Fall/Winter 2015 Broadway Preview

Well friends, the 2014-2015 Tony season is behind us and while big winners like Fun Home. King & I, and Curious Incident are reaping the benefits, many shows have closed. Such is the circle of life on Broadway, although we can't be completely upset because many new exciting shows are opening! I am here to preview some of the shows that I am most excited about. Disclaimer: These are not all the shows opening this fall/winter, but just those that we are particularly excited to see.

HAMILTON
Theatre: Richard Rodgers

Opening: August 8th

Why I'm Excited: This is perhaps the most anticipated Broadway production in years. I saw it front row at the Public. I am debating whether to see it again because it was just so perfect in that intimate setting, but if you didn't see it downtown and you want to see the 2016 TONY winner for Best Musical, get your tickets now!

SPRING AWAKENING

Theatre: Brooks Atkinson

Opening: September 27th

Why I'm Excited: I missed it the first time it was on Broadway but I did catch the national tour. Normally I would say that only 8 years later is too early for a revival, but this is a completely reimagined production by Deaf West that will be performed in American Sign Language as well as being spoken. This pieces will feature Oscar Winner Marlee Matlin as well as Broadway favorites Andy Mientus and Krysta Rodriguez. 

The Gin Game

Theatre: Golden

Opening: October 13th

Why I'm Excited: James Earl Jones & Cicely Tyson.....enough said! 

Dames at Sea

Theatre: Helen Hayes

Opening: October 22nd

Why I'm Excited: Every Broadway season needs an old school favorite and this is it! Plus, I love Mara Davi and haven't seen her on Broadway since A Chorus Line.

Sylvia

Theatre: Cort 

Opening: October 27th

Why I'm Excited: Annaleigh Ashford is attending obedience school to prepare to play the role of a dog in this production.....are you intrigued yet? If not, Matthew Broderick and Julie White also star.

On Your Feet

Theatre: Marquis

Opening: November 5th

Why I'm Excited: We love Gloria! Sure, this may suffer the same fate as most jukebox musicals and lack a strong book, but even so, try to convince me you don't love the Conga! 

Allegiance

Theatre: Longacre

Opening: November 8th

Why I'm Excited: George Takei stars in this new piece set in a Japanese Internment camp. This is new territory for a Broadway musical and also features Great White Way veteran Lea Salonga.

China Doll

Theatre: Schoenfeld 

Opening: November 19th

Why I'm Excited: What goes together better than Mamet and Pacino? Just a word of advice, leave children and home as well as anyone who cringes at the drop of an f-bomb.

The Color Purple

Theatre: Jacobs

Opening: December 10th

Why I'm Excited: The original Broadway production had some bright moments, but overall it was clunky and too long. Luckily this production is helmed by John Doyle, the king of stripping down grandiose shows and presenting exactly what the audience needs to see. Jennifer Hudson will certainly sell enough tickets to keep this production afloat, though I suspect that Danielle Brooks (Orange is the New Black) will be the breakout star of the season. Can we say Best Featured Actress in a Musical??

Fiddler on the Roof

Theatre: Broadway

Opening: December 17th

Why I'm Excited: The Theatre Queens will kill me for this but I've never seen a full production of Fiddler. I love me some Danny Burstein, and although I don't feel we need yet another revival of this Bock & Harnick classic, I have faith that the visionary Bart Sher will reimagine this.  

Noises Off

Theatre: American Airlines

Opening: January 14th 

Why I'm Excited: This is my all time favorite plays! If you've not seen it before, prepare to get an ab workout from laughter. In the world of farce...this play is king, but it's the theatre so let's cal it queen. Andrea Martin, Megan Hilty, and Jeremy Shamos star.  

Win Free tickets to Romeo & Juliet on BROADWAY!

A timeless classic returns to Broadway! For your chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to Romeo And Juliet on Broadway I want to know why you love the play. Did you read it in high school? Did you star in your college production? Do you have a favorite film rendition? Tell me by replying in the "comments" section below by Friday August 23rd! A winner will be chosen at random and notified by Saturday August 24th. Make sure to include your email address so I can contact the winner. 

International film star Orlando Bloom will make his Broadway debut alongside two-time Tony Award® nominee Condola Rashad, as Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers in a new Broadway production of the timeless love story ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by five-time Tony Award® nominee David Leveaux. The play will open on Broadway on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, following preview performances from Saturday, August 24, 2013.

The production will also star Tony Award® winner Brent Carver (Kiss of the Spider Woman) as Friar Laurence, two-time Tony Award® nominee Jayne Houdyshell (Well, Follies) as the Nurse, Tony Award® winner Chuck Cooper (The Life, “House Of Cards”) as Lord Capulet, Christian Camargo (All My Sons, The Hurt Locker) as Mercutio, Roslyn Ruff (The Piano Lesson, The Help) as Lady Capulet, Conrad Kemp (HBO’s “The Girl”, Jerome Salle’s Zulu) as Benvolio, Justin Guarini (American Idiot, Women on the Verge…) as Paris, Corey Hawkins as Tybalt, and Geoffrey Owens as Prince Escalus. Completing the cast are Donte Bonner, Joe Carroll, Don Guillory, Sheria Irving, Maurice Jones, Eric Loscheider, Spencer Plachy, Michael Rudko, Tracy Sallows, Thomas Schall, Carolyn Michelle Smith and Nance Williamson.



While ROMEO AND JULIET is the most famous love story of all time, this production will mark the first time in 36 years that the play will be produced for Broadway. This version of the classic tale will retain Shakespeare’s original language but have a modern setting in which members of the Montague family will be white, and the Capulet family will be black.

TICKETS

Tickets are available now at The Richard Rodgers Theatre Box Office (226 West 46th Street), online at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

A limited number of $20 tickets for each performance are available for college students. Tickets may be purchased in advance either at the Box Office with valid ID or online, exclusively through TIX4STUDENTS.COM. Limit of two tickets per order; price does not include facility fee.

For educators: A limited number of $20 tickets for each performance are available for educators. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the Box Office with valid ID. Educator tickets are only available for purchase at the box office. Limit of two tickets per order; price does not include facility fee.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Beginning Saturday, August 24: Tuesdays at 8:00PM, Wednesdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM, Thursdays at 8:00PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM, and Sundays at 3:00PM. (There will be no matinee performances on August 25, August 28, or September 4. There is an added performance on August 25 at 7:00PM)

Beginning Friday, September 20: Tuesdays at 7:00PM, Wednesdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM, Thursdays at 7:00PM, Fridays at 8:00PM, Saturdays at 2:00PM & 8:00PM, and Sundays at 3:00PM.

ONLINE & SOCIAL NETWORKS

Website: www.RomeoAndJulietBroadway.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/RomeoJulietBway

Twitter: www.Twitter.com/RomeoJulietBway

Instagram: www.Instagram.com/RomeoJulietBway

Google+: Plus.google.com/+RomeoJulietBway

Reply for your chance to win a pair of tickets to TIME STANDS STILL on Broadway!

The BackStage Barbie is teaming up with Arts Meets Commerce to bring you free tickets to upcoming Broadway hits! For your chance to win a pair of tickets to the Broadway show TIME STANDS STILL,  post your answer in the comments section of this post. We will choose a winner at random on September 22!
 
Here is the question:

Christina Ricci is making her Broadway debut in TIME STANDS STILL. In what movie did Christina Ricci receive her breakout role?

TIME STANDS STILL follows Sarah and James, a photojournalist and a foreign correspondent, played by Laura Linney and Brian D'Arcy James respectively, trying to find happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy. Theirs is a partnership based on telling the toughest stories, and together, making a difference. But when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life…and everything changes—in a flash. Performances begin September 23, 2010 at the Cort Theatre.

For More Information and a special offer visit: http://timestandsstillonbroadway.com/specialoffer.php

Fun Fact of the Day: The Four TONY Acting Categories

Since the first TONY was awarded in 1947, only three performers in history have received nominations in each of the four acting categories: Best Actor/Actress in a Musical, Best Actor/Actress in a Play, Best Featured Actor/Actress in a Musical, and Best Featured Actor/Actress in a Play. As of the 2010 TONY awards, neither of these actors has won in all four categories.

