Everyone should experience live theater in some certain way. The ones who should really experience it the most is people dealing with autism. Meet the youngest influence in Broadway history of them all, Harry Smolin. For those who may not know, Smolin and the Theatre Development Fund (TDF) collaborated together to create AUTISM FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES for many of the beloved Family Broadway shows.
It all began in 2011 with a performance of Disney’s Tony winning smash hit The Lion King – Musical and the tradition began. Shows that began giving autism from there included Mary Poppins – The Musical, Elf The Musical, Matilda The Musical on Broadway, WICKED The Musical, The Phantom of the Opera, and many more.
For each Broadway show that participates in doing an Autism Friendly performance, the crew teams up with an autism specialist and they figure out what scenes that are intense and scary (especially with wild strobe lights, loud bangs, or noises) should be toned down. Even some of the actors deliver their lines when they are shouting really loud make it soft. They make it very friendly and less scary. Also, volunteers help out to give relaxation tips and tools. It’s really important to help those need & especially those with disabilities. The best part is they usually will keep the house lights on or dimmed the half the whole time.
The next Broadway show to do an autism friendly performance will be the Tony winning smash hit Kinky Boots on Broadway this Sunday.
Tonight, Broadway bids Happy Trails to Waitress the Musical original leading man Drew Gehling as he plays his final performance tonight at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
Gehling departs the Sara Bareilles musical for his upcoming next Broadway project which will be the Pre-Broadway Premiere of the musical adaptation of Roman Holiday set to have it’s out of town tryout in San Francisco this May.
Beginning tomorrow night, Broadway veteran Chris Diamantopoulos will begin duties as the new sexy gynecologist in town himself “Dr. Pomatter”.
Diamantopoulos joins the same day as the show’s composer Sara Bareilles makes her Broadway acting debut as the show’s new leading lady taking over the role of “Jenna”. Bareilles take over from Tony winner Jessie Mueller who played her final performance this past Sunday. For the last 3 days, the role was performed by Ensemble member Stephanie Torns.
THE CANDY MAN is finally on the Great White Way! Following an acclaimed 2 year run in London’s West End, the Broadway premiere of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory starring 2 time Tony winner Christian Borle as “Willy Wonka” officially begins preview performances tonight.
Opening night is officially set for April 23rd, 2017. Who is excited to experience
Break a leg to the entire cast, crew, musicians, and creative team.
Who is ready to see PURE IMAGINATION happen right in front of your own eyes live on Broadway?!
Today is the 260th Birthday of the man we all know on the 10 dollar bill as ALEXANDER HAMILTON. On this same day 5 years ago, Lin-Manuel Miranda took center stage at Lincoln Center during their Great American Songbook concert series giving the audience a sneak preview of what would go on to become his now worldwide hit Hamilton: An American Musical.
This performance was from the concert presenting an early rendition of the fan favorite and the show’s anthem MY SHOT along with a future Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart (while he was doing Memphis The Musical on Broadway).
Alexander Hamilton was born on this day in 1757. Five years ago today in a performance for Lincoln Center?s American Songbook, Lin-Manuel Miranda presented 12 songs from a new project ?The Hamilton Mixtape? that formed the basis of the phenomenal Broadway hit, Hamilton: An American Musical. Here?s one of the musical?s signature songs, ?My Shot,? recorded in front of a live audience in its premiere performance at the Appel Room. ?My Shot? is one of the tracks on the just-released compilation, also called ?The Hamilton Mixtape,? of covers of some 20 songs by a Who?s Who of musical artists.
Another opportunity that’s JUST SO GOOD TO BE TRUE to make a walk-on cameo appearance on Broadway. If you make a donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, you can have a chance to be part of the Award winning smash hit Jersey Boys (set to end its Broadway run this January) being part of the Silhouette Club scene during Frankie Valli’s performance of MOODY’S MOOD FOR LOVE in Act 1 and hang out with the show’s current star Dancing with the Stars’ Mark Ballas. How cool is this?!
