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 For fun
Delays, transfers, replacements, closings and even some happy news!
That’s right, it’s time for another massive news roundup. There’s a lot to catch up on, so without any further ado, here we go…
The Broadway premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies will open at the Neil Simon Theater in the spring of 2011 due to some health complications of ALW’s part. The show, which was to open on Broadway in November of 2011, has been playing to somewhat mixed reviews on the West End. The big buzz about the delay is in regards to Jack O’Brien (director) and Jerry Mitchell (choreographer) because…
Catch Me If You Can is officially opening on Broadway in the spring of 2011! Producers Hal Luftig and Margo Lion have confirmed that rehearsals for the show that premiered at Seattle’s 5th Avenue will begin in January. A theatre and the exact dates of production have not yet been announced, but O’Brien and Mitchell are on board, and it is assumed that the big names associated with the production (Aaron Tveit, Tom Wopat, Norbert Leo Butz) will be headliners.
Another exciting transfer is that of Yank!, the Off-Broadway hit that just closed at the York Theater Company. Producers Pamela Koslow and Karl Held have announced plans to bring the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ G.I. musical to the Great White Way during the 2010-11 season. No news as to whether Bobby Steggert and Ivan Hernandez will repeat the roles they originated on Broadway.
Another Off-Broadway hit, Sherie Rene Scott’s Everyday Rapture is headed to Broadway thanks to Megan Mullally’s sudden and late departure from Lips Together, Teeth Apart. Everyday Rapture will open on April 29, 2010, so it will be in the running for this year’s Tony Awards.
The other sudden departure was that of the show All About Me, which, after being panned harshly by critics, ended its Broadway run after only 20 performances. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what we call a flop.
But enough depressing news…here’s some happy news:
- Next to Normal officially recouped its investment!
- Henry Miller’s Theatre was renamed in Stephen Sondheim’s honor!
- John Cameron Mitchell’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch may be headed to Broadway in the fall!
And yes, it’s not technically Broadway, but since so many Off-Broadway shows are transferring these days, I thought it worth mentioning that Bloody Bloddy Andrew Jackson, a new musical about the guy you talked about in history class is generating nothing but great buzz. If you want to see it while the price is right, get over to the Public Theatre ASAP.
A sneak peak of some music from Andrew Llyod Webber’s Phantom of the Opera sequel, Love Never Dies
I got my hands on a song sample from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new sequel to Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies:
Till I Hear You Sing Once More
What do you think?
A video preview of the Broadway aimed A Christmas Story
Happy holidays to everyone on Broadway and around the world. Hope you’re staying warm, traveling safe and ending your year in high spirits.
Here’s a video clip from a show aiming to be next season’s holiday favorite, A Christmas Story: The Musical!
Enjoy 
Mid-November Broadway Musical News Roundup
Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark is gearing up again this time with a lead actor and producer
It’s official – Reeve Carney, the lead singer of the band Carney, will be playing Peter Parker (ie. Spideman) in the upcoming Broadway mega-spender Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark.
Why cast such an unknown in the lead role? Director Julie Taymor said they wanted a “Peter Parker who could really act and sing, but who still brings a kind of performance that could be new to Broadway audiences. We wanted something a little more authentically rock and roll.”
And to help with that rock and roll vibe, Michael Cohl, a rock concert promoter with ties to the Rolling Stones and U2, is stepping in as lead producer, hoping to stop all the speculation that the show would never make it to opening night.
The show, which is reputed to have spent $52 million to date, will open in 2010 at the Hilton Theatre in New York.
American Idiot will be making its way to Broadway
On November 9, the producers for American Idiot announced Equity Principal Auditions for a Broadway run of the nearly sold-out Berkley Rep production. According to spokesman Michael Hartman, “there is a Broadway future for the show, but at this time no dates or theatre are confirmed.”
RUMOR: Ashlee Simpson may star in Chicago on Broadway
Multiple sources are reporting that Ashlee Simpon-Wentz, the former Melrose Place star, will be playing Roxie Hart in Chicago on Broadway for a six week run this December. Though she did play the role on the West End, her Broadway appearance has not been confirmed by any official sources.
A bittersweet anniversary on Broadway for Shrek
On November 8, the cast of Broadway’s Shrek celebrated one year on Broadway, but the festivities were somewhat bittersweet. The show, which was nominated for 8 Tony Awards, will be closing January 3 after playing 441 performances and 37 previews. The national tour will launch at Chicago’s Cadillac Palace Theatre for a limited engagement, running from July 13 – September 5, 2010.
Title battle – Dame Edna’s It’s All About Me vs. Michael Feinstein’s All About Me
I don’t know if you’ve been tracking the hilarious banter between Dame Edna and Michael Feinstein, who have very similarly named shows headed to Broadway this fall. Of the mishap, Edna said “It’s All About Me is my title. While I was saddened to hear that Mr. Feinstein did not heed my sage advice to change the title of his show, I’m overjoyed to hear that he at least took my suggestion to open his show after mine. I’m sure Mrs. Feinstein is very proud of her son.”
Broadway Stars on TV this month
A number of big tars will be appearing on television in the next few months. Check out the list below:
“The View” ABC, daytime
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: Finian’s Rainbow
- Thursday, Nov. 19: John Stamos
“Jimmy Kimmel Live” ABC, late night
- Tuesday, Nov. 17: John Stamos
“The Today Show” NBC, 7AM ET
- Wednesday, Nov. 18: Liza Minnelli
More Broadway showtunes and stars are in store for Glee!
