Japanese star Ryoko Yonekura, who made her Broadway debut in Chicago in 2012, returns to the New York company for a third time beginning July 1 at the Ambassador Theatre.
Yonekura steps back into the role of Roxie Hart for 16 performances through July 14. Following her run in New York, she will join the Chicago U.S. national touring company, opposite Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, in Japan for limited engagements in Osaka (August 1-4 at the Orix Theater) and in Tokyo (August 7-18 at the Tokyu Theatre Orb).
Yonekura originated the role of Roxie in the Japanese-language production of Chicago in 2008 and again in 2010. She then learned the role in English and made her Broadway debut in 2012, returning to the company and joining the U.S. touring company in Japan in 2017.
The Broadway cast currently stars Wright as Velma Kelly, Ryan Silverman as Billy Flynn, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Matron “Mama” Morton, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb, Chicago is the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, Chicago is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards, including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.
Unlike the vast majority of musicals granted concert productions by City Center’s Encores Off-Center, the collaborate effort known as WORKING did not play an Off-Broadway run before hitting Times Square. Instead, Chicago’s Goodman Theatre production transferred to the 46th Street Theatre in 1978, where it garnered numerous Tony nominations, including best musical.
Something great is coming Stephen Spielberg’s film adaptation of the classic musical West Side Story has officially started filming and is set to release at the end of next year To get you all ready to see the Jets and Sharks on the big screen, we’ve gathered all the info you need to know about the movie, from the casting to a peek at the film’s Maria, Rachel Zegler Check it all out
A host of Broadway favorites will take part in a one-night-only concert presentation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Into the Woods, set for July 8 at New York City’s The Town Hall. The evening, presented by Cleveland Musical Theatre, will feature Broadway actors with ties to Ohio, including Tony winner Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) as the Witch, Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck (On The Town) as the Baker, Kate Shindle (Fun Home) as the Baker’s Wife, and Betsy Wolfe (Waitress) as Cinderella.
The four will be joined by Caitlin Houlahan (Waitress) as Little Red, Jordan Matthew Brown (The Book of Mormon) as Jack, John Riddle (Frozen) as Cinderella’s Prince, Zach Adkins (Anastasia) as Rapunzel’s Prince, Antoinette Comer (Mamma Mia!) as Florinda, Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys) as the Wolf, and Melvin Tunstall III (Beautiful) as the Steward.
Check out the video above for a behind-the-scenes look at the production, and flip through the gallery below to see character portraits of some of the show’s stars.
Check Out These Glam Character Portraits From Into the Woods: In Concert at Town Hall
Cleveland Musical Theatre Artistic Director Miles J. Sternfeld will direct the concert with choreography by Martín Céspedes, scenic design by Gabriel Firestone, costume design by Sydney Gallas, lighting design by Zach Blane, sound design by Patrick La Chance, hair/makeup design by Robbie Amodeo, stage management by Giles T. Horne, and casting by Jamibeth Margolis, CSA.
Cleveland Musical Theatre, in partnership with Rent The Runway, The Black Tux & MAC Cosmetics, will present the concert.
Aligned with the mission of Cleveland Musical Theatre, the company of Into the Woods will be joined by a chorus of breakout Cleveland talent and a live orchestra. Proceeds will benefit professional opportunities and educational initiatives for emerging artists at Cleveland Musical Theatre.
Vanessa Carlton, whose 2002 singles “A Thousand Miles” and “Ordinary Day” were breakthrough hits, makes her Broadway debut in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical.
The Grammy nominee begins performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre June 27. She’ll play a limited engagement through September 1.
Flip through photos of the press day below:
A Sneak Peek at Vanessa Carlton in Beautiful
Since her debut album Be Not Nobody, Nashville-based artist Carlton has released Harmonium, Heroes & Thieves, Rabbits on the Run, and Liberman. She joins a lineup of women to play the beloved pop songwriter on Broadway, including Jessie Mueller (who earned a Tony for the role), her sister Abby Mueller, Kennedy, and Supergirl star Melissa Benoist.
Today it was announced that The Cher Show on Broadway will play its final performance on August 18, 2019 following 34 previews and 296 regular performances. The National Tour will launch in Rochester, NY in October 2020.
The Cher Show, the new Broadway musical that charts the life and career of award-winning entertainer and pop-culture icon Cher, will end its run August 18 at the Neil Simon Theatre.
The production will have played 34 previews and 296 regular performances when it closes.
The new musical opened on Broadway December 3, 2018, following a Chicago out of town try out. A national tour will launch in October 2020 in Rochester, New York.
The Cher Show won two Tony Awards this season, including Stephanie J. Block for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role and Bob Mackie for Best Costume Design of a Musical.
Tony Award-winning Jersey Boys book writer Rick Elice wrote the book for the musical that incorporates 35 of Cher’s songs, from her career-launching 1965 duet with Sonny Bono, “I Got You Babe,” to her 2013 dance album Closer to The Truth.
Tony Award winner Block (Falsettos, Wicked), Teal Wicks (Wicked, Finding Neverland), and Micaela Diamond (NBC’s recent live Jesus Christ Superstar) play different incarnations of Cher.
Directed by Jason Moore (Avenue Q, Pitch Perfect), The Cher Show features costumes by Tony Award and nine-time Emmy Award-winning designer Mackie, who has collaborated with Cher over the years on myriad iconic looks, dating back to her 1967 appearance on The Carol Burnett Show.
Mr. Mackie’s fashions have been recreated in exact detail from the original pieces worn by Cher in music videos, television specials, concerts, and award shows. An entire number in the show is dedicated to Mackie’s dazzling collection.
