Another Opening, Another Show
Broadway bound: Barrington Stage Company’s On the Town. Photo by Kevin Sprague, Courtesy Barrington Stage Co.
The new season is already under way: Holler If Ya Hear Me opened in June and there are more shows coming, of course. The musicals listed below were scheduled to open at press time, and if the stars align—but only if the stars align—they will arrive some time between now and the Tony deadline in May.
On the Town
This is the 1944 hit that introduced a young ballet choreographer named Jerome Robbins to Broadway. A much-expanded version of Fancy Free, it’s an ode to New York as seen by three sailors en route to World War II. Joshua Bergasse, late of NBC’s Smash, takes his first Broadway bow as a choreographer in this revival, directed by John Rando (Urinetown) and starring Tony Yazbeck, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Clyde Alves and New York City Ballet principal Megan Fairchild. Starts Sept. 20 at the Lyric.
The Last Ship
The composer, Sting, is the marquee attraction in this tale of an English shipbuilding town, but director Joe Mantello (Wicked) and choreographer Steven Hoggett (Once) have fans, too. Starts Sept. 29 at the Neil Simon.
Honeymoon in Vegas
Andrew Bergman reworks his wacky 1992 film comedy, this time with songs by Jason Robert Brown (Bridges of Madison County). Dances are by Denis Jones, a regular at the Paper Mill Playhouse, where this production originated. Starts Nov. 18 at the Brooks Atkinson.
Left: Complete with Elvis, Paper Mill’s
Honeymoon in Vegas. Photo by Jerry Dalia, Courtesy Paper Mill Playhouse
On the Twentieth Century
The Roundabout Theatre Company revives this 1978 musical by Cy Coleman, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, addressing one of life’s crucial questions: Will the shenanigans of a megalomaniac Broadway producer, a flamboyant Hollywood diva and a loopy lady evangelist derail a luxury train bound for New York? Kristin Chenoweth and Peter Gallagher are on board, along with director Scott Ellis and choreographer Warren Carlyle. Begins Feb. 12 at the American Airlines Theatre.
The King and I
Shall they dance? Of course they shall, even though she’s an English schoolmarm and he’s the king of Siam. Bartlett Sher directs Kelli O’Hara, who will polka with Ken Watanabe. The choreography is the Jerome Robbins original, with musical staging by Christopher Gattelli. Starts March 12 at the Vivian Beaumont.
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum James Corden, the endearing British comic who won the 2012 Tony for his amped-up turn in One Man, Two Guvnors, is reportedly on his way back to Broadway as yet another servant, the endearing slave Pseudolus. This revival of Stephen Sondheim’s delicious 1962 farce is to be directed by Alex Timbers (Rocky). Starts in March.
All That Glitters The life of Liberace, written, directed and choreographed by Alexander DeJong. Starts in spring.
An American in Paris
Christopher Wheeldon used the glorious Gershwin score for a narrative ballet at NYCB in 2005, when a projected Broadway musical based on the classic Gene Kelly movie collapsed. Now it’s on again, and director/choreographer Wheeldon has once more gone to NYCB, this time for a leading man: principal Robert Fairchild. Starts in spring.
Finding Neverland Marc Forster’s 2004 film about how J. M. Barrie came to write Peter Pan gets a song-and-dance makeover from director Diane Paulus and choreographer Mia Michaels. Starts in spring.
Gigi
The beloved 1958 movie musical of Belle Époque Paris was first staged on Broadway in 1973. It returns under the direction of Eric Schaeffer, with choreography by Joshua Bergasse. Starts in spring.
And Waiting in the Wings…
Allegiance—A New American Musical
Set in California’s Japanese-American community during the dark days of World War II, this show has been retooling since its premiere in San Diego in 2012. Stafford Arima directs, Andrew Palermo choreographs and Lea Salonga stars.
Always…Patsy Cline
Crystal Bowersox plays the great country singer and Annette O’Toole is her biggest fan, under the direction of John Rando.
Amazing Grace
Amazing, indeed—the story of John Newton, the 18th-century Englishman who went from sailor to clergyman, from slaver to abolitionist, and along the way wrote the famous hymn. Christopher Smith adds more songs; Gabriel Barre directs; Christopher Gattelli choreographs.
Anastasia
The 1997 animated movie, with songs by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, moves to Broadway directed by Darko Tresnjak.
Animal House: The Musical
Ever since the 1978 movie comedy turned the word “toga” into a verb, it was inevitable that someone would turn it into a song. David Yazbeck and Michael Mitnick have done the deed, and Casey Nicholaw will direct and choreograph.
Can-Can Cole Porter’s 1953 musical returns to Broadway under the direction of David Lee. The can-can, apache and quadrille steps will be created by Patti Colombo.
