by Mike Haber | Sep 12, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS!! Just another day celebrating the return of the Great Bright Way after 18 months of being shutdown. We are continuing to countdown to Broadway’s Biggest Night just 14 DAYS AWAY…. We are talking about the 74th Annual Tony Awards. Our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more legendary performances.
At # 14 on our countdown, we take you to Pennsylvania where we meet a dysfunctional family BOTH living and working at a funeral home. Mainly, it centers on a coming-of-age woman discovering her sexuality her complicated relationship with her family, and more. This is a day at the……
Fun Home. Based on Allison Bechdel’s autobiographical graphic novel of the same name, it features an original score and book by Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron. It also made history as the first Broadway show to have a Lesbian serve as the protagonist.
From the 2015 telecast, Tony nominee Sydney Lucas as “Small Allison” along with Tony winner Michael Ceveris as “Bruce Bechdel” and Tony nominee Beth Malone as “Adult Allison” perform the musical’s powerhouse ballad RING OF KEYS.
FUN HOME was first conceived in 2007 just a year after following the success of Allison Bechdel’s 2006 graphic novel of the same name which was well received by book readers everywhere. It was developed through a full course of over 5 1/2 years through various readings and workshops. The development labs were held in both California and New York City at the
Ojai Playwrights Conference, Sundance Institute’s Theater Lab, and The Public Theater. Through the labs, the story began to evolve and went through numerous changes in the story and the score. For Allison Bechdel herself, she did not participate in the musical’s development labs. She expected her story to seem artificial and distant on stage, but she came to feel that the musical had the opposite effect, bringing the “emotional heart” of the story closer than even her book did.
FUN HOME officially had its world premiere production Off Broadway at
The Public Theater in the Fall of 2013. It was well received by both critics and audiences alike, it was extended 3 TIMES running until January 2014. Under the direction of Sam Gold, the original production cast featured….
Tony nominee Beth Malone as “Adult Allison Bechdel”,
Tony nominee Sydney Lucas as “Small Allison Bechdel”,
Griffin Birney as “Christian Bechdel”,
Noah Hinsdale as “John Bechdel”,
Roberta Colindrez as “Joan”,
and
Joel Perez as “Roy”, “Mark” “Pete”, and others.
The Off Broadway run took home various Awards including the Obie and the
The Lucille Lortel Award for BEST NEW MUSICAL. It was also nominated for several
Drama Desk Awards and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2014.
With the success of the Off Broadway engagement, FUN HOME officially moved to Broadway the following year of 2015 playing the Circle in the Square Theatre for 26 previews and 582 regular performances. The biggest change for the Broadway engagement was transforming the show from a proscenium stage to now being performed in-the-round. With Sam Gold on board, the cast featured…
Ceveris, Kuhn, Malone, Lucas, Colindrez, and Perez reprising their roles from the Off Broadway run. In addition, the casting also featured….
Tony nominee
Emily Skeggs as “Medium Allison Bechdel” (which she originally served as the standby and then took on the role fulltime halfway through the Off Broadway run from Alexandra Socha who departed for personal reasons),
Oscar Williams as “Christian Bechdel”,
Zell Morrow as “John Bechdel”.
The Broadway production was well received by critics and audiences everywhere. It went on to receive 12 Tony Awards nominations winning 5 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron – who also made history that night as the first female writing team EVER to win that category).
Following its life on Broadway, FUN HOME toured all across North America back to performing on a proscenium stage. It continues to play around the world including The Philippines, Canada, Barcelona, and Australia.
Along with the success of the stage production, FUN HOME is currently in development of becoming a movie musical. It’s expecting to be produced and starring
Jake Gyllenhaal as “Bruce Bechdel along with Sam Gold (the stage version’s director) making his film directorial debut.
Isn’t this such a powerful story?!!!
by Mike Haber | Sep 11, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
WHAT’S GOING ON BROADWAY FANS?! It’s only 15 DAYS till we celebrate Broadway’s triumphant comeback with a BANG…. We are talking about The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. We got more iconic legendary performances from previous telecasts coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN.
Today, our selection day was a last minute change in support of 20 years of that horrific we’ll NEVER FORGET. At # 15 today on our countdown, we celebrate America at the turn of the century. It’s a personal favorite of NYBT’s founder and head guide
Amada Anderson……. This is
RAGTIME. Based on E. L. Doctorow’s best selling 1975 novel of the same name, it features an iconic score by Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty along with a book by Terrence McNally.
