past telecasts. Seriously, this is getting our anticipation in the air and also celebrating the return of Live Theater to the Great Bright Way.
At # 39 on the countdown, we have one of the most iconic musicals ever written. It follows the story of one of the craziest, bossiest, and no nonsense stage mothers of all time…. “Rose Thompson Hovick” (aka “Mama Rose”). We are talking about GYPSY!!! Based on a memoir by Rose Louise Hovick (aka
Gypsy Rose Lee, the famous Vaudeville stripper in the world), the show features a score by
Jule Styne and
Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents.
From the 2008 telecast, Tony winners
Patti LuPone as “Mama Rose”,
Laura Benanti as “Louise”, and Boyd Gaines as “Herbie” from that year’s recent Broadway revival brings down the house with a roof-shaking performance of one of the musical’s signature tunes EVERYTHING’S COMING UP ROSES.
GYPSY originally was conceived as a project by producer David Merrick and written for
Ethel Merman after reading Gypsy Rose Lee’s memoir. After being fascinated by a certain chapter, he approached Lee in obtaining the rights to adapt her story into a stage musical. With book writer Arthur Laurents and composer Stephen Sondheim (following the success of West Side Story) and hiring Jule Styne (by Merman’s request) and a rocky struggle with finding more people, the team began work on the show.
GYPSY originally premiered on Broadway in 1959 at the Broadway Theatre (and later transferred to the Imperial Theatre) for 2 previews and 702 performances. Under the direction and choreography of Jerome Robbins, the original production starred….
the legendary first belter of Musical Theatre, Ethel Merman, as “Mama Rose”
Sandra Church (later Julienne Marie) as “Louise”,
Jack Klugman as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 1960 including BEST MUSICAL, but lost all of its categories.
Following the success of the original Broadway run, GYPSY went on to tour across America and around the world. The show was later revived on Broadway four times.
It first debuted in London’s West End in 1974. Due to its overwhelming success, the production transferred overseas touring North America and then eventually made its way to Broadway. It played the Winter Garden Theatre for a limited run of 4 previews and 124 regular performances. Under the direction of Arthur Laurents and choreographed by Robert Tucker (still playing tribute to Jerome Robbins staging), the first revival starred…
Zan Charisse as “Louise,”
Rex Robbinson as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 3 Tony Awards in 1975 winning only 1 for BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Angela Lansbury).
The second Broadway revival happened in 1989. Following a brief pre-Broadway tour across America, this production played the St. James Theatre (and later transferring to the Marquis Theatre) for 35 previews and 582 regular performances. Under the direction once again by Arthur Laurents and the choreography re-staged by Bonnie Walker, the cast featured…
Crista Moore as “Louise,”
Jonathan Hadary (later Jamie Ross) as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 4 Tony Awards in 1990, winning 2 for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Tyne Daly).
The third Broadway revival happened in 2003 playing the Shubert Theatre for 33 previews and 451 regular performances. Under the direction of Sam Mendes and choreography by Jerry Mitchell, this cast starred…
Bernadette Peters (who previously appeared as “Baby June” in the original production’s first National Tour and later temporary Maureen Moore) taking on the role of “Mama Rose”,,
John Dossett as “Herbie.”
It was nominated for 4 Tony Awards that same year including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Bernadette Peters). However, it lost all the categories.
The most recent Broadway revival of GYPSY happened in 2008. Following a triumphant Summer engagement at
New York City Center part of its ENCORES season. The show returned to the St. James Theatre for 27 previews and 332 regular performances. Under the direction once again by Arthur Laurents and choreography re-staged by Bonnie Walker, the cast starred….
Patti LuPone as “Mama Rose”,
Laura Benanti as “Louise”,
This revival was nominated for 7 Tony Awards winning 3 for BEST LEADING ACTRESS, BEST FEATURED ACTOR, and BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Patti LuPone, Boyd Gaines, and Laura Benanti).
