Theatre News Roundup: 6/29-6/30

Sorry about skipping last night's TNR and being late with this one. I have a recap to write for another site on Monday's and I was out on a date tonight.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

•  Patti LuPone stars in the Off-Broadway world premiere of Douglas Carter Beane's play Shows for Days, which also features Michael Urie. The production officially opens June 29 at Lincoln Center Theater.

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• It Shoulda Been You will end its Broadway run Aug. 

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• (Keep an eye on this one!) Producers have announced initial casting and creative team for Gotta Dance, a new musical based on the acclaimed 2008 documentary of the same name, which will make its pre-Broadway world premiere beginning Dec. 13 at Broadway In Chicago’s Bank of America Theatre. The cast will include Lillias White, Andre De Shields, Georgia Engel, Haven Burton, Lori Tan Chinn and Stefanie Powers. Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell, the production will continue through Jan. 17, 2016, before heading to Broadway in spring 2016. Gotta Dance features a book by Chad Beguelin and Bob Martin, original music by Matthew Sklar and the late Tony and Oscar winner Marvin Hamlisch and lyrics by Nell Benjamin (Legally Blonde).
• My Paris, a new musical about artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, will star Bobby Steggert, Mara Davi, Donna English and John Glover. One of three new musicals being produced this summer by Goodspeed Musicals at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, My Paris begins performances July 23 and runs through Aug. 16. It will feature a score by Charles Aznavour with lyrics translated by Jason Robert Brown (also music arranger). The libretto is by Alfred Uhry, who collaborated with Brown on Parade.
• Amy Spanger will appear in No One's Sonata by Seven Sater, librettist and lyricist of Spring Awakening. His collaborator on the show, Duncan Sheik, has joined the No One's Sonata creative team.
• A musical based on Ian Fleming's suave super spy James Bond is being prepared for Broadway. Executive producer Merry Saltzman (daughter of legendary Bond film producer and impresario Harry Saltzman) told Playbill.com that her company, Placeholder Productions, had secured the rights to mount a stage show. She said the show, concisely titled James Bond: The Musical, will have a book by novelist Dave Clarke and music and lyrics by country composer Jay Henry Weisz.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

•  Jessica Hecht and Adam Kantor have joined the cast of the upcoming Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, which will begin previews Nov. 12 prior to an official opening Dec. 17 at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Hecht will play the role of Golde with Kantor as Motel. 
• Joaquina Kalukango and Talene Monahon have replaced Ciara Renée and Kimiko Glenn, respectively, in the Encores! Off-Center staging of Andrew Lippa's Wild Party, which will feature Sutton Foster as Queenie. Kalukango will play Kate, and Monahon will play Mae.
• Casting has been announced for the eight new plays being developed this summer at the annual National Playwrights Conference at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, CT. 
• Judy Blazer joins the cast of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder June 30 in the role of the mysterious Miss Shingle.
• Casting has been announced for the Lexington Theatre Company's inaugural production, the Tony-winning musical 42nd Street, which will play the Kentucky venue July 23-26 at the Lexington Opera House. Karen Ziemba will head the cast as Dorothy Brock with Matthew Shepard as Julian Marsh, Nicolas Dromard as Billy Lawlor and Darien Crago as Peggy Sawyer.
  

Theatre News Roundup: 6/28

I still can't stop listening to Parlour Tricks' new album. And I still can't remember much from Preludes. I'm glad I took some notes. Very slow news day today.

The Party's Over (CLOSINGS)

• Peter Morgan's The Audience plays its final performance on Broadway June 28. The production officially opened March 8 following previews that began Feb. 14.

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• Cry-Baby Reunion Concert at 54 Below September 17, 2015 with original cast members including James Snyder and Alli Mauzey. And even better, the cast album is finally going to be released!

Theatre News Roundup: 6/27

Preludes was an interesting experience. The cast was very friendly and gracious. I may write a review one day. I don't think it made a big impression on me. It certainly wasn't as offputting as I feared it would be after listening to Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812. And yet, I wish it was easier to recall the show now. Heck, I feel like it wafted away hours after I'd seen it. It certainly is a unique experience and I might have gone back if tickets were still available. 

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Australian actor Anthony Warlow will step into Finding Neverland in mid-July. An exact date will be announced shortly. Kelsey Grammer will return to the production Sept. 13.
• Primary Stages and Ensemble Studio Theatre have announced that Tina Benko will join the cast of Informed Consent, a new play by Deborah Zoe Laufer that will play the Duke on 42nd Street from August 4-September 13. Benko will assume the role of Jillian, after the previously announced Annie Parisse had to withdraw from the production due to a scheduling conflict. 

A Foggy Day in London Town (UK NEWS)

• Broadway.com has learned that Aladdin will fly into the West End, beginning performances in 2016 at the Prince Edward Theatre (instead of the London Palladium). The means that the house's current occupant,Miss Saigon, which began performances on May 3, 2014, will close—no word yet on precise dates.

Theatre News Roundup: 6/25-6/26

Hello lovely readers,

I'm sorry some of these TNR stories are a day late. I don't know if I've mentioned this but anytime I skip a day, those stories will be rolled into the next day's post. If you're curious, I was out at a Parlor Tricks concert last night. Pick up their album or listen to it on Spotify. It is called Broken Hearts/Bones and it is fantastic but they are even better live. I'm going to be seeing Preludes tonight and I'm a little nervous because I finally finished listening to Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 and I kind of hated it. Actually, I hated it a lot. I think if I listened to it all the way through a few more times it might wear me down but it's difficult to call it objectively good. It would just probably become more tolerable over time. Also, it has killed any desire I ever had to read War and Peace. (Remember to click Read More)

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• The new Broadway musical Amazing Grace, begins previews on Broadway June 25 at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).
• Ruthless! The Musical returns Off-Broadway beginning June 25 at St. Luke’s Theatre.
• A musical adaptation of E. Lynn Harris' 1994 novel "Invisible Life" begins June 25 at the Apollo Theater.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Jordan Ross and Lindsey Rosin, the creators of Cruel Intentions: The Musical, are at work on a musical version of "The O.C." that will bow in Los Angeles Aug. 30.
• Amy Heckerling, the writer/director of the 1995 film comedy "Clueless" confirmed June 25 that a musical version of the story is being developed for Broadway. In an interview with Variety, Amy Heckerling said, “I’ve written what they call ‘the book,’ and it’s a jukebox musical," meaning it uses pre-existing pop songs instead of an original score.

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• Reviews for Bend It Like Beckham the musical
• Reviews for A New Brain at Encores

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Kelsey Grammer is planning to take time off from his role as Captain Hook in the Broadway musical Finding Neverland this summer, but will return in the fall. Exact dates will be announced at a later time. Anthony Warlow will assume the role in the interim.
• Howard McGillin has joined the cast of the Bay Street Theater's upcoming production of Grey Gardens.
• Sally Mayes will be playing Rose this summer in Harbor Lights Theater Company's staging of Gypsy in Staten Island.
• The Broadway at Birdland concert series, in association with Jacob Langfelder, will present Love Me: Downtown and Downunder – A Pride Celebration June 28.

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• On Aug. 6 at 7:30 PM, The New York Pops will perform an inaugural concert at its new summer home, Forest Hills Stadium, with Sutton Foster.
• Broadway Sings Bruno Mars, celebrating the hits of the funk superstar, will be presented July 20 at 7 PM at the Highline Ballroom.

A Musical (MUSICALS)

• 59E59 Theaters will stage Songbird by Michael Kimmel with music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard. Amy Spanger will lead the cast of the new Off-Broadway musical. Performances are set to run Oct. 20 through Nov. 29. Songbird puts a Southern twist on the Anton Chekov classic, The Seagull. Spanger will play a fading country star returning to her Nashville home after many years to help launch the music career of a son she abandoned.

Theatre News Roundup: 6/24

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• Aaron Lazar, Ana Gasteyer and Dan Fogler join Jonathan Groff in the New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series revival of William Finn and James Lapine's A New Brain June 24-27.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• The Labyrinth Theater Company will host a private industry reading of Five Points: An American Musical, June 26. Directed by Dan Knechtges, Five Points features a book by Harrison David Rivers, music by Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar and lyrics by Lyons. "In 1863 in the midst of the Civil War a new art form was born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan: Tap dance. Five Points: An American Musical, charts the trajectories of two families — one white and one black — as they risk everything in pursuit of the American Dream."
• Dancer, a musical about Northern Dancer, the Canadian horse that made history winning the Kentucky Derby in 1964, will play the Elgin Theatre in Toronto May-June 2016, according to Canadian newspaper The Star.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theater has announced full casting for its July 11 concert reading of the first act of The Prince of Egypt. Joining previously announced leads Aaron Lazar and Norm Lewis, will be Matthew James Thomas, Patina Miller, Stephen Bogardus, Julia Murney, Kyle Barisich, John Treacy Egan, Ryan Knowles, Joanna Howard, Julia Motyka, and Anna Schiavoni.

