NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 5- Disney’s THE LION KING

by | Sep 21, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, News, Shows

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RISE AND SHINE BROADWAY FANS! It is 5 DAYS AWAY till the 74th Annual Tony Tony Awards. We are continuing to wake you up each morning till Broadway’s biggest night playing you the best of the Great Bright Way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Always love having a new show of the day on our playlist.
At # 5 on our countdown is one of the most unbelievable shows that continues to wow audiences everywhere. We travel deep in the heart of Africa where we meet a brave young lion cub on a journey to find his place in the world and eventually becoming the King of the Jungle. We of course are talking about Disney’s longest running show out there…. The Lion King. Based on the iconic 1994 Animated film of the same name, the show features a score by Elton John, Tim Rice, and Lebo M along with a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, the show is based on the acclaimed 1994 Animated film of the same name.
From the 1998 telecast, Tsidii Le Loka as “Rafiki” and the original Broadway cast perform the show’s breathtaking and legendary opening anthem…. THE CIRCLE OF LIFE.
THE LION KING was originally first conceived by former CEO of The Walt Disney Company himself Michael Eisner. At the time, Disney was becoming successful with the Great White Way with their debut musical… Beauty and the Beast which opened in 1994 (the same year the original animated film version of The Lion King was released). One day, Eisner was sitting in a meeting to talk about some possible new projects for Broadway. He decided one possible idea would be THE LION KING. Everyone in the conference room (including Thomas Schumacher, the President of Disney on Broadway) began to laugh and telling Eisner it was “the most dumbest idea ever”. He didn’t care about how the show should be put, Michael just wanted THE LION KING as a Broadway Musical. Suddenly. Thomas Schumacher came to his senses and thought of one possible idea… He called acclaimed director and visual artist Julie Taymor (which they both worked on another previous project in the past). With her incredible skills in direction, set design, and breathtaking puppetry (which she’s done in Off Broadway, Films, and Opera), Disney began to work on the production. They hired the creative team from the 1994 film including its Oscar winning composers Elton John and Tim Rice along with the traditional South African choral themed music from Lebo M along with the screenwriters Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi. The show went through many years of readings and workshops. During the time, Taymor began to expand more of the storyline of the characters, hiring African American and South African performers to help bring their traditions as the inspiration for the show. In addition, one of the characters was gender swapped from a male to a female (inspired by a South African healer called a Sangoma)…. “Rafiki The Baboon”.
The show had its world premiere out-of-town tryout at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1997 where it became an instant smash. A few months later, the show officially arrived on Broadway playing the beautifully newly renovated, reopened, and restored New Amsterdam Theatre (thanks to the “Disneyfication”). It later transferred to its current home at the Minskoff Theatre in 2006. So far THE LION KING has played over 9,000 performances here in New York City. It also holds the distinction as the 3rd Longest Running Show in Broadway History. Its grossed over $1 billion in ticket sales.
The Broadway production recently re-opened after this crazy long 18 1/2 month intermission due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Luckily (as “Rafiki”) says…. THE KING HAS RETURNED.
Under the direction of Julie Taymor, the original Broadway cast consisted of….
the late Jason Raize as “Simba”,
Scott Irby-Ranniar as “Young Simba”,
the recently late Samuel E. Wright as “Mufassa”,
Tony winner Heather Headley as “Nala”,
Kajuana Shuford as “Young Nala”,
Tony nominee Tsidii Le Loka as “Rafiki”,
John Vickery as “Scar”,
Max Casella as “Timon”,
Tom Alan Robbins as “Pumbaa”,
Geoff Hoyle as “Zazu”,
Tracy Nicole Chapman-Nolan as “Shenzi”,
Stanley Wayne Mathis as “Banzai”,
Kevin Cahoon as “Ed”,
and
Gina Breedlove as “Sarabi”,
The show continued to have over numerous replacement actors from all over the world. The show is known for its unbelievable diverse casting and many of its company members past and present are from South Africa.
THE LION KING was nominated was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 1998 winning 8 including BEST MUSICAL. In addition, Julie Taymor made Broadway History as the first female ever to win for BEST DIRECTION OF a MUSICAL.
In addition to its success on Broadway, THE LION KING went on to become a global phenomenon with productions everywhere from London’s West End (where it most recently re-opened earlier this summer) Germany, Japan, Brazil, South Africa, Japan, its ongoing North American National Tour and more.
THE LION KING still lives on. There are even productions happening in schools and community theaters but as a JUNIOR edition which is now available for licensing via Music Theatre International.
Isn’t this musical such a ROARING spectacle?!!

