When Those Neon Lights Go Dark On Broadway

I've been thinking a lot about Broadway closings recently, especially because of the nature of last week's poll. And then, to my surprise, four big Broadway musicals have announced their closing dates, or at least announcements are expected to come shortly. It was announced several weeks ago that Fela! will shutter on January 2, 2011 and although it is yet to be confirmed, many speculate that Promises, Promises and Next to Normal will also close on that same date. Then yesterday, the producers of West Side Story announced that they too will close on  January 2nd. With new shows anxiously awaiting these open theatres, one always has to wonder if there isn't some persuasion, on the part of producers of upcoming musicals, for struggling shows to cut their losses and close. I guess nobody every really knows what exactly causes a show to close its doors and each of these shows has enjoyed an arguably strong run on the Great White Way.

Fela! and Promises, Promises are some of the first to close of the 2009-2010 TONY season, but one might argue that Fela! never truly found its audience and Promises, Promises would not be able to stay afloat once the contracts of its big stars, Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes, expire. Next to Normal was the 2008-2009 season's little show that could. Many never expected it to make it further that Second Stage where it ran off-Broadway, but it defied the naysayers, winning several TONY awards, garnering a cult following, and running for close to two years. West Side Story....well that is another story. I'm sure that Arthur Laurents expected his baby to win the Best Revival of a Musical TONY in 2009, but it lost to Hair (which closed about 3 months ago) and didn't receive the buzz that was anticipated. Perhaps it was the addition of Spanish lyrics, or the the fact that the creative team chose not to use Jerome Robbins' iconic choreography, but either way, the production lacked sparkle. Now a run of a year and a half is certainly nothing to scoff at, but this West Side Story revival was never the critical darling it was expected to be.

Of course we are sad to see these wonderful shows close, but such is the life cycle of the business of show. To quote the great Stephen Sondheim, "everyday a little death," but then again, "everything's coming up roses." When one show closes, that means a new show can open, and the 2010-2011 Broadway season is highly anticipated. It was publicly announced yesterday that one of the season's big budget musicals, Priscilla Queen of the Dessert, will take the Palace Theatre, currently inhabited by West Side Story. Many anticipate that the British transfer Sister Act will move into the Broadway Theatre once Promises, Promises closes and others speculate that the new musical Catch Me If You Can will take the Eugene O'Neill from Fela! And as for the Booth, one of Broadway's smallest houses, we can only hope that its next resident touches the Broadway community as deeply as Next to Normal did.

Winner...or Loser...of the Weekly Poll: Million Dollar Quartet

You voted and the results are in...50% of you think that Million Dollar Quartet will be the next musical of the 2009-2010 season to announce its closing date. American Idiot followed with 20% and Best Revival Tony winner La Cage Aux Folles and Best Musical Tony winner Memphis each received 10%. Only 10% of you voted for Promises, Promises or A Little Night Music so here's hoping they stick around for a long time. Here is what I find interesting...the two shows that received the least votes have arguably the biggest stars in them in terms of legitimate Broadway talent with Kristin Chenoweth in Promises, Promises and Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch in A Little Night Music. Considering that the box offices for these shows have also been doing well, I think this proves that Broadway stars can still hold their own against Hollywood stars on the Great White Way.

I know this was a rather  unpleasant poll as we all hate to see shows close, but it is an inevitable part of the business of show.

Stay tuned for the next poll of the weekly, which will be a much happier topic.

The New Marge MacDougal?

I saw this photo on the Promises, Promises facebook page and I just had to post it. This fan dressed up as Marge and next to Katie Finneran, she looks pretty darn close to perfect! The owl is my favorite!

Promises Promises Welcomes a New Marge MacDougal

Funny Lady Molly Shannon will follow Katie Finneran in the role of Marge MacDougal in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises. Finneran announced recently that she will be leaving the show in October to have a baby. Shannon will step into Marge's owl feathers on October 12th and leave on December 26th with current stars Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. This casting change will be a reunion of sorts for Shannon and Hayes as she guest starred on several episodes of the hit comedy Will & Grace.

Katie Finneran to Leave Promises, Promises

Congratulations to newlyweds Katie Finneran and Darren Goldstein who are expecting their first child! Katie recently won a Tony award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her role in the Broadway revival of Promises, Promises. Her last show will be October 10th. Finneran's performance is certainly not to be missed! The actress who replaces her will surely have big shoes to fill. To read my review of the show, click on the link below.


http://backstagebarbie.blogspot.com/2010/06/promises-promises.html

Fun Fact of the Day: Stage-dooring

While stage-dooring may be a common practice for many avid theatregoers, to others, it is a foreign concept.

stage-dooring: visiting the stage door of a theatre after the show in hopes of meeting the performers

My first stage door experience in New York was at RENT and I was absolutely thrilled to meet the actors, take photos with them, and have my playbill signed. I almost always visit the stage-door these days and I have accumulated quite a collection of signed playbills and posters. Stage-dooring is most common at shows that are popular with the teenage crowd like Wicked or Spring Awakening and shows that feature celebrities on stage, such as the current revival of Promises, Promises. Most actors are happy to sign playbills and other items from the show, although occasionally performers will leave without signing or even duck out an alternate exit. Some are even happy to take photos with fans. While I have waited in some long lines and fought a lot of crowds, I cherish my stage-door memories and have even gotten the chance to have genuine conversations with some of my Broadway idols from Stephanie J Block and Alice Ripley to the original Broadway revival cast of Hair.

