Broadway

KPOP Honored By NY Mets At Citi Field

Published

11 months ago

July 25, 2022

KPOP songwriter Helen Park and Korean musical and theater star Luna were honored by the New York METS at their Korean Heritage Game on Friday night at Citi Field. They received the team’s Spirit Award in a pregame presentation on the field at home plate. After the National Anthem performed by the Korean Boys Choir, guests were invited to watch the game in the private suite hosted by Met owners Steven and Alex Cohen. The new musical is scheduled to begin previews on October 13 at Circle in the Square on Broadway.

Helen Park, Luna

KPOP, the new musical about the global K-pop phenomenon. The show will have an opening night on Sunday, November 20, 2022. The show will play at the Circle in the Square Theatre (235 West 50th Street).

Luna

Joining the previously announced Luna, who will star, the cast includes Julia Abueva, Will Brill, Major Curda, Joomin Hwang, Jinwoo Jung, Jiho Kang, Amy Keum, James Kho, Bo Hyung Kim, Eddy Lee, Jully Lee, Min Young Lee, Timothy H. Lee, Abraham Lim, Kate Mina Lin, Aubie Merrylees, Patrick Park, Kevin Woo, and John Yi.

In addition to Luna, other cast members from the K-pop world include Bo Hyung Kim (formerly of SPICA and half of the duo KEEMBO), Min Young Lee (formerly of Miss A), and Kevin Woo (formerly of U-KISS). Apart from their group activities they have each launched successful solo careers and are actively releasing new music.

KPOP has the distinction of being the first musical on Broadway about Korean culture, in addition to presenting 16 members of the company making their Broadway debuts.

Tickets are now available both at the Circle in the Square Theatre box office and on Telecharge. Tickets start at $89.50 and are currently on sale through April 16, 2023.

KPOP was conceived by Woodshed Collective and Jason Kim and features a book by Mr. Kim; music, lyrics, and music production by Helen Park; and music and lyrics by Max Vernon. Direction is by Teddy Bergman with choreography by Jennifer Weber and Music Direction by Sujin Kim- Ramsey. Scenic Design is by Gabriel Hainer Evansohn, Costume Design is by Clint Ramos & Sophia Choi, Lighting Design is by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew, Sound Design is by Peter Hylenski, Projection Design is by Peter Nigrini, Hair & Wig Design is by Mia M. Neal, and Makeup Design is by Joe Dulude II.

KPOP is the story of global superstars putting everything on the line for a special one-night only concert, when one singer’s inner struggle threatens to dismantle one of the biggest labels in the industry. Pulsing with infectious beats, electrifying choreography, and breathtaking joy, KPOP is an all- consuming multimedia experience that explores the relentless discipline, raw talent, and commercial ambition behind the heart-thumping international phenomenon.

An earlier version of the show, produced by Ars Nova in association with Ma-Yi Theater and Woodshed Collective, played to sold-out crowds Off- Broadway in the Fall of 2017, and was the recipient of the 2018 Richard Rodgers Award, three Lucille Lortel Awards, including Best Musical, the Off- Broadway Alliance Award, and seven Drama Desk Award nominations.

Photos courtesy DKC/O&M

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Suzanna Bowling

Suzanna, co-owns and publishes the newspaper Times Square Chronicles or T2C. At one point a working actress, she has performed in numerous productions in film, TV, cabaret, opera and theatre. She has performed at The New Orleans Jazz festival, The United Nations and Carnegie Hall. She has a screenplay and a TV show in the works, which she developed with her mentor and friend the late Arthur Herzog. She is a proud member of the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle and was a nominator. Email: suzanna@t2conline.com

Broadway

Countdown to The Tony Awards: Who Will and Who Should Win Best Play, Best Musical and Best Revivals

Published

11 hours ago

June 10, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

The countdown is on and the winners of the 2022/2023 season will be announced in a live televised ceremony on Sunday, June 11.

Here is who we think will win and who should.

Best Play

The Nominees:
Ain’t No Mo’
Between Riverside and Crazy
Cost of Living
Fat Ham
Leopoldstadt

Leopoldstadt tells the story of of a Jewish family over 50 years. It is about claiming who you are, confusions, betrayal and generational bonds. This is Tom Stoppard’s career masterpiece and the Tony’s will want to honor this. I do however think Between Riverside and Crazy is a better written play, with much to say.

Will win: Leopoldstadt

Should win: Between Riverside and Crazy

Best Musical

The Nominees:
& Juliet
Kimberly Akimbo
New York, New York
Shucked
Some Like It Hot

Kimberly Akimbo, is the theatre community’s darling. Personally I think what this show says doesn’t always give the best message. This show could use the box office bump, which is what the Tony’s give. Some Like It Hot, has old-fashioned showmanship and makes the Broadway musical shine. This show made me fall in love with Broadway all over again.

