A $1 million gift from the Platt family to MCC Theater has launched a new initiative to support the development and production of new musicals at the Off-Broadway company.
Formed by producer Marc Platt, his wife Julie, and their family (including Tony-winning son Ben Platt), the Gary Platt Musical Initiative honors the memory of their relative (Marc’s uncle), a lifelong fan of musical theatre.
Ben Platt and Marc Platt Bruce Glikas
The initiative was announced as MCC kicks off the 2019–2020 season with the new musical The Wrong Man, which begins previews September 18. The entire season will be staged at MCC’s permanent home, The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space (the new musical Alice By Heart was a part of the venue’s inaugural lineup.
Both the initiative and new venue aim to increase the number of annual productions, expand its programming, and deepen the company’s commitment to provoking conversations and the exchange of ideas.
“Beyond being my beloved uncle, Gary introduced generations to the world of musical theatre,” said Tony-winning producer Marc Platt (The Band’s Visit). “An initiative that encourages new playwrights and songwriters to reach their potential is a legacy he would be so proud of and a beautiful reflection of his life.”
Photos: First Look at MCC Theater’s Alice By Heart Off-Broadway
Photos: First Look at MCC Theater’s Alice By Heart Off-Broadway
17 PHOTOS
Molly Gordon and Colton Ryan Deen van Meer
Wesley Taylor, Molly Gordon, Colton Ryan, and Zachary Infante Deen van Meer
Noah Galvin Deen van Meer
Noah Galvin, Zachary Infante, Mia DiLena, Wesley Taylor, Heath Saunders, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Molly Gordon, and Colton Ryan Deen van Meer
Molly Gordon, Andrew Kober and cast of Alice by HeartDeen van Meer
Molly Gordon, Grace McLean, and cast Deen van Meer
Colton Ryan and Molly Gordon Deen van Meer
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe and Molly Gordon Deen van Meer
The cast of Alice By HeartDeen van Meer
Molly Gordon, Colton Ryan, and the cast of Alice By HeartDeen van Meer
Alex Jennings Netflix’s The Crown and Solea Pfeiffer Almost Famous, Hamilton will join Rene Fleming in the limited Chicago presentation of The Light in the Piazza, for ten performances only, December 14-29, 2019, at Lyric Opera House press opening Saturday, Dec. 14. Tickets start at 49 and are on sale now. The Chicago engagement follows the production’s acclaimed run at the Royal Festival Hall in London this summer.
On Monday, September 16, 2019, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation announced the 2019 recipients at the annual Off-Off-Broadway IT Awards. For the past 15 years, the It Awards have celebrated the vibrant and creative indie theatre community under the dedicated leadership of Executive Directors Shay Gines and Nick Micozzi who are stepping down and at the ceremony introduced new leadership for the organization Cat Parker, Artistic Director of Articulate Theatre Company Ariel Estrada, Producing Artistic Director of Leviathan Lab Projects and Jazmyn Arroyo, Co-Founding Artistic Director of Step 1 Theatre Project will join Akia Squiteri, Artistic Director of Rising Sun Performance Company as Directors of the organization.
Performances begin September 17 at the Westside Theatre for the Off-Broadway revival of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken’s Little Shop of Horrors, directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer (Hedwig and the Angry Inch).
The cast features Tony nominee Jonathan Groff (Hamilton, Mindhunter) as Seymour, Emmy winner Tammy Blanchard(Life with Judy Garland, Gypsy) as Audrey, Tony winner Christian Borle(Something Rotten!, Falsettos) as Orin Scrivello, D.D.S., and Kingsley Leggs as The Voice of Audrey II.
In Little Shop, Seymour discovers a mysterious—and voracious—plant that suddenly thrusts him into an epic battle that will determine the fate of the entire human race.
Salome Smith, Joy Woods, and Ari Groover Joseph Marzullo/WENN
The cast of the revival, which is scheduled through January 2020, also includes Tom Alan Robbins as Mushnik, Ari Groover as Ronnette, Salome Smith as Crystal, Joy Woods as Chiffon, Stephen Berger, Chris Dwan, Kris Roberts, Chelsea Turbin, Eric Wright, and Teddy Yudain.
Tony nominee Gideon Glick (To Kill a Mockingbird, Significant Other) will play Seymour for two weeks, November 5–17, while Groff is on a scheduled leave.
Rounding out the creative team are choreographer Ellenore Scott (Head Over Heels associate), Tony-nominated scenic designer Julian Crouch (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), two-time Tony-winning lighting designer Bradley King (Hadestown), Emmy-winning costume designer Tom Broecker (Everyday Rapture), Tony-winning sound designer Jessica Paz (Hadestown), Emmy-nominated puppet designer Nicholas Mahon (Pyeongchang Olympics Opening Ceremony), puppets by Monkey Boys Productions, and music supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger Will Van Dyke (Pretty Woman).
