Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Passing Through Paradise

2008-07-19T14:39:00.008-04:00

Passing Through Paradise

Aloha!

Late yesterday afternoon, I touched down in Honolulu, where I'm now more than halfway to Sydney, Australia. I'll be departing for Down Under in just a few hours.

The photo is the view from my hotel room looking out toward Waikiki Beach and the storied Diamond Head.

The second photo is the view from my room looking out toward the Pacific Ocean, which is literally just outside my room. All throughout the night, I could hear the sound of the waves crashing on shore, making me feel quite peaceful.

The final shot is of my wing of my hotel, which is called the First Lady of Waikiki since it is the oldest hotel here, dating back to 1901. The photo includes my room, which is on the right hand side of the second floor. What a wonderful place to refresh en route to Australia.

Aloha!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

What Did Critics [tos] At Title Of Show?

2008-07-18T01:05:00.005-04:00

What Did Critics [tos] At Title Of Show?

Last evening, the Broadway incarnation of that downtown favorite [title of show] opened at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre.

Helmed and choreographed by Michael Berresse, [title of show] is a musical starring co-creators Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen as Hunter and Jeff, respectively. The duo are reteamed yet again with their original castmates Heidi Blickenstaff (as Heidi) and the handsome Susan Blackwell (as Susan).

Theatre critics' reviews spanned from huggable huzzahs to visceral boos.

Toasting [tos] as a "peculiar and quite adorable musical," The New York Times' Charles Isherwood glows yet again: "[A]s performed by Mr. Bowen, Mr. Bell, and Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff, the talented girlfriends they rope into their makeshift, make-it-up-as-we-go-along opus, it is genial, unpretentious and far funnier than many of the more expensively manufactured musicals that make it to Broadway these days. Consider [title of show] the class clown of Broadway.... But like all class clowns, it wins you over by making fun of the big shots and bursting with its own distinctive personality."

Praising [tos] as "a sweet, raunchy, and just about irresistible portrait of how and why we tell stories," The New York Sun's Eric Grode is largely enthusiastic: "But Mr. Bell's book and Mr. Bowen's lyrics, along with Michael Berresse's empathic but relatively inconspicuous direction, have worked hard to make the writers-in-a-room dialogue palatable to everyone.... Best of all, the totemic significance of maybe — just maybe — making it to Broadway gives audiences the feeling of being present at not just a very funny musical comedy but at the triumphant end of a fraught and fulfilling road."

Calling [tos] "a clever and often adorable little invention about writing a musical," Newsday's Linda Winer ultimately, reluctantly laments: "Everyone in Michael Berresse's production is quick and charming.... How I wish I could love the show. I wish I didn't feel that I was being manipulated by long-struggling talented people on a guilt trip. Most of all, considering the risk, I wish the offbeat and low-budget show belonged on Broadway -- not incidentally, at the same ticket price as the magnificent and massive South Pacific."

Concluding that "much of its offbeat appeal ('not that there's anything wrong with fluff') has evaporated in the move uptown," Variety's Marilyn Stasio is negative: "[title of show] stands pathetically naked on Broadway.... [S]tripped of satirical edge for its heavy Broadway date, the backstage show by Hunter Bell (book) and Jeff Bowen (score) is revealed in all its narcissism, flaunting its shallow aesthetic values and taking unseemly pride in its inflated ambitions.... [O]n a fresh viewing, the substance of the musical emerges with far greater clarity -- and loses whatever charm sustained it downtown."

Damning it as "a piece of -- oh, let's call it garbage," New York Post's Clive Barnes musters up only one half star: "Originality isn't what it used to be. Take [title of show], a Broadway musical -- 95 minutes long, top ticket price $111.50 -- about people writing about people writing a Broadway musical. These [people] -- who doubtless love [people] -- must be the luckiest [people] in the [world]. Let me set the scene for you. Well, actually, there's not much of a scene to set: This is minimalism shoved down to the vanishing point.... [T]he self-conscious and terminally cute and the pixie-like fey are all mixed up with self-congratulatory smugness..."

