Goldberg Brings (Added) Laughs to Broadway in 2008

In 2008 Whoopi Goldberg brought added attention to Broadway by hosting the 2008 Tony Awards. In the summer of 2008 Goldberg played in Xanadu for a limited run.

In 2008 Goldberg also planned to bring a musical to Broadway called Bricktop, a musical profiling Ada Smith a Parisian light life icon during the 1920s. Plans for Bricktop on Broadway had to be delayed after an investor pulling out of the production.

One of Goldberg’s most famous on screen roles was playing in Sister Act. The film grossed over 100million dollars after being released in 1992. In November 2008, Goldberg announced that she will be producing Sister Act The Musical at the London Palladium. The show will open summer 2009.

In an exclusive Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine video feature in 2008 at Cooper Union in New York, Goldberg said that she left film because she was not able to be herself. Goldberg says that art, such as theatre, allowed her to be herself and that is what she hopes to devote more work to. Goldberg stressed that it is very important for school children to be provided with opportunities to express themselves through art.

Goldberg’s talent perpetuates in 2008, on stage, on camera, and through her efforts to make art accessible.

Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber Gives The Thumbs Up

(BROADWAY MAGAZINE) We love Sir ALW ( that’s Andrew Lloyd Webber, not to be confused with Adam Lloyd Winbrook).  Big news to end 2008 on Broadway, the King is back and he’s brought a sequel with him. Set 10 years after Phantom of the Opera, the new musical is called Phantom: Love Never Dies.The story apparently unites Christine and The Phantom on Coney Island…though there will probably not be a hot dog eating contest at Nathan’s. “It was the place,” Sir ALW said in an interview with The Times of London. “Even Freud went because it was so extraordinary.”

Well, if there is anyone who can restore the romantic sheen of Coney Island, it would be Sir Andrew. See you at Nathan’s, Christine!

Soul Patrol Stirs GREASE In 2008

Winner of the fifth season of American Idol, Taylor Hicks contributed greatly to Broadway in 2008. Reports say that Hicks has the lowest selling American Idol winner’s album. Even so, in 2008 Hicks played ‘Teen Angel’ in GREASE on Broadway. Hicks fans came from all over the country to see his performance. Critics pointed out that Hicks really was only on stage for a very short time. However, fans still praised his performance and ticket sales reflected this fact. Some say, arguably, Hicks saved GREASE from closing on Broadway during the summer of 2008.

After his limited engagement of playing Teen Angel on Broadway, Hicks took to the road playing the character on the GREASE National Tour currently touring the United States.

In August 2008 Hicks released an album titled “Early Works” that was available only at Target until November 24, 2008 when other distribution options were made available.

In 2008, Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine interviewed every leading star of GREASE on Broadway, except Hicks who took limited interviews. With that said, we asked each of his cast-mates that we did interview what it was like working with him, the answer was time and time again, “Taylor is great to work with!”

Following Taylor Hicks while he has been involved with Broadway in 2008, we can say he was a great addition and titled him “Rookie of the Year.” We look forward to seeing if Hicks will contribute to Broadway in 2009.

Playwright Honored

(BROADWAY MAGAZINE) The Broadway League has announced that it will dim the lights of Broadway tonight in honor of acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter. The one minute pause of the the lights will no doubt be described as Pinteresque, as befits the occasion. Pinter passed away on December 24th at age 78.

According to the release, Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League, said, “Harold Pinter has been called one of the most influential and imitated
playwrights of his generation. He repeated on several occasions that he
had ‘written 29 damn plays, isn’t that enough?’ We are so grateful for his
genius and distinct contributions to modern theatre.”

Shrek: Before The Movie(s) and Broadway

We all know about Shrek in the movies and now the franchise has made a successful transition to Broadway. But, where did the idea for Shrek come from?

That is a question Tara Puckey of our Broadway Magazine team answered in a recent article posted on Broadway.tv before the opening of Shrek at the Broadway Theatre.

From the article:

“The sophisticatedly witty story was envisioned by William Steig, a man Newsweek called the “King of Cartoons”. Steig was born in New York in 1907 and began illustrating for the New Yorker in 1930 to help support his family during hard economic times. He ultimately produced over sixteen hundred drawings and at the age of sixty-one, began writing children’s books. Stories with a positive focus on nature, the security of home and family, and the importance of friendship have impacted the imagination of children everywhere. Graced with the prestigious Caldecott Medal in 1967, Steig continued creating enthusiastic and creative stories, ultimately selling almost two million books.”

