Goodbye, Old Friends: Part II

By the time Sunday is over, a full dozen (or baker's dozen potentially) Broadway shows will have closed since the ball dropped in Times Square signalling the start of 2011.  Last week it was 8 shows, this week it is 4 (5, sorta), and there are still more to come before February starts.  Here's a look at the shows closing this week on Broadway - a complete stranger to me, a regrettable missed opportunity, and two dear friends (plus a little love/hate).

A Free Man of Color
Opened: November 18, 2010
Previews: 29     Performances: 61
My Review Grade: I didn't see this show.
Closing Thoughts: Man, Lincoln Center Theatre can't seem to catch a break this season.  First there was Verge, and now this ambitious play about a difficult subject, told in an entertaining, if muddled, way.  The critics groused and the non-subscribers stayed away.  At least this one made it through its scheduled run.  I have a feeling the next LCT show, War Horse, will be a hotter ticket.  I hope I'm right.

In the Heights
Opened: February 14, 2008
Previews: 29     Performances: 1184
My Review Grade: Had I had my blog going when I saw the original cast, it would have definitely been A+
Closing Thoughts:  What a pleasant, unexpected treat of a show!  The perfect combination of old-fashioned storytelling, characters you care about, modern points of view and sizzling hot music, this show hit all the right notes.  And with it came an important new voice in American musical theatre in Lin-Manuel Miranda.  I can not wait to see what is next from this amazing young man.  And over the years, we've been re-introduced to a real gem in Priscilla Lopez, careers solidified in Andrea Burns and choreographer Andy Blankenbeuhler, and a host of new favorites: Karen Olivo, Olga Meredez, Robin de Jesus, Mandy Gonzalez, Cristopher Jackson, Michael Balderrama, Janet Dacal, and from the ensemble Krysta Rodriguez and Joshua Henry.  Pretty impressive!  More impressive: and original story, original score, new writer who all take off-Broadway by storm, take over Broadway and take home the top prize, Best Musical.  You will be missed, all of you.

La Bete
Opened: October 14, 2010
Previews: 24     Performances: 101
My Review Grade: Unfortunately, I never got to this one.
Closing Thoughts:  An artful, atypical evening of theatre, this play intrigued me way back when it originally ran.  The revival, boasting some incredible talents, Tony winners David Hyde Pierce and Mark Rylance, and TV star Joanna Lumley, after a smash hit run in London looked a sure thing for Broadway.  The critics here raved, particularly over Mark Rylance's 20 minute monologue.  And still no one showed.  The limited engagement was cut short by several weeks.  Add this one to my list of regrets.

A Little Night Music
Opened: December 13, 2009
Previews: 20     Performances: 425
My Review Grade: Original Revival Cast: A+; Replacement Cast: B
Closing Thoughts:  I am in the minority about two things as far as this revival goes: I love the minimalist approach of the entire production, and I was terribly disappointed and underwhelmed by its stellar replacement leads.  Still, I adored the original company:  one actress I love (Catherine Zeta-Jones), one I worship (Angela Lansbury), a new actor to admire in Alexander Hanson, a great reunion with old favorites Aaron Lazar and Erin Davie, and some new folks to watch for in Leigh Ann Larkin and Hunter Ryan Herdlicka.  I love both Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch, but I found the former to be way too affected and the latter's embrace of being ill-prepared to be insulting to her audience and to all actors of age.

Rock of Ages
Opened: March 17, 2009
Previews: 22     Previews: 735
My Review Grade: C+
Closing Thoughts:  Given that I am a child of the 80's, and that I worshipped at the altar of Xanadu, You'd have thought this one would be a favorite of mine.  WRONG!  Bad acting and a stupid, overly-complicated plot ruined a beautifully sung and danced score of 80's rockin' hits.  (I LOVE THE CAST RECORDING!)  A hit off-Broadway and with the drunken sub-culture of Broadway audiences, this show is allegedly going to reopen at the Helen Hayes after a three month break.  The current tenant of that theatre just announced another extension, into March.  Hmmm...  Maybe it'll re-open off-Broadway?  On Broadway in April?  I hope so, because I hate to think of so many folks losing jobs.  But just in case it doesn't, here is its closing tribute.  I wanted my MTV... I didn't get it.


