Featured Listings Blue Man Group· The trio of "post-modern clowns" present their outrageous in... Chicago· Kander and Ebb's "musical vaudeville" in which Roxie Hart ga... Mamma Mia!· This hit musical incorporates 22 ABBA songs into a story abo... Stomp· The eight members of Stomp -- with their eclectic theatre of... Lion King, The· The stage version of Disney's celebrated animated feature.... Related Articles 20at20 Offers $20 Off-Broadway Tickets Sept. 7-19 This Week's Off-Broadway Openings: August 30th-September 5th Kelsey Grammer to Host Broadway on Broadway 2010 on Sunday, September 12th Most Popular Articles on CGNY Things to do in NYC: Labor Day Weekend Shop NYC: Sex and the City Gifts, Fun for Kids at Build-a-Bear & More NHL Stars Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane Launch EA Sports NHL at the NHL Powered by Reebok Store Wed., Sept. 8th Ah, March - the time of year when a sports fan's fancy turns to NCAA basketball and a theatre lover's fancy turns to the budding Broadway season. For both sets of devotees, the aim is the same: to be entertained to the nth degree.Leaving the NCAA and sports pages to alert their demographic as to who's who and who's hot on the courts, I am happy to take on the task of alerting you to the ins and outs of the shows and celebs who have come together to make March 2008 a killer month on Broadway.Let's start with the trifecta of powerhouse shows set to open this month. First out of the gate is the all-star revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opening on March 6. Director Debbie Allen (yes, the same Debbie Allen who starred in "Fame" on NBC in the early '80s), has assembled a jaw-dropping cast led by Tony Award winners James Earl Jones as Big Daddy and Phylicia Rashad (Allen's sister) as Big Mama. Playing the tempestuous Maggie the Cat is another Tony recipient, Anika Noni Rose, best known to filmgoers for "Dreamgirls;" and as Brick, Oscar-nominee Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow").Opening three days later is the big buzz new musical In the Heights, last season's runaway Off-Broadway hit about NYC's Washington Heights district and the unique collection of characters that call it home. Expect some breakout stars here, particularly Lin-Manuel Miranda who conceived of the show, wrote the score, and portrays bodega-owner, Usnavi, and Mandy Gonzalez in the role of Nina, a college student visiting her home neighborhood.Interestingly, In the Heights' move to Broadway was financed by the producers behind two other New York community-centric musicals: Rent and Avenue Q, both Best Musical Tony winners. This new entry is definitely a strong contender for the 2008 honor.For the record, although it jumped the gun by opening two days before March marched in, Passing Strange rates inclusion as a groundbreaking new musical (also with first-rate Off-Broadway credentials), from the semi-surreal mind of performance artist/singer/songwriter/performer Stew, the mastermind behind this odyssey undertaken by a young bohemian in search of "the real." Kudos, too, to Stew's music collaborator, Heidi Rodewald.Finally, on March 27, the red-hot revival of Gypsy, starring the legendary Patti LuPone as human dynamo Mama Rose, will officially hop on the Broadway bandwagon for an open-ended run. LuPone, last seen on the Great White Way as meat-pie maven Mrs. Lovett in John Doyle's brilliant take on Sweeney Todd, is joined by two other major Broadway talents: three-time Tony-winner Boyd Gaines (Contact, She Loves Me, The Heidi Chronicles) and Laura Benanti (The Sound of Music, The Wedding Singer).Meanwhile, in previews... While it won't be popping its opening night cork until April 24, the word on Cry-Baby - the second John Waters film to be transformed into a Broadway musical (the first being Hairspray) - is "not to be missed." And even though the lead in this stage version (John Snyder in the role originated on-screen by Johnny Depp) is a newcomer to Broadway, the brilliant Harriet Harris (Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Mrs. Vernon-Williams gives a double shot of credence to the caliber of talent you can expect to see in this Waters-esque take on 1950s Baltimore and early rock 'n roll.IN THE AUDIENCEOne of the most enticing aspects of opening night performances on Broadway will always be the plethora of entertainment VIPs who show up to support their on-stage colleagues. As a New Yorker - and as such a person dedicated to being if not blase, at the very least unobtrusive - I admit to recently having to reign in my fervor upon spotting Alan Rickman, fresh from his villainous turn in "Sweeney Todd," the movie, among the August: Osage County opening night contingent.On opening night of the critically-acclaimed Come Back, Little Sheba, starring a radiant S. Epatha Merkerson and the terrific Kevin Anderson, the theatrical glitterati included Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kate Mulgrew, Donna Murphy, Adriane Lenox, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Priscilla Lopez, and Valerie Harper. Also on hand was Ms. Merkerson's long-time "Law & Order" costar, Sam Waterston.But it doesn't have to be an opening night to bask in "star light" on Broadway. In fact, at any given performance theatergoers can stumble onto an unexpected scenario worthy of one's "really cool memories" file. At a preview performance of November (David Mamet's political satire featuring Nathan Lane as the President of the United States: hysterical squared), two entertainment icons - Mel Brooks and Don Rickles - were caught chatting and laughing together during intermission. Now that's something you won't stumble across at your local 7-11!OUR APOLOGIES Last month in this column, while listing the current roster of Tony winners starring on Broadway, I mistakenly listed John Lloyd Young in Jersey Boys. While Mr. Young did win a Tony in 2006 for his portrayal of Frankie Valli, he is no longer with the show. The role is now being played by Michael Longoria. FEATURED LISTINGS Blue Man Group· The trio of "post-modern clowns" present their outrageous in... Chicago· Kander and Ebb's "musical vaudeville" in which Roxie Hart ga... Mamma Mia!