FOR READERS OF PERFORMING ARTS INSIDER: Special ON-LINE ONLY SECTION:
WHAT THE CRITICS SAID
BROADWAY
BILLY ELLIOT
AMNY Matt
Windman 11/14/08 ! “..the real deal: a truly
compelling and absolutely spectacular theatrical experience destined to be a
smash hit. ..non-stop theatrical energy and authentic emotional power.” BLOOMB
John Simon 11/14/08 ! “Billy Elliot really does have something for everyone, and that
something is, gloriously, art. ..David Alvarez, a riveting prodigy..” / CT
HARTCOUR Malcolm Johnson 11/14/08 ! “..the theatrical powers
of..Daldry. .. a mounting that justifies the astronomical ticket price. Bravo,
Billy.” / LATIMES Charles McNulty 11/14/08 - “there’s a thin line between a
mega-hit and a mega-mediocrity. ..arrives at the Imperial Theater with its
parts intact but its spirit plasticized and pasted with glitter. ..insipid
pop-rock score..” / NEWSDAY Linda Winer 11/14/08 ! “..as seriously thrilling as it
is deeply lovable. ..a blissful lack of preciosity and lots of blazing
intelligence and theatricality. ..John has written an ambitious, varied..score..we
never dreamed he had in him.” / NYPOST Barbara Hoffman 11/14/08 ! “[John’s] best stage score yet..
..head and toe-shoes above every other show this season.” / NYTIMES Ben
Brantley 11/14/08 ! “seductive, smashingly realized
premise…both artfiully anatomizes and brazenly exploits the…enduring appeal of
musicals themselves. Daldry and company turn tripe into triumph.. [it] isn’t a
dance show; it’s about why people need to dance.” / PAINSIDER David Lefkowitz
11/08 ! “..we can forgive one too-silly scene, another uncomfortable one and
more than a few banal rhymes because this is so exhilarating and touching most
of the time. And the choreography reaches, as it must, a place words can’t
express” / THRMANIA David Finkle 11/14/08 ! “..gangbuster entertainment..under
the scrupulous direction of..Daldry.” ..rock-solid storyline..wisely skirts
sentimentality. ..the enormous contribution of choreographer..Darling.” / TIME
Richard Zoglin 11/14/08 + “…honest emotional connection.
..songs..seem utterly fresh, inseparable from the story they both enliven and
enhance. In truth, the British still got a little better of the deal in this
transatlantic transaction.” / USATOD Elysa Gardner 11/14/08 + “In a period of economic
turmoil…[it] feels very much in sync with the mood of the nation.
..irresistible heart.. ..shines brightest when its younger cast members are
center stage” / VAR David Rooney 11/14/08 + “big-hearted show..with gritty
cultural specificity.That [it’s] as
much an elegy as a celebration is what makes it such a winner.”
CHICAGO
NYPOST
Clive Barnes 8/4/03 ! / NYT Ben Brantley 8/4/03 ! / TIMEOUT David Cote +.
IN THE HEIGHTS
AP Michael
Kuchwara 3/09/08 + "This is slice-of-life tehater, lovingly
captured in an eclectic score. ..you don't mind its lack of focus because the
hard-working actors are so appealing. ..a destination well-worth traveling
to." / BLOOMB John Simon 3/08 + "The lyrics..are winning enough. The
music is probably the weakest link but...manages to hold its own. ..endearing
performances by one and all.. Unreal/ Unbelievable? Sure enough. But I for one
wouldn't sneeze at 135 minutes of lovable lies." / DN Joe Dziemianowicz 3/10/08 ? "..the creators..have
sensibilities stuck in the 1950s.. Needless to say, all resolves to a heap of
happy endings. ..What it lacks in story and believability it makes up for in a
vibrant rap- and salsa-flavored score, spirited dances and great-looking
design." / HOLLYREP Frank Scheck 3/10/08 + "..a joyfully exuberant and
moving experience.. ..the generally amusing dialogue and engagingly drawn
characters go a long way towards overcoming its cliches." / NDAY Linda
Winer 3/10/08 + "..a big, pulsing power-surge of a show. ..an
upbeat sweetheart of an urban folktale. ..every time the middling book..steps
over the gooey ledge of sentimentality, the crackling cast..grabs back the
sensibilities with one of Miranda's salsa/rap/Broadway songs or one of
Blankenbuehler's smart and slinky street/modern dances." / NJ-STARLED
Michael Sommers 3/10/08 + "A musical as light and
sweet as..cafe con leche.. A delicious score..plenty of dynamite dancing and a
good-hearted story. ..In addition to his obvious talent as a songwriter,
Miranda is an engaging leading man.. ..a festive time that plenty of people
will enjoy." / NYPOST Clive Barnes 3/08 ? "..brilliantly lively music
and..even more dazzling lyrics. ..Miranda is the finest performer of that name
since Carmen. Hudes' work is droopily sentimental and untruthful. ..There is no
real plot, no true drama." / NYSUN Eric Grode 3/10/08 + "..a padded, undisciplined
and almost irresistible blend of Broadway sentiment and a pan-Latino sonic
hodgepodge of salsa, merengue, hip-hop and even reggaeton. It doesn't always
seem to know where it's going or why, but it makes the path look awfully
tempting." / NYT Charles Ishwerwood 3/10/08 + "..the orchestra..plays with
a sense of excitement almost never heard emanating from a Broadway pit. ..Mr.
