Finian’s Rainbow opens tonight on Broadway

The Broadway revival of Finian’s Rainbow opens on Broadway tonight, October 29, 2009. Starring Jim Norton (The Seafarer) as Finian, Kate Baldwin (Wonderful Town) as Sharon, Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu) as Woody,  and Christopher Fitzgerald (Young Frankenstein) as Og, we’re looking to see how the public responds to the show.

For years it was thought to be an unrevivable show due to its racist content, but with a reworking of the book and songs like “Old Devil Moon,” “If This isn’t Love” and “How are Things in Glocca Morra?,” we think it more than deserves a another run on the Great White Way.

Going to see it? Interested in writing a review for the blog here? Contact me!

Promises, Promises to star Chenoweth and Hayes; opens March 25

Producers have announced that Promises, Promises will officially star Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth. This will be the first ever revival of the musical, will open at the Broadway Theater on March 25.

With a book by Neil Simon, music by Burt Bacharah and lyrics by Hal David, the show will mark Hayes first appearance on Broadway and Chenoweth’s happy return. The original 1968 production played 1,268 performances on Broadway, was nominated for 8 Tony awards and awarded a Grammy.

Run DMC musical eyeing Broadway

Hollywood producer Paula Wagner is working with the rappers Joseph Simmons (Run) and Darryl McDaniels (DMC) and the estate of Jason Mizell (Jam Master Jay) about creating a stage musical about Run DMC’s road to fame.

No dates, casting or other collaborators have yet been announced.

Mary Murphy to make guest appearance in Burn the Floor

Mary Murphy from Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance” will make a one-night-only guest star appearance in Broadway’s Burn the Floor on December 22, partnering with ballroom champion Vaidas Skimelis.

Katie Holmes may star in the stage musical version of Cocktail

Rumors are flying that Katie Holmes may be under consideration for a starring role in the Broadway musical version of the 80s movie, Cocktail, that is being penned for the stage by Heywood Gould – the original author and screenwriter. Producer Marty Richards is on board and though Gould said “it’s far too early to talk about casting,” he did mention he “like[s] Katie Holmes.”

Little Miss Sunshine musical workshop stars Bierko, Latessa and Rene Scott

The stage musical version of Little Miss Sunshine is workshopping with stars Craig Bierko (Guys and Dolls, The Music Man), Dick Latessa (Hairspray, Damn Yankees), and Sherie Rene Scott (The Little Mermaid, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Aida) in Florida right now.

The adaptation of the 2006 film features a score by William Finn with book and direction by James Lapine.

We can only hope it’s good-enough to take to Broadway with those names on board.

Judy and Sayle to star in the Broadway-aimed A Christmas Story, The Musical!

Later this month, another production eyeing Broadway, A Christmas Story, The Musical!, will open out-of-town. The cast features talent with many Broadway shows under their belts, including James Judy (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Zachary Carter Sayle (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), John Bolton (Curtains, Spamalot) and Anne L. Nathan (Assassins, Sunday in the Park with George).

Next to Normal

Rock of Ages

Hair

Bye Bye Birdie

In the Heights

Burn the Floor

Chicago

Finian’s Rainbow

Shrek

Wicked

The Lion King

Jersey Boys

Mamma Mia

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.

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.

Burn the Floor on ABC’s Good Morning America

Shrek on MSNBC’s The Today Show

And tomorrow, August 13, the cast of Avenue Q will appear on “Good Day New York” with a performance of “The More You Ruv Someone” (WNYW, Channel 5, from 7-10 AM ET) and on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” with “The Internet is for Porn” (NBC at 12:35 AM ET.)

Michelle Federer, who created the role of Nessarose in the Broadway production of Wicked, will return to the musical beginning Aug. 18, taking over for Cristy Candler. And, as if that weren’t already fantastic enough, Erin Mackey will also succeed Alli Mauzey as Glinda starting Aug. 11.

A Greene for a Green

John Arthur Greene has succeeded original star Cody Green in the role of Riff in Broadway’s West Side Story.

“Hot Tamale Train” Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev Join Cast of Burn the Floor

When “Dancing with the Stars” performers Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff leave Broadway’s Burn the Floor on Aug. 16, Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev from “So You Think You Can Dance” will take over.

The highly anticipated dance musical, Burn the Floor, starts previews tomorrow night at the Longacre Theatre (220 W 48th St) and officially opens on August 2.

Dancing with the Stars’ Karina Smirnoff and Maksim Chmerkovskiy will only appear in the show through August 16, so if you want to catch them, get there early in the run. The rest of the cast includes Sharna Burgess, Anya Garnis, Sarah Hives, Peta Murgatroyd, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff, as well as many other award-winning international dancers from from around the world, performing until the the show closes on October 18.

And students rejoice! The show is offering cheap student rush tickets throughout the run ($26.50), available the day of staring at 10 am (Mon-Sat) and 12 pm (Sun). For those of us who no longer possess a student ID, tickets are available now via telecharge and range from $39.50 to $111.50.

Check out the promo video for the show:

I don’t know about you, but I think this show looks hot.

The Wiz, directed by Thomas Kail, alongside his In the Heights collaborators, Andy Blankenbuehler (choreographer) and Alex Lacamoire (musical director) opens tonight at City Center.

The production stars Ashanti as Dorothy, Orlando Jones at The Wiz, LaChanze as Glinda, Tichina Arnold as Evillene, Dawnn Lewis as Addaperle, Joshua Henry as the Tinman, James Monroe Iglehart as the Lion and Christian White as the Scarecrow.

The ensemble includes Raymond Bennett, Tanya Birl, Darlesia Cearcy, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Angela Grovey, Ebony Haswell, Lauren Lim Jackson, Carl Lation, Maurice Lauchner, Jennifer Locke, Amy McClendon, Kenna Morris, John Eric Parker, Herman Payne, Ryan Rankine, Levensky Smith, Ephraim Sykes, Adrienne Warren, Daniel J. Watts, Juson Williams and Will Wingfield.

The show runs through July 5 (with Passing Strange‘s Colman Domingo stepping in for Orlando Jones for the final 6 performances so Jones can start shooting his new series Crash Course for ABC.)

Get your tickets now!

Dancing Cast for Burn the Floor Announced

Dancers from some of your favorite TV shows will be headed to Broadway for the new musical Burn the Floor, directed and choreographed by Jason Gilkison.

Dancing with the Stars pros Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Karina Smirnoff, Sarah Hives, Peta Murgatroyd and Trent Widdo, as well as So You Think You Can Dance‘s Sharna Burgess and Anya Garnis, and Superstars of Dance‘s Henry Bayalikov, join Kevin Clifton, Sasha Farber, Jeremy Garner, Gordana Grandosek, Patrick Helm, Melanie Hooper, Giselle Peacock, Sarah Soriano, Damon & Rebecca Sugden, Damian Whitewood and Robin Windsor in what looks to be a fantastic show.

Previews begin at the Longacre Theatre on July 25 and opening night is set for August 2.