New Year, New Broadway Shows

Current Shows on Broadway: Closings or Cast Changes

The end of 2013 comes with show closings, such as Big Fish which had its final performance at the Neil Simon Theatre on December 29, as well as, cast changes most notably the one’s coming to Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella.  It is typical for cast members’ contracts to be up in January or early February.  The actors may choose to renew their contracts or they may pursue (or even already be cast) in other roles.  Cinderella has recently announced changes of this kind.  Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Marla Mindelle, and Harriet Harris are all leaving, or presumed to be leaving Cinderella in the following weeks. It was just announced that Carly Rae Jepsen will step into the role of Cinderella starting February 4 for a 12 week run.  A lot of patrons hate to see Laura go but she will begin the workshop for Dames at Sea early in the new year so they are sure to see more of her soon.  Santino has been cast, along with Tony Shalub, as Moss Hart in the upcoming play Act One.  Roald Dahl’s Matilda also recently announced the inclusion of new cast members as the four original girls who played Matilda will leave the production and four new Matildas, Paige Brady, Gabriella Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo and Ava Ulloa, were cast in early December. 

Upcoming Broadway Season

Looking ahead at new shows coming to “The Great White Way” in early 2014, there are many shows that sound phenomenal and your average theatre lover will most likely want to see them all! 
Here are a few of the shows that will be opening early in the new year:

BEAUTIFUL:THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL began previews November 21, 2013 and opens January 12, 2014 at Stephen Sondheim Theatre.  It is the story of Carol King, or rather Carol Klein, the tenacious girl from Brooklyn who fought her way into the record business to become one of the recording industry’s most enduring icons.  Jessie Mueller plays Carol King in this acclaimed musical directed by Marc Bruni.

IF/THEN starring Idina Menzel, LaChanze, Anthony Rapp, James Snyder, Jerry Dixon, Jenn Colella and  Jason Tam begins previews at Richard Rodgers Theatre on March 4, 2014 and opens March 27.  Idina Menzel plays a woman named Elizabeth who is on the verge of turning 40 and moves to NYC to make a fresh start. “It is a new musical about how choice and chance collide and we learn to love the fallout”.

THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY is a new musical based on the novel by Robert James Waller written by Jason Robert Brown, book by Marsha Norman.  It is a new take on the love affair between a photographer and American housewife in 1965 Iowa.  Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale play the leads in the new musical directed by Bartlett Sher.  It begins previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on January 17, 2014 and opens on February 20.

OUTSIDE MULLINGAR opens at Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on January 23, 2013 with previews starting January 3.  This new play, written by John Patrick Shanley and directed by Doug Hughes, tells the story of two introverted misfits, Anthony and Rosemary, who live next door to each other.  Anthony is painfully shy and Rosemary is determined to have him.  It is an Irish story about two people finding their way toward solid ground. It stars Brían F. O’Byrne and Debra Messing. 

ALADDIN is a stage adaptation of the 1992 Disney film starring Adam Jacobs, Courtney Reed, James Monroe Iglehart, and Jonathan Freeman. This new adaptation is directed by Casey Nicholaw.  It begins previews February 26, 2014 and opens March 20 at New Amsterdam Theatre. 

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY is a musical adaptation of the Woody Allen film.  It stars Zach Braff, Brooks Ashmanskas, Betsy Wolfe, and Vincent Pastore, and is directed by Susan Stroman.  Previews begin on March 11, 2014 and the musical opens April 10, 2014 at St. James Theatre.

LES MISERABLES the 25^th anniversary production of the musical featrues new orchestrations, as well as, fresh scenic and narrative elements.  This production stars Ramin Karimloo, Will Swenson, Nikki M. James, Caissie Levy, and Andy Mientus, and will be directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell.  It is currently playing a pre-Broadway engagement in Toronto and will begin Broadway previews on March 1, 2014 and open on March 23, 2014. 

HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH will bring Neil Patrick Harris back to Broadway in the landmark 1998 musical about a fictional rock 'n' roll band fronted by a transgender singer by John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's.  This production begins previews March 29, 2014 and opens April 22, 2014 at the Belasco Theatre.  It will be directed by Michael Mayer.

VIOLET brings Sutton Foster back to Broadway in the story of a young woman’s “quest for beauty amidst the image-obsessed landscape of the 1960s."  This Roundabout theatre production of the musical will be directed by Leigh Silverman and will begins previews March 28, 2014 with an opening night scheduled for April 20, 2014 at American Airlines Theatre.