Miranda..is so naturally vibrantly alive onstage.. He couldn't look more at
home." / PAINSIDER David Lefkowitz 3/08 + "The charm and excitement
of Miranda's tuner arrive intact on Broadway, as do the structural problems and
second-act longeurs. An amazing first effort, though, and should be celebrated
as such." / THRMANIA Barbara & Scott Siegel 3/10/08 ! "..simply exploding with
talent..this extraordinary show will turn out to be the most important and
influential musical of the season. Miranda is a knockout, Gonzalez and Jackson
are immensely appealing, Olivo sings and dances like a dream, De Jesus plays
Sonny with scene-stealing aplomb, and Burns..sings with passion." / USATOD
Elysa Gardner 3/08 + "..not a great musical. But it's about as impossible
to dislike as an adorable puppy. ..for all its youthful energy, Heights is
ultimately a sentimental journy, and a safe one.. Miranda's score is short
on..melodic punch..at best showcases for the rhythmic and harmonic savvy of the
cast.." / VAR David A. Rooney 3/9/08 + "..the musical's plucky
marriage of youthful freshness and lovingly old-fashioned craft is hard to
resist. ..This is some of the most spirited dancing on Broadway and one of the
most limber ensembles. ..That depth of feeling..and a bunch of truly winning
performances, make the show an uncalculated charmer."
JERSEY BOYS
AP Michael
Kuchwara 11/6/05 + / BSTAGE David Sheward 11/05 X /
CTCOURANT Malcolm Johnson 11/8/05 + / CURTUP Simon Saltzman 11/05 + /
DN Howard Kissel 11/05 ! / HOLLYREP Frank Scheck 11/05 ? / NDAY Linda Winer 11/7/05 ! / NJ-JOURNEW Jacques Le Sourd 11/7/05 + / NJ-STARLED Michael Sommers 11/7/05 + / NYER John Lahr 11/05 ? / NYPOST
11/05 ! / NYT Ben Brantley 11/05 + / PAINSIDER David Lefkowitz 11/05 + Richmond Shepard 11/05 + / TALKBWAY Matthew
Murray 11/6/05 + / THRMANIA David Finkle 11/6/05 + Siegels 11/8/05 + / VV Michael Feingold 11/05 - / USA Elysa Gardner 11/6/05 + / VAR David Rooney 11/05 +.
THE LION KING
PAI David
Lefkowitz + / TIMEOUT Adam Feldman !
MAMMA MIA!
Elyse
Sommer 10/01 ! / NYPOST Clive Barnes 10/23/01 ! / PAINSIDER David Lefkowitz 10/01
? / TIMEOUT David Cote ?
MARY POPPINS
NYP Clive
Barnes 11/06 !
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
NYPOST
Clive Barnes 2/4/04 !
SHREK
BLOOMB John
Simon 12/15/08 ? “The good news is that it is done very well; the
bad news is that it is done at all. When is the musical theater going to learn
to let cartoons lie? ..there isn’t a single distinguished melody. The book
manages well enough.. Foster is as enchanting as ever..” / CT-HARTCOUR Malcolm
Johnson 12/15/08 + “a Great Green Hope of the
Broadway season… a funny, lively fairy tale.. As always, James sings with
eloquence and potency. Directed with verve and driving pacing..and
choreographed with bounce and humor..” / IL-CHITRIB Chris Jones 12/08 ? “It’s
not that Shrek.. is a disaster..
there’s a lot to admire and enjoy. ..Throughout, you can see the conundrum of
pleasing the movie’s fans..yet also carving out theatrical legitimacy and
originality. ..you find yourself rooting for this demonstrably well-meaning
show..” / HOLLYREP Frank Scheck 12/14/08 + “..a fun, largely successful
musical.. Tesori’s music is more functional than fabulous.. The lead performers
deliver beautifully sung and wonderfully comic performances..” / LIPULSE David
Lefkowitz 12/08 + “I wish this musical version of the animated hit would ditch
the relentless, jokeypop references and
just stick with the comedy of its characters. Still, it’s sweet and
intelligently done, and it’s got..Foster.” / NEWSDAY Linda Winer 12/08 ?
“..sweet and busy, nice and big, and every so often, extremely lovable. ..James
[is] a deeply endearing hulk of an ogre. ..Given the derivatie nature of the
pastiche..the show has more aimless production numbers than the plot can
support..” / NY1 Roma Torre 12/08 ? “What should be a towering blockbuster
falls a little short.. It certainly looks just right.. Somewhere along the way,
the story adaptation fails to engage and..drags a bit..” / NYT Ben Brantley
12/08 + “Aside from a few jolly sequences (nearly all featuring the
hypertalented Ms. Foster), this cavalcade of storybook effigies feels like 40
blocks’ worth of a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, accompanied by an exhaustingly
jokey running commentary. Fiona’s..`Morning Person’ is the one number..that
gets everything right.” / USATOD Elysa Gardner 12/08 + “..the romance is as
poignant as the jokes are, well, pungent…leans heavily on winking satire..
blandly ingratiating score.. nonetheless a triumph of comic imagination with a
heart as big and warm as Santa’s. It’s the most ingeniously wacky,
transcendently tasteless Broadway musical since The Producers.”
SOUTH PACIFIC
BLOOMB John
Simon 4/08 ! "Pretty Kelli O'Hara is deliciously girlish, with prance in
her movements and glints in her glances. ..Szot is surely the best Emile ever..
An unusually ecstatic audience greeted this unusually enchanting evening."
/ NYT Ben Brantley 4/4/08 ! "..rapturous.. There's not
an ounce of we-know-better-now irony..Yet the show feels too vital to be a
museum piece, too sensually fluid to be square. .I'm darned if I can find one
serious flaw in this production." / PAINSIDER David Lefkowitz 4/08 !
"Initially subdued, this beautifully calibrated staging gives us real
chemistry between the leads, a grandly gruff Luther, just right-comic relief
and the best kind of sugar-free sentiment." / THRMANIA David Finkle 4/08 !
"The immediacy of the message is only one of a million reasons why the new
South Pacific is a msut-see-this-very-minute affair." / THRNEWSON Roger
Harris 4/08 ! "..a glorious, delicious hit - with an emotional wallop that
doesn't leave a dry eye in the house. Some enchanted evening, indeed!"
