Spring Broadway Preview

The 2015-2016 Broadway season is fully underway! Hamilton has risen to stratospheric levels of success, Jennifer Hudson has The Color Purple selling like hot cakes, Noises Off has already extended, On Your Feet has audiences cha-cha-ing home nightly, and my personal favorite, Allegiance, is sadly closing next week. But, on with the show!



While I'd love to see everything, this teacher's salary won't allow it so these shows are on my "MUST SEE" list!

She Loves Me
Opens: March 17th
Laura Benanti is one of my guiding stars, so obviously I already have tickets, but Jane Krakowski's sass has also gotten me through many a tough day. What could be better than these two broads singing Bock & Harnick? Plus, I used to do "Vanilla Ice Cream" with my fabulous voice teacher..done and DONE!

Bright Star
Opens: March 24th
I must admit, I hadn't heard much buzz about this show until a good family friend saw it at The Kennedy Center. I luckily already have tickets to this one as well and I hope it's such a big deal! I too grew up near the Blue Ridge Mountains and I hope this is just as folksy as all get out.

The Crucible
Opens: April 7th
I am the newest convert to Ivo Van Hove after seeing his phenomenal direction in A View From the Bridge. I am fascinated by this Arthur Miller series that he is doing and I like The Crucible even more that the former. It takes a lot for me to rank a play above a musical and Ivo Van Hove is the singular reason I will be skipping Tuck Everlasting until later this summer.

American Psycho 
Opens: April 20th
So I'm going to be perfectly honest and tell you that Alice Ripley was the first musical theatre star that I stalked. I was one of the proud Stage Door Jennies at Next To Normal who was able to facebook friend her before she maxed out and Zuckerberg gave her the heave-ho. Please forgive me, I was interning at Dance Magazine that summer. Anywho, I digress. Duncan Sheik is a brilliant songwriter and this production has assembled the perfect cast of crazy in Lady Ripley, the former Mr. Mamie Gummer, Benjamin Walker, and Spider-Man survivor Jennifer Damiano. (P.S remember in SMASH when Meg Hilty said, of Liaisons, "they are auditioning real names like Jen Damiano"). This is a must see. It may run forever or close after 1 performance, but Madame Ripley will make it memorable.

Waitress
Opens: April 24th
I didn't know what this Jessie Mueller character was all about and then my dear friend Sarah Jones VanFossen had me obsessed with Beautiful. I fell in love with Jessie and I am so happy she is coming back to us. Allegedly, Ms. Bareilles has written one of the best musical theatre scores in years, but I'm refusing to listen to it until I can experience it live onstage. Plus, I love Keala Settle because she tweets with me sometimes!

Long Day's Journey Into Night
Opens: April 27th
Jessica Lange.......enough said. But also, John Gallagher Jr......I will stop talking now.

Shuffle Along, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and all that Followed 
Opens: April 28th
Please see this show if you want to see Audra McDonald her 87,345th TONY....and TAP DANCE! Just let me name drop for a second.....Diva McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, even though he blew off my friend Pam at the Women on the Verge stage door on the way to the BK Whopper Bar, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Joshua (my Violet crush) Henry. This show could be about teamsters tapping the morse code and I would still see it. Also....Savion frickin Glover! Mic drop...Barbie out!

2014 TONY Awards Predictions

I will preface this post by saying that these picks do not represent my personal feelings on who SHOULD win, but rather my predictions for who I believe will actually win the Antoinette Perry on Sunday night. I will be live tweeting the Red Carpet & the Awards on Sunday so follow along @barbiebackstage!

Best Play (Prediction: All The Way)

Act One

Author:  James Lapine

 All The Way

Author:  Robert Schenkkan

 Casa Valentina

Author:  Harvey Fierstein

Mothers and Sons

Author:  Terrence McNally

Outside Mullingar

Author:  John Patrick Shanley

Best Musical (Prediction: A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder)

After Midnight

Aladdin

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Revival of a Play (Prediction: Twelfth Night)

 The Cripple of Inishmaan

The Glass Menagerie

A Raisin in the Sun

Twelfth Night

Best Revival of a Musical (Prediction: Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch

Les Misérables

Violet

Best Book of a Musical (Prediction: Robert L. Freedman, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder)

Aladdin

Chad Beguelin

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Douglas McGrath

Bullets Over Broadway

Woody Allen

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Robert L. Freedman

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre (Prediction: Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County)

