BROADWAY MAGAZINE- Midnight, and the critics are sleeping… On
March 14, 1997,The New York Times prints an article praising Cats for being on the verge of becoming the longest-running show on Broadway at the time, surpassing A Chorus Line (the original, not the revival). In the Footlights section of the NYT’s On Stage, Off Stage feature, the Times reported:

On June 19, ”Cats” becomes the longest-running musical in Broadway history, overtaking ”A Chorus Line,” which ran for 6,137 performances. To mark the occasion, the show’s producers are bringing back Laurie Beechman in the role of Grizabella from May 16 to Sept. 14.

Now and Forever…almost.

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

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 Broadway Icon Born

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- Happy birthday to Liza Minnelli, born on March 12 in 1946. Daughter of the legendary Judy Garland, Ms. Minnelli has managed to carve out a celebrated career in her own right. On Broadway, she has produced and performed in at least three concert specials, and has developed a loyal following of fans.

Last year, Liza with a Z beat out Will Ferrell to win a Tony Award for best Special Event on Broadway. Celebrate with us by marrying David Gest (or divorcing him). If you prefer, you can watch this video clip of the divine Ms. Minnelli in action below.

Happy Birthday Liza, from your friends at Broadway.tv and Broadway Magazine. Celebrate with us on Twitter.
-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

 American Classic Drama Is Born

BROADWAY MAGAZINE-
Lorraine Hansberry’s American classic three-act play, A Raisin in the Sun opened on Broadway on March 11 in 1959. Sidney Potier played the male lead. Raisin had only one preview before it opened.

According to reports, the author thought the play was not going to do well, but the resounding applause on opening night marked a transformative moment in the history of American Theatre. Ms. Hansberry died of cancer in 1965 at the age of 34.

Celebrate this landmark moment in theatre history with a short trailer for the film, which featured most of the Broadway cast.
-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

Landmark Musical Arrives On Broadway

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- In the Heights opened on March 9th, 2008 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. It was nominated for the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and ended up capturing several awards at the 2008 ceremony, including the Tony Award Best Musical. Of course the show continues its successful run on Broadway even at the moment.

The current cast includes High School Musical star Corbin Bleu, who will surely lead the audience in a rousing chorus of Happy Broadway Birthday To In The Heights at the show today. Let us know if they have cake on Twitter.

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

In The Heights

 Television History Made with Broadway

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- You can fly. On March 7, 1955, Peter Pan became the first Broadway play to be televised in color. It was performed by the original cast, including Mary Martin. According to the Museum Of Broadcast Communications, the event marked “a popular melding of American television and Broadway theater.”, first

The show formed part of an ongoing series titled Producers’ Showcase, a loose rubric for high-quality dramatic presentations put together by producer Fred Coe for the network about once a month between 1954 and 1957.

As trailblazers in bringing together Broadway and TV, we at Broadway.tv salute Mary Martin, Fred Coe, NBC, and Peter Pan with this special clip of the production. Celebrate with us on Twitter too.

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

 Broadway Revival Commercial

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- A revival of the Rodgers and Hart show, On Your Toes takes the stage in New York’s Virginia Theatre on the 6^th of March, 1983. It runs for slightly over a year.

Given your passion for Broadway commercials from 1983, we’ve included a special video below for your viewing pleasure. Please note that the run of this production is over, and Broadway tickets are no longer available for the 1983 revival of On Your Toes.

Take a ride with us on Twitter for more.

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

Star Of Broadway’s My Fair Lady

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- Just you wait ‘enry ‘iggins! In 1908, on March 5, actor Rex Harrison was born in Lancashire, England. His most notable role was that of linguist Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady. Harrison would play the part of Higgins both on Broadway and in London’s West End, and in the movie too.

“I’m a theatre actor primarily, who makes films,” said the actor in an interview. Now enjoy this interesting clip of Rex Harrison accepting his Golden Globe for his work in My Fair Lady.

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

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 Broadway Anchors Away For Ship

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- Women and children first! On March 4, 1999; The New York Times ran an article announcing producers’ intentions to close the musical Titanic
later that month. Costing approximately $10 million, it was one of the most expensive productions in Broadway history at that point.

Guess how much the actual Titanic cost to build?

In 1912 dollars, the actual Titanic cost $7,500,000.17. So, though the Broadway production cost more than the ship…it also lasted longer. Ticket prices were comparable, though the snacks at intermission were more expensive.

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

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 Whatever Lola Wants

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- Today in Broadway history celebrates a celebrated revival of the hit musical Damn Yankees which opened on Broadway on March 3, 1994 at the Marquis Theater.

The hit revival featured Victor Garber and Bebe Neuwirth. Both stars are currently playing on Broadway. Mr. Garber in Present Laughter, and Ms. Neuwirth in The Addams Family.

CAUTION- Please do not confuse this Damn Yankees entry with the Damn Yankees who originally performed the song HIGH ENOUGH, which is featured in the Broadway production of Rock Of Ages…though we salute them too with a picture on your left.

Rock on, Lola!

-Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

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Poem To Dr. Seuss

BROADWAY MAGAZINE- Theodor Seuss Geisel was born on this day in 1904. Dr. Seuss’ whimsical writings would eventually become the basis of Seussical, a musical centering around his characters including The Cat in The Hat. More successfully on Broadway, his story of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas remains one of the most successful holiday shows in Broadway history.

Here is a poem you should read aloud in honor of this date in Broadway History:

This day on Broadway you cannot lose,

For it is the birthday of Dr. Suess

His Grinch on Broadway made lots of Money.

His Seussical, however, didn’t make any.

So raise up your guzzles and woozles and whosis

And celebrate the birthday of Broadway’s Dr. Seussis.

Thank you, you can put down your whosis now.

-
Ashley Trombley, Broadway Magazine

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