Broadway
Broadway Shows To Get Ready For September to December
September Openings
First up Harold Pinter’s Betrayal opens on Broadway September 5th at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Following its extended run in London’s West End. Betrayal stars Golden Globe, Olivier, and Evening Standard Award winner Tom Hiddleston, Zawe Ashton, and Charlie Cox, all making their Broadway debuts as Jamie Lloyd, directs. Betrayal charts a compelling seven-year romance, captured in reverse chronological order. This is a limited run until December 8th.
I was blown away by two-time Olivier Award winner Derren Brown: Secret at its 2017 sold-out Off-Broadway run at Atlantic Theatre Company. Now moving to The Core Theatre expect mind control, suggestion and illusion to captivate. First preview begins September 6th with a September 15th opening.
The Height Of The Storm stars Jonathan Pryce and Eileen Atkins alongside Amanda Drew and James Hillier, who all reprise their performances from the play’s London bow. The play follows for 50 years the lives of André and Madeleine who have been filled with the everyday pleasures and unfathomable mysteries of an enduring marriage, until suddenly their life together begins to unravel, and this loving relationship is faced with the inevitability of change. The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre hosts this Brit transfer with previews beginning September 10th and an opening night of September 24th.
October Openings
The play I have been looking forward to all year starts previews September 6th. The Great Society is the sequel to Robert Schenkkan’s All the Way. The show picks up after President Lyndon B. Johnson landslide victory in the 1964 election, exploring his full four-year term against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement. Brian Cox, stars as well as Tony nominee Marc Kudisch as Richard J. Daley, Grantham Coleman making his Broadway debut as Martin Luther King Jr., Richard Thomas as Hubert Humphrey, Barbara Garrick as Ladybird Johnson, Bryce Pinkham as Robert Kennedy and David Garrison as Richard Nixon. Opening October 4th at the Vivian Beaumont.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, Thomas Kail, and Anthony Veneziale have created Freestyle Love Supreme, a hip-hop improv show which is coming to Broadway for a limited 16-week engagement after a sold-out run Off-Broadway earlier this year. The Booth Theatre starts previews September 13th with a October 2nd opening.
Slave Play ran Off-Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in 2018 and earned the Rosa Parks Playwriting Award, the Lorraine Hansberry Playwriting Award, The Lotos Foundation Prize in the Arts and Sciences and the 2018 Paula Vogel Award. Most of the Off-Broadway cast returns for this production: Ato Blankson-Wood, James Cusati-Moyer, Sullivan Jones, Chalia La Tour, Irene Sofia Lucio, Annie McNamara, and Paul Alexander Nolan. Joining them on Broadway will be Joaquina Kalukango, who will play Kaneisha. Slave Play examines the lasting impact of white surpremecy through the lens of sexuality. First previews begin September 10th with an October 6th opening at the Golden Theatre.
Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner Tracy Letts takes a brutally comedic look at Wheeler, a 50-year-old divorcee in the throes of a mid-life spiral. Just out of his ex-wife’s garage and into a place of his own, Wheeler starts on a path toward self-discovery—navigating blind dates, old friends, and new love. Full of opinions, yet short on self-examination, Wheeler must reconcile the man he has become with the man he wants to be in Linda Vista. Preview begin September 19th with an October 10th opening at the Helen Hayes Theatre.
Mary-Louise Parker returns to Broadway In The Sound Inside opposite Will Hochman, who makes his Broadway debut. Penned by Adam Rapp The Sound Inside had it’s world premiered at Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2018 and follows an Ivy League professor Bella (Parker) and a student Charlie (Hochman) who becomes entangled in Bella’s life when she faces a troubling challenge. Directed by David Cromer at Studio 54. First preview, September 14th with a October 17th opening.
