WE MUST BE OVER THE RAINBOW!!! Everyone has grown up with the iconic Judy Garland. Now get ready to discover life behind closed doors of her rise-to fame in the Broadway bound Chasing Rainbows the Musical. The show will be coming to New Jersey's legendary Paper Mill Playhouse this Fall. Previews will begin September 26th, 2019, Opening Night is set for October 6th, 2019, and will run through October 27, 2019.
In addition, we are so excited to share with all of you the full casting announcement consisting of….
Ruby Rakos (Billy Elliot on Broadway) who has been with the show's journey since DAY 1 playing the young "Frances Gumm" who becomes the legendary "Judy Garland",
CHASING RAINBOWS follows the iconic Frances Ethel Gumm turned Judy Garland during her youth years. It centers her life from being that young awkward girl with a big beautiful voice from Grand Rapids, Minnesota, her life performing in Vaudeville with her sisters, landing her contract at Metro-Goldwyn Meyer (a.k.a. MGM), and up to her landing the signature role that made her a worldwide star and how we all fell in love with her today…. "Dorothy Gale" in The Wizard of Oz.
The show was co-conceived and created by Tina Marie Casamento,
an original score by Casamento, Acito, and David Libby,
and features some of Garland's greatest hits including YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU, EVERYBODY SING, DEAR MR. GABLE, and of course her Oscar winning signature song OVER THE RAINBOW,
CHASING RAINBOWS has been in development for several years. It has been going through numerous readings and workshops. The show had its world premiere production at the Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut back in 2016. The show is still going through numerous changes. During one of the show's most recent labs, the legendary Liza Minnelli (Garland's eldest daughter) attended and gave the new musical the thumbs up and her blessing. No plans have been announced yet when the show will officially be coming to Broadway.
Casting has been announced for Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz at Paper Mill Playhouse! The musical features a book by Marc Acito, musical adaptation & additional music by David Libby and is conceived by and additional lyrics by Tina Marie Casamento.
BREAKING NEWS: There has been a report of some terrifying panic in the Theater district. A motorcycle backfiring was mistaken for gunshots causing majority of people who were attending many of Broadway's biggest shows this evening to panic and fleeing for their lives. So sad and scary. This is a false alarm. We send our prayers to everyone out here. Be safe and be alert no matter what NYC. Thoughts?!
This past weekend was a very bittersweet and emotional day as the Broadway company of the Tony and Grammy winning smash hit Dear Evan Hansen celebrated the last of the final 2 original cast members. This past Sunday, Michael Parks and Jennifer Laura Thompson who took their final bows as The Murphy Parents themselves "Larry" and "Cynthia'.
Parks (a Broadway veteran of hit shows including the 1994 revival of Carousel on Broadway, and the original Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, and more) began his journey with the Pasek and Paul musical back in 2014 as part of the show's early reading before taking part the following year of 2015 in the show's world premiere run in Washington D.C. at Arena Stage. In 2016, Parks did not continue with the show when it played Off Broadway's Second Stage Theater due to a scheduling conflict but returned just in time a few months later opening the show on Broadway and continued ever since.
Thompson (known for her performances in Broadway's Footloose, a Tony nominee for her performance in Urinetown, and best known as the first original Broadway fulltime replacement "Glinda" in WICKED The Musical) stayed the entire journey of the show from it's readings and workshops to its Washington D.C., Off Broadway, and On Broadway engagements.
We will miss both Michael and Jennifer. Thank you for delivering such beautiful, intense, and haunting performances.
Meanwhile starting tonight, Broadway veterans Ivan Hernandez and Ann Sanders both begin performances as the new "Murphy Parents" 8 times a week at the Music Box Theatre. Break a leg and have an incredible run.
SINCERLEY ME (and everyone at New York Broadway Tours)
P.S. Who is sad to say goodbye to the last of the original cast but are excited and WAVING THROUGH A WINDOW to the new replacement company?
The original company of Dear Evan Hansen came together to celebrate original cast members Jennifer Laura Thompson and Michael Park as they took their final bows in the musical.
N-N-N-N-N-N-NO WAY!!! More productions announced for the already rising GIRL POWER hit SIX. We got the UK, we got North America (including Broadway coming up in 2020), we got Australia, and now…. The Queens themselves will be bringing their DIVORCED, BEHEADED TOUR aboard Norwegian Cruise Line starting next month.
It's been amazing that cruisegoers are getting the oppurtunity to experience full scale productions of some of Broadway's hottest hits aboard the high seas. For SIX, you will be able to experience the Olivier nominated smash hit on 3 of their big major cruise ships…. The Norwegian Bliss (beginning September 1st, 2019), the Norwegian Breakaway (beginning November 10th, 2019) and the Norwegian Getaway (beginning April 23rd, 2020) as part of their entertainment lineup. They join a lineup alongside Rock of Ages, After Midnight on Broadway, Burn The Floor, Kinky Boots The Musical, and more.
It was announced today that SIX, the critically-acclaimed British pop musical about Henry VIII's six wives will debut on board Norwegian Cruise Line beginning next month.
In the Theater about 95% of the time, no one is aloud to take photographs and videos of any live performance. However, there are some shows out there that do give you permission to pull out those electronics during a performance…. majority of the time, it happens during the curtain call.
One of those show that gives you super permission to take photos and videos during the show is the Olivier nominated and Broadway bound GIRL POWER smash hit SIX. However, it only happens during the show's finale at the curtain call. Once The Queens finish taking their bows, one of them gives the green light telling the audience that they can take as many photos and videos of them onstage as they perform THE MEGASIX (the mashup of all the songs performed in the show). The idea was because of the show is set-up as if you're at a pop concert. Majority of all the performances have been photographed, video recorded, and posted on social media making SIX go even more viral.
Get a look of the Chicago company in action during their first preview (a.k.a THE FIRST NORTH AMERICAN PERFORMANCE) performing the MEGASIX taken from an audience member's video camera phone.
SIX is gearing up for its highly anticipated Broadway debut at the beginning of 2020. The Queen's will be coming to rule the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Previews are set to begin February 13th, 2020 and Opening Night scheduled for March 12th, 2020.
Prior before the start of Broadway, the show be performing in several additional cities in North America consisting of….
Cambridge, MA at the American Repertory Theater (featuring majority of the Chicago company) from August 21st – September 27th, 2019,
Canadian Debut in Edmonton, Alberta's Citadel Theatre from November 2nd – 24th, 2019,
In addition with the North American Premiere production in Chicago just ending, SIX is also scheduled to return to the Windy City on July 8th, 2020 at the Broadway Playhouse.
Along with North America, SIX continues to play to packed houses in the UK. It's still playing in London at the Arts Theatre now through July 2020. A new UK touring company is set to launch this Fall 2019. In addition, the show will make its Australian debut as well in 2020.
How cool is this?
Who is excited for SIX now becoming an International sensation?!!
