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Eugene O'Neill Theatre
230 West 49th Street
New York, New York 10019
3/28 Thursday | |
3/29 Friday | |
3/30 Saturday | |
3/31 Sunday | |
4/02 Tuesday | |
4/03 Wednesday | |
4/04 Thursday | |
4/05 Friday | |
4/06 Saturday | |
4/07 Sunday |
Run Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes, including intermission | Age Limit: Parental advisory: explicit language. Children under the age of 4 are not permitted in the theatre. |
Overview | Location |
230 West 49th Street
New York, New York 10019
Staff Pick of the Month: 'The Book of Mormon'
Staff Pick of the Month: 'The Book of Mormon'
By Mark A. Robinson
It may not be the newest show on the Great White Way, but it’s still running after all these years for a reason: it’s just plain funny. The Book of Mormon, which opened on Broadway in 2011, has endured over a decade on Broadway and was a triumphant survivor of the Covid shutdown. The reason: We always need an opportunity to laugh and this is a musical that trades in laughs and heart, waves of irreverent humor that have us falling out of our seats in stitches while connecting us with characters and situations we inherently care about.
The show’s longevity on the Great White Way shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. After all, The Book of Mormon is the brainchild of Matt Stone and Trey Parker, those delightfully droll creators of the long-running Comedy Central cartoon South Park. That TV show is now in its 25th season and has been renewed through the year 2027. Stone and Parker are always making us laugh and the two paired with Jeff Lopez (Avenue Q) to come up with The Book of Mormon. Eagerly anticipated, the musical arrived on Broadway in 2011 and was nominated for 13 Tony Awards. It brought home 9 including the trophy for Best Musical.
The Book of Mormon follows two young Latter-day Saint missionaries who are sent to Uganda where their purpose is to spread their religion to the citizens of a remote village. Faced with the challenges of language and cultural differences, the young men have their work cut out for them as they face a tyrannical warlord in the region and a population of leery skeptics. Despite initially rejecting the Mormon teachings, the villagers bit by bit begin to embrace their new arrivals and the message they are spreading. It all may sound like a serious story, but it is so infused with comedy, joy and triumph that we are reminded that humor is often the thing that gets us through life’s challenges.
So what makes The Book of Mormon a Broadway musical that hangs on for over a decade, luring audiences back, again and again? Perhaps it is that irreverent humor that takes us away from our problems and just invites us to laugh heartily at life? Maybe it is the Parker, Stone and Lopez score, brimming with infectious melody and ribald wit inviting us to let our hair down? Could it be the imperfect characters struggling to do their best in the face of impossible odds that we instantly relate to? It’s all these components adding up to an unforgettable night of escapist theatre. Who couldn’t use a few hours of vacation from life’s worries and a chance to get lost in a hurricane of humor that only a show like The Book of Mormon can provide?
Broadway Trivia: What's Playing Right Now
Broadway Trivia: What's Playing Right Now
By Mark A. Robinson
There is nothing trivial about the complexity of Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and musicals. That doesn’t, however, change the fact that we love the trivia about these productions. Here is your chance to stand in the spotlight! How many of these trivia questions about currently running Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and musicals can you answer?
QUESTIONS:
1. Off-Broadway’s Rock & Roll Man is a bio-musical about D.J. Alan Freed, one of the early proponents of Rock & Roll music. What American Idol finalist plays Freed in this new musical?
2. The Shark is Broken is a play by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon that reveals the behind-the-scenes insanity that ensued during the filming of the 1975 horror classic Jaws. Who was the director of that famous film?
3. This former Filipino leader is the subject of the immersive musical Here Lies Love that chronicles her rise and fall from power.
4. What popular country music variety and sketch comedy program was the basis for an earlier project that was revised and grown into Broadway’s musical comedy hit Shucked?
5. MJ, the music biography that tells the life story of the King of Pop Michael Jackson, features many songs by the superstar. Which Michael Jackson album was the artist’s best-selling of his career and the top-selling pop album of all time?
6. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues the story of the titular wizard in J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book series. The play follows Harry’s son on an adventure at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What are the names of the four dormitory houses at Hogwarts?
7. Titanique, the Off-Broadway musical that spoofs the film Titanic, uses songs made famous by this pop star to make up its score. Adding to the fun, she is also a character in the musical’s story.
8. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the comedic geniuses behind the musical The Book of Mormon. What irreverent television cartoon for adults, that has been running since 1997, did Parker and Stone also create?
9. SIX is a Broadway musical-meets-pop music concert, that gives a voice to the half-dozen wives of Henry VIII. Can you name all six of these dynamic ladies?
