Little Mermaid to close august 30th

The current broadway production of Disneys The Little Mermaid has set a closing date and that date is Augsust 30th. The musical which opened in 2008 is the 5th movie made musical that disney has put on broadway, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Tarzan, and Mary Poppins have all come before it and at time of closing only 2 will still be running

Thomas Schumacher the president of Disney Theatrical productions and producer of The Little Mermaid gives this for the reason of closing, “We are tremendously proud of the show and are confident we’ll have an excellent summer but it would be fiscally irresponsible to our shareholders to risk operating losses with such a big show in the historically challenging fall months, We are closing the Broadway production to concentrate on the long future life of this title—beginning with next year’s national tour and upcoming international productions”

Funny because they havn’t used that excuse for any of there other shows, The Lunt Fontanne Theatre has served as the theater for Beauty and the Beast and now the Little Mermaid, I think they may also be closing Mermaid to being in a new disney production.

At the time of closing The Little Mermaid will have played 50 previews (wow why so long disney) and 685 performances.  Out of the 5 of disney musicals it is the 4th longest running just above Tarzan and just below the current running production of Mary Poppins

North Shore Music Theater of Beverly, Massachusetts to offically close it doors after 54 years

Ok, well as some of you know i’m from that area of Massachusetts and was acutally born in Beverly and lived 3 or 5 years of my life there so this post if near and dear to my heart.

For all of you who are unfamilar with The NSMT its a theater in the round that was first opened in 1955, it is massachusetts most popular regional theater, many of broadways great started there INCLUDING: Kristen Chenoweth she played Christine in Ken Hills Phantom at NSMT before she did broadway (my parents saw her)

For 54 years the NSMT has been dedicated to bringing the North shore the best regional theater experience, as a theater in the round they have to thing of how to stage big broadway musicals on a circular stage with minimal sets and what sets they have, make sure they don’t block the audiences view.  Using a turntable stage that makes it so much easier. I myself have shared many expereinces there seeing the annual Christmas Carol, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor dreamcoat etc etc.

In 2007 They where one of the few regional theaters across the country given the rights to perform Les Miserables the full production they were only 1 of 2 theaters in the round allowed, but i believe they performed the show first.

A fire that destroyed the stage a couple years back was the start of the end, the theater is now 10 million in debt hoping to sell to potential buyers that may help remake the theater in the future so that the next generation doesn;t loose the gem known as theater in the round.

A year round nonprofit theater and I believe they won the Tony Award for Regional theater of the year award a few years back

The 2009 season had already been annouced been sadly the season won;t happen

John Cudia to replace long time Phantom Howard McGillin starting July 27

Alright this is kinda interesting, Long time Phantom in Andrew Llyod Webbers The Phantom of the Opera after a 10 year on and off run of the production making a record breaking 2,450 performance (wow!). John Cudia was the Phantom for a ten week stint in 2008 while Howard McGillin took sometime off to pursue other projects, which I wouldn’t doubt is the reason why he is offically bowing out of the show.

John Cudia has been with Phantom for almost 10 years joining the national tour as a swing, u/s Raoul in 1999 then taking over Raoul 8 months later meeting his future wife. Then he joined the Broadway production for 2 and a half years as Raoul, took over for Gary Mauer (long time tour and short stint phantom) in the 2006 national tour. In the fall of 2008 he rejoined the tour as the Phantom where he will play his final performance May 24.

Cudia has been seen on Broadway and regional theater in Les Miserables as Jean Valjean (and i believe he was a broadway enjolras for a while), Jesus Christ Superstar, The Music of Andrew Llyodd Webber

Cudia will be the 12 actor to permantly take over the Role of the Phantom, a total of 16 actors have played the role on the great white way but 4 of the 16 were only temporary fill ins including Gary Mauer.

side note: many of the lead performers of Phantom where in Les Miserables before Phantom, Gary Mauer (Enjolras). Colm Wilkinson “toronto phantom” (Original Jean Valjean) John Cudia (Jean Valjean) Simon Bailey “current london Raoul (les mis 21st anniversary Enjolras), John Owen Jones “Longest running west end Phantom” (Long running Valjean, not even in the show for a year in 1999 before he was given Valjean), Rebecca Caine “toronto Christine” (Original London Cosette)

2009 TONY AWARDS

How about them Tony Awards, I think it may have been the best Tony’s in a while. The sound may have sucked almost the entire night including during the Opening and the Guy’s & Dolls performance. Gunna start with some of what i think about the performances from the nominated shows.

Ok so the opening WAS AMAZING bet opener i think in years, and how perfect to end it with HAIR our 2009 best revival YAY!

