NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 26 – SPRING AWAKENING

by | Aug 31, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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RISE AND BLOOM BROADWAY FANS! We are getting close to celebrating Broadway’s biggest night. The 74th Annual Tony Awards is just 26 DAYS AWAY. With also celebrating Live Theater’s return, we at New York Broadway Tours are about to bring more more iconic performances coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN.
At # 26 on our countdown, we take you back in time to Germany in the 19th century where a group of teenagers are going through certain changes in their bodies and the adults never give you the full details. This is Spring Awakening. With a score by Duncan Sheik and lyrics by Steven Sater, the show is based on a German play of the same name that was banned for 100 years by Frank Wedekind.
From the 2016 telecast, Sandra Mae Frank signing with Katie Boeck singing and act as “Wendla”, Daniel N. Durant signing with Alex Boniello singing and acting as “Mortiz”, Austin P. McKenzie doing triple duty as “Melchior”, and the cast of the recent critically acclaimed Deaf West Theatre revival bring some high energy rebellion to a whole new level. Here they are performing a medley of MAMA WHO BORE ME and THE B**** OF LIVING!
SPRING AWAKENING was originally conceived by Duncan Sheik in 2002 having numerous readings, workshops, and concert presentations at Lincoln Center.
The show had it’s official world premiere production in 2006 Off Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company. Following it’s limited engagement success and 3 sold out extensions, the show transferred to Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre that same year for a complete total of 888 performances. The show featured a young cast which became credited as their breakout show. Under the direction of Tony winner Michael Mayer and choreography by Tony winner Bill T. Jones, the cast included….
Lea Michele (later Alexandra Socha) as “Wendla”,
Tony nominee Jonathan Groff (later Kyle Riabko and Hunter Parrish) as “Melchior”,
Tony winner John Gallagher Jr. (later Blake Bashoff and Gerard Canonico) as “Moritz”,
LOLO originally credited Lauren Pritchard (later Emma Hunton) as “Ilse”,
Christine Estabrook (later Kate Burton and Kristine Nielsen) as “The Adult Woman”,
Tony winner Stephen Spinella (later Glenn Flesher) as “The Adult Man),
Skylar Astin (later Andrew Durand) as “Georg”,
Jonathan B. Wright (later Matt Doyle) as “Hanschen”,
Tony nominee Gideon Glick (later Blake Daniel) as “Ernest”,
Brian Charles Johnson (later Gabriel Violett) as “Otto”,
Tony nominee Lilli Cooper (later Amanda Castaños as “Martha”,
Phoebe Strole (later Emily Kinney) as “Anna”,
Remy Zaken (later Tony nominee Caitlin Kinnunen) as “Thea”.
and more
The original production of SPRING AWAKENING was nominated for 11 Tony Awards in 2007 winning 8 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater).
Following its life after the original Broadway production closed, the show embarked on several National Tours across America along with launching a company in London’s West End. International companies immediately followed.
The most recent revival of SPRING AWAKENING happened in 2015, It came off the success of a triumphant production that was performed by Deaf West Theatre in California for 2 sold out runs. It played Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre for a strictly limited engagement of 152 performances. This production was well known for having deaf actors and hearing actors come together which went with the whole theme of the show of young people letting their voices be heard. Under the direction of Michael Arden and choreography by Spencer Liff, the cast featured…
Sandra Mae Frank signing and Katie Boeck singing and acting the role of “Wendla”,
Austin P. McKenzie doing triple duty signing, singing, and acting as “Melchior”,
Daniel N. Durant signing and Alex Boniello singing and acting the role of “Mortiz”,
Krysta Rodriguez doing triple duty of signing, singing, and acting as “Ilse” (a role she understudied in the original cast of the original production),
Oscar winner Marlee Matlin signing and Camryn Manheim acting the role of “The Adult Woman”,
Russell Harvard signing and Tony nominee Patrick Page acting the role as “The Adult Man”,
Alex Wyse double triple duty signing, singing, and acting as “Georg”,
Andy Mientus doing triple duty signing, singing, and acting the role of “Hanschen” (a role he originated on the 1st National Tour of the original production),
Joshua Castille signing and Daniel David Stewart singing and acting the role of “Ernest”,
Miles Barbee signing and Sean Grandillo singing and acting the role of “Otto”,
Treshelle M. Edmond signing and Tony nominee this year Kathryn Gallagher singing and acting the role of “Martha”,
Tony winner Ali Stroker (who also made history as the first performer on Broadway in a wheelchair) doing triple duty signing, singing, and acting as “Anna”,
Amelia Hensley doing triple duty signing, singing, and acting as “Thea”,
and more.
