by Mike Haber | Jul 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News
THE HEAT IS BACK ON!! Broadway favorite Colby Dezelick has recently relaunched his popular YouTube series VLOG TIME earlier this month. The
Miss Saigon and
Anastasia favorite returns following life’s personal situations and having healing time. So happy to have him back!!! Cannot wait to follow more of the JOURNEY.
For those who may now know or remember, VLOG TIME documents Colby Dezelick’s adventures as a New York artist. Its the ultimate guide for all you aspiring Broadway performers out there should check out. Follow along with Dezelick behind the scenes during his time on Broadway (including throughout the recent revival MISS SAIGON where he understudied “Chris”), his typical routines that keeps him healthy for him to do 8 shows a week, inspirational advice, original music, and so much more.
Colby promises to make up for all that lost time with all his fans!!!
by Mike Haber | Jul 14, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, off broadway, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: So much anticipation in the air for Live Theayer returning. We are so excited to share with you that OFF Broadway’s
Vineyard Theatre will be transferring 2 of its recent sold out hits ON Broadway this Fall…. Tina Satter’s IS THIS A ROOM and Lucas Hnath’s DANA H. Both these productions (based on real true stories) had triumphant sold out runs recently prior before the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
As part of the REPERTORY ON BROADWAY series, both plays will rotated and performed at the legendary Lyceum Theatre. Set to be played as a strictly limited engagement, the timing will consist as this…..
IS THIS A ROOM begin preview performances September 24th, 2021 and will officially open on October 11th, 2021. Meanwhile DANA H will start its previews October 1st, 2021 and will open October 17th, 2021. Both shows will alternate through January 16th, 2022.
In addition, both plays leading ladies will be reprising their performances from their Off Broadway runs to the Broadway stage.
Tina Satter’s IS THIS A ROOM tells the story of a 25-year-old former Air Force linguist (played by Emily Davis) who goes under an intense interrogation by the FBI and eventually charged with leaking evidence of Russian interference during the U.S elections. Reality remains in jail with a record-breaking sentence. Satter both wrote and directed the play.
Lucas Hnath’s DANA H is a one woman show. It tells the story of a mother (played by Deidre O’Connell) who recounts an extreme horrifying kidnapping experience in a set of Florida motels for 5 months. This story was inspired by that real situation that Hnath’s real life mother dealt with. It’s directed by Les Waters.
Both these stories are also inspired by real transcripts from both these terrifying experiences.
Additional casting will be announced soon.
With REPERTORY ON BROADWAY going into the Lyceum Theatre, sadly it gets rid of the initial show that was slated to go there in the Spring of 2020…… the musical adaptation of the cult classic movie
Sing Street, However, the production is still slated to go to Broadway soon. Details on what will be of that show’s future will be revealed soon.
Tina Satter’s IS THIS A ROOM and Lucas Hnath’s DANA H. Will Play in Repertory on Broadway This Fall (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Jul 13, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News
BREAKING NEWS: Tony Award winner
Ben Platt (set to appear on the big screen reprising his Tony winning performance in the film adaptation of
Dear Evan Hansen) is set to release his sophomore solo album REVERIE next month. It will be released on August 13th, 2021 from
Atlantic Records.
Platt recently released a brand new single entitled IMAGINE this past April. The 2nd single from the album TBD will be out this Friday, July 16th, 2021 (along with pre-ordering your copy).
With things making its way back to normal, we can expect a lot going on for Ben with promoting the album including a tour.
This album comes off the success of the versatile stage and screen star’s debut album SING TO ME INSTEAD which was released back in 2019. That album earned rave reviews. In support of the album, Platt embarked on a triumphant headlining concert tour across North America. It became one of the fastest sold out concert tours ever!!! The final show of the tour at New York’s famed
Radio City Music Hall was captured on a film for a concert film available now on
iTunes.
Who is excited?
Ben Platt Announces Sophomore Album ‘Reverie’ (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Jul 12, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: Casting has been announced for the highly anticipated Broadway debut of Lynn Nottage’s new play CLYDE’S coming this Fall. Leading the company as a group of workers in a truck-stop sandwich shop will consist of…..
