DKC/O&M Spring Preview
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Spring 2016
NEW BROADWAY:
BRIGHT STAR
Music, Book, & Original Story by Steve Martin
Music, Lyrics, & Original Story by Edie Brickell
Directed by Walter Bobbie
Previews begin February 25
Opening Night set for March 24
at the Cort Theatre
138 West 48th Street
www.BrightStarMusical.com
Meet Alice Murphy. If you knew her story, you wouldn’t believe it. Inspired by an astonishing true event, the wholly original new musical Bright Star tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and ‘40s. When successful literary editor Alice Murphy meets an ambitious young soldier just home from World War II, their connection inspires Alice to confront a shocking incident from her past. Together they discover a long-buried secret with the power to transform their lives.
With music and book by Steve Martin and music and lyrics by Edie Brickell, Bright Star is based on an original story by Martin and Brickell and features direction by Walter Bobbie, choreography by Josh Rhodes, scenic design by Eugene Lee, costume design by Jane Greenwood, lighting design by Japhy Weideman, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Tom Watson, musical supervision by Peter Asher, musical direction and vocal arrangements by Rob Berman, orchestrations by August Eriksmoen, and casting by Howie Cherpakov. Bright Star was developed and had its world premiere at The Old Globe in San Diego (Barry Edelstein, Artistic Director; Michael G. Murphy, Managing Director).
Carmen Cusack will make her Broadway debut as Alice, a role she originated in Bright Star’s world premiere production, and will be joined by co-stars Paul Alexander Nolan, Tony Award® nominee Michael Mulheren, A.J. Shively, Hannah Elless, Tony Award® nominee Stephen Bogardus, three-time Tony Award® nominee Dee Hoty, Stephen Lee Anderson, Emily Padgett, Tony Award® nominee Jeff Blumenkrantz, along with Maddie Shea Baldwin, Allison Briner-Dardenne, Max Chernin, Patrick Cummings, Sandra DeNise, Richard Gatta, Lizzie Klemperer, Michael X. Martin, William Michals, Tony Roach, Sarah Jane Shanks and William Youmans.
Bright Star is produced on Broadway by Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner and John Johnson, 40 Share Productions, Inc., Jay Alix and Una Jackman, James L. Nederlander, and in association with The Old Globe.
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ECLIPSED
A new play by Danai Gurira
Directed by Liesl Tommy
Previews begin February 23
Opening Night set for March 6
at the Golden Theatre
252 West 45th Street
www.EclipsedBroadway.com
History will be made on Broadway when an all-female cast and creative team assemble for the new play Eclipsed by Danai Gurira, directed by Liesl Tommy, and starring Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o joined by Pascale Armand, Akosua Busia, Zainab Jah and Saycon Sengbloh. The cast comes to Broadway after a record-breaking and critically acclaimed run at The Public Theater’s last fall where Eclipsed was named to ‘Best of’ year-end lists from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Out NY, and The Wrap, amongst others.
On the heels of her Academy Award-winning, breakout performance in 12 Years a Slave, Lupita Nyong’o stunned critics and audiences in the Public Theater's sold-out hit Eclipsed—the scorching and powerful new play by Zimbabwean-American playwright and actress Danai Gurira (perhaps best known as one of the stars of AMC’s “The Walking Dead”). Eclipsed tells the story of five extraordinary women brought together by upheaval in their homeland of Liberia. They forge a close-knit community… one that inspires them to feats of increasingly greater strength.
Eclipsed is produced on Broadway by Stephen C. Byrd, Alia Jones-Harvey, Paula Marie Black, Carole Shorenstein Hays, Alani LaLa Anthony, Kenny Ozoude, Michael Magers, Willette Klausner, Dominion Pictures, Emanon Productions, FG Productions, Scott & Molly Forstall, The Public Theater and Associate Producer Marvet Britto.
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THE HUMANS
A new play by Stephen Karam
Directed by Joe Mantello
Previews began January 24
Opening Night set for February 18
at the Helen Hayes Theatre
240 West 44th Street
www.TheHumansOnBroadway.com
The angst, anguish and amity of the American middle class are first coaxed – then shoved – into the light in this uproarious, hopeful, and heart-breaking play that takes place over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving. Stephen Karam’s The Humans, directed by Tony Award-winner Joe Mantello, has already been named the ‘Best Play of the Year’ by New York Magazine, The Washington Post, The Hollywood Reporter, Time Out NY, The Wrap, Deadline, The Chicago Tribune, and more. Charles Isherwood of The New York Times simply raves, “The finest play we will see all season.”
Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate and give thanks at his daughter’s apartment in lower Manhattan. As darkness falls outside the ramshackle pre-war duplex, and eerie things start to go bump in the night, the Blake clan’s deepest fears and greatest follies are laid bare. Our modern age of anxiety is keenly observed, with humor and compassion, in this new American classic.
The Humans’ ensemble cast includes Cassie Beck (Aimee), Reed Birney (Erik), Jayne Houdyshell (Deirdre) Lauren Klein (Fiona “Momo” Blake), Arian Moayed (Richard) and Sarah Steele (Brigid).
The Humans is produced on Broadway by Scott Rudin, Barry Diller, Roundabout Theatre Company, Fox Theatricals, James L. Nederlander, Terry Allen Kramer, Roy Furman, Daryl Roth, Jon B. Platt, Eli Bush, Broadway Across America, Jack Lane, Barbara Whitman, Jay Alix & Una Jackman, Scott M. Delman, Sonia Friedman, Amanda Lipitz, Peter May, Stephanie P. McClelland, Lauren Stein, and The Shubert Organization. Joey Parnes, Sue Wagner, and John Johnson serve as Executive Producers.
SUMMER SNEAK PEEK:
CATS
Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler
Based on Choreography & Associate Direction by Gillian Lynne
Directed by Trevor Nunn
Previews begin July 14
Opening Night set for August 2
at the Neil Simon Theatre
250 West 52nd Street
www.CATSOnBroadway.com
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s iconic musical CATS, one of the biggest hits in theatrical history, returns to Broadway this summer at the Neil Simon Theatre. Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and based on T.S. Eliot’s “Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,” the original Broadway production opened in 1982 at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (currently home to Lloyd Webber’s newest hit, School of Rock – The Musical), where it ran for 7,485 performances and 18 years. Since its world premiere, CATS has been presented in over 30 countries, has been translated into 15 languages, and has been seen by more than 73 million people worldwide.
The creative team for the new Broadway production of CATS includes Mick Potter (Sound Design), Natasha Katz (Lighting Design), John Napier (Scenic & Costume Design), choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, based on choreography and associate direction by Gillian Lynne, and direction by Trevor Nunn.
CATS is produced on Broadway by The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization. Nina Lannan serves as Executive Producer.
ONGOING BROADWAY:
BEAUTIFUL – The Carole King Musical
Book by Douglas McGrath
Featuring songs by
Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil
Directed by Marc Bruni
at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre
124 West 43rd Street
www.BeautifulOnBroadway.com
Long before she was Carole King, chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice. Beautiful tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.
The current Broadway cast of Beautiful includes Chilina Kennedy as ‘Carole King’, Scott J. Campbell as ‘Gerry Goffin’, Tony® Award-nominee Anika Larsen as ‘Cynthia Weil’, Tony® Award-nominee Jarrod Spector as 'Barry Mann', Paul Anthony Stewart as 'Don Kirshner', Tony® Award-nominee Liz Larsen as 'Genie Klein', and an ensemble that includes Gisela Adisa, J. Daughtry, Josh Davis, Kevin Duda, James Harkness, Brittney Johnson, Sara King, Julia Knitel, Mike Longo, Douglas Lyons, Rob Marnell, Gabrielle Reid, Rashidra Scott, Sara Sheperd, Kimber Sprawl, Yasmeen Sulieman, Melvin Tunstall and Alan Wiggins.
With a book by Tony® and Academy® Award-nominee Douglas McGrath, direction by Marc Bruni and choreography by Josh Prince, Beautiful features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil.
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of Beautiful – The Carole King Musical (Ghostlight Records), the 2015 Grammy Award winner for Best Musical Theater Album, is available on CD, digitally, and on vinyl. In addition to the hit Broadway production, which has broken all box office records and recently became the highest grossing show in the history of the Sondheim Theatre, Beautiful opened to rave reviews at London’s Aldwych Theatre in February 2015 and launched its First National Tour in September 2015.
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FUN HOME
Book & Lyrics by Lisa Kron
Music by Jeanine Tesori
Directed by Sam Gold
at The Circle in the Square Theatre
1633 Broadway
www.FunHomeBroadway.com
Based on Alison Bechdel's best-selling graphic memoir of the same name, Fun Home, the 2015 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, features music by Jeanine Tesori, book and lyrics by Lisa Kron, and direction by Sam Gold, all of whom won 2015 Tony Awards for their work on this production.
