Categories
Creative

Irish Theatre on Broadway

By Jordan Levinson

Irish theatre has a long and storied history on Broadway, dating back to the early 20th century. From the works of great Irish playwrights like George Bernard Shaw and Sean O’Casey to contemporary productions like “The Ferryman” and “Hangmen” Irish theatre has made a significant impact on the Broadway stage.

George Bernard Shaw at Shaw’s Corner, his home for 44 years (photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive / Alamy Stock Photo)

One of the earliest examples of Irish theatre on Broadway was George Bernard Shaw’s “John Bull’s Other Island,” which premiered in 1904. The play tells the story of an Englishman who travels to Ireland to build a hydroelectric power plant, but finds himself at odds with the locals and their way of life. The play was a success and helped establish Shaw as one of the leading playwrights of his time.

From left, Adam Petherbridge, Clare O’Malley, John Keating and Ed Malone in “The Plough and the Stars.”

Another notable Irish playwright who made an impact on Broadway was Sean O’Casey. His plays, including “Juno and the Paycock” and “The Plough and the Stars,” dealt with the struggles of working-class Irish families during the early 20th century. These plays were praised for their realistic depictions of life in Ireland and helped introduce American audiences to the political and social issues of the time.

The Weir 1999 Broadway Production Photo

A new generation of Irish playwrights emerged, including Brian Friel and Conor McPherson. Friel’s “Dancing at Lughnasa” (1991) tells the story of five unmarried sisters living in rural Ireland in 1936, while McPherson’s “The Weir” (1999) is a ghost story set in a remote Irish pub. Both plays were critical and commercial successes on Broadway, and helped establish Ireland as a major force in contemporary theatre.

In recent years, Irish theatre has continued to make an impact on Broadway. In 2012, “Once,” a musical based on the 2006 film of the same name, premiered on Broadway and went on to win eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. The show, which tells the story of a Dublin street musician and a Czech immigrant who fall in love, was praised for its heartfelt music and authentic portrayal of life in Dublin.

Another recent Irish production that made waves on Broadway was “The Ferryman,” a play by Jez Butterworth that premiered in 2018. Set in rural Northern Ireland during the Troubles, the play tells the story of a family caught up in the conflict. “The Ferryman” was praised for its powerful performances and gripping storytelling, and won four Tony Awards, including Best Play.

(Mel Melcon/Los Angeles Times)

You cannot write a piece about Irish theatre without playwright Martin McDonagh, a renowned Irish playwright and screenwriter who has made significant contributions to Broadway. He is best known for his dark comedies and exploration of human nature through his works. McDonagh made his Broadway debut in 1998 with “The Beauty Queen of Leenane,” which was critically acclaimed and won four Tony Awards, including Best Play. He followed this up with “The Lonesome West,” “The Pillowman” and “Hangmen,” all of which were also well-received by audiences and critics. McDonagh’s works have brought a unique voice to Broadway, with their dark humor and complex characters. His contributions to the world of theater have helped to shape and define the modern stage, and his influence continues to be felt in productions around the world.

Gabriel Byrne’s “Walking With Ghosts”

Irish theatre on Broadway has also provided a platform for Irish actors to showcase their talent. Actors like Liam Neeson, Gabriel Byrne, and Saoirse Ronan have all appeared in Irish productions on Broadway, helping to raise the profile of Irish theatre in the United States.

Irish plays have captivated audiences with their poignant storytelling and authentic depictions of Irish life. As long as there are talented Irish playwrights and actors, Irish theatre will continue to thrive on the Broadway stage.

Categories
Cover Story Creative

Broadway’s Best Book Adaptations

Broadway has a long-standing tradition of transforming beloved books into mesmerizing theater. Alongside plays and films, novels offer great inspiration for stage adaptation as the characters, settings, and stories are expanded to their most expressive form. From Porgy & Bess (adapted from the 1925 novel “Porgy”) to Les Misérables (adapted from Victor Hugo’s novel), this has been a constant for decades of Broadway history.

This season, Broadway is brimming with literary magic, as several new musicals and revivals, all from the page to the stage, join the lineup of shows that promise to captivate audiences. Here’s a roundup of the current must-see Broadway shows adapted from books:

Water for Elephants

The touching tale of “Water for Elephants,” based on Sara Gruen’s novel, comes to life on stage with a spectacle-filled production. Set during the Great Depression, it follows a young man who finds love and purpose within a second-rate traveling circus.