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).
The play will be a 5 person cast. The last remaining cast member will be announced soon.
For those who may not know, CLYDE’S tells the story of a incarcerated kitchen staff of a truck-stop sandwich shop. One day, they are offered a chance at reclaiming their lives. Along the way, the staff is given permission and the chance to dream of that possibility of the perfect delicious sandwich.
The play originally had its world premiere debut in 2019 as FLOYD’S at the
Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, MN.
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 | Jul 8, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, NYBT NEWS, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: A new musical adaptation of the acclaimed martial arts film
The Karate Kid is heading for the Great Bright Way!!! According to an
Actors’ Equity Association casting notice, the production will have a World Premiere Out-Of-Town tryout Spring of 2022. No word though has been said where or when the Pre-Broadway tryout run will be or exactly when its coming to the Big Apple.
In case anyone may not know or have forgotten, THE KARATE KID is based on the 1984 Columbia film of the same name. Set in Newark, New Jersey, the story follows a young teenager who is taught how to defend himself against the school bullies by an eccentric, but kind and humble Okinawan karate instructor. The original film was a huge smash, it become an acclaimed franchise with several sequels, a remake, and a TV series.
This new musical will feature….
a book by the film’s screenwriter Robert Mark Kamen,
a set design by Tony and Emmy winner Derek McLane.
directed by Amon Miyamoto,
Get ready to show off those high kicks, punches, and WHACKS Broadway!!! HIIIIIIIIIIIIYEEEEEEEEEAHHHHH!!!!
THE KARATE KID Musical Will Get Pre-Broadway Tryout in Spring 2022 (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Jul 7, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News
IT SAYS HERE……. Academy Award winning director Bill Condon (Broadway’s Side Show along with the film adaptations of
Dreamgirls,
Chicago, and
Beauty and the Beast) has officially been tapped to direct an upcoming movie musical remake of the legendary
Frank Loesser classic
Guys & Dolls!!! The new movie will be produced by
Tri-Star Pictures. No official details have been made when the film will be shot, who is in the cast, and when it will be released.
In case anyone may not know or have forgotten, GUYS & DOLLS is set within the 1920’s – 1930’s deep in the underworld of gangsters, gamblers, and their massive bets. The story mainly centers on “Nathan Detroit” who is in serious trouble. He is struggling with a 14-year engagement to his impatient girlfriend and nightclub singer “Miss Adelaide”. Meanwhile, a notorious gambler expresses interest in a straight-laced missionary. While all of this is going on “Nathan” hatches a plan to still get the cash he needs to finally get married. The musical is inspired by Damon Runyon’s short stories “THE IDYLL OF MISS SARAH BROWN”,” PICK THE WINNER”, and “BLOOD PRESSURE”, It features a notable score by Frank Loesser along with a book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows. Notable songs from the musical have gone on to become notable Musical Theater / Great American Songbook standards including A BUSHEL & A PECK, ADELAINE’S LAMENT, the musical’s title song, TAKE BACK YOUR MINK, IF I WERE A BELL, I’VE NEVER BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE, MORE I CANNOT WISH YOU, LUCK BE A LADY, and the showstopping SIT DOWN, YOU’RE ROCKING THE BOAT.
GUYS & DOLLS was first conceived by producers Cy Feuer and Ernest Martin. They were inspired by Damon Runyon short stories about the New York City underground world. From there, they hired the full creative team consisting of composer Frank Loesser along with book writer Jo Swerling (who became unusable) and rewritten by Abe Burrows.
The show originally premiered on Broadway in 1950 at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers Theatre) running for 1,200 performances. Under the direction and choreography by George C. Kaufman, the cast included….
Isabel Bigley as “Sarah Brown”,
Sam Levene as “Nathan Detroit”,
and
Stubby Kaye as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
The original production was nominated and won all 5 of it’s
Tony Awards in 1951 including BEST MUSICAL. In addition, the show also went on to become one of the few musicals ever to win the
Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
From there, the show went on to become a worldwide hit including London’s West End. It went on to be revived 6 times here in the Big Apple.