10. Who doesn’t love Wicked, the long-running musical about the unlikely friendship between the two Witches of Oz? The musical spectacle features a character named Elphaba, better known to us as “The Wicked Witch of the West.” What was the inspiration for Elphaba’s name?
ANSWER KEY:
1. Rock & Roll Man stars Constantine Maroulis who was an American Idol finalist in the fourth season of the hit reality series. Maroulis received a Tony Award nomination for his appearance in the jukebox musical Rock of Ages. He also starred on Broadway in a revival of Jekyll and Hyde.
2. Steven Spielberg directed the film Jaws. The production was plagued with myriad complications, among them the ongoing technical issues with the mechanical shark that portrayed the title character. The Shark is Broken delves into the comical and frustrating setbacks that came while making this movie classic.
3. Imelda Marcos, played by Arielle Jacobs. Jacobs has appeared on Broadway in Aladdin, Wicked, and In the Heights. Here Lies Love features a score by Grammy winners David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim. The musical is set in the confines of a dance club and the audience gets to be part of the action.
4. Hee-Haw! was a country music variety and sketch program that ran on various television channels from 1969 to 1997. Robert Horn, book writer for Shucked, previously worked on a project with composers Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally in 2015 called Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical. The show’s 2020 run at the National Theater was cancelled by the pandemic, after which extensive rewrites left only two songs and the character name “Lulu” behind to forge a new path for the Shucked audiences know and love today.
5. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was released in November of 1982. It soared to the top of the charts and went on to become the best-selling pop music album of all time. Among its hit songs, “Beat It”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, “Billie Jean”, “Human Nature” and “Thriller” are all performed in the Broadway musical MJ.
6. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin are the names of the four houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, they feature as well. Albus, Harry’s son, defies family tradition when he is sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor.
7. The musical Titanique features songs made famous by pop star Celine Dion. Dion won both an Oscar and a handful of Grammy Awards for “My Heart Will Go On,” the love theme from the popular 1997 film Titanic. In the musical, the character of Celine Dion surprises patrons at a Titanic museum and serves as their guide through the telling of her version of the tale of the greatest maritime disaster.
8. South Park, which premiered on Comedy Central in 1997, was the brainchild of Parker and Stone. The duo collaborated on the 2011 musical The Book of Mormon, bringing their devilish wit and ribald storytelling to a tale about two Mormon missionaries sent to serve in a remote African village.
9. Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr were Henry VIII’s wives. In SIX, each one gets a chance to make their case for why they had the worst deal as his spouse.
10. The book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire was the basis for the musical Wicked. Maguire, as an homage to Oz creator and author L. Frank Baum, added a vowel sound to each of Baum’s initials L.F.B. to create the moniker Elphaba. The beloved character lives on in the musical Wicked where she brings the house down every performance with the show stopping Act I finale “Defying Gravity.”
Stage Door Etiquette
Stage Door Etiquette
By Mark A. Robinson
One of the greatest thrills of the entertainment world is to see a Broadway show. The key reason for this thrill is that we get to witness some of the industry’s greatest talent, live and in person. This also means that there is a chance that you can catch these artists at the stage door after the show and maybe get their autographs. In the world of theatergoing, this is known as “stage-dooring.” It can be an exciting experience, one that makes your trip to a play or musical twice as memorable, but there is an etiquette that is essential to keep the experience fun and safe for all.
Don’t Make Assumptions:
Most performers are great with patrons at the stage door, but please remember that their interaction with you is a courtesy, not a requirement. Your ticket guarantees you a performance and that is all. There is nothing on it that suggests you will get a “meet-and-greet.” The performer has no obligation to stop for 15 or 20 minutes to sign autographs and pose for pictures. How fortunate are we, then, that so many DO provide this extra treat at the stage door!
Don’t Expect All Performers to Participate in the Stage-Dooring Experience:
Have you ever finished your workday and had to make a mad dash to pick up the kids, then stop at the grocery store, before going home and collapsing on the couch for a quiet night? Performers leaving the theatre may have somewhere to be, or maybe they are just exhausted from a day of rehearsals and performances. They may simply wave and walk by, in a hurry to get where they need to be. Performers are human, just like everyone else. If they cannot stop, it might be disappointing, but let them get where they need to go.
It’s Not All About You:
Typically, you are not the only person at the stage door waiting for a picture or an autograph. Don’t assume it’s only about you. At the stage door there can often be dozens (or hundreds) of adoring fans waiting their turn to grab someone from Back to the Future, Kimberly Akimbo, or Moulin Rouge! Do not monopolize the talent, and certainly do not push in front of others to get to that performer you are hoping to meet. It keeps things calmer, happier, and safer when we take into consideration the bigger picture.