In 1990, Steig was inspired to write Shrek which means (in the German and Yiddish translations) “fear” and “terror.”

“A wonderfully inspiring story, the book features a hideous ogre who goes out in search of adventure and finds a horrid princess even more ugly than he is. The tale, imaginative and full of common sense, was awarded the School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, as well as the Publishers Weekly Notable Children’s Book of the Year. Full of magic, chaos, and fulfillment, the book has inspired three major motion pictures, soon to be followed by a fourth in 2010.”

Now you know the history of the green monster who is currently is delighting folks on Broadway.

Homles Makes Broadway Debut in 2008

Gracing the cover of magazines and the subject of tabloid articles, Katie Holmes made her Broadway debut in 2008. Holmes stars in the Broadway revival of All My Sons along with John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, and Patrick Wilson.

The 2008 revival is housed at New York’s Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Broadway was a buzz when news came out that Holmes would join the production. Based on a true story, All My Sons follows the accounts of a woman who finds out her father sells defective parts to the United States military during World War II.

All My Sons opened on Broadway in 2008 with mixed reviews. The New York Times and the New York Post were critical of Holmes. Internet groups such as Anonymous used the preview and official opening nights of All My Sons to stage a protest against Holmes and her participating in Scientology. The media picked up on these protests giving the show added publicity. Holmes became a Scientologist after marrying Tom Cruise in 2005.

All my sons will end its limited run January 11, 2009. Even so, in 2008 Katie Holmes contributed greatly to Broadway and delighted theatrical fans.

In 2008 Harry Potter Star Excites Broadway

When J.K. Rowling wrote her legendary series “Harry Potter,” no one could have forecasted that Daniel Radcliffe would become one of the world’s most recognizable young people. With a career that includes the successful Harry Potter franchise and as well as the stage, Radcliffe came to New York’s Broadway Theater in 2008 to star in the controversial play Equus.

In 2007, Radcliffe had a successful run with Equus in London before coming to New York. Playing a young man who has a sexual infatuation with horses, Radcliffe’s choice to participate in Equus was a surprise for some. Appearing nude in Equus, Radciffe’s role differs greatly from Harry Potter.

Jenna Bensoussan, Editor and Chief of DanielRadcliffe.com, said in our exclusive interview, “There were mixed reactions. Most of Dan’s fans were excited and quite supportive, but some people were ’shocked’ or ‘worried’ he was making a bad career choice. Of course, they were wrong. I think his choice to do Equus was bold and right-on. You have to admire someone that has the courage to take on such an in-depth character, being that it was his first major lead role on stage, and give him credit for having the yarbles [sic] to do it justice by agreeing to be nude on stage. There are many veteran actors that wouldn’t even do that.”

Radcliffe brought excitement to Broadway when Equus opened in September 2008. Radcliffe admits he was nervous making the transition from London to New York, saying that Untied States audiences are more “discerning.”

Radcliffe’s move to Broadway continues to draw attention. With Equus closing early February 2009, in 2008 Daniel Radcliffe has successfully convinced critics that he has made the transition from a young wizard to a dynamic actor.

11 Stars A-Shining On Broadway In 2008

(BROADWAY MAGAZINE) On the 11^thDay of Broadway, my true love gave to me…11 Stars A-Shining. We continue our 12 Days Of Broadway celebration with Broadway Magazineand Broadway.tv with our list of the 11 Top Celebrity Turns on Broadway in 2008. Some stars shone more than others on Broadway this season, and here is our choice for 11 of the top. For purposes of this list, only one person per show, and only celebrities without a long Broadway tenure are eligible. We are defining celebrity as those who are largely famous for work in medium other than the stage. Our apologies to Liza Minnelli, who tops most anyone’s Broadway list this season.

1.      Diane Wiest in All My Sons.Katie Holmes got the headlines, but Weist is completely fascinating to behold. She is our favorite celebrity on Broadway this season. John Lithgow, Patrick Wilson,  Katie Holmes and the entire ensemble have made this production of Arthur Miller’s play one of the must-see dramas of the season.

2.      Kristin Scott Thomas in The Seagull. She helped make Chekhov profitable on Broadway. A selfless star who was not afraid to show the selfish side of a complex iconic character. We have three words for Ms. Thomas and producers as they consider her next stage project-The Cherry Orchard!

3.      Daniel Radcliffe in Equus.A dark play, but a totally committed performance from a star who seems to have the DNA of the great British stage stars of the past. Richard Griffiths and Kate Mulgrew are also more than exceptional.