From the 1998 telecast, here is the show’s legendary breakout original cast performing the show’s opening title song.
RAGTIME originally premiered in Toronto back in 1996 at the Toronto Centre for the Arts before moving on a month later to Broadway which opened the newly built Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now the Lyric Theatre) for 861 performances. Members of the original production included….
Alex Strange (later Anthony Blair Hall) as “Edgar, The Little Boy”,
Peter Friedman (later John Rubenstein) as “Tateh”,
Lea Michele (later Elizabeth Lundberg) as “The Little Girl”,
The original production of RAGTIME was nominated for 13 Tony Awards in 1998. It took home 4 for BEST SCORE (for Flaherty & Ahrens), BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL (for McNally), BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Audra McDonald), and BEST ORCHESTRATIONS (for William David Brohn).
Following the success of the original production, the show went on to become a worldwide hit musical from Regional productions, London’s West End, and several concert productions (including a concert production on Ellis Island back in 2016).
The 1st and most recent Broadway revival of RAGTIME happened in 2009 at the Neil Simon Theatre playing for only 93 performances. Members of that 2009 cast included…
Christopher Cox as “Edgar, The Little Boy”,
Ron Bohmer as “Father”,
Robert Petkoff as “Tateh”,
Quentin Earl Darrington as “Coalhouse Walker, Jr”,
Stephanie Jean Umoh as “Sarah”,
Sarah Rosenthal as “The Little Girl”,
and
Donna Migliaccio as “Emma Goldman”.
The revival was nominated for 6 Tony Awards in 2010 including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL. However, it lost all of it’s categories.
How beautiful is this iconic musical?
by Mike Haber | Sep 9, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS!! The 74th Annual
Tony Awards is just 17 DAYS AWAY. We have more of your favorite legendary performances from previous telecasts coming up on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. This is getting us in the mood celebrating the return of Live Theater in the Big Apple.
At # 17 on our countdown, we travel to Israel in the year 1996. There, an Egyptian Police Band arrives there in a small quiet part due to a miscommunication for their initial destination. However the residents, let them stay for the night till they catch the bus the next morning and their lives change. This is
The Band’s Visit. With a score by last year’s Tony winner (and nominee again this year)
David Yazbek and a book by Itamar Moses, the show is based on an acclaimed 2007 Israeli film of the same name.
From the 2019 telecast, Tony winners Tony Shaloub as “Tewfiq”,
Katrina Lenk as “Dina”, and the company are chilling at a small Israeli cafe in Bet Hatikva dreaming of a certain movie star by the name of…. OMAR SHARIFF.
THE BAND’S VISIT was first conceived by producer Orin Wolf after seeing the original movie at a Film Festival in 2008. He was immediately moved by how the story was. A few weeks later, the film started coming back to him so often, he gave himself the courage to reach out to the film’s writer and director Eran Kolirin to adapt it into a musical. However, Kolirin at first refused at the idea. It wasn’t till something inside of him began to have a change of heart, he finally decided YES. From there, the development of the stage musical began going through several years of readings and workshops.
The show had its official world premiere OFF Broadway at the
Atlantic Theater Company in 2016. It received rave reviews and a huge word of mouth following from Theatergoers everywhere, the show officially transferred to Broadway a year later. The ON Broadway run played the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and most recently closed after 38 previews and 589 regular performances. Under the direction of David Cromer, the cast included…
Tony Shaloub (later Dariush Kashani and the film’s leading man
Sasson Gabai) as “Tewfiq”,
George Abud (later Samir Shukry) as “Camal”,
Adam Kantor as “Telephone Guy”,
Jonathan Raviv as “Sammy”,
The show was nominated for 11 Tony Awards winning 10 including BEST MUSICAL.
THE BAND’S VISIT is set to relaunch its ongoing North American National Tour. It initially launched in the Summer of 2019 before getting abruptly shutdown by the COVID-19 pandemic. It will continue to play across North America for a year.
Isn’t this musical so beautiful, laid back, relaxing, and intimate?
The Band’s Visit perform “Omar Sharif” at the 2018 Tony Awards – YouTube
by Mike Haber | Sep 8, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
WHAT’S HAPPENING BROADWAY FANS?!!! The celebration is on for Broadway’s biggest night just 18 DAYS AWAY. Our hearts are booming with excitement for The 74th Annual
Tony Awards. We at New York Broadway Tours continue to play our favorite showstopping performances from previous telecasts coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. Live Theater is back, people!!! Are you ready for another powerhouse act?!!!
