by Mike Haber | Nov 3, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS!! New York’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET is just 22 DAYS AWAY. We got more of your favorite legendary Broadway musical numbers coming your way on our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN. This is getting us all excited to ring in the holiday season with The 95th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This is continuing to make us feel great as we celebrate the triumphant return of Broadway after a rough shutdown. Here comes another showstopper.
At # 22 on our countdown, we take you deep in the heart of New York City’s Greenwich Village in the year of 1935. It tells the tale of 2 sisters from Ohio with big aspirations and dreams…. One sister is witty, awkward, and very resourceful with determination of being a writer. The other is that sweet, adorable, optimistic, and dreamy girl who wants to become an actress. This is their life in that….
Wonderful Town. The show features a legendary score by Leonard Bernstein along with lyrics by
Betty Comden and Adolph Green. It features a book Joseph A. Fields’s and Jerome Chodorov adapted from their real life previous play entitled MY SISTER EILEEN (which came based off of real life stories from the musical’s real-life character Ruth McKenney).
From the 2004
NBC Telecast,
Brooke Shields as the witty and knowledgeable “Ruth McKenney” gets a side job promoting one of the hottest night clubs in Greenwich Village getting the company introduced to the latest jazz rage of them all. Here they are performing the toe-tapping SWING.
WONDERFUL TOWN had its world premiere run in 1952 in Philadelphia at the Forrest Theatre. Just several months later, heading into the following year of 1953, it premiered at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre where it ran for 559 performances. Under the direction of George Abbott and choreographed by Donald Saddler, the cast was led by….
Rosalind Russell (later Carol Channing) as “Ruth Sherwood”,
Edie Adams as “Eileen Sherwood”,
George Gaynes as “Robert “Bob” Baker”,
Cris Alexander as “Frank Lippencott”,
And more.
It was nominated and won 5 all of its
Tony categories that year including BEST MUSICAL, BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Rosalind Russell), and BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Donald Saddler). In addition, Edie Adams was the recipient for the Theatre World Awards.
With the success of its Broadway run, the show would go on to debut overseas a year later in London’s West End playing the Prince’s Theatre (now the Shaftesbury Theatre) for only 207 performances. Interestingly, when it was revived there in 1983, it ran for over a year getting an
Olivier Awards nomination as BEST NEW MUSICAL (even though it’s mainly considered as revival). However, it lost the category.
WONDERFUL TOWN would find its way back to the Big Apple in 2000. It originally was performed as a semi-staged concert production at
New York City Center part of its ENCORES series. The production did so well, it took the creative team 2 years to expand the staging into a full length production marking it as the first Broadway revival. This Broadway transfer would not happen until 2003 playing the Al Hirschfeld Theatre for 16 previews and 497 regular performances. Under the direction and choreography by Kathleen Marshall, this revival cast was led by…
Greg Edelman as “Robert “Bob” Baker”,
Peter Benson as “Frank Lippencott”,
And more.
This revival of WONDERFUL TOWN was nominated for 4 Tony Awards including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL, It would only go on to win for BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Kathleen Marshall), It also received several
Drama Desk Award wins including OUTSTANDING LEADING ACTRESS (for Donna Murphy). Plus, Jennifer Westfield was the recipient for the
Theatre World Award.
Along with its success on stage, WONDERFUL TOWN was only captured on camera once. In 1958, the musical was made into a live televised production on
CBS. Under the direction of Mel Herbert plus staying true to the original stage production’s creative team, this cast was led by….
Rosalind Russell reprising her performance as “Ruth Sherwood”,
Jacquelyn McKeever as “Eileen Sherwood”,
Sydney Chaplin as “Robert “Bob” Baker”,
Cris Alexander reprising his performance as “Frank Lippencott”,
And more.
Today, WONDERFUL TOWN continues to be played around the world in schools, community, and regional theaters everywhere.
How jazzy was that performance?!!!
by Mike Haber | Nov 2, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
OMIGOD BROADWAY FANS!! Live Theater back along with fans gathering around to experience New York’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET is just 23 DAYS AWAY. The 95th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is almost here. To get us in the mood of how amazing this parade has continued to give the Theater community so much love, we just want to give super SNAPS to our friends at New York Broadway Tours as they continue their TOP 30 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. They got an iconic Broadway number that we can ALL relate to bursting into song and dance.
