Broadways Coming Attractions? Definitely Maybe.
Broadway's Coming Attractions? Definitely Maybe.UPDATED - July 8, 2010
Yesterday, I highlighted 21 plays, musicals and special events that are "confirmed" for Broadway's upcoming 2010-11 Theatrical Season.
Today, I give you a list of 14 shows that producers have indicated are heading to the Great White Way this season, but these shows have not yet secured theatres or specific dates.
Again, just like yesterday, the caveat is that some may never arrive.
Here are the fourteen shows that may (or may not) have a life on Broadway this next year:
A Few Good MenIn January, producer Ken Davenport confirmed that he and director David Esbjornson would revive Aaron Sorkin's seminal work A Few Good Men on Broadway this next season. The military drama, which will be slightly revised by Sorkin, first appeared on the Main Stem nearly 20 years ago. No word on whether Davenport has found his star actor just yet.
Neither theatre nor dates have been announced for the revival.
Betty BoopIn November 2008, it was announced that composer David Foster was at work on a score for a musical version of that wide-eyed animated beauty Betty Boop. Last we heard, Oscar Williams and Sally Robinson were writing the book.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced, but it was initially reported that the musical would be ready for this upcoming season at a Nederlander Theatre.
Bloody Bloody Andrew JacksonThe acclaimed emo-rock musical about the United States' seventh President was a smash hit at New York's Public Theatre where it just concluded an extended run. Reports have indicated that the production has been offered an enviable home in Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. But the show's star, Benjamin Walker, may be looking to greener pastures in movies.
No word yet on whether a transfer is really in the cards.
Catch Me If You CanIn April, it was announced that Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman's musical version of the film was Broadway bound for a Spring 2011 berth. But with director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell still at work on Love Never Dies, the question of whether they'll be able to roll out two shows simultaneously may very well be worth $64,000.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced for Catch Me If You Can.
GodspellAlthough a revival for Stephen Schwartz's musical Godspell was initially planned and then dropped for the 2008-09 Theatrical Season, it was announced last December that producer Ken Davenport would now bring that "postponed" version to Broadway sometime this fall. Director Daniel Goldstein remains attached to the upcoming production.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced.
Hedwig And The Angry InchThis past March, it was announced that John Cameron Mitchell's cult camp classic musical about an East German transexual rocker would finally find its way to the Great White Way. Mitchell is expected to reprise the role he first created at New York's Jane Street Theatre twelve years ago.
No venue has been confirmed, but the announcement indicated that the musical could be produced yet this fall.
How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying
Daniel Radcliffe is set to make his Broadway musical debut in Frank Loesser's tuner. Directed by Rob Ashford, this revival comes a mere 15 years after the last one, but compared with many musicals these days, that's practically a lifetime.
No word yet on theatre or firm dates, but the show is expected in the Spring of 2011.
Priscilla Queen Of The DesertAfter first premiering in Sydney nearly four years ago (where I saw and enjoyed it), this musical version of the film with music moved on to London and is now slated to come to Broadway by way of Toronto.
Producers have not yet announced a Main Stem venue or dates (other than to say "Spring 2011"), but they have secured Will Swenson (Hair) as Tick to play opposite Tony Sheldon's extraordinary Bernadette.
Pure CountryOver two years have passed since I first wrote about this long-gestating musical version of the 1992 film. More than a year has passed since it was reported that Joe Nichols would be Pure Country's leading man (although his name no longer appears on the tuner's Web site -- only country superstar Lorrie Morgan's is listed for castmembers). But as recently as December, it was announced that Warren Carlyle would choreograph the Broadway show.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced.
Sister ActThe stage musical version of Whoopi Goldberg's hit film that originated at the Pasedena Playhouse in 2006 is now Broadway-bound in Spring 2011. While the woman born as Caryn Elaine Johnson will retain her production credit as she has in the current London version, Jerry Zaks is being brought in to direct the Main Stem incarnation. No word yet on casting.
Neither venue nor firm dates have been announced.
The Book of MormonWhat happens when the creators of "South Park" and Avenue Q team up? A completely irreverent and overtly politically incorrect musical, no doubt.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced.
The MountaintopEarlier this year, Katori Hall's The Mountaintop earned the West End's Olivier Award for Best New Play. Now, producers Jean Doumanian and Sonia Friedman have announced they're planning to bring the play about Martin Luther King, Jr. to Broadway, aiming for fall. It's believed they're in discussions with both Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry to star.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced.
Yank!Reports have indicated that producers will bring Yank! to Broadway during the 2010-11 Theatrical Season with David Cromer announced as its director. Yank! is a new musical about love in the trenches of World War II and will likely feature Bobby Steggert reprising his Off-Broadway turn.
Neither venue nor dates have been announced.
You Can't Take It With You
In February, Boston's Huntington Theatre announced it would revive George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart's classic comedy about an eccentric family with Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County) at the helm. That revival was was then supposed to transfer to Broadway. Since that initial announcement, the theatre has substituted Bus Stop for You Can't Take It With You.
Playbill still lists You Can't Take It With You as an open-ended production scheduled to begin Broadway previews November 5 and open November 14, 2010. But this has to be among the biggest question marks of the season.
So, dear readers, which of these shows do you hope comes to fruition?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post.