Panning the show as "proving that if you have a feel for the lowest common denominator, you can scale unmerited heights," Bloomberg's John Simon is so downright nasty, he even criticizes the audience as having "zero taste" and digs deep: "Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, who upon dubious credentials fancy themselves book-and-song writers, decide to write a musical about two self-proclaimed gay men trying to write a musical. They enlist the help of `all our friends'' (two, actually): the equally unappealing Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff (everyone here uses real names on stage). Together they proceed to the parturition of 90 minutes' worth of unremitting torture for anyone with a shred of good taste, discernment and normal eardrums."

Can Isherwood's review do for [title of show] what his did for Xanadu? Well, his positive notice, plus lots of enthusiasm from the blogosphere, along with younger audiences dismissing decidedly old school critics like Barnes and Simon, may just provide this [show] with a future.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
Opening Night: On With The [show] (July 17, 2008)
Broadway Preview: [title of show] (June 24, 2008)
[title of show] To Headline Broadway (April 4, 2008)
[title of show] (The SOB Review) (October 2, 2006)
Making a Name for Itself: [title of show] Extends (August 16, 2006)

Opening Night: On With The [show]

2008-07-17T00:01:00.002-04:00

Opening Night: On With The [show]

Attention all [tos]sers! Tonight is your night!

After four long years of gestating, the little [show] that could is proving its ongoing magnificent metamorphosis by opening this evening at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre. After having seen its last incarnation, I can tell you that [title of show] is a truly original, unique theatrical experience unlike any other.

But don't just take my word for it. Here's how the official [title of show] site describes the ever-evolving work:

You're reading the official blurb, or short summary, of [title of show]. Blurb. That's a funny word. We spent a lot of time on this blurb so please read the whole blurb. [title of show] is a musical about two nobodies named Hunter and Jeff who decide to write a completely original musical starring themselves and their attractive and talented ladyfriends, Susan and Heidi. Their musical, [title of show], gets into the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and becomes a hit. Then it gets an off-Broadway production at the Vineyard Theatre, and wins three Obie Awards! Then (drumroll if you've got a drum) it's announced that their musical is going to Broadway (hooray!) and people start seeing this blurb everywhere! They read that The New York Times called [title of show] "DELECTABLE ENTERTAINMENT! A postmodern homage to the grand tradition of backstage musicals like Babes in Arms, Kiss Me, Kate and A Chorus Line." Fully intrigued, those people snatch up tickets and help make Hunter and Jeff's life-long dream come true!

Once again directed and choreographed by Michael Berresse, [title of show] stars co-creators Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen as Hunter and Jeff, respectively. The duo are reteamed yet again with their original castmates Heidi Blickenstaff (as Heidi) and the handsome Susan Blackwell (as Susan).

How will this ultimate little show fare with the critics?

At this point, who cares?

The blogosphere has already been abounding with outright raves, including from Sarah B. at Adventures In The Endless Pursuit Of Entertainment (she's now seen the Broadway show twice and met The New York Times' Charles Isherwood, who will be providing the Grey Lady's official review tomorrow), Chris Caggiano at Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals and Gabriel at Modern Fabulousity.

(I'll be providing the critical response tomorrow anyway.)

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
Broadway Preview: [title of show] (June 24, 2008)
[title of show] To Headline Broadway (April 4, 2008)
[title of show] (The SOB Review) (October 2, 2006)
Making a Name for Itself: [title of show] Extends (August 16, 2006)

Film Version Of Wicked In The Works

2008-07-16T10:19:00.005-04:00

Film Version Of Wicked In The Works

At long last comes news that Universal Pictures, which serves as a producer for the worldwide megahit stage musical Wicked, has plans to bring the backstory of Elphaba and Glinda to the big screen.

According to Variety, the movie version of Wicked won't happen anytime soon since the global phenomenon is still riding a wave of popularity that has not yet begun to crest. Already, the tuner has taken in over $1 billion around the world via its eight productions on four continents (and in three languages).

Variety reports that while producer Marc Platt is in "early" discussions with Universal, Wicked's librettist Winnie Holtzman will write the screenplay.

Variety quotes Universal's production president Donna Langley:

Our goal now is absolutely to make the Wicked film, but much like Judy Craymer wouldn't give up screen rights to Mamma Mia! until the stage show had reached its pinnacle, Marc and Stephen Schwartz are very mindful of the right timing. But we're dying to do it.

