Broadway’s Phantom Hits 8.500 Shows!
A milestone has certainly been reached today with the production of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway. The popular production plays its 8,500 performance at the Majestic Theatre, an impressive number for any play. Andrew Lloyd Webber’s famous production is already the longest running show in the Broadway history. Today, it has many followers and fans around the world. Since its debut on January 26, 1988 The Phantom of the Opera has grossed $690 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history.
According to press notes posted on Playbill.com, The Phantom of the Opera is based on the classic novel, “Le Fantome de L’Opera by Gaston Leroux, and tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House and rules the inhabitants above. He falls in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents.” Get your pair of The Phantom of the Opera tickets.
Cast Comes Together For A Tale of Two Cities
The Broadway production of A Tale of Two Cities is coming together now that cast members are being added to the show. James Barbour will portray the selfless, conflicted hero Sydney Carton in the musical. The cast will also include Craig Bennett as Jerry Cruncher and Kevin Early as Ernest Defarge. The popular book-turned musical will likely be a big hit among fans and theater goers around the world.
According to press notes posted on Playbill.com, “Set against the epic backdrop of the French Revolution…A Tale of Two Cities is a musical about injustice, vengeance and the redemptive power of love. When Dr. Manette is released from the French Bastille after 17 years, he must be resurrected from the brink of madness by his daughter, Lucie. In England they meet two different men: the exiled French aristocrat, Charles Darnay, whom Lucie marries, and the drunken cynic, Sydney Carton. Soon family secrets and the political intrigue combine to draw Lucie and her family back to Paris. At the height of the Reign of Terror, the musical finds and unlikely hero in Carton.” Be sure to get your own pair of A Tale of Two Cities tickets.
Carey Anderson to Join Avenue Q
Carey Anderson, the Broadway star who is best known for participating in the production of Mamma Mia! is set to join the company of the Tony-winning show called Avenue Q starting on July 8. He will assume the roles of Kate Monster and Lucy. She joins a cast that currently includes Christian Anderson, Jennifer Barnhart and Howie Michael. Anderson has also been seen in the productions of The Girlfriend and My Favorite Year and Abbey Victoria. Avenue Q features music and lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx and features a cast of puppets that were conceived and designed by original cast member Rick Lyon.
Avenue Q began previews at the Golden Theater on July 10, 2003 and it officially opened on July 31. The musical won 2004 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score. This is a hilarious show that will surprise you as you sit in the theater. Be sure to tell all of your friends and family members about the production and get your own pair of Avenue Q tickets.
Adding Machine Set to Close
The hit off-Broadway musical Adding Machine is scheduled to close on July 20. The musical first opened on February 25 to critical acclaim. Upon it’s closure the musical will have played a total of 16 previews and 149 regular performances. Producer Scott Morfee said in a statement on Playbill.com, “Adding Machine is a labor of love for all involved. The New York production, which sits so perfectly at the Minetta Lane Theatre, has allowed this musical to get the kind of attention it deserves.”
According to press notes posted on Playbill.com, Adding Machine is “darkly comic and heartbreakingly beautiful. It tells the story of Mr. Zero, who after 25 years of service to his company is replaced by a mechanical adding machine. In a vengeful rage, he murders his boss. An eclectic score gives passionate and memorable voice to this stylish and stylized production, which follows Zero’s journey to the afterlife in the Elysian Fields where he is met with one last chance for romance and redemption.” Get your own pair of Adding Machine tickets before it closes for good.
Passing Strange Prepared to Celbrate Show CD
The cast of Passing Strange is planning a return to Joe’s Pub where they will celebrate the in-store release of the rock musical’s original Broadway cast album. The new CD will officially hit stores on July 15. The Broadway album was recorded on April 14 in a live session on the stage of the Belasco Theatre. The recording itself features 24 songs from the musical and it also features the applause and reactions from the live audience. Some of the songs that appeared on the album include: “Arlington Hill,” “Amsterdam,” “The Black One” and “Passing Phase.”
Passing Strange is a fantastic musical that features extraordinary cast members. The story follows a dreaming young man on a life-altering European experience. This is thought of as a fresh and hysterical musical musical that is full of love. Be sure to see this comic performances by all of these skilled performers. You will not be disappointed in the least bit, get your pair of Passing Strange tickets from Stubhub.com.
