The State of Broadway: February 2021
We’ve rounded up all of the latest news on the current state of Broadway for February 2021. Which shows are returning and which are not What’s the status of the Tony Awards Check out what’s new
Look Back Dear World on Starring Angela Lansbury on Broadway
February 6 marks the 52nd anniversary of Dear World, the musical by Jerry Herman, Jerome Lawrence, and Robert E. Lee, which opened at Broadway’s Mark Hellinger Theatre (currently home to the Times Square Church) in 1969. The production starred Angela Lansbury, whose performance as Countess Aurelia earned her the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical—her second, after her 1966 win for Mame.
Dear World, an adaptation of Jean Giraudoux’s play The Madwoman of Chaillot, tells the story of a countess (Lansbury) who schemes with her associates to stop businessmen from drilling for oil under the streets of their Parisian neighborhood. The production ran for 45 previews and 132 performances. It went go on to be revised by its creators and has since been revived numerous times, including a 2017 Off-Broadway staging by York Theatre Company, which featured Tyne Daly as Countess Aurelia.
Look Back Dear World on Starring Angela Lansbury on Broadway
In addition to Lansbury, the original Broadway production starred Milo O’Shea as The Sewerman, Jane Connell as Gabrielle, Carmen Mathews as Constance, Kurt Peterson as Julian, Pamela Hall as Nina, Will Larsen as the Chariman of the Board, and Ted Agress as the Juggler, alongside Nicole Barth, Bruce Becker, Toney Brealond, Jane Coleman, Michael Davis, Jack Davison, Jacque Dean, Richard Dodd, Clifford Fearl, Miguel Godreau, John Grigas, Marian Haraldson, Tony Juliano, Charles Karel, Gene Kelton, Zale Kessler, Carolyn Kirsch, Urylee Leonardos, Joe Masiell, James Maher, Ty McConnell, Larry Merritt, Ruth Ramsey, Orrin Reiley, Patsy Sabline, Connie Simmons, John Taliaferro, Margot Travers, Gene Varrone, Charles Welch, and Mary Zahn. Rounding out the company were M’el Dowd, Camila Ashland, Barbara Blair, John Grigas, and Merrill Leighton as standbys.
Directed and choreographed by Joe Layton, Dear World featured scenic design by Oliver Smith, costume design by Freddy Wittop, lighting design by Jean Rosenthal, and sound design by Robert Liftin with stage management by Robert L. Borod and Sal Pernice. For the complete cast and creative team, visit Dear World on the Playbill Vault.
VIDEO: On This Day, February 5- Happy Birthday, Alex Brightman
On this day, we’re celebrating the birthday of two-time Tony nominee, Alex Brightman
Double Record, Purple Vinyl Set of The Color Purple Broadway Revival Cast Recording Arrives February 5
Broadway Records releases a two-LP set of the Grammy-winning cast recording for the Tony-winning revival of The Color Purple February 5. The limited edition purple vinyl set is available at PlaybillStore.com.
Featuring the talents of Tony winner Cynthia Erivo, Grammy winner Jennifer Hudson, and Orange Is the New Black‘s Danielle Brooks, the recording includes an album insert with photos from the Broadway production, a gatefold cover with show artwork, full billing, track list, album notes, and additional production photos.
Directed by Tony winner John Doyle, the production also featured Isaiah Johnson as Mister, Tony nominee Joaquina Kalukango as Nettie, and Kyle Scatliffe as Harpo with Phoenix Best, Dwayne Clark, Lawrence Clayton, Carrie Compere, Patrice Covington, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Grasan Kingsberry, Kevyn Morrow, Ken Robinson, Antoine L. Smith, Carla R. Stewart, Akron Watson, and Rema Webb.
Based on Alice Walker’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and the Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment motion picture, The Color Purple was adapted for the stage by Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner Marsha Norman, with music and lyrics by Grammy winners Brenda Russell, Allee Willis, and Stephen Bray.
The revival received 2016 Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Actress in a Musical for Erivo’s performance as Celie, as well as nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical (Brooks) and Best Direction (Doyle). The Color Purple also won the 2017 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album.