At # 23 on the countdown, we get to know the life of a certain popular UCLA fashion icon and Sorority President who follows her Harvard Law School boyfriend just to win him back by becoming a fellow lawyer. On the way, she discovers more about herself and learns to be true to the way she is no matter what people think. This is
Legally Blonde. Based on the book by Amanda Brown and the 2001 film of the same name, the musical features a score by husband and wife composing duo Nell Benjamin and Laurence O’Keefe along with a book by
Heather Hach.
From the 2007 NBC Telecast, Tony Award nominee
Laura Bell Bundy as “Elle Woods” and the cast stalk Dean of Harvard Law in Herald Square to show the world that “Elle” is SERIOUS and the right material for the Law School in the show stopping number…. Very appropriate for a parade since there’s a Marching Band and a cheerleading squad in it…… WHAT YOU WANT.
FUN FACT ABOUT THIS PERFORMANCE: As you might notice, the cast are wearing their show T-Shirts instead of their usual costumes they wear in the show 8 times a week. Around that time of the parade, Broadway shows were actually shut down but very briefly due to that year’s Stagehands Union Strike.
LEGALLY BLONDE was developed through early readings and workshops labs around 2004 and 2005. It would have its world premiere out-of-town run in San Francisco, LEGALLY BLONDE arrived at Broadway’s Palace Theatre in 2007 running for 30 previews and 595 regular performances. Under the direction and choreography by
Jerry Mitchell, the cast was led by….
2 time Tony winner Christian Borle as “Emmett Forrest”,
Richard H. Blake as “Warner Huntington III”,
Tony nominee
Orfeh as “Paulette”
Nikki Snelson (later Nicolette Hart) as “Brooke Wyndham”,
future Tony winner
Annaleigh Ashford (later Haven Burton and Kate Rockwell) as “Margot”,
Olivier winner and 2 time Tony nominee
Andy Karl as “Kyle”.
The show earned mixed reviews but still went on to be nominated for 7
Tony Awards in 2007 including BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Laura Bell Bundy) and BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin). But it lost all it’s categories.
Following its Broadway run, the show went on to become an International hit across North America, London’s West End (where it took home glory at the
Olivier Awards for BEST NEW MUSICAL), Australia, and more.
During its run on Broadway, LEGALLY BLONDE made history as the first Broadway show ever filmed for
MTV. It featured a whole performance of the show filmed in front of an invited audience all dressed in pink and hosted by
Lauren Conrad,
Audrina Patridge, and
Whitney Eve Port from the MTV show
The Hills. It featured an entire performance of the show plus behind the scenes footage.
Following the success of the MTV performance, the channel continued to support the show by presenting a reality casting TV show to help search for a newcomer leading lady to replace Laura Bell Bundy as “Elle Woods”. It was called perfectly enough LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL: THE SEARCH FOR ELLE WOODS. The winner was Bailey Hanks who played the role for the remainder of the run. The series was hosted by Haylie Duff (who also served as mentor of the aspiring “Elle’s”). In addition, they were judged and critiqued by the show’s casting director Bernard Telsey of
Telsey & Company Casting, the show’s book writer Heather Hach, and LEGALLY BLONDE Ensemble member Paul Canaan. Each episode featured the girls in an intense callback boot camp learning material from the show, acting exercises, being mentored, and performing with members of the cast. At the end of each episode, the 3 weakest “Elle Woods” wannabes were sent to the casting office where the panel would determine who would continue and be eliminated. Some of the runner-up’s for the role of “Elle” who were eliminated went on to even better Broadway successes including…
Autumn Hurlbert (who ended up appearing in the Ensemble and understudied “Elle” and recently seen as “Portia” on the tour of
Something Rotten),
Today, LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL continues to be performed in schools, regional, and community theaters everywhere.
How fabulous was that performance?
by Mike Haber | Nov 1, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Festivals & Events, News, Shows
LET’S HAVE A PARADE! It’s the 1st day of November. You know what that means?!! 24 DAYS till we ring in the holiday season with The 95th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. This year’s edition is gonna be very special. For the first time in 2 YEARS, it will include once again its traditional crowds gathering around the Big Apple to see the many Floats, Balloons, Marching Bands, Celebrities, Santa, and so much more passing by.