Meanwhile, Platt remains a very busy man. He's not only producing the upcoming Broadway revival of Pal Joey, but he's also helping shepherd three other movie musicals, including the upcoming Rob Marshall-helmed Nine (filming begins this fall in London), a big-screen remake of Jesus Christ Superstar and a biopic of George Gershwin.

I'll report on any further developments on Wicked's silver screen incarnation as they become available. Perhaps we can finally start prognosticating on who would comprise our dream cast. Anyone?

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
One Short Day, In Universal's Emerald City (June 27, 2007)
Wicked To Finally Land In Oz During 2008 (May 26, 2007)
Wicked World (March 19, 2007)
Hollywood Becomes Wicked (February 21, 2007)
Five Times More Wicked (July 17, 2006)

Broadway Preview: 9 To 5

2008-07-16T00:01:00.004-04:00

Broadway Preview: 9 To 5

As regular readers will recall, I've sounded some squeals of delight at the prospect of Dolly Parton writing a musical for the Great White Way. What a way for her to make a living!

As previously noted, her musical stage adaptation of 9 To 5 is a go for September 2008 mounting Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre. But now it's been announced that the tuner will play Broadway's Marquis Theatre beginning March 24, 2009, with an opening slated for April 23.

The cast, of course, will include Stephanie J. Block as Judy Bernly, Allison Janney as Violet Newstead and Megan Hilty as deluxe Dolly doppelgänger Doralee Rhodes. Marc Kudisch will play that evil boss man.

Helmed by Joe Mantello, the musical's book will be provided by the film version's screenwriter, Patricia Resnick. Choreography comes from recent Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler (In The Heights).

Almost in spite of the fact that it's based on a movie, this, my dear friends, is the new musical of the 2008-09 Theatrical Season I'm most anxiously awaiting. I'm placing this squarely in the top three shows I want to see over the next year.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for 9 To 5 Los Angeles tickets.
Related Stories:
Broadway Preview: Mary Stuart (July 15, 2008)
Broadway Preview: The American Plan (July 14, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Shrek The Musical (July 13, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Waiting For Godot (July 12, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Pal Joey (July 11, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Dividing The Estate (July 10, 2008)
Broadway Preview: 13 (July 9, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Speed-The-Plow (July 8, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Billy Elliot - The Musical (July 7, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Godspell (July 6, 2008)
Broadway Preview: All My Sons (July 5, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Man For All Seasons (July 3, 2008)
Broadway Preview: To Be Or Not To Be (July 2, 2008)
Broadway Preview: The Seagull (July 1, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Equus (June 30, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Tale Of Two Cities (June 28, 2008)
Broadway Preview: for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (June 25, 2008)
Broadway Preview: [title of show] (June 24, 2008)
Broadway: What's Next (June 20, 2008)
Workin' 9 2--8 (November 16, 2007)
2009 To 5? (August 29, 2007)

Broadway Preview: Mary Stuart

2008-07-15T00:01:00.002-04:00

Broadway Preview: Mary Stuart

After getting wind yesterday that acclaimed British actress Janet McTeer would be returning to Broadway for her first time since earning a Tony Award for Best Actress in 1997 for her turn as Norma Helmer in A Doll's House, I couldn't help but think, "How wonderful that she'll be reprising the her absolutely brilliant portrayal of Véronique Vallon stateside in God Of Carnage."

Yes, McTeer is coming to the Great White Way in Spring 2009, and she will be reprising a West End role. But it won't be in God Of Carnage. Yet.

According to Variety, McTeer's Rialto return will be as Mary Queen of Scots. She'll be starring in a transfer of Donmar Warehouse's 2005-06 hit revival of German playwright Friedrich Schiller's Mary Stuart. Harriet Walter, whose only Main Stem credit came 25 years ago in a revival of All's Well that Ends Well, will reprise her West End portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I. Peter Oswald's adaptation of Mary Stuart will be directed by Phyllida Lloyd of Mamma Mia! fame.

Now perhaps it's because Americans aren't as engaged in British history as, oh, say the rest of the world, but Mary Stuart has only seen two previous Rialto incarnations.