This revival was nominated for 3 Tony Awards including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost all the categories.
Most recently people got into the musical from the recent short-lived musical TV drama RISE which was inspired by a true story of a High School English teacher turned theater director who attempts to put on a production of the musical while facing intense resistance from members of the community (including parents of cast members that consider the material inappropriate). For those who may not know the musical, SPRING AWAKENING features some scenes featuring Profanity, Adult Content, Gay romance, Violence, and a sex scene at the end of Act 1 and Opening of Act 2 where the 2 leads “Wendla” go partially nude on stage.
Today, SPRING AWAKENING is a popular musical still today being performed in schools, community, and regional theatres everywhere.
Doesn’t this musical make you wanna break free, rock out, and scream at the world?!!!

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 27 – NATASHA, PIERRE, & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812

by | Aug 30, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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HELLO BROADWAY FANS! Time is getting closer to celebrating Broadway’s biggest night and its triumphant comeback. The 74th Annual Tony Awards is just 27 DAYS AWAY. We at New York Broadway Tours have more of your favorite showstopping performances coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN.
At # 27 on our countdown, we take you to Moscow, Russia in the year 1812. It tells a complicated tale of a young ingenue who is initially betrothed to another man that falls for another guy and complications begin. It also follows a socially awkward society man witnessing it all trying to make a change. This is the tale of Natasha, Pierre, and The Great Comet of 1812. Based on a 70 page portion from Leo Tolstory’s best-selling novel WAR AND PEACE, the musical features an original score and book by Dave Malloy.
From the 2017 telecast, Tony and Grammy nominee Josh Groban as “Pierre” and the original Broadway cast bringing the Russian party out to Radio City Music Hall. Get your Egg Shakers ready!!! Here they all are performing a medley of DUST & ASHES, BALAGA, and THE ABDUCTION.
THE GREAT COMET had its world premiere in 2012 Off Broadway at Ars Nova. The show was an immersive production under the direction of Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin. With the overwhelming response, the team continued to work on the show a little more. A year later, the Off Broadway production was then performed in a Pop-Up Theater setting TWICE in both New York’s Meatpacking District and later on in the Theater district. The Off Broadway engagements were led by….
Tony nominee Phillipa Soo as the YOUNG “Natasha”,
Dave Malloy (later David Abeles) as the DEAR, BEWILDERED, & AWKWARD “Pierre”,
Tony nominee Lucas Steele as the HOT “Anatole”,
Brittain Ashford as the GOOD “Sonya”,
Tony nominee Amber Gray as the sexy SLUT herself “Helene”,
Amelia Workman (later Grace McLean) as the OLD SCHOOL “Marya”,
Nick Choksi (later Ian Lassiter) as the FIERCE BUT NOT TOO IMPORTANT “Dolokhov”,
Blake DeLong as the CRAZY “Old Prince Bolkonsky” and “Andrey Bolkonsky” who rarely ISN’T HERE,
Gelsey Bell (later Shaina Taub) as PLAIN “Mary”,
and
of course Paul Pinto (later Ashkon Davaran) as the FUN and showstopping cab driver “Balaga”.
The original Off Broadway runs were well received by critics receiving several Awards and nominations including the Drama Desk, The Lucille Lortel, the Obie, and The Off Broadway Alliance Awards.