Bill Stevenson 4/08 ! "..superb revival. Kelli O'Hara has the voice, the
looks.. Matthew Morrison..also couldn't be better. ..I hope the wonderful cast
- backed by an excellent, large orchestra - will be singing their hearts out
for some time."
THE 39 STEPS
DN Joe
Dziemianowicz 1/18/08 ! "..a dizzy delight... A
high-speed chase aboard a whizzing train is brilliantly re-created with four
crates, puffs of smoke, flashing lights and actors game for anything." /
HOLLYREP Frank Scheck 1/16/08 + "While the production...is
unable to sustain its infectious giddiness...the fast pacing and...the talented
ensemble provide many fun moments." / NDAY Linda Winer 1/16/08 ? "...utterly pointless but
physically and conceptually ingenious spoof. ..Do we care? Not much. But there
are delicious moments..." / NJ-STARLED Michael Sommers 1/16/08 + "As in the film, a few
scenes go a mite flat, but...Aitken stages this spoof so sharply that the
laughter rarely lets up. ..Whirlwind funny business." / NYP Clive Barnes 1/18/08 ! "inventively astonishing.. a
marvelous spoof of the movie." / NYT Ben Brantley 1/16/08 ! "..absurdly enjoyable,
gleefully theatrical riff.. this fast, frothy exercise in legerdemain is
throwaway theater at its finest." / TNO Bill Stevenson 1/08 + "It's
undeniably diverting...A brisk, breezy entertainment." / PA-PHILINQ Howard
Shapiro 1/08 ? "The show is clever and at the same time silly.. It wears
itself out by being technically perfect and emotionally empty. How many
overarched eyebrows, supercharged interchanges and purposely telegraphed laff-lines
can we handle.../ PAI David Lefkowitz 1/08 ? "oddly out of place on
Broadway, 39 Steps would be an
amusing hoot almost anywhere else. Some laughs, lots of smiles, but a curiously
flat experience overall." / THMANIA Brian Scott Lipton 1/16/08 + "...more often induces
smiles than real guffaws; but there are moments of sheer physical genius here
that are cause for spontaneous applause." / TOTALTHR Richmond Shepard 1/08 ! "Brilliantly
directed with impeccable timing and grand innovation...this is a stylized
melodrama played seriously by a team of master farceurs." / USATOD Elysa
Gardner 1/08 + "Call it the little comedy that could. There are only four
actors...each more than equipped to handle the physical and expressive demands
of slapstick humor..an impeccably crafted trifle." / VAR David Rooney 1/15/08 + "..hilarious Arnie Burton
and Cliff Saunders, aided by lightning-quick costume changes. ..a giddy display
of theatrical invention..an entertaining diversion."
WICKED
PAI David
Lefkowitz ! / TIMEOUT David Cote +.
OFF-BROADWAY
ALTAR BOYZ
NYPOST
Frank Scheck 3/3/05 + / PAINSIDER David Lefkowitz 5/05
+
AVENUE Q
DNEWS
Howard Kissel 8/1/03 ! / NDAY Linda Winer 8/1/03 ! / NYER Hilton Als 8/4/03 ! / NY John Simon 8/11/03 ? / NYT Ben Brantley 8/1/03 !
The inside scoop on shows rumored or merely whispered
about for Broadway & Off.
Performing Arts Insider reminds readers that the
theater landscape constantly shifts and changes, and that the following
listings are simply rumblings along the Rialto, in no way guaranteed as definite plans or gospel
truth. That said, we continue to make every effort to distinguish on-the-record
facts from rumor and gossip. Listings marked by * are new or newly updated.
ACE. Musical. Music: Richard Oberacker.
Book/Lyrics: Robert Taylor & Richard Oberacker. Dir: Eric Schaeffer;
Choreog: Karma Camp. Cast (in VA): Emily Skinner, Jill Paice, Christiane Noll, Florence Lacey.
Plot: Young boy comes of age in the late 1940s. PROD: Tom Smedes & Nancy
Nagel Gibbs. Notes: First staged at MO’s
Repertory Theater of St. Louis. Current version ran at VA’s Signature Theater
9//3-9/28/08 with eyes towards Bway in 2009-10 (PBOL, 9/08).
THE ADDAMS FAMILY.Musical. Book:
Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice (Agt: ICM 212-556-5600). Score: Andrew Lippa
(Agt: CAA 212-277-9000), adapting Charles Addams cartoons. Dir/Set: Phelim
McDermott & Julian Crouch. Choreog: Sergio Trujillo. Music Dir:
Mary-Mitchell Campbell; Casting: Telsey + Co. Cast; Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan
Lane (rumored). PROD: Elephant Eye
Theatrical (Stuart Oken, Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions). CAP:
$10m. GM: 101 Productions: 575-0828. Casting: Telsey + Co: 212-868-1260. PR:
The Publicity Office (Marc Thibodeau):
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Notes: Tries out at Chicago, IL’s Ford
Center 11/13/09-1/10/10 w/ Bway eyed for Spring 2010 (PBOL, 10/08). Workshops planned
for Jan. 2009. Elice & Brickman penned JerseyBoys. Lippa penned the off-Bway Wild Party. Chances: possible.
AIN’T MISBEHAVIN’. Revue. Songs: Fats Waller.
Conc/Dir: Richard Maltby Jr. Cast: Ruben Studdard, Frenchie Davis. PROD: Big
League Productions. Notes: National tour starts in Atlanta11/14/08 w/ dates thru May 2009 in Syracuse
(AudienceReweards.com, 4/08). Studdard was an “American Idol” winner. Chances:
strong for tour, unsure for NY.
ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER. Comedy-Drama. Auth: Samuel
Adamson, adapting Pedro Almodovar screenplay. Cast: Diana Rigg.
Note: NY producers were planning hit London staging for Spring 2008 run on
Bway, then pushed to Spring 2009 (NYPost, 9/08). Chances: vague.