**BackStage Barbie's stage-dooring tip: if you want to get a prime stage-door spot for celebrities like Kristin Chenoweth & Sean Hayes at Promises, Promises or Bebe Neuwirth & Nathan Lane at The Adams Family, make your way out of the theatre during the curtain call to avoid the post-show rush**

Fun Fact Of The Day: Happy Birthday Cheno!!

Today is a very special day on Broadway...it's Kristin Chenoweth's birthday! Kristin is currently staring in Promises, Promises on Broadway but is best known for her work in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown and Wicked. Happy Birthday Kristin! We are so glad you are born and broadway wouldn't be the same without you!!

Broadway Barks 2010

During my day trip to New York City with Amber yesterday we also attended Broadway Barks, the twelfth annual event to promote adoption of shelter dogs and cats. The event is hosted every year by Broadway Barks founders Mary Tyler Moore, who can still turn the world on with her smile, and my idol Bernadette Peters. I was completely starstruck when I saw her across Shubert Alley, ask my friends, I could barely speak. Can I please look as good as she does when I'm 62? Broadway stars from shows like Promises, Promises, Memphis, and A Little Night Music presented the animals up for adoption and told the often sad stories of the animals lives before they were rescued by the ASPCA and other organizations. I thought I would have to drag my friends there so I could see the Broadway stars, but they fell in love with the animals and so did I. Amber and I even contemplated how we could sneak a baby pooch onto the bus. I wonder if my new apartment will let me have a dog?

TONY Nominee Swaps

So just for sheer fun, I decided I would toss a nominee out of a few categories and nominate somebody else who I really believe to be deserving. Oh yeah, and I'm a musical girl so don't expect much attention to be paid to plays in this completely hypothetical exchange of nominees.

Best Musical: Million Dollar Quartet is a waste of space. Did I mention I am sick of jukebox musicals?

My Swap: Sondheim on Sondheim-- it's a lovely night at the theater and includes some memorable performances of world-class music.

Best Revival of a Musical: Promises, Promises is great fun and I would love to see my girl Kristin Chenoweth's show nominated, but I can't bring myself to toss out any of these other fine revivals.

Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Chad Kimball is out of his league in this category.

My Swap: John Gallagher Jr. for American Idiot-- I know I said I was sick of jukebox musicals but I'm willing to make an exception in this case because Green Day allegedly wrote their album of the same name with the hopes that it would become a staged musical. Plus this boy owns the rock-musical performance style and excels here as he did in his TONY winning performance in Spring Awakening.

Best Leading Actress in a Musical: I'm sorry Montego Glover but I'm not feeling the Memphis love.

My Swap: Kristin Chenoweth for Promises, Promises-- anybody surprised about this decision? This category is filled with veterans and Kristin was clearly missing so I had to oust the newbie (sorry Montego, I hear you are fabulous though)! In my eyes, anytime Chenoweth opens her mouth it is TONY worthy so I stand firm with my choice.

Best Featured Actor in a Musical: I think we are all a little bitter about The Adams Family stinking up Broadway this season (I love your work Andrew Lippa, call me?) so Kevin Chamberlin will have to go.

My Swap: Cheyenne Jackson for Finian's Rainbow-- I know he would've been in the leading actor in a musical category, but this is hypothetical, so who cares?

Best Featured Actress in a Musical: I am a dancer so this is hard for me to say, but great dancing does not necessarily merit a nomination for an acting award, Karin Plantadit, though your talent is immense.

My Swap: Erin Mackey for Sondheim on Sondheim-- I know that was out of left field, far left in fact, but I was utterly blown away by her interpretation of the Sondheim music at her tender age.,

My 2010 TONY Predictions: Plays/Musicals

Best Play Nominees: In The Next Room/The Vibrator Play, Red, Next Fall, Time Stands Still

My Pick: Red-- this play about iconic painter Mark Rothko is one of the most innovative subjects explored on Broadway in a long time. It is the complete package with its two actors also favored in their categories as well as several of its designers.

Best Musical Nominees: Fela, Memphis, American Idiot, Million Dollar Quartet

My Pick: Memphis-- this is certainly one of the most contested categories this year, but Memphis is perhaps the most commercially stable that has the best touring future, which is often a factor for TONY voters. It is also the most similar to recent best musical winners of the decade, from Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Producers to Hairspray and Billy Elliot. Fela is certainly innovative, but perhaps too progressive for the TONY awards. And American Idiot is so similar to 2007 winner Spring Awakening--is Broadway really ready to reward another teen angst rock musical? And poor Million Dollar Quartet doesn't have a shot.

Best Revival of a Play: Lend Me A Tenor, Fences, A View From The Bridge, The Royal Family

My Pick: August Wilson's Fences--this seems to be a no-brainer as it has the starpower of Denzel Washington and is a box office smash, not to mention it is superbly written.