With its triumphant Off Broadway following, the creative team went on to expand the production for a larger audience including plans for a Broadway run. Before heading to the Great White Way, the musical made its way to Cambridge, MA playing the American Repertory Theater in 2015. With Chavkin still on board, this cast featured….
Tony nominee and newcomer Denée Benton as “Natasha”,
Scott Stangland as “Pierre”,
Lucas Steele reprising the role of “Anatole”,
Brittan Ashford reprising the role of “Sonya”,
Tony nominee Lilli Cooper as “Helene”,
Grace McLean reprising the role of “Marya”,
Nick Choksi reprising the role of “Dolokhov”,
Nicholas Belton in the dual roles of “Old Prince Bolkonsky” and “Andrey”,
Gelsey Bell reprising the role of “Mary”,
and
Paul Pinto as “Balaga”.
The Cambridge engagement was received by critics and audiences. It went on to win the 2016 Elliot Norton Award for OUTSTANDING MUSICAL PRODUCTION BY A LARGE THEATRE.
With the Green Light on, THE GREAT COMET made its way back to New York City and officially hit Broadway. The musical opened at the Imperial Theatre in the Fall of 2016 where it ran for a whole year playing a complete total of 368 performances. With Chavkin and the team on board, the Broadway company featured….
Denée Benton reprising the role of “Natasha”,
Josh Groban (later Okieriete Onaodowan and Dave Malloy) as “Pierre”,
Lucas Steele reprising the role of “Anatole”,
Brittan Ashford reprising (later Ingrid Michaelson) as “Sonya”,
Amber Gray reprising the role of “Helene”,
Grace McLean reprising the role of “Marya”,
Nick Choksi reprising the role of “Dolokhov”,
Nicholas Belton in the dual roles of “Old Prince Bolkonsky” and “Andrey”,
Gelsey Bell reprising the role of “Mary”,
and
Paul Pinto as “Balaga”.
The Broadway production was well received by critics and audiences everywhere. It was nominated in 2017 for the most Tony Awards…. 12 including BEST MUSICAL. However, it only took home 2 for BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL (for Mimi Lien) and BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL (for Bradley King).
During its run on Broadway, THE GREAT COMET experienced a controversial drama that ended causing the production to close and not recoup its $14 Million in ticket sales. When Okieriete Onaodowan (best known as the original “Hercules Mulligan” and “James Madison” in Hamilton) took over from Josh Groban, his performance was well received, but ticket sales began to go low financially. The show’s producers began searching for a “bigger name” to get people filling the seats. On July 26th, 2017, the website Broadway Black broke the news (before the official announcement was supposed to be revealed the next day) that Award winning stage and screen star Mandy Patinkin was set to take over the role of “Pierre” for a 3 week stint. The reaction of Patinkin’s casting caused an uproar by fans and actors, as Patinkin was a white actor whose casting would have forced Onaodowan, a black actor to cut his run shorter. Fellow actor/activisit and friend of Onaodowan himself Rafael Casal launched a Twitter campaign with the hashtag #makeroomforoak and #boycotthegreatcomet. The controversy led to Patinkin dropping from the show two days later after his announcement was made. It caused the entire Broadway production to fail in ticket sales and close.
Following its life on Broadway, THE GREAT COMET went on to launch productions around the world including Quito, Brazil, and Tokyo. Plans for London and many more companies are in the works.
Doesn’t this performance make you want to drink?!!
#TonyAwards #CountdownToTheTonys #NYBTTop50TonyAwardsCountdown #BroadwaysBiggestNight #BroadwaysBack #TheShowMustGoOn #ThisIsBroadway

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS: # 28 – MY FAIR LADY

by | Aug 29, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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GOOD MORNING BROADWAY FANS! Truly a LOVERLY day getting ourselves hyped and pumped celebrating the return of the Great Bright Way. We are just 28 DAYS AWAY till The 74th Annual Tony Awards. New York Broadway Tours TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN continues with more of your favorite performances from the past year’s of Broadway’s biggest night. So much more great ones coming up.