ALL ABOUT US. Musical (former
titles: "Skin of Our Teeth: The Musical," “Over & Over”). Book:
Joseph Stein. Score: John Kander & Fred Ebb, adapting Thornton Wilder’s
play, The Skin of Our Teeth. Dir: Gabriel Barre. Plot: The Antrobus
family survives biblical upheavals. PROD: David Brown & Marty Bell. Notes: Long dormant tuner was
staged in April 2007 CT's Westport Country Playhouse to mixed reviews, with
little word about it since. Karen Ziemba was in 2005 workshop. Premiered at VA’s
Signature Theater in 1999 . Manhattan Theater Club did exploratory reading of
revised version w/ Amy Spanger, Randy Graff & Chuck Cooper in April 2002.
Also had private reading 6/16/03 w/ Audra McDonald as Mrs. Antrobus,
LaChanze, Sara Ramirez & Mark Jacoby. Fred Ebb died in 2004. Chances:
unknown.
AMERICAN BANDSTAND: The Musical. Musical. Music: John Thomas Oaks;
Book/Dir: Michael Wulffhart. PROD: Michael Wulffhart & Michael Pratter.
Notes: Was to debut in San Diego in April 2005 but postponed owing to
Dick Clark's stroke. More likely to be a regional touring show than reach Bway,
anyway. Chances: poor.
AN AMERICAN IN PARIS ‑ Music: George Gershwin; Book: Ken Ludwig adapting 1951
movie musical. Dir: Gregory Boyd. Choreog:
Randy Skinner. Light: Paul Gallo; Set: Doug Schmidt; Cost: Carrie F. Robbins.
Orch: Doug Besterman. Cast: Harry Groener, Kerry O’Malley, Stephen DeRosa, Alix
Korey, Jeffrey Denman, Felicia Finley. PROD: Clear Channel Entertainment &
Frankel/ Viertel/ Baruch/Routh Group.Notes: Premiere had extended run at Houston, TX’s Alley
Theater (713-220-5700) 4/26-6/22/08 w/ Bway possibly on the horizon. Wendy
Wasserstein was originally skedded to write the book. Erin Dilley was slated to
co-star but left due to illness (4/08). Chances: possible.
ANGELS, THE MUSICAL Musical. Music: Ken Lai;
Book/Lyrics: Ken Lai & Marcus Cheung, loosely adapting John Milton’s poem,
“Paradise Lost”; Dir: Rich Fowler; Music: Laura Bergquist; Choreog: Lynne
Hockney; Music Dir: Christopher D. Littlefield;Music Sup: Mary-Mitchell Campbell; Flying: ZFX. Light/Proj: Lightswitch New York. Sound: Bernard Fox. Set/Cost: Skip
Mercier; Casting: Calleri Casting 212-488-2190. Cast: Robert Cuccioli
(Lucifer), Jessica Grove (Sera), Nicholas Rodriguez, Todd Buonopane, Kevin T.
Collins, Kerri Jill Garbis, Trey Gillen, Alan H. Green, Brittney Lee Hamilton,
Holly Heiser, Tim Hunter, Erica Jacob, Kolina Janneck, Melina Kalomas, Erin
Kruse, Brian Mathis, Adam Monley, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Ellie Mooney, Ron
Nahass, Shane Rhoades, Caesar Samayoa, Rena Strober, Molly Tynes, Kevin
Vortmann, Eric William Whitehead. Plot: Can an angel defeat the devil? PROD:
Marcus Cheong, Frank Monteleone, Dale Smith. Produc Associate: Tamara
Lovatt-Smith. Angelsthemusical.com. Consult Prod: Bob Blume. GM: SnugHarbor Productions 212-354-6510. ADV:
Serino Coyne 212-626-2700. PR: O&M Co. (Richard Hillman): 212-695-7400;
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Notes: Staged readings held 12/08 in NYC. Cancelled
summer 2008 tryout at Shreveport, LA’s Strand Theater but still eyeing Bway for
2009 (12/08). Casting calls held in New Orleans & L.A. in April 2008. Chances: possible.
ANNA CHRISTIE. Musical. Book: Joe Masteroff; Score: Ed Thomas. Notes: Reading held 9/14/06 w/ Carolee Carmello, Gregg Edelman,
Heather MacRae. No word since. Masteroff penned the books for Cabaret
& She Loves Me.Chances:
unknown.
ANYTHING GOES. Musical. Score: Cole Porter. Dir:
Kathleen Marshall. Cast: Reba McEntire. Songs: “Let’s Misbehave,” “Friendship.”
Notes: NYPost says Reba wants to do it on Bway in 2009 (NYP 11/08). McEntire
made her celebrated Bway debut taking over for Bernadette Peters in the last Annie Get Your Gun revival. Marshall staged the
current Grease revival. Chances:
possible.
THE APPRENTICE. Musical. Book: Mark Burnett. PROD: Mark Burnett & Barry
and Fran Weissler. Note: Producer of the hit TV show about Donald Trump was
working on stage musical version and hoped to debut Spring 2006 (PBOL, 5/05).
Chances: fired.
BALL OF FIRE ‑ Musical based on the movie by Billy Wilder and Charles
Brackett. Book: Richard LaGravenese. Plot: burlesque dancer moves in with eight
stuffy lexicographers and introduces them to street slang. PROD: National
Artists (Fran and Barry Weissler). Cost $8 mil. Notes: In late 2004, jazzy
composer was still sought to work on the show, which seemingly remains in the
deep freeze (1/09). Chances: quenched.
BATMAN ‑ THE MUSICAL ‑ Musical w/ book by David Ives, score by Jim Steinman.
Prod: Warner Brothers. Dir: Tim Burton. Songs: “Not Allowed to Love,” “Where
Does He Get Those Toys?”. Notes: Huge, technology‑filled, spectacular musical
first announced in 1998 was to try out in 2004 & eye Bway in 2005 but then
delayed. Steinman seemed to fast-track it again in 2007, but no word since then.