Will win: Kimberly Akimbo
Should win: Some Like It Hot

Corey Hawkins and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog. Photo by Marc J. Franklin.

Best Revival of a Play

The Nominees:
August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson
A Doll’s House
The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window
Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog

Suzan-Lori Parks is the darling of Broadway and has been honored by every major award for theatre this season.. Topdog/Underdog is a sure fire bet. The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Windowmoved me with its prolific message of marriage, personal relationships, the Bohemian culture, Judaism, race, suicide, homosexuality, political corruption, interracial love, and prostitution.

Will win: Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog
Should win: The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window

Micaela Diamond and Ben Platt star in the Broadway revival of *Parade*.
(© Joan Marcus)

Best Revival of a Musical

The Nominees:
Into the Woods
Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot
Parade
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Parade speaks against hate and brings a musical that never worked to the forefront.

Will win: Parade
Should win: Parade

Broadway

Who and What Will Perform On The 76th Annual Tony Awards

Published

11 hours ago

June 10, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

On Sunday, June 11th, the 76th Annual Tony Awards will air live on CBS (and stream live and on demand on Paramount+) from the United Palace in New York City’s Washington Heights from 8pm-11pm ET.

Academy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Ariana DeBose will host on CBS. Emmy Award winner Julianne Hough and star of CBS’s So Help Me Todd Skylar Astin will host The Tony Awards: Act One, a live pre-show of exclusive content that is available to viewers for free on Pluto TV from 6:30 to 8 pm.

The following shows will be performing: Camelot, Into the Woods, & Juliet, Kimberly Akimbo, New York, New York, Parade, Shucked, Some Like It Hot, and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The ceremony will also feature performances from Joaquina Kalukango (winner of the 2022 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical), the cast of A Beautiful Noise, and the cast of Funny Girl, as well as a special performance for the 2023 Special Tony Awards for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre recipients, Joel Grey and John Kander.

Broadway

The Drama Desk Awards And You Are There Part 2 The Video’s

Published

1 day ago

June 9, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

The 2023 Drama Desk Awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, June 6 at Sardi’s. T2C’s T2C talked to the winners and more. Join in the fun.

Outstanding Featured Performances in a Play Brandon Uranowitz, Leopoldstadt, Miriam Silverman, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window, Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Alex Newell, Shucked and Kevin Del Aguila, Some Like it Hot.

The Harold Prince Lifetime Achievement Award Stephen McKinley Henderson, Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Gregg Barnes, Some Like it Hot, Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical Alex Neumann, Into the Woods andOutstanding Costume Design of a Play Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’

Outstanding Wig and Hair Mia M. Neal, Ain’t No Mo’, Unique Theatrical Experience Peter Pan Goes Wrong, Outstanding Costume Design of a Play Emilio Sosa, Ain’t No Mo’ and Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical Natasha Katz, Sweeney Todd

Anne del Castillo with the Mayor’s office, Funny’s Girl Paolo Montalban, Outstanding Scenic Design of a Play Tim Hatley, Life of Pi and Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical Beowulf Boritt, New York, New York

Outstanding Music in a Play Suzan-Lori Parks, Plays for the Plague Year, The Public Theater, Outstanding Orchestrations Bryan Carter, Some Like it Hot, Outstanding Music Brandy Clark, Shucked and Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical J. Harrison Ghee, Some Like it Hot

Outstanding Adaptation A Doll’s House, by Amy Herzog, Outstanding Choreography Casey Nicholaw, Some Like it Hot, Tovah Feldshuh and Jason Robert Brown

Lin Manuel Miranda

Tovah Feldshuh

Broadway

The 77th Theatre World Awards And You Are There

Published

1 day ago

June 9, 2023

Suzanna Bowling

T2C was at the 77th Theatre World Awards on Monday at Circle In The Square Theatre. In our first video from the red carpet we have the creatives and the honorees starting with the director or the show and producers Tom and Michael D’Angora, Peter Filichia (Broadway Radio), honoree for Outstanding Contribution to The Theatre World, Board of Directors and President Dale Badway, performer and Theatre World Award winner Benjamin Pajak, Musical Director Michael Lavine, performer and the 14th Annual Dorothy Loudon Award winner for Excellence in The Theater Julie Benko, Funny Girl and honoree Brian Stokes Mitchell and his son Ellington.

Now for the winners: Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Topdog/Underdog, Casey Likes, Almost Famous, previous winner and presenter Katy Sullivan, Caroline Innerbichler, Shucked and Ashley D. Kelley, Shucked

In this video Callum Francis, Kinky Boots, Lucy Freyer, The Wanderers, Emma Pfitzer Price, Becomes A Woman and Marilyn Caserta Outstanding Swing (Six).

And Amir Arison, The Kite Runner

Finally celebrities to honor and support the winners with Ruthie Ann Miles (Sweeney Todd), Miles Frost (MJ), Paulo Szot (Me& Juliet), Michael McGrath and Lance Roberts (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel)