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Take a Peek Inside Rehearsal for the Broadway Revival of The Music Man

by | Nov 19, 2021 | New Musical News Feed

Rehearsals are underway for the upcoming Broadway revival of The Music Man. The production, starring Tony winners Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster as Harold Hill and Marian Paroo, respectively, is set to begin preview performances at the Winter Garden Theatre December 20. Opening night is set for February 10, 2022.

The Music Man tells the story of what happens when con artist Harold Hill arrives in River City and falls in love with the straight-laced librarian, Marian. The musical, which features a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, first opened on Broadway December 19, 1957.

Take a Peek Inside Rehearsal for the Broadway Revival of The Music Man

In addition to Jackman and Foster, the production stars Tony winner Shuler Hensley as Marcellus Washburn, Tony winner Jefferson Mays as Mayor Shinn, Tony winner Jayne Houdyshell as Mrs. Shinn, Tony winner Marie Mullen as Mrs. Paroo, Remy Auberjonois as Charlie Cowell, Gino Cosculluela as Tommy Djilas, and Emma Crow as Zaneeta Shinn with Benjamin Pajak as Winthrop, Kayla Teruel as Amaryllis, Garrett Long as Ethel Toffelmier, Linda Mugleston as Alma Hix, Jessica Sheridan as Maud Dunlop, Rema Webb as Mrs. Squires, Tony nominee Phillip Boykin as Olin Britt, Eddie Korbich as Jacey Squires, Daniel Torres as Ewart Dunlop, and Nicholas Ward as Oliver Hix.

Rounding out the ensemble are Nick Alvino, Jordan Beall, Ronnie S. Bowman Jr., Maria Briggs, Audrey Cardwell, JT Church, Max Clayton, Kammie Crum, Aydin Eyikan, Carlee Flanagan, Ethen Green-Younger, Emily Hoder, Curtis Holland, Eloise Kropp, Ethan Lafazan, Kayla LaVine, Andrew Minard, Sean Montgomery, Tanner Quirk, Lance Roberts, Daniel Patrick Russell, Ann Sanders, Sherisse Springer, Mitchell Tobin, Kathy Voytko, Branch Woodman, and Ryan Worsing.

Jerry Zaks directs the new production of the classic musical, which will also feature choreography by Warren Carlyle, sets and costumes by Santo Loquasto, sound design by Scott Lehrer, lighting by Brian MacDevitt, vocal and dance arrangements by David Chase, orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick, and music direction by Patrick Vaccariello.

Earlier this year, Kate Horton was named executive producer following the departure of Scott Rudin, who announced his intentions to step down from his theatrical ventures as allegations of workplace abuse and intimidation came to light. Remaining on the producing team are Barry Diller and David Geffen.

Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind Opens November 18 on Broadway

by | Nov 17, 2021 | New Musical News Feed

More than 65 years after it was meant to premiere on Broadway, Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind finally opens November 18. The Roundabout Theatre Company production began previews October 29 at the American Airlines Theatre.

Tony winner LaChanze stars in the play as Wiletta, an experienced Black stage actor going through rehearsals of a major Broadway production. Joining her are Tony winner Chuck Cooper as Sheldon Forrester, Michael Zegen as Al Manners, Danielle Campbell as Judy Sears, Jessica Frances Dukes as Millie Davis, Brandon Micheal Hall as John Nevins, Simon Jones as Henry, Alex Mickiewicz as Eddie Fenton, and Don Stephenson as Bill O’Wray.

PHOTOS: Check Out New Production Photos of Alice Childress’ Trouble in Mind on Broadway

Charles Randolph-Wright directs Trouble in Mind, which features set design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Kathy A. Perkins, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, original music by Nona Hendryx, and hair and wig design by Cookie Jordan.

Childress’ look at racism, identity, and ego in the world of New York theatre opened Off-Broadway in 1955. Considered a revelation for both the Civil Rights and feminist movements, the play was announced to move to Broadway in 1957, but that staging that never came to be.

In the News: The Baker’s Wife, A Class Act, More at Theatre Row, Fred Ebb Award Winners

by | Nov 16, 2021 | New Musical News Feed

Read on for more theatre news you may have missed in today’s headlines.