Aladdin

Music: Alan Menken
Lyrics: Howard Ashman, Tim Rice and Chad Beguelin

The Bridges of Madison County

Music & Lyrics: Jason Robert Brown

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Music: Steven Lutvak
Lyrics: Robert L. Freedman & Steven Lutvak

If/Then

Music: Tom Kitt
Lyrics: Brian Yorkey

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Prediction: Bryan Cranston, All The Way)

Samuel Barnett, Twelfth Night
Bryan Cranston, All The Way
Chris O'Dowd, Of Mice and Men
Mark Rylance, Richard III
Tony Shalhoub, Act One

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (Prediction: Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill)

Tyne Daly, Mothers and Sons
LaTanya Richardson Jackson, A Raisin in the Sun
Cherry Jones, The Glass Menagerie
Audra McDonald, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Estelle Parsons, The Velocity of Autumn

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Prediction: Jefferson Mays, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder) 

Neil Patrick Harris, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Ramin Karimloo, Les Misérables
Andy Karl, Rocky
Jefferson Mays, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Bryce Pinkham, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical (Prediction: Jessie Mueller, Beautiful)

Mary Bridget Davies, A Night with Janis Joplin
Sutton Foster, Violet
Idina Menzel, If/Then
Jessie Mueller, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Kelli O'Hara, The Bridges of Madison County

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Prediction: Mark Rylance, Twelfth Night)

Reed Birney, Casa Valentina
Paul Chahidi, Twelfth Night
Stephen Fry, Twelfth Night
Mark Rylance, Twelfth Night
Brian J. Smith, The Glass Menagerie

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play (Prediction: Celia Keenan-Bolger, A Raisin in the Sun) 

Sarah Greene, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Celia Keenan-Bolger, The Glass Menagerie
Sophie Okonedo, A Raisin in the Sun
Anika Noni Rose, A Raisin in the Sun
Mare Winningham, Casa Valentina

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Prediction: James Monroe Iglehart, Aladdin)

Danny Burstein, Cabaret
Nick Cordero, Bullets Over Broadway
Joshua Henry, Violet
James Monroe Iglehart, Aladdin
Jarrod Spector, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical (Prediction: Lena Hall, Hedwig and the Angry Inch)

Linda Emond, Cabaret
Lena Hall, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Anika Larsen, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Adriane Lenox, After Midnight
Lauren Worsham, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Scenic Design of a Play (Prediction: Beowulf Boritt, Act One) 

Beowulf Boritt, Act One
Bob Crowley, The Glass Menagerie
Es Devlin, Machinal
Christopher Oram, The Cripple of Inishmaan

Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Prediction: Christopher Barreca, Rocky)

Christopher Barreca, Rocky
Julian Crouch, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Alexander Dodge, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Santo Loquasto, Bullets Over Broadway

Best Costume Design of a Play (Prediction: Jenny Tiramani, Twelfth Night)

Jane Greenwood, Act One
Michael Krass, Machinal
Rita Ryack, Casa Valentina
Jenny Tiramani, Twelfth Night

Best Costume Design of a Musical (Prediction: William Ivey Long, Bullets Over Broadway)

Linda Cho, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
William Ivey Long, Bullets Over Broadway
Arianne Phillips, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Isabel Toledo, After Midnight

Best Lighting Design of a Play (Prediction: Jane Cox, Machinal)

Paule Constable, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Jane Cox, Machinal
Natasha Katz, The Glass Menagerie
Japhy Weideman, Of Mice and Men

Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Prediction: Christopher Akerlind, Rocky)

Kevin Adams, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Christopher Akerlind, Rocky
Howell Binkley, After Midnight
Donald Holder, The Bridges of Madison County

Best Sound Design of a Play (Prediction: Matt Tierney, Machinal)

Alex Baranowski, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Steve Canyon Kennedy, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill
Dan Moses Schreier, Act One
Matt Tierney, Machinal

Best Sound Design of a Musical (Prediction: Brian Ronan, Beautiful) 

Peter Hylenski, After Midnight
Tim O'Heir, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Mick Potter, Les Misérables
Brian Ronan, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical

Best Direction of a Play (Prediction: Tim Carroll, Twelfth Night) 

Tim Carroll, Twelfth Night
Michael Grandage, The Cripple of Inishmaan
Kenny Leon, A Raisin in the Sun
John Tiffany, The Glass Menagerie

Best Direction of a Musical (Predition: Darko Tresnjak, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder)

Warren Carlyle, After Midnight
Michael Mayer, Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Leigh Silverman, Violet
Darko Tresnjak, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