If you follow this blog and somehow haven’t become a Gleek yet, I can’t understand why not.
The show, which stars Broadway favorites Lea Michele and Matthew Morrison, has already featured Broadway big-shots Victor Garber (Sweeney Todd, Assassins, Damn Yankees), Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked) and Debra Monk (Curtains, Chicago, Company) and showtunes like “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret and “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady.
Broadway Gleeks can continue to get more excited: Lea’s Spring Awakening co-star, Jonathan Groff, has signed on to perform in at least 5 episodes of the show, and rumor has it that Cheyenne Jackson, the star of Finian’s Rainbow on Broadway, is scheduled to make a guest appearance in one of the upcoming episodes.
The show’s tunes are hidden a little better than its stars, but thanks to YouTube, we do know that we’ll be hearing Lea Michele and Chris Colfer singing “Defying Gravity” from Wicked. Check out a clip of the song:
Glee just keeps getting better and better for lovers of Broadway musical theater!
The new West Side Story commercial (and some other great Broadway commercials)
West Side Story
Rent
Dreamgirls
Mamma Mia
Fiddler on the Roof
Victor Victoria
Damn Yankees
Cabaret
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat
The King and I
My Fair Lady
Guys and Dolls
Into the Woods
Phantom of the Opera
Spring Awakening
The Producers
A massive Twitter #followfriday from @broadwaymusical
Because @broadwaymusical has almost 3,800 followers on Twitter, I’ve found that I really can’t follow everyone’s tweets unless I’m watching the stream 24-7, so I’ve set up some keyword notifications, keep close tabs on my @replies and DMs and watch a group of folks whose tweets are always relevant and worth reading – this is that group.
As you can see, it would take many more than 140 characters to share them all, so I’ve decided to present this #followfriday via the blog:
@9to5themusical
@aaronmeier
@allisoncase
@amybpr
@b3onbroadway
@bam_brooklyn
@bbbway
@bcefa
@broadwaycom
@broadwaydeals
@broadwaygirlnyc
@broadwaygreen
@broadwayimpact
@broadwaymindy
@broadwaypulse
@broadwayspotted
@broadwayworld
@broadway_buzz
@bwayamerica
@bubbles2828
@catherineblades
@chestergregory
@columbiajames
@constantinem
@dailyshowtune
@dannyquad91
@erinwilson5
@edenespinosa
@felamusical
@finiansrainbow
@gavincreel
@gleeks
@gracenotesstage
@hairtribe
@happentolikeny
@heathshvatz
@johngallagherjr
@johnstamos
@kchenoweth
@kendavenport
@lacagebroadway
@mammamiamusical
@melorahardin
@memphisbroadway
@musicalreviewer
@musicaltheatret
@mrubinoff
@n2nbroadway
@newyorkology
@ninarosario
@officialbtf
@papatola
@paulpilcz
@randall14
@rockofages
@sardisnewyork
@shreksteronline
@situationonbway
@speakout26
@spideyonbway
@springtour
@stephaniejblock
@steveonbroadway
@studentrushnyc
@survivorqueen
@tadwilson
@tdfnyc
@th3heights
@thebwayleague
@theaterleague
@theatrestory
@thetonyawards
@the_phantom
@thtrbob
@wicked_musical
To all of you – thanks for keeping me on my toes, singing, smiling, laughing and informed about all that’s going on on- and off-stage in the land of Broadway musical theater!
(If there’s someone not on this list that you think should be, please please please leave the handle in the notes and I’ll be sure to add them to the group and start following!)
Hey Gleeks – you can now preorder the 1st season DVD of Glee!
Alright, it’s not truly musical theater, but enough Gleeks are musical theater geeks that I thought it worth sharing on the blog here: the DVD for the 1st season of Glee, the fantastic Fox show starring Broadway favorites Matthew Morrison (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, Hairspray, The Rocky Horror Show, Footloose) and Lea Michele (Spring Awakening, Fiddler on the Roof, Ragtime, Les Miserables), is now available for pre-order!
In honor of #theatrethursday, your list of the top 50 Broadway musicals of all time
We asked and you responded. Here’s a list of your all time favorite Broadway musicals, in no particular order:
- Les Miserables
- Rent
- The King and I
- Sunday in the Park with George
- Wicked
- Guys and Dolls
- Sweeney Todd
- Ragtime
- West Side Story
- In the Heights
- Phantom of the Opera
- Into the Woods
- Next to Normal
- Cats
- Parade
- Company
- Chess
- A Chorus Line
- Man of La Mancha
- Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
- Rocky Horror Show
- The Music Man
- My Fair Lady
- Mame
- Jersey Boys
- The Last Five Years (technically off-Broadway, but enough of you voted for it that I had to include it)
- Candide
- The Drowsy Chaperone
- The Sound of Music
- Spring Awakening
- Little Shop of Horrors
- The Wiz
- Miss Saigon
- Hair
- Billy Elliot
- Gypsy
- Assassins
- Rock of Ages
- Hello Dolly!
- Cabaret
- The Lion King
- Hairspray
- Grease
- Avenue Q
- South Pacific
- Evita
- The Producers
- Pippin
- Chicago
- Dreamgirls
Is your favorite not on the list? Add it in the comments below!
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