4.      Laurence Fishburne in Thurgood.With depth and nuance, Fishburne brought a judicial titan to life.

5.      Clay Aiken in Spamalot. The new father may have made headlines with his outing, but he still is making audiences laugh with his sense of humor. Surely there are other musicals that would fit him like a glove.

6.      Taylor Hicks in Grease. Soul Patrol fans and Broadway fans unite in cheering the good-natured and smooth singing soul stylist as he transitions from American Idol to Broadway’s Rookie-of-the-year.

7.      Cedric The Entertainer in American Buffalo. A short run, but a bright future for Cedric on Broadway in the right vehicle…if he gets over his anger at Ben Brantley of The New York Times.  Tony nomination for featured actor?

8.      Marisa Tomei in Top Girls.This was a great production of a difficult play. Tomei was absolutely fascinating as the Scottish explorer who had ailments, passions, and liked the bread plate. Her change to the contemporary mother was equally solid.

9.      Elisabeth Moss in Speed-The-Plow.Please stay away from the sushi, Ms. Moss. While the departed Jeremy Piven walked in and out as the headliner of this Mamet revival, Moss has left audiences wanting to see the AMC Mad Men star in other roles on-stage.

10.  S. Epatha Merkerson from Come Back, Little Sheba. The star of Law and Order was riveting as Lola in William Inge’s haunting play.

11.  Patrick Stewart in Macbeth. While he has a substantial Broadway resume, we’ve broken our own rule to include Stewart for his entertaining and soulful portrayal of Shakespeare’s Scottish King. So much blood!

A Look At The 2008 Broadway Idol Leader

 Thousands love him. Others chastise. But no matter how you feel, American Idol and Clay Aiken sure have contributed greatly to Broadway this past year. With fellow American Idol colleagues in The Color Purple, GREASE, and Rock of Ages, Clay Aiken seemed to be the head-master of the “Broadway Idol” family in 2008.

Aiken came to Broadway’s Spamalot in January 2008. He says he did not decide to play in Spamalot for the music; he came to the show because of the story line. In an interview posted on his website, Aiken says that Spamalot is really not about the story plot, it is more about having fun with Broadway.

Aiken was in New York to record his new album (released May 2008) so he and his manager thought it would be a good idea to also star in Spamalot. However, Aiken confesses it is one of the hardest things that he has ever done. After all, recording an album along with performing in eight Spamalot shows a week (with Broadway fans expecting a stellar performance) is difficult.

Comments and press on Aiken are not similar to the typical Broadway star. He is followed by cameras, adored by fans, and criticized by tabloids. One publicist joked with us recently, saying that most Broadway stars are not recognized outside of the theater world. However, ‘Clay Aiken’ is a household name. And more often than not, negative press is the press that is printed. Be it fact or fiction.Aiken is able to inspire his fans through his volunteer work, personal life triumphs and having a son. The press sometimes overlooks that Aiken is a UNICEF Ambassador and was appointed by President Bush to be an advisor for the Department of Health and Human Services.

Aiken left Broadway in 2008 for a short time, only to come back to Spamalot in September. He currently is scheduled to be in Spamalot until January 4, 2009. Spamalot will close on Broadway soon after.In a recent interview with PEOPLE, Aiken said that he does not plan on coming back to Broadway anytime soon. Even so, Aiken’s caricature was immortalized at the iconic New York restaurant Sardi’s, underscoring Aiken’s contribution to Broadway in 2008.

As Aiken puts up his Broadway boots the next Idol Leader of Broadway remains to be determined. Will it be Taylor Hicks who is currently traveling on tour with GREASE? Or maybe Constantine Maroulis, who will be taking GREASE’s home for the on Broadway transition of Rock of Ages?Well, you can bet your boots we will keep you posted on the developments.

New Musical To Take Over Off-Broadway

(BROADWAY MAGAZINE) It is official, Broadway director John Rando will be bringing the comic hit Toxic Avenger into New York following the successful run in New Jersey this fall. Given that the musical comes from Joe DiPietro, who created the long-running I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and is directed by Rando (Urinetown), the production has a monster good vibe.  Music comes from Bon Jovi’s David Bryan, who will also be represented on Broadway when Rock Of Ages opens. 2009 could be a big year for Bon Jovi and Broadway. Toxie arrives in Off Broadway in NYC when performance start March 18 at New World Stages. Official opening on April 6. Welcome Toxie!