All tagged Chicago
On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob continue their season-long theme of their “favorite things” by paying tribute to the singular life and work of Broadway dancer, actor, choreographer, director, and Fosse muse Ann Reinking, who passed away in December 2020. Jamie and Rob are joined by Candy Brown, Marilu Henner, Bebe Neuwirth , and Michael Berresse, who share their own intimate remembrances of their dear friend and colleague.
On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob close season two with the final installation of their special three part mini-series looking at some of the biggest Broadway musical hits of all time. In part three, the British Invasion lands on our shores, and a Windy City murderess, an iconic mask, a helicopter, and La Vie Bohème visit Broadway! At the top of the episode, the always fabulous Jennifer Simard stops by to check in and say farewell for the summer.
Jessie Mueller, Tracy Letts, Armie Hammer, and Austin Pendleton will star in Letts' "The Minutes" on Broadway; Donmar Warehouse's "City of Angels" will transfer to the West End; Lear deBessonet will replace Jack Viertel as artistic director of City Center Encores!; Katharine McPhee will return to close "Waitress" on Broadway; Ariana DeBose will play Alyssa Greene in the Netflix film adaptation of "The Prom"; Andrew Garfield will star in "Tick, Tick ... Boom!" film; Spencer Liff will direct and choreograph the premiere of "Spring Awakening" in China; "Jagged Little Pill" to release a cast album on December 6th; "Wicked" is now the fifth longest running show in Broadway history; RIP Andile Gumbi and Ann Crumb
Last night at Carnegie Hall, the New York Pops presented “Song and Dance: The Best of Broadway”, a concert celebration of musical theatre’s finest orchestral selections, featuring the Essential Voices USA chorus and dancers from New York Theatre Ballet.
"Ain't Too Proud" books the Imperial; "The Illusionists" returns to the Marquis for the holidays; Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in "My Fair Lady"; Cuba Gooding Jr. returns to "Chicago"; "Beetlejuice" announces full cast; "Waitress" headed to London, "Anastasia" to our U.S./world; "The Play that Goes Wrong" recoups; look at "Hello, Dolly!" finances; RIP Neil Simon, Craig Zadan, Barbara Harris, Brian Murray, and Vivian Matalon
"SpongeBob SquarePants" will close September 16th; "Straight White Men" replaces a replacement; Lauren Ambrose will no longer perform Sunday matinees of "My Fair Lady"; Shaina Taub is teaming up with Elton John for musical adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada"; Jason Robert Brown has a new album of original songs; “Chicago” revival original cast member Jeff Loeffelholz commits suicide
Two songs from "Mack & Mabel" steal the show at Encores! 25th anniversary concert “Hey, Look Me Over!”—an original concert pulling overtures, songs, and scenes from nine different, lesser-known musicals—overshadowing middling material from the other eight musicals celebrated. A fun experiment after 25 years, hopefully Encores! sticks to full concerts of single shows at a time in the future.
Thirty years ago tonight, on January 26, 1988, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit musical "The Phantom of the Opera" opened at the Majestic Theatre on Broadway; on Wednesday night, I attended the special 30th anniversary gala performance.