Boyd Gaines 
1989-Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Heidi Chronicles (won)
1994-Best Actor in a Musical for She Loves Me (won)
2000-Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Contact (won)
2007-Best Actor in a Play for Journey's End 
2008-Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Gypsy (won)
**Gaines needs a win in the Best Actor in a Play category to complete the TONY award cycle 




 
Angela Lansbury
1966-Best Actress in a Musical for Mame (won)
1969-Best Actress in a Musical for Dear World (won)
1975-Best Actress in a Musical for Gypsy (won)
1979-Best Actress in a Musical for Sweeney Todd (won)
2007-Best Actress in a Play for Deuce
2009-Best Featured Actress in a Play for Blithe Spirit (won)
2010-Best Featured Actress in a Musical for A Little Night Music
**Lansbury needs wins in the Best Actress in a Play and Best Featured  Actress in a Musical categories to complete the TONY award cycle    

Raul Esparza
2004-Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Taboo
2007-Best Actor in a Musical for Company
2008-Best Featured Actor in a Play for The Homecoming
2009-Best Actor in a Play for Speed The Plow
**Esparza has yet to win a TONY award 

Fun Fact of the Day: Broadway on a Budget

So I'm thinking of starting a new daily post (it may go weekly if I run out of ideas) where I give a fun fact of the day about theatre, dance, performing arts, etc.

Day 1: There are ways to see Broadway shows without pay $126.50 which is the current top ticket price. Consult this article on playbill.com for each individual show's policy for lottery, rush or standing room. It is pretty self-explanatory, but make sure to check the specific show you want to see before you go to the box office. Most of these policies generally require that you pay by cash so be ready with cash in hand when you get to the box office. http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/82428-Broadway-Rush-Lottery-and-Standing-Room-Only-Policies

Happy theatre going!!

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: Design

As we know, this category is certainly not my area of expertise but I'm going to give it my best shot anyway!

Best Scenic Design of a Play: John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family, Alexander Dodge, Present Laughter, Santo Loquasto, Fences, Christopher Oram, Red

My Pick: Christopher Oram for Red-- this pick certainly reflects my 'artsy' taste but I give the nod to Oram simply for the recreation of the Rothko work.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical: Marina Draghici, Fela, Christine Jones, American Idiot, Derek McLane, Ragtime, Tim Shortall, La Cage aux Folles

My Pick: Christine Jones for American Idiot-- the use of television screens is a great incorporation of technology and that along with the graphiti on the walls suits the contemporary time period of the piece.

Best Costume Design of a Play: Martin Pakledinaz, Lend Me A Tenor, Constanza Romero, Fences, David Zinn, In The Next Room/The Vibrator Play, Catherine Zuber, The Royal Family

My Pick: Catherine Zuber for The Royal Family-- nothing in this category impressed me greatly but at least these accurately reflect the time period.

Best Costume Design of a Musical: Marina Draghici, Fela, Paul Tazewell, Memphis, Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles

My Pick: Matthew Wright for La Cage Aux Folles-- everything is better in drag! But in all seriousness, these are gorgeous costumes that are flamboyant and fabulous without being distracting.

Best Lighting Design of a Play: Neil Austin, Hamlet, Neil Austin, Red, Mark Henderson, Enron, Brian MacDevitt, Fences

My Pick: Neil Austin for Red-- I apologize for my artsy side coming out again but Austin shows the audience what happens to great art when it is not displayed in proper conditions, giving us insight into the importance of presentation in visual art.

Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Kevin Adams, American Idiot, Donald Holder, Ragtime, Nick Richings, La Cage aux Folles, Robert Wierzel, Fela

My Pick: Kevin Adams for American Idiot-- simply because the scenic and lighting design really do work in harmony in the production.

Best Sound Design of Play: Acme Sound Partners, Fences, Adam Cork, Enron, Adam Cork, Red, Scott Lehrer, A View From The Bridge

My Pick: Acme Sound Partners for Fences-- the score of this play is indeed fantastic, but part of what makes it great is the quality with which it is delivered, thanks to the sound designer.

Best Sound Design of a Musical: Jonathan Deans, La Cage aux Folles, Robert Kaplowitz, Fela, Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, A Little Night Music, Dan Moses Schreier, Sondheim on Sondheim

My Pick: Dan Moses Schreier for Sondheim on Sondheim-- the show is almost equally split between songs and video projections, but Sondheim's spoken voice blends seamlessly into the performance of his compositions.