Here is a complete list of upcoming Broadway shows from Playbill.com.

Here is Broadway.com's look ahead at the near year of Broadway.

Tony Awards Spotlight on 2013-2014 as it currently stands

Reveiw: The Kennedy Center Honors

The recipients of this year’s Kennedy Center Honors were: Martina Arroyo, Herbie Hancock, Billy Joel, Shirley MacLaine and Carlos Santana.  The honorees were presented the medallions on December 7^th with the honors ceremony held on December 8^th at the Kennedy Center Opera House, where the honorees were saluted by a variety of talented performers.  The Kennedy Center Honors as aired on television consist of two hours’ time in which there are no acceptance speeches by honorees, but instead heartfelt testaments to the impact honorees have had on the world and celebrations of their work through various performances.

Contemporary stars paying tribute to living legends is the definition of multifarious.  One may not enjoy all of the performances depending on personal preferences but the show includes something for everyone. 

A wide variety of people graced the stage of the Kennedy Center including Glenn Close who opened the show by introducing all of the honorees with engaging snippets about each of their backgrounds and accomplishments.  Harry Belafonte introduced the Carlos Santana tribute which included Buddy Guy and Steve Winwood, among others.  Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor introduced the tribute for Martina Arroyo which included stunning performances from Aida.  Bill O’Reilly introduced the tribute to Herbie Hancock which included performances by many musicians, including Snoop Lion/Dogg and Mix Master Mike (from the Beastie Boys).  Kathy Bates introduced the tribute to Shirley MacLaine which was a Broadway tribute by Anna Kendrick, Sutton Foster, Patina Miler, and Karen Olivo (which was phenomenal!).   Finally, Tony Bennett introduced the tribute to Billy Joel which included performances by Panic! At the Disco’s Brendon Urie and Garth Brooks. 

Artists celebrating artists is one of the greatest things that happens in general.  The celebration of others’ work is so freeing and lacks a self-promotion that award show performances exude. A show that can bring such diverse artists and people to the same stage, and to celebrate such a wide variety of talent is something to be celebrated in and of itself.  

I Don't Want to Go! Review: The Time of the Doctor

Okay.  This was one amazing episode that brought me to tears.  My mom laughed at me for bawling like a baby, but much like David Tennant’s final line as the Doctor, “I don’t want to go.”

After 50 years on television, the Doctor continues to travel through space and time with his companions.   However, this particular episode marks the end of the 11^th, fan-favorite Doctor and the beginning of the 12^th Doctor. 

“And now it's time for one last bow, like all your other selves. Eleven's hour is over now, the clock is striking Twelve's.” 

In 2010, Matt Smith made his debut as the eleventh Doctor, following David Tennant.  Since his regeneration, we have had amazing adventures and have met some amazing people, including Amy Pond, Rory Williams, River Song, and Clara Oswald.  We have seen many twists and turns in his lifeline.

This final episode is no different.  Audience members were thrown back in time to a memory of “The Pandorica Opens,” in which every known foe to the Doctor comes to see him defeated.  In “The Time of the Doctor,” Sontarans, Weeping Angels, Daleks, Cybermen, and the Silence are all featured.  Although most were fighting against him, one particular group worked with him to protect the town called Christmas.   In his final moments before regenerating, the Doctor recalls  his companions and Amy comes back for a few, quick seconds.

For information on the plot, we have some articles here, here, and here.

The benefit of this episode is that many previously unanswered questions were finally addressed, such as the crack in the wall, the Doctor’s name, regenerations, where Gallifrey is now (especially after the 50^th Anniversary episode), etc.   And there was also some much needed time for closure in leaving this body behind.  Karen Gillan’s appearance as Amy brought joy into our hearts because we remembered our time with her and the Raggedy Man, as well as Clara and her Doctor.

Like many fans of the show, I can personally connect with the Doctor and his companions (and in my dreams, I can connect with the adventures). Steven Moffat, who wrote the episode, gave Matt a beautiful, last speech during the final moments.  “We all change. When you think about it, we're all different people all through our lives…And that's okay, that's good, as long as you keep moving, as long as you remember all the people that you used to be. I will not forget one line of this, not one day, I swear. I will always remember when the Doctor was me.”  This moment had me sobbing – I realized that Matt Smith was not just saying these lines for the Doctor; he was saying them for himself in regards to his time on the show.   These are lines that will go down in Whovian history as iconic to the eleventh Doctor.  However, they are so true to every individual because we do change as we grow older.  However, we always look fondly on the past because it has a huge effect on us. 

