ALL ABOARD FOR BROADWAY!
Ladies and gents,
We’ve got a fresh British Invasion on our hands, and this one doesn’t come with mop tops or parental anxiety. No, this invasion is all about Operation Mincemeat! That’s right, the hit London musical about one of the wildest deception operations of World War II is setting sail for Broadway, with its original cast arriving stateside any moment now. In my fantasy, they crossing the Atlantic in style on the Queen Elizabeth II, sipping champagne and plotting theatrical espionage from the Lido Deck, in formal dress, of course. More likely, these London lilt-inflected stage stalwarts have been conscripted onto the red-eye, forced to swap a veranda cabin with a humble neck pillow. Either way, New York is about to be conquered by some of the most cunning Brits since the original Operation Mincemeat fooled the Nazis with a well-dressed corpse.
For the uninitiated, Operation Mincemeat is no stiff-upper-lip war drama—it’s a rollicking, quick-witted musical that takes a true spy story and spins it into something entirely unexpected: a deliriously clever, rapid-fire evening of theater that manages to be both uproariously funny and genuinely moving. The show has been a phenomenon across the pond, turning its scrappy, history-loving creators into some of the most exciting voices in musical theater. Expect them to pull off another coup right here in the Big Apple.
Meanwhile, over on 52nd Street, another show with international flair is celebrating a milestone. MJ The Musical is moonwalking into its third year on Broadway, while simultaneously packing houses via four companies (New York, American tour, London, Hamburg). The production has been a showcase not just for Michael Jackson’s tabloid-strewn existence and incredible music catalogue, but for the astonishing young performers who bring him to life each night. What’s more magical than watching performers able step into an icon’s shoes and, in doing so, create an unforgettable moment of their own? It’s the kind of alchemy that makes Broadway such a singular thriller: the past meeting the present, talent meeting destiny.
Tidbits from around town…
Caught Adam Sandler laughing like a hyena at a recent performance of All In.
Spied Tony Kushner taking in Cult of Love from a cush aisle seat in its final weekend.
Overheard former Sen. Barbara Boxer referring to the first weeks of the new administration as “a rollercoaster without any tracks.”
At Sardi’s, spotted Jamie DeRoy receiving praise from a fan for her New York Comedy Festival appearance honoring Joan Rivers.
As always, a toast of something sparkling to you and yours!
Kisses,
