Tonight, London’s Off-West End Southwark Playhouse will open the Bray Productions world premiere of the updated version of the 1995 Off-Broadway two-hander john & jen, by Andrew Lippa (book, music) and Tom Greenwald (book, lyrics). Olivier nominee Rachel Tucker and newcomer Lewis Cornay star is this emotional rollercoaster that explores the dynamics of family relationships. The creative team for this new production includes Guy Retallack (direction), Michael Bradley (music supervision), Chris Ma (music direction), Natalie Johnson (sets and costumes), Andrew Johnson (sound), Andrew Exeter (lights), and Paul Harris (movement). Below are Tucker and Cornay singing the show’s finale “Every Goodbye Is Hello.”
20th Century Studios has released a new “special look” of its upcoming remake of the 1961 Oscar-winning musical West Side Story, featuring “Somewhere” sung by the original film’s Oscar-winning supporting actress Rita Moreno, who stars in the remake as Valentina. The cast also includes Ansel Elgort (Tony), Rachel Zegler (Maria), Ariana DeBose (Anita), Mike Faist (Riff), David Alvarez (Bernardo), Josh Andrés Rivera (Chino), Corey Stoll (Lt. Schrank), Brian d’Arcy James (Sgt. Krupke), and Ana Isabelle (Rosalia). The creative team includes Arthur Laurents (book), Leonard Bernstein (music), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), Tony Kushner (screenplay), Steven Spielberg (direction), and Justin Peck (choreography). The film is scheduled to premiere in cinemas on December 10.
Broadway Records has released the first music video from its studio cast recording of the new musical In the Light: A Faustian Tale, available now on multiple platforms. Influenced by Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus and Johann Goethe’s Faust, the musical follows Dr. Johann Faustus, an astronomer accused of blasphemy, as he plans a rebellion against the Holy Inquisition. The voice cast includes Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan as Faust, along with Solea Pfeiffer, Ciara Renée, Antonio Cipriano, Bobby Conte Thornton, Anne Fraser Thomas, Aisha Jackson, and Zachary James. The creative team for the 15-track album includes Nathan Wright and Justin Silvestri (book), Michael Mott (score), Kim Scharnberg (orchestrations), and Joshua Zecher-Ross (arrangements). Below is Jordan singing “Her Embrace,” the musical’s emotional final song.
Netflix has released the first official clip from its upcoming musical animated series Centaurworld, which premieres July 30 on the streaming service. Created by Megan Dong, the series follows a war horse transported from her embattled world to a strange land inhabited by singing centaurs of all species, shapes, and sizes. Desperate to return home, she befriends a group of these magical creatures and embarks on a journey that will test her more than any battle she’s ever faced.
The voice cast includes Kimiko Glenn (Horse) and Jessie Mueller (Rider) as well as Parvesh Cheena (Zulius), Chris Diamantopoulos (Ched), Megan Dong (Glendale), Megan Hilty (Wammawink), and Josh Radnor (Durpleton). Guest appearances in the first season’s 20 episodes include Tony winners Brian Stokes Mitchell, Lea Salonga, and Renée Elise Goldsberry. Below is Mueller singing “Rider’s Lullaby.”
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced the lineup of the eight new musicals to be presented as part of its 33rd annual Festival of New Musicals to be held over two days this fall. The original pieces will be both presented in person and live streamed in collaboration with Broadway On Demand on October 20 and 21. Casting for each musical and further programming details will be announced soon. Below are brief synopses and clips from the festival entries.
Azul (book by Melis Aker and Tatiana Pandiani, music by Jacinta Clusellas, lyrics by Clusellas and Ruben Dario), takes place in an epic world of magical realism, where the idealist poet Bluebird seeks a better life in a new land, and in present-day Jackson Heights, where composer Rita struggles to forgive her father, understand her roots, and reconnect to a land she has never known. Below is Clusellas singings “El Pajaro Azul.”
Fanny and Stella (book by Sevan, music and lyrics by Eamonn O’Dwyer) is set in Victorian London, where Frederick Park and Ernest Boulton, two unremarkable middle-class boys from Dulwich, have fled their suburban upbringing to live as Fanny & Stella in the city. A run-in with the law casts them a sensational show trial that dominates the press and scandalizes the nation. Below is “Who Will I Be?” performed by Kate Marlais, Mark Anderson, Jordan Lee-Davies and Richard Hartley-Wilson at hclub London.