The first came in 1900 at the Fifth Avenue Theatre when it played in repertory with Macbeth, Marie Antoinette, Much Ado About Nothing, The Ladies' Battle and Twelfth Night.

The next revival of the work wouldn't come for another 71 years, when Mary Stuart was produced at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre in late 1971. Clocking in at a mere 44 performances, the Jules Irving-helmed play pitted Salome Jens' Mary versus Nancy Marchand's Elizabeth, and featured Philip Bosco as Robert Dudley.

While you might think that they'd stage this new adaptation of Schiller's Mary Stuart at one of Broadway's not-for-profit venues, it will instead be housed in one of the commercial theatres owned by the Shubert Organization.

Whether New York audiences will enjoy rediscovering Mary Stuart is a big question mark. Yet given the renewed thirst for royal entertainment, thanks in part to Cate Blanchett's breathtaking turns as the first Queen Elizabeth, as well as Showtimes' "The Tudors," the time might very well be as right as can be. And the opportunity to see McTeer should be worth the ticket itself.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
Broadway Preview: The American Plan (July 14, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Shrek The Musical (July 13, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Waiting For Godot (July 12, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Pal Joey (July 11, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Dividing The Estate (July 10, 2008)
Broadway Preview: 13 (July 9, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Speed-The-Plow (July 8, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Billy Elliot - The Musical (July 7, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Godspell (July 6, 2008)
Broadway Preview: All My Sons (July 5, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Man For All Seasons (July 3, 2008)
Broadway Preview: To Be Or Not To Be (July 2, 2008)
Broadway Preview: The Seagull (July 1, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Equus (June 30, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Tale Of Two Cities (June 28, 2008)
Broadway Preview: for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (June 25, 2008)
Broadway Preview: [title of show] (June 24, 2008)
Broadway: What's Next (June 20, 2008)
God Of Carnage (The SOB Review) (May 2, 2008)

Steve am Broadway (SOB)

2008-07-14T13:04:00.006-04:00

Steve am Broadway (SOB)

So today, I was doing a routine check of all the crazy stats I come across via Statcounter. It's always a little amusing to learn how various people find Steve On Broadway, be it through search terms or a link from another site. I'm sure other bloggers might be similarly amused.

Little did I know that Google (which owns Blogger) translates blogs to other languages. Who knew?

In my discovery, I learned that Steve On Broadway translates to Steve am Broadway (SOB) in German! Of course, "SOB" is completely lost in translation.

What bemused me even more was seeing how some of my important sidebar links to my favorite theatre bloggers translated. Below is the actual way each appears on my site, followed by how each has been translated by Google, and then the translation provided back to me by FreeTranslation.com, an essential site to use if you ever wish to get a quick and easy translation:

Theatre Bloggers SOB knows and loves / Theater Bloggers SOB kennt und liebt ("Theater of blogger SOB knows and loves")
Adventures In The Endless Pursuit Of Entertainment / Adventures in the Pursuit of Endless Entertainment (sorry Sarah, I guess they just liked to flip the words, but the result is interesting, and true)
Broadway & Me / Broadway & Me (guess they just couldn't translate this)
Casual Heap / Casual Heap (same here)
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals / Alles, was ich weiß, dass ich gelernt, aus Musicals ("All what I know, that I learned, out of musicals")
Gratuitous Violins / Kostenlose Geigen ("Free violins")
Just Shows To Go You / Just zeigt, gehen Sie zu ("Just shows, go you to")
‘kül That Sounds Cool / "Das klingt kül Cool ("That sounds kül coolly")
Man In Chair / Der Mensch in der Stuhl ("The person in the chair")
Modern Fabulousity / Moderne Fabulousity ("Modern Fabulousity")
The Lunar Gemini / Die Lunar Gemini ("The Lunar Gemini")
Theatre Aficionado At Large / Theater Aficionado at Large (sorry TAAL, but you're the same)
The Theatergoer / Die Theatergoer ("The Theatregoer")
Things You'll Learn To Love About Me / Dinge, die Sie werden lernen, zu lieben Über mich ("Hire, will learn that you, to love over me")
Third Row, Mezzanine / Dritte Zeile, Mezzanine ("Third line, mezzanine")
West End Whingers / West End Whingers (same ol' Whingers!)