Theatre News Roundup: 6/23

I got caught in the rain again today and I'm still tired from spending hours writing my recap last night. But the reviews are coming. I swear they're coming. I'm listening to Parlour Tricks' new album on Spotify to prep for their concert in a few days.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Laurie Metcalf has replaced Elizabeth Marvel as leading lady in the Broadway adaptation of Stephen King's Misery opposite Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Bruce Willis.
• Michael C. Hall has been chosen to star in this fall's world premiere of Lazarus by David Bowie and playwright Enda Walsh.
• The Gingold Theatrical Group will stage a one-night-only production of George Bernard Shaw's comedy Man and Superman at Manhattan's Symphony Space, featuring Douglas Sills as the Devil, along with Michael Urie as Jack Tanner. The July 20 staging will also feature Mary Beth Piel, Stephen Kunken, Amelia Pedlow, Harris Yulin, Molly Ranson, Mark Shanahan, Jack Gilpin and Hunter Canning.

• The Sharon Playhouse in Connecticut has announced that Jason Tam will star as Franklin Shepard in its summer staging of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's celebrated musical Merrily We Roll Along.
• Two-time Tony Award nominee Michele Lee is returning to Broadway July 5 as Madame Morrible in the cast of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre.
• Perez Hilton is set to star asDanny Tanner in Full House! The Musical!, an unauthorized musical parody of the ABC family sitcom TV series that will debut in Toronto this summer before playing Off-Broadway.
• Berkshire Theatre Group has announced casting for its upcoming production of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Directed by Karen Allen, the cast will feature Angel Desai and Greg Vrotsos in the title roles. 

Theatre News Roundup: 6/22

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Following the success of the one-night-only June 8 Broadway concert staging of the Marilyn Monroe-inspired musical Bombshell, which was born from the NBC series "Smash," Universal Stage Productions has announced that the property is in development as a full-length stage musical.

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• The full cast has been announced for The American Repertory Theater's upcoming production of the world premiere of Waitress, the new Sara Bareilles musical that will play the Cambridge, MA venue Aug. 2-Sept. 27 with an official opening Aug. 19.

I Heard It Through the Grapevine (RUMORS)

• "Downton Abbey" is being adapted as a stage musical that would go on a global theatrical tour by series composer John Lunn and the show's creator Julian Fellowes. “There’s talk of Julian Fellowes and I and some of the cast doing a live tour the way Dr. Who did; 70 percent of it will be music from the show,” Lunn was quoted as saying.

A Musical (MUSICALS)

• An immersive production of Carrie The Musical is set to return to Los Angeles, reopening at the historic Los Angeles Theatre this October.

Theatre News Roundup 6/21

I went out to Milburn to see Ever After at Papermill but you'll have to wait a bit for my review. A tree branch almost fell on me outside the theatre and coming home I got caught in the torrential downpour so I'm afraid I only have the energy to put together this TNR.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• The Flea Theater presents the New York premiere of The Theatre @ Boston Court's production of Samuel Beckett's Happy Days beginning June 20. Tony Shalhoub stars. Andrei Belgrader directs the production, which previously played critically acclaimed runs in Boston and Los Angeles. Opening night Off-Broadway is scheduled for June 29. Brooke Adams and Tony Award nominee and Golden Globe winner Shalhoub, who are married, again star.

The Party’s Over (CLOSINGS)

• The Paper Mill Playhouse world-premiere musical Ever After concludes its limited engagement June 21 with performances at 1:30 PM and 7 PM. The new musical officially opened May 31 following previews that began at the New Jersey venue May 21.
• The Broadway revival of David Hare's Skylight, starring Carey Mulligan, Bill Nighy and Matthew Beard ends its hit run June 21 at the John Golden Theatre. 
• Gigi, the new Broadway adaptation, plays its final performance June 21 at the Neil Simon Theatre. The production, which began previews March 19 and opened officially April 8, has played 20 previews and 86 performances.
• The York Theatre Company's production of the new musical Cagney ends its Off-Broadway run June 21. 

