The Broadway Musical Blog – Musical theater news and gossip from the Great White Way
Dishing out daily (or almost daily) Broadway musical news and gossip. The companion site to The Broadway Musical Home (broadwaymusicalhome.com), a directory of Broadway musicals with the story, songs, merchandise, video clips, lyrics, tickets, rights & awards for almost 200 shows.Archive for August, 2009
Casting changes for Broadway’s In the Heights
Andrea Burns (The Full Monty, The Ritz and Beauty and the Beast), who originated the part of Daniela both on and off-Broadway in In the Heights, returns to play the role once more beginning August 25.
Also joining the cast tonight is Will Wingfield from So You Think You Can Dance, who will make his Broadway debut in the show as Graffiti Pete.
White Christmas returns to Broadway this November, Burn the Floor extends the run through January
Today marked a couple of big Broadway announcements:
Last year’s big holiday hit, White Christmas, will begin performances at the Marquis Theatre on November 13 and run through Jan 3. Casting and schedule information will be announced shortly.
And if you’re not up for sappy holiday songs this winter, you’re in luck – the hot dance musical Burn the Floor has just announced that its run will extend through to Jan 3. Producers have not yet announced whether or not Anya and Pasha will continue with the production through the end of the run.
Broadway’s A Little Night Music to star Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones
Michael Riedel of the New York Post is reporting that Catherine Zeta-Jones, who took home an Oscar for her portrayal of Velma Kelly in the film version of Chicago, has signed on to play Desiree in Trevor Nunn’s A Little Night Music. She will star alongside Broadway musical superstar Angela Lansbury (Mame, Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Anyone Can Whistle), who will play Madame Armfeldt.
The cast also includes Bradley Dean, Marissa McGowan, Betsy Morgan, Karen Murphy, Jayne Paterson and Kevin David Thomas. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
The production, which played very well to London audiences last year, is slated to open on Broadway this December.
RUMOR TIME: Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark is back on schedule, now complete with a leading man …
With all the horrible rumors circulating about the possible demise of one of Broadway’s most expensive shows to date: Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark … the buzz is turning positive once again.
Evan Rachel Wood, the actress cast as Mary Jane Watson, is “100% committed” according to her rep and Alan Cumming is still on board to play the Green Goblin.
What’s more, rumor has it that the role of Spiderman has finally been cast. The buzz is that Reeve Carney, the attractive rocker turned actor who is just finished filming Tempest with Taymor, has accepted the role, though the actor’s management didn’t respond to calls for comment.
Casting changes for Shrek, Rock of Ages, Burn the Floor, Wicked, Chicago and Billy Elliot
There have been lots of casting changes announced in recent weeks, so rather than making you read multiple entries, I thought I would do a lovely roundup of all of them for you!
STARTING AUGUST 17
Rock of Ages
Don Stephenson (The Producers, Dracula, By Jeeves, Titanic, Private Lives, Parade, Wonderful Town) temporarily steps in for Paul Schoeffler in the role of Hertz in Rock of Ages. Schoeffler is on leave to play Lawrence in the Walnut Street Theatre’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and will return to the show on Oct. 26.
STARTING AUGUST 18
Burn the Floor
Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev (“So You Think You Can Dance”) take over for Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff (“Dancing with the Stars”) in the new musical Burn the Floor.
Wicked
Michelle Federer, who originated the role of Nessarose in the Broadway production of Wicked, returns to the role, taking over for Cristy Candler.
Chicago
Talk show host Jerry Springer is stepping into the role of Billy Flynn in Broadway’s Chicago. He will play the role through September 6.
Shrek
Ben Crawford (Les Miserables), the current standby for Brian d’Arcy James, will take over the title role in Shrek on November 10 and Robb Sapp (Wicked) will temporarily step into the role of Pinocchio, replacing John Tartaglia during his leave of absence (Tartaglia will return mid December).
STARTING AUGUST 22
Billy Elliot
Trevor Braun (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) will join the cast of Broadway’s Billy Elliot a couple days later than originally announced (the 22nd, rather than the 18th). He and Tony nominee David Bologna will alternate in the role of Michael.
Another casting change for Broadway’s Shrek: Robb Sapp (Wicked’s Boq) to temporarily step in for John Tartaglia
Another major change is in store for Broadway’s Shrek the Musical: Robb Sapp (Wicked) will step into the role of Pinocchio in Shrek tomorrow, August 18, replacing John Tartaglia during his leave of absence. Tartaglia, who created the role, will return to the production on December 15.
Ben Crawford will take over the title role in Shrek from Brian d’Arcy James in November
Producers for Shrek the Musical just announced that Ben Crawford (Les Miserables), the current standby for Brian d’Arcy James, will take over the title role on November 10. James will be departing the musical on November 8 to star in Time Stands Still.
A Little Night Music to Open on Broadway this December!
They still haven’t announced a cast or even a venue, but we do now officially know that Trevor Nunn’s West End transfer of Sondheim’s A Little Night Music will open on Broadway this December. I know it’s perhaps not worthy of a full post, but I just can’t help but share my excitement about this show’s return to the Great White Way!
Tony Winner Lillias White Will Join the Cast of Broadway’s Fela
Lillias White (The Life, Barnum, Dreamgirls, Cats, Once On This Island, How To Succeed In Business, Chicago) will join the cast of Broadway’s Fela as Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, Fela’s mother. As previously announced, Sahr Ngaujah, the actor who starred in the title role Off-Broadway, will repeat his performance in the show’s Broadway run, set to open on November 23.
Presale Tickets to Broadway’s Ragtime Now Available!
Ticketmaster customers get exclusive pre-sale access to tickets from Thursday, August 13 through Friday, August 14.
Email updates