Best Orchestrations: Jason Carr, La Cage aux Folles, Aaron Johnson, Fela, Jonathan Tunick, Promises, Promises, Daryl Waters and David Bryan, Memphis

My Pick: Jason Carr for La Cage aux Folles-- this is a great update of a classic without greatly altering the original.

My 2010 TONY Predictions: Performances

Best Leading Actor in a Play: Jude Law, Hamlet, Denzel Washington, Fences, Liev Schreiber, A View From The Bridge, Alfred Molina, Red, Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane

My Pick: Liev Schreiber-- I believe I am going out on a limb here as Washington and Molina seem to be the front-runners, but my gut is telling me that Schreiber is gaining on them and will pull ahead in the race by TONY time.

Best Leading Actress in a Play: Viola Davis, Fences, Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family, Valerie Harper, Looped, Laura Linney, Time Stands Still, Linda Lavin, Collected Stories

My Pick: Viola Davis-- since I am snubbing Denzel, it is only fair to reward the other have of Fences' dynamic leading couple. Davis' performance is utterly heart-wrenching and because hers is one of the few plays still running, her interpretation lives in recent memory.

Best Leading Actor in a Musical: Sean Hayes, Promises, Promises, Chad Kimball, Memphis, Kelsey Grammer, La Cage aux Folles, Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles, Sahr Ngaujah, Fela

My Pick: Douglas Hodge-- this is another one of those categories that seems almost set in stone. Hodge is simply a revelation on stage, but to the credit of the other nominees, no other actor this season has been given the material to thrive on that Hodge has received in the character of Albin.

Best Leading Actress in a Musical: Kate Baldwin, Finian's Rainbow, Montego Glover, Memphis, Christiane Noll, Ragtime, Sherie Renee Scott, Everyday Rapture, Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music

My Pick: Kristin Chenoweth--oh wait--she was the best singer of the season, not the best actress, so my close second will be Catherine Zeta-Jones-- though not a singer by trade, this impeccably trained actress is the star of the season and rightfully deserves recognition for her interpretation of Desiree.

Best Featured Actor in a Play: David Alan Grier, Race, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences, Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts, Stephen Kunken, Enron, Eddie Redmayne, Red

My Pick: Eddie Redmayne-- I'm really feeling the love for this play! Redmayne is particularly notable in this production because he had the task of playing a character that was the amalgamation of many different men. While Alfred Molina could develop his performance in the play based on Rothko, a person who actually exists, Redmayne created a truly original character based on a compilations of Rothko's various assistants.

Best Featured Actress in a Play: Maria Dizzia, In The Next Room/The Vibrator Play, Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family, Jessica Hecht, A View From The Bridge, Scarlett Johansson, A View From The Bridge, Jan Maxwell, Lend Me A Tenor

My Pick: Jan Maxwell-- the woman was nominated twice this season, she has to win one of them, and this is arguably her stronger performance which should be good enough to topple the other talented women in the category.

Best Featured Actor in a Musical: Kevin Chamberlin, The Adams Family, Robin De Jesus, La Cage aux Folles, Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian's Rainbow, Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet, Bobby Steggert, Ragtime

My Pick: Bobby Steggert-- I'm going to take a huge leap of faith and hope that the impeccable, tour de force performance by Steggert in the long-gone revival of Ragtime will be remembered by the voters. It seems that Levi Kreis is the name on everybody's lips these days but if the award is truly for 'best performance,' Steggert is my choice.

Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim, Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises, Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music, Karine Plantadit, Come Fly Away, Lillias White, Fela

My Pick: Katie Finneran, Katie Finneran, Katie Finneran-- there are many words to describe Katie Finneran's performance in Promises, Promises. Among them, firecracker, dynamite, and dare I say it, the highlight of the entire Broadway season. Her ten minutes on stage give the audience the experience of being shot out of a cannon in a whirl of hilarity. I knew her performance was something special when it caught the attention of my dad-- because lets just say my love of the theatre does not come from that side of the family. If I were a betting woman, I would say that Finneran's win in this category is the surest of sure things in this entire awards presentation.

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.