Labels: Broadway, First Word On New Show, Musical, Play
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Tuesday, June 29, 2010
17 Comments:
thanks for the roundup, steve! i'm curious about the fate of godspell too. i heard ken davenport was bringing that around for it's first broadway run. any news?
Excellent post, Steve! EXTREMELY excited for "Catch Me If You Can" and "How To Suceed In Business Without Trying" as well as "Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson" and "Yank!".
Excellent catch, NineDaves! Godspell was initially planned for the 2008-09 season, but was dropped when the economy headed south. Now that plan is being labeled as a postponement, which I have included here.
Well I guess Annie and Funny Girl won't be til 2012...what about Evita with Ricky Martin and Elena Roger and didn't they say Zorba the Greek was coming back with Antonio Banderas? If Paradise Found does well in England it could come over just like Superman might come from Texas if it does good. Oh and there is another musical with buzz called 'Minskys' that I think is about ready to go. Roundabout might still do 'Lips Together but idk. I wish they would bring Flashdance or Dirty Dancing to broadway. Idk How well the 'Brigadoon' concert went last week but that's how Hair got started so...
Hard to believe there will be another H2$... actually what is hard to believe is that I am old enough to see two revivals. Not quite the bitter pill that seeing the original AND the revival is, though!
I am looking foward to seeing Yank!, which I loved off-Broadway. But it may be for all the wriong reasons - I'm most curious to see how they expand it to make a Broadway show. I they go REALLY big, like 42nd Street big, it could work extremely well, because the material supports it. But it is essentially a small show, and the quaint, small quality that made it good might get lost in translation.
Anonymous, You are correct that Annie and Funny Girl are both currently aiming for the 2011-12 season, as are Evita and Zorba The Greek.
Given the drubbing Paradise Found took in London, I seriously doubt it will go anywhere, especially Broadway, this next year. But I could be wrong.
As for Minsky's, which came and went on the West Coast, it was originally indicated early last year that the show could be transferred to Broadway during the 2009-10 Season, the last I heard was that after Kristin Chenoweth did a reading for the show last year and then bolted to do Promises Promises, the show went back on hold.
You may be onto something with It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's Superman!, which is garnering great reviews in Dallas. We'll see if New York producers are faster than a speeding train getting there to catch it.
JK, Not having seen Yank!, should it be turned into a big, splashy musical or stay truer to its roots? With David Cromer at the helm, I would think he'd make it even more introspective.
I think Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson is overrated, but I did love Yank! and would love to see it succeed on Broadway, though it's a risk. I hope Catch Me If You Can does happen because I want to see Norbert Leo Butz in a musical again. I'm really excited for Hedwig, which I've never seen onstage, How To Succeed, because I've never seen it and Daniel Radcliffe really impressed me in Equus, so I'm curious how he will do in a musical, and Priscilla, because I will see Will Swenson in anything.
Linda, I'm hoping for Catch Me If You Can as well, especially if Norbert Leo Butz is attached.
You are so right...with Cromer... then it needs to be at the Helen Hayes... Introspective would definitely add layers... and maybe amp up the quality of the lyrics...
I love Hairspray so I'm very excited to see what Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman do with Catch Me If You Can.
I'm also very interested in the subject of The Mountaintop but honestly, Samuel L. Jackson and Halle Berry don't seem right. Jackson is almost 62 and Martin Luther King was 39 when he was assassinated.
As for the others, sign me up for Yank!, (will see anything with Bobby Steggert & directed by David Cromer) Priscilla, Hedwig, (loved the movies) and How to Succeed (for Daniel Radcliffe and hopefully David Hyde Pierce.)
Btw, I heard a couple of months ago from a reliable source that You Can't Take it With You was still on but I guess the situation could have changed.
Esther, I'd love to see Samuel L. Jackson on stage, but as MLK Jr.? I'd vote for someone like James Vincent Meredith whom you may have seen as that Trekkie cop in Superior Donuts. He is the appropriate age and has the stage chops.
I agree, James Vincent Meredith would be great.
But I also think Jeffrey Wright would be a good choice. He's a Tony winner for Angels in America, he's done film so he's somewhat of a "name," he's closer in age and he played MLK in an HBO movie called Boycott.
I REALLY want Godspell to come back. I love hearing different versions of all the songs. How to Succeed because I adore Daniel Radcliffe, and Catch Me If You Can because Marc Shaiman and Scott Whitman write such fun music!
Thanks Jasmine. I have high hopes for Catch Me If You Can. I was surprised that Godspell has been resurrected, but will welcome it if it actually gets produced.
From what I heard about the off-Broadway production of Yank!, I'm interested in it especially if David Cromer at the helm. I admit that I have a soft spot for both Hedwig and How to Succeed... and I would be interested in how the tone of How to Succeed... might be in the recession.
I like Hairspray, so I'm curious what Catch Me if You Can looks like and I did hear positive things about the Seattle tryout.
And I'm curious what The Book of Mormon looks like when it's finished because it's Mormon's combined with the creators of South Park.
Do you know whatever happened to Hughie/Krapp's Last Tape? Because when I saw it in January at the Goodman it was being billed as "New York Bound."
Monica, According to Playbill, Krapp's Last Tape and Hughie were to have begun in repertory on Broadway this past April. But we all know that never happened. I haven't heard anything new about this double bill coming since.
Post a Comment
<< Home