Little Duende (book and lyrics by Georgina Escobar, music and lyrics by Robi Hager) explores the land of Elflán, where the adventurous and curious young elf Adelita is eager to find what lies beyond the horizon. When the evil spirit of La Mancha kidnaps her mother, she is forced to travel north to the land of the Hadaseñas in hopes of being reunited with her again. Below is “Mi Amor” sung by Robi Hager and Chris Haig.
Māyā (book and music by Cheeyang Ng, book and lyrics by Eric Sorrels), set in the British Raj during 1930, is the story of a struggling poet in need of an awakening, not unlike India herself. When Gandhi’s nonviolent Independence Movement arrives Māyā commits herself to the cause and begins to shatter the illusions that have been deceiving her to discover the difference she’ll really make. After a brief introduction, the music begins at 2:15, featuring Kuhoo Verma, Kimberly Chatterjee, and Metu Chilana.
Missing Peace (book, music, and lyrics by Kalani Queypo and Kyle Puccia), concerns Chase, who wakes up from a coma, his past a blur. Soon, dark memories begin to flood back, and Chase grapples with his attempted suicide, the bad choices he’s made, and the people he’s hurt along the way. Below is “Wide Awake” with Kingsley Perez, Roman Zaragoza, John Shartzer, Nayo Wallace, Glenn Stanton, Carolyn Dunn, and Samantha Bowling.
Private Gomer Jones (by Marshall Pailet) revolves around a young Welshman eager to join the army in 1914. Since he’s deaf, he enlists the help of a nurse to fake his way past the recruiters. During an increasingly senseless war, he loses friends, his moral compass, and his humanity — until he finds himself again. Below is a Goodspeed Opera interview with Pailet, featuring song clips beginning at 7:44.
Senior Class (book, melodies, and lyrics by Melvin Tunstall, music by Greg Borowsky) begins when a Harlem school’s production of My Fair Lady is canceled due to budget cuts. Two theater nerds arrange for staging of Pygmalion, and art begins to imitate life when they meet subway dancer Alizé.
TL;DR: Thelma Louise; Dyke Remix (book and lyrics by EllaRose Chary, music and lyrics by Brandon James Gwinn) starts with T and L suspended mid-air over the Grand Canyon. They promptly make out and, with the help of their newfound queer community, seek a future that has never been modeled for them: the happy ending they deserve. Below is Hannah Cruz singing “Put Up a Fight.”
The West End has been reopening in fits and starts since May, when Amélie, Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, and Six welcomed back partial-capacity audiences. In June, Hairspray, Heathers, and Be More Chill followed suit, albeit with announced limited runs. Earlier this month, The Prince of Egypt, Pretty Woman, and Joseph then opened their doors. Following the British government’s announcement of Freedom Day for July 19, when the remaining pandemic restrictions end and full-capacity audiences are permitted, the calendar of returning shows heats up. Below is a list of the current reopening schedule of West End musicals through the end of the year.
Jul19: Sister Act Jul22: Come from Away Jul23: Anything Goes (opening Aug 4) Jul27: The Phantom of the Opera Jul28: Jersey Boys (opening Aug 10); Tina Jul29: The Lion King Jul30: Singin’ in the Rain Jul31: Carousel Aug7: Mary Poppins Aug18: Cinderella (opening Aug 25) Aug19: Hamilton Aug20: Back to the Future Aug25: Mamma Mia! Aug27: Frozen (opening Sep 8) Sep15: Wicked Sep16: Matilda Sep17: The Last Five Years (opening Sep 23) Sep24: & Juliet Sep25: Les Misérables Oct1: Only Fools and Horses Oct26: Dear Evan Hansen Nov4: The Drifters Girl (opening Nov 25) Nov12: Moulin Rouge! Nov15: The Book of Mormon Dec8: Bring It On
In anticipation of the September 24 release of the Diana original cast recording, Universal Music Enterprises has posted the album’s first official video, “The World Fell in Love.” Co-produced by composer David Bryan and music supervisor Ian Eisendrath, the album was recorded during this past year’s pandemic shutdown. The Brosadway production was in previews at the Longacre Theatre when New York’s theaters shut down last year. The cast reassembled to film the production on stage late last year, which will premiere October 1 on Netflix, and the show returns to Broadway on November 2, with an opening date of November 17.