Marisa Tomei stars opposite Emun Elliott (Game of Thrones, A View From the Bridge at the Young Vic), making his Broadway debut in The Rose Tattoo. Cassie Beck, Alexander Bello, Tina Benko, Susan Cella, Paige Gilbert, Greg Hildreth, Isabella Iannelli, Jacob Michael Laval, Antoinette Lavecchia, Kecia Lewis, Ellyn Marie Marsh, Portia, Ella Rubin, Jennifer Sánchez, Constance Shulman, and Burke Swanson join in the fun. This Tennessee Williams masterpiece will be directed by Trip Cullman at the American Airlines Theater, beginning September 19th with a October 15th opening.
On October 16th previews begin for the return of The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical. Directed by Stephen Brackett and choreographed by Patrick McCollum with book by Joe Tracz and original music and lyrics by Rob Rokicki. Based on Rick Riordan’s best-selling novel of the same name. The entire tour cast will reprise their roles, including Chris McCarrell as Percy Jackson. An onstage company of seven will play more than 47 characters in this action-packed theatrical adventure about accepting that normal is a myth and embracing the superpowers inside all of us.
Look for supernatural fun at the Longacre Theatre beginning September 20th with an opening set for October 16th.
November Openings
Winner of the 2019 Olivier Award for Best New Play, The Inheritance is a queer-themed, two-part play loosely inspired by E. M. Forster’s Howards End. Set in New York City a generation after the HIV/AIDS crisis of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the play follows a group of gay men as they struggle to connect to the past and maintain a sense of history. Written by Mathew Lopez,
directed by Stephen Daldry and designed by Bob Crowley at the Barrymore Theatre starting September 27th with an opening set for November 17th.
Alex Timbers directs a stage adaptation of Byrne’s 2018 album American Utopia at the Hudson Theatre previewing October 4th with an opening set for October 20th.
Get ready for the the life of Tina Turner in Tina at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre beginning October 12th. Currently starring Adrienne Warren in the West End to rave reviews this bio-musical written by Katori Hall, opens
November 7th.
Using the songs from the eponymous Alanis Morissette album (plus new material), Jagged Little Pill, tells the story of a multi-generation, multiracial suburban family grappling with a series of distressing events. The show premiered at A.R.T. in summer 2018 directed by Diane Paulus. Elizabeth Stanley, Kathryn Gallagher, Celia Rose Gooding, Derek Klena, Sean Allan Krill, and Lauren Patten star at the Broadhurst Theatre, beginning November 3rd with a December 5th opening.
House of Card‘s Campbell Scott stars as Ebeneezer Scrooge, in a new adaptation of the Dickens A Christmas Carol. A transfers from a run at London’s Old Vic that weaves immersive storytelling and Christmas carols. Directed by Matthew Warchus (Matilda) and penned by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child). The Lyceum Thetare gets in the holiday spirit starting November 7th with a November 20th opening and a January 5th closing.
For more holiday cheer Slava’s Snowshow holds court at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre beginning November 11th. This Olivier-winning show takes audiences through a wintry landscape where wordless clowns roam about in a climactic blizzard. Opening night is set for November 13th with a closing date of January 5th.
Chris Cox (as The Mentalist), Paul Dabek (The Trickster), Kevin James (The Inventor), Hyun Joon Kim (The Manipulator), Enzo Weyne (The Unforgettable), and SOS and Victoria Petroysan (The Transformationalists)
Returning to Broadway for the fifth year in a row, The Illusionists perform a series of mystifying acts that will delight audiences. Look for The Illusionists –Magic of the Holidays at the Neil Simon Theatre staring November 19th and closing January 5, 2020.
December Previews
Harry Connick Jr. will bring Cole Porter’s storied repetoire to life at the Nederlander Theatre beginning in December. The show stars and is directed by Harry Connick, Jr.
Get ready for an Ivo van Hove version of the Leonard Bernstein classic West Side Story at the Broadway Theatre. The show stars Isaac Powell (Once On This Island) as Tony and Shereen Pimentel (The Lion King) as Maria. Previews begin: December 10th with a February 6, 2020 opening. Set design will be by van Hove’s longtime collaborator Jan Versweyveld. Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker will choregraph, marking this the first major New York revival to deviate from Jerome Robbins’ choreography.
