Broadway musicals

[peibeck]

Ten time 2018 Tony Winner "The Band's Visit" is scheduled to close April 7th.

Meanwhile "Frozen" and "Mean Girls" play on.

 

[screech]

This makes me really excited, especially since I'm currently watching the show on Prime. Fran Drescher has teamed up with Rachel Bloom and Adam Schlesinger to bring The Nanny to Broadway!

Unfortunately Maxwell Sheffield isn't producing (but at least it isn't Andrew Lloyd Weber!), though the team that produced Dear Evan Hansen is. And the director is the same who produced Beatuiful: The Carole King Musical.

I think Rachel and Adam will do a fantastic job with the music. Fran and her ex-husband, who was co-creator and producer of the show will both be involved too.

As I'm rewatching the show (for first time since it ended 20 years ago), I'd forgotten how funny it is! I watch episodes on the subway on my way to work, and I've gotten looks from people when I'm literally laughing out loud at parts (I have no idea how Charles Shaughnessy kept a relatively straight face in that scene). And it was a show where you can tell the studio audience was genuinely having a blast.

No word yet on casting. I really hope they can find someone to perfectly portray Niles' scathing remarks to CC.

 

[paskatefan]

Ten time 2018 Tony Winner "The Band's Visit" is scheduled to close April 7th.

We just saw "The Band's Visit" on the National Tour. Loved it (We did rent the movie about a year ago).

 

[canbelto]

Not a musical but holy shit Slave Play is an amazing play:

https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2020/01/slave-play-spoilers.html

 

[clairecloutier]

There's an article in The New York Times about the new stage production of West Side Story.

How ‘West Side Story’ Was Reborn (Published 2020)

Inside the wildly ambitious effort to reimagine the class musical for 2020.

www.nytimes.com

The article is really long, but it's interesting if you're a fan of the play/movie. (When I was a kid, my parents had the original Broadway soundtrack of the musical, and I listened to it endlessly.)

 

[4skating]

There's an article in The New York Times about the new stage production of West Side Story.

How ‘West Side Story’ Was Reborn (Published 2020)

Inside the wildly ambitious effort to reimagine the class musical for 2020.

www.nytimes.com

The article is really long, but it's interesting if you're a fan of the play/movie. (When I was a kid, my parents had the original Broadway soundtrack of the musical, and I listened to it endlessly.)

Thanks so much for the link. I don't know how I feel about such a different take on a musical that I have known and loved for so long. I also wonder how it will impact reaction to the upcoming Spielberg film. It will be quite a year for WSS fans, no matter what.

 

[MacMadame]

At one point all the local youth theater groups were putting on productions so I got to see the play a few times and also the film (because my daughter wanted to study it since she was in one of these productions). I think it holds up really well for being as old as I am (it was released the year I was born). I'm not sure it actually needs to be "reimagined."

But the article makes the new version sound really interesting. Maybe a trip to NYC is in order.

 

[canbelto]

Did anyone see Slave Play before it closed? I saw it and thogught it was one of the most profound theater experiences of my life.

Slave Play: Can Love Overcome the Legacy of Slavery? SPOILERS; Little Women

Dustin and Gary in Slave Play, photo @ Matthew Murphy There are only five days left to see Jeremy O. Harris's remarkable Slave Play . I...

humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com

 

[canbelto]

I saw West Side Story last night with my mother, we both did not like it:

West Side Story: Total Momsical Failure

Tony and Maria pulled apart, photo @ Sara Krulwich Every year I try to take my mom to one Broadway musical. My mom requires two thin...

humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com

 

[smurfy]

I saw 'Moulin Rouge' on Broadway this past weekend.
I really loved it - fun.
Karen Olivo was not in the show, it was the understudy. Her voice was wonderful but she seem stilted.
The rest of the cast was amazing. Audience was into it.
Some of the same songs from the movie and lots of changes with new songs.

 

[Wyliefan]

I saw West Side Story last night with my mother, we both did not like it:

West Side Story: Total Momsical Failure

Tony and Maria pulled apart, photo @ Sara Krulwich Every year I try to take my mom to one Broadway musical. My mom requires two thin...

humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com

I see we're both on the same Broadway message board. I'll be interested to see how the reviews of the show line up with their opinions over there. Most of them seem to like it and will brook no dissent (which is pretty much par for the course over there ).