The cast of Fun Home includes two-time Tony Award-winner Michael Cerveris, four-time Tony Award nominee Judy Kuhn, 2015 Tony Award nominee Beth Malone, 2015 Tony Award nominee Emily Skeggs, Gabriella Pizzolo, Roberta Colindrez, Zell Steele Morrow, Joel Perez and Oscar Williams, along with Alessandra Baldacchino, Kally Duling, Lauren Patten, Presley Ryan, Marrick Smith, Jim Stanek, and Nicole Van Giesen.
Fun Home introduces us to Alison at three different ages, revealing memories of her uniquely dysfunctional family – her mother, brothers and volatile, brilliant, enigmatic father – that connect with her in surprising new ways. This intimate and emotional theatrical experience is performed entirely in the round, bringing audiences closer to Alison’s story than ever before. Hailed as “the best musical of the season” by both The New York Times and New York Magazine, Fun Home “demonstrates how much our world has changed and reflects just how far we’ve come” (The Wall Street Journal). Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.
Fun Home was also nominated for 2015 Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design of Musical (David Zinn), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Ben Stanton) and Best Orchestrations (John Clancy). The creative team also includes Danny Mefford (Choreography), Kai Harada (Sound Design), and Chris Fenwick (Music Direction).
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KINKY BOOTS
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Music & Lyrics by Cyndi Lauper
Direction & Choreography by Jerry Mitchell
at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
302 West 45th Street
www.KinkyBootsTheMusical.com
Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig are proud to present Kinky Boots, the six-time Tony® Award-winning musical that brings together four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony® Award-winner for Best Score/Music and Lyrics for Kinky Boots). Directed and choreographed by Tony® Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots began performances on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street), and opened on Thursday, April 4, 2013, where it’s about to celebrate three years on Broadway.
In Kinky Boots, Charlie Price has reluctantly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.
Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax motion picture written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, Kinky Boots features a warm and witty book by Mr. Fierstein and a richly diverse musical score from Ms. Lauper, in her stunning theatrical debut. Mr. Mitchell has crafted a production that moves, inspires and sets the audience's feet dancing.
The current Broadway cast of Kinky Boots includes Emmy Award-winner Wayne Brady, Andy Kelso, Jeanna de Waal, Daniel Stewart Sherman, Cortney Wolfson, Marcus Neville, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Pierce Cassedy, Sean Patrick Doyle, Kevin Smith Kirkwood, Fred Odgaard, Hernando Umana, Eugene Barry-Hill, Stephen Berger, Devin Trey Campbell, Mia Gentile, Gaelen Gilliland, Blair Goldberg, Natalie Joy Johnson, Jake Katzman, Ross Lekites, Eric Leviton, Ellyn Marie Marsh, John Jeffrey Martin, Graham Montgomery, Nathan Peck, Robert Pendilla, Jennifer Perry, Patricia Phillips, Stephen Tewksbury, Jeremy T. Villas, and Timothy Ware.
Now in its third smash year, Kinky Boots is also currently touring the country on its First National Tour, and enjoying hit productions in Toronto and London’s West End and will open in Australia in October 2016. The Grammy Award-winning Original Broadway Cast Recording of Kinky Boots is available on Sony Masterworks Broadway.
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SCHOOL OF ROCK – THE MUSICAL
Book by Julian Fellowes
Lyrics by Glenn Slater
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Directed by Laurence Connor
at the Winter Garden Theatre
1634 Broadway
SchoolOfRockTheMusical.com
In School of Rock—The Musical, down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star Dewey Finn (Alex Brightman) poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet. When he discovers his students’ musical talents, he enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands.
School of Rock – The Musical opened to rave reviews at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on Sunday, December 6, 2015. This Ben Brantley New York Times ‘Critics’ Pick’ “is an inspiring jolt of energy and mad skillz,” raves Jesse Oxfeld of Entertainment Weekly. And in his four-star Critics’ Pick review, Time Out’s David Cote proclaimed, “School’s IN – forever!”
Based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock – The Musical features music from the movie, as well as an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, with a book by Julian Fellowes and direction by Laurence Connor. The creative team also includes choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, scenic and costume Design by Anna Louizos, lighting design by Natasha Katz, sound design by Mick Potter, and music supervision by Ethan Popp.
