Bucks County Playhouse is presenting an all-new production of Kinky Boots, running through July 30. BroadwayWorld spoke with Richard E. Waits and Jimmy Brewer about the magic of Kinky Boots, their favorite parts about Lola and Charlie, performing at the historic Bucks County Playhouse, and moreRead the interview here
The party will also mark the Off-Broadway revival surpassing 500 performances at the Westside Theatre.
The Off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors will host a Skid Row Block Party July 23 from 4-6 PM in honor of the 40th anniversary of the musical’s premiere in 1982. Presented in partnership with the Times Square Alliance and the Westside Theatre, the free block party will follow a matinee performance of the hit revival. The block party also celebrates the revival passing 500 performances. The event was originally planned for May 6 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
The block party will feature live cast performances; a DJ booth by S.N.O.B.; face painting; Carvel, Mister Softee, and Van Leeuwen ice cream trucks; popcorn and cotton candy machines; Schmackarys, Sticky’s, and Baked By Melissa tables; and a 360º camera for fans and friends alike to virtually join in the celebration. There will also be a free raffle with prizes that include tickets to Little Shop of Horrors, a copy of the cast album, and a poster and Playbill signed by the cast. Neighboring eateries Bea and Little Pie Company will offer exclusive discounts with proof of a ticket from July 23’s performances.
Flip Through the 1982 Original Little Shop of Horrors Playbills
Little Shop of Horrors features a book and lyrics by Grammy and Academy Award winner Howard Ashman (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast), and music by Tony and Academy Award winner Alan Menken (Aladdin, Newsies).
The current cast of includes Tony nominee Rob McClure (Mrs. Doubtfire, Beetlejuice), Emmy winner Tammy Blanchard (Life with Judy Garland, Gypsy) as Audrey, two-time Tony winner Christian Borle (Something Rotten!, Peter and the Starcatcher) as Orin Scrivello, Aaron Arnell Harrington (Rent) as Audrey II, Stuart Zagnit (Caroline, Or Change, Newsies) as Mushnik, Khalifa White (Caroline or Change, School of Rock) as Ronnette, Cristina Raé as Crystal, and Khadija Sankoh as Chiffon. Rounding out the cast is Teddy Yudain, Michael Iannucci, Josh Daniel, Camryn Hampton, and Chelsea Turbin. Weston Long joins the cast as the puppeteer of Audrey II beginning July 19.
The Off-Broadway revival resumed its run September 21, 2021, after temporarily closing in March 2020 due to the pandemic.
The revival, directed by Tony winner Michael Mayer, opened in October 2019. The creative team for the Ashman-Menken musical also includes choreographer Ellenore Scott, scenic designer Julian Crouch, lighting designer Bradley King, costume designer Tom Broecker, sound designer Jessica Paz, puppet designer Nicholas Mahon, original puppet designer Martin P. Robinson, hair and makeup designer Tommy Kurzman, music supervisor, orchestrator, and arranger Will Van Dyke, and casting director Jim Carnahan. Puppets are by Monkey Boys Productions.
General management is by Live Wire Theatrical/Chris Aniello, and production stage management is by Howard Tilkin. Tom Kirdahy, Robert Ahrens, and Hunter Arnold produce the revival.
Little Shop of Horrors is based on the 1960 cult movie of the same name. The musical version debuted Off-Broadway at WPA Theatre in 1982 (subsequently transferring to the Orpheum) starring Lee Wilkoff and Ellen Greene in a role that would become her signature. A Broadway production was mounted in 2003 co-starring Hunter Foster and Kerry Butler.
Explore Rare Photos, Letters and Memories in Ellen Greene’s Little Shop of Horrors Scrapbook
The outdoor production at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater stars Danai Gurira as the titular villain.
Richard III, presented as part of The Public Theater’s Free Shakespeare in the Park season at Central Park’s Delacorte Theater, completes its run July 17 after beginning previews June 22 and opening June 30. Read reviews for the production here.
Danai Gurira stars as Richard III, joined by Wyatt Cirbus as Prince of Wales, Sanjit De Silva as Buckingham, Sam Duncan as Duke of York, Monique Holt as Duchess of York, Gregg Mozgala as King Edward IV and as Richmond, Paul Niebanck as George, Michael Potts as Lord Stanley, Ariel Shafir as Lord Hastings, Heather Alicia Simmsas Queen Elizabeth, Ali Stroker as Anne, Sharon Washington as Queen Margaret, and Daniel J. Watts as Catesby Ratcliffe.
Included in the ensemble are Maleni Chaitoo, Thaddeus Fitzpatrick, Skyler Gallun, Sarah Nina Hayon, Matthew Jeffers, Matt Monaco, Xavier Pacheco, Marcus Raye Pérez, Grace Porter, and N’yomi Stewart.