FUN FACT: That most recent revival was well known for a little onstage drama that happened on the second-to-last night before it closed. At the January 10th, 2009 evening performance during the show’s finale number ROSE’S TURN, a pair of audience members were taking flashed photographs which is completely illegal at a Broadway show. The flashes almost caused LuPone to trip before knowing that ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!! She stopped the show, went out into the audience, screamed at the illegal photographers, and kicked them out. From there, she started the number all over. Someone at the same time sneaked audio of that incident, which went viral on YouTube.
GYPSY was previously rumored to return to Broadway with a fifth revival based on its recent 2016 West End production that swept the
Olivier Awards. It was set to star Imelda Staunton as “Mama Rose”. However, nothing ever came of it.
GYPSY continues to be a popular musical done in schools, community, and regional theaters around the world.
Not only was this show a smash on stage, GYPSY was captured on film 3 TIMES!!!
The original film was released in 1962 from
Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the direction of Mervin LeRoy, the cast was led by….
Rosalind Russell as “Mama Rose”,
That original film was a huge box office success. It was nominated for various Awards including 3 Academy Awards and 6 Golden Globes (winning only 1 for BEST ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL (for Rosalind Russell).
GYPSY’s 2nd screen makeover happened in 1993 as a film-for TV musical. Under the direction of Emile Ardolino, the cast was led by….
Bette Midler as “Mama Rose”,
Cynthia Gibb as “Louise”,
Jennifer Rae Beck as “June”,
Peter Riegert as “Herbie”.
Also earning critical praise, this TV movie was nominated for various Awards including 12
Emmy Awards (winning 1 for OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN MUSIC DIRECTION) and several Golden Globes (winning several including BEST ACTRESS IN A MINISERIES OR TV FILM for (Bette Midler).
The most recently captured presentation was a filmed performance of the 2016 West End revival (that was rumored to come to Broadway). It aired originally in the UK before later debuting here in the States on
PBS’ Award winning
Great Performances. Under the direction of Jonathan Kent, the cast was led by…
Peter Davison as “Herbie”.
GYPSY is truly the ultimate love letter to show business!!
Doesn’t this musical make you wanna shout “SING OUT LOUISE”??!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News
This production going to Broadway is a transfer of the critically acclaimed Off Broadway revival that played
The Public Theater (where it originally all began for this show’s mainstream NY Theater scene) in 2019 prior before Live Theater was shutdown. She also replaced the production’s original director Leah C. Gardiner who couldn’t continue due to prior other commitments.
Casting from that recent production off Broadway included….
Celia Chevalier,
Okwui Okpokwasili,
Danaya Esperanza,
Jayme Lawson,
and
No word has been said if this cast will be continuing. Full details on all that plus a theater and the official starting dates will be announced soon.
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF was the debut play of Ntozake Shange. The show is considered as a series of poetic monologues to be accompanied by music and interpretive dance, a form Shange coined as the choreopoem. The actual story follows 7 women who have suffered oppression in a racist and sexist society. It deals with themes of rape, abandonment, abortion domestic violence, and racism.
The show was first developed in the early 1970’s as a piece originally with 4 other artists at the Bacchanal Bar near Berkeley, California. With its early success, the show would later be expanded and performed all across the country. In 1975, the piece debuted in New York City at the at
Studio Rivbea and later the Henry Street Settlement’s New Federal Theatre. Both the runs earned a huge following especially among African-American and Latino audiences.
With that unforgettable result FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF went mainstream Off Broadway debuting in the Summer of 1976 at the Public Theatre. Earning rave reviews and selling out, it transferred 3 months later to Broadway’s Booth Theatre for 5 previews and 742 regular performances. Under the direction of Oz Scott, the 7 piece Ensemble cast was led by….
Laurie Carlos,
Risë Collins,
Aku Kadogo,
Janet League,
Paula Moss,
and
Ntozake Shange (along with writing the piece).
It was nominated for 2
Tony Awards in 1977 winning 1 for BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY (for Trezana Beverley). It also nominated and took home several other major Awards for both its Off and On Broadway including a
Drama Desk and a
Theatre World Award.