However what makes the parade so much for all of us is the performances from the casts of some of Broadway’s hottest tickets. We are so happy announce the lineup of shows expecting to take center stage LIVE in front of that famous
Macy’s store down in Herald Square. Tune in Thanksgiving morning to see performances from the casts of (DRUMROLL)…..
this year’s Tony Award winning SPECTACULAR, SPECTACULAR Best Musical that is
Moulin Rouge,
the Royal Olivier Award nominated GIRL POWER smash hit
SIX,
a THRILLIFYING return performance from
WICKED (for their 3rd time at the parade),
That’s not all. All we gotta say is LEAPIN’ LIZARDS because we will also be getting a special SNEAK PREVIEW performance from the cast of
NBC‘s upcoming live televised presentation of
Annie debuting December 2nd, 2021.
Other notable appearances will include….
Tune in to The 95th Annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thanksgiving morning…. November 25th, 2021 at 9am EST only
NBC.
Announcements for the
CBS edition will be revealed at a later time.
by Mike Haber | Nov 1, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
HERE YE, HERE YE THESPIANS AND THEATER LOVERS!! New York’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET is just 24 DAYS AWAY. We are talking about The 95th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Can you believe its already November?! After a rough year and half of being in the dark due to COVID-19 pandemic, Live Theater is making its comeback. For New York’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, it has continued to give us so much light & joy to the Broadway scene. To reminisce on the unforgettable history this National treasure has had and celebrating Broadway’s return, we at New York Broadway Tours have more iconic performances coming your way with out TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN. Are you ready to ROCK OUT with another toe-tapper?
At #24 on our countdown, we take you to a magical musical kingdom called Arcadia. There, we meet the Royal Family as they embark on the ultimate journey to save the kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts. This is
Head Over Heels. Based off Sir Philip Sidney’s 16th Century prose romance THE COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE’S ARCADIA, the show is adapted by James Magruder, it features a book by Jeff Whitty, and the greatest hits of the legendary 80’s rock band The Go-Go’s.
From the 2018
CBS Telecast direct from the stage of it’s then-home at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre, here is the show’s full original Broadway cast adding a little rock n’ roll to their musical kingdom with a performance of the show’s opening anthem and the legendary GO-GO hit WE GOT THE BEAT.
Following various changes, the musical had its Pre-Broadway tryout at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco, California in the Spring of 2018 It officially made its Broadway debut at the Hudson Theatre in the fall of that same year. The show rocked out for 36 previews and 164 regular performances. Under the direction of Tony winner Michael Mayer and choreography by Emmy nominee Spencer Liff, the cast was led by…
Bonnie Milligan in a powerhouse masterclass showstopping performance as the beautiful older “Princess Pamela”.
Jeremy Kushnier as his royal majesty “King Basilius”,
Rachel York as her royal highness “Queen Gynecia”,
Andrew Durand as the dashing, brave, and determined shepherd boy and love interest “Musidorus”,
Taylor Iman Jones as the royal handmaid and secret love interest to one of the Princesses herself “Mopsa”,
Peppermint in a history making performance (as the first ever transgender woman to originate a principal role on Broadway) playing the role of the mysterious non-binary oracle “Pythio”.
Today, HEAD OVER HEELS is being performed in schools, community, and Regional Theaters everywhere.
How awesome was that performance?!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 31, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, off broadway, Shows
HAPPY HALLOWEEN BROADWAY FANS! We are only 25 DAYS till we start ringing in the holiday season with The 95th Annual
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. New York’s MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET has continued to be an ongoing support of our Broadway Theater scene. Throughout the years, there have been so many unforgettable critically acclaimed productions that wowed audiences on Thanksgiving morning which got more people to come see Live Theater (especially now that Broadway is back), We have more of this beloved shows coming your way on our TOP 30 BROADWAY AT MACY’S COUNTDOWN. Are you ready for another showstopper?