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 6 – THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

by | Sep 20, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! We are getting closer each day to celebrating Broadway’s biggest night. The 74th Annual Tony Awards is only 6 DAYS AWAY. We got more iconic performances coming up on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Are you ready to celebrate the return of Live Theater here in NYC?!!!
At # 6 on our countdown, we take you back in time to Paris in the year 1881. There, we meet a mysterious disfigured musical masked living in the subterranean labyrinth lair underneath the Paris Opera House and the young orphaned soprano he has trained and slowly falls in love with. However, when things don’t go the figure’s way, disaster strikes. This is the classic story of The Phantom of the Opera. With a score by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Charles Hart and Richard Stilgoe, and a book by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Richard Stilgoe, it’s based on the famous 1911 French novel by Gaston Leroux.
From the 1988 telecast, Award winner Michael Crawford as the title role and Sarah Brightman as “Christine Daae” perform the musical’s iconic JOURNEY TO THE LAIR scene consisting of the title song and the haunting THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA was first concieved by Andrew Lloyd Webber in 1984. At the time, he wanted to write a piece for his wife at the time dancer turned soprano Sarah Brightman. He called longtime friend and collaborating producer Sir Cameron Mackintosh about aiming for a romantic story told on the stage. Webber suggested on the classic Gaston Leroux story. To get a visual sense, both watched the iconic 1925 Lon Chaney silent film version and the 1943 Claude Rains film version. However both Lloyd Webber and Mackintosh were unable to see how it could leap from screen to stage. A few months later in New York City while working another show, Lloyd Webber finds a second-hand copy of the original Gaston Leroux novel which supplied more the details and the necessary inspiration to develop a musical. He decided to give PHANTOM a 2nd chance. From there, he went straight to work on the piece. Lloyd Webber contacted Jim Steinman to write the lyrics thanks to his “dark obsessive side”, but he declined in order to fulfill his commitments on several albums he was producing at the time. He then reached out to Alan Jay Lerner who later became seriously ill after joining the project and was forced to withdraw. None of contributions (including the involvement of the song MASQUERADE) are credited in the show. Lloyd Webber’s 3rd contact was lyricist Richard Stilgoe (which they previously collaborated together on the musical STARLIGHT EXPRESS). To give the audience a taste of the story, Lloyd Webber staged an early production / workshop at his home in Sydmonton (located in Hampshire, England) a year later. What they originally saw was an early rough draft with songs being cut and later rewrites by a young unknown writer named Charles Hart. However, parts of Richard Stilgoe’s original lyrics are still in the score today. In addition, the initial mask for “The Phantom” was a full muffled mask where people couldn’t even hear him sing full out. However, it was changed to what we know today as the half-faced white mask. From there, a full creative team was brought together including Maria Bjornson designing the sets and costumes, Gillian Lynne as choreographer, and direction by Hal Prince.
The show began its full-out world premiere in 1987 at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End. However most people realize that during its early dress rehearsals and previews, the show went through so much technical problems including the crashing of the chandelier (where thankfully no one was hurt). In addition, the leading lady lost her voice by the 2nd preview which now today makes the show use 2 alternating actresses for the lead role of “Christine”.
The show still went on to become the hottest ticket in London’s West End with the show’s original cast recording selling both of which have been certified 4× Platinum in the US and sold 4.97 million copies all around the world.
The original London production was continuing to play to packed houses every night till the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The show was abruptly shutdown for 16 1/2 months. Most recently, it returned this past July with a fully updated edition of the original staging. In addition throughout the pandemic, Cameron Mackintosh, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and his team also did some updates to Her Majesty’s Theatre giving it a little refurbishment and renovation.
The London production of PHANTOM is currently the 2nd Longest Running Show in West End History. It went on to win London’s Olivier Awards for BEST NEW MUSICAL.
A year later by critical acclaim, the show made its way overseas to our NYC backyard. The Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre in 1988. It also became an instant smash hit where it was also playing to packed houses every night. It has been here in NYC for the past 33 YEARS. It’s played over 13,000 sold out performances.
In 2006, the show played its 7,486th surpassing the original production of Cats (another Lloyd Webber smash hit) becoming the top Longest Running Show in Broadway History. Under the direction of Hal Prince and choreography by Gillian Lynne, the cast featured its original West End trio reprising their roles on Broadway consisting of…
Michael Crawford as “The Phantom”,
Sarah Brightman as “Christine”,
the late Steve Barton as “Raoul”.
and more.
Numerous replacements have went on to take over these iconic shows on Broadway and London’s West End.
The Broadway production was also abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is scheduled to once again re-haunt the Majestic Theatre starting October 22nd, 2021.
The show was nominated for 10 Tony Awards in 1988 winning 7 including BEST MUSICAL.
Following its triumph in London’s West End and on Broadway, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA went on to become a worldwide smash hit.
In addition to its success on stage, the musical was captured on film TWICE.
In 2004, Warner Bros. Pictures released the legendary acclaimed film adaptation of the musical. It received mixed reviews but well received by audiences with critics praising the vocals and acting. It grossed over $154.6 million worldwide at the Box Office. Under the direction of Joel Schumaccher, the cast starred…
Gerard Butler as “The Phantom”,
Emmy Rossum as “Christine”,
and
Tony nominee Patrick Wilson as “Raoul”.
It went on to be nominated for several Awards including the Golden Globes and the Oscars but lost its categories.
The most recent filmed version of PHANTOM happened in 2011. For this version, it was the filming of an acclaimed concert production that played London’s Royal Albert Hall in honor of the musical’s 25th Anniversary of its world premiere. Because of playing a huge concert hall, there was some huge demands with the production that has been figured out including the chandelier and the changing of the sets. Most of the sets were projected onto an LED screen. In addition, the chandelier would not be crashed onto the stage but explode. With the full show, the concert also featured some surprises including the reunion of Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. In addition, 4 previous actors who played “The Phantom” joined forces to perform alongside Brightman and its concert masked man. Under the direction of Laurence Connor (who later directed a new touring production in honor of the show’s 25th), the cast starred..
Ramin Karimloo as “The Phantom”,
Sierra Boggess as “Christine”,
and
Hadley Fraser as “Raoul”.
Within these past over 30 years, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has played on 6 continents and was translated into every major language. Both the original and new production (that was made for the 25th Anniversary) is still being performed around the world.
In addition, There are already productions of PHANTOM as well being played in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
How beautifully haunting is this musical?