Diected by Leigh Silverman Michael Urie, Thomas Sadoski, Ashley Park, Maulik Pancholy and Priscilla Lopez as Carla star in Bess Wohl’s Grand Horizons at the Helen Hayes Theatre. Bill and Nancy have spent 50 full years as husband and wife. But just as they settle comfortably into their new home in Grand Horizons, the unthinkable happens: Nancy suddenly wants out. As their two adult sons struggle to cope with the shocking news, they are forced to question everything they assumed about the people they thought they knew best. Previews start December 20 with a January 23rd opening.
Yesterday we told you how the cast and creative’s met the press
The cast and creatives
In today’s edition hear director Warren Carlyle, Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman describe their show.
The it was a treat as the cast sang 5 songs from the show. Including “Harmony,” Hungarian Rhapsody,” “Where You Go’ and “Stars in the Night.”
Hear The Harmonists Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman and Steven Telsey, along with Chip Zien, Sierra Boggess and Julie Benko.
The hit song of the show will be the gorgeous ballad “Every Single Day” sung by Danny Kornfeld.
Harmony begins previews at the Barrymore Theatre on Wednesday, October 18, ahead of a Monday, November 13 official opening night.
Photo’s by Genevieve Rafter Keddy
G.H. Harding
JESSE L MARTIN — We caught the debut of Jesse L. Martin’s The Irrational Monday night and really enjoyed it. I’ve been aware of Jesse since his role in Broadway’s Rent and he’s really tremendous. He was great on Law & Order as Ed Green (10 years and 9 seasons); and his role on the CW’s The Flash (as Joe West) was simply terrific.
The show, based on the book by Dan Ariely and created by Arika Mittman, certainly reminds one of The Mentalist or Instinct. This first case isn’t wondrous by any means, but Martin’s charisma carries it all through.
Lauren Holly (NCIS) is in it too, thought her one-scene was over and out in a flash.
I hear the third episode of the show is magnificent, so stay tuned. Don Johnson said many years ago that Don Johnson was made for TV … so is Martin!
Will Swenson and Neil Diamond
SWENSON OUT — (per Deadline) Will Swenson will play his final performance as Neil Diamond in Broadway’s A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical on Sunday, Oct. 29, producers announced today.
A replacement for the starring role will be announced at a future date.
“It’s been the thrill of a lifetime to get to stand in Neil’s shoes,” Swenson said in a statement. “It’s been such an incredible honor to get to know Neil, to tell his powerful story, and bring his amazing songs to Broadway audiences every night. I’m immensely proud of the moving, beautiful show we made. I will miss it very much.”
A reason for Swenson’s departure was not disclosed, but his planned departure date suggests a year-long contract coming to a close: He and the bio-musical began previews at the Broadhurst Theatre last Nov. 2 (official opening was Dec. 4).
“Making A Beautiful Noise with Will Swenson was a deep and wonderful experience,” said director Michael Mayer. “The true affection he has for Neil’s work and life is palpable in every aspect of his tremendous performance. I will miss him terribly, of course, but will always treasure our time together, and very much look forward to the next show we do.”
Swenson has been one of Broadway’s go-to leading men since his breakthrough performance in 2009’s Hair, and he has since starred on the New York stage in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Little Miss Sunshine, Waitress and Assassins, among many other shows.
In addition to Swenson, the cast of A Beautiful Noise features a principal cast of Mark Jacoby as the aged Neil Diamond, Robyn Hurder and Shirine Babb.
The musical includes a score of Diamond’s hits, a book by Anthony McCarten, direction by Mayer, and choreography by Steven Hoggett.
He’s pretty tremendous as Diamond. I didn’t see the show straight away, but absolutely loved it when I did. His exit of kind of short notice … but let’s see what happens.