Comments about anything but Rock of Ages - get over it people, I don't like it and calling me names and questioning my bathroom habits won't make me love it - leave them here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.130

Broadway Boys: Mr. November 2010: Joshua Henry

2010 has been quite a year for Mr. Broadway November.  First, he made quite an impression as the Army recruiter in "Favorite Son," a number in Green Day's American Idiot.  And just last Sunday, he opened to personal raves in The Scottsboro Boys, where he leads the cast with a riveting, moving performance as the truth demanding Haywood Patterson.

Joshua Henry made his debut as an ensemble member in the original cast of In the Heights, both off and on Broadway.  He has also appeared regionally in such roles as Judas in Paper Mill's Godspell and the Tin Man in Encores! Summer's The Wiz.

Yes, 2010 has been a wonderful year for this Broadway star-on-the-rise.  And 2011 looks even brighter.

Mr. Broadway November 2010: Joshua Henry

His headshot

Opening night at In the Heights

(Left) As Will in the first Sex and the City film

(Right) as Judas in Godspell

Off-Broadway in Serenade

with Anika Larsen

(Right) Henry as the Tin Man in Encores! Summer's The Wiz

With Dorothy, singer Ashanti

At The Wiz's opening night party

In the ensemble cast of Billy Porter's

Sondheim/Shakespeare revue, Being Alive

(Center) "Favorite Son" in American Idiot...

... and more (or less) of the same...

...picking out a tune in the finale with the Idiot band...

...and at the opening night party with

fellow Idiot ensemble member, Theo Stockman.

As Haywood Patterson in The Scottsboro Boys

"Commencing in Chattanooga"

"Go Back Home"

At the opening night party

for The Scottsboro Boys

See you at the Tony Awards, Josh!

Comments?  Suggestions for next month's Broadway Boy or Lady?  Leave it here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!

Jeff

2.63

TheatreScene: October 25 - 31

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED!

• REVIEW: Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
• Broadway on TV: Channel 7's Broadway Backstage Fall Preview
• Glee: Best Revival of a Musical?
• At This Performance, The President Will Be Played By...
• Broadway Crossword by Blog #3: The New Season: The Answers
• POLL RESULTS: Rock-tober Tricks and Treats

LOOK FOR A NEW POLL TO VOTE ON STARTING TOMORROW!

OCTOBER 25
HISTORY:

• 1995: The "egregiously overlooked" company of Victor/Victoria opened at the Marquis Theatre.  Julie Andrews got the last laugh, though.  It ran just short of 2 years and spawned a popular DVD of the Broadway production.
• 2009: The ill-fated, but critically acclaimed revival of Brighton Beach Memoirs opened at the Nederlander Theatre, where it ran a sad 9 performances.  The repertory play that was supposed to be paired with it, Broadway Bound, never even began previews.

NEWS:

• Driving Miss Daisy makes its Broadway debut tonight at the Golden Theatre.

FAREWELL:

• Librettist Joseph Stein died today at the age of 98.  He won the Tony for Fiddler on the Roof and wrote the books for such musicals as Rags, Plain and Fancy, and Zorba.  His specialty seems to have been writing about the trials and tribulations of the immigrants and small towns.

TOPS AND BOTTOMS:

• Wicked had both the top attendance (99.9%) and gross ($1.57M) for the week (10/18 - 24/2010).
• Colin Quinn: Long Story Short with only 4 previews had the lowest gross at $60K.  Lombardi had the lowest gross for an 8 show week, with $139K.  A life in the Theatre had the lowest attendance for the week at 46.5%.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Adam Pascal, Actor (RENT, AIDA, Cabaret)

OCTOBER 26

HISTORY:

• 1932: Eugene O'Neill's play Mourning Becomes Electra makes a brief Broadway debut (150 performances) at the Guild Theatre.

