Could Vanities be a succes on Broadway?

We have a story of struggle today here on the blog–one that hopefully starts dimly, with a heroine that overcomes great odds to be recognized as the star she believes she is.

So who are we talking about? Well, the heroine in this case is a musical: Vanities, a spunky play that had a very good shot of leaving its successful run at a Pasadena theater to rise up to the big leagues on Broadway. But unfortunately, things fell through, and the musical is now off-Broadway. Despite some tweaks, critics have not been kind to the show. The New York Times, the New York Daily News, Variety and AP all gave it middling to downright hostile reviews, claming it was just mediocre. But the show could still be revised a bit and make it on to the stages of Broadway.

It’s just another one of those stories that you hear in New York’s theater world so much. There are plenty of good plays out there struggling to make it big on Broadway. When they finally get there, you can see them by purchasing Broadway tickets.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 17, 2009 - Post a comment

Superior Donuts keeping its cast

When Superior Donuts premiered in Chicago, critics hailed the acting of its cast. Now that the drama is headed for its Broadway debut, it looks like that same cast is going to be taking to the stage. Fans should be happy to know this, considering the amount of praise the original cast received.

This is all coming from a pretty reliable source–the Arts Beat Blog over at the New York Times, which cites the play’s publicists, who listed the cast members that will be appearing on Broadway. From the blog post: “The play, originally performed by the Steppenwolf Theater Company and starring Michael McKean (“The Homecoming,” “Hairspray”), will also feature Jane Alderman, Kate Buddeke, Cliff Chamberlain, Michael Garvey, Jon Michael Hill, Robert Maffia, James Vincent Meredith and Yasen Peyankov. All are returning from the Steppenwolf production, as is its director, Tina Landau.”

That’s exciting news! When the play finally opens you can be sure that people are going to be riveted by the cast’s performance. It’s a pretty moving show, so you may want to consider bringing a tissue or two. In the meantime, keep searching StubHub.com for broadway and theater tickets for this and many other upcoming productions.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 16, 2009 - Post a comment

U.K.’s Sister Act Sets Date for Release of Cast Recording

Good news to those in the U.K. who loved Whoopie Goldberg in the 1992 film Sister Act: the original London cast recording of the musical comedy is about to be available to audiences in the U.K., set for a release date of July 27, so now you can get the best of Sister Act all on one compact disc! The London version of Sister Act opened at the London Palladium on June 2, and the dazzling show is a musical adaptation of the Whoopie Goldberg classic in 1992 that had vivacious gospel tunes ringing loud and proud on the big screen in the early ’90s.

The London stage musical features a score by Alan Menken and lyrics by Glenn Slater with a book by Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, and the cast recording features songs by the London cast, which includes Patina Miller as the lead role of Deloris Van Cartier and Sheila Hancock as Mother Superior. The London cast recording of Sister Act also features Ian Lavender as Monsignor Howard, Chris Jarman as Shank, Ako Mitchell as Eddie, Katie Rowley Jones as Sister Mary Robert, Claire Greenway as Sister Mary Patrick, Julia Sutton as Sister Mary Lazarus, Thomas Goodridge as TJ, Nicolas Colicos as Bones and Ivan De Freitas as Dinero. Get the Sister Act London cast recording on July 27 and take in the sweet tunes of “Sister Act,” “The Life I Never Led” and “Take Me to Heaven.”

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 15, 2009 - Post a comment

Broadway Barks a Success!

The 11th annual Broadway Barks! gala took place over the weekend in New York City at Shubert Alley (between 44th and 45th Streets), and the animal-friendly event was a smashing success. Broadway heavy hitters such as Ashanti, Constantine Maroulis, Angela Lansbury, David Hyde Pierce, Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole and Audra McDonald were all part of the Broadway Barks! event that featured an adopt-a-thon for orphaned dogs and cats in the area.

Broadway Barks! took place on Saturday, July 11 at Shubert Alley and featured celebrity presentations of pets throughout the day. Featured dogs and cats in the adopt-a-thon came from 20 different animal rescues across the city, and the festival was hosted by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, sponsored in part by ASPCA and Pedigree. In a statement given by Mary Tyler Moore, “According to recent statistics, we learned that we are making a difference. In 2002, the rate of euthanasia among shelter animals was at 74% of total intake. We are proud that as a result of our efforts, in 2008, the number of animals killed in NYC shelters has dropped to 39% of total intake. That means nearly 15,000 fewer animals have been euthanized in our city’s shelters compared to 2003.” The cats and dogs of New York City say thank you, Broadway!

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 14, 2009 - Post a comment

McKean to Star in Superior Donuts - Again!

A reprisal of Tracy Letts’ production Superior Donuts is headed back to the big stage, and the talented Michael McKean will once again come with, re-creating his starring role in the Broadway production for the upcoming run at the Music Box Theatre. Superior Donuts, a story about an old donut shop owner and a black teenager who wants to revive the establishment, will begin previews at Music Box on September 16, with an October 1 opening that will feature McKean as donut shop owner Arthur Przybyszewski. The production will be produced by Jeffry Richaeds, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler and Jerry Frankel, the same team that was involved in Letts’ recent production of August: Osage County.

Michael McKean is already familiar with the starring role of Arthur, as he played the part in the Chicago running of Superior Donuts last summer at the Steppenwolf Theatre. The Chicago production of Superior Donuts was directed by Tina Landau, also behind the Broadway production, and it also featured Jon Michael Hill as Franco Wicks. McKean has been on Broadway before, involved in Broadway revivals of The Homecoming and The Pajama Game. He’s also been part of Hairspray, and has made appearances in various films through the years, as well. Welcome back to Broadway, Mr. McKean!