The Notebook

Nicholas Sparks’s “The Notebook” is known for its heart-wrenching love story, now sung on stage. The musical adaptation explores the enduring love between Noah and Allie, spanning decades and defying the challenges of memory and time.

The Outsiders

S.E. Hinton’s novel “The Outsiders” captures the strife and solidarity among a group of teenagers in 1960s Oklahoma. The musical adaptation brings the battle between the Greasers and the Socs to the stage with a dynamic original score by Jamestown Revival.

The Great Gatsby

F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel about the enigmatic Jay Gatsby and the excesses of the Jazz Age has been adapted into a stage production, starring Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada. Following a successful premiere at Papermill Playhouse, the musical is just the first adaptation of Fitzgerald’s iconic tale.

Cabaret

The latest revival of “Cabaret,” the Kander & Ebb musical based on Christopher Isherwood’s “Berlin Stories” is set to open its doors soon starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin. The musical is set in Berlin during the rise of the Nazi party and focuses on the patrons and performers of the Kit Kat Club.

The Wiz

A retelling of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz,” “The Wiz” infuses Dorothy’s journey to Oz with a dazzling mix of rock, gospel, and soul. The musical returns to Broadway 40 years after it was first revived in 1984, following a national tour.

Wicked

Adapted from Gregory Maguire’s novel, which reimagines the land of Oz, “Wicked” tells the untold story of the witches of Oz. The musical, which has been running at Broadway’s Gershwin theatre for over 20 years, delves into the complex relationship between Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, and Glinda, the Good Witch. A film adaptation of the show is set to hit theaters in 2024 and 2025, starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” is a revolutionary musical based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. It blends hip-hop, jazz, and R&B to recount the tale of America’s Founding Father with a diverse cast that mirrors America today.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

While not a musical, this play continues the story of J.K. Rowling’s beloved wizarding world, focusing on the next generation of Hogwarts students. It is en evolution of the iconic book series, landing it a spot on this list.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

This thrilling musical tells the dark tale of a vengeful barber and is adapted from the Victorian penny dreadful serial. Stephen Sondheim and George Furth used the stories as inspiration in creating the murderous musical.

From the green lands of Oz to the tumultuous streets of Tulsa, these adaptations offer a diverse array of narratives that are as enchanting as they are thought-provoking. Whether you’re a book lover or a theater enthusiast, these shows are sure to leave an indelible mark on your Broadway experience.

Categories
Creative Long Form

Freedom and Flight: Spotlighting the Work of Water for Elephants Circus Designer Shana Carroll

by Ben Togut

Through her work as a circus designer, Shana Carroll strives to tell deeply human stories. When she was approached to collaborate on Water for Elephants, Carroll jumped at the chance, embracing the opportunity to accomplish meaningful storytelling using the visual language of circus.

“I felt like there was potential to have deep and powerful work with circus language,” Carroll said. “Partly because of the story, but also because of the composing team [PigPen Theatre Co.]. They also have a grit and a depth and a humanity to their work [that] I felt was similar to how I approach the circus and my work.”

The depth and humanity of circus are the reasons why Carroll was drawn to the art form in the first place. She recalls the moment she fell in love with the circus—newly eighteen, stepping into the old church where the Pickle Family Circus rehearsed, transfixed by the aerialists that dangled before her.

“I walked in and saw the trapeze artists 10 feet from me,” Shana said. “Seeing it so close up and seeing them with training clothes and messy hair, I suddenly saw the human being inside of it and just how moving and beautiful it was and how real it was. In theatre, we’re always trying to find metaphors for freedom and flight or stakes, and these were like very real stakes and very real feelings of freedom and flight.”

From then on, Carroll decided to devote her life to becoming a trapeze artist. She attended circus school in Montreal and was later involved with the Cirque du Soleil show Saltimbanco. While performing as a trapeze artist, Carroll was deeply involved with directing and coming up with new acts. Soon after founding the circus collective The Seven Fingers in 2002, Carroll shifted focus, committing herself to directing and choreographing full-time.