Best Choreography (Prediction: Warren Carlyle, After Midnight)

Warren Carlyle, After Midnight
Steven Hoggett & Kelly Devine, Rocky
Casey Nicholaw, Aladdin

Susan Stroman, Bullets Over Broadway

Best Orchestrations (Prediction: Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County) 

Doug Besterman, Bullets Over Broadway
Jason Robert Brown, The Bridges of Madison County
Steve Sidwell, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical
Jonathan Tunick, A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder

2012 TONY Award Nominations: Predictions

Last year I was pretty darn close on my predictions so let's see how I do here. Kristin Chenoweth and Jim Parsons announce the nominees tomorrow (5/1) at 8:30 am.

Best Play:
1) Clybourne Park
2) Other Desert Cities
3) Peter and the Starcatcher
4) Stick Fly


Best Musical:
1) Bonnie & Clyde 
2) Leap of Faith
3) Newsies
4) Nice Work If You Can Get It


Best Revival of a Play:
1) Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
2) Private Lives
3) A Streetcar Named Desire
4) Wit


Best Revival of a Musical:
1) Evita
2) Follies
3) The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess
4) Jesus Christ Superstar 


Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play:
1) Hugh Dancy, Venus in Fur
2) Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Death of a Salesman
3) Frank Langella, Man and Boy
4) John Lithgow, The Columnist
5) Blair Underwood, A Streetcar Named Desire


Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play:
1) Nina Arianda, Venus in Fur
2) Tracie Bennett, End of the Rainbow
3) Tyne Daly, Master Class
4) Linda Lavin, The Lyons
5) Cynthia Nixon, Wit


Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical:
1) Matthew Broderick, Nice Work If You Can Get It
2) Danny Burstein, Follies
3) Raul Esparza, Leap of Faith
4) Norm Lewis, Porgy and Bess
5) Ron Raines, Follies


Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical:
1) Jan Maxwell, Follies
2) Audra McDonald, Porgy and Bess
3) Kelli O'Hara, Nice Work If You Can Get It
4) Bernadette Peters, Follies
5) Elena Roger, Evita

2011 Kennedy Center Honorees

The list of 2011 Kennedy Center Honorees was announced this morning. This year's class includes Barbara Cook (Theatre Actress/Cabaret Singer),  Meryl Streep (Actress), Neil Diamond (Singer/Songwriter), Yo-Yo Ma (Cellist), and Sonny Rollins (Saxophonist/Composer). The ceremony will take place Sunday December 4th. I love to anticipate who will perform for the honorees and because I'm a big Barbara Cook fan and I know who the Kennedy Center typically asks to perform for these things, I think I pretty much have it figured out. Kristin Chenoweth will likely sing "Glitter and Be Gay," a song made famous by Cook in the role of Cunegonde in the original Broadway production of Candide. If we get another song from Candide it will be the finale "Make Our Garden Grow" as a duet between the likes of Patrick Wilson and Audra McDonald. Perhaps her most famous role, Cook also originated, and won the 1957 Tony award for playing Marian Paroo in The Music Man. We'll certainly hear a medley of those famous Meredith Willson songs so expect performances from Broadway's leading sopranos such as Kelli O'Hara, Laura Benanti, or more plausibly Rebecca Luker who played Marian in the 2000 revival. We could also get a plug for Arena Stage's upcoming production of the show with a performance by their leading lady, and Tony nominee, Kate Baldwin. Cook is considered one of the finest interpreters of Stephen Sondheim's music and her signature song is "In Buddy's Eyes" from the musical Follies which just happens to be playing on Broadway now. In the show, the song is performed by Sally, currently played by fellow Sondheim Diva Bernadette Peters......so you do the math.

As for the other honorees, well I haven't gotten that far, but check back as I'll certainly make more predictions as the ceremony draws closer! 

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #17: Happy Days Are Here Again/Get Happy

I have nothing to say about this other than watch and be amazed. Its Patti, its Audra, its fierce!

