News

Michael Jackson Musical MJ Pushes Broadway Dates to September 2021

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 9 2020 @ 12:01 pm

The world premiere staging of the Michael Jackson musical MJ has been postponed again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Performances are now set to begin at the Neil Simon Theatre in September 2021 with exact dates to be announced.

MJ features a book by two-time Pulitzer winner Lynn Nottage and a score made up of Jackson's song catalogue. Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon is set to direct and choreograph. As previously announced, the musical stars Tony nominee Ephraim Sykes as Michael Jackson.

MJ features set design by Derek McLane, lighting design by Natasha Katz, costume design by Paul Tazwell, sound design by Gareth Owen, projection design by Peter Nigrini and hair and wig design by Charles LaPointe. Jason Michael Webb serves as music director, with musical supervision by David Holcenberg and orchestrations by Holcenberg and Webb.

The production was originally scheduled to begin previews on July 6 and open on August 13. Performances were then scheduled to begin on March 8, 2021 with opening night slated for April 15.

Broadway.com customers with tickets to canceled performances will be contacted with information on refunds or exchanges.

Joe Mantello on The Boys in the Band, Wicked & More on Show People

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 9 2020 @ 10:51 am

Show People’s season premiere, available now on Broadway.com, features Broadway.com's Paul Wontorek chatting with award-winning actor and director Joe Mantello. Mantello wowed audiences with his unforgettable performances in Angels in America, The Normal Heart and more, but he is perhaps best known for his visionary work as a director, shaping the worlds of shows like Love! Valour! Compassion!, Wicked, Take Me Out, Assassins, 9 to 5, Other Desert CIties and most recently, The Boys in the Band. In addition to helming the Tony-winning revival of the late Mart Crowley’s play about gay identity, Mantello also directed the film adaptation, which recently premiered on Netflix.

Just before the Broadway shutdown, Mantello’s take on Edward Albee's Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, starring Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett, had only performed nine previews. A dream project for the director, the production will no longer continue at the Booth Theatre even once Broadway opens for business. “That was always on the list; it’s a mountain of a play,” Mantello said. “That was disappointing.”

Zachary Quinto in The Boys in the Band
(Photo: Netflix)

Meanwhile, Mantello has been busy with screen projects: both behind and in front of the camera. In addition …

The Music Man, Starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, Sets New Broadway Dates

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 9 2020 @ 10:32 am

The star-packed Broadway revival of The Music Man has set new Broadway dates again due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the announcement that all Broadway productions will now stay on hold through May 30, 2021, the revival will now begin performances on December 20, 2021 and officially open on February 10, 2022.

The production is headlined by Hugh Jackman as Harold Hill and Sutton Foster as Marian Paroo, with Jefferson Mays as Mayor Shinn, Jayne Houdyshell as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, Shuler Hensley as Marcellus Washburn and Marie Mullen as Mrs. Paroo.

The Music Man features a book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. Jerry Zaks is the revival's director, Warren Carlyle is the choreographer and Patrick Vaccariello is the music director.

The production was originally scheduled to begin previews on September 9 and officially open on October 15 at the Winter Garden Theatre. Preview performances were then postponed and rescheduled to begin on April 7, 2021 with opening night set for May 20.

Broadway.com customers with tickets to canceled performances will be contacted with information on refunds or exchanges.

‘Second City Ruptured In Large Part Because America Ruptured First’

Source: ArtsJournal.com | Posted: October 9 2020 @ 10:03 am

Chris Jones: “The pandemic that has closed its theaters — with no clear path to reopening — is a primary cause of trouble. But Second City is also suffering from the great American schism, the internal fury and polarization that has festered over the last four years, with direct encouragement from the top. Satire is […]

Watch Andrew Lloyd Webber & Michael Crawford Celebrate Phantom's London Anniversary

Source: Broadway.com | Posted: October 9 2020 @ 9:13 am

Happy birthday, Phantom! October 9 marks 34 years since The Phantom of the Opera premiered at Her Majesty's Theatre in London's West End. To celebrate the milestone, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber caught up with original star Michael Crawford, who earned both an Olivier Award and a Tony Award for his performance as the masked man. The two discussed everything from the state of theater during the COVID-19 pandemic to the first time Lloyd Webber played the overture of the musical for Crawford. Enjoy the Phan-tastic catch-up below!