Little Shop is produced by Tom Kirdahy, Robert Ahrens, Hunter Arnold, Mickey Liddell, Caiola Productions, Curt Cronin, John Joseph, DDM Productions, Desantis-Baugh Productions, Elizabeth Dewberry & Ali Ahmet Kocabiyik, Wendy Federman, Roy Furman, Deborah Green, Kayla Greenspan, Marguerite Hoffman, Sally Cade Holmes, Latitude Link, Seriff Productions, Silva Theatrical Group, and Eric Gelb/Oliver Roth.
Casting is by Jim Carnahan, CSA, and general management is by Live Wire Theatrical/Chris Aniello.
Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors Meets the Press
Off-Broadway’s Little Shop of Horrors Meets the Press
12 PHOTOS
Little Shop of HorrorsJoseph Marzullo/WENN
Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard, and Christian Borle Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard, and Christian Borle Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Jonathan Groff, Tammy Blanchard, Michael Mayer, and Christian Borle Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Salome Smith, Joy Woods, and Ari Groover Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Kingsley Leggs and Tom Alan Robbins Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Robert Ahrens Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Tom Kirdahy, Hunter Arnold, and Robert Ahrens Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Alan Menken Joseph Marzullo/WENN
Cast of Little Shop of HorrorsJoseph Marzullo/WENN
The London premiere of The Prince of Egypt, the stage adaptation of the 1998 animated DreamWorks movie, will begin performances February 5, 2020.
With a score by Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, The Prince of Egypt will star Luke Brady as Moses, Liam Tamne as Ramses, Christine Allado as Tzipporah, Alexia Khadime as Miriam, Joe Dixon as Seti, Debbie Kurup as Queen Tuya, Gary Wilmot as Jethro, Adam Pearce as Hotep, Tanisha Spring as Nefertari, and Silas Wyatt-Barke as Aaron.
Flip through photos of the cast below:
Meet the Cast of The Prince of Egypt in London
Rounding out the cast will be Simbi Akande, Casey Al-Shaqsy, Joe Atkinson, Danny Becker, Felipe Bejarano, Pàje Campbell, Adam Filipe, Soophia Foroughi, Natalie Green, Jack Harrison-Cooper, Rachael Ireson, KaleneJeans, Christian Knight, Jessica Lee, Oliver Lidert, Jay Marsh, Scott Maurice, Carly Miles, Sam Oladeinde, Alice Readie, Christopher Short, Ricardo Walker, Danny Williams, Niko Wirachman, and Sasha Woodward.
Schwartz, who won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for “When You Believe,” has expanded his score for the stage production that features a book by Philip LaZebnik (Mulan, Pocahontas).
Scott Schwartz will direct the London staging, having previously helmed the 2017 world premiere at the TheatreWorks Silicon Valley (this year’s Regional Theatre Tony Award recipient) in a co-production with Fredericia TeaterDenmark.
The Prince of Egypt will feature choreography by Sean Cheesman; set designs by Kevin Depinet; costume designs by Ann Hould-Ward; lighting design by Mike Billings; sound design by Gareth Owen; projection designs by Jon Driscoll; illusion designs by Chris Fisher; orchestrations by August Eriksmoen; musical supervision and arrangements by Dominick Amendum; musical direction by Dave Rose and casting by Jim Arnold CDG.
This self-proclaimed Jew-rican is tearing it up 8 times a week in Beetlejuice on Broadway, consistently proving herself as one of the funniest people on Broadway.
Krysta Rodriguezmakes her long-awaited Feinstein’s54 Below solo debut andhas debuteda brand new medley exploring career highlights from her time in Broadway shows including Spring Awakening, First Date, The Addams Family, In the Heights, A Chorus Line and more
Telly Leung, who recently concluded a 20-month Broadway run in the title role of Disney’s Aladdin, will return to the Green Room 42 with his popular nightclub act Sing Happy on September 26 at 7 PM.
Gary Adler (Altarboyz) is music director for Sing Happy, which features direction by Alan Muraoka (Pacific Overtures, Miss Saigon).
Leung’s Broadway credits also include the musicals In Transit and Allegiance, the revivals of Flower Drum Song and Pacific Overtures, and the final Broadway company of Rent. He originated the role of Boq in the Chicago production of Wicked and played Dalton Academy Warbler Wes on Fox’s Glee. New York State of Mind: The Remixes —Telly Leung + DRWM was recently released and is available for download on iTunes and to stream on Spotify/Apple Music.