Best Revival of a Musical: La Cage aux Folles, Finian's Rainbow, Ragtime, A Little Night Music

My Pick: La Cage aux Folles-- this also seems like an easy pick as it opened to critical acclaim and the viewers seem to love it. It also won the Drama Desk which is often a strong predictor.

Best Direction of a Play: Michael Grandage, Red, Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall, Kenny Leon, Fences, Gregory Mosher, A View From The Bridge

My Pick: Michael Grandage, Red-- this play really is the complete package and that reflects well on the director.

Best Direction of a Musical: Christopher Ashley, Memphis, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime, Bill T Jones, Fela, Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles

My Pick: Bill T Jones, Fela-- the blocking and choreography blend perfectly in the night club atmosphere of this production and it is clear that Jones has done his research on the life and legacy of Fela Kuti.

Best Book of a Musical: Dick Scanlan and Sherie Renee Scott, Everyday Rapture, Jim Lewis and Bill T Jones, Fela, Joe DiPietro, Memphis, Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux, Million Dollar Quartet

My Pick: Dick Scanlan and Sherie Renee Scott, Everyday Rapture-- this show burst onto the scene last minute and its quirky blend of Scott's real life story with a comedic twist make it one of the most poignant works of the season. I call it more of a play with music than an actual musical, which truly speaks to the strength of its book.

Best Score: Andrew Lippa, The Adams Family, Branford Marsalis, Fences, Adam Cork and Lucy Prebble, Enron, David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, Memphis

My Pick: Branford Marsalis for Fences-- this is perhaps the weakest category this year in a season filled with jukebox musicals, so out of disgust at the lack of originality amongst the new musicals, I have to give it to a play.

Best Choreography: Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises, Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away, Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles, Bill T Jones, Fela

My Pick: Bill T Jones, Fela-- this is the moment of truth for me, choreography is my forte so this has to be right. Normally Tharp is a front runner every time she works on Broadway, but Come Fly Away lacks the originality of her smash hit Movin' Out and this topic has already been explored choreographically in the Sinatra Suite she has been developing over the past few decades. Jones has worked on the Great White Way before, but nothing else has been nearly as explosive, innovative, or electric as his work this year in Fela.

Promises, Promises

The 2010 revival of Promises, Promises promotes itself as a musical comedy, which is exactly what it is—a fun night at the theatre. Written by legendary playwright Neil Simon, it is no surprise that this reads more as a play with music than a musical. This certainly is not a negative thing, simply a credit to how strong the plot is. The Burt Bacharach & Hal David tunes, while they certainly do not show off vocal virtuosity, are American classics and widely recognized.

Sean Hayes makes his Broadway debut in the role of Chuck Baxter and it is about time. Hayes seems so comfortable on stage, making him perfect for this role where he breaks the fourth wall and frequently addresses the audience. He is so generous and personable that we feel that we know him by the end of the performance. His singing is less than spectacular, but we are willing to forgive that because he is so skilled as an actor. We sympathize with Chuck as he seeks to climb the corporate ladder and even get behind his less than moral strategy as he shares his bachelor pad with high-ranking executives for their extramarital affairs. We even pity Chuck when he cannot seem to get the attention of Fran, the office cafeteria hostess that he secretly loves. Always the good guy, Chuck eventually realizes that he would rather not have a job at all than work for a slimy, cheating boss and quits. The fact that he gets Fran in the end softens the blow.

Kristin Chenoweth plays the role of Fran Kubelik and the moment she steps on stage, she receives an incredible round of applause—her reputation precedes her. There is nobody that sings like Kristin Chenoweth and she knocks every number out of the park, even with the trachea infection she was experiencing during this specific show. She has fabulous acting chops too, but I just struggled to believe her in this role. My love for Kristin Chenoweth is very deep, she is my idol, we all know that. But there is just something to be said for the perfect marriage of a performer and a role and it simply did not happen in this case. She is so gifted and charismatic and it is truly a shame that she was not given a role worthy of her talent.

Katie Finneran in the role of Marge MacDougall is a firecracker, sending the show into the stratosphere for the two brief scenes that she is on stage. Finneran takes a huge risk in her portrayal of Marge as she tiptoes the fine line between unexpected hilarity and just plain over the top. She stays on the safe side because her character is so grounded and realistic. With her crazy antics, Marge seduces Chuck and is able to take his mind off of Fran. Finneran truly invests in this role and the audience believes everything that comes out of her mouth. From her dark red wig to her low, brassy voice, Marge looks nothing like Katie and this is truly a transformation.

I wanted terribly to fall in love with this production, I really did. After all it has all the right ingredients, praised source material, a sitcom actor, a phenomenal supporting cast, and not to mention my idol, but even with all of these assets, there is something missing. A running theme in all of my favorite musicals is a personal connection to a character or the story, but that simply did not happen for me in this show. I guess it was my assumption that with Chenoweth in the role, I would have an instant connection to Fran, when in actuality we have nothing in common. Even though nothing in the show pulled at my heartstrings, Promises, Promises is nevertheless enjoyable and entertaining and after all, is that not the reason we attend the theatre?m