Yank! Yanked!Reports
as recently as March 2010 indicated that producers would bring Joe and
David Zellnik's
Yank! to Broadway during the 2010-11 Theatrical Season.
But this past Friday, it was
announced that the
David Cromer-helmed musical would be delayed until at least the fall of 2011 to accommodate his schedule and provide sufficient time to overhaul the tuner's book. (This is one of those casualties of the season I indicated
here could occur.)
Originally mounted Off-Broadway last winter,
Yank! is a new musical about love in the trenches during World War II.
Bobby Steggert reportedly remains attached to reprise his Off-Broadway turn.
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: Bobby Steggert, Broadway, David Cromer, David Zellnik, Delay, Joe Zellnik, Musical, Yank
SOB's 2010 Tony PredictionsThis Sunday, the
American Theatre Wing’s
64th annual Tony Awards ceremonies will honor the best of Broadway's 2009-10 Theatrical Season. As we count down the days to the Tonys, it's time for me to place my wagers on those nominees I believe
will actually win, as well as tell you whom I think
should win.
As noted on Monday, I've been extraordinarily fortunate to see every single show, eligible and
otherwise, that opened on Broadway over the past year. So unlike last year, I'll be able to at least make informed decisions. Whether I'm right or not remains to be seen.
There is plenty of momentum behind
Red,
La Cage Aux Folles and
Fences, and it doesn't hurt that they all remain open to Tony voters
and that they're pulling in respectable audiences. In the case of
Fences, it's become box office titanium.
Given the dearth of truly new musicals this season, Tony voters are going to reward
Memphis for being one of the lone tuners with original score and an actual book, plus it stands the best chance of being a hit on tour. The exception for
Memphis will come (but shouldn't) in Tony voters'
starstruck decision for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical.
Something also tells me that given the lack of nominations -- except for
one key nod -- for one of the season's earlier critical hits,
Superior Donuts, along with the love shown already this awards season for its talented nominee that you shouldn't be surprised when they call his
name. Similarly, with a certain
Ragtime actor becoming a bona fide darling of the stage, don't be surprised if he pulls off an upset as well as Tony voters recognize the future star they have a chance to honor now.
Here are my picks:
Best Play In The Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play) - Author: Sarah Ruhl
Next Fall - Author: Geoffrey Nauffts
Red - Author: John Logan
Will Win/Should WinTime Stands Still - Author: Donald Margulies
Best Musical American Idiot
Fela! Should WinMemphis Will WinMillion Dollar QuartetBest Book of a Musical
Everyday Rapture - Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
Should WinFela! - Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones
Memphis- Joe DiPietro
Will WinMillion Dollar Quartet - Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre The Addams Family - Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Enron - Music: Adam Cork Lyrics: Lucy Prebble
Fences - Music: Branford Marsalis
Memphis - Music: David Bryan, Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan
Should Win/Will WinBest Revival of a Play
Fences Should Win/Will WinLend Me A Tenor
The Royal Family
A View From The Bridge Best Revival of a Musical Finian's Rainbow
La Cage Aux Folles Should Win/Will WinA Little Night Music
RagtimeBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jude Law -
Hamlet Alfred Molina -
Red Should WinLiev Schreiber -
A View From The Bridge Christopher Walken -
A Behanding In Spokane Denzel Washington -
Fences Will WinBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Viola Davis -
Fences Should Win/Will WinValerie Harper -
LoopedLinda Lavin -
Collected StoriesLaura Linney -
Time Stands Still Jan Maxwell -
The Royal Family Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Kelsey Grammer -
La Cage Aux Folles Sean Hayes -
Promises, Promises Douglas Hodge -
La Cage Aux Folles Will WinChad Kimball -
MemphisSahr Ngaujah -
Fela! Should WinBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin -
Finian's RainbowSherie Rene Scott -
Everyday RaptureMontego Glover -
Memphis Should WinChristiane Noll -
RagtimeCatherine Zeta-Jones -
A Little Night Music Will WinBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play David Alan Grier -
RaceStephen McKinley Henderson -
FencesJon Michael Hill -
Superior Donuts Should Win/Will WinStephen Kunken -
Enron Eddie Redmayne -
RedBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play Maria Dizzia -
In the Next Room (Or 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 Should Win/Will Win Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical Kevin Chamberlin -
The Addams Family Should WinRobin De Jesús -
La Cage Aux Folles Christopher Fitzgerald -
Finian's Rainbow Levi Kreis -
Million Dollar Quartet Bobby Steggert -
Ragtime Will WinBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a MusicalBarbara Cook -
Sondheim On Sondheim Katie Finneran -
Promises, Promises Should Win/Will WinAngela Lansbury -
A Little Night Music Karine Plantadit -
Come Fly Away Lillias White -
Fela! Best Direction of a Play Michael Grandage -
Red Should Win/Will Win
Sheryl Kaller -
Next Fall Kenny Leon -
FencesGregory Mosher -
A View from the Bridge Best Direction of a Musical Christopher Ashley -
MemphisMarcia Milgrom Dodge -
RagtimeTerry Johnson -
La Cage Aux Folles Will WinBill T. Jones -
Fela! Should WinBest Choreography
Rob Ashford -
Promises, Promises Bill T. Jones -
Fela! Should Win Lynne Page -
La Cage Aux Folles Twyla Tharp -
Come Fly Away Will WinBest OrchestrationsJason Carr -
La Cage Aux Folles Will WinAaron Johnson -
Fela! Should Win Jonathan Tunick -
Promises, Promises Daryl Waters & David Bryan -
MemphisBest Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty -
The Royal Family Should WinAlexander Dodge -
Present Laughter Santo Loquasto -
FencesChristopher Oram -
Red Will WinBest Scenic Design of a Musical Marina Draghici -
Fela!Christine Jones -
American Idiot Should Win/Will WinDerek McLane -
RagtimeTim Shortall -
La Cage aux Folles Best Costume Design of a Play
Martin Pakledinaz -
Lend Me a Tenor Constanza Romero -
FencesDavid Zinn -
In The Next Room (Or The Vibrator Play)Catherine Zuber -
The Royal Family Should Win/Will Win Best Costume Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici -
Fela! Should WinPaul Tazewell -
MemphisMatthew Wright -
La Cage Aux Folles Will WinBest Lighting Design of a Play Neil Austin -
HamletNeil Austin -
Red Will WinMark Henderson -
Enron Should WinBrian MacDevitt -
Fences Best Lighting Design of a Musical Kevin Adams -
American Idiot Should WinDonald Holder -
RagtimeNick Richings -
La Cage Aux Folles Will WinRobert Wierzel -
Fela!Best Sound Design of a Play Acme Sound Partners -
FencesAdam Cork -
Enron Should Win/Will WinAdam Cork -
Red Scott Lehrer -
A View from the Bridge Best Sound Design of a Musical Jonathan Deans -
La Cage Aux Folles Will WinRobert Kaplowitz -
Fela! Should Win
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen -
A Little Night Music Dan Moses Schreier -
Sondheim On Sondheim Do my picks for this year's Tony Awards match yours? Let me know.
Tune in to CBS this Sunday, June 13, when
Sean Hayes hosts the three-hour live broadcast.
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: Bobby Steggert, Fences, Jon Michael Hill, La Cage Aux Folles, Memphis, Ragtime, Red, Superior Donuts, Tony Awards, Tony Predictions
Ragtime (The SOB Review) - Neil Simon Theatre, New York City, New York
**1/2 (out of ****)Few musicals have captured the shifting American landscape inherently contained at the dawn of the 20th Century as powerfully as
Stephen Flaherty and
Lynn Ahrens' underappreciated heartfelt musical
Ragtime.
In
Marcia Milgrom Dodge's genuinely moving new revival, the confluence of a trio of family stories remains. There's the wealthy uppercrust white brood that's long since achieved the American dream. There's the Jewish immigrants in search of a better life. And at the heart of the original Broadway mounting a decade ago was a black couple whose hopes and aspirations are challenged by bigotry.
Unfortunately in this
Ragtime, its center has dramatically shifted from an equally-balanced story of all three, to one in which the white mother (
Christiane Noll) unnecessarily assumes its overriding focus. It's hard to fault Noll, who imbues her mother with grace, dignity and substance.
But in the original, it was Coalhouse Walker's tragic tale that moved me beyond words. Here, it's nowhere near as affecting, despite
Quentin Earl Darrington's valiant efforts. He's completely upstaged by
Bobby Steggert's brilliant performance as Noll's brother, who becomes a champion for racial equality.
Ironically as a result,
Ragtime loses its opportunity to demonstrate the even-handed approach to race relations
Terrance McNally's book espouses.
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: Bobby Steggert, Broadway, Christiane Noll, Lynn Ahrens, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Musical, Quentin Earl Darrington, Ragtime, Revival, Stephen Flaherty, Terrence McNally, The SOB Review