The first 3 revivals (1955, 1965, and 1966) were all mounted as short runs and were all produced at
New York City Center
The 1955 engagement ran for only 31 performances. Under the direction of Philip Mathias and choreography by Oona White, this cast included…
Ray Shaw as “Sky Masterson”
Leila Martin as “Sarah Brown”
Helen Gallagher as Miss Adelaide”,
and
Oggie Small as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
It did not receive any Tony nominations or wins that year.
The 1965 engagement ran for only 15 performances. Under the direction of Gus Schirmer and choreography by Ralph Beaumont, this cast included…
Anita Gillette as “Sarah Brown”,
Alan King as “Nathan Detroit”,
Sheila MacRae as “Miss Adelaine”,
and
Jack De Lon as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
It was nominated for 1 Tony Award that year for BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Jerry Orbach) but lost the category.
And the 1966 engagement ran for 26 performances. Under the direction and choreography once again by Gus Schirmer and Ralph Beaumont, this cast included…
Hugh O’Brian as “Sky Masterson”,
Barbara Meister as “Sarah Brown”
Jan Murray as “Nathan Detroit”,
Vivian Blaine reprising her role as “Miss Adelaide”,
and
Dale Malone as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
It did not receive any Tony nominations or wins that year.
The 4th Broadway revival happened in 1976 playing the Broadway Theatre for a total of 251 performances. This production was known for a having a full African American cast and it featured new Motown style arrangements of the songs by Danny Holgate and Horace Ott. Under the direction and choreography by Billy Wilson, this cast included…
James Randolph as “Sky Masterson”,
Ernstintine Jackson as “Sarah Brown”,
the late Robert Guillaume as “Nathan Detroit”,
Norma Donaldson as “Miss Adelaine”,
and
It was nominated for 3 Tony Awards including BEST REVIVAL in 1977 but lost all its categories.
The 5th Broadway revival happened in 1992 playing the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) for a total of 1,143 performances. Under the direction of
Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Christopher Chadman, this cast included…
Peter Gallagher as “Sky Masterson”,
Josie de Guzman as “Sarah Brown”,
Nathan Lane as “Nathan Detroit”,
and
Walter Bobbie as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
During its 1992 revival,
PBS filmed a one hour documentary about the making of that productions cast album. Entitled GUYS & DOLLS: OFF THE RECORD, it was aired on
Great Performances that same year but was not released on DVD till 2007.
The 1992 revival was well known as the most successful American remounting of the show since its 1950 Broadway Debut. It was nominated for 8 Tony Awards that year winning 4 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL.
The recent Broadway revival happened in 2009 playing the Nederlander Theatre (being its first show in 12 years following the departure of
Rent) for 141 performances. Under the direction of
Des McAnuff and choreography by Tony winner
Sergio Trujillo, the cast included…
Craig Berko as “Sky Masterson”,
Kate Jennings Grant as “Sarah Brown”,
and
It was nominated for 2 Tony Awards that year including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost all categories.
Most recently, GUYS & DOLLS was performed on a New York stage back in 2014 as a concert production held at New York’s famed
Carnegie Hall. Under the direction of Jack O’Brien, choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, and accompanied by the
Orchestra of St. Luke’s (under the baton of Rob Fisher), the cast was led by….
Nathan Lane reprising his 1992 portrayal as “Nathan Detroit”,
and
John Tracey Egan as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
The original film version of GUYS AND DOLLS was a huge hit on the big screen. It was released in 1955 from
Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM). Under the direction of Joseph L. Mankiewicz, the cast featured…
Jean Simmons as “Sarah Brown”,
Vivian Blaine reprising her stage role of “Miss Adelaide”,
and
Stubby Kaye as “Nicely-Nicely Johnson”.
The film won the Golden Globes for Best Picture in 1966. It was also nominated for 4 Academy Awards in the Creative categories.
Today, GUYS AND DOLLS is still one of the most popular musicals performed in Regional, Community, and schools everywhere.
We cannot wait for this new film!!!
The legacy of Movie Musicals is back!!!
Oscar Winner Bill Condon to Direct Guys and Dolls Movie Remake | Broadway Buzz | Broadway.com
