Month: October 2024

Categories
Creative

Musicals Coming to Broadway This Spring

There is a slew of new musicals headed to Broadway this season. With thriving revivals already in performances like Sunset Boulevard and Once Upon a Mattress alongside Broadway first-timers like Maybe Happy Ending and Tammy Faye, the fall season is already well underway. Elf will come knocking in time for the holidays, with Swept Away, Death Becomes Her, and Gypsy to open and join the fray before New Year’s Day. 

Let’s look ahead here to 2025, where an astonishing 11 musicals are currently scheduled to begin performances:

Redwood

Idina Menzel will return to Broadway in Redwood, a deeply personal new musical directed and co-written by Tina Landau, premiering at the Nederlander Theatre. This production explores the journey of Jesse, a seemingly successful woman who embarks on a transformative road trip through the forests of Northern California after her personal life begins to unravel. Previews begin January 24, 2025, with the official opening on February 13, 2025.

Buena Vista Social Club

This new musical will transport audiences to 1950s Havana, where a group of musicians create a revolutionary sound, only to be disrupted by the Cuban Revolution. Decades later, they reunite to record an album that becomes a world music sensation. Directed by Saheem Ali with choreography by Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck, the show blends Afro-Cuban rhythms with a story of survival, redemption, and music’s lasting power. Previews begin at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on February 21, 2025, with an official opening set for March 19, 2025

Operation Mincemeat

This Olivier Award-winning musical makes its Broadway debut at the Golden Theatre in 2025. Set in 1943 during World War II, it tells the absurd and true story of a British intelligence operation that used the corpse of a homeless man to deceive the Nazis. Known for blending farce with espionage thrills, the musical is written and performed by the UK comedy group SpitLip. Directed by Robert Hastie with choreography by Jenny Arnold, it begins previews on February 15, 2025, and officially opens on March 20, 2025.

BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical

This vibrant new musical brings the iconic cartoon flapper Betty Boop to life on Broadway, with previews starting March 11, 2025, and an official opening set for April 5 at the Broadhurst Theatre. Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell (known for hits like Kinky Boots and Legally Blonde), and featuring a score by Grammy-winner David Foster, lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, and a book by Bob Martin, the show explores Betty’s whimsical journey from her black-and-white world to the colorful streets of New York City, where she embarks on an adventure of self-discovery.

The Last Five Years

Jason Robert Brown’s beloved musical The Last Five Years will make its long-awaited Broadway debut in 2025, with Nick Jonas and Adrienne Warren leading the cast. Directed by Whitney White, this limited engagement will run at the Hudson Theatre. Previews begin on March 18, 2025, and the official opening is set for April 6, 2025. The musical chronicles a couple’s five-year relationship, told from two perspectives: Jamie’s story moves forward in time, while Cathy’s unfolds in reverse. With its intricate structure and emotional score, this production promises a fresh, heartfelt take on a fan-favorite story. The run is scheduled to conclude on June 22, 2025.

Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends

This musical revue, celebrating the legacy of Stephen Sondheim, will arrive on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Previews begin March 25, 2025, and the official opening follows on April 8, 2025. The production features an all-star cast, including Bernadette Peters and Lea Salonga, reprising their acclaimed roles from the West End. Additional cast members include Beth Leavel, Gavin Lee, and Ryan McCartan, among others.

Smash

The Broadway adaptation of the NBC series Smash will begin previews at the Imperial Theatre on March 11, 2025, with its official opening on April 10, 2025. This musical takes audiences behind the scenes of the fictional production Bombshell, chronicling the chaotic journey of creating a Marilyn Monroe musical. The production is helmed by director Susan Stroman and features a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, known for their work on Hairspray. Robyn Hurder and Caroline Bowman lead the cast, promising high-energy performances and a love letter to Broadway itself.

Floyd Collins

The long-anticipated Broadway debut of Floyd Collins, a musical by Adam Guettel and Tina Landau, will open at the Vivian Beaumont Theater under the direction of Landau. Previews start on March 27, 2025, with an official opening on April 21, 2025. This production marks a milestone in Lincoln Center Theater’s 40th-anniversary season. The musical, featuring a haunting score by Guettel, first premiered Off-Broadway in 1996 and has since developed a devoted following. The upcoming Broadway staging will revive the original creative vision while introducing new design elements for a contemporary audience

Just In Time

The upcoming musical Just In Time will feature Tony Award winner Jonathan Groff as the legendary singer Bobby Darin. Directed by Alex Timbers, this immersive production will transport audiences to an intimate nightclub setting, complete with a live band performing Darin’s greatest hits. Previews begin on March 28, 2025, at Circle in the Square Theatre, with the official opening on April 23, 2025.

The Pirates of Penzance

A new revival of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance will debut on Broadway at the Todd Haimes Theatre. Directed by Scott Ellis, with choreography by Warren Carlyle, this updated production will feature a jazzy, New Orleans-inspired setting, bringing fresh rhythms to the beloved operetta. The show stars Ramin Karimloo as the Pirate King and David Hyde Pierce as the Major General. Previews begin April 4, 2025, with the official opening set for April 25. The limited run will continue through June 22, 2025.

