Tag: Broadway (81-90 of 166)

Sep 20 2012 12:23 PM ET

Scarlett Johansson will be a 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' on Broadway

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Image Credit: Matt Sayles/AP

Scarlett Johansson is heading back to Broadway.

The movie star received rave reviews — and a Tony award — for her performance in Broadway’s 2010 revival of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge. Now the Avenger is officially set to star in a new revival of another classic American play: Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Tennessee Williams’ 1955 tale of greed, family, and sexual repression in the South. Cat was last seen on Broadway four years ago, in an all-black revival starring Anika Noni Rose as Maggie and Terrence Howard as Brick.

Johansson will be stepping into Rose’s shoes, playing the determined sexpot whose nickname appears in the play’s title. Before casting was official, rumors speculated that she’d be joined by another A-list movie star — possibly even her fellow Avenger Jeremy Renner. Instead, the production has selected Broadway vet Benjamin Walker, best known for playing the title role in 2010′s Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, to play opposite Johansson as Maggie’s depressed husband Brick.

Irish character actor Ciarán Hinds and Tony winner Debra Monk will round out the main cast as Big Daddy and Big Mama, respectively.

The production begins preview performances this December at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. It opens officially on January 17, 2013.

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‘Carrie’ musical gets cast recording, behind-the-scenes video for ‘In’ – EXCLUSIVE

Sep 14 2012 02:36 PM ET

Dan Lauria joins cast of 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'

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Image Credit: Jemal Countess/Getty Images

Noted television actor Dan Lauria, best known as Jack Arnold on The Wonder Years, has signed on to play radio icon Jean Shepherd in A Christmas Story, The Musical.  Shepherd, who often went by the nickname “Shep,” was a radio and TV personality who narrated and co-wrote the original 1983 A Christmas Story film, on which the musical is based.  This will be Lauria’s first appearance on Broadway since starring in the 2010 production of Lombardi.

“I never expected to return to Broadway in a musical,” Lauria said in a statement.  “Luckily for the audience, it’s a non-singing role! I’m a classic movie buff and A Christmas Story is a favorite of mine as it is for many others and I am excited to be part of this marvelous stage adaptation.”

A Christmas Story, The Musical will run from Nov. 5 – Dec. 30 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

Read More:

‘Carrie’ musical gets cast recording, behind-the-scenes video for ‘In’ – EXCLUSIVE
Brian D’Arcy James to star in ‘Giant’
‘War Horse’ to end Broadway run in January 2013

Sep 5 2012 06:30 PM ET

Meet the new lead of 'Newsies', Corey Cott

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Image Credit: Lorenzo Bevilaqua

He’s the new king of New York!

Broadway newcomer Corey Cott, a recent graduate of the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, has taken over the role of Jack Kelly in Newsies, after leading man Jeremy Jordan’s final performance on Sept. 4. (Jordan is headed to Smash.) Although Cott has already stood in for Jordan 12 times, today marks his first official day as the new lead of Disney’s smash musical.

We caught up with the budding star to hear about his time with the Newsies, and to find out what’s on his entertainment Must List:

ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: When did you first get involved with the Broadway version of Newsies?
COREY COTT: I originally auditioned for it when they were still casting Jack when Jeremy was doing Bonnie and Clyde. It was one of my first auditions in the City. It was in December. It felt fine, but it wasn’t the right time yet. The next time around was the end of June. It’s amazing how six months can change your approach. It was a whole fresh experience, and I felt much more comfortable with what I was doing.  I’d seen the show twice at that point, so I knew the story better, I knew the character better, I knew what I was trying to accomplish in the room. READ FULL STORY »

Sep 4 2012 09:06 PM ET

'War Horse' to end Broadway run in January 2013

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Image Credit: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg

The epic World War I play War Horse – which earned the Tony Award for Best Play in 2011 — will end its Broadway run at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theatre on Jan. 6, 2013.

The play, featuring puppets from South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, tells the story of a boy in WWI-era England and the horse he brings up, traveling through historical moments as well as personal triumphs and defeats.

