Carol Woods in Chicago

Carol Woods will be joining the Broadway production of Chicago in 2009. The actress has been a frequent presence in the Broadway revival of this Tony Award winning musical, and will be reprising her role as Matron “Mama” Morton, in the musical that will be beginning on January 4 of the New Year. Woods will succeed LaVon Fisher-Wilson.

Other cast members for the musical include Melora Hardin as Roxie Hart, Brenda Braxton as Velma Kelly, Tom Hewitt as Billy Flynn, Scot Davidson as Amos Hart and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine. The musical is one of the Broadway stage’s favorites, and Chicago tickets are certain to be in high demand.

Permalink - Posted in General on December 31, 2008 - Post a comment

Last Chance Shows

The current economic crisis that is gripping our country has already begun to show it’s ugly face on Broadway, where there are several shows that are about to close early. If  you want to see these shows before time is up, then you will want to act fast as the following Broadway tickets will be closing sales on January 4th.

  • Liza’s at the Palace…! is sadly closing after only a short time in New York. The Tony and Oscar Award-winning show is definitely one you will want to catch before it’s too late.
  • Hairspray, another Broadway sensation, is also closing on the fourth, so be sure to get tickets while you still can!
  • Boeing-Boeing, the entertaining play that has had its audience in stitches and its bachelor of the day tied up in knots, before he can even tie the knot!
  • Dividing the Estate is another great dramatic comedy which will leave you wanting more.
  • Young Frankenstein, Mel Brooks’ latest film-turned-musical.
  • 13 a musical about coming of age.
  • Slava’s Snow Show a Christmas celebration from one of the world’s greatest clowns.
  • Saturn Returns captures the glimpse of one man’s life.
  • Rock of Ages the story of eighties rock.

These are all great shows that will only be available for a short time. So be sure to get your Broadway tickets while you still can.

Permalink - Posted in General on December 30, 2008 - Post a comment

As the New Year Approaches

Last year Broadway sold 12.29 million tickets, grossing $938 million dollars in ticket sales, up $32 million dollars from 2006 when 11.97 million tickets sold. As we approach the new year, we look back on the past year and wonder what the final tally for this year will be. So far the total ticket count for the year is not in, as we have a few days of 2008 still left to go, but with the recession and recent drops in ticket sales we wonder whether the tally will be up or down for Broadway attendance.

So far we know that until December Wicked was the highest selling show on Broadway, and though it continues to sell well, it has recently been surpassed by Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. The week before Christmas  White Christmas grossed $1,588,859 in ticket sales and Wicked grossed $1,499,186. However, White Christmas is only on stage for a short time longer, finishing its last performance on January 4, 2009, so my recommedation is to get your White Christmas tickets while you still can and leave Wicked tickets for later in 2009.

Permalink - Posted in General on December 29, 2008 - Post a comment

Latest Publication of Hammerstein’s Lyrics

The Complete Lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II, was released by Knopf on December first. The book is a complete compilation of all the lyrics ever written by Oscar Hammerstein totaling 850. It also includes 81 photos and a forward by Oscar’s daughter, Alice Hammerstein Matthias, as well as an introduction by Ted Chapin the president of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Foundation.

This book proved to be a seven-year project for Plabyill Broadway Yearbook editor Amy Asch.  The book is one of a series of six which are being published by Knopf, the first book in the series was The Complete Lyrics of Irving Berlin, edited by Robert Kimball and published in October 2001. Complete Lyrics was pre-dated by Reading lyrics, which was written by Robert Gottleib and Robert Kimball.

Rodgers & Hammerstein completed nine musicals in their day. These include Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, Me And Juliet, Flower Drum Song, The Sound of Music, State Fair, and Cinderella. Hamerstein also wrote several musicals on his own including Rose Marie, Show Boat and The Desert Song.  South Pacific tickets are currently available on Broadway, where the musical is appearing on stage at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

Permalink - Posted in General on December 23, 2008 - Post a comment

The Cripple of Inishman Opening

The Cripple of Inishmaan is the latest play by Irish playwright, Martin McDonagh, adding to the list of plays in the writer’s Aran Island trilogy. Rich, dark humor make this play one of the must-see plays on stage in New York this Christmas season.

The play takes place in 1934 on one of the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. The main character is the orphaned cripple Billy Claven, who is constantly scorned by the island’s inhabitants. When a Hollywood filmmaker, Robert Flaherty arrives on the neighboring island Inishmoore to make his latest movie, Billy has a chance to escape his poverty and decides to try to get a part in the film.