SHORT TAKES — How about those snappy new graphics for NBC’s Today Show. Introduced a week ago, they certainly look more relevant and certainly more fun. They did the same for Nightly News a week ago. Per TVNewser:The network said the decision to unveil a new logo and graphics for Nightly was made as a way of appealing to younger viewers who primarily consume news using digital media. It’s safe to assume is true for Today, the youngest-skewing of the linear morning shows that boasts a robust digital presence. Here’s their whole story:
The Rolling Stones
The next Rolling Stones single, “Sweet Sounds of Heaven,” is tremendous. Mick hasn’t sounded this good in years and Lady Gaga is an added treat. Magnificent! Take a listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJd5xtbEPY …
Donnie Kehr
Donnie Kehr and Cori Gardner’s Rockers On Broadway (their 30th edition) is coming up on Monday, October 16 at SONY Hall.
Debbie Gibson
Joining honoree Melissa Etheridge will be KT Tunstall and Debbie Gibson, Simon Kirke, Dan Finnerty and Ty Taylor … Happy Bday Chuck Taylor!
NAMES IN THE NEWS –— Anthony Noto; Tom & Lisa Cuddy; Paul Lester; Ian Harrison; Magda Katz; Pete Townshend; Miko Blanco; Brad LeBeau; Mal Evans; Derek Taylor; Andrew Sandoval; Rick Rubin; Bill Adler; Cory Robbins; Manny Bella; Race Taylor; Scott Shannon; Buddy Blanch; Steve Walter; Benny Harrison; and BELLA!
Broadway
Theatre News: Here We Are, Some Like It Hot, A Beautiful Noise, All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented The Villain and The Laramie Project
The curtain rose last tonight on the first performance of the final Stephen Sondheim musical. Here We Are, the new musical from David Ives and Sondheim, is on stage at The Shed’s Griffin Theater (545 W. 30th Street), with an Opening Night on Sunday, October 22, for 15 weeks only.
Directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello, the cast of Here We Are will feature Francois Battiste, Tracie Bennett, Bobby Cannavale, Micaela Diamond, Amber Gray, Jin Ha, Rachel Bay Jones, Denis O’Hare, Steven Pasquale, David Hyde Pierce, and Jeremy Shamos. The understudies for Here We Are are Adante Carter, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Bradley Dean, Mehry Eslaminia, Adam Harrington, and Bligh Voth.
Here We Are is inspired by two films, The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie and The Exterminating Angel, by Luis Buñuel.
Here We Are will include choreography by Sam Pinkleton, set design and costume design by David Zinn, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Tom Gibbons, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, musical supervision and additional arrangements by Alexander Gemignani, hair & make-up design by Wigmaker Associates, and casting by The Telsey Office.
Tickets are on sale on TheShed.org.
For each performance, a limited number of $25 tickets will be available via a weekly lottery, which will open for entries on the TodayTix app each Sunday at 12:01 AM for the coming week’s performances and will close at 12:00 PM on the day before each performance. Winners will be notified by push notification and email between 1 – 4 PM on the day before their selected show, and will have 30 minutes to claim their tickets in the app. Entrants may request 1 or 2 tickets, and entry is free and open to all.
Via TodayTix’s mobile rush program, a limited number of $40 same-day rush tickets will be available for that day’s performance of Here We Are at 9:00 AM each day on a first-come, first-served basis. Users can download the app and “unlock” rush tickets by sharing the program on social media ahead of their desired performance day.
The most award-winning musical of the 2022-2023 season, Some Like It Hot, will play for 13 more weeks through Saturday, December 30, 2023, at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre (225 West 44th Street) before launching a national tour and West End production.
Awarded Best Musical by The Drama League, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle, Some Like It Hot received over 20+ major awards throughout the 2022-2023 season, including four Tony Awards for Best Lead Actor in a Musical (J. Harrison Ghee), Best Choreography (Casey Nicholaw), Best Orchestrations (Charlie Rosen & Bryan Carter) and Best Costumes in a Musical (Gregg Barnes). J. Harrison Ghee made history as the first non-binary performer to take home the Tony Award in their category.