READ: Film Adaptation of The Color Purple Musical Secures December 2023 Release Date
Production Photos: The Color Purple Revival on Broadway
(Updated February 5, 2021)
Fired COLOR PURPLE Star Says She Didn’t Know She Was Expected to Play a Lesbian Character
Legal action by Omooba was previously set to begin lastApril, but was postponed due to the global health crisis. Now the tribunal against Curve in Leicesterhas begun on the grounds of religious discrimination and breach of contract.
Last Call: Join Audra McDonald and Will Swenson for a Valentine’s Chocolate Tasting
Time is running out to spend time this Valentine’s weekend with Broadway couple Audra McDonald and Will Swenson as they team up with Playbill and Läderach - chocolatier suisse for a virtual, interactive tasting experience. A Sweet Taste of Broadway is scheduled for February 13 at 3 PM ET as part of Playbill’s Social Selects programming.
McDonald and Swenson will be joined by World Chocolate Master Elias Läderach as he leads viewers on a tasting of Läderach’s fresh handcrafted chocolate from Switzerland and a discussion of the greatest love stories in theatre. Click here for tickets and order by February 4 in order to receive your tasting packages.
There are three ticket options: 1) “The Sweetest Kiss” VIP package includes entry to the event, a Läderach fresh chocolate tasting kit, plus virtual backstage access after the main show; 2) “A Peck on the Cheek” regular package includes entry to the event and a Läderach fresh chocolate tasting kit; and 3) “Love From Afar” viewing-only package includes entry to the event. To ensure timely delivery, online orders for “The Sweetest Kiss” and “A Peck on the Cheek” close on February 4.
“My amazing wife is maybe the busiest person I know,” says Swenson. “And the only thing better than actually pinning her down for a fun, creative date, is if that fun, creative date involves chocolate. Tons of amazing chocolate. And that is precisely why I’m over the moon for this upcoming event. Time with amazing wife. Time with amazing chocolate. Everybody wins.”
For more virtual programming, visit Playbill.com/SocialSelects.
Celebrating 6-Time Tony Award Winner Audra McDonald
Wake Up With BWW 2/2: Jeremy Jordan & Ashley Spencer’s Seth Concert is Now Available on Demand, and More!
Today’s top stories Jeremy Jordan and Ashley Spencer’s performance as part of The Seth Concert Series, is now available On Demand, and more
Check Out These Stunning Comic-Inspired Theatre Illustrations of Wicked, Hadestown, and More
While a show may last a few hours, it can inspire creativity in its audience long after the curtain has come down. Illustrator, writer, and comic artist Arielle Jovellanos has remained creative by blending her theatre passion with her studio art, creating showstopping comic-inspired theatre illustrations, inspired by some of her favorite shows.
“I did a lot of shows in high school, and when I was in the ensemble, I learned a lot about how the details in the background of a scene can do a lot to support the visual storytelling of a moment on stage,” Jovellanos explains. “With every song in musical theatre, there’s an opportunity to tell an entire story and transport the listener for three to five minutes. I’m always inspired by theatre pieces that immerse you in their world with exacting detail.”
“When I sit down to make an illustration or a comic page, I try to do the same thing using the tools available to me,” Jovellanos continues. “I don’t have the luxury of sound, but I have color, set design, costume design, prop design, acting through expression, and body language, and even the rhythm of shapes. In a weird way, I think my love of theatre taught me how to illustrate. Whenever I make a piece of musical fan art, it’s usually because I’m chasing how a story made me feel when I saw it on stage or heard it on a cast recording—I’m trying to figure out how to bring that same feeling to a drawing. I recently made a little Hadestown comic because I could not get 20 seconds of music out of my head. I don’t think there’s any other form of storytelling like live theatre, but I can’t help but try to pay homage through my art anyway.”
Check Out These Stunning Comic-Inspired Theatre Illustrations of Wicked, Hadestown, and More
See more of Jovellanos’ work at Arielle-Jovellanos.com.