Broadway - Fall, 2018

[edjames]

OK, now that the awards have been handed out, we can take a look at what's coming up in the fall season.

Upcoming:

 

HEAD OVER HEELS

• Theatre: Hudson Theatre

• First Preview: June 23, 2016

• Opening: July 26, 2018

• Director: Michael Mayer

• Original book by Jeff Whitty. Adapted by James MacGruder. Music by the Go-Go’s

• New musical based on Philip Sidney’s Arcadia, showcasing the music of the '80s band the Go-Go’s.

• Co-produced by Gwyneth Paltrow and Donovan Leitch. Had its debut at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in summer 2017. The musical will play San Francisco's the Curran April 24–May 20, 2018.

 

STRAIGHT WHITE MEN

• Theatre: Helen Hayes

• First Preview: June 29, 2018

• Opening: July 23, 2018

• Written by Young Jean Lee

• Director: Anna D. Shapiro

• It’s Christmas Eve, and Ed has gathered his three adult sons to celebrate with matching pajamas, trash-talking, and Chinese takeout. But when a question they can’t answer interrupts their holiday cheer, they are forced to confront their own identities.

 

GETTIN’ THE BAND BACK TOGETHER

• Theatre: Belasco Theatre

• First Preview: July 19, 2018

• Opening: August 13, 2018

• Music and Lyrics by Mark Allen, book by Ken Davenport and Grundleshotz

• Director: John Rando

• New musical about an investment banker who loses his job and decides to restart his life by reorganizing his high school rock band.

 

PRETTY WOMAN

• Theatre: Nederlander Theatre

• First Preview: July 20, 2018

• Opening: August 16, 2018

• Written by Garry Marshall (book), Bryan Adam and Jim Vallance (score)

• Director and choreographer: Jerry Mitchell

• A musical adaptation of the hugely successful film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. Pretty Woman will play an out-of-town tryout in Chicago in spring 2018.

 

BERNHARDT/HAMLET

• Theatre: American Airlines Theatre

• First Preview: September 1, 2018

• Opening: September 25, 2018

• Written by Theresa Rebeck

• Director: Moritz von Stuelpnagel

• Rebeck’s new play is set against the lavish, late-19th-century production of Hamlet starring Sarah Bernhardt in her make-or-break role. Janet McTeer, last seen on Broadway in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, will bring the legendary leading lady to life.

 

THE NAP

• Theatre: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

• First Preview: September 4, 2018

• Opening: September 27, 2018

• Written by Richard Bean

• Director: Daniel Sullivan

• Dylan Spokes, a fast-rising young star arrives for a championship tournament only to be confronted by the authorities warning him of the repercussions of match fixing. Before he knows it, Dylan’s forced into underhanded dealings with a cast of wildly colorful characters that include his ex-convict dad, saucy mum, quick-tongued manager and a renowned gangster, to boot.

 

THE WAVERLY GALLERY

• Theatre: John Golden Theatre

• First Preview: September 25, 2018

• Opening: October 25, 2018

• Written by: Kenneth Lonergan

• Director: Lila Neugebauer

• A feisty Greenwich Village art dealer must give up her beloved gallery due to her advancing years. As time rearranges her world, she must rely more then ever on her family’s love, loyalty, and devotion.

 

THE FERRYMAN

• Theatre: Bernard B. Jacobs

• First Preview: October 2, 2018

• Opening: October 21, 2018

• Written by: Jez Butterworth

• Director: Sam Mendes

• The Ferryman is set in rural Northern Ireland in 1981. The Carney farmhouse is a hive of activity with preparations for the annual harvest. A day of hard work on the land and a traditional night of feasting and celebrations lie ahead. But this year they will be interrupted by a visitor.

 

KING KONG

• Theatre: Broadway Theatre

• First Preview: October 5, 2018

• Opening: November 8, 2018

• Written by Jack Thorne (book), Marius de Vries and Eddie Perfect (score)

• Director and choreographer: Drew McOnie

• A musical adaptation of Merian C. Cooper and Edgar Wallace’s novella.

• King Kong had its world premiere at the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, Australia.

 

TORCH SONG

• Theatre: The Hayes

• First Preview: October 9, 2018

• Opening: November 1, 2018

• Written by Harvey Feinstein

• Director: Moises Kaufman

• The acclaimed 2017 Off-Broadway revival will transfer with its cast intact.

 

THE PROM

• Theatre: Cort Theatre

• First Preview: October 21, 2018

• Opening: November 15, 2018

• Written by Bob Martin (book), Chad Beguelin (lyrics), Matthew Sklar (music)

• Director: Casey Nicholaw

• Cast: Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas, Christopher Sieber

• An original musical about a gay couple who want to attend their high school prom.

• Had a premiere production at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta in August 2016. Producers are Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke.

 

THE CHER SHOW

• Theatre: Neil Simon

• First Preview: November 1, 2018

• Opening: December 3, 2018

• Book by Rick Elice. Music by various composers.

• The musical traces the career of pop star Cher

• The Cher Show will premiere at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre June 12–July 15, 2018.

 

CHOIR BOY

• Theatre: Samuel J. Friedman

• Previews begin: December 27, 2018

• Opening: January 22, 2019

• Written by Tarell Alvin McCraney

• Director: Trip Cullman

• For half a century, the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys has been dedicated to the education of strong, ethical black men. One talented student has been waiting for years to take his rightful place as the leader of the legendary gospel choir. But can he make his way through the hallowed halls of this institution if he sings in his own key?