FIRST LOOK: Poster for 2021 Tony Awards

by | Sep 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

1 week to Broadway’s biggest night of the year!!! We are so happy to be celebrating the return of the Great Bright Way with the long awaited 74th Annul Tony Awards. A few days ago, the official Tony poster has been revealed. This particular one below is for the 2nd half of the ceremony that will air on CBS…. The Broadway’s Back concert.
Hosted by Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr., the CBS edition (which will air at 9pm EST) will feature performances from all 3 shows nominated for BEST MUSICAL consisting of….. Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge, and Tina. Of course, that special will also announce the winners for BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY, BEST PLAY, and of course BEST MUSICAL.
Meanwhile, the 1st half will be livestreamed at 7pm EST on Paramount+. That version of course will be hosted by 6 time Tony winner Audra McDonald presenting mainly all the other Awards including the Creative Awards and the Acting Awards.
The 74th Annual Tony Awards will be happening next Sunday night, September 26th, 2021 from Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre.
Who is excited?
Which shows are you routing for?
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NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 7 – DEAR EVAN HANSEN

by | Sep 19, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! Today is gonna be an exciting day and here’s why….. We are just 1 WEEK AWAY from Broadway’s biggest night. Can you believe its 7 days till The 74th Annual Tony Awards?!!! We at New York Broadway Tours have more of your favorite iconic performances coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN
At # 7 on our countdown, we have one of the most powerful, groundbreaking, and inspirational shows out there. It tells the story of a young High School outcast who finds himself in the center of something that was not to be seen by the Public and a lie that was never meant to be told. This is Dear Evan Hansen. The show features a score by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul along with a book by Steven Levenson.
From the 2017 telecast, here is the musical’s iconic Tony Award winning star Ben Platt and the original Broadway cast performing one of the show’s most beloved signature underdog anthems WAVING THROUGH A WINDOW.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN was originally inspired by a real incident from Benj Pasek years in High School where a troubled teenager was found dead due to drug problems and all of a sudden, he had more mourners in death than friends in real life. The incident always came back to Pasek, he along with his collaborator Justin Paul began to create a full musical inspired by that tragic event. They decided to tell the story following an outcast with social anxiety and mental illness be in the center of it all. The show was then passed on to director Michael Grief who fell in love with the piece. From there, the show went through many years of readings and workshops.
The show originally premiered in 2015 at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. before making its way Off Broadway playing Second Stage Theater in the Spring of 2016. The response of the Off Broadway run was well received by critics and audiences, the show was then transferred to Broadway’s Music Box Theatre before becoming one of Broadway’s most popular hottest tickets.
Under the direction of Michael Grief, the cast consisted of…
Tony winner Ben Platt (later Noah Galvin, Taylor Trensch, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Jordan Fisher) as “Evan Hansen”,
Tony winner Rachel Bay Jones (later Lisa Brescia and Jessica Phillips) as “Heidi Hansen”,
Laura Dreyfuss (later, Mallory Bechtel and Gabrielle Carrubba) as “Zoe Murphy”,
Tony nominee Mike Faist (later Alex Boniello and David Jeffery) as “Connor Murphy”,
Will Roland (later Sky Lakota-Lynch and Jared Goldsmith) as “Jared Kleinman”,
Kristolyn Lloyd (later Phoenix Best, Samantha Williams, and Pheobe Koyabe) as “Alana Beck”,