This play is brought to stage by the incredible Druid Ensemble and the Atlantic Theater company. The official opening night took place this past Saturday, but the play will be appearing on stage until March 1, 2009. So get your The Cripple of Inishmaan tickets while you still can!

Permalink - Posted in General on December 22, 2008 - Post a comment

Shrek Album Recording

Shrek the Musical is on Broadway and as entertaining on stage as it was on film. The cast, staring Brian d’Arcy James as Shrek, Daniel Breaker as Donkey, and Sutton Foster as Princess Fiona. The cast will be recording an album in January 2009, the CD will be released in March of 2009.

Songs that will be on the album include: “Big, Bright, Beautiful World,” “Story of My Life,” “The Goodbye Song” and “Don’t Let Me Go.”The cast of the musical will also be recording “I Know it’s Today,” “What’s up Duloc,” “Travel Song,” “Donkey Popt pie,” “This is How a Dream Comes True,” “Who I’d Got to Be.” Other songs on the CD will be “I Think I Got You Beat,” “When Words Fail,” “Build a Wall,” “Freak Flag,” and “Big Bright Beautiful World.”

This is an entertaining musical, that you should definitely see while you still can. So be sure to get your Shrek the Musical tickets right away!

Permalink - Posted in General on December 19, 2008 - Post a comment

Broadway Christmas Upset

Broadway has recently experienced an upset in its ticket sales. This week Irving Berlin’s White Christmas outshone the ever-popular Wicked in ticket sales. Until this week Wicked has led Broadway ticket sales for months, but for the moment White Christmas is ahead of the game. However, perhaps this change in fortunes for both musicals is to be expected, after all it is the Christmas season.

Other big sellers for this week are Billy Elliot: the Musical, Jersey Boys, and The Lion King. Broadway is still going strong and presenting some fantastic shows. Other popular shows include South Pacific and A Man for All Seasons. These are some great musicals that you will definitely not want to miss. So be sure to pick your favorite Broadway Theater Tickets while you still can!

Permalink - Posted in General on December 18, 2008 - Post a comment

Mama Mia!

Mama Mia was a big hit on Broadway and has become a big hit on the big screen as well. The movie recently broke the box office records in the UK, is a new favorite movie here in the US, and is still wildly popular on Broadway. This is one musical that you really must see, and with so much to recommend it, you can’t go wrong. The musical is based on some of Abba’s greatest music.

See the stage production while you still can, and enjoy some of the best entertainment on Broadway. The tour production is starring Rose Sezniak as daughter Sophie Sheridan, Monette McKay as Ali, Nicole Laurenzi as Tanya and much more! Watch one of the most entertaining musicals on Broadway, get your Mama Mia tickets today!

Permalink - Posted in General on December 17, 2008 - Post a comment

Phantom of the Opera and the Buried Voices

Phantom of the Opera is the longest running Broadway show currently on stage. The timeless story, adapted to the stage by Andrew Lloyd Webber from the novel by Gaston Leroux. The novel, suposedly, is based on a true story about a man who did in fact live under the Paris Opera during Gaston’s lifetime. The story was recently returned to when a group of famous recordings were dug up this month in the famous Opera house.

Recordings of famous singers such as Nellie Melba, Enrico Caruso and others were buried deep in the opera house in leaden urns. The story is told that when the time capsule containing the recordings was buried, the body, or skeleton, of Erik - the Phantom of the Opera - was uncovered. The skeleton may have been a myth, but the question remains…was the Phantom a real person? And where did he come from? Revisit this old favorite by getting your Phantom of the Opera tickets today!

Permalink - Posted in General on December 16, 2008 - Post a comment

Golden Globe Nominations

The Golden Globe Nominations have recently been announced, and for all you Broadway fans out there this is the time to visit, or re-visit, one of your favorite shows. Frost Nixon the movie has been nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama, and since the play is still appearing on Broadway you may want to go back and see the live performance that inspired the movie.

The play is about the days after Nixon’s scandalous exit from office, when he finally agreed to an interview by British TV talk-show host David Frost. For political buffs this is an opportunity to revisit one of the most volatile periods in our nation’s history. Be sure to get your your Frost Nixon tickets today!

Permalink - Posted in General on December 12, 2008 - Post a comment


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