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 13, 2009 - Post a comment

Another New Roxie Hart Takes the Stage

We recently reported on Samantha Harris’ new role as the fame-hungry murderess Roxie Hart on the Broadway run of Chicago that is playing at the Ambassador Theatre now through August 16 in the six-week engagement, but Harris isn’t the only celebrity set to tackle the role! Recently announced, Destiny Child’s Michelle Williams has also agreed to fill the part of Roxie Hart in the vivacious Chicago, taking the lead female role for the West End production of the musical.

The Michelle Williams-led Chicago will play at West End’s Cambridge Theatre from July 13 through August 22, and the London production is produced by Barry and Fran Weissler. The longest-running Broadway musical ever in the West End, Chicago is based on the Maurine Dallas Watkins play and has a book by Fred Ebb and Bobb Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. Chicago is not Michelle Williams’ first go at the theater, as she has starred in Aida on Broadway and has also been in the musical The Color Purple in Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco, taking the turn from a recording artist to a theatrical star in her days since Destiny’s Child.

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 10, 2009 - Post a comment

Craig, Jackman Head to Broadway

People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2008 is coming straight to the big stage, and American women are sure to swoon over the buff romantic Hugh Jackman as he co-stars with Daniel Craig in the Broadway production of A Steady Rain this fall. The John Crowley-directed run of A Steady Rain will play for 12 weeks starting on September 10 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street), and opening night will be on September 29, closing on December 6.

A Steady Rain, the production concerning two Chicago policemen over a span of a few days, will not be Hugh Jackman’s Broadway debut. The incredible actor previously won a Tony Award for his role in The Boy from Oz, and he’s also been featured in various productions of Oklahoma!, Sunset Boulevard and Beauty and the Beast. While Jackman is practically a Broadway regular by now, A Steady Rain will on the other hand be co-star Daniel Craig’s Broadway debut. Craig has been involved in a number of theatrical productions recently, but his most popular works include films Defiance, Quantum of Solace, Flashbacks of a Fool, The Golden Compass, Casino Royale and more.

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 9, 2009 - Post a comment

Samantha Harris and Co. Make Chicago Debut

Chandra Wilson, Tom Hewitt and Bonnie Langford are out; Samantha Harris, Brent Barrett and Roz Ryan are in! This is Chicago, and the newest crop of talent has officially replaced the old in the award-winning musical. TV personality Samantha Harris (The Insider, Dancing with the Stars) led the pack last night as she took the stage in her Chicago debut as the lead role Roxie Hart in the stunning production, bringing a fresh breath of air to the Broadway running of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre. Wilson, Hewitt and Langford played their final performances of Chicago on July 5, allowing for the new rotation of Broadway stars to take the reins. Last night marked the first night of the Harris, Barrett and Ryan-led Chicago, and the three talented figures made an explosive first impression on the crowd.

Harris was most certainly the most talked-about part of last night’s Chicago debut, as she stole the lead as the vixen murderess Roxie Hart flawlessly. Harris will continue with her Chicago stint as Hart for a six-week run through August 16, and after the engagement at the Ambassador Theatre she will continue playing the part of Roxie Hart on the Chicago national tour in Greenville, South Carolina, which is scheduled to run from August 18-23 at the Peace Center.

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 8, 2009 - Post a comment

Ragtime Makes Broadway Return

The classic musical Ragtime has been burning up the theatrical scene over the last several months at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, and now it’s official that the musical will make the big leap to Broadway this fall, set to take place at the Neil Simon Theater. The Broadway production of Ragtime will begin performances on October 23 with the official opening scheduled for November 15, and this Marcia Milgrom Dodge directed and choreographed production is sure to draw in crowds by the thousands to witness the spectacle.

The cast for the upcoming production of Ragtime on Broadway has not yet been announced, but the highly-praised musical is sure to be the ultimate crowd-pleaser on the Broadway scene once again when it comes to the Big Apple. Ragtime is based off the E.L. Doctorow novel about three New York families in the early 1900s, and the original Broadway production of the musical was first performed in 1998, garnering 13 Tony Awards in its initial running. Earlier this year, Ragtime ran at the Eisenhower Theatre from April 18 through May 17, giving theatergoers a sneak peek of the action to come.

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 7, 2009 - Post a comment

Toxic Avenger Celebrates 100 Performances

The Toxic Avenger, the winner of the 2009 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best New Off-Broadway Musical, hit a monumental landmark on Friday, July 3, performing its 100th show the night before Independence Day. Surpassing the 100 milestone, the cast of The Toxic Avenger celebrated the significant feat with an Independence Day party, passing around green-colored “toxic” cookies at New World Stages to commemorate the show’s 100th performance at the New York City venue.

A hilarious and nontraditional love story, The Toxic Avenger is based off the 1985 film of the same name and features music and lyrics by David Bryan (Bon Jovi) and book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change). Direction for the off-Broadway production is done by John Rando, and the colorful cast includes Celina Carvajal, Nick Cordero, Demond Green, Matthew Saldivar and Nancy Opel. The storyline of the witty The Toxic Avenger follows the main character (and superhero freak of nature) Melvin Ferd (aka Toxie) and his quest to turn around Tromaville, a polluted New Jersey town, while also attempting to win the girl - the beautiful and blind librarian Sarah.

To get Broadway tickets, go to StubHub.

Permalink - Posted in General on July 6, 2009 - Post a comment


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