“I really just got so much more out of being able to work with other people and watch their progress and try to find the artist in them and the brilliance in them and the beauty in them and then also write shows,” Carroll explained.

Shana Carroll in rehearsal with the cast of Water for Elephants. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

A pivotal step in Carroll’s creative process for Water for Elephants was determining how circus functions as a narrative device in the musical. By looking through the script and spending time with the characters, Carroll came to see Water for Elephants as a memory play, where the “surreal capacity of circus language” allows the protagonist Jacob Jankowski to revisit the memories of his youth. 

One scene in the show that illustrates the work Carroll strives to achieve through circus language happens during the raising of a circus tent soon after Jacob joins the traveling company.

“It’s the moment he’s falling in love with the circus, and so we want to make that feel sparkly and exciting and spectacular,” Carroll explained. “But also the sense of family and community which is so much why we fall in love with the circus. You need to throw someone and catch someone and hold them on your shoulders, and so it sort of speaks to the family element, just in the pure mechanics of circus language.”

Cast members celebrate the first preview performance of Water for Elephants at the Imperial Theatre. Photo by Tyler Gustin for MurphyMade.

Helping establish this feeling of interdependence among performers is a critical part of Carroll’s work as a circus designer. While actors and dancers are accustomed to working as an ensemble, performers often face a steep learning curve when real risk is involved as they must prioritize the safety of their castmates above their own.

“Everyone needs to adopt that feeling that everyone has everyone’s lives in their hands,” Carroll said. “Even if you’re not catching someone, you have their life in your hands. I think that’s one reason there’s been this really incredible camaraderie and bonding and spirit in the cast, because they have absorbed that.”

For Carroll, one of the most rewarding parts of working on Water for Elephants has been watching members of the cast and creative team appreciate the circus she treasures, the circus she fell in love with seeing trapeze artists all those years ago. 

“I like the circus when we identify with the human on stage and then connect to the human on stage,” Carroll explained. “We care about the fact they’re hanging by one foot or standing on someone’s head and we care for them and their safety because we’ve somehow connected to them as a human.”

Water for Elephants is now playing at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre.

Categories
Creative

Portrayals of Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln on Broadway

In honor of President’s Day, let’s take a look back at some of the most memorable portrayals of two of America’s greatest leaders, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as seen on the Broadway stage. From stirring speeches to moments of vulnerability, these performances have brought history to life in uniquely theatrical ways.

George Washington in Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking 2015 musical “Hamilton” offers a fresh and dynamic portrayal of George Washington, depicted as a mentor and father figure to Alexander Hamilton through the Revolutionary War and his presidency. Christopher Jackson’s commanding presence and powerful vocals make Washington’s leadership palpable, particularly in the songs ‘Right Hand Man’ and ‘One Last Time.’

Abraham Lincoln in Abe Lincoln in Illinois

Lincoln Center Theater’s 1994 revival of Abe Lincoln in Illinois.

This Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Robert E. Sherwood chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln from his humble beginnings to his presidency. Originally performed in 1938 and later revived in 1994 (with Sam Waterston’s Tony-nominated performance in the title role), it offers a poignant depiction of Lincoln’s journey, capturing his wit, wisdom, and the weight of his decisions during a tumultuous era in American history.

George Washington in 1776

In this Tony Award-winning musical, Washington’s presence looms large, even if he never appears on stage. As the Continental Congress debates independence, Washington’s leadership is felt through references and discussions about his character and actions, as well as in the reading of his dispatches from the battlefield. The musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence has appeared on Broadway twice since its premiere in 1969, most recently in a gender-bent production at the Roundabout Theatre Company’s American Airlines Theatre (now the Todd Haimes Theatre).

Abraham Lincoln in Assassins

Stephen Sondheim’s dark and thought-provoking musical “Assassins” features Lincoln as a central figure, albeit in a more symbolic role. His assassination serves as a focal point for the show, exploring themes of disillusionment and the American dream through the lens of his tragic death.

From the revolutionary fervor of the American Revolution to the tumultuous days of the Civil War, these portrayals of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln remind us of the enduring impact of their leadership and the timeless relevance of their legacies. As we celebrate President’s Day, we continue to explore and honor the rich tapestry of American history, both on stage and off.