Come Prepared:
Getting an autograph from a theater celeb or getting a quick photo with your favorite performer can be a wonderful memento of your theatre excursion. Keep in mind, however, that actors do not always come armed with autograph pens, so make sure you have one with you if you are seeking a signature. If you are going to ask for that “quick” photo, have your camera open and ready to go so that you aren’t cutting into the time others might have to get THEIR memento!
Be Respectful of the Artists:
As we’ve said before, the artists are under no obligation to stop and spend time with you. But many of them will, so reward their kindnesses with courtesy. Use words like “please” and “thank you.” Manners will get you far. Make it a positive experience for the performers so that they are enticed to make stage-dooring a regular part of their day!
Don’t Do It Unless You’ve Seen the Show:
Look, it can be tempting to stage-door at shows you haven’t purchased tickets for and/or watched, but it is definitely poor etiquette to do so. You might see people huddling around the stage door for A Beautiful Noise, The Book of Mormon, or Wicked, but YOU didn’t see the show. How unfair would it be to foist yourself upon the talent when there are already throngs of people waiting, AND they actually bought tickets and did see the show?
Show Gratitude:
It’s always best to show kindness and gratitude to anyone who does something special for you. When cast members of Here Lies Love sign those autographs, maybe take a moment to tell them how much you loved their performance. When a dancer in Some Like It Hot inspires you, TELL THEM THAT and explain why! Even better, you can send these special performers a “Thank You” note in care of the theatre and they will get it. Put your thoughts on paper and show just how grateful you are to the artist who goes above and beyond!
Broadway Spotlight: The Book of Mormon
Broadway Spotlight: The Book of Mormon
By Mark A. Robinson
Why is it that audiences cannot get enough of the Broadway musical The Book of Mormon? That’s easy! It is a show that provides an endless parade of laughter, and who couldn’t use a night of hilarity? In a very complicated world, it is an antidote for the things that are ailing us. Irreverent and bold, it teaches us all not to take life too seriously. Throw in a tuneful score and a pack of unforgettable characters, and The Book of Mormon is a musical that is not to be missed!
Elder Price is hoping to be assigned his Mormon mission in the simple, sunny, souvenir-laden world of Orlando, Florida. Instead, he is sent to a remote village in Uganda to convert its villagers to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Already disappointed with the assignment, he finds that his mission partner is the bumbling Elder Cunningham, the absolute opposite of Elder Price’s perfect, by-the-book persona. As our mismatched missionaries face the challenge of a lifetime, navigating appalling living conditions, disinterested locals, and even a corrupt warlord dominating the area, Elder Price finds himself losing faith after his perfectly planned approach yields zero results. Will Elder Cunningham’s penchant for bending the truth save the day and bring hope to a village in crisis?
The Book of Mormon features a book, music and lyrics by Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of TV’s South Park fame) and Robert Lopez (Broadway’s Avenue Q). The pedigree of its creators is steeped in comedic know-how and they deliver the heart and delightfully frank and sometimes a bit off-color humor that have made them all famous. The Book of Mormon is, after all, an award-winning show having picked up Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book, Best Score, Best Direction (Parker and Casey Nicholaw), Best Orchestrations, as well as for a handful of acting and design accolades.
On top of the wildly funny book and incredible performances, the best reason to see The Book of Mormon is its catchy, witty score. The deliciously droll opening sequence “Hello” is a hysterical look at how Mormons are perceived by many as they go door-to-door witnessing their faith. "Hasa Diga Eebowai" is an infectious ditty that bemoans the harsh realities of life in the Ugandan village juxtaposed with the wide-eyed optimism of outsiders Elders Price and Cunningham. The show-stopping “Turn it Off” is a celebration of self-denial and the things we repress to be closer to God, while the anthemic “I Believe,” Elder Price’s powerful reflection of his faith, is a tuneful, tongue-in-cheek testament to blind belief in a cause, no matter how outlandish it seems from an outsider’s perspective.
Whether you’ve already enjoyed it multiple times or this will be your first time reveling in its charms, The Book of Mormon proves the saying that laughter is the best medicine. Get yourself a ticket, and prepare to give yourself over to gut-wrenching guffaws, riddled with cheeky impertinence. You’ll be glad that you did.
Broadway Spooktacular: The Plays & Musicals That Are Perfect for Celebrating Halloween
Broadway Spooktacular: The Plays & Musicals That Are Perfect for Celebrating Halloween
October is Halloween month and Broadway offers a surprising array of plays and musicals suited for the holiday. Whether you enjoy compelling mysteries, spooky plot twists, colorful spectacle with wild and crazy costumes, or kooky comedy bordering on the insane, the Great White Way is a Halloween spooktacular with something for everyone!