READ: 127 New Yorkers to Star in Free Shakespeare in the Park’s As You Like It
Tony nominee Robert O’Hara (Slave Play) directs the production. The creative team also features scenic designer Myung Hee Cho, costume designer Dede Ayite, lighting designer Alex Jainchill, hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis, fight directors Teniece Divya Johnson and Jeremy Sample, and movement director Byron Easley. Johnson also serves as intimacy director, Bryan Bauer as production stage manager, and Heather Englander as stage manager. Sound design and composition are by Elisheba Ittoop.
“Richard III speaks to the dangerous machinations that we have witnessed by leaders throughout history, but most acutely in recent years in our own government,” shared director O’Hara in an earlier statement.
Richard III was last seen on The Delacorte stage in 1990 with Denzel Washington in the title role. Free Shakespeare in the Park’s second summer production, Public Works’ As You Like It, will begin its run August 10.
For more information, visit PublicTheater.org.
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This summer, viewers can beat the heat and enjoy Broadway blockbusters from the comfort of their own homes with BroadwayHD BroadwayHD has a variety of summer blockbuster titles, including Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misrables, Hair, and more.
Tony winner Kathleen Marshall directed and choreographed the newly reworked Meredith Willson musical for the Transport Group in 2020.
Broadway Records and Yellow Sound Label will digitally release an Off-Broadway cast album of Meredith Willson‘s The Unsinkable Molly Brown July 22. The album features the cast of Transport Group’s 2020 production, led by Beth Malone in the title role.
The production featured Willson’s original score with some trunk songs from the Music Man writer’s archives interpolated, along with a newly revised book and additional lyrics by Dick Scanlan.
“In addition to preserving a show that has been one of the most joyful and fulfilling of my career, part of the thrill of recording this score is introducing Meredith Willson songs that no one had ever heard before the new The Unsinkable Molly Brown,” said Scanlan in a statement.
Along with Malone, the album will feature performances from David Aron Damane, Whitney Bashor, Omar Lopez-Cepero, Alex Gibson, Paolo Montalban, Paula Leggett Chase, Lauryn Ciardullo, Karl Josef Co, Kaitlyn Davidson, Tyrone Davis, Jr., Gregg Goodbrod, Michael Halling, Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Keven Quillon, and CoCo Smith.
The band, under the direction of Joey Chancey, features Meg Zervoulis on acoustic piano and synth; Suzy Perelman on violin; Joe Wallace on upright bass; Micah Burgess on arch top, steel string, banjo, and mandolin; John Skinner on alto saxophone, clarinet, flute, and piccolo; Justin Vance on flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, and tenor saxophone; Jami Dauber on trumpet and flugelhorn; Alex Jeun on tenor and bass trombone; and Barbara Merjan on percussion and drums.
Produced by Michael Croiter, Michael Rafter, and Dick Scanlan, and recorded by Andy Manganello, the album will feature liner notes by Luis Miranda, orchestrations by Larry Hochman, and additional orchestrations by Michael Starobin and Bruce Coughlin. Michael Rafter adapted the music, and Joey Chancey is music coordinator. The recording was mixed and edited by Croiter at Yellow Sound Lab and mastered by Michael Fossenkemper of Turtle Tone Mastering. The album was recorded December 12, 2021, at Power Station at Berklee in NYC.
The reworked revival opened Off-Broadway February 26, 2020 at The Transport Group following earlier runs at the Denver Center Theatre Company and the St. Louis Muny. Directed and choreographed by three-time Tony winner Kathleen Marshall (Anything Goes, The Pajama Game), the production featured scenic design by Brett Banakis, costume design by Sky Switser, with gowns for Malone by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Peter Kaczorowski, sound design by Walter Trarbach, music direction by Joey Chancey, and casting by Nora Brennan.
The musical tells the rags-to-riches story of Margaret “Molly” Brown—a turn-of-the-century hero of the underdog, champion of women’s rights, fighter for labor rights, advocate of immigration reform—and, most famously, survivor of the Titanic. A love story about a woman who rejected the notion that it’s a man’s world, this new Molly Brown portrays Molly as she really was—vibrant, progressive, modern.
Take a look at the full track listing:
1. I Ain’t Down Yet
2. The Wonderful Plan
3. Just Becuz
4. I’ve A’ready Started In
5. Dancing to the Saddle Rock
6. Belly Up to the Bar, Boys
7. I’ve A’ready Started In (Reprise)
8. I’ll Never Say No/My Own Brass Bed
9. He’s My Friend
10. Are You Sure?
11. Act One Finale
12. Beautiful People of Denver / The Sacred 36
13. Share the Luck / He’s My Friend (Reprise)
14. I’d Like to Change Everything About You
15. Cuppa Tea
16. If We Can-Can
17. The Dolce Trio: Dolce Far Niente, The Same Little Chapel, I May Never Fall in Love With You
18. Wait for Me
19. Share the Luck (Reprise)
20. Exit Music
21. Bonus Track: Colorado My Home