“War Horse is theatre at its best: magical, moving, and invigorating,” said producer Bob Boyett in a statement. “I’m so grateful to have been a part of bringing such an inspired and inspiring piece of theatre to New York.”

War Horse will continue its London West End run and its U.S. tour, and productions are planned in 2013 for Berlin, Australia, and the U.K. tour. The 2011 feature film adaptation, directed by Steven Spielberg, won six Oscar nods, including Best Picture.

Read more:
Broadway’s ‘War Horse’: The London hit (soon a Steven Spielberg movie) gets a Yankee makeover
EW’s stage review: ’War Horse’
Inside the Best Picture nominees: A deep dive into ‘War Horse’

Sep 4 2012 03:46 PM ET

Broadway box office: 'One Man, Two Guvnors' ends its run on a high

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Image Credit: Johan Persson

In its final week on Broadway, the hit British comedy One Man, Two Guvnors starring irrepressible Tony winner James Corden shattered the box office record at the Music Box Theatre, pulling in $853,518 (91 percent of the venue’s potential gross), according to figures from the Broadway League. That’s a remarkable achievement for a nonmusical production on the Great White Way. One Man is one of only three straight plays that have opened this year and recouped their producers’ initial investments (in this case, $3.25 million). The others are the acclaimed Tony-winning revival of Death of a Salesman starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, which earned back its $3.1 million investment 14 weeks into its 16-week run this spring, and the star-studded election-year revival Gore Vidal’s The Best Man, which announced last week that it had recouped its own $3.25 million investment (the show is scheduled to close this Sunday, Sept. 9).

Meanwhile, Bruce Norris’ topical drama Clybourne Park, which also had its last performance on Sept. 2, concluded its five-month run with a (modest) bang. Final-week ticket sales climbed 15 percent to $486,336, nearly 57 percent of the show’s potential gross. Despite winning the Pulitzer Prize and this year’s Tony for best drama, the production featured a cast unfamiliar to non-theatergoers and never really caught fire at the box office. It’s not expected to make back its initial investment.

As usual, Broadway’s box office was dominated by the familiar stable of musical powerhouses. The Lion King led the charge with $1.72 million for the week; followed by Wicked ($1.7 million); The Book of Mormon ($1.67 million, a new house record); Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark ($1.43 million); and the Ricky Martin-led revival Evita ($1.1 million).

Read more:
‘Motown the Musical’ headed to Broadway
 Fall Theater Preview: 10 shows we’re dying to see
EW’s Stage Hub: News, reviews, and listings

Aug 27 2012 02:00 PM ET

'Motown: The Musical' announces premiere date, stars -- EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

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We’ll be there!

In addition to a stellar fall schedule, Broadway will be dancing in the street this spring. As EW previously reported, Motown: The Musical is coming to the Great White Way. Now, it has been announced that Motown: The Musical will open at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on April 14, 2013, with previews beginning March 11, 2013, according to a press release. Tickets go on sale to the general public October 1.

The show will star Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple) and Valisia LeKae (The Book of Mormon) as Berry Gordy and Diana Ross, respectively.

Motown: The Musical will be based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy and feature hits from Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Temptations, and Michael Jackson and The Jackson Five.

Check out an exclusive preview video — where Berry Gordy talks about his own memories of Motown — below: READ FULL STORY »

Aug 27 2012 12:00 PM ET

Fall Theater Preview: 10 Shows We're Dying to See

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Image Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage.com

Let’s face it: There are a whole lot of new stage productions opening in New York City this fall. Some shows boast legendary veterans like Al Pacino (left) and Sigourney Weaver. Others promise young stars like Jessica Chastain and Jake Gyllenhaal. For still others, the title alone (a 50th anniversary revival of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, anyone?) may be the biggest draw. Here are the 10 that have us most eager to line up for tickets.