The Witches of Oz are the least frightening part of this musical, but witches do iconically go with Halloween, so Wicked is the first entry on our list of musicals to see for Halloween. Not to worry! There is plenty to be fearful of in Wicked. The corrupt Wizard, his pack of abused flying monkeys, the horrific mistreatment of the musical’s catalyst Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) all come together to create a story perfect for the whole family.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child
The play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child brims with witches, warlocks, magic, and mystery. These are all the perfect ingredients for a Halloween theatre outing. We all know the Harry Potter stories and the adventures of the title character at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, but what happens there when Harry Potter’s son attends and gets into his own magical mischief? Harry Potter and the Cursed Child promises an intriguing evening of theatre full of heart-stopping twists and turns.
Not all things frightening come in the form of ghosts, ghouls, and things that go bump in the night. Sometimes, scary can be funny, and the prospect of being a Mormon missionary in a remote African village ruled by a merciless warlord, can inspire both terror and laughter. One of the highlights of the second act of this long-running Broadway favorite is the song “Spooky Mormon Hell Dream,” which is an outrageously funny production number that will chill you to your core, even as you are shaking with laughter.
If you are into the macabre, there is no better musical for you than Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The story of a barber seeking revenge, first on the judge who wrongly incarcerated him, then turning his vengeance on society as a whole, is as close to a horror musical as Broadway gets. For Halloween thrills and chills, Sweeney Todd delivers, taking audiences on a hair-raising ride of a serial killer whose grisly tale is ultimately a heartbreaking tragedy. The musical is also considered by many to be Stephen Sondheim’s masterpiece.
A trip to the Underworld and the lair of the diabolical Hades is about as terrifying a prospect as we can imagine, bringing us face-to-face with the embodiment of death. The musical Hadestown does just that, reimagining the Greek myth of “Orpheus and Eurydice” as a terrifying journey of love and rescue. Can Orpheus bring his love Eurydice back from Hadestown, even as the machinations of its ruler thwart him at every turn?
A uniquely bizarre evening of entertainment, it is hard to explain what makes Blue Man Group an offering that has been delighting Off-Broadway audiences for decades. Yet it has! The show suits Halloween just fine, filled as it is with many mind-boggling tricks and the occasional treats worked into the show: fun with such sweets as marshmallows, Captain Crunch, and a Twinkie meal shared with a member of the audience. Even their colorful blue body paint donned by the performers speaks to the art of Halloween transformation.
The Off-Broadway revival of the perennial classic Little Shop of Horrors invites audiences into a science fiction terror tale where a bloodthirsty plant finds its hunger is never sated. The awkward but kindly Seymour is the proud cultivator of the plant, but ultimately realizes the mistake he has made by indulging the vile vegetation. Will it take over the world? Are any of us safe? You’ll have to see Little Shop of Horrors to find out humanity’s fate!
5 Musical Comedies that Bring the Laughs
5 Musical Comedies that Bring the Laughs
Titanique
Though the sinking of the Titanic was a tragedy, the spectacularly spoofy musical Titanique is more hysterical than historical. When Celine Dion hijacks a Titanic Museum tour and plays fast and loose with the plot of the blockbuster movie Titanic, the story and characters we know and love are mixed with Dion’s iconic song catalog to hilarious effect. Marla Mindelle is both the creator of this madcap romp as well as the leading lady playing Celine Dion, and her zany comedy and improv skills mixed with powerhouse vocals (supported in kind by the rest of the amazing cast!) are not to be missed. This one-of-a-kind musical voyage is bursting with nostalgia, heart...and will have you rolling in the aisles with laughter. Don’t miss your chance to board the Ship of Dreams for a performance that will “never let go” of your funny bone.
& Juliet
When the greatest love story ever told has its script totally flipped, the end is just the beginning. What would happen if Juliet didn’t end it all over Romeo? & Juliet is a modern tale of self-discovery and love, told from the heroine’s point of view. Add in pop anthems as iconic as the source material (hits like “Since U Been Gone,” “Roar,” “Larger Than Life,” and more – all by the genius songwriter/producer behind more #1 hits than any artist this century) and a hilarious and clever book by the Emmy-winning writer of Schitt’s Creek, and you have the recipe for a sure-fire hit. A charming comedy with a hip, modern flair, & Juliet will have you dancing in your seat and rooting for a new kind of happy ending, laughing all the way.