 

[screech]

Has anyone seen Jagged Little Pill? It seems to have gotten decent reviews...

 

[canbelto]

I see we're both on the same Broadway message board. I'll be interested to see how the reviews of the show line up with their opinions over there. Most of them seem to like it and will brook no dissent (which is pretty much par for the course over there ).

so much drama ... but then again it is a theater board, I have feeling reviews will be mixed. The ppl who love this seem to really love it and the ppl who hate it feel as strongly.

 

[VGThuy]

I saw West Side Story last night with my mother, we both did not like it:

West Side Story: Total Momsical Failure

Tony and Maria pulled apart, photo @ Sara Krulwich Every year I try to take my mom to one Broadway musical. My mom requires two thin...

humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com

Your review has like confirmed my worst fears with this revival. Some times I think these wannabe "geniuses" try too hard to make something classic feel relevant for today, but they themselves are actually out-of-touch with the real world as well. It's just the presentation of being real without actually getting or understanding it. So much of new theatre style has no subtlety or subtext. It's all in your face and full speed.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Speaking of the WSS revival/reconception, protests against one of the leads are occurring outside the theater:

'West Side Story' opening draws protesters on Broadway

There was a chorus outside the Broadway Theatre on Thursday at the opening night of a new revival of “West Side Story” but what was being sung was a protest chant

abcnews.go.com

 

[canbelto]

In other news, there's big drama surrounding Sophia Ann Caruso's sudden departure from Beetlejuice.

 

[annie720]

Broadway Cares has updated its playlist of the Broadway Backwards performances over the years, and I've been happily viewing these all morning. Broadway Backwards is an annual fundraiser for HIV where some of the stage's biggest stars put an LGBTG twist on some well-known Broadway numbers. This year's show was supposed to have been last night and alas, it wasn't. These are a blast! Here's the playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtHnJHHPnhP_3Xt-u0nOhYzoyLAC_SfaQ

So far I've watched Sixteen Going on Seventeen, A Lot of Livin' to do (an awesome number with Ariana DeBose!), Cell Block Tango, There's Nothing Like a Dame (with an 80-year-old raunchy Florence Henderson). If you love Broadway and haven't seen these, check them out!

 

[4skating]

Along the same lines, I discovered YouTube recordings of the annual MCC's MisCast gala, where performers do songs for roles in which they would never best cast--men in women's roles and vice versa. A few of my faves:

JENNIFER NETTLES sings "IT ALL FADES AWAY" from THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

MCC Theater's annual MisCast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town. Broadway’s hottest stars perform songs from roles in which t...

www.youtube.com

Aaron Tveit and Gavin Creel Sing "Take Me or Leave Me" from RENT at MCC Theater MISCAST Benefit

Aaron Tveit is Maureen and Gavin Creel is Joanne in "Take Me or Leave Me" from RENT. MCC Theater's Miscast benefit filmed April 4, 2016.

www.youtube.com

CHRISTOPHER JACKSON sings "LISTEN" from DREAMGIRLS

MCC Theater's annual MisCast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town. Broadway’s hottest stars perform songs from roles in which t...

www.youtube.com

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Raul Esparza sing "A Boy Like That" from West Side Story

JOIN US FOR MISCAST20- STREAMING FOR FREE ON SUNDAY 9/13 AT 8PM ET. Set a reminder! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omNCjOCHbJ8 Lin-Manuel Miranda and Raúl E...

www.youtube.com

 

[screech]

Aaron Tveit and Gavin Creel Sing "Take Me or Leave Me" from RENT at MCC Theater MISCAST Benefit

Aaron Tveit is Maureen and Gavin Creel is Joanne in "Take Me or Leave Me" from RENT. MCC Theater's Miscast benefit filmed April 4, 2016.

www.youtube.com

The Aaron Tveit/Gavin Creel one is one of my favourites.

Also, nothing beats Jonathan Groff channeling his inner Sutton Foster

 

[4skating]

Broadway.com is doing a special episode of the Rosie O'Donnell show on its youtube channel tonight. Some of my favorite musical performers are appearing, with fundraising for the Actor's Fund.