At # 18 on our countdown, we travel to Chicago in the 1960’s through the 1970’s. There, we meet an aspiring girl group that goes through the ultimate transformation into superstars. Along the way, they discover the drama that goes on when you’re dealing with the price of fame and how it affects their friendship and relationships. This is the legendary smash hit
Dreamgirls. With music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by
Tom Eyen, the show is loosely inspired by the story of
Diana Ross and
The Supremes and from the history of Motown and R&B.
From the 1982 telecast, the iconic
Jennifer Holiday in her legendary performance as “Effie White” along with Ben Harney as “Curtis Taylor Jr.”, Obba Babatundé as “C.C. White”
Sheryl Lee Ralph as “Deena Jones”,
Loretta Devine as “Lorell Robinson”,
Cleavant Derricks as “James “Thunder” Early”, and Deborah Brunell as “Michelle Morris” perform the big ACT 1 FINALE CLIMACTIC showdown confrontation scene. It consists of IT’S ALL OVER and the musical’s signature anthe, AND I AM TELLING YOU I’M NOT GOING.
DREAMGIRLS was first conceived in the 1970’s as a project for actress Nell Carter. The show’s creators Harry Krieger and Tom Eyen previously worked together on a musical adaptation of Eyen’s play THE DIRTIEST SHOW IN TOWN. During that show, they were inspired by Carter in that. Their aim was to create a show all about black backup singers. The original title for the show was called ONE NIGHT ONLY (named after the song in the musical). It was workshopped for Joseph Papp but then was dropped when Nell Carter began working on the soap opera RYAN’S HOPE. A year later, the musical was put back on the table when it got the attention of acclaimed director and choreographer Michael Bennett (the genius behind the Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning
A Chorus Line). From there, the show continued with 3 additional workshops entitled BIG DREAMS and then eventually what we know today as DREAMGIRLS. During those workshops, so much of the storyline, songs, dialogue, and casting for the role of “Effie White” kept changing. One of the biggest early versions was that the role of “Effie ” initially dies at the end of Act 1 which did not impress Carter’s replacement Jennifer Holiday causing her to initially drop from the show. Carter later returned to the labs for the roles and then left again for her starring role on the
NBC TV show GIMMIE A BREAK. With some of the changes improving in Act 1 and the expansion of “Effie”, Holiday returned to the labs but still focused on the role of “Deena Jones” (played by Sheryl Lee Ralph) causing her to quit again. Meanwhile the creative team continued working the script and after acquiring funding from music industry mogul David Geffen and fellow co-financiers
ABC Entertainment, Metromedia, and
The Shubert Organization, Michael Bennett brought Jennifer Holiday back in and made sure the 2nd act was rewritten and continued to build up the role of “Effie”.
The show officially arrived on Broadway in 1981 playing the Imperial Theatre running for 1,531 performances. Under the direction and choreography of Michael Bennett, the cast consisted of…
Tony winner Jennifer Holliday (later Julia McGirt,
Roz Ryan, and Vanessa Townsell) as “Effie White”,
Tony nominee
Sheryl Lee Ralph (later Linda Leilani Brown, and Susan Beaubian) as “Deena Jones”,
Loretta Devine (later Teresa Burnell) as “Lorell Robinson”,
Ben Harney (later Weyman Thompson) as “Curtis Taylor Jr.”,
Obba Babatunde (later Lawrence Clayton and Tony Franklin) as “C.C. White”,
Tony winner Cleavant Derricks (later David Alan Grier and Hinton Battle) as “James “Thunder” Early”, 4
Deborah Brunell as “Michelle Morris”.
It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards in 1982 winning 6 including BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Jennifer Holiday).
DREAMGIRLS went on to tour all across America on and off. One of the most notable touring productions included a stop in New York’s
Apollo Théâtre in Harlem back in 2009. Under the direction of Robert Longbottom, the cast featured…
American Idol’s Syesha Mercado as “Deena Jones”,
Tony nominee this year Adrienne Warren as “Lorell Robinson”,
Chaz Lamar Shepherd as “Curtis Taylor Jr.”,
Trevon Davis as “C.C. White”
and
Margaret Hoffman as “Michelle Morris”.