The Perfect Broadway Show for Every Type of Dad
The Perfect Broadway Show for Every Type of Dad
By Mark A. Robinson
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s time to celebrate the dads in our lives. Everyone knows that fathers are notoriously difficult to buy for and even the most fashion-conscious dad doesn’t want another necktie to add to his collection. Fortunately, Broadway offers worthwhile alternatives with many opportunities to create a memorable Father’s Day outing. Here is a list of the perfect Broadway show for every type of dad!
The New Dad – The Lion King
What Broadway musical is perfect for that new dad, the one who is just learning the ins and outs of parenthood? Disney’s The Lion King is the ideal show for this scenario. From proud Mufasa’s first public presentation of the lion cub Simba to his firm but loving conversations with his offspring, this parent is killing it at the “new dad” thing. Even after sacrificing his life while saving his little boy in a wildebeest stampede, his presence remains, offering the young feline advice on growing up.
The Down Home Dad – Shucked
Hilarious one-liners and a score overflowing with country music-inspired ear worms all add up to make Shucked the terrific choice for those dads who live for down home fun. They’ll feel right at home watching this delightful comedy about a small town with suffering corn crops and the spunky young woman who goes on an adventure to look for the solution.
The History Buff Dad – Leopoldstadt
If dad is a history buff, you get bonus points for taking him to something that is equally compelling and historically significant. Tom Stoppard’s play Leopoldstadt has all these ingredients. The story follows a Jewish family in Austria over a 50-year span, concluding in the harrowing days of World War II. Your father will marvel at the play’s myriad characters expertly brought to life in a play by one of the world’s most-prolific and enduring playwrights.
The Dad with the Crazy Sense of Humor – The Book of Mormon
Everyone knows that one dad with a wild sense of humor. He makes goofy jokes while mom rolls her eyes, and he is always trying to make his kids laugh. This dad deserves a night out at The Book of Mormon. Written by the creators of the wildly funny South Park, Dad will enjoy a musical that will tickle his funny bone with comedy that is expertly done.
The Tired Dad – SIX
Some dads are just exhausted, working all day, mowing the lawn, then tucking their kids in at night before taking out the garbage. For these dads, they need a night out that’s sure to energize and inspire. SIX is guaranteed to give them that jolt of energy, with its half-dozen powerhouse ladies belting about what it was like to be married to a challenging husband (Henry VIII). At a running time of approximately 80 minutes, dad can get his Broadway fix but also be home and in bed by the ten o’clock news.
The Protective Dad – Sweeney Todd
Some of us grew up with that overprotective dad; the one who would kill for us if necessary. That’s what the title character does in the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In order to protect his daughter Johanna from the lecherous advances of Judge Turpin, Todd (played by Grammy Award winner Josh Groban) concocts a plot for murder that takes a heart stopping journey filled with twists and turns.
Get Your Groove On: Shows that Feature High-Energy Dance Sequences
Get Your Groove On: Shows that Feature High-Energy Dance Sequences
For some, it’s the songs that make a Broadway musical fly. For others, it’s the performers that make a show sparkle. Others may get caught up in the spectacle, illusion, and stage magic. One thing we all cannot help to be amazed by when seeing a Broadway musical is the choreography. That jolt of sublime adrenaline one feels when witnessing an expertly choreographed and executed high energy dance scene is nonpareil. Fortunately, many shows currently running on Broadway offer just such dance moments!
The original Broadway production of Chicago was directed and choreographed by the late, great Bob Fosse, so it should be no surprise to find dance overflowing at every turn in the long-running revival. Ann Reinking, a longtime dancer amongst Fosse’s favorites, won a Tony for choreographing this revival production, which opened in 1996. From the pulsating precision of the opening number “All That Jazz”, through the startling athleticism and verve in the “Hot Honey Rag”, dance is the driving force in this Kander and Ebb musical about murder and celebrity in the 1920s Windy City.
Dance hardly begins to explain what choreographer Christopher Wheeldon had achieved in the Broadway musical MJ. “Flight” would be a better word. As the story of pop star Michael Jackson’s life unfolds onstage, Wheeldon keeps the action practically airborne, with startling choreography that seems to defy gravity. In such songs as “Beat It”, “Smooth Criminal” and “Billie Jean”, Wheeldon’s Tony Award-winning work keeps audiences gasping with amazement.