Categories
Creative

Broadway’s Married Couples

We all know that theater is a labor of love. But some of Broadway’s brightest stars have taken that to heart more than others, looking within our own theater community for romantic partnerships. In preparation for Valentine’s Day, here’s Broadway’s Best Shows’ list of our favorite Broadway duos.

Audra McDonald & Will Swenson

Photo by Marc J. Franklin

Audra McDonald is the Tony-winningest performer in history. And if she represents Broadway royalty, then her husband of over 10 years, Will Swenson, undoubtedly stands as a king in his own right. While McDonald graced the stage most recently in Ohio State Murders, Swenson commanded the stage just across Times Square, leading the cast of A Beautiful Noise as Neil Diamond. The couple starred opposite each other in a 2015 Williamstown Theatre Festival production of A Moon for the Misbegotten by Eugene O’Neill.

Phillipa Soo & Steven Pasquale

Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Another pair of performers, Philippa Soo and Steven Pasquale recently mirrored their real-life relationship, playing lovers at the Kennedy Center in their 2022 production of Guys & Dolls. Individually, Soo has appeared in Hamilton, Amélie, and Camelot, while Pasquale’s credits include The Bridges of Madison County and American Son. The couple were married in 2017, following her star-making run in Hamilton and ahead of his engagement in Lincoln Center Theater’s Junk

Andy Karl & Orfeh

Photo by Amy Arbus

Likely the first Broadway couple that comes to mind for many, Andy Karl & Orfeh have been married since 2001, mere months after meeting when Karl joined the cast of Saturday Night Fever. The stalwarts have appeared together on the Broadway stage twice more since then, in 2007’s Legally Blond: The Musical and 2018’s Pretty Woman: The Musical

Christopher Fitzgerald & Jessica Stone

Photo: City Center

It might be a surprise to learn that the Tony-nominated director of Kimberly Akimbo and the upcoming Water for Elephants is married to the legendary character actor, of Wicked, Waitress, and now Spamalot fame. In true showbiz fashion, Fitzgerald and Stone met in 1999, performing opposite each other in the 1999 Encores! Concert of Babes in Arms at City Center, and married in 2001. As Stone transitioned from a performer to a director, they continued to work together – most notably, Stone directed the legendary 2009 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Williamstown Theatre Festival, starring Fitzgerald as Pseudolus alongside an all-male cast.

Photo: Williamstown Theatre Festival

Lisa Peterson & Rachel Hauck

Photo by Jennifer Broski

A power couple off- and on Broadway, Rachel Hauck is the Tony-winning set designer of Hadestown, and Lisa Peterson is the two-time OBIE-winning director of new plays premiered around the country. They met while working at the Mark Taper Forum in 1996. Audiences might best know their project An Iliad, which Peterson wrote with performer Denis O’Hare, and which toured the country after its 2012 premiere. They most recently collaborated on the 2023 play Good Night, Oscar, which also marked Peterson’s Broadway debut. 

Charlotte d’Amboise & Terrence Mann

Photo by Joan Marcus

Triple threat Charlotte d’Amboise has been married to fellow performer Terrence Mann since 1996, after meeting over a decade prior when they were both in Cats on Broadway. D’Amboise has had a long career on the Broadway stage, including two Tony-nominated performances, but is maybe best known for her perennial stints as Roxie Hart in Chicago, to which she has returned more than 25 times for brief runs in the starring role. Mann, a three-time Tony nominee, has appeared in 14 Broadway productions since 1981. The couple most recently appeared together in the 2013 revival of Pippin, and have also co-founded Triple Arts, a training program for aspiring musical theater performers, which they operate and teach together.

Maryann Plunkett & Jay O. Sanders

Photo by Joseph Marzullo

Two veterans of the New York stage, Maryann Plunkett and Jay O. Sanders have been married since 1991. Each with decades-long careers on and off Broadway, the pair has appeared onstage together in Richard Nelson’s Apple Family and The Gabriels play cycles, as husband & wife in the former three plays and then as brother- & sister-in-law in the latter. Recently, their work on Broadway overlapped as Sanders finished up the final weeks of his run in Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch at Music Box Theatre, while Plunkett worked directly across 45th Street in tech rehearsals for The Notebook at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre.