A national tour will launch in September 2024 and a West End production will follow in 2025, produced by The Shubert Organization and Neil Meron in partnership with Ambassador Theatre Group.
At the time of the final performance, the production will have played the Shubert Theatre for over a year, for a total of 483 performances.
Will Swenson and the cast. Photo by Julieta Cervantes.
Will Swenson, who is electrifying audiences with his star turn in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical, will play his final performance as ‘Neil Diamond – Then’ at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) on Sunday, October 29. Casting for the role of ‘Neil Diamond – Then’ will be announced at a future date.
The unofficial commencement of “spooky season” takes place this Friday, September 29, when Tony Award® Nominee and Grammy Award® Winner Patrick Page returns to the New York stage in All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented The Villain, a new work created and performed by Mr. Page, based on the villains of William Shakespeare. Directed by Simon Godwin, the solo show will play the DR2 Theatre (103 E 15th Street) beginning Friday, September 29, with an Opening Night set for Monday, October 16, for 14 weeks only.
Tickets are now available at allthedevilsplay.com, Telecharge or by visiting the DR2 Theatre box office (103 E 15th Street).
Julie White
Julie White and Brandon Uranowitz will join Ato Blankson-Wood in a staged benefit reading of The Laramie Project. Moises Kaufman and the Members of Tectonic Theatre Project’s The Laramie Project, will bedirected by Dustin Wills (Wolf Play, Wet Brain). The event, which will raise funds to support the work of The Trevor Project, will take place on Monday, October 16th at 7:00 PM at Peter Norton Symphony Space, and is being produced by District Productions. Additional casting is soon to be announced. For tickets and more information, visit https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-the-laramie-project-a-benefit-staged-reading
Harmony, has been in rehearsals for 3 weeks and yesterday morning, they meet the press.
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow
Barry Manilow, wrote the original music.
Bruce Sussman
Bruce Sussman, who wrote the book and lyrics
Warren Carlyle
Warren Carlyle
director/choreographer Warren Carlyle
Ken Davenport
and producer Ken Davenport started the show off to a harmonious roll. Harmony begins previews Wednesday, October 18, ahead of a Monday, November 13 official opening night.
Many of the cast are making their Broadway debuts with Harmony, including 5 of the 6 actors playing the Harmonists.
The Harmonists, along with Chip Zien finished out the morning with a performance of the song “Stars in the Night.”
Chip Zien
The production also stars performers Sierra Boggess and Julie Benko.
Sierra Boggess
Julie Benko
Tomorrow meet the men of Harmony
The biggest day for Broadway fans returns to New York City’s Theater District on Sunday, October 1. The Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction unites all theater fans – whether they’re onstage, behind the scenes or in the audience – in their hunt for Broadway-themed treasures, unique experiences and theater magic.
Theater lovers of every kind will have the opportunity to take home one-of-a-kind mementos and autographed collectibles and bid on exclusive Broadway experiences and items including props, costume pieces, opening night theater packages and more.
The Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction will run from 10 am – 7 pm with tables on West 44th and West 45th Streets, the silent auction in Shubert Alley and the live grand auction wrapping up the day in the Times Square pedestrian plaza between 45th and 46th Streets.
Treasure-filled tables from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, theater owners and producing organizations, unions, guilds, marketing groups, ticket agencies, concessionaires and fan clubs will line West 44th and West 45th Streets. The shows set to have tables the Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction are & Juliet; Aladdin; Back to the Future: The Musical; A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical; Hadestown; Hamilton; Here Lies Love; The Lion King; Kimberly Akimbo; Moulin Rouge! The Musical; Six; Some Like It Hot; Sweeney Todd and Wicked, plus special tables honoring The Phantom of the Opera and the 40th anniversary of the original cast of La Cage aux Folles.
New York Film Festival Begins
Barry Manilow’s and Bruce Sussman’s Harmony Meets The Press Part 2
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