The musical is eyeing plans for its highly anticipated overdue return to Broadway. This new production is based on the show’s recent overdue premiere in London’s West End back in 207. Under the direction and choreography of Tony Award winner (and nominee again this year) Casey Nicholaw, Dreamgirls West End ran at London’s Savoy Theatre for 2 ½ years. Talks were also being made for Glee favorite
Amber Riley (who made her West End debut with the production) to reprise her Olivier Award winning performance as “Effie White”. No word has been announced for the official start date or what Broadway house it will be performed in.
In addition to its success on stage, DREAMGIRLS was a worldwide smash hit on the big screen. The film adaptation from
Dreamworks Pictures was released in 2006. Under the direction of Bill Condon, the filmed featured an all star cast consisting of….
Grammy winner and Oscar nominee
Beyoncé as “Deena Jones”,
Keith Robinson as “C.C. White”
Emmy and Golden Globe winner
Eddie Murphy as “James “Thunder” Early”,
Sharon Leal as “Michelle Morris”
The film was nominated for 8 Oscars in 2007 winning 2 including BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS (for Jennifer Hudson for her iconic portrayal of Effie). The film also was nominated for 5
Golden Globes that same year winning 3 (including BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY).
Today, there are still productions of
Dreamgirls around the world.
Isn’t this the ultimate musical for standout powerhouse divas?
by Mike Haber | Sep 7, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS?!! Are you ready for The 74th Annual
Tony Awards just 19 DAYS AWAY?!! We at New York Broadway Tours are continuing our celebration of Live Theater’s return with our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. We got so many showstopping performances coming your way from previous telecasts. Get ready to BELT IT OUT!!!
At # 19 on our countdown, we pay a visit to a shoe factory in England on the verge of trouble. However, it is saved when the factory owner’s son and a cabaret drag queen form a unique partnership. Time to purchase a pair of……
Kinky Boots!!! Based on the 2005 film of the same name (and inspired by a true story), the show features a score by Tony and Grammy Award winner
Cyndi Lauper and a book by Harvey Fierstein.
From the 2013 telecast, Tony nominee Stark Sands as “Charlie Price” along with Tony winners
Billy Porter as “Lola”,
Annaleigh Ashford as “Lauren”, and members of the original Broadway cast strut their stuff and make the shoes of their dreams a reality with a performance of the show’s ACT 1 finale anthem where all you gotta do…… EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!!!
Kinky Boots The Musical was first conceived by Tony winning Broadway producer Daryl Roth. She first saw the original 2005 film before sharing it with producer Hal Luftig which they both fell in love with the “heart and soul” of the story. Within a year, the rights were secured to adapt the film into a stage musical. Roth and Luftig teamed up with Tony winning director and choreographer
Jerry Mitchell along with Tony winning book writer and actor Harvey Fierstein. For creating the score, Mitchell knew of the perfect person that Fierstein was longtime friends with…. Acclaimed Grammy winning singing sensation Cyndi Lauper (which marked her debut as a Musical Theater songwriter). From there, the show began a full 2 ½ year journey of numerous readings and workshops.
Following a successful out of town tryout in Chicago in 2012, KINKY BOOTS officially arrived at Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre. It waas a smash hit running for an incredible 5 1/2 year run of 34 previews and 2,507 regular performances. Under the direction and choreography by Jerry Mitchell, the cast consisted of…
Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford (later Jeanna de Waal, Haven Burton, Tony nominee
Taylor Louderman, DeLaney Westfall, Kirstin Maldonado, and
Carrie St. Louis) as “Lauren”,
Tony winner Lena Hall (later
Cortney Wolfson, Shannon O’Boyle, and Caroline Bowman) as “Nicola”,
KINKY BOOTS was nominated for 13
Tony Awards in 2013 winning 6 including BEST MUSICAL. It also won the
Grammy for BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM.
Along with its success on Broadway, KINKY BOOTS went on to wow audiences in London’s West End (winning the
Olivier Award for BEST NEW MUSICAL), several North American National Tours, Australia, and launching various International companies.
During the show’s London run, KINKY BOOTS was captured on a film. It was released in Theaters before later appearing on
BroadwayHD,
PBS Award winning
Great Performances, and now on DVD today. From the stage of the Adelphi Theatre and featuring its original creative team, that filmed cast was led by….
Killian Donnelly as “Charlie Price”,
Natalie McQueen as “Lauren”,
Cordelia Farnworth as “Nicola”,
and more.
Today, KINKY BOOTS is available for Licensing by
Music Theatre International. It has been performed both in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
Doesn’t this show make you want to strut?