Leslie Odom, Jr. & Nicolette Robinson

Photo by Marcus Middleton

Tony Award winner Leslie Odom, Jr. married Nicolette Robinson back in 2012, years before he would go on to become a household name as the original Aaron Burr in Hamilton, and she would make her own Broadway debut in Waitress. The couple are frequent creative collaborators, releasing music together, co-writing a children’s book, and most recently, teaming up as producers for the 2023 Broadway revival of Purlie Victorious, in which Odom also starred in the title role. 

Allan & Beth Williams

Broadway.com | Photo 30 of 43 | Great Balls of Fire! Million Dollar Quartet  Burns Up Broadway on Opening Night

Behind-the-scenes duo Allan Williams & Beth Williams have each been a part of over 65 Broadway productions in their careers to date. Allan is a veteran General Manager and Producer, recently serving as GM on Purlie Victorious, Good Night Oscar, and Diana the Musical and as Executive Producer on American Utopia, The Band’s Visit, and American Psycho. Beth is a Producer, who also served as CEO of Broadway Across America between 2008 and 2013. She has 12 Tony Awards to date, and her next show is the new musical Water for Elephants.

Categories
Creative

“My Most Challenging Work” with Director Pam MacKinnon

Pam MacKinnon is a prolific New York theater artist, with years of directorial experience on Broadway and off, as well as across the country. With a certain proclivity for the works of Edward Albee, she has directed A Delicate Balance and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? on Broadway (winning a Tony Award for the latter), as well as world premiere productions of Peter and Jerry and Occupant (the latter of which is further discussed below). Other Broadway credits include Clybourne Park, The Heidi Chronicles, China Doll, Amélie, and The Parisian Woman.

MacKinnon gave a unique answer when Broadway’s Best Shows asked which, of all her many productions to date, she considers to have been the most challenging. Rather than discussing the dark themes of a particular piece, she is shining a light on the sometimes hectic nature of being a top working director in New York City, when an unfortunate turn of events had her multitasking beyond her wildest dreams… Here is Pam MacKinnon on her most challenging project(s) yet:

Putting up a great show is always full of joy and hard work. Always.

As a lucky, in-demand freelance artist, I sometimes found myself with as many as seven productions in a season. It’s a hustle that both feeds and interferes with the art. Schedules are beyond our control.

There was one week in the spring of 2008 with my production of Itamar Moses’ THE FOUR OF US up and running at Manhattan Theatre Club, as I was already starting tech of Edward Albee’s OCCUPANT at Signature Theatre. Two amazing projects; beautiful plays with glorious acting companies. After many years working out of town I was about to have two shows off-Broadway.

Blue skies. What could go wrong?

Well.

We got word with a couple of weeks to go in the MTC run that Sony Music had finally gotten around to answering our rights query about some transition music that had been central to our many transitions. Lightning out of a blue sky. Their answer was no. We were facing an immediate cease and desist. I was suddenly teching lights and sound for two shows! One from 8 am-11 am. The other from 12 noon to midnight. Designers were already onto their next gigs. Associates who had not been involved with THE FOUR OF US were my new collaborators, brought in to make it all seem seamless. We had one understudy covering both roles in the two-hander, he came in those three mornings to help with the crucial timing.

And I peddled my bike to and fro City Center and the old Signature space—could it have been any further west?!!—avoiding Times Square at all costs, feeling very fortunate to be living the dream, angry with Sony, and very very sleepy by my next Monday day off.

Categories
Creative

“My Most Challenging Work” with Director Leigh Silverman

For 20 years, Leigh Silverman has built an impressive directing career in New York and across the country. Since her Off-Broadway debut with 2004’s Well at the Public Theater (which she would restage for Broadway two years later), Silverman has helmed five Broadway and over 30 Off-Broadway productions. 

Her Broadway credits include Chinglish, The Lifespan of a Fact, and Grand Horizons, among others, and her sixth Broadway show is this season’s new musical Suffs, which Silverman brings to the Music Box Theatre following its Public Theater premiere in 2022.