Tony nominee Jennifer Laura Thompson (later Ann Sanders and Christiane Noll) as “Cynthia Murphy”,
and
Michael Parks (later Ivan Hernandez) as “Larry Murphy”.
The show was nominated for 9 Tony Awards in 2017 winning 6 including BEST MUSICAL, BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Pasek and Paul), and BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Ben Platt). It’s Original Broadway Cast Recording also went on to win the Grammy Award for BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM.
Along with Broadway, DEAR EVAN HANSEN was playing to packed houses all over North America with its current National Tour, on a North American National Tour, and most recently made its UK Debut in London’s West End (where it just took home the Olivier for BEST NEW MUSICAL).
The show continued to sell out every night on Broadway and around the world until it was abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it is coming back this Fall. The Broadway production will reopen at the Music Box Theatre starting December 11th, 2021. 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.
In addition to its success on stage, the musical is about to inspire audiences on the big screen. The film adaptation is set to come out THIS FRIDAY, September 24th, 2021 in Theaters everywhere. Produced by Universal Pictures, Marc Platt and Adam Siegel, and directed by Stephen Chbosky, the film will feature a full all-star cast led by….
Ben Platt reprising his Tony winning performance of the title role,
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 new film will have some unique updates including brand new Ensemble characters created specifically for the film. It also will feature 2 new original songs written for the film by Pasek and Paul along with all the beloved hits from the musical.
DEAR EVAN HANSEN is a celebration of everyone.
Doesn’t this show make you really care for the underdogs who feel like they don’t have a voice?
#TonyAwards #CountdownToTheTonys #BroadwaysBiggestNight #NYBTTop50TonyAwardsCountdown #ThisIsBroadway

All Tony Awards After-Parties cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 protocols!

by | Sep 18, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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BREAKING NEWS: Broadway’s Biggest Night will still be happening. However on one condition. Due to on going COVID-19 safety protocols, there will NOT be any of the popular posts-ceremony after parties following this year’s Tony Awards.
All ticketholders attending the Tony this year were given a message from both The Broadway League and American Theatre Wing. Both these organizations that present the annual event celebrating the best of the Broadway season were told that the city of New York did NOT grant them a permit to host the party that is held immediately after the ceremony where all nominees, winners, and the community comes together to celebrate. It will only be the full 4 hour extravaganza.
The Tonys after-party is usually held every year in various restaurants and bars all throughout New York City. It’s most popular spaces for celebrating are usually held in The Plaza Hotel, Sardi’s Restaurant, and an annual party hosted by Rick Miramontez held at the Carlyle Hotel.
The 74th Annual Tony Awards will be coming to you this year from Broadway’s legendary Winter Garden Theatre. It will be done in 2 parts. The first 2 hours beginning at 7pm on Paramount+ will be the actual ceremony presenting all the major Awards hosted by 6 time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald. From there at 9pm EST, the celebration will continue on the Tonys traditional live airing station of CBS with a full 2 hour concert special entitled BROADWAY’S BACK. Hosted by Leslie Odom Jr., it will feature Live Performances from the 3 shows nominated for BEST MUSICAL (consisting of Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge, and Tina). This edition will also present the 3 winning TOP PRIZE shows for BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY, BEST PLAY, and of course BEST MUSICAL.
Thoughts?!