Annie
(Broadway) This tale of the world’s most optimistic orphan girl searching for a family is one of our greatest musicals. Its music is iconic (“It’s a Hard Knock Life,” “Tomorrow”), and the rags-to-riches story of its endearing protagonist (played by newcomer Lilla Crawford) has been warming hearts since it debuted in 1977 and won seven Tonys. In the hands of director James Lapine, who boasts three Tonys of his own, you can bet your bottom dollar it’ll be a hit. (Previews start Oct. 3; show opens Nov. 8)

READ FULL STORY »

Aug 20 2012 05:32 PM ET

Broadway box office: 'Bring It On' musical could use a bigger cheering section

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Image Credit: Joan Marcus

In its second full week since opening, Broadway’s new screen-to-stage musical Bring It On had a modest 7 percent bump in ticket sales, to $508,000. That’s just 42 percent of the show’s potential gross in the St. James Theatre for the week ending Aug. 19, according to figures from the Broadway League. Despite generally favorable reviews for the loose adaptation of the 2000 teen cheerleading comedy, the new tuner has yet to really catch fire with theatergoers this summer. Though producers recently extended the show’s run until Jan. 20, 2013, the soft box office returns may spell trouble as we head into the fall months (when there are generally fewer tourists in New York City). As it is, Bring It On is relying on heavy discounting to fill its seats. Though the St. James was 77 percent full last week, the show had the cheapest average ticket price of any Broadway production: $61.89.

By way of comparison, you could get three Bring It On tickets for the price of a single seat at The Book of Mormon, the 2011 Tony-winning hit that again broke a house record last week with a $1.65 million gross. That’s 132 percent of the potential gross at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, a feat that’s achievable because of premium ticket-pricing that elevated the average cost of a seat to a whopping $188.65. The irreverent musical also broke records at Denver’s Ellie Caulkins Opera House, where the show’s first national tour kicked off last week. (Co-creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are Colorado natives.)

In addition to Mormon, six other shows topped $1 million in grosses last week: The Lion King ($1.96 million); Wicked ($1.8 million); Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark ($1.5 million); Evita ($1.04 million); Once ($1.03 million); and Newsies ($1.0 million). Overall, Broadway productions took in $20.86 million for the week, a modest 3.7 percent dip from the same week in 2011.

Read more:
All EW.com Stage coverage

Aug 9 2012 02:23 PM ET

The Moondance Diner is alive and well and living in Wyoming -- sort of

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Image Credit: Mark Mainz/Getty Images

For any hardcore fan of the 1996 musical Rent, Manhattan’s old Moondance Diner is a sort of holy site. Composer/lyricist Jonathan Larson worked there while penning his Tony and Pulitzer-winning opus; Larson also immortalized the restaurant in a song from his lesser-known musical Tick, Tick… Boom! And even those who aren’t familiar with Rent have probably seen the Moondance onscreen: Monica worked as a cook there during a few seasons of Friends. The Sex and the City gals used to stop by the diner for weekend brunch. Their table may have been waited on by Kirsten Dunst’s Mary Jane Watson, who also worked at the Moondance in 2002′s Spider-Man.

Alas, pop culture notoriety isn’t enough to keep a restaurant in business. In 2007, the institution closed — but was saved from demolition by a group of rabble-rousing preservationists and neighborhood residents. (Just like the people on the subway in Spider-Man 2!) Later that year, the restaurant was donated to the American Diner Museum. The museum subsequently sold it to Cheryl and Vince Pierce, who transported the Moondance — walls, moon sign and all — to their hometown of LaBarge, Wyoming.

READ FULL STORY »

Aug 8 2012 07:37 PM ET

Rodger & Hammerstein's version of 'Cinderella' to debut on Broadway, with a twist ending

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Image Credit: Everett Collection

Cinderella is set to make her Broadway debut this winter — but it won’t be the Walt Disney version with which the majority of fans are familiar. Instead, the Rodgers & Hammerstein telling of the classic fairy tale will premiere at NYC’s Broadway Theatre for preview performances starting Jan. 21, 2013, and an opening night set for Feb. 21, 2013, EW has confirmed.

The show comes with a new book based on the original by Hammerstein, written by Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed). And apparently in this updated version there’s a twist — Cinderella gets to save the Prince in the end — although details beyond that are scarce. The show will include songs such as “In My Own Little Corner” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” as well as tunes from the Rodgers & Hammerstein catalog.

READ FULL STORY »

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