When you think ‘haunted houses’ you probably don’t picture the inside of a theatre. But with an over 100 year history, many of Broadway’s most famous houses are positively teeming withreports of the supernatural.
The Committee of Theatre Owners will honor the late, Tony-winning playwright and librettist Terrence McNally November 3 (which would have marked his 83rd birthday) by dimming the lights of Broadway theatres in New York for one minute at 6:30 PM.
Mr. McNally, a five-time Tony Award recipient whose plays often featured explorations of contemporary gay life and a reverence for classical music, died March 24, 2020, at the age of 81. The playwright faced complications due to the coronavirus; he was a lung cancer survivor and lived with COPD. Read Playbill’s complete obituary here.
A Celebration of Life, memorializing Mr. McNally’s life and career, will take place November 1 from 4 PM–6 PM at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The celebration will include readings, performances, and tributes honoring Mr. McNally’s impact on the theatre community. The celebration is free and open to the public, and masks and proof of vaccination will be required. Doors will open at 3:30 PM.
Tom Kirdahy, Mr. McNally’s husband, said in a statement, “The theatre community brought so much joy to Terrence’s life, and our life together. He would be honored and humbled to know that the lights of Broadway will be dimmed in his memory. I am brimming with gratitude and pride.”
“Terrence McNally was one of America’s greatest playwrights, and his impact on theatre is so immense that it is hard to measure,” added Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League. “He was a part of the community and his love for the theatre was evident in everything that he did. He made a difference, and we will miss his spirit and his contributions to Broadway and the theatre but we have the memories of all that he contributed.”
Scheduled to air on December 2, the new live musical will also feature Harry Connick, Jr. as Daddy Warbucks,Nicole Scherzinger asGrace, Jane Krakowski as Lily St. Regis, Tituss Burgess as Rooster Hannigan,and Celina Smith as Annie. Get a first look at Taraji P. Henson in costume now
A new singing nanny takes over Broadway October 21 as Mrs. Doubtfire returns to performances at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. The musical had played only three preview performances prior to the pandemic shutdown in March 2020. Opening night is set for December 5.
Tony nominee Rob McClure returns to the title role—or rather, a single father disguised as the title role in order to spend more time with his children. Returning cast members include Jenn Gambatese as Miranda Hillard, Peter Bartlett as Mr. Jolly, Charity Angél Dawson as Wanda Sellner, Mark Evans as Stuart Dunmire, J. Harrison Ghee as Andre Mayem, Analise Scarpaci as Lydia Hillard, Jake Ryan Flynn as Christopher Hillard, Avery Sell as Natalie Hillard, and Brad Oscar as Frank Hillard.
Also returning are Cameron Adams, Calvin L. Cooper, Kaleigh Cronin, Maria Dalanno, Casey Garvin, David Hibbard, KJ Hippensteel, Aaron Kaburick, Erica Mansfield, Brian Martin, Alexandra Matteo, Sam Middleton, LaQuet Sharnell Pringle, Akilah Sailers, Jaquez André Sims, Travis Waldschmidt, and Aléna Watters, with Jodi Kimura joining the cast. Original ensemble member Doreen Montalvo passed away in October 2020 following a sudden illness.
READ: The Theatre Community Remembers the Life and Work of Doreen Montalvo
The musical comedy, based on the 1993 movie, features a score by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick and a book co-written by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O’Farrell. The trio previously collaborated on the 2015 Broadway musical Something Rotten!.
Mrs. Doubtfire is directed by Jerry Zaks and choreographed by Lorin Latarro, with music supervision by Ethan Popp. The show has a scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Catherine Zuber, lighting design by Philip Rosenberg, sound design by Brian Ronan, hair and wig design by David Brian Brown, and make-up design by Tommy Kurzman.
The production played made its pre-Broadway premiere at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in 2019.
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A host of theatre veterans star in a limited Off-Broadway revival of Paul Osborn’s Morning’s at Seven beginning October 20 at Theatre at St. Clement’s. Directed by Obie winner Dan Wackerman, performances will continue through January 9, 2022. Opening night is November 4.
The comedy classic stars Oscar nominee and Obie winner Lindsay Crouse (The Homecoming), Obie winner Alma Cuervo (On Your Feet!), two-time Tony winner Judith Ivey (Steaming, Hurlyburly), Dan Lauria (Lombardi, The Wonder Years), Oscar nominee Patty McCormack (The Bad Seed, Frost/Nixon), two-time Tony nominee Tony Roberts (The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife, Annie Hall), Tony winner John Rubinstein (Pippin, Children of a Lesser God), Keri Safran (Typhoid Mary at Barrington Stage), and Jonathan Spivey (The Front Page).
The production also has scenic design by Harry Feiner, costume design by Barbara A. Bell, lighting design by Jimmy Lawlor, and sound design by Quentin Chiappetta. The associate director is Elizabeth Van Dyke. Casting is by McCorkle Casting.
The 1939 play was nearly forgotten by 1978, when director Vivian Matalon staged the work at the Academy Festival Theatre in Lake Forest, Illinois. New York producers saw the mounting and decided to move it to Broadway’s Lyceum Theatre, where it opened in 1980, running 564 performances and winning three Tony Awards, including Best Reproduction (Play or Musical).
Morning’s at Seven is produced by Julian Schlossberg, Roy Furman, Eric Falkenstein, Sandy Robertson, Suzanne Grant, Anna Czekaj, Alexander “Sandy” Marshall, Jody H. Klein, and Jamie deRoy/Morris S. Levy, in association with The Peccadillo Theater Company, Woodie King, Jr.’s New Federal Theatre, and Ken Wirth.
For additional information visit MorningsAt7.com.
(Updated October 20, 2021)