At # 28 on our countdown, our selection is truly a LOVERLY classic musical. We are about to take a trip to London in the early 1900’s. There, we meet a poor cockney peasant flower girl, forced by a phonetics professor to learn how to be a “proper lady”, and gets raised by high society. This is the legendary My Fair Lady. With music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics and a book by Alan Jay Lerner, it’s based on George Bernard Shaw’s novel PYGMALION.
From the 2018 telecast, Tony nominees Lauren Ambrose as “Eliza Doolittle” and Harry Hadden-Paton as “Professor Henry Higgins”, along with Allan Corduner as “Colonel Pickering”, Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz as “Alfred P. Doolittle”, and the company of the recent Lincoln Center Theatre revival perform a medley of some of the show’s signature tunes including THE RAIN IN SPAIN, I COULD HAVE DANCED ALL NIGHT, and the toe-tapping GET ME TO THE CHURCH ON TIME.
MY FAIR LADY was originally first conceived in the 1930’s by Hollywood producer Gabriel Pascal. He just secured the rights to adapt several of George Bernard Shaw’s plays including PYGMALION as a musical. However, due to another one of his famous plays ARMS AND THE MAN which was translated into an operetta called THE CHOCOLATE SOLDIER that became a huge flop, Shaw himself refused. Several years later after Shaw’s passing, Pascal decided to go back to working on the PYGMALION project. He hired composing duo Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe to work on it. However, Lerner & Loewe (and even Rodgers & Hammerstein) realized that the play broke several key rules that went into creating a musical….
1. The central storyline was not a romance
2. No subplot or secondary romance
3. No room for the Ensemble.
Lerner & Loewe abandoned the project and eventually went their own separate ways for 2 years. During that time, Gabriel Pascal passed away. One day while working on a musical adaptation of the comic strip LI’L ABNER, Lerner read Pascal’s obituary and decided to reunite with Loewe to go back to the unfinished PYGMALION project. This time when they came together, all the pieces of the story slowly started to come in. However once they were ready to go, there was one additional problem… Chase Manhattan Bank was in charge of Gabriel Pascal’s estate and the rights were sought by both Lerner & Loewe and MGM (who discouraged Lerner from challenging the studio). It eventually led to a compromise with Loewe deciding to continue writing it without the rights. For 5 months, a creative team was put together and the bank gave Lerner & Loewe the rights to PYGMALION on stage. In addition, the musical went through a name change with the name we all know the musical as today….. MY FAIR LADY which was one of Shaw’s provisional titles for PYGMALION, FAIR ELIZA and it also comes from the last verse of the famous children’s nursery rhyme LONDON BRIDGE IS FALLING DOWN.
With a full creative team put together, casting officially began. For the lead role of “Eliza Doolittle”, the team initially wanted to cast Mary Martin. However, she refused. However after seeing a Broadway show entitled THE BOY FRIEND, the team discovered their star. She was a rising talent who was making her debut in the show and came to NYC all the way from England…. Yup, the eventually now turned iconic Julie Andrews. For the role of “Professor Henry Higgins”, the team initially offered it to acclaimed actor Noel Coward who also turned it down. However, Coward suggested to the producers to cast Rex Harrison. After several compromises, Harrison accepted the role.
The show had its world premiere Pre-Broadway tryout in New Haven, Connecticut. At the first performance, Rex Harrison (who at the time was not used to working with a live pit) refused to go on. He locked himself in the dressing room and out no more than an hour before showtime. The company was dismissed and the Opening Night was a smash.
MY FAIR LADY officially debuted on Broadway in 1956 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre (now the Times Square Church) before later transferring to the Broadhurst Theatre and Broadway Theatre. It ran for a complete total of 2,717 performances. Under the direction of Moss Hart, the cast starred…
Julie Andrews (later Sally Ann Howes and Pamela Charles) as “Eliza Doolittle”,
Rex Harrison (later Edward Mulhare, Lawrence Keith, and Michael Allinson) as “Professor Henry Higgins”,
Robert Coote (later Robin Craven and Reginald Denny) as “Colonel Pickering”,
Stanley Holloway (later Ronald Radd) as “Alfred P. Doolittle”,
Catherine Nesbitt (later Viola Roache) as “Mrs. Higgins”,
John Michael-King as “Freddy Eynsford-Hill”,
and more.
