GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! It?s just us at New York Broadway Tours once again waking you up to the sounds and powerhouse performances of the Great White way on our TOP 40 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. We are only 24 days till the 72nd Annual Tony Awards. Are you ready for more performances?
At # 24 on our countdown is another ultimate musical classic. This unique musical uses the play within a play format following a group of prisoners (led by a real life famous Spanish writer) putting on a play in prison telling the show of the adventures of a crazy but good hearted Knight who fights windmills that are seen as dragons to save a prostitute who turns out is a noblewoman. This is of course the classic… MAN OF LA MANCHA. Based on Miguel de Cervantes? 17th Century novel DON QUIXOTE and Dale Wasserman?s 1959 teleplay I, DON QUIXOTE, the musical features a score by Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion along with a book by Wasserman.
From the 2003 telecast, Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell as ?Don Quixote? (along with Tony nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as ?Aldonza?) perform the musical?s iconic signature song THE IMPOSSIBLE DREAM.
MAN OF LA MANCHA was originally conceived as a non musical teleplay for CBS back in 1959. The initial title was technically going to be called MAN OF LA MANCHA. However at the time, writer Dale Wasserman feared that the audience would not understand the title before changing it to I, DON QUIXOTE. The teleplay was scene by an estimated audience over 20 million people but was failed to wow a TV audience. The cast featured…
Lee J Cobb as ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote? ,
Colleen Dewart as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
and Eli Wallach as ?Sancho?.
Several years later, acclaimed director Albert Marre called and requested Wasserman to give the teleplay a second chance by turning into a full scale Broadway Musical. Wasserman decided to give it a try hiring composers Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion on board and director Albert Marre. In addition, the name title I, DON QUIXOTE was swapped back to the initial name MAN OF LA MANCHA.
Following a world premiere at the Goodspeed Opera House in 1965, MAN OF LA MANCHA had its New York premiere Off Broadway at the ANTA Washington Square Theatre. The Off Broadway run did so well, it was transferred to Broadway?s Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre) and later moving to the Eden Theatre and the Mark Hellinger Theatre (now the Times Square Church) running for 2,328 performances. The cast consisted of?
Richard Kiley (later Gideon Singer, Charles West, John Cullum, Jose Ferrer, Hal Holbrook, and more) as ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote? ,
Joan Diener (later Carolyn Maye, Gaylea Byrne, Bernice Massi, and Maura K. Wedge) as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
and Irving Jacobson (later Edmond Varrato, Rudy Tronto, Titos Vandis, and Tony Martinez) as ?Sancho?.
The original production was nominated for 7 Tony Awards in 1966 winning 5 including Best Musical and Best Leading Actor in a Musical (for Richard Kiley).
The show went on to became a worldwide hit with productions everywhere (including London?s West End) and was translated into every major language. The show was revived on Broadway 4 times.
The first Broadway revival happened in 1972 playing the Vivian Beaumont Theatre (part of Lincoln Center Theater) for 140 performances. It featured the 3 original principals from the original 1965 production reprising their roles. We are talking about once again….
Richard Kiley as ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote? ,
Joan Diener as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
And Irving Jacobson as ?Sancho?.
The 1972 revival did not receive any Tony nominations or wins that year.
The second Broadway revival happened in 1977 playing Broadway?s Palace Theatre for only 124 performances. This cast consisted of?
Richard Kiley once again reprising his roles of ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote? ,
Emily Yancy as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
and original production replacement Tony Martinez reprising the role of ?Sancho?.
This second revival also did not get any Tony nominations or wins that year either.
The third Broadway revival happened in 1992 playing Broadway?s Marquis Theatre for 108 performances. This cast consisted of?.
Raul Julia (later Laurence Guttiard) as ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote? ,
Official: Sheena Easton (also the original leading lady Joan Diener serving as the alternate and later replacement) as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
And once again original production replacement Tony Martinez reprising the role of ?Sancho?.
The 1992 revival did not also get any Tony nominations or wins either.
The fourth and most recent Broadway revival of MAN OF LA MANCHA happened in 2002 returning to the show?s original Broadway home?. The Martin Beck Theatre (as we said before now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre). Under the direction of Jonathan Kent, this revival played 304 performances. This cast consisted of?
Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell as ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote? ,
Tony Award nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (later Marin Mazzie reuniting Mitchell after doing Ragtime and Kiss Me Kate together) as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
and Ernie Sabella as ?Sancho?.
This recent revival was nominated for 3 Tony nominations for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Leading Actor in a Musical (for Brian Stokes Mitchell), and Best Leading Actress in a Musical (for Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio). However, it lost all of the categories.
In addition to its success on the stage, MAN OF LA MANCHA was also was released as a musical movie. The film was released in 1972 from United Artist. The cast featured?
Peter O?Toole (with Simon Gilbert doing the singing) as ?Miguel de Cervantes? / ?Don Quixote?,
Sophia Loren as ?Dulcenia? / ?Aldonza?,
and James Coco as ?Sancho?.
The reviews of the film were mixed but it went on to receive The Academy Award for Best Original Score and 2 Golden Globes for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comey (for Peter O?Toole) and Best Supporting Actor (for James Coco).
MAN OF LA MANCHA is a show continued to be performed everywhere in community, regional, opera houses, and even in concert halls.
Doesn?t this musical make you want to take THE QUEST?