I want to share something with you as we prepare to move on to the next set of adventures with the new Doctor, Peter Capaldi:

“All eyes were on David Tennant, sombre on the TARDIS set. And David’s eyes were on the studio door, because about to step through it was a young man dressed as him…It never occurred to him [Matt] what it was like for David, standing in his TARDIS for the last time, about to give it all away….Pretty soon his [Peter’s] car will arrive and he’ll be whisked off to begin the trip of a lifetime, probably wondering what it will be like, where it will take him, and how long it will last. And about then, Matt Smith will be standing in his TARDIS for the very last time, with his eyes on the studio door — because about to step through it is a Scottish actor, dressed as him.”  - Steven Moffat, Doctor Who Magazine Issue 466.

For information regarding Doctor Who, check out these sites:

BBC One Doctor Who

BBC America Doctor Who

Doctor Who Tumblr

Film Review: Frozen

As a HUGE fan of Broadway, it is no surprise that I would be drawn to the 2013 film, Frozen.  Every single actor in the main cast has/has had a brilliant career on the Great White Way: Idina Menzel (Elsa), Kristen Bell (Anna), Jonathan Groff (Kristoff), Josh Gad (Olaf), and Santino Fontana (Hans).

For those of you who have no idea what Frozen is about, here is a link to the synopsis of the film.

Let’s continue.

With a brilliant musical numbers by husband-and-wife team, Robert and Kristen-Anderson Lopez, wonderful animation from the Disney Animation Studios, and the cast, the audience was floored.  “Let It Go,” which many have said is reminiscent of classic Disney tunes, brought us (and by “us,” I mean “me”) to tears.  The brilliant score and lyrics, paired with the impeccable talent of the animators, make the number soar.  Also, parents of younger children have probably already heard Demi Lovato’s  rendition of the song, which was released before Idina’s version.  If you haven’t heard the song or seen the clip, here is the official video from the film: "Let It Go."

The other actors in the show are brilliant as well…(Be proud! I’m trying so hard to not to only talk about Idina!)  Kristoff (Groff) and Sven are the perfect pair of friends during the film, and are joined by Josh Gad’s hysterical Olaf.  Santino Fontana's Hans is a stark contrast to his Prince Charming character in the current Broadway company of Rodgersand Hammerstein's Cinderella.  Kristen Bell does a brilliant job with Anna, and created a sweet girl that everyone was rooting for. 

One part of the casting that makes me happy is that the actors were not chosen solely for their “names,” but for their clear levels of talent.  They principal cast, as I said before, are all Broadway veterans.  Thus, they are able to sing AND act.  All of these new musical films should take a cue from Disney and actually cast for talent not popularity!  *gets off soapbox*

Hans Christian Andersen’s 1845 piece “The Snow Queen” is the basis for the plot.  However, Disney simplified it and made it more family friendly.  Also, the funny dialogue of the film is a stark contrast to Andersen’s pieces.  (Note: I have not read the text directly, but have done some research on Andersen’s pieces…that is a common note that I've found).

Love and acceptance are the two main themes of the film.  Love - in respect to family and romance – was handled well.  The idea that we should accept people the way they are, and love them, is seen clearly through Elsa’s treatment in the film. 

Overall, a great film that everyone should see!

As Implausible as it may be… (Alternately titled: What Musical Should NBC Do Next Year?)

If Only...

There may be zero (or less than zero) chance of this happening but we were thinking of possible musicals that NBC could do next year, having heard rumors that it could be “Fiddler on the Roof” we decided to think of things that had the potential to be better than that… this is what we came up with (aside from the many beloved musicals that would do wonderfully):

NBC should do “Bombshell” the Marilyn Monroe musical from SMASH! This seems plausible enough because SMASH was an NBC show and since it’s cancellation more people have discovered it and there is still a loyal legion of fans who loved the show when it was on who would watch the broadcast and buy the merchandise that is sure to follow its airing (CDs, a Score or script of the show, even playbills especially made for it could be made and sold, etc.).  Now we dream big, so we took this a step farther as to what we think NBC could do with its resources to make the show a success.