Roles They Could Have Had

I've been reading a lot lately about prominent actors that audition for or were considered for parts in Broadway shows or movie musicals that either turned down or were denied the roles. I find this fascinating because I think we all feel that once you reach a certain point in your acting career, you can have any role you want. Well prepare to be surprised, because some of these names are big, I'm talking Patti LuPone and Meryl Streep big. Some of these casting situations are confirmed by the actors and some are just rumors, but nonetheless they are all juicy

• West Side Story (film)-Elvis was offered the role of Tony but his manager turned it down as "Elvis only does Elvis movies"
• Sunday in the Park with George-Patti LuPone auditioned to replace Bernadette Peters as Dot/Marie but was denied the role
• A Little Night Music(Broadway revival)-Patti LuPone reportedly contacted director Trevor Nunn about playing the role of Desiree but he never returned her call
• A Little Night Music(Broadway revival)-Broadway heavy hitters Sherie Rene Scott, Marin Mazzie, and Victoria Clark were considered for the role of Desiree but producers decided to go the way of "star casting" with Catherine Zeta Jones; Laura Benanti was also offered the role of Charlotte but turned it down to star in In the Next Room/The Vibrator Play
• Crazy For You-Karen Ziemba was up for the female lead but lost to Jodi Benson; Ziemba later toured with the show and was much more acclaimed in the role than Benson
• Wicked-Stephanie J Block played Elphaba in the first workshop but was later recast by Idina Menzel
• Thoroughly Modern Millie-Kristen Chenoweth was cast as the original Millie, but left to film her sitcom Kristin and was recast but Erin Dilly and ultimately Sutton Foster
• Little Shop of Horrors-Nathan Lane and Faith Prince were considered for the original Seymour and Audrey but neither got the part; ironically both were later cast together in the revival of Guys and Dolls
• Sunset Boulevard-Hollywood stars Meryl Streep, Faye Dunaway, and Barbra Streisand were considered for the role of Norma, which was ultimately played by Patti LuPone in London and Glenn Close in LA and New York
• Into the Woods-Patti LuPone reportedly auditioned to play the Witch, but it was given to Bernadette Peters
• Wicked-Sara Ramirez was considered for Elphaba before Idina Menzel was hired
• The Rocky Horror Show (revival)-Matthew Morrison was offered the role of Rocky but turned it down to be in a boy band; when the band failed he joined the production in the chorus
• Grease (movie)- Henry Winkler was offered the role of Danny but he turned it down because "it was too similar to the Fonz"
• Sunday in the Park with George- Kelsey Grammer played a soldier when the show debuted off-Broadway but left to play Frasier on Cheers
• Sweeney Todd (film)- Meryl Streep was offered Mrs. Lovett but turned it down to do the film version of Mama Mia
• Young Frankenstein- All 4 principle actors from Will & Grace auditioned, but only Megan Mullaly was cast, in the role of Elizabeth
• Wicked- Mandy Moore received an offer to replace Chenoweth as Glinda, but "didn't want to follow someone like Kristin"
• Hello Dolly- Ethel Merman was offered the role of Dolly Levi but turned it down and it went to Carol Channing; ironically Merman later played the role as the final  Broadway replacement and the last role of her career
• Passion- Patti LuPone was offered the role of Fosca but turned it down to do Sunset Boulevard in London
• Cabaret-Madonna seriously considered playing Sally in the revival but turned it down for "security reasons"; Anne Heche was rumored to headline the first national tour but the role ultimately went to Terri Hatcher
• Sweet Charity (revival)- Brittney Spears turned down the offer to replace Christina Applegate as Charity
• Moulin Rouge (film)- Renee Zellweger was on the short list for the Nicole Kidman role but ultimately lost out
• Chicago (film)- Kristin Chenoweth lost the role of Mary Sunshine to Christine Baranski and was also considered for Roxie; Catherine Zeta-Jones was cast and given the choice of Roxie or Velma
• Wicked- John Gallagher was considered for a role in the original production but told producers he "could never do musicals"
• Ragtime- LaChanze was almost cast as Sarah until the producers insisted in Audra McDonald
• The Light in the Piazza- Celia Keenan-Bolger was the original Clara out of town but producers thought she "read as too young" and promoted Kelli O'Hara to play Clara after originally playing Franca
• Evita (film)- It seems like everybody in New York and Hollywood was considered for this film role, from Patti LuPone to Michelle Pfeiffer but it ultimately went to Madonna
• American Idiot- Constantine Maroulis played the role of St. Jimmy in workshops until Tony Vincent joined the production

Barbie's Showtune of the Day #12: Opening of Ragtime

You can say a lot of things about Rosie O'Donnell, some good and some bad, but there is nobody who is more supportive of the theatre, and the arts in general, than she is.When her daytime talk show was on the air, she exposed a national audience to theatre and is forever an advocate for the art form. On this particular occasion, she had the cast of the original Broadway production of Ragtime perform their opening number. This look back to 1998 gives us a glimpse of some of today's biggest Broadway stars back when they were just getting their start, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, and Brian Stokes Mitchell among them. And that little girl that appears around 2:50...that is a young Lea Michele. This is one of my favorite songs from the musical theatre and the harmonies at the end are astounding.

