It’s the party at the end of the world - and it’s the show of the year. Rebecca Frecknall’s astonishing revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s 1966 musical, starring Eddie Redmayne and Jessie Buckley, is truly a revelation, as is the extensive revamp of the Playhouse Theatre.
After beginning preview performances November 11, Lincoln Center Theater’s world premiere of Flying Over Sunset is set to officially open at the Vivian Beaumont Theater December 13. The production was originally slated to open in April 2020 but halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Flying Over Sunset is inspired by the use of LSD in the late ’50s by author Aldous Huxley, playwright and Congresswoman Clare Boothe Luce, and film star Cary Grant. On their trips, they grapple with the unknowns of their lives and the world. The show features a book by James Lapine, music by Tom Kitt, and lyrics by Michael Korie.
Flying Over Sunset stars Tony nominees Harry Hadden-Paton as Aldous Huxley, Carmen Cusack as Clare Boothe Luce, and Tony Yazbeck as Cary Grant alongside Kanisha Marie Feliciano as Ann/Judith, Nehal Joshi as Dr. Harris/Cary’s Father, Emily Pynenburg as Rosalia/Sophia, Michele Ragusa as Austin/Handmaiden, Robert Sella as Gerald Heard, Laura Shoop as Maria Huxley, and Atticus Ware as Archie Leach. Rounding out the company are Aria Braswell, Danny Gardner, Kate Marilley, Patrick Scott McDermott, Tony Roach, and Michael Winther as understudies.
Directed by Lapine with choreography by Michelle Dorrance, the production features scenic design by Tony winner Beowulf Boritt, costume design by three-time Tony nominee Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by two-time Tony winner Bradley King, sound design by five-time Tony nominee Dan Moses Schrier, projection design by 59 Productions, orchestrations by two-time Tony winner Michael Starobin, music direction by Kimberly Grigsby, and stage management by Rick Steiger. Casting is by The Telsey Office. The LCT production is presented in association with Jack Shear.
Sunday, December 19, 2021, marks the closing date forDiana, The Musicalat the Longacre Theatre 220 West 48th Street. Tickets purchased for cancelled performances will be refunded at the point of purchase.
After beginning performances November 15, Marianne Elliott’s gender-swapped revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth’s Company officially opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre December 9. The show was originally slated to open on the late Sondheim’s 90th birthday March 22, 2020, but halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a series of vignettes, Company tells the story of New York bachelorette Bobbie (a twist on the show’s original protagonist, the bachelor Bobby), who learns about the perils and pleasures of love, marriage, dating, and divorce from her married friends. The classic score includes “You Could Drive a Person Crazy,” “The Ladies Who Lunch,” “Side by Side,” and “Being Alive.”
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.
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.
Company debuted on Broadway in 1970, earning 14 Tony Award nominations and winning six, including Best Musical. It was last revived on the Main Stem in 2006 in another re-imagined production, with John Doyle directing a cast of actor-musicians. Doyle and star Raúl Esparza earned Tony nominations, with the production winning Best Revival of a Musical.
As previously reported, Sondheim, whose thematically complex, lyrically nimble, and musically challenging scores changed the face of musical theatre during the latter half of the 20th century, died November 26. Throughout his six-decade career on Broadway, he earned eight Tony Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement honor in 2008, as well as eight Grammy Awards, one Academy Award, and a Pulitzer, influencing the musical theatre genre and inspiring countless artists.
The revival of Company, starring Tony winner Katrina Lenk and two-time Tony winner Patti LuPone, opened on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre tonight, December 9. Read the reviews below
David Byrne’s American Utopia—which officially opened its return engagement October 17—resumes performances at Broadway’s St. James Theatre December 8 at 8 PM. The December 1-5 performances were canceled due to an illness in the company. The production previously said it was not COVID-related.
Byrne is joined on stage by returning band members Jacquelene Acevedo, Gustavo Di Dalva, Daniel Freedman, Chris Giarmo, Tim Keiper, Tendayi Kuumba, Karl Mansfield, Mauro Refosco, Stéphane San Juan, Angie Swan, and Bobby Wooten III. The company standbys are Renée Albulario, Alena Ciera, Chris Eddleton, Evan Frierson, Abe Nouri, and Natalie Tenenbaum.
The initial run opened October 20, 2019, and continued into 2020. The production recouped its initial $4 million investment in mid-December, 10 weeks after opening. The acclaimed production received a Special Tony Award at the September 26 Tony Awards ceremony.
Oscar winner Spike Lee filmed the theatrical concert during the tail end of its Broadway run; it premiered on HBO October 17, 2020. The film recently won two Creative Arts Emmy Awards: Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety Special and Sound Mixing for a Variety Series or Special.
Under the guidance of production consultant Alex Timbers (Moulin Rouge!), the show features lighting design by Rob Sinclair, sound design by Pete Keppler, and musical direction by Karl Mansfield and Mauro Refosco. Annie-B Parson provides choreography and musical staging.
David Byrne’s American Utopia is produced by Kristin Caskey, Mike Isaacson, Patrick Catullo and Todomundo with Hal Luftig, Jonathan Reinis, Shira Friedman, Annapurna Theatre, Elizabeth Armstrong, Thomas Laub, Steven Rosenthal, Erica Lynn Schwartz, Matt Picheny, Steve Traxler, Len Blavatnik, Nonesuch Records, Warner Chappell Music, and Ambassador Theatre Group Productions. Allan Williams serves as executive producer.