· This hit musical incorporates 22 ABBA songs into a story abo... Stomp· The eight members of Stomp -- with their eclectic theatre of... Lion King, The· The stage version of Disney's celebrated animated feature.... Archives: Today's Family & Kids Activites in Queens-Sep 2 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Brooklyn-Sep 2 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Bronx-Sep 2 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Manhattan-Sep 2 Things to do this weekend in NYC Sep 2-Sep 9 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Queens-Sep 1 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Brooklyn-Sep 1 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Bronx-Sep 1 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Manhattan-Sep 1 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Queens-Aug 31 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Brooklyn-Aug 31 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Bronx-Aug 31 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Manhattan-Aug 31 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Queens-Aug 30 Today's Family & Kids Activites in Brooklyn-Aug 30
Ah, March - the time of year when a sports fan's fancy turns to NCAA basketball and a theatre lover's fancy turns to the budding Broadway season. For both sets of devotees, the aim is the same: to be entertained to the nth degree.Leaving the NCAA and sports pages to alert their demographic as to who's who and who's hot on the courts, I am happy to take on the task of alerting you to the ins and outs of the shows and celebs who have come together to make March 2008 a killer month on Broadway.Let's start with the trifecta of powerhouse shows set to open this month. First out of the gate is the all-star revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opening on March 6. Director Debbie Allen (yes, the same Debbie Allen who starred in "Fame" on NBC in the early '80s), has assembled a jaw-dropping cast led by Tony Award winners James Earl Jones as Big Daddy and Phylicia Rashad (Allen's sister) as Big Mama. Playing the tempestuous Maggie the Cat is another Tony recipient, Anika Noni Rose, best known to filmgoers for "Dreamgirls;" and as Brick, Oscar-nominee Terrence Howard ("Hustle & Flow").Opening three days later is the big buzz new musical In the Heights, last season's runaway Off-Broadway hit about NYC's Washington Heights district and the unique collection of characters that call it home. Expect some breakout stars here, particularly Lin-Manuel Miranda who conceived of the show, wrote the score, and portrays bodega-owner, Usnavi, and Mandy Gonzalez in the role of Nina, a college student visiting her home neighborhood.Interestingly, In the Heights' move to Broadway was financed by the producers behind two other New York community-centric musicals: Rent and Avenue Q, both Best Musical Tony winners. This new entry is definitely a strong contender for the 2008 honor.For the record, although it jumped the gun by opening two days before March marched in, Passing Strange rates inclusion as a groundbreaking new musical (also with first-rate Off-Broadway credentials), from the semi-surreal mind of performance artist/singer/songwriter/performer Stew, the mastermind behind this odyssey undertaken by a young bohemian in search of "the real." Kudos, too, to Stew's music collaborator, Heidi Rodewald.Finally, on March 27, the red-hot revival of Gypsy, starring the legendary Patti LuPone as human dynamo Mama Rose, will officially hop on the Broadway bandwagon for an open-ended run. LuPone, last seen on the Great White Way as meat-pie maven Mrs. Lovett in John Doyle's brilliant take on Sweeney Todd, is joined by two other major Broadway talents: three-time Tony-winner Boyd Gaines (Contact, She Loves Me, The Heidi Chronicles) and Laura Benanti (The Sound of Music, The Wedding Singer).Meanwhile, in previews... While it won't be popping its opening night cork until April 24, the word on Cry-Baby - the second John Waters film to be transformed into a Broadway musical (the first being Hairspray) - is "not to be missed." And even though the lead in this stage version (John Snyder in the role originated on-screen by Johnny Depp) is a newcomer to Broadway, the brilliant Harriet Harris (Tony Award for Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Mrs. Vernon-Williams gives a double shot of credence to the caliber of talent you can expect to see in this Waters-esque take on 1950s Baltimore and early rock 'n roll.IN THE AUDIENCEOne of the most enticing aspects of opening night performances on Broadway will always be the plethora of entertainment VIPs who show up to support their on-stage colleagues. As a New Yorker - and as such a person dedicated to being if not blase, at the very least unobtrusive - I admit to recently having to reign in my fervor upon spotting Alan Rickman, fresh from his villainous turn in "Sweeney Todd," the movie, among the August: Osage County opening night contingent.On opening night of the critically-acclaimed Come Back, Little Sheba, starring a radiant S. Epatha Merkerson and the terrific Kevin Anderson, the theatrical glitterati included Brian Stokes Mitchell, Kate Mulgrew, Donna Murphy, Adriane Lenox, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Priscilla Lopez, and Valerie Harper. Also on hand was Ms. Merkerson's long-time "Law & Order" costar, Sam Waterston.But it doesn't have to be an opening night to bask in "star light" on Broadway. In fact, at any given performance theatergoers can stumble onto an unexpected scenario worthy of one's "really cool memories" file. At a preview performance of November (David Mamet's political satire featuring Nathan Lane as the President of the United States: hysterical squared), two entertainment icons - Mel Brooks and Don Rickles - were caught chatting and laughing together during intermission. Now that's something you won't stumble across at your local 7-11!
OUR APOLOGIES
Last month in this column, while listing the current roster of Tony winners starring on Broadway, I mistakenly listed John Lloyd Young in Jersey Boys. While Mr. Young did win a Tony in 2006 for his portrayal of Frankie Valli, he is no longer with the show. The role is now being played by Michael Longoria.
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