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical

Real Women Have Curves: The Musical will premiere on Broadway at the James Earl Jones Theatre this spring. Previews are scheduled to begin on April 1, 2025, with an official opening night set for Sunday, April 27, 2025. This musical adaptation of the beloved play and film will explore themes of body positivity, family dynamics, and cultural identity. It follows a group of Latina women working in a Los Angeles garment factory, finding strength and pride in their shared experiences.

Categories
Capsule Reviews

Our Town

The revival of Thornton Wilder’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Our Town opened at the Barrymore Theatre this month. It is a cause for celebration! Often described as a cornerstone of American theater, this production as reimagined by director Kenny Leon, serves as a powerful reminder of why Wilder’s exploration of life, love, and death in the small town of Grover’s Corners, New Hampshire, remains a timeless classic. At its center, Wilder’s text is a tribute to the profound simplicity of life; a plea for all those listening to cherish each moment. From their delivery on stage, it is clear that this company cherishes this play. Jim Parsons delivers a masterful performance, infusing charm, humor, and gravitas into every line. Other notable performances include Zoey Deutch, whose portrayal of Emily Webb in the third act moved many audience members to tears. Small town living may not be for everyone, but Our Town’s exploration of humanity remains universal. 

Thornton Wilder’s Our Town—starring Jim Parsons, Katie Holmes, Zoey Deutch, Ephraim Sykes, Billy Eugene Jones, Richard Thomas, Michelle Wilson, Julie Halston, Donald Webber Jr., and more—is in performances through January 19, 2025 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

Categories
Long Form

Celebrating Thornton Wilder: A Legacy of Humanity and Connection

Thornton Wilder explored the search of finding the profound in the mundane.

As Our Town graces the Broadway stage once more, under the skilled direction of Kenny Leon and featuring the standout talent of Jim Parsons, we’re reminded of the timelessness of Thornton Wilder’s work. First premiered in 1938, Our Town has not only stood the test of time but has evolved into a quintessential American play, offering poignant reflections on life, love, and the human condition. The latest revival was dubbed “an Our Town for all of us” by The New York Times. Much like a beloved Broadway musical that brings together a diverse audience, this celebration of Wilder’s enduring legacy invites us to pause and appreciate the beauty in the everyday moments that make life truly spectacular.

Born on April 17, 1897, in Madison, Wisconsin, Thornton Wilder was a prolific writer whose literary career spanned novels, plays, and essays. His early exposure to literature and drama was significantly influenced by his family, particularly his mother, who encouraged his creative pursuits. Wilder attended Yale University and later spent time in Europe, where he absorbed the cultural tapestries of literary styles and philosophies that would inform his own writing.

Peterborough, NH

Wilder’s Our Town is set in the fictional town of Grover’s Corners, a reflection of his experiences in Peterborough, New Hampshire. The simplicity of small-town life, underscored by universal themes of love, loss, and the passage of time, makes Our Town a profound exploration of human existence. Wilder’s writing resonates with audiences, evoking both nostalgia and a deeper appreciation for the simple moments we often overlook: breakfast with the family, sharing weather patterns with a neighbor, and that ‘terrible moon.’ Wilder creates an intimate connection, drawing us into the heart of Grover’s Corners. The latest production’s cast even took a pilgrimage to Peterborough for inspiration, to find a connection between Wilder’s work and the town that inspired it (with a lot of snacks on the long bus ride to and fro). 

Get Tickets to Our Town on Broadway

Wilder’s influence extends far beyond his own works; he has inspired a generation of playwrights including Paula Vogel, Edward Albee, David Mamet, Donald Margulies, and even Gertrude Stein. These writers have drawn on Wilder’s ability to blend the profound with the mundane, shaping their narratives to explore complex human emotions and social realities. Many American essayists and journalists have hailed Thornton Wilder as the greatest American writer of our time, recognizing his ability to capture the essence of the human experience with grace and insight. His works are revived again and again on Broadway. Recently, The Tony-nominated The Skin of Our Teeth was reconceived with puppetry and trimmed for context, proving that the themes he tackled are as relevant today as they were during his lifetime.

Beyond Our Town, Wilder’s literary contributions are vast and varied. His novel The Bridge of San Luis Rey won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1928, exploring the interconnectedness of human lives through the story of a bridge collapse in Peru. This theme of connection reflects Wilder’s belief in the shared experiences that bind humanity together. His other notable play, The Matchmaker, showcases his knack for blending realism with fantasy, capturing the complexities of life with both humor and heart. It would later form the basis for the iconic musical Hello, Dolly!

Wilder’s legacy as a writer extends beyond his individual works. He is often credited with reshaping American theater by pushing the boundaries of traditional narrative forms. Wilder’s ability to weave humor into profound philosophical questions has influenced countless artists, making him a key figure in American literature. 

It’s clear that his works continue to inspire and provoke thought. In a world that often feels chaotic, Our Town serves as a gentle reminder of the beauty of our everyday lives. It encourages us to cherish the moments we often take for granted. The current Broadway revival not only highlights Wilder’s genius but also reinvigorates the conversation about the importance of community, love, and the shared human experience.

As we celebrate the success of Our Town on Broadway, let us remember the profound lessons embedded within his writing. His legacy endures not only in the pages of his plays but also in the hearts of those who continue to find meaning in his words.

Get Tickets to Our Town on Broadway