Heading the Cast For National Tour of Spring Awakening
Blake Bashoff and Kyle Riabko, who are the current stars of Broadway’s Spring Awakening are scheduled to head the cast of the national tour of the Tony Award winning musical, which begins in San Diego on August 15. Riabko was quoted in Playbill.com as saying, “I have been performing and touring as a musician since I was 10 years old. The fact that I now get to tour America in Spring Awakening is an incredible dream come true.”
The musical, according to press notes posted on Playbill.com is “based on the 1891 play by Frank Wedekind and has won eight 2007 Tony Awards including one for Best Musical. Some of the most prominent songs include: ‘All That’s Known,’ ‘Left Behind,’ ‘Then There Were None,’ Touch Me’ and ‘ Whispering.’” The musical has been viewed by theater fans from across the world and still generates record amounts of ticket sales. Be sure to get your own pair of Spring Awakening tickets from Stubhub.com.
A Chorus Line Will Come to an End
The smash hit “A Chorus Line,” which has made it’s mark on Broadway history is scheduled to end it’s run on August 17. The show has been playing at the Schoenfeld Theatre and has attracted many fans over the years. “A Chorus Line” is a great show to go see with the whole family and it is filled with amazing dancing numbers-performed by great actors. You should definitely see this show before the curtain closes because it has become a treasured piece of Broadway history over the years.
The current cast of “A Chorus Line” includes Nick Adams, Tommy Berklund, Natalie Cortez and Charlotte d’Amboise. Michael Bennett’s 1975 production was re-staged by Bob Avian and Baayork Lee and it opened on Broadway at the Schoenfeld October 5, 2006. This followed a much acclaimed six-week run at San Francisco’s Curan Theatre. The national tour will continue in Los Angeles at the Ahmanson Theatre. Get your very own pair of A Chorus Line tickets from Stubhub.com.
Two New Additions to Spamalot
Stephen Collins and Drew Lachey are scheduled to join the Broadway production of Spamalot on June 24. Both Collins and Lachey are going to join a cast that that currently features Marin Mazzie, Wally Dunn, Tom Deckman, Rick Holmes, Bradley Dean and Robert Petkoff. The show Spamalot features a book and lyrics by Eric Idle with music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle. It is based on the screenplay of Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
According to press notes posted on Playbill.com, “the musical tells the tale of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table on their quest from God for the Holy Grail- with a short stop in the dazzling Spam-filled land of Camelot.” This is a hilarious tale that will keep you laughing throughout the entire production, so make sure to get your own pair of Spamalot tickets from Stubhub.com.
Many New Faces on the Set of Young Frankenstein
There are several new performers that have joined the cast of Young Frankenstein, included in the new lineup are: Beth Leavel, Michele Ragusa and Kelly Sullivan. All three ladies will join the cast this summer and will most likely bring thousands of theater patrons to Broadway to see the talents exhibited by these incredible actresses. Young Frankenstein was named the Best Broadway Musical in 2008 by the well respected Outer Critics Circle Award and remains a popular show for locals and tourists alike.
According to press notes posted on Playbill.com, the musical comedy is based on the Oscar nominated hit 1974 film of the same name. “It is the wickedly inspired re-imagining of the Mary Shelley classic from the comic genius of Mel Brooks. When Frederick Frankenstein, an esteemed New York brain surgeon and grandfather, deranged genius Victor Von Frankenstein, he faces a dilemma. Does he continue to run from his family’s tortured past or does he stay in Transylvania to carry on his grandfather’s mad experiments reanimating the dead and in the process, fall in love with his sexy lab assistant Inga?” Get your pair of Young Frankenstein tickets today!
A Closer Look at Lin-Manual Miranda
In the Heights is undoubtedly a smash hit, having garnered several Tony Awards and becoming one of the most popular new musicals of today. In the Heights won four awards including one for Best New Musical. Miranda has noted that he has been working on the musical for eight years and now he is proud to see just how far he has come since the early days when this show was first conceived. Surely you will want to see one of the most popular shows of today and you would do well to see it performed up on the stage.
In the Heights, according to press notes follows “the dreams of a tight knit Latin American community in upper Manhattan.” The music is filled with lively singing and dancing and many bright, bold colors that bring life and excitement to the set. Everyone who has sat in the audience has walked away with rave reviews. Make sure that you don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to see a wonderful new production. Get your In the Heights tickets from Stubhub.com.