The original production was nominated for 10 Tony Awards that year winning 6 including BEST MUSICAL and BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Rex Harrison).
MY FAIR LADY went on to become a smash hit around the world, including London’s West End and Australia. It was later revived 4 times on Broadway.
The first revival happened in 1976 playing the St. James Theatre and then later moving to the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre for a complete total of 384 performances. Under the direction of Jerry Adler, the cast starred…
Christine Andreas as “Eliza Doolittle”,
Ian Richardson as “Professor Henry Higgins”,
Robert Coote reprising his original role as “Colonel Pickering”,
George Rose as “Alfred P. Doolittle”,
Brenda Forbes as “Mrs. Higgins”,
Jerry Lanning as “Freddy Eynsford-Hill”,
and more.
It was nominated for 2 Tonys that year both for BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for both Ian Richardson and George Rose). It was given to George Rose.
The 2nd Broadway revival happened in 1981 at the Uris Theatre (now the Gershwin Theatre) running for a complete total of 120 performances. Under the direction of Patrick Garland, the cast starred….
Nancy Ringham as “Eliza Doolittle”,
Rex Harrison reprising his original role as “Professor Henry Higgins”,
Jack Gwillim as “Colonel Pickering”,
Milo O’Shea as “Alfred P. Doolittle”,
Catherine Nesbitt reprising her original role as “Mrs. Higgins”,
Nicholas Wyman as “Freddy Eynsford-Hill”,
and more.
It only had 1 Tony nomination for BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL but lost the category.
The 3rd Broadway revival happened in 1993 at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre) running for a total of 181 performances. Under the direction of Howard Davies, the cast starred…
Melissa Errico as “Eliza Doolittle”,
Richard Chamberlain as “Professor Henry Higgins”,
Paxton Whitehead as “Colonel Pickering”,
Julian Holloway recreating his father’s role as “Alfred P. Doolittle”,
Dolores Sutton as “Mrs. Higgins”,
Robert Sella as “Freddy Eynsford-Hill”,
and more.
It received no Tony Award nominations or wins that year.
The 4th and most recent revival of MY FAIR LADY happened in 2018 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre (part of Lincoln Center Theater) playing a complete total of 587 performances. Currently this production is gearing up to launch a National Tour in a few weeks and a West End company in 2020. Under the direction of Tony winner Bartlett Sher, the cast starred….
Lauren Ambrose (later Laura Benanti) as “Eliza Doolittle”,
Harry Hadden-Patron as “Professor Henry Higgins”,
Allan Corduner as “Colonel Pickering”,
Norbert Leo Butz (later Danny Burstein and Alexander Gemignani) as “Alfred P. Doolittle”,
the recently late Diana Rigg (later Rosemary Harris) as “Mrs. Higgins”,
Jordan Donica (later Christian Dante White) as “Freddy Eynsford-Hill”,
and more.
The recent Lincoln Center Theater revival was nominated for 10 Tony Awards including BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL. It ended up winning only 1 for BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL (for Catherine Zuber).
At the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, this production had just launched its National Tour. It is expecting to resume it this Fall. Plans for a West End company of this production will be revealed soon.
Besides it’s triumph on Broadway, MY FAIR LADY is well known as an iconic 1964 musical film from Warner Bros. Pictures. Under the direction of George Cukor, the cast starred…..
Audrey Hepburn (with Marni Nixon’s singing voice) as “Eliza Doolittle”,
Rex Harrison reprising his Broadway performance on screen as “Professor Henry Higgins”,
WIlfrid Hyde-White as “Colonel Pickering”,
Stanley Holloway reprising his Broadway performance on screen as “Alfred P. Doolittle”,
Gladys Cooper as “Mrs. Higgins”,
Jeremy Brett (with Bill Shirley’s singing voice) as “Freddy Eynsford-Hill”,
and more.