 

TRUE WEST

• Theatre: American Airlines

• First Preview: December 27, 2018

• Opening: January 24, 2019

• Written by Sam Shepard

• Director: James Macdonald

• Revival. Ethan Hawke stars opposite Paul Dano in Shepard's classic play about two brothers.

 

TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD

• Theatre: Shubert

• First Preview: November 1, 2018

• Opening: December 13, 2018

• Written by Aaron Sorkin

• Director: Bartlett Sher

• Cast: Jeff Daniels, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Will Pullen, Gideon Glick, Latanya Richardson Jackson, Stark Sands, Frederick Weller, Erin Wilhelmi, Dakin Matthews, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Stephen Mckinley Henderson, Phyllis Somerville, Liv Rooth

• Based on Harper Lee's novel of the same title.

[N13]

Straight White Men will star Armie Hammer.

[N13]

Straight White Men will star Armie Hammer.

[BroadwayDave]

I actually got a large, trifold flyer in the mail yesterday from the Nederlander Theatre for “Pretty Woman”. Not my cup of tea but it looks good.

 

Was excited about “To Kill a Mockingbird” until I read Jeff Daniels was cast in the lead. Not someone I’ve ever enjoyed in any performance.

 

And eagerly anticipating details of how they pull off “King Kong”.

[edjames]

Don't forget...

 

Sep 25 The Waverly Gallery @ The Golden Theater, with Elaine May Michael Cera, Lucas Hedges and Joan Allen

Sep 27 The Nap @ Manhattan Theater Club (looks at the world of snooker...? huh?)

Oct 2 The Ferryman @ Bernard Jacobs Theater. (big London hit!)

Oct 5 King Kong @ The Broadway Theater (why not, especially if its on TDF)

Oct 6 American Son @ Booth Theater, with Kerry Washington

Oct 9 Torch Song @ Helen Hayes Theater, with Michael Urie

Oct 18 The Lifespan of a Fact @ Studio54, with Daniel Radcliffe, Cherry Jones and Bobby Cannavale

Oct 23 The Prom @ The Cort Theater, a new musical with Beth Leavel, Christopher Seibert and Brooks Ashmanskas

Nov 1 The Cher Show @ Neil Simon Theater

Nov 1 To Kill A Mockingbird @ The Schubert, with Jeff Daniels

[+ WilliamM]

Any chance of a 'Carmen Jones' extension off-Broadway? All of the remaining performances are sold out.

[edjames]

Ib a word "No." Classic Stage has a set schedule and little room to extend current productions.

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

And eagerly anticipating details of how they pull off “King Kong”.

 

Considering it lost about $25 million when it flopped in Australia, I hope they found a way to retool this show. The gigantic puppet aside, it was a ridiculous dumpster fire and the effect of Kong wore thin after the first twenty minutes. The music was atrocious.

[+ WilliamM]

Ib a word "No." Classic Stage has a set schedule and little room to extend current productions.

 

Thanks very much. I was able to buy a ticket to the 'Carmen Jones' benefit concert Sunday afternoon.

[bnm73]

Considering it lost about $25 million when it flopped in Australia, I hope they found a way to retool this show. The gigantic puppet aside, it was a ridiculous dumpster fire and the effect of Kong wore thin after the first twenty minutes. The music was atrocious.

 

No matter what the budget and effects, how do you make the characters in King Kong sing? Not all stories/properties are good ideas for musicals, and I'm skeptical whether anyone could make King Kong a good one.

[+ purplekow]

I already am working on some numbers for a new attempt at King Kong The Musical. Show stopper would be: I want to Monkey Around with You.

Big Dance Number Skull Island Bossa Nova. With tribal tones and smoking volcano in the background a troupe of monkeys does a lively dance to bossa nova beat. Lots of rhythmic drums and animal screeches but no words except except a distant chanting of

Kong....King Kong....shut your mouth....but, I'm taking about Kong.....then we can dig it

 

I Want To Monkey Around with You

 

Some say too hairy

Some say too tall

I say there's nary

A thing wrong at all

Its him keeps me warm

With his animal charm

It him keeps me calm

When I sit in his palm

And this is what I'm feeling

It's this that is true

No lover sets me reeling

Like when I Monkey Around with You.

 

When it comes lovers

Human or simian

I pray to the big guy

To Please gimme gimme him

His breath like bananas

Picked fresh from the tree

His grunts are cantanas

Volcanic and free

Who knew that Skull Island

Would have such a catch

And now he's come to my land

To complete karma's match

 

Oh climb the tallest buildings

Run through the street

Swat down a copter

Crush people with your feet

Take machine gun fire

To your hairy chest

Just get yourself to my place

Let love do the rest

Cause there is no way to fight it

And really there is no use

Cause god my bod's delighted

When I Monkey Around with You.

 

Some say unnatural

Some say depraved

Some just caterwahl

And scream vile names

Some want you captured

Some want you dead

But only I've been enraptured

and taken to you bed

So they cannot know

They cannot see its true

That our love's truly special

I want to Monkey Around with you.

 

One more time.....I said I want to Monkey....I want to Monkey around....I want to Monkey around with.....................Big hairy wonderfully simian......youuuuuuuu.

Any Angels out there?

Edited August 19, 2018 by purplekow

[+ BenjaminNicholas]

Could we also get a reprise of Angel in the Wing's Bongo, Bongo, Bongo in there somewhere?

[+ WilliamM]

American Son with Kerry Washington, also has Steven Pasquale and Jeremy Jordan in the cast. @edjames, thanks for fall list; I use it frequently.