Come to the Cabaret (CABARETS/CONCERTS/ETC)

• BWW Broadway at the Cabaret roundup June 22-28 (mainly 54 Below)

Theatre News Roundup: 6/19

I wanted to go bright and early but I ended up sleeping late and ending up at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden much later than I had planned. I had a nice walk through the Cranford Rose Garden. I don't know if it's the heat or if the roses just had a short blooming season but they're mostly wilted and brown now. I still managed to take a bunch of good reference photos though and there's something almost equally beautiful about roses in particular in that state of decay. 

As always, click the links to get to the actual stories. All credit to their writers.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• Tracy McDowell and Jenna Leigh Green will co-star as dueling Olympic figure skaters Tonya Harding and Nancy Kerrigan in the New York Musical Theatre Festival production of Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera. The musical features book and lyrics by Elizabeth Searle, who also conceived the work, and music by Michael Teoli.
• Amélie, a new musical based on the Academy Award-nominated film of the same title, has set dates and supporting cast for its world premiere. It will begin previews Aug. 28 and open Sept. 11 at Berkeley Repertory Theatre in California.
• An industry-only reading for the new musical A Letter to Harvey Milk will take place at the Playroom Theater on Monday, July 22. The show features a book by Jerry James, Cheryl Stern, and Laura I. Kramer, lyrics by Ellen M. Schwartz with additional lyrics by Cheryl Stern, and music by Laura I. Kramer, and is inspired by the short story by Lesléa Newman.

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• An all-new version of Alan Menken and David Spencer's The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz: The Musical, featuring an all-Canadian cast, opened in Montreal June 7. Here is an updated roundup of the reviews. Originally scheduled to end June 28, the run has been extended to July 12 at the Segal Centre in Montreal.

Theatre News Roundup: 6/18

Before I get into today's TNR I just wanted to share a few thoughts on San Francisco Opera's recent production of Show Boat which I just caught (as a videotaped/movie version) at Symphony Space here in New York. Now, Show Boat is one of my favorite shows and scores so it's never going to be too disappointing as long as the performers are up to the material. However, and this is as someone who thoroughly enjoys the Met Live in HD series, I think my opinion of the production was affected by the way I saw it. I've never seen the SFO in person but from the size of the stage and the sets I can only assume it's a large venue and it seemed like a lot of the performers were playing to the rafters which doesn't read as well close up on camera.

The standouts were Patricia Racette as Julie and Michael Todd Simpson as Ravenal. Patricia might be the first Julie I've heard who had both the legit soprano and that slight swing to the way she performed the song. She was also the first Julie that sold the friendship with Nola to the point that it didn't bother me the two times that she left. I don't know if there were any dialogue changes that gave her more agency or it was just Racette's performance but I completely understood those moments in a way I haven't in the past. I won't say that Simpson was my favorite Ravenal (I think that would still be Julian Ovenden) but he did a fine job and sang beautifully. He was stronger in the first act playing the charming scoundrel. I don't think Heidi Stober was miscast as Magnolia but she was definitely stronger in her acting and vocals in the second half when she was playing an older character. I don't know if she was trying to mimic other actresses who've played the part or to just come across as younger but she was very affected in both her performance and singing in the beginning. Angela Renee Simpson did a very nice job as Queenie though Morris Robinson could have brought more to his performance as Joe. His singing was fine, if a little lacking in consonants, but I wish he had emoted more. I still prefer Alli Mauzey as Ellie May Chipley but I thought Kirsten Wyatt and John Bolton were incredibly solid in what could be throwaway roles as the secondary couple. Bill Irwin and Harriet Harris were a little too broad for my taste (see playing to the rafters comment) but they both had their moments. His manic energy shone when he acted out the ending of the play and when he cheered on Nola it was the only time I teared up during the show. She had quite a few jokes that landed. The dancing was unexpectedly athletic and energetic. The costumes were fantastic. And it's always nice to hear a big orchestra play songs with such lovely string parts.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• The Off-Broadway Classic Stage Company production of Doctor Faustus with star Chris Noth officially opens June 18, following previews that began June 2. With an extension recently announced, the show will now play through July 12.
• Significant Other officially opens June 18 following previews that began May 22 at Roundabout Theatre Company's Off-Broadway theatre. 

