A Broadway Musical 1978 - Articles Page 1.8

Opened: October 10, 1978
Closing: November 12, 1978

A Broadway Musical - 1978 - Off-Broadway History , Info & More

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A Broadway Musical is a musical with a book by William F. Brown, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse. The Broadway production closed after 14 previews and only one performance on December 21, 1978.



The plot about a sleazy white theatre producer's attempt to adapt an African-American writer's serious play for a commercial stage musical was inspired by Adams and Strouse's real-life experiences with their 1964 Broadway production of Golden Boy. The star of the musical-within-the-musical (Sneakers, about a basketball star) closely resembles Golden Boy star Sammy Davis, Jr. When the star opts to leave the show, the playwright - who from the start had resisted turning his work into a musical - steps in and takes on the lead role in order to save the production.


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Review: Patti LuPone Splendidly Sings of A LIFE IN NOTES
by R. Scott Reedy - Apr 3, 2024


In the past few years, Patti LuPone has resigned from Actor’s Equity Association and suspended her legendary Broadway career, but as she proved with her Celebrity Series of Boston performance at Symphony Hall on April 2, the three-time Tony Award winner can still command a concert stage.

Review: SUPER FREAK: THE RICK JAMES STORY at National Theatre
by Roger Catlin - Apr 3, 2024


Somewhere between touring tribute acts and high-gloss Broadway jukebox musical bios are the more modest regional  musicals created to nominally perform the hits of a legacy pop act, in costume, adding biographical details as a story arc.

Helen Hunt-Led BETRAYAL & More Set for Goodman Theatre 2024/25 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 3, 2024


The Goodman Theatre has revealed its 2024/25 season! See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.

Review: Andrea McArdle Tells the Tale of a Broadway Baby at 54 Below
by Sharon Ellman - Mar 30, 2024


Shining like a beacon, Andrea McArdle wowed the crowd at CONFESSIONS OF A BROADWAY BABY on March 29, 2024 at 54 Below. This reviewer, along with the rest of those in the audience, was completely overwhelmed at the performance. There is one more performance tonight at 7 pm - get your tickets now!

BWW Q&A: Rob Fisher on SWEENEY TODD at Virginia Arts Festival
by Joshua Wright - Mar 26, 2024


Virginia Arts Festival has cast one of Broadway’s leading lights in the role of a new, key position at the Festival: The Goode Family Artistic Advisor for Musical Theater and American Songbook.

EVITA to be Presented at San Francisco Playhouse this summer
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 26, 2024


San Francisco Playhouse’s 2023-24 season will conclude with Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Evita. See performance dates and learn how to purchase tickets.

Broadway Stage and Screen- A Spring 2024 Watch Guide
by Sidney Paterra - Mar 30, 2024


A new Broadway season has arrived at last, full of exciting new shows and revivals of beloved classics. While many of them are original concepts or based on plays, 10 are already films that you can watch from home. If you are seeing any of the below productions in 2024, check out how you can study up beforehand or unpack afterwards!

Ford And Campbell Join Workshop Of New Edward Kleban Musical GALLERY
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 12, 2024


Join the Weathervane Theatre for a workshop presentation of the new Edward Kleban musical, GALLERY, starring Sara Jean Ford and Ta’Rea Campbell.

Sara Jean Ford and Ta'Rea Campbell Join Workshop of Ed Kleban's GALLERY
by Nicole Rosky - Mar 11, 2024


The Weathervane Theatre will offer a workshop presentation of GALLERY by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Kleban. We have all the details!

DEADLY STAGES Off-Broadway Launches 'Guaranteed Fun, or Your Money Back'
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Mar 6, 2024


Now playing at Theatre Row through March 16, Off-Broadway's DEADLY STAGES is launching their 'Guaranteed Fun, or Your Money Back' promise. Learn more about the initiative!

Update: All Broadway Lights to Be Dimmed for Hinton Battle
by Blair Ingenthron - Mar 2, 2024


On March 12, 2024, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim all the lights of Broadway theatres in New York for one minute at exactly 6:45pm, in his honor.