Her awards nods include a Tony nomination for her work on the 2014 revival of Violet and two Drama Desk nominations, one for directing the play From Up Here in 2008 and the other for the musical Soft Power. The latter happens to be the show that came to mind for Silverman when Broadway’s Best Shows asked about her most challenging work to date. See what she had to say about the difficult project, and her eye towards its future… 👀

Conrad Ricamora & Kendyl Ito in Soft Power at the Public Theater. Photo by Joan Marcus

This interview has been edited for clarity and concision.

Broadway’s Best Shows: What has been your most challenging work to date?

Leigh Silverman: This is such an interesting question because every project is rife with its own unique, amazing challenges. I love challenge when it is artistic in nature and forces my collaborators and me to imaginatively and rigorously grapple.

The most challenging work, using this framework, would be Soft Power, a musical I directed at the Ahmanson Theater in 2018 followed by a run at the Curran in San Francisco and was then produced at the Public Theater in 2019.

BBS: What was so difficult about this project? 

LS: This musical had been a dream of David Henry Hwang’s, with music by Jeanine Tesori, and was a true exploration/investigation of what is “possible” in musical theater.  David wanted to write a play that would shatter when the character of DHH is stabbed (a hate crime that did happen to the real David), and then the play would replay/transform into a musical complete with a full orchestra. He loved the structure of Anne Washburn’s iconic play, Mr. Burns, and in his own spin wanted to create an inverse to Rodgers and Hammerstein’s The King and I. So in his musical Soft Power, America’s struggles are musicalized through a futuristic Chinese musical lens. 

We faced challenges in tone and style as we tried to bend and twist and subvert and articulate why we love musicals, and why, even when they are so very problematic and racist, they still have the power to move us so deeply. All this while commenting on China’s possible future point of view about America as told through musical theater and thereby exerting their “soft power.”

BBS: How did you address and/or resolve the challenges?

LS: We worked tirelessly.  We love musical theater and wanted to make an exciting piece of musical theater that honored the form while interrogating it. We wanted to explicitly address the brutal and constant racism Asian Americans face. We worked and worked and worked and at one point Jeanine said to David, “David! Put your pancreas on the table!” That’s how hard we were all working.

BBS: Are you proud of the result?

LS: Extremely. But also it is unfinished. 

BBS: Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?

LS: The world has changed significantly since 2019 and I believe, when we get back to it, there will be fresh ideas and energy for reinvestigating David’s incredible vision.

Categories
Creative

“My Most Challenging Work” with Set Designer Beowulf Boritt

Beowulf Boritt is one of the busiest set designers on Broadway. Since making his debut with 2005’s The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Boritt has designed the set of over 30 Broadway productions, earning two Tony Awards (from six nominations), and two Drama Desk Awards (from eight nominations) in the best scenic design category. His latest Broadway set was for Harmony, and next up is the upcoming revival of Thornton Wilder’s Our Town.

His 2023 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award wins were both for his design of the new musical New York, New York. These must have been particularly rewarding accolades, considering that show is the one Boritt named when we asked him about his toughest project to date. Here is Beowulf Boritt on his most challenging work to date:

An early sketch for ‘Wine & Peaches’ in New York, New York, courtesy of Beowulf Boritt.

This interview has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

Broadway’s Best Shows: What has been your most challenging work to date?

Beowulf Boritt: New York, New York (by John Kander, Fred Ebb, David Thompson, Sharon Washington, and Lin-Manuel Miranda at the St. James Theatre, Directed and Choreographed by Susan Stroman, 2023) was by far the largest, most complicated set I’ve designed. 

BBS: What was so difficult about this project? 

BB: The show required many, many locations in quick succession and it all had to squeeze into a Broadway theatre without a very big backstage. The rapid pace of the scene changes was hard because there were several 15-20 minute sequences in the show that were basically constant scene changes keeping the crew working at a fevered pace. For the first 10 days of tech, I think the crew and stage management just thought it was impossible, but they kept at it valiantly, and eventually, we got it all working efficiently, safely, and beautifully.

BBS: How did you address and/or resolve the challenges?

BB: We planned very carefully, making sure everything was exactly the size we had laid out in our technical drawings so it could all fit together like a giant three-dimensional Tetris game. We had to balance all these technical needs with the look of the design so it would all feel beautiful and effortless.

BBS: Are you proud of the result?

BB: I won a Tony Award for it, so that’s a nice cherry on top!