• 2000: The Full Monty opens at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, running an impressive 770 performances, though much eclipsed by that season's giant show, The Producers.

NEWS:

• Rain - A Tribute to the Beatles on Broadway opens tonight at the Neil Simon Theatre.
• Priscilla: Queen of the Desert opens tonight in Toronto.  Next stop, Broadway!

BEGINNINGS:

• The Pee Wee Herman Show begins its limited (and already extended) run at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Anthony Rapp, Actor (RENT, You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown)

OCTOBER 27

HISTORY:

• 1934: The Most Curious Opening of the Week:  Is it the title - Ted Shawn and His Male Dancers? or is it that it played for 1 performance at Carnegie Hall and is still considered a Broadway show?
• 1966:  Decades before Avenue Q, an all-puppet revival of, get this, The Threepenny Opera opened on this date at the Billy Rose Theatre, where it lasted 13 whole performances.

NEWS:

• Say goodbye to the GWB!  In the Heights, one of the best shows of the decade will be closing its bodega, hair salon and limo service for good on January 9, 2011.  The final two weeks - December 25 - January 9 - will mark the return of original star and author of the piece, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who will close the show he started and brought to Tony-winning glory.  When it closes, it will have played 1,185 performances.
• The Kennedy Center Follies keeps getting starrier and starrier: joining Bernadette Peters will be Linda Lavin, Jan Maxwell and Florence Lacey.  I can see this one getting bigger and bigger.  But let's keep it in DC, OK?  Ragtime...

Jane Connell (in red), Bea Arthur and

Angela Lansbury in Mame (1966)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Jane Connell, Actor (Mame, Dear World, Me and My Girl)

OCTOBER 28

HISTORY:

• 2001: The biggest flop (to date) of Andrew Lloyd Webber's on Broadway opened today at the Helen Hayes Theatre.  By Jeeves came and went with little fanfare or advertising.  And it couldn't fill that tiny theatre beyond 73 performances.
• 2004:  One of Roundabout Theatre Company's biggest hits opened today at the then new-ish American Airlines Theatre.  The stage debut of Twelve Angry Men kept extending and extending and even spawned a national tour, starring Richard Thomas and George Wendt.

NEWS:

Andy Mientus, Carrie Manolakos, Zak Resnick

• With Broadway as its goal, one of my favorite musicals of the new millennium, bare, was announced to be having a New York reading soon, directed by Stafford Arima, and starring Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!, Wicked), Andy Mientus ( The First National Tour of Spring Awakening) and Zak Resnick (The Broadway Boys singing group).  This might be one of those show that Ben Brantley talked about today: small and best suited to off-Broadway.  No matter where it is, I will be there!  If you don't know the show, get the 2 CD cast recording (it comes with an awesome DVD about the genesis of the show) which features Jenna Leigh Green, James Snyder and Matt Doyle.
• Lesley Gore finally brought her party to Million Dollar Quartet as promised tonight.
• In tribute to the late Joseph Stein, Broadway marquees will be darkened at 8PM this evening.
• Mark your calendars, Addams Family fans!  March 21st marks the day that Roger Rees replaces Nathan Lane as Gomez.  Bebe Neuwirth has extended her contract.  Looks like the show might stick around a bit longer.  We shall see...

BEGINNINGS... CONTINUED:

• Leap of Faith looks to be opening in the fall of 2011 on Broadway!

ENDINGS:

• The Las Vegas company of Disney's The Lion King will be closing... at the end of December 2011!  A 14 month closing notice is very generous.