At #25 on our countdown is a musical that truly is getting us in the mood of Halloween today. You can consider this show as a horror comedy. We are about to take you to a downtown florist shop. We meet a nerdy hapless worker there that who raises a plant which turns out to be a MAD KILLING PLANT that eats human blood and flesh. Welcome to the…..
Little Shop of Horrors. Based on a 1960 black comedy film, the musical features a beloved score by
Alan Menken and lyrics from a book by the late
Howard Ashman.
From the 2003
NBC telecast, Tony nominees Hunter Foster as “Seymour”, Kerry Butler as “Audrey”, that monstrous eating plant himself “ Audrey II”, and The Urchins themselves of that year’s ON Broadway debut production performing a medley of the show’s title song and the beautiful SUDDENLY SEYMOUR.
The show originally began its life OFF-OFF BROADWAY performing at the Workshop of the Players Art Theatre in the Spring of 1982. It was a smash hit that was moved to OFF BROADWAY playing the Orpheum Theatre a few months later where it ran for 5 years and 2,209 performances. A plan for the show for an ON BROADWAY transfer was initially made for the original 1982 production but Ashman decided to keep it where it belongs. Under the direction of Howard Ashman himself, the cast consisted of…
Ellen Greene in her signature role as “Audrey”,
Franc Luz as “Orin Scrivello, DDS” and others.
and
Ron Taylor as the voice of the man-eating plant himself “Audrey II”
The original production received numerous New York Theater Awards including the Drama Desk for OUTSTANDING NEW MUSICAL and the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for BEST MUSICAL.
Following the success of the show’s New York Premiere, it made its way to London’s West End and Australia becoming a hit there.
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS did not officially make its ON Broadway Debut until 2003. Following an out-of-town tryout in Florida that spring, the production made its way into the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre) where it ran for a complete total of 412 performances. Under the direction of
Jerry Zaks and a newly worked puppet from
The Jim Henson Company, this cast consisted of….
Tony nominee
Kerry Butler (later Jessica Snow Wilson) as “Audrey”,
Tony nominee Douglas Sills (later Robert Evan) as “Orin Scrivello, DDS”,
Michael Leon Wooley as the voice of “Audrey II”.
The production was nominated for only 1
Tony Award category in 2004 for BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Hunter Foster) but lost the category.
In addition, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS was most recently performed as a week long concert production for
New York City Center Encores in 2015 as part of their Off-Series season. Under the direction of Dick Scanlan, this cast featured….
Ellen Greene reprising her iconic role as “Audrey”,
Eddie Cooper as “Audrey II”.
The current revival of
Little Shop of Horrors is back in the Big Apple with a critically acclaimed production OFF BROADWAY playing the Westside Theatre on 43rd Street. With a triumphant debut in the Fall of 2019, the show would be put on halt in March 2020 (like most NY Theater shows) due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was halted for 18 months before reopening last month in September 2021 where it continues to play to packed houses every night. Under the direction of Michael Mayer, this cast is led by…..
Emmy winner and Tony nominee Tammy Blanchard as “Audrey”,
Kingsley Leggs (later and currently Aaron Arnell Harrington) as “Audrey II”.
This current revival was nominated for various Awards including the
Drama Desk (winning 2 for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL REVIVAL and OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Christian Borle), a Lucille Lortel Awards (winning 1 for OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Christian Borle), the Drama League Award (winning the top honor for OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL – ON OR OFF BROADWAY), and being an honoree for all 5 of its categories at the
Outer Critics Circle Award (including OUTSTANDING REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL). The cast album would also be nominated for a Grammy Award for BEST MUSICAL THEATRE ALBUM earlier this year.
Along with its success on stage, the show was an iconic cult-film classic in 1986 from
Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the direction of Frank Oz, the cast consisted of…
Ellen Greene reprising her stage role as “Audrey”,
Levi Stubbs as the voice of “Audrey II”.
The film was nominated for 2 Academy Awards for Best Visual Effects and Best Original Song (for one of the new songs Menken and Ashman wrote specifically for the film entitled MEAN GREEN MOTHER FROM OUTER SPACE). It lost both the categories.
FUN FACT: The new film song MEAN GREEN made history as the first Oscar-nominated song to contain profanity in the lyrics and thus had to be slightly censored for the telecast.
Doesn’t this musical make you feel SCARED SILLY?!!
