Broadway Year in Review
The editors of Broadway.com have jumped into the media norm of looking back on 2006, and they put out several “top” choices for 2006 in the theaters, highlighted by several Top 5 lists. The categories for these lists include top shows and top performers. The publication also expanded its look back with an overall yearly wrap-up that takes a closer look at these top choices.
It’s been quite a year on Broadway, as several new stars and potentially-legendary shows took flight, much to the delight of those who like to use Broadway tickets. Of course, if you’re not sure where to go to find tickets to these shows, all you need to do is head on over to StubHub.com.
The Wedding Singer Closes on Broadway - Tour to Follow?
After 30 previews and 284 performances, The Wedding Singer is giving its final performance on Broadway tonight at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Tony Award winner John Rando—of Urinetown fame—directed the musical, which is based on the popular 1998 New Line Cinema film. Composer Matthew Sklar and lyricist Chad Beguelin penned the score; the book was written by Beguelin and Tim Herlihy. Thoroughly Modern Millie Tony winner Rob Ashford choreographed, as was reported on Playbill.com.
However, this is not necessarily the end for this show. Producers are currently in discussions about launching a nation-wide tour in 2007, as the show is already well-known around the world based on its initial film success. StubHub.com will be here ready to serve you as soon as any announcements are made and theater tickets become available.
Mamma Mia Cast to Make TV Appearance
Given the popularity of the musical Mamma Mia, it should come as no surprise that mediums other than theater are clamoring for appearances from their cast members. Residents and visitors in Las Vegas will get to ring in the New Year tomorrow night with Carol Linnea Johnson, Robin Baxter and Vicki Van Tassel as they perform “Dancing Queen” just before 2007 arrives on the local CBS affiliate.
Mamma Mia is becoming a theater phenomenon, as revenue and attendance records have been reached several times (see below). If you’re looking for Mamma Mia tickets, there’s no better place than StubHub.
Mamma Mia Tickets through Stubhub
With a soundtrack propped by the music of ABBA, Mamma Mia has delighted audiences on Broadway and off for years. Fans can pick up Mamma Mia Tickets through Stubhub.com for the New York show. You certainly will not go home disappointed. The show currently has 11 productions showing around the world, nine of them resident and two of them touring. The show has grossed more than $2 billion since its London debut in 1999 and the numbers just keep piling up. Crowds as large as 15,000 are not unheard of, as the show keep fans coming back for more.
42nd Street Coming to Arizona
For more than 25 years, 42nd Street has been playing to packed houses in several cities. The show has won multiple Tony Awards and has received recognition from several other entities. Now, for the first time, 42nd Street is coming to Arizona. The show still features several members of previous casts, and the show is embarking on a tour in reaction to demand to see the show. 42nd Street is a masterful production that contains several famous show tunes, including “You’re Getting to Be a Habit With Me” and “Lullaby of Broadway.” Get your 42nd Street tickets in Phoenix and see what the buzz is all about.
Off-Broadway Naked Boys Coming to Big Screen
Writing and updating a Broadway blog presents a few challenges once the holiday season has ended and Broadway enters a two-month quiet period. Fans can still buy Broadway Tickets through Stubhub.com and can expect to see lower-than-usual prices which is a good thing. The drag about maintaining a Broadway blog during this time is finding content to discuss. But one funny note is this: The Off-Broadway show ‘Naked Boys Singing’ will be making its way to the big screen. This is a case of no shirts, no shoes, service!
The nudity-filled feature is an adaptation from the show that started in L.A. and made its way to New York. Naked Boys Singing has performed in more than 20 countries and all around the United States, often with controversy close behind. The Milwaukee Gay Arts Center production of the show was closed by the local vice squad last year. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the full-length feature will include a behind the scenes DVD. The show Naked Boys Singing is now in its seventh year as an off-Broadway production.
Broadway Show ‘Dreamgirls’ makes it to Big Screen
It took nearly twenty-five years for the Broadway show ‘Dreamgirls’ to make it from Broadway to the big screen, but the show packs quite the punch with performances by Jamie Foxx, Byoncé Knowles and Eddie Murphy. The movie, like its Broadway predecessor, is loosely based on the lives of the Supremes who made names for themselves as a Motown sound. For those who remember the Broadway version of ‘Dreamgirls,’ they will be pleasantly surprised to see that the movie adaptation has keep much of the light and sound of the original in tact.
‘Dreamgirls’ is not the first time that Hollywood has tried to turn a Broadway musical into a successful picture. Usually, the experiment does not work. Arguably ‘Rent’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera’ did not translate as well to the big screen and the remake of the ‘The Producers’ was a complete disaster when translated from Broadway to film. ‘Chicago’ did a decent job of keeping the feel of the Broadway show alive and ‘Dreamgirls’ will likely add that short list of Broadway musicals that made the successful transition to Hollywood. The Boston Globe published a story that traces how members of the original Broadway musical are being swept aside by the Hollywood production.
Broadway enters Post-Holiday Doldrums
Fans looking to get their hands on Broadway Tickets have a unique opportunity as we begin to enter the post-holiday season. January and February and typically thought of as “shake-down” time on Broadway. This is the time when even the biggest shows and the biggest hits have a hard time filling seats. Ticket prices tend to drop during this period of time affectionately known of as the doldrums. It all comes down to a matter of point-of-view. Sure, Broadway isn’t the same without all the pomp and madness of the holiday season. But cheaper Broadway tickets are nothing to scoff at either.
Want proof that Broadway is entering the doldrums? Do a Google search for the term “Broadway” and see for yourself how little relevant material comes up.
The good news though is that Broadway is coming off one of its finest years in a long time. The New York Times theater critic, Ben Brantley, says, “But this is the first year in my decade as chief theater critic of The New York Times in which Broadway, all by its big, bloated self, provided enough laurel-worthy shows that even a list of 10 can’t include them all. Never mind that the majority of them came from overseas or Off Broadway.”
Jersey Boys and History Boys On Broadway
The Boys seems to be running the show this season on Broadway. Jersey Boys and The (now history) History Boys both won Tony Awards this year for best musical and best play respectively. And both shows have been regularly flexing their muscles where it counts – at the box office. Jersey Boys regularly takes in more than $1 million each week. Fans looking to get their hands on Jersey Boys Tickets can acquire them through Stubhub.com. The History Boys played a six-month limited engagement. The show, written by Alan Bennett is the story about pupils in a private British boys’ school.
The Jersey Boys have been on the move lately, going back across the river to the Garden State to sing at a Nets game on December 18 when the Nets take on the Golden State Warriors. John Lloyd Young, the Tony Award-winning star in Jersey Boys, will sing the National Anthem at the game.
Monty Python’s Spamalot Tickets on Broadway
I had the good fortune of seeing Monty Python’s Spamalot earlier this year on Broadway. With the personalities of Hank Azaria and David Hyde Pierce lighting up the stage and singing my favorites from Monty Python’s Holy Grail, I had to try my best not to fall out of my chair laughing. Broadway fans looking to get their hands on Monty Python’s Spamalot Tickets before the end of the winter season still have the opportunity to do so.
The show has everything you would expect from a Broadway hit and then everything you would expect from those blokes across the puddle. Flying cows, killer rabbits, and taunting Frenchmen who will fart in your general direction are but a sampling of what the show has to offer. Directed by Mike Nichols, Spamalot is the tale of the legendary King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
Spamalot has been hot so far through the winter season, joining the million-dollar club the week of Thanksgiving. This is one you will not want to miss.
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