We had the chance to talk with Kerry Butler of the hit Broadway musical Xanadu. We ask Kerry if she thought audiences would accept Xanadu and also ask the secret of transforming into Kira. Also Kerry gives advice to young and aspiring actors.
With the news of a successful revival of Kander and Ebb’s storied musical “The Visit” now underway in DC, starring legend Chita Rivera, will the show come to New York? Charles Isherwood’s review from the New York Times was a bit of a mix, and The New York Times is the only one who can give a sure ticket to Broadway, even if it isn’t always a winning ticket. Given its source material, the artists involved, and the recent Broadway appetite for the unexpected, let’s hope adventurous and ambitious producers back this musical as it continues a long road to Broadway. Meantime, die-hards can see it in DC.
-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv
Broadway League TalliesThe Broadway League, the trade association for Broadway shows, announced that this seasons ticket sales fell short of last seasons, and that the box office total dipped as well. The hard numbers are 12.27 million tickets sold (last season it was 12.3). The dollar figure was $937.5 million in tickets total. Certainly a dip, but not down much from last year. When one remembers that there was as strike for three weeks during the heart of the holidays, the numbers are quite good. In a statement released by The Broadway League, Executive Director Charlotte St. Martin predicts that next season will be ”the best season in recorded history.” I’m sure she is using “best” as it relates to ticket sales and revenue, not necessarily quality of productions. As far as quality goes, this has been an extremely rich season on Broadway, and nothing to apologize for. The numbers may be down, but the quality is up, and the promise for next season is equally bright.
With revival like South Pacific, Gypsy, Sunday In The Park With George and new musicals like Xanadu, Passing Strange, A Catered Affair, In The Heights…not to mention the slew of new plays and excellent revivals of great plays this season, it seems possible that this will be a season that is remembered quite fondly in the years to come, even if the numbers were down slightly. South Pacific photo by Joan Marcus.
-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv
We had the chance to sit down with Laura Bell Bundy who currently stars in the hit musical Legally Blonde. See the interview below.
Reports this week about a new musical to head to Broadway based on the life and legacy of Nelson Mandella are getting a lot of attention. Mandella is one of the great political leaders whose work is tied quite closely to music. As his daughter Zindzi Mandela points out in London’s Telegraph, “The freedom songs were so important to the morale of the people, so it’s natural for the story to be told with music.”
The musical is to be based on her memoir, and the show is expected to land on Broadway in 2010. Can politics, music, history, and family combine to create a successful Broadway musical? Given the recent achievements by innovative and adventurous producers on Broadway the answer is certainly “yes.” Regardless, bringing Mandella’s story to a wider audience is noteworthy to be sure.
-Broadway Magazine, www.Broadway.tv
By: Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine
The American Theater Wing is the founder of the Tony Awards. Just recently, they honored Jerry Herman and VISA at their annual gala.
We had a chance to catch up with the legendary Jerry Herman and also the multi-dimensional Patrick Stewart. See the interview below.
Passing Strange Solidifies CredibilityWhat an awards show! Reports of the Village Voice’s Obie Award celebration suggest quite a night. Complete with boos and booze, the event was hosted by Top Girl Elizabeth Marvel and her husband, last season’s Coram Boy villain Bill Camp. Stew seemed to have the quotation of the night when he proclaimed, “You don’t know how good it feels to be drunk and below 14th Street,” and then adding ”they don’t let me drink on Broadway, so I came to this motherf***er and got buck-wild on the open bar!” Anyone who doesn’t want to watch the Tony Awards need only know that Stew will be performing live, and will rock Radio City with his authenticity. The shine on Passing Strange is all authentic, and please don’t “Tony-tame” Stew for his number at the Awards. It is not simply his artistry that has made that show so wonderful, it is his authenticity as well. Stew always seems to celebrate the art in himself, rather than himself in the art.
While some would argue for giving the best musical to a more commercial property, Passing Strangedeserves it on the merits. The show’s cross-generational wit and rhyming wisdom are often belied by its raw energy, but how exciting if the achievement of the “Passing Strange” team is rewarded for its authenticity, artistry, and raw theatrical power. The show has no commercial ambitions, it ambitions are truly artistic…it is pure theatre! If Xanadu offers us an ingenious satire of what Broadway has become, Passing Strange invites Tony voters to celebrate what Broadway can be! Check out our review of Passing Strange at the bottom of the page here. Passing Strange photo by Carol Rosegg.
-Christopher Moore, Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv
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A new Broadway musical is in the works that will tell the story of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, and feature a combination of theatrical styles has been announced for the 2010-2011 Broadway season. The show is to be directed by “South Pacific” director Bartlett Sher. A lot can happen in two years, but right now this epic in the works could be the first major martial arts Broadway musical biography since the last major martial arts Broadway musical biography. Currently titled Bruce Lee: Journey To The West, the musical will feature contributions from other Broadway luminaries like David Yazbek and David Henry Hwang. Watch for a flying dragon kick from Sher as he approaches the podium to accept his South Pacific Tony…unless Arthur Laurents wins, in which case, watch for a flying dragon kick from Arthur Laurents. South Pacific photo by Joan Marcus.
Things in the world of theatre awards have rarely been as gripping as they are this season…at least backstage. Tonight, the Drama Desk rewarded its winners in the shadow of an internal conflict that has been going for some time. For the latest intrigue and spicy emails (and it is well worth a look for those who appreciate the pleasures of personal politics) we’ll direct you to Tom O’Neill who has been up close on all the goings-on. You can read his coverage at The Envelope.
For the winners, not too much that would shock Broadway. August: Osage County is honored as Outstanding Play, Passing Strange wins Outstanding Musical, South Pacific wins Outstanding Musical Revival, and Boeing-Boeing wins Outstanding Revival of a Play. Sometimes seen as a litmus test to the Tony Awards, the Drama Desk has made more headlines this season for its troubles internally than for its recognition of achievements in New York Theatre. South Pacific photo by Joan Marcus.
We had a chance to sit down with Whoopi Goldberg, the host of the 2008 Tony Awards and ask her about the Tonys and her plans for the future.
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