Broadway Theatres Will Dim Lights in Memory of Hinton Battle
by Stephi Wild - Mar 1, 2024


The Broadway community will honor the memory of Hinton Battle on March 12 by dimming the lights of Broadway theatres.

March BIRTHDAY Feature and a QUIZ: Honoring Those Born in March
by Rob Lester - Mar 1, 2024


Let's march into March with a quiz about the music notables born in that month. Check out this BroadwayWorld quiz to see how much you know about them. A March Multiple Choice Quiz about our multiple birthday honorees.

Mary Testa to Star in GALLERY Workshop Presentation at The Weathervane Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 14, 2024


The Weathervane Theatre will offer a Workshop presentation of GALLERY by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner Ed Kleban (A Chorus Line). Learn more about Gallery and see who is starring!

Cast Announced for AT THE WEDDING at Studio Theatre
by Blair Ingenthron - Feb 11, 2024


The cast and crew has been announced for Bryna Turner's hilarious and meditative comedy At the Wedding, which will start performances on March 13. Learn more here!

Middletown Arts Center Announces February Movies At The MAC
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 9, 2024


Join us at the Middletown Arts Center this February for a lineup of classic movies including Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, Grease, and Gimme Shelter. Don't miss out on these cinematic favorites!

Photos: Taylor Swift & Tobin Mitnick Once Starred Together in GREASE
by Joshua Wright - Feb 2, 2024


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Full Cast and Additional Performances Revealed For GREASE UK and Ireland Tour
by Stephi Wild - Jan 31, 2024


The full cast has been set for the UK and Ireland tour of Jim Jacobs & Warren Casey’s iconic musical GREASE, directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips. Additional performances have been added in Dublin, Manchester, Newcastle etc.

THE WIZ Will Launch a Second Tour Leg in 2025
by Stephi Wild - Jan 22, 2024


THE WIZ will ease on down the road once again, beginning in February 2025, with further tour dates to be announced. Learn more about the upcoming performances here!

Musical Theatre Melodies Celebrates 50th Anniversary Of Carol Channing in LORELEI With Lee Roy Reams
by Stephi Wild - Jan 22, 2024


Musical Theatre Melodies, hosted by Rob Morrison, will mark the 50th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of Carol Channing in Lorelei (based on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) by Jule Styne, Leo Robin, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, featuring an interview with original cast member, Tony Award nominee Lee Roy Reams, on 96.5 FM on Tuesday, January 30th,

Review: Broadway Talents Honor Olivia Newton-John at OC's Segerstrom Center
by Michael Quintos - Jan 19, 2024


Hosted by Scott Coulter at OC's Segerstrom Center, this beautifully-curated 'greatest hits' showcase celebrating Olivia Newton-John provided an entertaining tribute, delivered via superb performances from the likes of Jessica Hendy, David Burnham, and Mike Schwitter, plus a first-person testimonial from her longtime producer John Farrar.

Photos: First Look At Wayne Brady In Broadway-Bound THE WIZ
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 18, 2024


See first look photos of Emmy-winning and Grammy-nominated Wayne Brady as ‘The Wiz’ in the groundbreaking musical set to open on Broadway on Wednesday, April 17, in a limited engagement at the Marquis Theatre.

Broadway Shows Based on the Top 1000 Highest-Grossing Films
by Michael Major - Jan 21, 2024


Of all the films on IMDB's list of the 1000 highest-grossing movies of all time, 31 have been adapted into Broadway musicals. Check out a guide to each those musicals below, along with musicals that are in development or ones that have not yet made their way to Broadway.

Theatrical Producer Martin McCallum Has Passed Away
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 17, 2024


Martin McCallum, FRSA, has passed away at age 73.

WORKING Comes to Creative Cauldron in February
by Stephi Wild - Jan 16, 2024


 In February, Creative Cauldron will mount a production of Working, a musical based on the Studs Terkel Book: Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. Learn more about the production here!

Other Productions of A Broadway Musical

1978   Off-Broadway Original Off-Broadway Production
Off-Broadway
1978   Broadway Broadway Transfer
Broadway

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