1. They could have it broadcast two nights and it could be live both times each time with a different Marilyn (if they stuck with the idea from the show that Katherine and Megan are battling it out for the role) or they could have the American people vote for who should be Marilyn or cast someone who is quintessentially Marilyn and is super famous (although, let’s not try Uma Thurman again).  But the possibilities are there.  
2. They could cast a mixture (based on availability and willingness to perform) of people from Smash and also other Broadway performers or well-known actors who can sing AND act.  So that from these names a large number of people will tune in anyway just to see them.
3. When they do the “Behind the Scenes” video for the live production it could be a scripted episode of the show Smash about the process of the show (wholly depending on whether or not a lot of people from the show are a part of the live performance) or it could be as it was this year with just a look at how the production is being put together, etc. OR both could be made and both be made extras on the DVD that will inevitably be produced.
4. This is where it really takes a turn down the “never gonna happen road” but if there is a large audience for the show, as there was for “The Sound of Music Live” this year with 18.5 million viewers upon first broadcast, then they could take it to Broadway or off-Broadway and postpone the DVD release.  As I type this I realize how far-fetched it sounds but a musical about Marilyn Monroe has the potential to do well own (but again this is the farthest stretch).
5. Also, it would become much easier to bring the show back to NBC and get higher ratings this time.  Or, it could be picked up by Netflix (Amazon Prime or Hulu plus) as an original series, in the same way that Arrested Development was continued.

To Be More Realistic

There does seem to be a smaller pool, than most of us originally thought, of musicals they could/would do though when thinking about the beloved classics.  They wouldn't do anything that is currently on Broadway (or that just closed). They have already done a film of The Wiz, so they wouldn't do that or “The Wizard of Oz”.  Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella was done live with Julie Andrews and would still be running or recently closed on Broadway so they wouldn't do that.  In December 2014, both the new “Annie” film and “Into the Woods” are coming out on Christmas Day so they are off the table.  “Phantom of the Opera” feels far too overdone to be done live in this manner.

Here are playbill.com’s suggestions for next year’s production.

Many of them are reaching in terms of the reality of casting such successful actors in some cases and some people I wouldn't cast in a theatrical role of this nature, but they have my vote for “My Fair Lady” with Anna Kendrick (although since “The Last Five Years” AND “Into The Woods” movies will come out in 2014 it would probably seem like an Anna overload…).   It should also be kept in mind that some of these musicals are not well known to the greater public.   Plus, many of the actors listed in this article are either too busy to fit the performance into their schedules or aren’t talented enough (musically) to take on the role.

So what do you think would be a good (and plausible) musical to do next year, and who would you dream cast?

Review: HBO’s “Six by Sondheim”

If you haven’t enjoyed HBO’s most recent documentary, Six by Sondheim, I fully recommend watching it.  The documentary traces Stephen Sondheim’s childhood all the way through his most recent accomplishments as composer, lyricist, and writer.  It begins with his childhood, details his most well-known, and some lesser known, successes and “failures” of his career, even touches upon his personal life, and gives an in-depth look at the person behind the music that had never before been documented in this way.  It pieces together interviews over his career, as he narrates and adds previously unheard details and stories.  One particularly interesting aspect was the focus on his relationship with “surrogate father” Oscar Hammerstein which was a great and moving story.  Another amazing choice by the filmmakers was to include a few renditions of his work.  When A Little Night Music and “Send in the Clowns” are discussed, a medley plays of many of the artists who have recorded it in the form of a youtube player screen, and then Audra McDonald sings an amazingly beautiful rendition of the song.  Even if you do not enjoy any other part of the documentary, her rendition of the song makes it entirely worth the watch! Jeremy Jordan, America Ferrera, Laura Osnes and Darren Criss also perform “Opening Doors” (in two parts, the second of which Sondheim himself is in) from Merrily We Roll Along and it is very well done and worth a watch.  Overall I highly recommend watching the documentary, regardless of whether or not you are a musical lover. 

Guitar World's Latest Issue

“Guitars of the Rich and Famous: The Iconic Instruments of the World’s Greatest Players”

For anyone who loves to play guitar or listen to the music of rock and roll legends, try to take a look at this special issue.  The magazine features interviews with various guitar players discussing their personal guitar collections and giving some details about their favorite instruments.  Guitarists like Joe Bonamassa, Rick Nielson, Carlos Santana, and Lindsey Buckingham are interviewed.  However, the jewels of this Guitar World Special Issue are the profiles on the instruments themselves.  There are color photos of the guitars and their players, with blurbs about the history and use of each instrument. 