BBS: Is there anything you would do differently with the benefit of hindsight?

BB: The show was enormous. Perhaps too enormous to survive in the current Broadway climate. It was what the artistic and producing team wanted, I think, but I suppose in retrospect had we done a much simpler production it might have had a longer life.

Categories
Creative

The Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. on Broadway

Broadway is often a platform for important stories that reflect the diverse tapestry of our collective history. Martin Luther King Jr., an iconic figure in the civil rights movement, has not been exempt from this trend. Over the years, various productions have paid homage to his legacy through impersonation, invocation, and references. In celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, let’s take a journey through some notable instances of Martin Luther King Jr. on the Broadway stage.

Samuel L. Jackson as Martin Luther King Jr. in The Mountaintop. Photo by Joan Marcus

The Mountaintop
Katori Hall’s The Mountaintop provides a unique perspective on the last night of Dr. King’s life. Premiering on Broadway in 2011, the play featured Samuel L. Jackson as Martin Luther King, Jr., and Angela Bassett as a mysterious hotel maid. The production delved into King’s inner thoughts and struggles, offering a poignant portrayal of the man behind the movement. The Mountaintop humanizes the legendary leader, giving audiences a glimpse into the vulnerability beneath the public persona.

Brandon J. Dirden as Martin Luther King Jr. in All The Way. Photo by Evgenia Eliseeva

All The Way
Bryan Cranston took on the challenging role of President Lyndon B. Johnson in All The Way, which premiered on Broadway in 2014. While the play primarily focuses on LBJ’s presidency, it touches upon the Civil Rights Act and King’s interactions with the administration during a crucial period in American history. Brandon J. Dirden took on the role of the iconic activist as “All The Way” served as a reminder of the intricate dance between political leaders and activists during a pivotal era.

Jay O. Sanders as Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee in Purlie Victorious. Photo by Marc J. Franklin

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Although not a play centered on Martin Luther King Jr., Ossie Davis invokes his name in Purlie Victorious as a timeless symbol of progress and racial equality when Ol’ Cap’n Cotchipee asserts that segregation ought to remain the way of things and “to hell with Abraham Lincoln and Martin Luther King.” It also deserves mention due to King’s actual attendance at its original Broadway production. Dr. King was in the audience when the play reached its 100th performance, becoming a historical moment connecting theater and the civil rights movement.

Billy Dee Williams as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with Judyann Elder in a  scene from the Broadway production of the musical play "I Have A Dream". -  NYPL Digital Collections
Billy Dee Williams as Martin Luther King Jr. in I Have A Dream. Photo by Martha Swope

I Have A Dream
I Have A Dream was a musical revue that pays tribute to the powerful words of Dr. King. Premiering on Broadway in 1976, the production wove together King’s speeches and sermons, providing audiences with a musical journey through the key moments of the civil rights movement. Billy Dee Williams played the central figure. Through soul-stirring musical performances and poignant storytelling, “I Have A Dream” celebrated the enduring impact of King’s words and the resonance they continue to have in the fight for justice and equality.

One Night in Miami…, Directed by Regina King and Starring Leslie Odom Jr.,  Sets Release | Playbill
The cast of the film One Night in Miami, directed by Regina King.

One Night in Miami
Kemp Powers’ play One Night in Miami explores a fictional meeting between Malcolm X, Muhammad Ali, Sam Cooke, and Jim Brown. While not directly focused on King, the play acknowledges his influence on the era, placing his ideals at the center of the cultural and political discourse. One Night in Miami invites audiences to reflect on the interconnectedness of historical figures and the collective pursuit of social change. The play underscores the enduring relevance of King’s principles in shaping conversations around activism and equality. The play was adapted by Regina King for a 2020 film.

These Broadway productions serve as a testament to the enduring impact of Martin Luther King Jr. on American society. Whether through direct impersonation or indirect references, the stage has become a canvas for artists to explore and celebrate the legacy of a man who played a pivotal role in the fight for civil rights.

Categories
Creative

Where’s That Cast Now? Mamma Mia! Edition

The jukebox musical featuring the songs of ABBA, premiered on the West End in 1999. Two years later, the show was an international sensation and opened on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre. In the years since, the musical continues to entertain with productions and tours all over the world, two movie adaptations, and a rumored third on the way!