Diana tells the story of Princess Diana, with book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music and lyrics by David Bryan. The remaining creative team includes Christopher Ashley (direction), Kelly Devine (choreo), Ian Eisendrath (music direction), David Zinn (sets), William Ivey Long (costumes), Natasha Katz (lights), and Gareth Owen (sound).The cast includes Jeanna de Waal (Princess Diana), Roe Hartrampf (Prince Charles), Erin Davie (Camilla Parker Bowles), and Judy Kaye (Queen Elizabeth).
In advance of the Netflix streaming premiere of the computer-animated musical Vivo on August 6, Sony Pictures Animation has released an official song clip of “Keep the Beat,” featuring Lin-Manuel Miranda (as honey bear Vivo) and Ynairaly Simo (as Gabi). The movie is directed by Kirk DeMicco and co-directed by Brandon Jeffords, from a screenplay by Quiara Alegría Hudes and DeMicco, based on the original idea by Peter Barsocchini, with songs by Alex Lacamoire and Miranda.
The film also stars Juan de Marcos González (Andrés), Gloria Estefan (Marta Sandoval), Zoe Saldana (Gabi’s mother Rosa), Michael Rooker (villainous python Lutador), Brian Tyree Henry and Nicole Byer (star-crossed spoonbills), Leslie David Baker (a bus driver), and Katie Lowes, Olivia Trujillo, and Lidya Jewett (a trio of scout troopers). Originally scheduled to be released Dec. 18, 2020, the film premiered in theaters on June 4.
The Kennedy Center has announced its 44th class of honorees, and musical theater alums were well represented among them. This year’s five performing artists are opera singer Justino Díaz, writer-producer Berry Gordy, Tony-nominated producer Lorne Michaels, Tony-winning actress Bette Midler, and singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. The award ceremony will be held December 5 at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House and will be broadcast in the spring on CBS and Paramount Plus.
In addition to his operatic repertoire, Justino Díaz played the role of Emile de Becque in the 1987 New York City Opera production of South Pacific as well as on the 1996 premiere recording of the complete score. Below is Díaz singing the show’s “Some Enchanted Evening” at a Liverpool gala concert in 1992.
Recording executive Berry Gordy produced and wrote the book for the 2013 musical Motown, which tells the story of his Detroit music label’s early days. Below is the original Broadway company performing a medley of “Get Ready” and “Dancing in the Street” as well as “I Want You Back” and “The Love You Save” at the 2013 Tony Awards.
https://youtu.be/sADb1pF3bII
Producer Lorne Michaels earned his first Tony nomination for the 2018 musical Mean Girls. Below is Grey Henson and the original Broadway cast singing “Where Do You Belong?” and “Meet the Plastics” at the 2018 Tony Awards.
EGOT nominee Bette Midler made her Broadway debut in Fiddler on the Roof and has won two Tonys: one for her 1973 concert and another for her performance of the title role in the 2017 revival of Hello, Dolly! Below are Tanya Everett, Mimi Turque, and Midler singing “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” from Fiddler on the Roof at the 1968 Tony Awards.
Joni Mitchell made her own Broadway concert appearance in Matters of the Heart at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in 2000. She also contributed songs (along with Gordy and others) to the short-lived 1982 musical Rock ’n’ Roll! The First 5,000 Years.Below is Mitchell singing her classic “Both Sides Now” in 2000.
The first trailer for Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age, the sequel to director Rick McKay’s 2003 documentary Broadway: The Golden Age, has just been released. The full film will premiere August 14 as part of the PBS Great Performances series. Originally scheduled to premiere in 2018, the film was delayed due to McKay’s death that year. His team of producers finished the sequel this year and have begun work on the last installment of McKay’s film trilogy, Broadway: The Next Generation. This second film continues the story from the 1959 Broadway season up through the 1980 opening night of 42nd Street. The trailer below features scores of Tony-winning musical icons, including Donna McKechnie, Glenn Close, John Lithgow, Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Jason Alexander, Ben Vereen, and more.