WHADDYA TALK, WHADDYA TALK, WHADDTA TALK! We are only 34 days away from Broadway’s biggest night of the year, the 72nd Annual Tony Awards playing you the best spectacular performances from the past telecast..
At # 34 today on our countdown, we take a trip to River City, Iowa where a superstitious sales conman is playing a game of hit and run trying to organize an all boys marching band leader and selling instruments before heading to the next down. However, his world turns upside down when he meets the town’s Librarian. That superstitious man I am talking about ?Professor Harold Hill?, better known as The Music Man. The musical features a score and book by Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey,
From the 1971 telecast (where some of the most famous Broadway stars at the time came back to recreate their iconic performances), the late Tony winning original star Robert Preston as “Professor Harold Hill” and the company perform the showstopper YA GOT TROUBLE.
THE MUSIC MAN was inspired by Meredith Wilson?s 1948 memoir entitled AND THERE I STOOD THERE WITH MY PICCOLO talking about his early life in Iowa and playing in a John Phillip Sousa band. The book did so well, he originally conceived his story as a Musical Television special. However, it did not work out. Wilson later teamed up with Franklin Lacey to edit the book of the show.
In the original script, the character of ” Harold Hill” had literally an 8 minute monologue which slowed down the show. They read through it and Wilson started seeing it more as a lyric. The long monologue was then changed into an entire musical named considered as an early version of rap. That song happened to be YA GOT TROUBLE. The inspiration of the leading lady role of “Marian The Librarian” was a woman named that Wilson met during World War II named Marian Seely who as a medical librarian in Utah.
After many years of rewrites, the show had its World Premiere in 1957 at Broadway’s Majestic Theatre for 1,375 performances. The creative team featured direction by Morton DaCosta and choreographed by Onna White. The cast starred?.
Tony winners Robert Preston (later Eddie Albert and Bert Parks) as “Professor Harold Hill”
and the late Barbara Cook Officialas “Marian?
The original production was nominated for 9 Tony Awards that same year winning 5 including Best Musical, Best Leading Actor in a Musical (for Robert Preston), and Best Leading Actress in a Musical (for Barbara Cook).
The show went on to become a worldwide hit. It was later revived 3 times in New York City.
In 1965, New York City Center presented a limited run of 16 performances stint. The creative team featured direction by Gus Schirmer Jr. and choreography by Vernon Lusby. The cast featured…
Bert Parks as “Professor Harold Hill”,
and Gaylea Byrne as ?Marian?
The show was then brought back to New York City Center in 1980 for another short stint of 29 performances. This time, the creative team featured direction and choreography by Michael Kidd. The cast starred?.
Dick Van Dyke as “Professor Harold Hill”.
and Meg Bussert as ?Marian?.
Both New York City Center engagements did not receive and Tony Award nominations or wins.
The most recent Broadway revival of THE MUSIC MAN happened in 2000 at Broadway’s Neil Simon Theatre running for a total of 721 performances. This production was directed and choreographed by Tony winner Susan Stroman. The cast starred?
Tony nominee Craig Berko (later Robert Sean Leonard and Eric McCormack) as “Professor Harold Hill”
and Tony nominee Rebecca Luker as “Marian”.
The revival was nominated for 8 Tony Awards that year including Best Revival of a Musical but lost all the categories.
In addition to THE MUSIC MAN being a successful stage musical. It also became a huge hit on the screen as well.
The original film adaptation was directed by Morton DaCosta (who directed the original stage production) and was released in 1962 from Warner Bros. Entertainment. The cast featured?
Robert Preston reprising his Tony winning performance as “Professor Harold Hill”
and Shirley Jones as “Marian”.
The original film was nominated for The Academy Awards 6 times that year winning only 1 for Best Score.
In 2003, THE MUSIC MAN was captured on film again. This time it was made as a TV Movie for Disney and ABC Television Network.. It was directed by Jeff Bleckner and featured choreography by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall. The cast starred Tony winning and Broadway favorites?
Matthew Broderick as “Professor Harold Hill”
and Kristin Chenoweth as “Marian”.
This TV movie remake was also nominated for a 5 technical Emmy Awards.
Doesn’t this show make you want walk out singing the songs?
The Stage Door Etiquette menaces are back at it again. This time, it happened last night at the Neil Simon Theatre following a performance of the revival of Angels in America on Broadway.
A rude dude decides to bring his poster towards leading man Andrew Garfield’s nose. Check out the way he dealt with it.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Please don’t attack the stars with a poster in their face. All Theatergoers who stage door should always give enough space for all your fellow stage door goers to be fair.
Go Andrew. He handled it really well.
AndrewGarfield is the real angel😭Tonight after the AngelsInAmerica preview he was the only one who came out and met us fans. When he was signing, one man jus…
BREAKING NEWS: Broadway veteran Ben Crawford (recently in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) has been tapped to become Broadway’s newest masked man in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera this Spring. He will begin haunting the Majestic Theatre 8 times a week beginning April 16th, 2018.
For Ben Crawford (nope no relation to the show’s Tony winning original star Michael Crawford), he will make history as the 16th main actor to play the title role full time and the 21st total (which includes 5 actors who played limited engagements in the role on Broadway).
The show’s current and 30th Anniversary “Phantom” himself Sweden sensation Peter J?back will take his final bow at the end of this month of March.
Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced today a new leading man for the Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera, directed by Harold Prince. The longest-running show in Broadway history, and one of the most successful worldwide stage production…