I think my favorite is der mensch in der stuhl, mostly because you can guess what it is, yet it ends up sounded downright funny. Perhaps the most fascinating aspect of all of this is that when you click on each link, up comes a complete German translation for each, even though each blogger's original skin is still there.

Enjoy!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Broadway Preview: The American Plan

2008-07-14T00:01:00.004-04:00

Broadway Preview: The American Plan

As noted last week, Tony-winning playwright Richard Greenberg will be represented on Broadway twice during the 2008-09 Theatrical Season.

First comes Pal Joey at the Roundabout's Studio 54 this November; Greenberg will supply a new book for this classic tuner. Then, in early January comes the Broadway premiere of The American Plan, which enjoyed its West Coast premiere earlier this year at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre.

The play is included as part of the new Broadway season for the Manhattan Theatre Club's (MTC) Biltmore Theatre, with previews beginning January 2, 2009 and opening night set for January 22, 2009. Helmed by Tony-winning director David Grindley, the limited run is scheduled through March 15.

While casting is yet to be announced, MTC provides a rather veiled description:

An exciting new look at an early, acclaimed play by the Tony Award-winning author of Take Me Out. It is the Catskill Mountains in the early 1960s, and Lily Adler and her mother Eva are spending the summer across the lake from a bustling hotel where comics entertain and buffets overflow. When a handsome young stranger enters their world, the emotionally fragile Lily finds herself falling in love. But once her imperious mother learns of their relationship, lies are exposed, alliances are forged and Lily's one chance to escape her mother's control may be lost forever. Playwright Richard Greenberg continues his long association with MTC where his other New York premieres have included The Violet Hour, Three Days of Rain and Eastern Standard.

In fact, it was only after taking a look at the Old Globe's information that I found much more intriguing details:

Tony Award-winning playwright Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain) is considered one of the American theatre’s greatest living playwrights. The American Plan is his funny and intriguing look at deeply rooted double standards of America in the early 1960s. Set in an idyllic Catskills lake retreat, The American Plan tells the tale of an elegant and imperious German-Jewish refugee mother, her eccentric daughter who strains against her domineering mother’s tight leash, and the young, mysterious man who enters their lives.

For more background on the play's setting, check out the Old Globe's exceptional Program Notes, which provides insights on how the Catskill Mountains became known as “Borscht Belt" -- a preferred vacation spot for Jews in the mid-1900s.

I'm a huge fan of Greenberg's work and as a subscriber to the MTC, I'll be anxious to take in this work.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
Broadway Preview: Shrek The Musical (July 13, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Waiting For Godot (July 12, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Pal Joey (July 11, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Dividing The Estate (July 10, 2008)
Broadway Preview: 13 (July 9, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Speed-The-Plow (July 8, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Billy Elliot - The Musical (July 7, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Godspell (July 6, 2008)
Broadway Preview: All My Sons (July 5, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Man For All Seasons (July 3, 2008)
Broadway Preview: To Be Or Not To Be (July 2, 2008)
Broadway Preview: The Seagull (July 1, 2008)
Broadway Preview: Equus (June 30, 2008)
Broadway Preview: A Tale Of Two Cities (June 28, 2008)
Broadway Preview: for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf (June 25, 2008)
Broadway Preview: [title of show] (June 24, 2008)
Broadway: What's Next (June 20, 2008)
Broadway Estate Planning (March 17, 2008)

Broadway Preview: Shrek The Musical

2008-07-13T00:01:00.003-04:00

Broadway Preview: Shrek The Musical

I don't mean to be an ogre, but could it be that I'm the only living person who hasn't seen any of the Shrek movies?

I'm not exactly sure why I never took them in, but the longer I've gone, the less interested I've become. Perhaps I've avoided them because I've been told that they're too smarmy for their own good, and I've never been able to shake that notion.

So it's against that backdrop that I find myself less than excited about the upcoming Shrek The Musical, which already begins its out-of-town tryout next month in Seattle at the city's 5th Avenue Theatre -- the very same venue that proudly launched Hairspray six years ago.