On stands now!

Guitar World

A Galway to Broadway Christmas!

On December 14, the Garner Performing Arts Center opened its fourth season of Broadway Voices by featuring a group of talented musicians, led by Ciarán Sheehan.  Sheehan is most known for his time spent portraying the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera – over 1,000 performances in total!  Sheehan was joined by Irish singer/songwriter Gabriel Donahue, pianist Sue Anderson, and violinist Heather Martin Bixler.  In contrast to previous performers of the series, Sheehan’s performance in Garner, North Carolina was not focused on his Broadway Career.   The majority of the music performed was rooted in his Irish background.   And, due to the pending holiday season, he sang some classic Christmas tunes – with an Irish twist. 

As someone who loves musical theatre, I was fairly disappointed that there were very few Broadway songs during the course of the show.  Sheehan’s interpretations of “Music of the Night” and “Bring Him Home” were beautiful.  However, if I were being picky, I would say that “Music of the Night” would have been a whole lot better had he sang the ballad legato rather than staccato. However, his Irish music was superb and any lover of Celtic style would be pleased! Sheehan was right on track to provide a wide range of music for his audience. 

I got so excited when I saw that Sue Anderson was to perform that night.  I had previously heard her play at another event, and her piano skills are INCREDIBLE!!!  To my dismay, Sue was not featured or given a chance to show off her own skills like the other performers.  (Note: Sue Anderson has worked as a musical director and conductor for Broadway and national touring companies, CATS in particular).

On the other hand, I was impressed with Gabriel Donahue.  He definitely has stage presence, that’s for sure.  Donahue was given some time on stage to show off his own skills as a singer and guitarist, at which time he sang “Stairway to Heaven,” “Wannabe,” and “I Will Survive”.  He also played some traditional Irish songs, using a loop pedal to provide percussion and additional melodies. 

My mother, who went to the concert with us, has always wanted to play the violin.  So, she was very impressed with Bixler.  Whenever one hears a violin playing Irish music, it is impossible not to envision Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance.   So, it was no surprise when a young, North Carolina girl stepped onstage to perform a couple of Irish dances along with Bixler’s instrumentals. 

One highlight of the performance is how well the group blends together.  Not only do they play well together, they also seem like a big, happy family of friends.   A friend of mine, who works in the sound booth at GPAC, told me later that the performers stayed long after the audience had left and had their own personal jam session.   If you are given the chance to see any of these wonderful musicians, please do!

For more information on the individual performers, here are links to their websites:

Ciaran Sheehan

Gabriel Donahue

For more information about the Broadway Voices concert series, visit Garner Performing Arts Center.

WELCOME! Let's Talk About Award Season

This is a brand new blog about many different facets of entertainment.  It will include reviews of musicals and shows, sports talk and news from the entertainment industry.  We have set up this blog as a way to get more writing experience and in the future more exposure.  We hope you can join us on this journey and that you have fun and leave maybe a little more informed than you came.

Award Season

As you are probably aware, award season is upon us! Nominations have been announced for Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards and the Oscars nominations will be announced January 16, 2014 on ABC.  Awards are excited for several reasons: the acclaim for the movies/shows and their creators, fashion and the red carpet attire at the actual awards, but my favorite part is being able to read the 'For Your Consideration' scripts that are made available to members and the public.  Here is a website which features links to all of the available 2014 scripts for award consideration and I highly recommend checking them out! They include everything from Dallas Buyer's Club to Frozen.  Happy reading! 

Awards 2014: For Your Consideration Scripts

Some Important Dates:

20th Screen Actor's Guild Awards: January 18, 2014

71st Golden Globe Awards: January 12, 2014

86th Oscar Nominations Announcement: January 16, 2014

86th Oscar Awards: March 2, 2014

Another interesting thing about awards is who's going to win, as well as, to what extent the SAG and Golden Globe results predict Oscar nominations and winners. One source I use for my predictions, other than personal taste and preference, is the Feinberg Forecast by Scott Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter.  He makes some very interesting analyses of the results and updates frequently until the completion of awards season.  Take a look at it and a happy awards season to you! 

THR Feinberg Forecast

Thank you for reading this post and look for more posts shortly.