Come along, dancing queens, as Broadway’s Best Shows dives into the careers of the original Broadway cast over 22 years later.

Louise Pitre (Donna Sheridan)

As Donna, Pitre earned herself a Tony Award nomination in 2002. After leaving the show in 2003, Pitre has continued in musical theatre, with iconic performances as Fantine in Les Misérables, Mama Rose in Gypsy, and Joanna in Company. In 2009, Pitre performed at Carnegie Hall in the musical Kristina, written by ABBA’s Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus. 

Judy Kaye (Rosie)

Kaye received a Tony Award nomination for Mamma Mia!, and has continued to appear on Broadway and regional stages across the country. In 2006, Kaye appeared as Mrs. Lovett for 1 week in the revival of Sweeney Todd while Patti LuPone was on vacation. Later that year, she took over for Patti again in the revival of Gypsy. Kaye starred in the 2012 musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, winning a Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for her portrayal of Duchess Estonia Dulworth. After a brief run as the Dowager Empress in the Broadway musical Anastasia, she originated the role of Queen Elizabeth II in Diana, The Musical

Karen Mason (Tanya)

Seven years after originating the role of Tanya on Broadway, Mason appeared on Broadway in Hairspray as Velma Von Tussle. In 2011, Mason appeared as the Queen of Hearts in the Broadway musical Wonderland and went on to recreate the role in the Tampa & Houston productions. She also appeared as Madame Giry in the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Lover Never Dies.

//assets.playbill.com/editorial/148ade5a540076c638380c2330eba485-ne_107608.gif
Karen Mason, Louise Pitre & Judy Kaye in Mamma Mia! Photo by Joan Marcus

Ken Marks (Bill Austin)

Marks has appeared in several Broadway productions since originating the role of Bill, including Hairspray as Wilbur Turnblad, Spring Awakening, Spider-Man Turn off the Dark, Airline Highway, and most recently, the 2022 Tony-winning revival of Take Me Out

Dean Nolan (Harry Bright)

Following his run as Harry Bright, Nolan continued to appear in Off-Broadway and regional theaters. He co-produced a documentary titled “None Less than Heroes,” about the Honor Flight program which brings World Warr II veterans to Washington D.C. Currently, Nolan is on the faculty Texas Tech University’s School of Theatre and Dance. 

Tina Maddigan and Joe Machota starred in the original cast production of \"Mamma Mia!\"
Tina Maddigan & Joe Machota in Mamma Mia! Photo by Joan Marcus

Tina Maddigan (Sophie)

In 2006, Maddigan returned to Broadway as a standby in the original Broadway cast of The Wedding Singer. After a spinal injury left her with vocal paralysis, Maddigan spent years in vocal therapy and is currently an avid TikToker with over 500k followers. 

Joe Machota (Sky)

After leaving the production in 2005, Machota moved to the business side of the industry, becoming the head of theater at CAA, where he currently represents some of the largest names in entertainment. 

Notable Broadway Replacements

Carolee Carmello (Donna)

Following her departure from the show, Carmello originated the role of Alice Beineke in the musical The Addams Family. In 2011, she replaced Victoria Clark as Mother Superior in the musical Sister Act. Other notable Broadway credits include Scandalous, Finding Neverland, and Tuck Everlasting. Carmello starred as Dolly Levi in the national tour of Hello, Dolly! Until its closing in 2020, and most recently appeared in the Broadway musical Bad Cinderella.

Beth Leavel (Donna)

Beth Leavel succeeded Carolee Carmello as Donna in 2009. Since, she’s appeared on Broadway in Elf the Musical and Baby It’s You!, earning a Tony nomination for the latter. In 2018, she starred in The Prom, earning another Tony nomination. Most recently, Leavel starred as Miranda Priestly in the Chicago premiere of the musical adaptation of “The Devil Wears Prada.”

Christy Altomare

Altomare made her Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! Since, she originated the role of Anya in the Broadway musical adaptation Anastasia

Judy McLane (Donna & Tanya)

McLane starred as both Donna and Tanya, and is the longest-running lead in the musical’s history with over 4,000 performances. Currently, McLane is starring as Joanne on the national tour of Company.