Some Like It Hot boasts some of the most joyous choreography currently on Broadway. And why wouldn’t it? Tony Award-winning choreographer Casey Nicholaw has become the “go to” guru of dance where musical comedy is concerned. Watch the stage burst with crackling energy as the dancers take on the musical’s relentlessly exuberant title song! The musical, about two male musicians pretending to be women in order to escape being murdered by a gangster, lends itself perfectly to old-fashioned musical comedy fun. The dancing offers that extra shot of adrenaline to send it over the top! Some Like it Hot’s final performance will be December 30th, so don’t miss your chance to see it before it’s gone!
With a musical that boasts one pop song after another (numbering well into the 40s), is it any wonder that Moulin Rouge! is a musical with more than its share of dance? Choreographer Sonya Tayeh won a Tony for her work staging inventive dances for such numbers as “I Wanna Dance With Somebody”, “Lady Marmalade”, “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”, “Firework”, and “Roxanne”. As a love story plays out at the famous nightclub in Bohemian Paris, there is much to dance about, with the can-can, tango, and myriad other styles employed.
Jennifer Weber’s choreography for the jukebox musical & Juliet is definitely dynamic, sending this musical that imagines a new end for Shakespeare’s favorite heroine into the stratosphere. Act II’s “Problem/Can’t Feel My Face” has audiences marveling at how Weber deepens our understanding of Juliet’s romantic dilemmas as we witness her express her conflicted emotions through dance.
Okay, The Book of Mormon probably isn’t the first show you might think of when it comes to dance. There is more than enough humor and melody to keep us entertained. But it would be an oversight not to celebrate the humor-infused choreography of Casey Nicholaw. Of particular note is a hilarious dance highlight of the show: “Turn it Off”. An upbeat ditty that is a celebration of self-denial and emotional repression, the song is delivered with an energetic tap dance, ironically juxtaposed against the number’s frustratingly puritanical themes.
Shows to See This November
Shows to See This November
The holidays are fast approaching and so is that traditional trip to the Big Apple to view the decorations, get some shopping in, and to see a show. The Broadway and Off-Broadway lineup is especially exciting this year. We’ve put together a list of some terrific choices that are sure to put some sparkle into your holiday sojourn to Manhattan this November.
A Beautiful Noise
Over the last five-plus decades, Neil Diamond has delivered some of the most beloved songs in the American songbook. These ear worms, including the infectious “Sweet Caroline”, are the reason behind A Beautiful Noise, a musical biography of Diamond’s prolific career. Taking over the role of Diamond is 2015 American Idol winner Nick Fradiani, who joins the cast on October 31st. Get ready for an evening of unforgettable music and undeniable energy. You know you are going to want to sing along!
SIX
One, two, three, four, five, SIX (count them) divas onstage, all for your musical theatre pleasure! This half-dozen ladies are the embodiment of strength and empowerment as they share their stories about what it was like being married to their problematic spouse Henry VIII. SIX is presented as a pop music concert-meets-Broadway musical, with storytelling at its center. Tony Award-winner for Best Score, SIX explodes with melodies sung with verve and vigor.
The Book of Mormon
The Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon hasbeen trading in humor since it arrived on Broadway in 2011. That is over a decade of side-splitting laughs. Of course, when the minds behind the show include Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of TV’s animated sensation South Park) of course the musical features both humor and heart. Throw in the irreverent wit of Robert Lopez (Avenue Q) and you are surely guaranteed an evening of theatre that exercises your funny bone. The Book of Mormon follows two Mormon missionaries who travel to a remote African village to share and spread their faith, only to be met with myriad obstacles.
MJ
“Beat It”, “Thriller”, “Billie Jean”, “Bad”, “Smooth Criminal”, “Man in the Mirror”, “Black or White” are all hit songs straight from the song catalogue of pop star Michael Jackson. These infectious numbers make us want to get up and dance. In the musical MJ, which brings to life the biography of Jackson, the cast brings that dancing urge to fruition. An evening of nonpareil movement and electric choreography, MJ is guaranteed to get your toes a-tapping and your pulse a-throbbing!
Titanique
We have a “sinking” feeling that you are going to love the Off-Broadway jukebox musical Titanique. The mega hit, Oscar-winning film Titanic is spoofed with deliciously-deranged hilarity and a score composed of Celine Dion’s songs, including the iconic “My Heart Will Go On”. Adding to the irreverent ridiculousness, Dion herself shows up as a character, interpolating her take on the most famous of all maritime disasters! You’ll want to set sail with Titanique for an unforgettable night of laughter and great music!
Blue Man Group
When one describes what Blue Man Group is, it is hard to put into words what an unconventional and unforgettable experience it is. That is part of the undying allure that keeps audiences coming back, again and again, to revel in the magic. It’s like nothing else you’ve seen before! Equal parts theatre, performance art, sensory stimulator, musical concert, and a visual feast, Blue Man Group invites audiences into a world of startling and entertaining perspectives on the environment, science, and our place in humanity.