The 5th Avenue Theatre describes their tryout:

This summer, the most beloved swamp-dwelling ogre of all time will make his theatrical debut in the World Premiere of Shrek The Musical, at The 5th Avenue Theatre. This all-new production is based on Shrek’s adventures in the classic William Steig book and Oscar-winning film. Joining Shrek on his journey from the swamp to the stage will be his wisecracking sidekick Donkey, Princess Fiona, Lord Farquaad and a chorus of everybody’s favorite fairytale creatures. With more layers than ever and a completely original new score, Shrek The Musical proves there’s more to the story than meets the ears.

Shrek The Musical is due to land at the Main Stem's Broadway Theatre in time for previews starting November 11, with an opening night slated for December 14.

Now, if there is anything to get excited about, it's that Jeanine Tesori (Caroline, Or Change) is writing the music for its score. The fact that Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole) is supplying the lyrics and book should also have me intrigued, but we all know what happend during his previous musical effort. Knowing a thing or two about monsters is Tony nominated director Jason Moore (Avenue Q), who helms the show, yet the choreography comes from Broadway first-timer Josh Prince. You see, everything I see as good is somehow tempered.

OK, another positive is that the criminally underused, Tony-nominated Brian d'Arcy James returns to Broadway in the title role. Tony-winning actress Sutton Foster will portray Princess Fiona; regular readers will recall that it wasn't until my fourth attempt to see her that she was actually performing in a show, but on the plus side, I thought she was incredibly talented when I finally saw her. Other cast members include the Tony-nominated Christopher Sieber as Lord Farquaad, Chester Gregory II as the Donkey, Kecia Lewis-Evans as the Dragon and the Tony-nominated John Tartaglia as Pinocchio.

Nevertheless, with the lackluster critical success of recent film translations to the stage, along with some early negative press already appearing in some important quarters, I'm left still feeling a bit like a bogeyman.

So, I ask you, dear readers. Should I bite the bullet and see the "Shrek" trilogy on film? Will it have me thirsting for the stage incarnation?

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Shrek Seattle tickets.
Click here for Shrek Broadway tickets.
Related Stories:
Is It Just Me, Or... (Part III) (January 22, 2008)

Something Wicked This Way Opens In Australia

2008-07-12T10:12:00.010-04:00

Something Wicked This Way Opens In Australia

This evening, the fourth international production of Wicked finally opens in Oz! Taking the globe by storm, the eighth mounting of this decade's most popular new musical opens at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia's second largest city.

While the creative team behind Wicked remains the same as for the original Broadway production, including Joe Mantello at the helm, the cast is very Aussie. Amanda Harrison stars as Elphaba opposite Lucy Durack as Glinda. The rest of the cast includes Rob Mills as Fiyero, Rob Guest as the Wizard, Maggie Kirkpatrick as Madame Morrible, Anthony Callea as Boq, Rodney Dobson as Dr. Dillamond and Penny McNamee as Nessarose.

Advance ticket sales Down Under have been estimated at Australian $10 million (roughly on par with U.S. dollars), so strong that AussieTheatre.com notes:

Wicked is likely to remain in Melbourne for 18 months, and while no tour has been confirmed yet, it is expected to be in Sydney either late 2009 or early 2010, depending on the box office performance of its premiere season.

In fact, another 60,000 tickets are going on sale for Wicked Down Under on Monday.

With tonight's opening, there are now a total of eight Wicked mountings playing throughout the world on four continents playing to a global audience of over 13 million people. The worldwide gross box office has been about $1 billion -- more than the take of all but three films: "Titanic," "The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King" and "Pirates Of The Carribean: Dead Man's Chest." Not bad for a little stage show.

Of course, there's the Broadway production, which first opened at Rialto's Gershwin Theatre in October 2003.

Then, on March 8, 2005, the first North American tour began at Toronto's Canon Theatre, and is currently playing Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo through tomorrow before moving on to Michigan State University's Wharton Center in East Lansing on Thursday. A second touring company of Wicked will begin performances on March 7, 2009, at Fort Myers' Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

Then in June 2005, the second sitdown production began at Chicago's Oriental Theatre after first hosting the tour. Having broken all box office records for any show in the history of Chicago theatre, this incarnation of Wicked is now slated to close on January 25, 2009 after playing its 1,500th performance and raking in more than $210 million. The musical will depart Chicago while ticket sales are still very strong, so it may, as producer David Stone says, "Go out with a bang."