The film went on to win 8 Academy Awards that year including BEST PICTURE and BEST ACTOR (for Rex Harrison who also made history as one of the few actors ever to win BOTH the Tony and the Oscar for the same role. Hepburn was snubbed from the Oscar but the winner coincidentally that year was the musical’s original Broadway “Eliza” herself Julie Andrews (who won a Best Actress Oscar for Mary Poppins).
Isn’t this musical so LOVERLY and timeless?

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 29 – THE MUSIC MAN

by | Aug 28, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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The Music Man on the 1971 Tonys
PLEASE BROADWAY FANS, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE?!! We are getting close each day to The 74th Annual Tony Awards. Yup, Broadway’s biggest night is just 29 DAYS AWAY. What an unforgettable exciting time it is to be celebrating the magic of Live Theater making a comeback. With all this in mind, we at New York Broadway Tours continue to get us in the mood with our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. We have many more legendary performances coming up from previous telecasts.
At # 29 on our countdown, we take you to a small town in Iowa in the year of 1912 where a traveling salesman turns out to be…..a con artist. The man convinces the naïve residents in starting their own marching band. After all of the money is collected for Musical Instruments, Uniforms, Books, and Lessons, the con salesman would then skip town before the town realizes they have been tricked. However, his world turns upside down when he meets and falls for the town’s Librarian. We are talking about “Professor Harold Hill”….. Better known as The Music Man. The show features an original score and book by Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey.
From the 1971 telecast (featuring many of Broadway’s biggest names reprising their legendary performances for one night only), Robert Preston in his signature performance as the titular role of “Harold Hill” and the cast perform one of the show’s most notable songs. We are talking about the legendary OG rap number on the Great Bright Way…..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 as an early version of rap. That song happened to be YA GOT TROUBLE. The inspiration for the leading lady role of “Marian The Librarian” was a woman that Wilson met during World War II named Marian Seely who was 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. Under the direction of Morton DaCosta and choreographed by Onna White, the cast starred….
Tony winner Robert Preston (later Eddie Albert and Bert Parks) as “Professor Harold Hill”
and
the late Barbara Cook as “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 Hannah Lee), 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. 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 under the direction and choreography by Michael Kidd featured a cast led by ….
the iconic Dick Van Dyke as “Professor Harold Hill”
and
Meg Bussert as “Marian”.
Both New York City Center engagements did not receive any Tony Award nominations or wins.
The most recent Broadway revival of THE MUSIC MAN on Broadway happened in 2000 at the 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 Pa (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.
Most recently, it was announced that THE MUSIC MAN will officially be marching its way back to Broadway. Originally, it was slated to begin in 2020 but was delayed several times due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As of now the production is set to finally begin this holiday season. Previews will begin December 20th, 2021 and Opening Night set for February 10th, 2022 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre. Under the direction of Tony winner Jerry Zaks and choreography by Tony winner Warren Carlyle, it will feature an all-star cast led by…
Award winning stage and screen favorite Hugh Jackman as “Professor Harold Hill”
and
Tony winner Sutton Foster as “Marian”.
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 released in 1962 from Warner Bros. Pictures. Featuring its original creative team under the direction of Morton DaCosta and choreography by Onna White, 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 6 Oscars 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/ABC. Under the direction of Jeff Bleckner and choreography by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall., the cast starred…
Tony winner Matthew Broderick as “Professor Harold Hill”
and
Tony and Emmy winner Kristin Chenoweth as Marian”.
The TV movie remake was also nominated for 5 technical Emmy Awards.
THE MUSIC MAN today is a popular show still performed in schools, community, and regional theatres worldwide.
Doesn’t this show make you want to march and walk out singing the songs?