My Fave Five Broadway Sopranos

Kelli O'Hara

This southern gal is a product of the same teacher, Florence Birdwell of Oklahoma City University, that produced Kristin Chenoweth. She is best known for her Tony nominated roles: Clara in The Light In The Pizza, Babe in The Pajama Game, and Nellie in South Pacific. Her earlier Broadway work shows off her light, sweet, airy sound, but her later work and her solo album, Wonder in the World, demonstrate that there is more to this girl than blonde hair and high notes. There is genuine soul behind that glorious voice. Because her voice and her look are so classical, she seems more inclined to revivals and I think that if My Fair Lady is ever revived on Broadway, the role of Eliza Doolittle just may be her ticket to finally winning that TONY. Listen to the title track of The Light in the Piazza for a taste of Kelli's impeccable control and sweeping vibrato. 

Audra McDonald

Television fans will know her as Dr. Naomi Bennet on ABC's Private Pactice, but theatre fans know she is a Broadway Baby at heart. She is a classically trained soprano from Julliard. Many know her as a belter, which is not untrue, but her power in her lower register actually comes from her soprano training.She performed an unthinkable feat, winning 3 TONY awards in 5 years as Carrie Pipperidge in Carousel(1994), Sharon in Master Class (1996), and Sarah in Ragtime (1998). She won a 4th TONY in 2004, portraying the role of Ruth Younger in A Raisin in the Sun. She shares the title of "4-time TONY winner" with legends like Gwen Verdon and Mary Martin. She continues to perform concerts worldwide, specializing in opera and classical song cycles. My personal favorite Audra recording is "Your Daddy's Son" from Ragtime.

Julie Andrews

Perhaps the most well known of these 5 sopranos, Julie Andrews captured the hearts of audiences world-wide on film as Mary in Mary Poppins and Maria in The Sound of Music. Her stage highlights include My Fair Lady, Camelot, and Victor/Victoria. Vocally, she is known for her crisp diction and perfect pitch. Unfortunately, in recent years, she has been limited to non-singing roles due to a botched throat surgery that rendered her singing voice unusable. But she has continued to perform in films and her speaking voice is just as fluid and mesmerizing as when she had the use of vibrato. And we will always remember her as the silvery-voiced soprano we fell in love with. The title track from The Sound of Music is a classic Julie Andrews piece that is not to be missed.

Kristin Chenoweth

Anybody who has ever met me knows that Kristin Chenoweth is my idol. I've loved her ever since I began to study voice and found that I too was a soprano. I thought that only belters could have Broadway careers until I began following Kristin's career and then I decided I wanted to be just like her. Her Broadway highlights are certainly her performances as Glinda in Wicked and her TONY winning turn as Sally in You're A Good Man Charlie Brown where she showed off her upper register and her belting capabilities that, like in Audra's case, stem from her classical training. As Cunegonde in Candide, she showed off her coloratura range in what every soprano considers the most demanding song written for the musical theatre, Glitter & Be Gay. She is currently showing a darker side to her performance in the revival of Promises, Promises and though it is great to hear her sing the classic Burt Bacharach tunes, I miss hearing those great high C's, otherwise known as the "cheno note". "The Girl in 14G," written specifically for Kristin by Jeanine Tesori and Dick Scanlan is a shining example of her abilities to shift from operatic arias to jazz riffs and belting all in one song.

Barbara Cook

And last but not least, the woman who has inspired every soprano in the musical theatre, the Queen herself, Barbara Cook. Her earliest roles were in the ingenue category, from her TONY winning portrayal of Marian in The Music Man to originating the role of Cunegonde in Bernstein's operetta Candide. After a hiatus from Broadway, Cook embarked upon a very successful cabaret and concert career. She has also become known as one of the greatest living interpreters of Stephen Sondheim's work and made a triumphant return to the Broadway stage this season in the musical Sondheim on Sondheim where she delivered sensational versions of In Buddy's Eyes, Not A Day Goes By, and Send In The Clowns. Although her voice has dropped a bit over the years and she no longer has her high E-flats, she will always be the singer that all other sopranos try to live up to. There is no song in the musical theatre that is more spectacular than Barbara Cook singing "Glitter & be Gay".