School of Rock — The Musical is produced on Broadway by Andrew Lloyd Webber for The Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group & Access Industries, The Shubert Organization, and The Nederlander Organization. Nina Lannan and Madeleine Lloyd Webber serve as Executive Producers.
NEW OFF-BROADWAY:
THE EFFECT
Written by Lucy Prebble
Directed by David Cromer
Previews begin March 2
Opening Night set for March 16
at the Barrow Street Theatre
27 Barrow Street, at 7th Avenue
www.BarrowStreetTheatre.com
When it debuted, The Effect took London by storm, winning Best New Play from the UK Critics’ Circle. Now, award-winning director David Cromer (Our Town, Tribes) helms a new American production of this exhilarating play in the first collaboration between The National Theatre, Jean Doumanian Productions, and Barrow Street Theatre.
Hearts racing. Minds reeling. Knees buckling. Connie and Tristan have palpable chemistry—or is it a side effect of a new super-antidepressant? They are volunteers in a clinical trial, but their sudden and illicit romance forces the supervising doctors to face off over the ethical consequences of their work. From Lucy Prebble, “one of the UK’s hottest new playwrights” (The Telegraph), The Effect takes on our pill-popping culture with humor and scintillating drama.
The cast for The Effect will feature Kati Brazda, Susannah Flood, Carter Hudson, and Steve Key.
The Effect is produced off-Broadway by The National Theatre of Great Britain’s North American wing (Tim Levy, Producer), Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, and Patrick Daly.
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MCC THEATER
at the Lucille Lortel Theatre
121 Christopher Street
www.MCCTheater.org
MCC Theater is one of Off-Broadway premier destinations, producing challenging new works for the American theatre from some of the most exciting playwrights, director, designers and actors in New York City. Led by Artistic Directors Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, William Cantler, and Executive Director Blake West, MCC is devoted year-round to the development of new voices for the theater, whether seasoned vets like Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute, emerging playwrights such as Jennifer Haley and John Pollono, or the youngest generation of new theater artists via MCC’s Youth Company. MCC produces four major productions each season, presented at the legendary Lucille Lortel Theatre in the West Village.
Upcoming at MCC:
SMOKEFALL
Written by Noah Haidle
Directed by Anne Kauffman
Previews begin February 4
Opening Night set for February 22
Limited engagement through March 13
at The Lucille Lortel Theatre
Smokefall had its world premiere, smash-hit run at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, where the Chicago Tribune called the play “a haunting, not-to-be-missed new family drama.” In Smokefall, magical realism collides with manic vaudeville in a family drama unlike any you've ever seen. The Twins swap philosophy while awaiting their birth, Beauty eats dirt and doesn't speak, Father is about to drive away and never return, and a man named Footnote acts as our guide. Whipping from astonishing tenderness to profound humor and back again, this wholly original play uncovers the extraordinary family connections we all stretch and warp across the years but can never quite break. Smokefall marks the MCC debut of playwright Haidle. The cast includes Zachary Quinto, Robin Tunney, Taylor Richardson, Tom Bloom, and Brian Hutchison.
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED
ON THE WAY TO THE GYNECOLOGIC ONCOLOGY UNIT
AT MEMORIAL SLOAN-KETTERING CANCER CENTER OF NEW YORK CITY
Written by Halley Feiffer
Directed by Trip Cullman
Previews begin May 19
Opening Night set for June 6
Limited engagement through June 25
at The Lucille Lortel Theatre
In A Funny Thing…, a foul-mouthed twenty-something comedienne and a middle-aged man embroiled in a nasty divorce are brought together unexpectedly when their cancer-stricken mothers become roommates in the hospital. Together, this unlikely duo must negotiate some of life’s biggest challenges… while making some of the world’s most inappropriate jokes. Can these two very lost people learn to laugh through their pain and lean on each other when all they really want to do is run away?