Along with its success on stage, FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO CONSIDERED SUICIDE / WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF has been adapted from the screen twice.
The first time was in 1982 as a made for television production for
PBS. It aired on
Thirteen WNET as part of the The American Playhouse series. For this unique version, it was made more as a “telefilm” making it a serious departure from the Broadway production. Under the direction of Oz Scott, the cast featured…..
Sarita Allen,
Trezana Beverley
Laurie Carlos,
Lisa Henley,
Crystal Lilly,
Carol Maillard,
Lynn Whitfield,
Ntozake Shange,
and more,
It was well received by television viewers.
Most recently, the play was adapted again in 2010 as a featured film for
Lionsgate Films. Adapted by
Tyler Perry, this version featured an all star cast led by….
Phylicia Rashad,
Kimberly Elise,
and more.
The film received accolades primarily from African American film and critic associations, in multiple categories including acting, writing, directing and overall production.
We are so excited to see this powerful piece back on the Great Bright Way!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 17, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Gilbert and Sullivan to Hamilton Tour (Downtown), News, Shows
RAISE A GLASS TO FREEDOM!!! After 17 months and 523 days of being shutdown,
Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s Award winning hottest ticket
Hamilton relaunches its returning sit-down company in Los Angeles tonight!!! This engagement will be happening though a limited 6 month run at the iconic
Hollywood Pantages Theatre through January 2nd, 2022.
This LA company of HAMILTON originally opened on March 12th, 2020 (following the success of the show’s ANGELICA 1ST National Tour company launching it there). It was slated to run till September 20th, 2020. However, it was abruptly shutdown after Opening Night due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing Live Theater everywhere to be shutdown.
What an unforgettable cast that will get audiences once again RISE UP in THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENS. Under the direction of
Thomas Kail and choreography by
Andy Blankenbuehler, this LA company is led by….
Jamel Westman reprising his Olivier Award nominated performance from the London company as THE 10 DOLLAR FOUNDING FATHER himself “Alexander Hamilton”,
Christopher Nicholas (who previously appeared in the Broadway company as “General George Washington” along with the recent Broadway revival of
Miss Saigon) as the show’s narrator and Villian himself “AARON BURR SIR”,
Joanna A. Jones (who previously played the “Peggy Schuyler” and “Maria Reynolds” in the Broadway company along with Off Broadway’s School Girls) this time taking on the role of “Eliza Schuyler”,
Simon Longnight on the dual roles of “Marquis de Lafayette” and “Thomas Jefferson”,
Tony Award nominee
Rory O’Malley (Broadway’s original cast of
The Book of Mormon) once again taking on royal duties as “King George III” which he previously played on Broadway and the ANGELICA 1st National Tour Company,
Carvens Lissaint reprising his performance from the Broadway company as “General George Washington”,
Broadway favorite Wallace Smith (who appeared in the Broadway and original Chicago companies along with Broadway’s
Godspell,
The Lion King,
American Idiot, and
ROCKY) reprising his performance of the dual roles of “Hercules Mulligan” and “James Madison”,
Ruben J Carbijal reprising his performances of “John Laurens” and “Phillip Hamilton” which he originated in the show’s ANGELICA 1st National Tour and the AND PEGGY 3rd National Tour which included the historical stop in Puerto Rico),
With HAMILTON reopening in LA, it marks as the 3rd company being performed since the shutdown. Currently the show is being performed in Australia in Sydney (and soon to hit Melbourne next year). and currently in San Francisco with the AND PEGGY 3rd National Touring company. Both the ANGELICA 1st and PHILLIP 2nd touring companies are set to relaunch these next few days.
Other companies of HAMILTON set to reopen will include the show’s inaugural production on Broadway reopening at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on September 14th, 2021. Later on this week, the show’s London’s West End reopens at the Victoria Palace Theatre on August 19th, 2021.
Break a leg to the full cast, crew, musicians, and creative team!
Have a wonderful, healthy, and safe 6 month run!!!
WELCOME BACK HAMILTON LA!!!
HAMILTON – YouTube