West Side Storys performance was pretty good probably the best number they could have picked from the show

SHREK the musicals performance really showed how different and unique that show is

Rock of Ages I like what they did it was different and new maybe not a original score but neither is Mamma Mia or Jersey Boys or Moving Out yet they are all amazing because the songs where written by awesome bands

Ok the Next to Normal performance i though they could have picked a better song from the show I mean yea it was a good song but I wanted to change the channel

Billy Elliot ok i know alot of people like it but I was ready to turn the TV off during their performance I was like what is he gunna sing or just keep jumping around, the staging was clever i was just bored watching it

NOW TO THE WINNERS CIRCLE OF THE 2009 TONY AWARDS

Okay well most of you know i’m kinda opinioned and I love being a critic so I’m just going to put a couple words after each win

Best Musical: Billy Elliot (no comment) (cough cough why)

Best Play: God  of Carnage (can’t comment know nothing about it)

Best Book of a musical: Lee Hall for Billy Elliot (again can;t comment but congrats to him)

Best Score: Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey for Next To Normal (YAY they deserved it, if elton john won i was going to turn the Tonys off)

Best Revival of a Play: The Norman Conquests

Best Revival of a Musical: HAIR! (yay)

Best Special Theater event: Liza’s Live at the Palace

Best Actor in a Musical: The 3 Billys in Billy Elliot (no comment)

Best Actress in a Musical: Alice Riply for Next to Normal (awwww)

Best Actor in a Play: Geoffery Rush for Exit the King (SWEET!)

Best Actress in a Play: Marcia Gay Harder for God of Carnage

Best featured actor in a Musical: Gregory Jbara for Billy Elliot (hes a good actor he deserves it)

Best Featured actress in a Musical: Karen Olivio for West Side Story (yes!)

Best featured actor in a play: Roger Robinson for Joe Turners come and gone (best speech of the night)

Best featured actress in a Play: Angela Lansbury (really another Tony atleast she said it wasn;t fair)

Best Director of a Musical: Stephen Daldry for Billy Elliot (oh shocker….not)

Best Director of a Play: Matthew Warchus for God of Carnage (wonder what it was like being nominated twice for the same award the same night for 2 different shows)

Best Choreographer: Peter Darling for Billy Elliot (ok so its a dance show so i hoped he would win)

Best Orchestrations: IT WAS A TIE but it SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN Martin Koch won for Billy Elliot and Tom Kitt and Michael Starobin won for Next to Normal (why not just give it to them )

Best Scenic Design for a Play: Derek McLane for 33 Variations

Best Scenic Design for a Musical: Ian MacNeil for oh guess what Billy Elliot

Best Costume design for a Play: Anthony Ward for Mary Stuart

Best Costume Design for a Musical: Tim Hatley for SHREK (yay if billy elliot won i was gunna say um HELLO did you tony voters not go see Shrek)

Best Lighting design for a Play: Brian MacDevitt for Joe Turners come and gone

Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Rick Fisher for Billy Elliot (ummmmm w/e)

Best Sound design for a Play: Gregory Clarke for Equus

Best Sound design for a Musical: Paul Arditti for Billy Elliot (atleast the sound people for the Tony awards weren’t nominated )

Special Tony went to Jerry Herman (great speech)

GUYS & DOLLS to close JUNE 14

So I saw on Broadway.com just now that the revival of GUYS & DOLLS  has set a closing date and its really soon try next SUNDAY June 14th, This kinda hurts the plans for the trip planned in July,

The Show will have played 28 previews and 113 performances at The Nederlander theater (the former home of RENT). We could kinda see it coming with them pushing ticket offers, won’t be the first show that the economy has hit hard this wonderful broadway season. The show will have played only4 months at the Nederlander having started previews February 4 and opening March 1st.

A National Tour is planned for 2010-2011.

Bye Bye Birdie at the Roundabout cast annouced

Ok so I know I said my next post would be after the Tony’s but I saw this on Playbill today so I had to tell everyone who reads.

The Lead cast for the limited broadway Roundabout theater production of BYE BYE BIRDIE has been announced and knowing some of these names i’m excited for it

John Stamos as Albert Peterson (that should be interesting),  

Gina Gershon as Rosie (anyone know of her?)

Nolan Gerand Funk as Conrad Birdie (nickelodeon fans will recgonize him from Spectacular)

Allie Trimm as Kim McAfee (She was in 13 great voice shes going to be great)

Jayne Houdyshell as Mae Peterson (YES!)

Bill Irwin as Mr. McAfee

Matt Doyle as Hugo Peabody

Word from your new Webmaster

Hey, i’ll keep it short and sweet . Its Trevor your new Treasuer/Webmaster for 2009-2010, i’[m really excited for next year GUYS & DOLLS and then MURDER ROOM to close out the year it going to be amazing! I;’m going to continue what Clare does now with new posts about theater, movies etc etc, but i’m also going to post some links to (legalish) videos and audio files to the latest musicals that people have never heard of but are insane. My next post will probably be the night of the Tony Awards. Hope you guys keep on looking at the blog.

 

Trevor

Tony Nominations!

Do you know how busy nerdy girl seniors get around this season? Pretty dang busy.