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TARGET MARGIN THEATER
www.TargetMargin.org
Coming to Target Margin Theater this spring:
DRUNKEN WITH WHAT
A study of
MOURNING BECOMES ELECTRA
By Eugene O’Neill
Directed by David Herskovits
Performances begin February 11
Opening Night set for February 15
Limited engagement through February 28
at The Abrons Arts Center Playhouse
466 Grand Street, New York, NY
Drunken With What is part of Target Margin Theater’s two-season exploration of the great father of American theater, Eugene O’Neill. Who was O’Neill? Genius, blowhard, giant of the imagination, ham-fisted avatar of pseudo-psychology, geographer of the human spirit, was he drunk on art or just drunk? He rewrote Greek tragedy, refurbished American melodrama, and reinvented depth psychology for the stage, and TMT brings it all to you. The cast will feature Satya Bhabha, Mary Neufeld, Stephanie Weeks, and Eunice Wong. Ticket information available on website at www.targetmargin.org.
Target Margin Theater was founded in 1991 by Artistic Director David Herskovits. For 24 years Target Margin has been praised for their aggressive interpretations of classic texts, lesser-known works, and new plays inspired by existing sources. TMT has presented ambitious re-thinkings of plays by Shakespeare, Chekov, Brecht, Gertrude Stein, and Beaumarchais, among others. TMT has also created original works and new music / opera over the years and has served over 1,000 artists (mostly emerging) through its annual LAB. In addition, TMT is committed to nurturing the creative aspirations of the next generation of theater makers in the TMT Institute, our yearlong fellowship program. The company’s artistic and cultural vision has resulted in 40 Mainstage productions including 11 world premieres, 8 company-created works, 3 U.S. premieres and 5 new translations, which have garnered 4 OBIE Awards and employed over 500 Equity actors and hundreds of other theater artists. The company’s production of Mamba’s Daughters received an OBIE Award, and their epic 2004-06 production of Goethe’s Faust received extensive critical acclaim. Recent productions include Uncle Vanya and The Tempest at HERE, Uriel Acosta: I Want That Man! at The Chocolate Factory, Composition…Master-Pieces…Identity, a new solo performance piece from OBIE Award-winner David Greenspan at The Connelly Theater, and, most recently, Reread Another at The Brick, called “something kind of wonderful” by Ben Brantley in The New York Times.
ONGOING OFF BROADWAY:
SLEEP NO MORE
at The McKittrick Hotel
530 West 27th Street
www.SleepNoMoreNYC.com
EMURSIVE (Randy Weiner, Arthur Karpati, and Jonathan Hochwald, principals) presents Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More at The McKittrick Hotel (530 West 27th Street, New York, NY).
A legendary hotel. Shakespeare’s fallen hero. A film noir shadow of suspense. Punchdrunk's Sleep No More is an award-winning theatrical experience that tells Shakespeare’s classic tragedy Macbeth through a darkly cinematic lens. Audiences move freely through the epic world of the story at their own pace, choosing where to go and what to see, ensuring that everyone’s journey is different and unique. No one under sixteen will be permitted.
The creative team features Felix Barrett (Direction and Design), Maxine Doyle (Direction and Choreography), Stephen Dobbie (Sound Design), Beatrice Minns (Design Associate), and Livi Vaughan (Design Associate).
PUBLICATIONS:
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: A MEMOIR
By Joel Grey
Published by Flatiron Books
Available everywhere February 16, 2016
http://us.macmillan.com/masterofceremonies/joelgrey
Joel Grey, the Tony and Academy Award-winning Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret finally tells his remarkable life story. Born Joel David Katz to a wild and wooly Jewish American family in Cleveland, Ohio in 1932, Joel began his life in the theater at the age of 9, starting in children’s theater and then moving to the main stage. He was hooked, and his seven decades long career charts the evolution of American entertainment – from Vaudeville performances with his father, Mickey Katz to the seedy gangster filled nightclubs of the forties, the bright lights of Broadway and dizzying glamour of Hollywood, to juggernaut musicals like Cabaret, Chicago, and Wicked.
Master of Ceremonies is a memoir of a life lived in and out of the limelight, but it is also the story of the man behind the stage makeup. Coming of age in a time when being yourself tended to be not only difficult but also dangerous, Joel has to act both on and off the stage. He spends his high school years sleeping with the girls-next-door while carrying on a scandalous affair with an older man. Romances with to-die-for Vegas Showgirls are balanced with late night liaisons with like-minded guys, until finally Joel falls in love and marries a talented and beautiful woman, starts a family, and has a pretty much picture perfect life. But 24 years later when the marriage dissolves, Joel has to once again find his place in a world that has radically changed.
Drawing back the curtain on a career filled with show-stopping numbers, larger-than-life stars and even singing in the shower with Bjork, Master of Ceremonies is also a portrait of an artist coming to terms with his evolving identity. When an actor plays a character, he has to find out what makes them who they are; their needs, dreams, and fears. It’s a difficult thing to do, but sometimes the hardest role in an actor’s life is that of himself. Deftly capturing the joy of performing as well as the pain and secrets of an era we have only just started to leave behind, Joel’s story is one of love, loss, hard-won honesty, redemption, and success.
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ON BROADWAY: FROM RENT TO REVOLUTION
By Drew Hodges
Published by Rizzoli
http://www.rizzoliusa.com/book.php?isbn=9780847848249
A visual and oral history of the past twenty years of theater, On Broadway pulls back the curtain to reveal the creative process involved in bringing a Broadway show to the stage and into the public consciousness through the words of Broadway’s most famous personalities and the art of SpotCo. The art created for a show provides audiences with a tangible, visual, and emotional connection with the theatrical experience. This collection of hundreds of behind-the-scenes photos, concept art, and posters, as well as personal anecdotes by and with some of Broadway’s most beloved stars, including John Leguizamo, Berry Gordy, Alison Bechdel, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mark Ruffalo, Patrick Stewart, Bernadette Peters, Joel Grey, Harvey Fierstein, Sting, Dolly Parton, Neil LaBute, Cherry Jones, and more serves as the document of record of the shows and performers that have graced New York stages for the past two decades. Stories and art cover working with Jonathan Larson’s family and the producers on the campaign for Rent; Nicole Kidman on her decision to bare all during her photo shoot for The Blue Room; selling the hip-hop Hamilton; and collaborating with the legendary Kander and Ebb on their revival of Chicago, in addition to stories about shows such as Annie Get Your Gun, Young Frankenstein, Freak, Avenue Q, Shrek, Pippin, Elaine Stritch: At Liberty, Gypsy, and Kinky Boots.
NIGHTLIFE:
THE McKITTRICK HOTEL
530 West 27th Street
www.McKittrickHotel.com
The McKittrick Hotel (530 West 27th Street) is a unique nightlife and entertainment destination in New York City’s Chelsea District. Its many features include:
Sleep No More, the immersive theatre production, now playing seven days a week.
Gallow Green, the rooftop bar complete with a 360-degree view of New York City, unique cocktails, and a menu of small plates created by Chef R.L. King.
The Heath, a full-service fine dining experience, also curated by Chef R.L. King.
The Lodge, a winter rooftop hideaway with rustic cabin atmosphere surrounded by a mysterious pine forest.
Manderley Bar, inside the hotel, which has often treated guests to pop-in sets from artists like P!nk, John Legend, Wyclef Jean, and many others.
Special Guests, most recently hit singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, rock musician Jim James (of My Morning Jacket), actor Neil Patrick Harris, performer Dita von Teese, actress Evan Rachel Wood, and DJ Junior Sanchez, among many others.
Special Events, including festivities on Halloween, New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day and other occasions, providing year-round party and special events programming.
EMURSIVE (Jonathan Hochwald, Arthur Karpati & Randy Weiner principals) produces all activities at The McKittrick Hotel.
RESTAURANTS:
JOE ALLEN / ORSO
326 West 46th Street / 322 West 46th Street
www.JoeAllenRestaurant.com / www.OrsoRestaurant.com
Since its opening in 1965, Joe Allen has defined the Theater District hang-out. Now, nearly five decades later, it has become one of the most iconic restaurants in America – serving its renowned, reliable fare against the backdrop of its world famous “flop wall.” Every day of the week, Joe Allen and its more intimate sister-restaurant, Orso, open their respective doors to a unique mix of the people who attend the theater and those who make it. At the center of the scene is Joe himself – the omnipresent host of the greatest, longest-running party the theater world has ever known. Shows come and go, but Joe Allen is forever.
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GALLOW GREEN
a rooftop lounge
at The McKittrick Hotel
542 West 27th Street
www.McKittrickHotel.com
The McKittrick Hotel (542 West 27th Street) offers a gorgeous rooftop lounge, Gallow Green, seasonally through November. This meticulously-designed green space in the heart of Chelsea—steps away from the High Line—features an extensive cocktail and punch menu, vivid scenery, and a garden snack menu designed by Chef R.L. King. Daily service, beginning at 5:00 p.m., offers early guests an after-work or evening/weekend snack & drinks setting which, as the evening progresses, takes on a more vibrant cocktail-nightlife atmosphere. Reservations nightly for parties of 8 or more are recommended, and can be booked online at www.McKittrickHotel.com or by calling 212-564-1662. Walk ups are welcome. Gallow Green is open 5:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. on weeknights, with late night hours on the weekends. Beginning Sunday, April 20, Gallow Green began weekly Bottomless Saturday and Sunday Brunch service.