NYBT TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN: # 30 – DISNEY’S NEWSIES

by | Aug 27, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows

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RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!! RISE & SHINE BROADWAY FANS!!! We are only 30 DAYS AWAY till Broadway’s biggest night of the year…. The 74th Annual Tony Awards. We got more of the greatest musical showstoppers coming your way on our TOP 50 TONY AWARDS COUNTDOWN. This is truly the ultimate celebration as we gear also for the return of Live Theater after a previous rough and sad year. Here comes another big Broadway favorite!!!
At # 30 on our countdown, we go to New York City back in time to the year of 1899 during the historical time of the Newsboys Strike. This is of course Disney’s acclaimed smash hit Newsies. With a score by Alan Menken, lyrics by Jack Feldman, and a book by Harvey Fierstein, it’s based on the 1992 cult Disney film of the same name.
From the 2012 telecast, Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan as “Jack Kelly”. Kara Lindsay as “Katherine Plumber”, and the original Broadway cast perform 2 of the musical’s toe-tapping anthems ONCE AND FOR ALL and SEIZE THE DAY.
.
NEWSIES initially was a huge box office flop when the original 1992 film (starring Christian Bale) was released. However, following numerous airings on the Disney Channel, it earned a huge cult following. At the same time with Disney already having worldwide success with acclaimed projects on Broadway, fans petitioned it to be translated into a stage musical. Alan Menken and the Disney team decided to give it a shot.
After a brief set of early development readings and workshops, the show originally premiered at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse in 2011 for a complete sold out run. With the overwhelming response, NEWSIES transferred to Broadway the following year in 2012 playing the Nederlander Theatre. The initial run was technically supposed to be a 6 month limited engagement. However, thanks to it selling out and people were dying to see it, the team decided to have the show as an open ended before ending its official run in 2014. The Broadway run lasted for an incredible 1,005 performances. Under the direction of Jeff Calhoun and choreography by Christopher Gattelli, the cast starred…
Jeremy Jordan (later Corey Cott) as “Jack Kelly”,
Kara Lindsay (later Liana Hunt) as “Katherine Plumber”,
John Dossett as “Joseph Pulitzer”,
Andrew Keenan-Bolger (later Andy Richardson) as “Crutchie”,
Capathia Jenkins (later LaVon Fisher-Wilson) as “Medda Larkin”,
Ben Fankhauser as “Davey”,
Tommy Bracco (later Clay Thompson) as “Spot”,
& more.
The show was nominated for 8 Tony Awards in 2012 winning only 2 for BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (for Alan Menken) and BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Christopher Gattelli).
Following its Broadway run, the show embarked on an acclaimed 2 year National Tour traveling all across America. It played 784 performances in 65 cities all across North America. It also featured some additional updated to the production including a new song for the character of “Crutchie” in the 2nd act entitled LETTER FROM THE REFUGE. With its original creative team reunited, the tour cast was led by….
Dan DeLuca (later Joey Barreiro) as “Jack Kelly”,
Stephanie Styles (later Morgan Keene) as “Katherine Plumber”,
Steve Blanchard as “Joseph Pulitzer”,
Zachary Sayle (later Andy Richardson) as “Crutchie”,
Angela Grovey (later Aisha de Haas) as “Medda Larkin”,
Jacob Kemp as “Davey”,
Jeff Heimbrock as “Spot”,
& more.
Towards the end of the tour, the final show in LA was captured on film for a theatrical release from Disney and Fathom Events release and available now on Amazon. The filmed performance was at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre. With Jeff Calhoun and Christopher Gattelli on board, the filmed performance featured the majority of the original cast from Broadway reprising their roles joined on stage with several of the tour cast members including…
Jeremy Jordan as “Jack Kelly”,
Kara Lindsay as “Katherine Plumber”,
Steve Blanchard as “Joseph Pulitzer”,
Andrew-Keenan Bolger,
Aisha de Haas as “Medda Larkin”,
Ben Fankhauser as “Davy”,
Tommy Bracco as “Spot”,
and more.
Currently, the licensing is now available for all FANSIES to put on their own productions of NEWSIES worldwide. Productions are being played everywhere from Schools, Community, and Regional Theaters all over.
Doesn’t this show make you wanna join in the fight?!!