Chances: superzero.
BEAUTY SLEEPING. Fable. Auth/Dir: Tina Landau. Plot:
Feminist re-telling of the Beauty & the Beast myth. PROD: Elephant Eye Theatrical (Stuart Oken, Michael Leavitt & Five
Cent Productions). PR: The Publicity Office (Marc Thibodeau):
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Notes: On Elephant Eye’s radar for the future (Chicago Trib, 7/07). Chances:
unknown.
BETTY BOOP. Musical. Score: David Foster;
Book: Sally Robinson & Oscar Williams. Cap: $12mil. PROD: Ostar Productions
(Bob Boyett & Bill Haber). GM: 101 Productions 212-575-0828. PR:
Boneau/Bryan-Brown: 1501 Bway, NYC 10036. 212-575-3030; abrown@ bbway.com. Notes:
Big-budget Bway tuner in the works to showcase the zanily sexy, Max Fleischer
cartoon character. Eyed for Bway 2010-2011 at Nederlander venue (12/08). Foster
is a pop songwriter for the likes of Streisand, Groban and Bocelli. Robinson
wrote for TV’s “Family.” Chances: too early to tell.
BIG TIME. Musical. Book: Douglas Carter Beane. Score: Douglas J.
Cohen. Dir: Christopher Ashley. PROD: Robert Ahrens & Drama Dept. (Michael
S. Rosenberg, exec dir; 9 Desbrosses St, 2nd Fl, NYC 10013;
212-633-9108;dramadept.org) Notes: Ashley
staged Xanadu. Workshop was eyed for
9/08 w/ out-of-town tryout in 2009 & Bway eyed for Spring 2010 (BWAY.COM,
6/08). Drama Dept. workshop played to strong response at 2005 NY Musical
Theater Festival in Sept 2005. Bway was being targeted for 2006 but Beane's Little
Dog Laughed took the faster track (2/06). Chances: Possible.
THE BLUE ANGEL. Musical. Book/Lyrics: Peter Parnell; Music: Stephen Trask.
PROD: National Artists (Fran & Barry Weissler). Note: Trask co-wrote Hedwig.
Madonna apparently expressed very early interest in the piece (11/04), but
no word on the project since 2005. Chances: vague.
BOB MARLEY PROJECT (Title TBA). Book: Neville Garrick. Songs: Bob Marley. Note:
Garrick was asked to work on a Broadway-eyed musical bio of the reggae legend
(PBOL, 8/05) No word since then. Chances: up in smoke?.
BRAVE NEW WORLD. Musical. Book: Alexander Marshall, adapting Aldous Huxley's
1931 novel; Score: Jonnie Rockwell (917-591-5064). Dir: Ken Russell; Plot:
Future society where people are essentially passive machines. PROD: Jeremy R.
Rachunow & Brave New World Enterprises (
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) & Ideal
Entertainment Group (Jeffrey Chrzczon & A.C. Lichtenstein, founders; 1674
Bway, 3rd Fl, NYC 10019. 212-293-7070;idealent.com; bnwthemusical.com). GM: Ideal Entertainment Group
212-293-7070. PR: Alchimia Mktg (Edward Callaghan): 212-689-4831. Notes: Producers
were eyeing Bway 2004-5, but nothin’ since. Chances: poor.
BRICKTOP: Queen of the Night. Musical.
Score: Ron Abel & Chuck Steffan. Plot: Story of European cabaret owner
Bricktop. Songs: “A Place of My
Own,” “Queen of the Night.” PROD: Paul Lambert (917-232-4397; plambert25@ msn.com), Jonas Neilson & Whoopi Goldberg. Assoc
Prod: Ted Seifman. PR: HWH PR (Lois Whitman): 212-355-5049;
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). Notes: Closed-door
jazz-session version held 12/11/08 at NYC’s
Apollo Theater (12/08). Neilson & Lambert are also producing The First Wives Club (3/08). Chances: too early to tell.
BRIGADOON. 1947MUSICAL. Book: Alan
Jay Lerner, revised by John Guare (Agt: ICM 212-556-5600). Score: Lerner &
Frederick Loewe. Dir/Choreog: Rob Ashford. Set/Cost: Christopher Oram; Ligh:
Paule Constable; Sound: Brian Ronan; Music Sup: David Chase. Casting: Tara
Rubin: 212-302-3011. Plot: Peaceful village appears only once every hundred
years. Songs: “Come to Me, Bend to Me.” PROD:
Bill Haber & Liza Lerner. GM: Richards Climan 212-398-2133. ADV: Serino
Coyne 212-626-2700. PR: Boneau/Bryan-Brown: 1501 Bway, NYC 10036. 212-575-3030.
History: premiered 1947 at Bway’s Ziegfeld Theater. Notes: Was to try out at Boston, MA’s Colonial
Theater 10/14-11/9/08 before Bway eyed for Spring 2009, but then postponed to
2010 season (7/08). Backers’ auditions held Jan. 2008. Chances: possible.
* BRIGHTONBEACH MEMOIRS. Comedy.
Auth: Neil Simon. Dir: David Cromer. Casting: Binder Casting 212-586-6777. Plot:
Jewish family life in the 1940s. PROD: Emanuel Azenberg: 250 W 52 St. NYC.
212-489-9140. GM: Iron Mountain 212-489-9140. History: Premiered 3/83 at Bway’s
Alvin. Notes:
Azenberg hopes to run Simon’s BBM and
Broadway Bound in rep on Bway in Fall 2009 (NYP, 1/09). Chances: good.
* BROADWAY BOUND. Comedy-Drama. Auth: Neil Simon;
Dir: David Cromer. Casting: Binder Casting 212-586-6777. Plot: Jewish family
life in the 1940s. PROD: Emanuel Azenberg (250 W 52 St. NYC.
