THROWBACK THURSDAY: Over the years, Broadway has had a history of shows that didn’t run that long but still ended up getting a cult following.
One of those shows was Brooklyn: The Musical, a street urban “side walk fairy tale” about a young girl from Paris named Brooklyn who becomes an acclaimed singing superstar and discovers the father she never knew in the city that bares her name. The musical uses the “play within a play” format with the actual story being told by 5 street corner and homeless musicians living under the Brooklyn Bridge.
BROOKLYN THE MUSICAL featured a score and book written by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson (inspired by their real life stories). The cast featured Eden Espinosa in the title role, Tony nominee Kevin Anderson as Taylor (the possible Father), Ramona Keller as Ms. Paradice (America’s Diva of the Decade and Brooklyn’s singing rival), Tony winner Cleavant Derricks as the Streetsinger / Narrator, and future Tony winner Karen Olivo as Faith (Brooklyn’s Mother).
The show following a year to 2 years of workshops, Brooklyn had it’s World Premiere in Denver in 2003 before making it’s way to Broadway in 2004 at the Gerald Schonefeld Theatre playing a total of 311 performances. It was snubbed with no Tony Awards nominations in 2005. Following the Broadway run, the show went on a US National Tour starring American Idol runner-up Diana DeGarmo in the title role and Tony winner Melba Moore as Ms. Paradise.
The video below is Espinosa performing the show’s anthem and showstopping number which she brought down the house every night ONCE UPON A TIME.
At the same time many classic cult following Broadway shows have been doing a lot of reunion concerts at Feinstein?s/54 Below. Who thinks that there should be a reunion concert of BROOKLYN THE MUSICAL?!!!
from Broadway’s “Brooklyn the Musical”
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