This past spring’s opening of Gallow Green marks the complete restoration of The McKittrick Hotel, which also houses Sleep No More, the jazz-age inspired Manderley Bar, and the recently-opened fine dining experience The Heath, a full-service restaurant.
Additionally, Gallow Green will house an aeroponic garden that will produce vegetables all summer long to supply both the food dishes and the cocktails at Gallow Green.
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THE HEATH
a full-service dining experience
at The McKittrick Hotel
542 West 27th Street
www.TheHeathNYC.com
In collaboration with EMURSIVE (Jonathan Hochwald, Arthur Karpati, and Randy Weiner) and Chef R.L. King, Punchdrunk has crafted The Heath, a dining experience in the spirit of Sleep No More to compliment Chef King’s menu, which is a modern take on classic American and British fare. Those dining at The Heath can therefore expect hearty cuisine with am ambiance – both on the plate and in the room – as only Punchdrunk could imagine. The Heath officially opened on Tuesday, November 26, 2013.
“The New York theatre scene has always been an inspiration to me as a director and we’re delighted audiences have welcomed Sleep No More,” said Barrett. “Now we want to derive inspiration from the New York food scene – which is arguably the best in the world – for our next endeavor; our take on the restaurant. Our approach to theatre has always been to take the rules and break them and now we are trying that with food. Like with our theatre shows, we want to breathe a little adventure into the dining experience and that is just what we will do here at The Heath.”
Heading the kitchen at The Heath is Chef R.L. King whose use of sustainable food, solid technique, and thoughtful creativity fit perfectly into the milieu of the restaurant. King’s cooking talents have brought him from Charleston, to Washington D.C., to New York City, where he has resided as Executive Chef at Hundred Acres.
“Working with Punchdrunk on The Heath restaurant concept has been a wild ride of culinary freedom,” said King. “It’s refreshing to work with such an innovative organization whose philosophy is creating an experience for each guest beyond the confines of a limited imagination. The menu created for The Heath is elevated English fare with a strong emphasis on seasonal, regionally sourced ingredients. Expect to see vegetable heavy nibbles and shareable appetizers, two to three different twists on classic savory pies, and Sunday style roasts.”
The Heath is open at 6:00 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. For reservations, visit www.TheHeathNYC.com, or call (212) 564-1662.
OTHER:
AMERICAN THEATRE WING
www.AmericanTheatreWing.org
The American Theatre Wing (Heather Hitchens, President) is dedicated to advancing artistic excellence and nurturing theatre’s next generation: on the stage, behind the scenes, and in the audience. For nearly a century, the Wing has pursued this mission with programs that span the nation to invest in the growth and evolution of American Theatre. Traditionally, the Wing has encouraged members of the theatre community to share their off-stage time and talent directly with the theatre audience at large–whether it was singing for the troops in the Stage Door Canteen of the 1940's, or sharing their stories on a podcast today. As the founders of The Tony Awards®, the American Theatre Wing has developed the foremost national platform for the recognition of theatrical achievement on Broadway. Yet the Wing's reach extends beyond Broadway and beyond New York. The Wing develops the next generation of theatre professionals through the SpringboardNYC and Theatre Intern Network programs, incubates innovative theatre across the country through the National Theatre Company Grants, fosters the song of American theatre through the Jonathan Larson Grants, honors the best in New York theatrical design with the Henry Hewes Design Award, and illuminates the creative process through the “Working in the Theatre” program and media archive. Beginning last season, the American Theatre Wing has entered into a long-term partnership with The Village Voice to co-present The Obie Awards, Off Broadway’s Highest Honor. The 61st Annual Obie Awards will be held in May 2016. Visitors to americantheatrewing.org can get inspired and gain insight into the artistic process through the Wing’s extensive media collection, and learn more about its programming for students, aspiring and working professionals, and audiences.