212-489-9140). GM: Iron Mountain 212-489-9140. Plot: TV writer’s relationship
with him mom in the 1940s. History: Premiered 12/86 at Bway’s Broadhurst. Notes:
Azenberg hopes to run this & Simon’s Brighton
Beach Memoirs in rep on Bway in Fall 2009 (NYP 1/09). Chances: good.
BRUCE LEE: JOURNEY TO THE WEST. Musical. Book: David Henry Hwang
(Agt: Paradigm 212-897-6400). Score: David Yazbek (Agt: Paradigm 212-897-6400).
Dir: Bartlett Sher. Choreog:
Dou Dou Huang. Plot: Myth of the Chinese Monkey King mixed with how martial
arts master Bruce Lee became a Hollywood star. PROD:
Elephant Eye Theatrical (Stuart Oken,
Michael Leavitt & Five Cent Productions): GM: Frankel Green 212-302-5559.
PR: The Publicity Office (Marc Thibodeau): 1650 Bway, #611, NYC 10019.
212-315-2120;
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Notes: In development, with capitalization in place. Targeting 2010-11 season (ThIndx,
1/09) Yazbek scored Dirty Rotten
Scoundrels & The Full Monty. Sher
staged the current South Pacific
revival. Chances: possible.
BUSKER ALLEY. Musical. Book: AJ Carothers.
Score: Robert B. Sherman & Richard M. Sherman. Dir/Set: Tony Walton. Light:
Richard Pilbrow. Cast: Jim Dale (Agt:
Cunningham Escott: 310-475-2111). Plot: London
street singer meets a woman who becomes
a West End star. PROD:
Margot Astrachan, Robert Blume, Kristine Lewis, Jamie Fox, Joanna Kerry & Heather
Duke. GM: Manny Kladitis & Niko Companies: 212-382-3410. PR: Springer Assoc
(Joe Trentacosta): 1501 Bway, #506, NYC 10036. 212-354-4660; joe@
springerassociatespr.com. Notes: Was eyeing Bway for spring 2009 (11/07) but
it’s been quiet since then. Bet you didn’t think you’d be hearing about this one again, but it’s back. This was
the one Tommy Tune was gonna star in a decade ago before he broke his foot. The
Sherman Brothers scored Mary Poppins
and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Chances: Unknown.
BUT I'M A CHEERLEADER. Musical. Music: Andrew Abrams; Score: Bill Augustin. Plot:
Musical version of 1998 film comedy about a cheerleader sent to rehabilitation
for being a lesbian. Notes: Premiered as part of NY Musical Theater Fest in
9/05 to a NY Times rave (NYT 9/05). Laura Bell Bundy & Nancy Opel took part
in a well-received 1/04 reading, so work continues in earnest (12/04). Chances:
No word about further plans.
BUZZ: Nothing Succeeds Like Excess. Musical. Music: Alan Menken; Lyrics:
David Zippel; Book: Larry Gelbart. PROD: Marty Erlichman. Plot: Musical bio of
director-choreographer Busby Berkeley. Notes: Show was being shopped to Vegas
venues as well as Bway, but not enough interest (12/04). One of many shows on
the authors’ plates, so it’s been in limbo for a long while. Chances: unknown.
CABARET. Musical. Score: John Kander &
Fred Ebb, adapting Christopher Isherwood stories. Dir: Sam Mendes. Choreog: Rob
Marshall. Cast: Alan Cumming (Emcee). Plot: Romantic complications during the
last days of the WeimarRepublic. Songs: “Money,” “Wilkommen.” PROD:
Roundabout Theater Co. Notes: Roundabout may bring their landmark revival back
to Bway’s Studio 54 (NYP, 4/07). Chances: possible.
CARABOO, Princess of Javasu. Book: Marsha Norman (Agt: Gersh
310-274-6611); Music: Jenny Giering (jennygiering.com); Lyrics: Beth Blatt.
Dir: Garry Griffin. Plot: 19th Century English serving girl becomes the exotic
toast of the town -- for awhile. Notes: Staged readings held at CT's Goodspeed
in May 2006 w/ Kathy Voytko, Chris Hoch, Jeff Talbott, Sally Wilfertand Richard Todd Adams. Goodspeed PR:
Mellissa Bennett 860-873-8664.Notes: 2008
staged reading at the Roundabout. Workshop held 2006 at Goodspeed’s Norma
Terris. Chances: Too early to tell.
CARMEN, THE MUSICAL. Musical. Score: John Ewbank, adapting Prosper Merimee novel
& Georges Bizet opera. Dir: Franco Dragone. Plot: Jealousy over a woman
gets a Spanish soldier in trouble. PROD: LE Productions (Robin De Levita),
Dragone Group, The Firm. ExecProd: Chris Giordano (29 W 65 St, NYC. 917-597-0702).
PR: Boneau/Bryan-Brown: 1501 Bway, NYC 10036. 212-575-3030. Notes: Premiered
6/07 at CA’s La Jolla Playhouse to mediocre reviews. Dragone created Cirque du
Soleil. Workshops held in early 2006. Chances: vague.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN. MUSICAL. Score: Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman. Book:
Terrence McNally, adapting Steven Spielberg film. Dir: Jack O'Brien; Choreog:
Jerry Mitchell. Plot: Compulsive con man and the federal agent who keeps trying
to arrest him. PROD: DreamWorks. Notes: Premieres at Seattle’s Fifth Avenue
Theater in summer 2009 (PBOL, 12/08). Nathan Lane, as Agent Hanratty was
involved in August 2006 workshop but may not be with the project if The Addams Family takes him instead (NYPOST,
6/08). Workshops held in Fall 2005 & Nov. 2004. Chances: Good, in a season
or two.
CHESS. Musical. Book:Richard Nelson;
Lyrics: Tim Rice; Music: Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus. Notes: Someone is
ALWAYS trying to bring Chess back to Broadway. We’ll believe it when we
see it. Chances: unknown.