The Baker’s Wife, A Class Act, More Get Off-Broadway Revivals
Theatregoers will get a chance to see three not-oft produced musicals this spring. J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company has announced its second season of productions, with three short Off-Broadway revivals at Theatre Row. The season kicks off with the Tony-nominated musical A Class Act February 10–20. Based on the life of composer-lyricist Ed Kleban (Tony-winning lyricist of A Chorus Line), the musical has a book by Linda Kline and Lonny Price, and a score comprising Kleban’s own songs. The 1980 Tony winner A Day In Hollywood / A Night in the Ukraine, comprising two one-act musicals by Frank Lazarus and Dick Vosburgh, follows February 24–March 6. The season concludes with the Stephen Schwartz-Joseph Stein musical The Baker’s Wife, about a bread shortage in a rural French village caused by the local baker’s marital strife—meadowlarks may or may not be involved. The company, which is under the leadership of Executive Producer Jim Jimirro and Artistic Director Robert W. Schneider, produced Seesaw and No Strings in early 2020 before their inaugural season was cut short due to the pandemic.

Louis Armstrong Bio-Musical Sets Return at Miami New Drama
A Wonderful World will resume performances December 4 at the Colony Theatre in Miami Beach, Florida, and open December 11. Juson Williams will return as Louis Armstrong, after playing the role prior to the coronavirus shutdown in March 2020, along with Nicole Henry, Darlene Hope, Gavin Gregory, and Stephen G. Anthony. Joining the cast are Christina Sajous, Allison Semmes, Jason Holley, and Daniel Barrett. Directed by Tony nominee Christopher Renshaw, the musical features an original book by Aurin Squire and a score composed of songs recorded and made popular by Armstrong. Told from the perspective of the women in Armstrong’s life, A Wonderful World charts Armstrong’s journey from the birth of jazz in his native New Orleans through his international stardom. For more information and tickets, visit MiamiNewDrama.org.

Fred Ebb Award Winners Named
The writing team of Isabella Dawis and Tidtaya Sinutoke have been named the recipients of the 17th annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters who have not yet achieved commercial success. The award includes a $60,000 prize from The Fred Ebb Foundation, funded by royalties from the late lyricist’s catalog. The award will be presented at a January 3 event at Birdland Jazz Club. Works by Dawis and Sinutoke include Sunwatcher, about Japanese female astronomer Hisako Koyama, and Half the Sky, the story of an Asian American woman climbing Mount Everest. Previous winners of the Fred Ebb award include Adam Gwon, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Benjamin Velez, Michael R. Jackson, and Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich.

Mark Valdez Receives SDCF honor
Mark Valdez, an L.A.-based director, writer, and cultural organizer, has been named this year’s recipient of the Zelda Fichlander Awar by the Stage Directors and Choreographers Foundation. The award, which is given annually within rotating regions of the country, recognizes directors and choreographers who have “demonstrated great accomplishment to date with singular creativity and deep investment in a particular community or region.” The award will be presented in a virtual ceremony January 24. It carries with it an unrestricted $5,000 prize from SDCF. Jennifer Chang, Leslie Ishii, and Erika Chong Shuch were all named as finalists.

Gender-Swapped Company Revival, Starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, Resumes on Broadway November 15

by | Nov 14, 2021 | New Musical News Feed

It took some time, but Bobbie’s birthday party is back on. Marianne Elliott’s gender-swapped version of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company resumes previews at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre December 9. The show had played nine performances in March 2020 prior to the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The production will now officially open December 9 (its originally scheduled opening, March 22 of last year, was composer Sondheim’s 90th birthday).

Tony winners Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, who star as Bobbie and Joanne, respectively, are joined by fellow returning cast members Matt Doyle as Jamie, Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald as David, Tony nominee Christopher Sieber as Harry, Tony nominee Jennifer Simard as Sarah, Terence Archie as Larry, Etai Benson as Paul, Nikki Renée Daniels as Jenny, Claybourne Elder as Andy, Greg Hildreth as Peter, Rashidra Scott as Susan, and Bobby Conte as P.J. Manu Narayan joins the cast for its return, replacing Kyle Dean Massey as Theo.

READ: Broadway Shows Extend Mask, Vaccine Requirements as International Crowds Return

Rounding out the company are Kathryn Allison, Britney Coleman, Jacob Dickey, Javier Ignacio, Anisha Nagarajan, Nicholas Rodriguez, Heath Saunders, Tally Sessions, and Matt Wall.

The production, which comes to New York after playing London’s West End, also features choreography by Liam Steel, sets and costumes by Bunny Christie, lighting by Neil Austin, sound design by Ian Dickinson of Autograph, and illusions by Chris Fisher. Joel Fram serves as music supervisor and director, with orchestrations by David Cullen and dance arrangements by Sam Davis. Casting is by Cindy Tolan.

Day-of Rush tickets, priced at $43, will be sold at the Jacobs box office upon opening (two tickets per customer, based on availability).