Aaron Tveit, Sutton Foster, Jeremy Jordan and more.

7 pm ET tonight

Even More Stars Join Broadway.com's Special Return Episode of The Rosie O'Donnell Show

An additional group of talented stars have signed on to take part in the upcoming special return episode of The Rosie O'Donnell Show. The …

www.broadway.com

 

[Wyliefan]

Dailymotion has a bunch of Broadway musicals online for free. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x77tw5q

 

[4skating]

One more link, in honor of Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday today:

Darren Criss in Six By Sondheim - Opening Doors

Darren Criss, Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes and America Ferrera in Six By Sondheim, performing 'Opening Doors' from Sondheim's 'Merrily We Roll Along'.

www.youtube.com

 

[Jayar]

Has anyone seen Jagged Little Pill? It seems to have gotten decent reviews...

I did. There are two great numbers in the show, but the rest is boring.

 

[Sasha'sSpins]

Don't know if this was posted already, but just in case anyone missed it:

You can watch some Broadway musicals free online for a limited time

From the site: BroadwayHD, a theatre streaming service, hit the web in 2015 and quickly became a popular option for people to catch their favourite shows without having to flock to their nearest showing (probably at a far greater cost).

It’s priced at $8.99 per month or $99.99 for a full year – however, amid the surge of folks staying at home at the moment, the company has introduced a seven-day free trial (after which you’ll need to pick one of the affordable payment plans).

 

[screech]

Not surprisingly, the Tony awards which were scheduled for June 7, have been postponed.

 

[annie720]

Not surprisingly, the Tony awards which were scheduled for June 7, have been postponed.

My favorite TV night of the year.
But yes, very understandable.

 

[screech]

Because theatres shut down, some shows didn't get their official opening night. The original cut-off date for official openings (not previews) is April 23. I'm assuming that will be moved, but then that will affect next year's eligible shows.

Looking at the list of (currently) eligible shows, there's not a lot there on the musical side! FOUR original musicals, and ZERO musical revivals!

 

[VGThuy]

Terrance McNally, author of some great plays, such as Master Class; Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune; Love! Valour! Compassion!; and author of the books for the musical Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Ragtime, died yesterday from complications from well...you know. The thing we're social distancing for.

You can see his work in this long clip of Zoe Caldwell (and Audra McDonald) in Master Class:

MASTER CLASS Zoe Caldwell/Audra McDonald

Extended press reel for the 1995 Broadway production of "Master Class," original cast with Tony winners Zoe Caldwell and Audra McDonald. Terrence McNally's p...

www.youtube.com

Caldwell was such an amazing actress, wasn't she? I saw clips of Faye Dunaway, as we all know a celebrated film actress in her own right, do this part and I remember people saying she was amazing in the role, but seeing Caldwell and comparing them...there's something different about being a theatre-trained and bred actress working on an stage with an audience. There's such a command and ability to make the lines land.

BTW, this page has tons of treasures from Broadway productions...some things I thought I'd never see.

 

[VGThuy]

Check out this rare 40 second clip of Gwen Verdon in the 1953 musical Can Can in stunning quality:

Gwen Verdon in CAN-CAN (1953, Broadway)

16mm home movies shot by Ray Knight of the original Broadway production of Can-Can, starring Lilo and a young, then-unknown, Gwen Verdon. This excerpt of the...

youtu.be

I wish I could see the whole thing now. No wonder she got that opening night applause in the middle of the show that stopped it cold. And this video wasn't even showcasing the number that did that.

 

[screech]

Adam Schlesinger, best known as a founding member of the band Fountains of Wayne, died today of COVID-19.
In addition to that, he's incredibly well known for writing one of the best movie songs of all time (and just a fantastic song in general). The fact that the song is heard something like 11 times throughout the movie, and you don't get sick of it? That's something special. Here's another of my favourite moments that it plays.

He was Rachel Bloom's songwriting partner for the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. For Broadway, he co-wrote the music for the stage version of Cry-Baby, The Bedwetter (which was scheduled to begin previews on May 9), and was working with Bloom on the music for the stage adaptation of the show The Nanny. His music won him a Grammy, 3 Emmys, got him an Oscar and Globe nomination, and 2 Tony nominations.