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• The Secondhand Lions musical, featuring a book by Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes and music and lyrics by First Date composers Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, will get a New York City reading today and tomorrow, June 18-19. The reading will feature the talents of James Naughton, Tom Wopat, Sophia Anne Caruso, Jason Danieley, Arielle Jacobs, Julia Motyka, Paul Alexander Nolan, Christopher Paul Richards, Jenny Ashman, Wendy Bergamini, Brian Flores,Nehal Joshi, Raymond Lee, Robert Lenzi, Samantha Massell,William Ryall, Nora Schell, and J. Michael Zygo.

Everyone’s a Critic (REVIEWS)

• Reviews for the Chicago production of On Your Feet!

I Hope I Get It (CASTING)

• Lincoln Center Theater's revival of the Rodgers and Hammerstein's The King and I has announced the next two actors who will assume the role of the King. Ken Watanabe, who is leaving to shoot a film in Japan, will play his final performance as the King July 12. He will be succeeded on July 14 by Jose Llana who will play the King for 11 weeks through Sept. 27, followed by Hoon Lee, who begins Sept. 29. They will all play opposite 2015 Tony-winning Best Actress in a Musical Kelli O'Hara.

Theatre News Roundup: 6/17

I was planning to see Wolf Hall today until I checked and realized that today they're performing Part 2 followed by Part 1. I'll probably try for later in the run since I'm going to be busy in the next week or so. As always, all the material posted below belongs to its authors. I have simply organized it and edited it for brevity.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• The Vineyard Theatre stages the world premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Gloria, which officially opens Off-Broadway June 17.

I Wanna Be A Producer (IN DEVELOPMENT)

• "Prior to its world premiere at Hartford Stage next spring, the stage adaptation of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's animated feature "Anastasia" was presented June 12 in a staged New York City workshop. The recent workshop featured the talents of Elena Shaddow as Anna, and Ramin Karimloo as Gleb Vaganov, a new role created for the stage production. Playbill.com has also learned that the workshop cast included Mark Evans as Dmitri, Douglas Sills as Vladimir "Vlad" Vanya Voinitsky Vasilovich, Mary Beth Peil as the Dowager Empress Marie, Joanna Glushak as Lilly (renamed from Sophie in the film) and Benjamin Eakeley as the Tsar. Among the ensemble were Cameron Adams, Sarah Meahl, Emma Pfaeffle, Max Clayton and Ryan Worsing. Although casting has not been announced for the upcoming production, it will premiere May 12-June 12, 2016, at Hartford Stage."
• "An industry reading of Ted Malawer's new play, The Anatomy of Love, is presented in Manhattan on June 17th. The cast featured Edie Falco, Greta Gerwig, Josh Lucas, and Daniel K. Isaac."

Theatre News Roundup: 6/16

Hi there!

For those of you who aren't familiar with my Theatre News Roundups from previously, this is just meant to be a handy guide for some of the big stories of interests posted to various theatre sites each day. TNR's are generally daily though sometimes I will skip a day or two if I'm too busy with other commitments. In that case, those stories will get rolled into the next edition. Posts tend to go up some time between 5:00 pm and 10:00 pm, allowing you to catch up on the day's stories after work. All the text to follow aside from my choice of headings belongs to the writers at the links attached to each blurb unless otherwise specified. Quotes have been edited for brevity.

Another Op’nin, Another Show (OPENINGS)

• "The Shakespeare in the Park production of The Tempest officially opens June 16 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Performances began May 27 and will play through July 5."
• "The Off-Broadway revival of David Mamet's Ghost Stories: The Shawl and Prairie du Chien, officially opens June 16 following previews that began May 27 at the Atlantic Theater. Performances continue through June 28 at Atlantic Stage 2."
• "The Canadian premiere of the Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots begins performances June 16 at Toronto's Royal Alexandra Theatre." 
• "Cuckold, a short written by  Wesley Taylor premieres at the Manhattan Repertory Theater 2015 One Act Competition; performances are held June 16-19."