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AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP / HUDSON THEATRE
www.atg.co.uk
Co-founded by Sir Howard Panter and Rosemary Squire OBE in 1992, the Ambassador Theatre Group (ATG) is the world’s number one live-theater company with 46 venues in Britain, the United States and Australia and an internationally recognised award-winning theater producer with productions in the West End and on Broadway and touring productions in the UK, North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. ATG is also the market leader in theater ticketing services through ATG Tickets, LOVETheatre and Group Line. ATG presents an average of 40 productions a year, demonstrating the unique quality and range of ATG Productions in a diverse number of theaters and markets worldwide. ATG has been behind some of the most successful and innovative productions in Britain and internationally, and has subsidiary offices in London, New York, San Antonio, Houston, Sydney, Mannheim and Cologne, Germany. ATG production companies and partnerships include Sonia Friedman Productions (SFP), First Family Entertainment (FFE), Jerry Mitchell Productions, The Jamie Lloyd Company and Theatre Royal Brighton Productions. In 2015, ATG became the majority shareholder of BB Group, one of the leading producers and promoters of premium live entertainment in Europe. ATG performs to more customers than any other theater company, bringing compelling musicals and plays to almost a quarter of the UK population (including over 6 million households). ATG Tickets issues more than 11 million tickets annually and www.atgtickets.com is the UK’s most visited theater website with 120 million page views and 20 million unique visits per annum. ATG also boasts the UK’s largest theater membership program, ATG TheatreCard, with over 100,000 members.
ATG will reopen and operate Broadway’s historic Hudson Theatre. ATG, through its subsidiary, Hudson Theatre LLC, has entered a long-term lease for The Hudson Theatre, its second theater on Broadway, from a subsidiary of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (M&C). M&C and ATG will be, in a multi-million dollar project, restoring the landmark venue to its former glory as a Broadway playhouse. The anticipated re-launch of the theater is slated for the 2016/2017 Broadway Season.
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CURRAN
445 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA
sfcurran.com
San Francisco's Curran is back with a new vision, nearly 100 years after it welcomed its first audiences. Inspired by the unique entrepreneurial spirit of the Bay Area, as well as Carole Shorenstein Hays’s lifelong passion for creatively daring, cutting-edge material, the Curran will provide a home for a handpicked selection of the most exciting stage works being conceived and created anywhere in the world.
Following an extensive renovation project, that is currently underway, the historic theater will reopen as a full-sized venue in early 2017. During the renovation, a special festival of intimate and non-traditional programming, called “Curran: Under Construction,” is being presented. Throughout “Curran: Under Construction,” audiences enter through the Curran’s stage door alleyway (immortalized in the classic film All About Eve) and are placed on stage alongside the action.
For information on Curran: Under Construction, and to look for exciting announcements to be made, please visit SFCURRAN.COM
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TODAYTIX
www.TodayTix.com
TodayTix (Merritt Baer, CEO & Co-Founder; Brian Fenty, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder) is the first and only free mobile app for iOS and Android that provides access to the best prices on last-minute theater tickets, booked same-day or within a week’s time. Operating in the world’s most iconic theater markets, TodayTix secures the best discounted and full price tickets available for more than 100 shows on Broadway and Off-Broadway in New York City, London’s West End, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C.
TodayTix aims to make theater a readily-available and exciting option for everyone. Through its personalized, intuitive and easy-to-use service, TodayTix delivers an efficient, affordable and reliable user experience for theatergoers around the world.
Life-long friends and former Broadway producers Merritt Baer and Brian Fenty launched TodayTix in New York City in December 2013. The company has partnerships with many New York institutions, including The Public Theater, Roundabout Theater Company, Blue Man Group, Stomp, St. Ann’s Warehouse, MSG Entertainment, Atlantic Theater Company, Labyrinth Theater Company, New York City Center, Manhattan Theatre Club, The Metropolitan Opera, and more. The TodayTix app launched in London’s West End, the San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington, D.C. in 2015, and is currently in beta in Los Angeles and Chicago.
TodayTix launched New York’s first mobile lottery in 2014, and has partnered with The Public Theater on its Free First Previews initiative, The Atlantic Theatre Company on its TodayTix30 initiative, and The Kenneth Branagh Theatre Company’s £15 Front Row initiative. TodayTix has also launched daily mobile lotteries for Atlantic Theater Company’s Threepenny Opera and Found, The Public Theater’s Hamilton, Grounded, Shakespeare in the Park, and Eclipsed, Broadway’s On The Town, Fun Home, and An Act of God, and The West End’s Kinky Boots.