The third U.S. sitdown production began at Los Angeles' Pantages Theatre on February 21, 2007. This production has been featured on television's "Ugly Betty" and "Deal Or No Deal." While it's been announced that this mounting will close on January 11, 2009 after 791 regular performances, news broke shortly after that the entire production would migrate up the California coast to San Francisco's Orpheum Theatre for the City by the Bay's own sitdown production. Wickedphiles will know that this was the city where the musical first took flight in previews during June 2003, albeit at the Curran Theatre.

Wicked's first international production was launched in London on September 27, 2006 at the Apollo Victoria Theatre where it continues to play (I caught a performance there the following April). The second international production and first in another language began on June 17, 2007 as ウィキッド - The Broadway Musical Wicked at Tokyo's Shiki Theatre, where performances continue (I saw this Japanese language version last December). The third international production and second in another language began on November 15, 2007 as Wicked - Die Hexen Von Oz at Stuttgart, Germany's Palladium Theatre (I saw this German language mounting last November).

As if all this Wickedness thrust upon us weren't enough, a Dutch language version of the show is scheduled for The Netherlands in 2009. Personally, I'm hoping for versions in French and Italian, not to mention Spanish, so I can keep my globetrotting going.

And speaking of globetrotting, two weeks from Sunday, I'll be sitting in Melbourne's Regent Theatre with my favorite mates in Australia seeing this latest production. You can bet I'll have an SOB Revisit sometime thereafter. See you in Oz!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Wicked (Melbourne) tickets.
Related Stories:
Wicked To Finally Land In Oz During 2008 (May 16, 2007)

Broadway Preview: Waiting For Godot

2008-07-12T00:01:00.002-04:00

Waiting For Godot

It's been over 51 years since Samuel Beckett's absurdist classic Waiting For Godot was last performed on Broadway. And to date, there have only been 65 actual performances on the Great White Way of one of the stage's more uniquely famous titles.

While the Seattle Repertory Company's upcoming revival of Waiting For Godot isn't even due in the Emerald City until January 2009, that hasn't stopped the producers from waiting to announce that they're officially waiting for a Broadway berth soon after.

Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Garry Hynes (The Beauty Queen of Leenane) and starring Tony Award winning actor Bill Irwin (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), the Seattle Repertory Theatre describes its new revival:

On its way to Broadway, this production features acclaimed film, television, and stage actor Bill Irwin under the direction of Tony-award-winning director Garry Hynes. Considered by many to be the most significant English language play of the 20th century, this absurdist comedy places two Charlie Chaplin-like tramps in the middle of nowhere to await the mysterious Godot. Don’t miss the chance to see this vaudevillian masterpiece.

Broadway Preview: Pal Joey

2008-07-11T00:01:00.003-04:00

Broadway Preview: Pal Joey

Want to know the Broadway show I'm most looking forward to seeing during the 2008-09 Theatrical Season?

Look no further than Roundabout Theatre Company's retooled revival of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's classic Pal Joey, which begins previews at Studio 54 on November 14. With an opening set for December 11, this incarnation is currently listed as an "open-ended" run.

What excites me most is that it ushers in the return to the Great White Way for Stockard Channing as the stage's original cougar, Vera Simpson. It's been nine years since this five-time Tony nominated actress -- who won once for her 1985 portrayal of Sheila in the 1985 revival of Joe Egg -- last trod the Broadway boards.

Personally, I've loved this great American actress ever since "discovering" her as Miriam Knight in the 1973 ABC Movie of the Week "The Girl Most Likely To." I'm practically embarrassed to admit that I've never seen her perform live. I've promised myself I would move heaven and earth to see her. Finally, Pal Joey is providing me with my perfect opportunity.

Additionally, it doesn't hurt that the Main Stem's reigning denizen of drama is also in the show. Marking her first foray into Broadway musical theatre is Martha Plimpton, who will portray Gladys Bumps.

