Schoenfeld's How I Got to Bway Opens in Spring '06

By: Aug. 01, 2005
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How I Got to Broadway, a new musical about one man's journey from the streets to the stage, will open off-Broadway in Spring of 2006.

Starring and written by the co-writer of Brooklyn: The Musical's book, lyrics and music, the show is subtitled The Untold Story of the Battles, Wins and Losses On Stage and Off of Mark Schoenfeld.  Barri McPherson, with whom Schoenfeld wrote Brooklyn, will make cameo appearances throughout the run.

The show "tells the truthful tale of an outsider's brush with the insider's world of Broadway. The musical follows the journey of a homeless man who, through persistence, luck and the generosity of stranger, transforms from common street performer to seeing his name in lights in the most famous city in the world," according to production notes. 

How I Got to Broadway will feature cut songs from Brooklyn such as "Natalie," "To Those That Crossed The Brooklyn Bridge," and "Miracle on 34th Street," as well as original songs like "What the %$@# Does a Producer Do?" "Raising Money," "We Wuz Robbed," "Thank God for Tommy Tune," "Reviewing the Critics," and "Who the Hell is This Guy Tony, Anyway?" Specific performances dates, a theatre and a creative team are not yet announced for the show.

"Born in Brooklyn and raised in the projects of the Bronx, Schoenfeld fell in love with music at an early age.  He fell on hard times and was forced to perform on the street for money and slept wherever it was warm and dry. One day he was heard performing by a voice from his past –McPherson who took him in and gave him a warm place to stay.  Together, they wrote Brooklyn and knocked on any and every door they could to get it produced. Their persistence paid off; Brooklyn was produced on Broadway, although the reviews were mixed (it closed on June 26th after 284 performances). Schoenfeld was seen regularly at Times Square's TKTS booth selling Brooklyn to those waiting on line for discount tickets; it is estimated that his 'hard sell' accounted for up to 45% of the house on some nights. Since the close of Brooklyn, Schoenfeld has been ask to speak in front of various church groups and homeless centers as well as in front of corporations around the country."

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