CHILDREN OF PARADISE ‑ Play by Richmond Shepard. Based on the life of
Debureau, a Mime who lived in France in the early 1800s. His romantic,
fictional biography was shown in the 1941 French film, "Les Enfants du
Paradis."This version of that
life, closer to the reality, includes several pantomimes Debureau actually
performed, which were written down by his son Charles in the 1840s.Children was first performed by
Shepard and his company with the title “Pierrot” at The Mark Taper Forum (under
the auspices of The Mime Guild), Los Angeles 1971. Contact: Richmond Shepard 212-262‑6588.
A CHRISTMAS STORY. Musical. Book: Joseph Robinette;
score, adapting Jean Shepherd film: Scott Davenport Richards. Dir: Eric Rosen.
Music Dir: James SamplinerCast (readings): Beau Bridges, gregg Edelman, Liz
Larsen, Dalton Harrod, Michael D’Addario, Simon Pincus, Henry Hodges, Annie
Golden. Plot: Little children get into trouble just before xmas. PROD: Gerald
Goehring & Michael Jenkins in assoc w/ Kansas City Repertory Theater. .
PSM: Robert Bennett.PR: Keith Sherman
(Scott Klein): 212-764-7900; scott@ ksa-pr.com. Notes: Private industry
readings held 12/08 in NYC.
CLUELESS. Musical. Note: NY Times said
musical adaptation of the film is in the works (NYT, 10/07). No word since
then. Chances: unknown.
COLUMBO TAKES THE RAP. Mystery. Auth: William Link.
Cast: Norm Boucher. Plot: Record producer kills a rap star.PROD: Zev Buffman. Notes: Played 10/08 at Calgary, Canada’s Vertigo
Theater. Staging planned for 6/17-6/27/10 at the International Mystery Writers’
Festival in Owensboro, KY
(newmysteries.org, 1/09). NY Post reported that a new mystery about the rumpled
detective (not played by Peter Falk) would tour & reach Bway in 2008 (7/07).
Chances: unknown
CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON. Play w/ Musical. Adapting Lu Wang's
"Pentalogy" & Ang Lee's 2000 film.PROD: Bob & Harvey Weinstein. Plot:
Martial arts & spectacle to tell the story. Note: Announced March 2006, so
expect it to take 3-4 years. Chances: Too early to tell.
DANCING IN THE DARK. Musical. Book: Douglas Carter
Beane, adapting 1953 movie musical, “The Band Wagon.” Music: Arthur Schwartz;
Lyrics: Howard Dietz. Dir: Gary Griffin. Cast: Scott Bakula (Tony), Beth Leavel
(Lily), Adam Heller (Lester), Sebastian LaCause (Paul), Mara Davi (Gaby),
Patrick Page (Jeffrey), Benjamin Howe (Hal). Plot: Washed-up dancer wants to be
back on Broadway. PROD: Barry & Fran Weissler. Notes: Premiered 3/4-4/18/08
at San DiegoCA’s Old
Globe to fairly positive reception. Eyeing Bway for 2009-10. Beane, who wrote
the book for Xanadu, incorporates
other Dietz/Schwartz songs not in the film. Chances: possible.
DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY. Musical. Score: Maury Yeston; Book: Thomas Meehan
(taking over for the late Peter Stone). Dir: David Leveaux; Cast: (rumor):
Brian Stokes Mitchell. Plot: Death becomes mortal for a weekend at an Italian
villa. PROD: Roundabout Theater Co. (Todd Haimes, art dir). PR:
Boneau/Bryan-Brown: 212-575-3030. Notes: Was first eyeing spring 2005 but more
likely for 2009-10. Yeston composed Nine
and Titanic. Workshop held in summer
2008 (NYPost, 7/08). Chances: possible.
* DESIRE UNDER THE ELMS. Drama. Auth: Eugene
O’Neill. Dir: Robert Falls. Cast: Brian Dennehy (Ephraim), Carla Gugino (Abbie),
Pablo Schreiber (Eben), Boris McGiver, Daniel Stewart Sherman. PR (Chicago):
Denise Schneider 312-443-5151. Notes: 1 hr, 45 min. Extended-run staging at Chicago’s Goodman
Theater (1/17-3/1/09) to very strong reviews makes this quite possible for Bway
(NYT, 1/09). Chances: pretty good
* DIRTY DANCING – The Classic Story On Stage. Musical. Book: Eleanor Bergstein,
adapting her 1987 screenplay. Songs: Period hits and new numbers by John
DeNicola, Donald Markowitz & Franke Previte. Dir: James Powell. Set:
Stephen Brimson Lewis; Light: Tim Mitchell; Sound: Bobby Aitken; Video: Jon
Driscoll. Cast: Josef Brown (Johnny), Amanda Leigh Cobb (Baby), Britta Lazenga
(Penny). Plot: At holiday camp, daughter meets dance teacher from the wrong
side of the tracks. PROD (UK): Jacobsen Entertainmentin assoc w/ Lions Gate Films & Magic Hour
Productions.PR:
Boneau/Bryan-Brown: 212-575-3030. Notes: Staging at Chicago’s CadillacPalace (9/28-12/7/08) billed as pre-Bway
and eyeing the NeilSimonTheater for Fall 2009. Huge sales for
premiere at London's Aldwych (dirtydancinglondon.com;
3/07).Dodgers workshopped it in Aug.
2001, with Laura Breckenridge, Davis Robertson, Michael Rupert & Kaitlin
Hopkins. Chances: good.
* EVER AFTER. Musical. Score: Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich
(marcyandzina@ goldrichandheisler.com); Book: Julia Jordan, adapting 1998
screenplay by Andy Tennant, Susannah Grant & Rick Parks, loosely adapted
from Charles Perrault's story, "Cinderella."Dir: Doug Hughes. Choreog: Rob Ashford. PROD:
Adam Epstein. Notes: Pre-Bway tryout was to happen at San Francisco, CA’s Curran in April 2009, but that got
postponed (Wikip, 2/09). Was eyeing Bway for summer 2007, but that didn’t
happen. Heisler & Goldrich penned the family tuners, Dear Edwina & Junie B.
