RENT THROWBACKS: With the success of the Broadway production of RENT, the show went on to open numerous companies all across the country and around the world. In 1997, one of the first few touring productions entitled THE BENNY TOUR played numerous stops including a long stint in Los Angeles, California at the Ahmanson Theatre.
In that Benny Tour cast, there was a fellow former child actor launching his adult acting career through RENT (long before his role as "Barney" on How I Met Your Mother). He went on to win numerous Awards including several Emmys and Tonys (which he went on to host both Award shows numerous times). His name was Neil Patrick Harris.
Check out Harris as "Mark" along with Christian Mena as "Roger" performing RENT's 11:00 showstopper WHAT YOU OWN.
Yesterday, the Theater community lost a legendary Broadway genius. Award winning playwright Neil Simon passed away at the age of 91.
Mr. Simon was well known for writing some of the most greatest comedies ever written for the stage and later Film and TV including THE ODD COUPLE, COME BLOW YOUR HORN, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, LOST IN YONKERS. THE EUGENE TRILOGY (consists of BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS, BILOXI BLUES, and BROADWAY BOUND) and more. For the Musical Theatre scene, he was well known for writing the book for some of the most iconic musicals we all know today including SWEET CHARITY and PROMISES PROMISES.
For his works, Simon earned numerous Awards including the Oscar, Tony Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
At the time of living in the 80’s, Simon had four successful plays running on Broadway all at once, a Broadway house was named after him. The Alvin Theatre became the Neil Simon Theatre on 52nd Street (soon to be home of The Cher Show this Fall). He was one of 2 major writers who were still alive to have a Theater named after himself. The other one is named after the acclaimed composer Stephen Sondheim.
RIP Neil Simon. Thank you for writing the most hilarious projects for stage and screen that continue to make people laugh.
Mr. Simon started out writing for television and later wrote for the movies, but his plays were his biggest successes, among them ?The Odd Couple? and ?Barefoot in the Park.?
WHAT?S UP BROADWAY FANS?! The 72nd Annual Tony Awards are just 15 days away. Can you believe it?s getting close. Our TOP 40 TONY AWARDS countdown continues with more exciting Broadway showstoppers. Our selection for today is actually a special one dedicated to our company?s founder Amada Anderson (in honor of her birthday today).
At # 15 on our countdown is not your typical average rock musical. WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT… this show follows 2 gender swapping German singers in a rock band. We of course are talking about?. HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH. The show features a score by Stephen Trask and a book by John Mitchell Cameron..
From the 2014 telecast, Tony winners Neil Patrick Harris and Lena Hall perform the showstopper SUGAR DADDY.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH was first conceived by John Cameron Mitchell. The initial main character’s name was Tommy who inspired by Mitchell?s real life experiences with being gay, raised by a father who was an army general, and being fascinated by mythology. For the role of ?Hedwig?, it was actually a featured role in the show. The idea of the title character now being the protagonist came in 1994 when composer Stephen Trask encouraged Mitchell to perform some of the early material at a New York Drag Punk club called SQUEEZEBOX. They also thought it was a great idea to create the show through numerous clubs featuring rock bands instead of Theaters.
The show originally had its world premiere Off Broadway at the Jane Street Theatre in 1998 playing 857 performances earning rave reviews and winning numerous Awards including the Obie Award.. The cast starred?
John Cameron Mitchell (later future Tony winner Michael Cerveris, Kevin Cahoon, and Asa Somers) in the title role
and Miriam Shor as ?Yitzhak?.
Following the success of the initial Off Broadway run, the show began launch productions international worldwide.
HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH had its official ON Broadway Debut in 2014 at the Belasco Theatre. It ran for 529 performances. This production starred?
Neil Patrick Harris (later Andrew Rannells, Michael C Hall, John Cameron Mitchell (Reprising his performance), Darren Criss, and Taye Diggs) in the title role
and Lena Hall (later Rebecca Naomi Jones) as Yitzhak.
HEDWIG on Broadway was nominated for 8 Tony Awards that year winning 4 including Best Revival Of A Musical along with Best A Leading Actor in a Musical (for Neil Patrick Harris) and Best Featured Actress in a Musical.
Following the success of the Broadway run, HEDWIG went on its first official major National Tour. The touring cast featured Broadway cast members performing on the first few stops in honor of Pride Month consisting of…
Darren Criss reprising the role of the title role,
and Lena Hall reprising the role of “Yizhak” (and also served as the alternate playing “Hedwig”)
From there, the remainder of the tour starred…
Tony nominee Euan Morton as the title role
and Hannah Corneau as “Yitzhak”.
In addition to its success as a musical, HEDWIG began a cult classic 2001 film from New Line Cinema. The film featured the original Off Broadway stars reprising their roles which were…
Here’s NPH in the amazing number from “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”. Once again, he shows that his success has never been based on luck… just supreme talent….
ON THE MARQUEE: Get a look at the front of house billboards outside the Neil Simon theatre as they gear up for the revival of Angels in America on Broadway starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield.
This new revival of ANGELS IN AMERICA comes director from London’s National Theatre. It will run for a strictly limited engagement. Previews begin February 23rd, 2018, Opening Night set for March 25th, 2018, and will close on July 1st, 2018.
PLEASE NOTE: This play is performed in 2 parts and will be performed on alternating days. (PART 1: Millennium Approaches will do 4 shows a week and PART 2: Perestroika will do 4 shows a week).
Who is excited for this intense drama back on Broadway?
Happy 90th Birthday to another one of Broadway’s most legendary houses…. The Neil Simon Theatre. It was designed by Herbert J. Krapp (who has designed majority of some of Broadway’s beloved houses). Originally built at the Alvin Theatre (named as an amalgam after Broadway producers Alex Aarons and Vinton Freedly), the 1,362 seat house opened on this day with the original production of The Gershwin’s Funny Face (starring Fred Astaire and Adele Astaire).
From there, the show was home to some of the most incredible plays and musicals ever written for the stage including the Broadway Debut of Ethel Merman in The Gershwin’s later musical Girl Crazy before later returning there starring in the original production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. Other shows include the original Flora the Red Menace (The Broadway debut of Liza Minnelli), The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess on Broadway, The Boys from Syracuse, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Bells Are Ringing, Once Upon A Mattress (staring Carol Burnett), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (starring the late Zero Mostel), Stephen Sondheim’s Company, Merrily We Roll Along (which closed after 16 performances), Annie The Musical (starring Andrea McArdle and the late Dorothy Loudon).
Following the success of Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues (both starring Matthew Broderick), the Theater was renamed after it’s playwright Neil Simon.
The most famous and longest running show ever to have played the Neil Simon Theatre for 6 years and 2,642 performances was the tow tapping 60’s groove musical Hairspray (starring Harvey Fierstein, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Matthew Morrison, and more).
Some of the later shows included revivals of The King and I the Musical (starring Donna Murphy and Lou Diamond Phillips). The Music Man (starring Craig Berko and Rebecca Luker), Ragtime the Musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, GIGI on Broadway (starring Vanessa Hudgens), and more. Other shows included Catch Me If You Can (starring Aaron Tviet), Sting’s short lived The Last Ship, and Big Fish.
The Theater is currently home to the revival of Cats the Musical which is set to close on December 30th, 2017.
Upcoming shows: A revival of Angels in America on Broadway (starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield) which will run for a strictly limited 18 week engagement. Previews begin February 23rd, 2018, Opening Night set on March 25th, 2018, and will close on June 30th, 2018.
The Cher Show will have us BELIEVE beginning this Fall 2018. Dates will be announced soon.
What shows have you experienced in the Neil Simon Theatre?!