FAREWELL:

• The son of theatre legend Helen Hayes and playwright Charles MacArthur, James MacArthur passed away today.  Best known as Danno in the original Hawaii Five-O, he made his Broadway debut opposite Jane Fonda in Invitation to a March, which earned him a Theatre World Award.  He appeared in several Broadway shows including Under the Yum Yum Tree, Murder at the Howard Johnson's, and Barefoot in the Park.  I had the good fortune to see him in the National Tour of Arsenic and Old Lace, in which he played Mortimer opposite Jean Stapleton, Marion Ross, Jonathan Frid and Larry Storch.  (Above, Top Left) Mr. MacArthur was 72 years old.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Cleo Laine, Actor/Singer (The Mystery of Edwin Drood)

OCTOBER 29
HISTORY:

• 1853: The Oldest Opening of the Week: Shylock: A Jerusalem Hearty Joke, a musical based on Shakespeare, opened at Burton's Chambers Street Theatre.  I guess not many people got the joke... it last 4 performances.
• 1946: Noel Coward's Present Laughter opened at the Plymouth Theatre.  Starring Clifton Webb, it ran 158 performances.  The now-classic play has been revived several times.
• 1952: Same theatre, 6 years later, the quintessential suspense-thriller play, Dial "M" for Murder, opened and ran a very impressive - and deadly - 552 performances.

• 2009: A year ago, the critically acclaimed revival of Finian's Rainbow, starring Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson opened at the St. James Theatre.  Despite its critical approval, the show managed only 92 performances.  A wonderful cast recording was made.

NEWS:

• Oh, how the vultures descend!  Like chum to a shark, the ugly police sniffed out some trouble when it was revealed that dancer/actor Kevin Aubin (Wicked, Hot Feet) was injured while performing stunts at a group sales event for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.  It was reported everywhere like it was a shocking, never-seen-before on Broadway event.  For shame!  Thankfully, the community - who likes hits because it means jobs, and who support friends - rallied to its defense.  God bless the Wicked folks who reported that that little mishap was nothing compared to the near daily list of casualties at the Gershwin.  Seems a raked stage is hell on the skeletal system.  And I remember (showing my age, I know) when the big news back in the day was when a performance of Cats went by WITHOUT a replacement going in at intermission.  And let's not forget that during both lengthy runs of A Chorus Line, Paul gets injured fictionally, but that injuries were so likely with that show that physical therapists were backstage working on cramps and pulls every time an actor exited.  I guess my ultimate question about all of this is: all of these people who revel in these mishaps because they are against this show or that also purport to be die hard fans of Broadway.  If that is the case, why such joy at problems?  Why dismiss a show before a single person has seen it?  How many times to I need to read, "I refuse to see Spider-Man.  It is destroying Broadway!"  How so?  By creating hundreds of jobs?  They said the same thing about all of the Disney shows, none of which has run less than a year and has contributed millions to the Broadway economy, including thousands of jobs.  Yes, they, and everyone associated with Spider-Man, Women on the Verge and any other target de jour are rotten and deserving of our ire, not our praise.  BULLS@#T!
• On a more positive note: Kudos to the producers of The Scottsboro Boys for allowing 1,800 NYC students to see the show for FREE at several special matinees.  This important show has an important message and deserves to be seen by everyone.  How great that these kids will get the experience of a lifetime without spending a dime.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rufus Sewell, Actor (Rock 'n' Roll)

OCTOBER 30 - WICKED DAY!
HISTORY:

• 2003: The Broadway phenomenon, Wicked, opened at the Gershwin Theatre.  As of today, the 7th Annual Wicked Day, the show has played 2,902 performances.

BEGINNINGS: 

• The Second National Tour of Billy Elliot, starring Tony winner Faith Prince, begins its angry dance today in Durham, North Carolina.

ENDINGS:

• After 4 and a half years, the London production of Avenue Q closes today.  It will begin a UK tour shortly.  Not a bad run for a very American musical.  I guess Internet porn and masturbation are international phenomena.  Small world, isn't it?