Of course, the acting name that's been most frequently bandied about is that of Christian Hoff as Joey Evans. This will be Hoff's first leading role on the Great White Way, and his first stage gig there of any kind since winning a Tony two years ago for his work as Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys. Hoff tackles the role once thought destined for Hugh Jackman. But will he have what it takes?

Given that Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain, The Well-Appointed Room and the upcoming Broadway production of The American Plan) is rewriting John O'Hara's book that Chris Caggiano (Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals) calls "creaky at best," I have high hopes for both Hoff and this Joe Mantello-helmed revival. And it certainly doesn't hurt that Pal Joey boasts a terrific score, including timeless tunes like "Bewitched, Bothered, Bewildered."

Roundabout describes this fourth Rialto revival:

Set in Chicago in the late 1930s, Pal Joey is the story of Joey Evans, a brash, scheming song and dance man with dreams of owning his own nightclub. Joey abandons his wholesome girlfriend Linda English, to charm a rich, married older woman, Vera Simpson, in the hope that she’ll set him up in business.

Pal Joey first played Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre on Christmas Day, 1940, and would run for 374 performances, ending just a week before Pearl Harbor launched the nation headlong into war. Gene Kelly's Joey played opposite Vivienne Segal's Vera, while none other than the Baby/Dainty June, June Havoc (the 94 year old actress has been forever immortalized in Gypsy), portrayed Gladys Bumps.

The first revival, once again starring Vivienne Segal as Vera, came less than a dozen years later in January 1952 at the Broadhurst Theatre. With 540 total performances, it would enjoy a run outlasting the original. Joey was played by Harold Lang, but it would be Helen Gallagher's take on Gladys that would win a Tony. And the great Elaine Stritch appeared in this version as Melba.

Barely ten years after the first revival closed, a second one opened May 29 at City Center for a mere fifteen performances. But it was enough to provide Bob Fosse with his only Tony nomination in an acting role, this time in the title role. Fosse was cast opposite Viveca Lindfors as Vera and Elaine Dunn as Gladys.

The last revival of Pal Joey came a whopping 32 years ago at the tiny (by Broadway standards) Circle in the Square Theatre. Bereft of any Tony nominations, the 1976 revival starring Christopher Chadman (Joey), Joan Copeland (Vera) and Janie Sell (Gladys) came and went after just 73 performances.

So how long will this new revival of Pal Joey remain on Studio 54's stage? It could be zip, unless critics mustn't kick it around.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

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Passing From Broadway

2008-07-10T14:30:00.006-04:00

Passing From Broadway

After months of rarely attracting the audiences it deserved (and ultimately needed), Passing Strange will soon pass from the Broadway boards. This "real" musical, unlike any other, is set to close on July 20.

That closing date is important as it comes one day after Spike Lee is set to film the tuner in front of a live audience. While I agree with Aaron over at ‘kül That Sounds Cool that a full-on film of the stage version couldn't even begin to capture the experience of seeing Stew's amazing, semi-autobiographical journey live, particuarly as a key component is his ability to break down the fourth wall, I guess those of us who love this work deeply will have to take what we can get.

By the time it closes, Passing Strange will have played 165 regular performances. Never mind that it was the best reviewed new musical to hit Broadway this past year. The fact that it had an ill-defining marketing campaign, coupled with dubious choices regarding its Tony Awards musical selection, as well as the fact that it didn't win the coveted Tony for Best Musical as many had hoped, it's probably no wonder that the show played to over 50% capacity (and some weeks, just barely) a tad bit over half of the 22 weeks its been around. Last week, its capacity was down in the danger zone playing to a house with less than 38%.

Such a shame. Who knows when we'll have such an opportunity to pass this way again.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.
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SOB's 2008 Tony Picks - Who Will Win (June 10, 2008)
SOB's 2008 Tony Picks - Part II (June 5, 2008)
SOB's 2008 Tony Picks - Part I (June 4, 2008)
SOB's Best Of 2007-08: Top Ten Of The Year (June 2, 2008)
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Strange Stagefellows (February 20, 2008)
Passing Strange Jersey Boys And Rock 'N' Roll: Downbeat Box Office (February 19, 2008)
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Passing Strange To Broadway? (October 16, 2007)