Jones. Chances: still too soon to
tell if the slipper fits.
FATHER OF THE BRIDE. Musical. Auths: Rick Elise and Marshall Brickman. Note:
Authors were working with producer Sandy Gallen but then parted company
(NYPOST, 12/07). The Jersey Boys team are working on an adaptation of
the Spencer Tracy comedy (8/06). Chances: No recent news but very possible in
2-3 seasons.
FELA!. Book: Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones; Lyrics:
Fela Anikulapo Kuti w/ Jim Lewis; Music: Fela; Dir/Chor: Bill T. Jones;
Set/Cost: Marina Draghici; Light: Rob Wierzel; Sound: Rob Kaplowitz; Proj:
Peter Negrini. Music Dir: Aaron Johnson; Cast: Sahr Ngaujah (Fela), Abena
Koomson, Anne Andre, Corey Baker, Calvin C. Booker, Lauren Deveaux, Nicole
Chantal DeWeever, Rujeko Dumbutshena, Aimee Graham, Talu Green, Karma Mayet
Johnson, Ismael Kouyate, Maia McKinney, Marcus Phillips, Daniel Soto, Sparlha
Swa, Jill M. Vallery, Iris Wilson. Musicians: Antibalas. Plot: Life of
controversial activist, AIDS victim and African musical artist, Fela. PROD
(off-Bway): Stephen Hendel & Roy Gabay. FelaOffBroadway.com. PR: Richard
Kornberg (Billy Zavelson): 212-944-9444; richard@ kornbergpr.com. Notes: Producers
eyeing a Bway move for this new musical which ran 9/4-9/21/08 at off-Bway’s 37
Arts (NYPost, 8/08). Chances: possible.
THE FEMALE OF THE SPECIES. COMEDY-DRAMA.
Auth: Auth: Joanna Murray-Smith (Agt: Sterling Standard: 212-242-1740;
sarahjane@ sterlingstandard.com); Dir: Michael Mayer (Agt: CAA 424-288-2000).
Plot: Feminist author is thrown by a female fan. History: 8/30/06-9/30/06 by
Melbourne Theater Co. at Arts Centre Playhouse, Australia. PROD:
David Richenthal (c/o Delphibroadway.com) & Mary Beth O'Connor in assoc w/
Geffen Playhouse (Gilbert Cates, prod dir; Stephen Eich, mgng dir; Randall Arney, art dir; 10886 Le Conte Ave,
LA, CA 90024. 310-208-6500; geffenplayhouse.com). PR: Richard Kornberg (Don
Summa): 212-944-9444; don@ kornbergpr.com. Notes: Show was to try out at L.A.'s Geffen
2/5-3/16/08 before a Spring 2008 Bway berth, but star Annette Bening ducked
out, and all plans were indefinitely postponed. Chances: Species extinct.
* FIRST WIVES CLUB - THE MUSICAL. Score: Eddie Holland, Lamont Dozier
& Brian Holland, adapting Olivia Goldsmith novel and 1966 film. PROD: Paul
Lambert (917-232-4397; plambert25@ msn.com) & Jonas Neilson (310-367-8109;
jonasneilson@ aol.com) Cost: $450K seed $. www.fwcthemusical.com. PR:
Boneau/Bryan-Brown: 212-575-3030. Notes: Tries out at CA’s Old Globe Theater
7/15-8/23/09 (FWC website, 2/09) The composers had a string of hits in the
1950s & 60s. Lambert & Neilson are also producing Bricktop (3/08). Chances:
could happen.
THE FLAMINGO KID. Musical. Music: Henry Krieger; Book: James Magruder &
Michael Mayer, adapting 1984 film. Lyrics: Susan Birkenhead. Dir: Michael
Mayer. Plot: Brooklyn teen takes a job at a ritzy resort.
PROD: Ira Pittelman & Robyn Goodman. Note: Early draft completed, and work
continues (PBOL, 6/06). Reading held July 2005. Birkenhead did the lyrics for Triumph of
Love and Jelly's Last Jam. Chances: Two or three seasons away.
FOLLIES. Musical. Score: Stephen Sondheim;
Book: William Goldman. Songs: “In Buddy’s Eyes,” “I’m Still Here.” Notes:
Producers were scrambling to bring hit winter `07 Encores! staging, w/ Donna
Murphy, Victor Garber, Michael McGrath, Christine Baranski and Victoria Clark,
to Bway, but no news since (2/09).Barry
& Fran Weissler especially interested (NYT, 2/07).
FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO
HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF. 1976 Choreopoem. Auth: Ntozake
Shange; Dir: Shirley Jo Finney; Choreog: Hinton Battle; Music Dir: Harold
Wheeler. Casting: Chemin Bernard 213-507-7400. Cast: India Arie; Plot: Monologues & poems
about being a black woman in America. History: Op 9/15/76 & Cld 7/16/78 at Bway's Booth (742 perfs). PROD:
Whoopi Goldberg & DreamTeam Entertainment Group. Forcoloredgirlsbway.com.
GM: Roy Gabay 212-997-5399. ADV: SPOTCo
212-262-3355. PR: Publicity Office (Jeremy Shaffer): 212-315-2120; jeremy@
publicityoffice.com. History: Bway premiere was 9/76 at Booth Theater. Notes:
Was skedded for Sept. 2008 at Bway’s Circle in the Square but scrapped when an
investor bailed (8/08). Chances: rainbow fading.
FRIED GREEN TOMATOES. Musical. Based on Fannie Flagg novel. PROD:
Jeffrey Finn (jeffreyfinnproductions.com). Finn has optioned the book and is
looking for a dramatist. He's eyeing 2006 tryout & Bway premiere in 2007 (Finn’s
website, 2007). Chances: unknown.