Before Glee, Matthew was a

Broadway Bares star!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Matthew Morrison, Actor (Hairspray, Light in the Piazza, South Pacific)

OCTOBER 31 - HAPPY HALLOWEEN
HISTORY:

• 1956: Auntie Mame starring Rosalind Russell opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, and ran 639 performances.  10 years later, the musical version would open at the Winter Garden, but not with Russell.  No, that role went to Angela Lansbury.
• 2002: Hollywood Arms, the autobiographical play based on the life of legendary Carol Burnett opened at the Cort Theatre, starring Linda Lavin and eventual Tony winner for her role, Michelle Pawk.  Written by Burnett's daughter, Carrie Hamilton, Ms. Burnett had to finish the play when her daughter passed away before the show opened.

NEWS:

• The Scottsboro Boys opens tonight at the Lyceum Theatre.

• Trick or Treat!  Kid's Night on Broadway 2010 happens tonight, with free tickets to shows for the kids and trick or treating at various theatre stage doors, plus a tour of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.  Hosted by Adam Riegler, aka Pugsley in  The Addams Family, proceeds benefit UNICEF.  Does anyone else remember those orange boxes that we used to carry with our trick-or-treat plastic pumpkins, collecting change for sick kids all over the world?

ENDINGS:

• And this is a biggie in the "endings" category.  Almost 18 years ago, the Third National Touring Company of The Phantom of the Opera opened and began criss-crossing the country.  Known as "The Music Box Company," the others were "The Christine" and "The Raoul," it is the last production in the United States with the exception of the Broadway company.  Led by Tim Martin Gleason (who I saw in the tour as the most boring, wooden Raoul years ago), the production will close following tonight's evening performance.  And tonight's performance will be its 7,284th.  Impressive by any measure.  Congratulations to all.

(You didn't think I'd miss a chance to put

Patti LuPone in this week's TheatreScene, did you?)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Brian Stokes Mitchell, Actor (Kiss Me, Kate, Man of La Mancha, Ragtime, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown)

Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.61

Broadway "Idol"atry Continues!

The other day my Twitter page was abuzz with news about the latest "name" added to the cast of the upcoming musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.  Given that it is a Lincoln Center with Bartlett Sher at the helm (not to mention a standard setting company of actors), I am going to give this little casting coup the benefit of the doubt.

Yes, American Idol, the recently beleagured television phenomenon, has reared its ugly head on Broadway again - THREE times in recent days.  But at least two of the three have demonstrated staying power beyond vocalizing 3 minutes a week, and like I said, I'm willing to give the third the benefit of being selected by a prestigious theatre company, a well-decorated director and a cast that notoriously won't put up with mediocrity.

The Idol in question is first season runner-up Justin Guarini, who has been cast to play the son of Patti LuPone and Brian Stokes Mitchell.  From the picture above, I can certainly see why he was cast physically...they could be his parents.  And the first season - before the mass callings and before people voted the worst people to stay for weeks - all of the finalists seemed to have more going for them than recent batches.  On the downside, Mr. Guarini's acting has yet to be seen in a positive light - remember From Justin to Kelly?  YIKES!  I guess we'll find out soon enough if he has what it takes.  Obviously, people with a lot more expertise than I have in that area did see something, since they hired him!

In a very much more low-key manner, Season 9 Idol semi-finalist Todrick Hall has joined the ensemble of the Tony-winning Memphis.  This young man already has New York credits to his name, including stints in The Radio City Music Hall Christmas Show and The Color Purple (opposite another Idol, Fantasia Barrino), a show in which he also understudied and performed the role of Harpo.  He has also written and staged OZ, a new version of The Wizard of Oz all around the country.

But the bigger news of the week went to 2007 American Idol winner Jordin Sparks, who has interrupted her world tour to take over the role of Nina in the 2008 Tony winning Best Musical, In the Heights.  The reviews aren't in yet - she just joined the show Thursday - but if her best selling records are any indication, the girl can sing!

Here's hoping all three find a home on Broadway and even come back a time or two.  Heaven knows young, solid talent is always something theatre needs.



Comments?  Leave one here or email me at Yahoo, Tweet me or Formspring me!
Jeff