February 2024: Top Broadway Shows to See this Month
February 2024: Top Broadway Shows to See this Month
By Mark A. Robinson
There are lots of reasons to smile this February with an array of wonderful plays and musicals lighting up the Great White Way. Theatrical smiles can come in many forms. There is the wide-eyed astonishment of seeing a breathtaking spectacle unfold before your very eyes. There are the grins inspired by endearing characters who find happiness through life’s journey. Then there are the ear-to-ear smiles brought on by gut-wrenching laughter. This February, we have plenty of shows to recommend that fit one or more of these categories.
How to Dance in Ohio
How exciting is it that a musical like How to Dance in Ohio has arrived on Broadway this season? The new musical is an inspired piece, based on a true story about seven young adults with autism who, as part of their group counseling sessions, prepare for a spring formal. Their hopes and fears are navigated with humor and heart. What makes this production particularly and poignantly unique is that these young adults are portrayed by performers on the autism spectrum.
The Lion King
Grand spectacle of epic proportions, startlingly-effective puppetry that feels so realistic that you forget you aren’t really amidst a menagerie of animals on the African Savanna, a time-honored score of show-stopping hits that get your pulse racing, all come together to make The Lion King a decades-long hit that has been inducing smiles for generations. The story of a lion cub preparing to take his place in the Circle of Life is a heartwarming story for the whole family.
Hamilton
There is a reason why Hamilton has been such an enormous hit on Broadway for almost a decade: the clever staging combined with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning score add up to delight audiences with this fresh take on America’s origins, particularly the story behind the imperfect founding father Alexander Hamilton. What also makes Hamilton so wonderful is the complexity of the storytelling that invites repeated viewings to continue to take in each brilliantly constructed nuance. If you haven’t seen it, get ye there. If you have, go back and catch what you missed the first time around!
The Book of Mormon
Laughs come at the audience in avalanches of humor at Broadway’s The Book of Mormon. Mormon missionaries, sent to a remote African village, must overcome language barriers, local warlords, and tribal customs to promote and spread their religion. Their persistence against (exponentially-amusing) odds results in plenty of opportunities for laughter. Add to the recipe the irreverent writing styles of Trey Parker and Matt Stone (of TV’s South Park) and you know you are in for your share of hilarity.
The Play That Goes Wrong
Everything going wrong is not particularly hilarious when it happens to us. When it happens to someone else, well… that can be a different matter. When a theatre troupe stages a murder mystery, they do their very best to overcome a litany of complications that threaten to upend their production. The show must go on, however, and even as the set is literally falling down around them, these thespian heroes press on, hoping to make it until curtain call. The Play That Goes Wrong is one of the funniest plays to grace the New York stage in decades.
Water for Elephants
Nostalgia, romance, integrity, and fortitude are all good reasons for us to smile. One of Broadway’s newest musicals, Water for Elephants, is the perfect impetus for this brand of gentle grinning. Water for Elephants follows a young man who, when his life is falling apart, joins the circus and goes on a journey of a lifetime. An inspiring musical about the choices we make and the risks we face, Water for Elephants is sure to have you leaving the theatre smiling about life’s possibilities.
Winter on Broadway: Shows that Transport Us to Warmer Places
Winter on Broadway: Shows that Transport Us to Warmer Places
By Mark A. Robinson
In the dead of winter, the cold can begin to get on our nerves. Sleet, snow, and wind are fine for the holidays, creating a magical atmosphere. By February, however, we’ve had enough and we daydream of escapist opportunities to visit someplace warmer. Fortunately, there are Broadway shows that offer a possibility to head to someplace a tad warmer, or at least give us the illusion we have been transported to destinations void of frigid temperatures.
The Lion King
How about heading to the African savanna for a mind-blowing safari under the sun? You’ll see lions, zebras, elephants, hyenas, hippopotami, toucans, meerkats, and the occasional gaseous warthog, all onstage in Disney’s The Lion King. The stage musical adaptation of the 1994 Disney animated classic is quite unlike any other theatrical experience you are bound to have. World theater customs all come together to tell the tale of a little lion cub, who must overcome obstacles and persevere to claim his place in the Circle of Life.
The Book of Mormon
The Lion King is not the only show that invites audiences on a trip to Africa. The hot temperatures of the continent’s jungles are the destination for two young missionaries in the musical comedy The Book of Mormon. Witnessing their faith in a remote village, the two young men must navigate crime lords, rigid local customs, and of course the oppressive heat in an effort to spread the word of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You’ll also feel the temperature rising as your blood starts pumping with each riotous laugh to be found in The Book of Mormon.