Anyways, Tony nominations were released today. I am astounded that Shrek: The Musical got eight nominations. This would also be a good time to tell you that I despise Waiting for Godot with the passion of a thousand fiery suns.

Best Play
Dividing the Estate
God of Carnage
Reasons to Be Pretty
33 Variations

Best Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Rock of Ages
Shrek The Musical

Best Book of a Musical
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
Shrek The Musical
[Title of Show]

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Billy Elliot, The Musical
Next to Normal
9 to 5: The Musical
Shrek The Musical

Best Revival of a Play
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Mary Stuart
The Norman Conquests
Waiting for Godot

Best Revival of a Musical
Guys and Dolls
Hair
Pal Joey
West Side Story

Best Special Theatrical Event
Liza’s at The Palace
Slava’s Snowshow
Soul of Shaolin
You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jeff Daniels, God of Carnage
Raúl Esparza, Speed-the-Plow
James Gandolfini, God of Carnage
Geoffrey Rush, Exit the King
Thomas Sadoski, Reasons to Be Pretty

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Hope Davis, God of Carnage
Jane Fonda, 33 Variations
Marcia Gay Harden, God of Carnage
Janet McTeer, Mary Stuart
Harriet Walter, Mary Stuart

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, and Kiril Kulish ‚ Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gavin Creel, Hair
Brian d’Arcy James, Shrek The Musical
Constantine Maroulis, Rock of Ages
J. Robert Spencer, Next to Normal

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Stockard Channing, Pal Joey
Sutton Foster, Shrek The Musical
Allison Janney, 9 to 5: The Musical
Alice Ripley, Next to Normal
Josefina Scaglione, West Side Story

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
John Glover, Waiting for Godot
Zach Grenier, 33 Variations
Stephen Mangan, The Norman Conquests
Paul Ritter, The Norman Conquests
Roger Robinson, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Hallie Foote, Dividing the Estate
Jessica Hynes, The Norman Conquests
Marin Ireland, Reasons to Be Pretty
Angela Lansbury, Blithe Spirit
Amanda Root, The Norman Conquests

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
David Bologna, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Gregory Jbara, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Marc Kudisch, 9 to 5: The Musical
Christopher Sieber, Shrek The Musical
Will Swenson, Hair

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Jennifer Damiano, Next to Normal
Haydn Gwynne, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Karen Olivo, West Side Story
Martha Plimpton, Pal Joey
Carole Shelley, Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Dale Ferguson, Exit the King
Rob Howell, The Norman Conquests
Derek McLane, 33 Variations
Michael Yeargan, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Robert Brill, Guys and Dolls
Ian MacNeil, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Scott Pask, Pal Joey
Mark Wendland, Next to Normal

Best Costume Design of a Play
Dale Ferguson, Exit the King
Jane Greenwood, Waiting for Godot
Martin Pakledinaz, Blithe Spirit
Anthony Ward, Mary Stuart

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregory Gale, Rock of Ages
Nicky Gillibrand, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Tim Hatley, Shrek The Musical
Michael McDonald, Hair

Best Lighting Design of a Play
David Hersey, Equus
David Lander, 33 Variations
Brian MacDevitt, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Hugh Vanstone, Mary Stuart

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Hair
Kevin Adams, Next to Normal
Howell Binkley, West Side Story
Rick Fisher, Billy Elliot, The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play
Paul Arditti, Mary Stuart
Gregory Clarke, Equus
Russell Goldsmith, Exit the King
Scott Lehrer and Leon Rothenberg, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Acme Sound Partners, Hair
Paul Arditti, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Peter Hylenski, Rock of Ages
Brian Ronan, Next to Normal

Best Direction of a Play
Phyllida Lloyd, Mary Stuart
Bartlett Sher, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone
Matthew Warchus, God of Carnage
Matthew Warchus, The Norman Conquests

Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Greif, Next to Normal
Kristin Hanggi, Rock of Ages
Diane Paulus, Hair

Best Choreography
Karole Armitage, Hair
Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 to 5: The Musical
Peter Darling, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Randy Skinner, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas

Best Orchestrations
Larry Blank, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas
Martin Koch, Billy Elliot, The Musical
Michael Starobin and Tom Kitt, Next to Normal
Danny Troob and John Clancy, Shrek The Musical

source

-clare

Luhrmann, Knowles, and Jackman- Oh Please Can This Happen?

Don’t worry, a Grease production post is coming- I’m just a little busy.

But Baz Luhrmann wants to cheer me up with a movie musical starring Hugh Jackman and Beyonce Knowles. God love you, sir.

“Filmmaker Baz Luhrmann is desperate to team Beyonce Knowles and Hugh Jackman for a new movie musical after directing the stars for a medley of showtunes at the Oscars.”

source

-clare

Watch “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum” on Hulu

Oh, Hulu.

You can watch the 1966 film version of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum for free on Hulu. I don’t know why Hulu selected it to put up (perhaps it is completionist- Hulu is still lobbying heavily to get every Buffy episode ever up), but I’m very grateful!

You can watch it here.