Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond's screenplay for the 1959 cult classic film Some Like It Hot relied on one comedy gimmick, that two men, played by Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis, could escape from Chicago mobsters by donning drag and joining a girl band ...and convince everyone around them that they were really women. Could they pull it off? Wilder himself reputedly stated that he never thought the movie would be as successful as it became due to its meager plotline. But... with Marilyn Monroe alongside Lemmon and Curtis as Sugar Kane, the hilarious trio really blended uproariously...and the rest is history. When in 1972 Jule Styne and Bob Merrill collaborated with book writer Peter Stone to create Sugar, their Broadway musical flopped, probably for two reasons. Firstly, Styne's music, with the exception of one or two songs, is not memorable. Secondly, the book, too faithful to the screenplay, has tremendous holes for a stage play and just does not, no offense to composer Styne, come up roses.
The secret ingredient is dance. After that, everything else falls into place. Fantastic ensemble singers. Broadway talent. Men in women's clothing. The production's name fits it well, as plenty of delicious treats entice Music Circus audiences into the world of 'Sugar.'
Sugar, a hilarious Tony-nominated musical comedy based on the classic film Some Like It Hot, is the next show in the 2013 Music Circus season, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion from today, July 23 - 28. Like the 1959 film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, Sugar follows the hysterical antics of two male musicians, disguised as women in an all-female band, as they experience a series of mishaps while fleeing from the mob. The brassy score is by Jule Styne (music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), composers of the hit musical Funny Girl.
Sugar, a hilarious Tony-nominated musical comedy based on the classic film Some Like It Hot, is the next show in the 2013 Music Circus season, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion from July 23 - 28. Like the 1959 film starring Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, Sugar follows the hysterical antics of two male musicians, disguised as women in an all-female band, as they experience a series of mishaps while fleeing from the mob. The brassy score is by Jule Styne(music) and Bob Merrill (lyrics), composers of the hit musical Funny Girl.
After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Casale has announced casting for the 63rd Music Circus season, including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes The Wizard of Oz, Show Boat, Sugar, The King and I and the Music Circus premiere of Chicago.
The Gateway's wonderful production of Grease refreshed my fondness for the pop culture staple. Like most people, I was more familiar with the popular movie incarnation that was based on the staged show.
Former congressman Barney Frank assumed the role of a conservative senator when he made his stage debut yesterday, February 2, in Fiorello!, the opening musical of New York City Center's Encores! 20th Anniversary season. BroadwayWorld spent some time with Frank and the cast backstage and brings you photos below!
Bock and Harnick's Fiorello!, the opening musical of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season, stars Kate Baldwin, Erin Dilly, Jenn Gambatese, Shuler Hensley and Emily Skinner, with Danny Rutigliano as Fiorello LaGuardia. Fiorello! is directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Rob Berman. The show will run for seven performances through today, February 3, at New York City Center. BWW brings you photos from Fiorello!'s curtain call below!
Former congressman Barney Frank assumed the role of a conservative senator when he made his stage debut yesterday, February 2, in Fiorello!, the opening musical of New York City Center's Encores! 20th Anniversary season. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos below!
Bock and Harnick's Fiorello!, the opening musical of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season stars Kate Baldwin, Erin Dilly, Jenn Gambatese, Shuler Hensley and Emily Skinner, with Danny Rutigliano as Fiorello LaGuardia. Fiorello! will be directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Rob Berman. The show will run for seven performances from January 30 - February 3 at New York City Center. BWW has a first look at the cast in action below!
Bock and Harnick's Fiorello!, the opening musical of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season stars Kate Baldwin, Erin Dilly, Jenn Gambatese, Shuler Hensley and Emily Skinner, with Danny Rutigliano as Fiorello LaGuardia. Fiorello! will be directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Rob Berman. The show will run for seven performances from January 30 - February 3 at New York City Center. BWW has a first look at the production onstage!
Former congressman Barney Frank will assume the role of a conservative senator when he makes his stage debut on Saturday, February 2 in Fiorello!, the opening musical of New York City Center's Encores! 20th Anniversary season.
Bock and Harnick's Fiorello!, the opening musical of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season, will star Kate Baldwin, Erin Dilly, Jenn Gambatese, Shuler Hensley and Emily Skinner, with Danny Rutigliano as Fiorello LaGuardia. Fiorello! will be directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Rob Berman. The show will run for seven performances from January 30 - February 3 at New York City Center.
Bock and Harnick's Fiorello!, the opening musical of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season, will star Kate Baldwin, Erin Dilly, Jenn Gambatese, Shuler Hensley and Emily Skinner, with Danny Rutigliano as Fiorello LaGuardia. Fiorello! will be directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Rob Berman. The show will run for seven performances from January 30 - February 3 at New York City Center.
The cast and creative team met the press today and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the whole gang and catch a special performance preview. Check it out below!
Bock and Harnick's Fiorello!, the opening musical of the Encores! 20th Anniversary season, will star Kate Baldwin, Erin Dilly, Jenn Gambatese, Shuler Hensley and Emily Skinner, with Danny Rutigliano as Fiorello LaGuardia. Fiorello! will be directed by Gary Griffin with choreography by Alex Sanchez and music direction by Rob Berman. The show will run for seven performances from January 30 - February 3 at New York City Center.
Carson Kressley (Mr. Applegate) is devilishly delicious, providing a subtle playing field for the entire cast to play on. The audience delights in the Kressley-isms sprinkled throughout. Kressley's vocals and comedic timing prove that he can do more than just make people look fashionably good.
With its funny, sexy and sentimental book by master craftsman George Abbott and a catchy and clever score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, Damn Yankees is a textbook example of the kind of big and brassy musicals that made Broadway's Golden Age glitter. Paper Mill's terrific new production is packed with boisterous comic performances and, as the song says, miles and miles and miles of heart.
Paper Mill Playhouse just opened Damn Yankees, directed by Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by Denis Jones. The cast features Howard McGillin (Applegate), Chryssie Whitehead (Lola), Christopher Charles Wood (Joe Hardy), Joseph Kolinski (Joe Boyd), Patti Cohenour (Meg Boyd) and Nancy Anderson (Gloria Thorpe).
BroadwayWorld was there for the big opening and brings you coverage from the first curtain call below!
Paper Mill Playhouse is currently in rehearsals for Damn Yankees, directed by Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by Denis Jones. The cast features Howard McGillin (Applegate), Chryssie Whitehead (Lola), Christopher Charles Wood (Joe Hardy), Joseph Kolinski (Joe Boyd), Patti Cohenour (Meg Boyd) and Nancy Anderson (Gloria Thorpe). Damn Yankees begins performances on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and runs at the Millburn, New Jersey theater through Sunday, April 1, 2012. Opening night is scheduled for Sunday, March 11, 2012.
Yesterday, February 29, the company met the press and below we bring you photo coverage of the cast in action!
Paper Mill Playhouse has just announced casting for Damn Yankees, directed by Paper Mill Playhouse's Producing Artistic Director, Mark S. Hoebee, with choreography by Denis Jones. The cast features Howard McGillin (Applegate), Chryssie Whitehead (Lola), Christopher Charles Wood (Joe Hardy), Joseph Kolinski (Joe Boyd), Patti Cohenour (Meg Boyd) and Nancy Anderson (Gloria Thorpe). Damn Yankees begins performances on Wednesday, March 7, 2012, and runs at the Millburn, New Jersey theater through Sunday, April 1, 2012.