Aladdin
The deserts of the Middle East, with a blazing sun and their piles of sand, are a far cry from winter on the Great White Way. A visit to Agrabah will not only take you to a sunnier setting, it will warm your heart with its story. The whole family will enjoy this theatrical vacation to see Aladdin, packed as it is with great music, magnificent special effects, and a story about a scrappy street rat whose dreams come true with the help of one wacky, all-powerful Genie.
Hadestown
A sojourn to Hell may be a road trip that leads to points hotter than we had hoped for, but there is no denying that Hades’ Underworld definitely offers a destination where we are unlikely to find snow. This Tony-winning hit follows the story of Orpheus, the hopelessly in love young man who is not afraid to navigate the fires of Hadestown to retrieve his beloved Eurydice. Brimstone abounds as he sweats his way through this journey of the heart. If the heat from the Underwold doesn’t warm your theatergoing blood, the passion and romance of Hadestown is guaranteed to make you feel warm all over.
February 2023: Top Broadway Shows to See this Month
February 2023: Top Broadway Shows to See this Month
By Mark A. Robinson
February finds us in the dead of winter and the icy cool temps can really put a damper on our spirits—but don’t let those winter blahs get you down! There is always an indoor option of a live show in the Big Apple to help you escape that will simultaneously entertain and thrill. Here are some of our favorite choices for passing those winter days in the warmth of a theater.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
Things are already heating up this winter with Broadway’s latest jukebox musical, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical. Featuring a parade of hit songs by the titular composer including such classics as “Sweet Caroline,” “America” and “Cracklin’ Rosie,” A Beautiful Noise tells the story of singer Neil Diamond, from his humble beginnings to his climb up the ladder as one of pop music’s greatest sensations. One of the best reasons to catch this show: the spectacular Will Swenson who embodies the young Neil Diamond with an electric verve guaranteed to blow off your earmuffs!
SIX
The six wives of Henry VIII weren’t exactly a happy band nor did they get much “Happily Ever After” for their marital efforts. They did, however, have some intriguing stories to tell about their time with ol’ Hank. Those stories come to us via the musical SIX, a musical that imagines these historical women in the setting of a pop music concert, sharing their tales of marital woe through a score that is both energizing and empowering! Duck in out of the cold and warm yourself by the fiery personalities of these amazing and complicated ladies.
The Book of Mormon
A terrific way to stay warm is to stay laughing, and Broadway’s long-running The Book of Mormon is guaranteed to get your blood pumping. Two Latter-day Saint missionaries are sent to Uganda to witness their faith to the denizens of a small remote village. The two young men find themselves faced with so many challenges: from language barriers and feuds with local warlords, to distrustful skeptics amongst the villagers, the show’s premise is rife with possibilities, particularly in the laughter department.
Wicked
Leave the icy world of reality behind and take a jaunt to the magical land of Oz with a trip to Wicked at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre. We all know the tale of The Wizard of Oz, but there was a whole story long before Dorothy rode a tornado into infamy. Wicked is the story of the unlikely friendship between the two witches of Oz, one who would go on to become the most beloved good witch of the people, the other a non-conformist whose ideas railed against the norm and found her unfairly branded as the Wicked Witch of the West. The score by Stephen Schwartz (Pippin, Godspell) is packed with power ballads that are an emotionally charged testament to friendship, love and being true to one’s self.
Stranger Sings: The Parody Musical
If you aren’t watching the Netflix sci-fi adventure series Stranger Things, you need to get on that pronto. If you are like the millions of fans that are enamored with the kids of Hawkins, Indiana, and their quest to save the world from the horrific Vecna (seriously, watch the series) then you won’t want to miss Stranger Sings: The Parody Musical. A spoof of the series, the show features book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Hogue and a cast of multifaceted performers, many of whom juggle multiple roles. If you need a night of pure fun, don’t miss Stranger Sings: The Parody Musical.
Titanique
The offerings Off-Broadway seem to indicate that spoofs are the hot item these days, and the only thing wintery about this show is the iceberg! Titanique, a parody of the 1997 Leonardo DiCaprio/Kate Winslet blockbuster film Titanic is one of those hot ticket items. Imagine what would happen if Celine Dion took the reins of telling the story of the most famous maritime disaster, giving us a more candid look at the star-crossed romance between the working class Jack and the upper crust Rose. This jukebox musical features Dion’s terrific songs, not to mention a night full of laughter-inducing humor. No “sinking” feeling about it – you are gonna love this show!
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