The legendary rock opera by lyricist Tim Rice (Evita, The Lion King) and composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (Evita, The Phantom of the Opera), the premiere of Jesus Christ Superstar redefined the Broadway musical and 40 years later it remains a beloved classic. The instantly recognizable tunes and daringly contemporary lyrics made it one of the most popular albums of all-time, selling over seven million copies, as well as creating a truly global smash hit, with sold-out productions in more than 40 countries.
The 40th Anniversary production and first-ever Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz's rock musical GODSPELL officially opened at the Circle in the Square Theater on November 7, 2011. Were the critics charmed? Let's find out!
Marcus Nance just wrapped a fantastic season playing Caiaphas in the critically acclaimed Stratford Festival production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and is having a one night only cabaret in Toronto on Nov 10th before heading off to La Jolla with the Superstar cast. BWW spoke to him about the upcoming concert, and about the incredible year he has had so far.
Philippine Development Foundation USA ('PhilDev') will hold its annual fundraising gala at the prestigious AlIce Tully Hall, Lincoln Center with a concert event entitled 'PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim,' directed by Victor Lirio, on Monday, November 7th, 2011 at 7:30PM. Tom Myron will serve as conductor and music director.
Fiercely idiosyncratic and refreshingly impassioned, actress and performance artist Roslyn Hart is entirely her own entity unto herself - and with this year's previous hit solo show, SHELLS, and, now, next week's NEVER SLEEP ALONE, she is carving out a distinctively hip and edgy corner of the new 21st century theatre world as she takes her unique one-woman-shows around the world - and, always, back to New York. Talking all aspects of her new dating seminar-style spoof show, NEVER SLEEP ALONE, as well as its origins and inspirations - an engagement that defies description and which arrives with ample audience participation opportunities; as Hart is wont to offer so that all involved may relish her uproarious responses - Hart and I delve into the deep, dark depths of the dating pool in 2011 and discuss the finer aspects of the densely detailed characters she creates in her solo spotlight shows, new and old. Additionally, Hart also shares exciting news about SHELLS being developed into a television comedy, as well as her experience appearing earlier this year on HBO's BORED TO DEATH. Plus, what audiences can expect from NEVER SLEEP ALONE and the future appearances she may make as her freshly-born alter-ego, sexual psychologist and music therapist Dr. Alex Schiller - and much, much more!
Philippine Development Foundation ('PhilDev') will present it's upcoming gala event, PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim,on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7:30pm at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City. Headlining the event are Tony Award winners Robert Lopez, who will be honored with an Award of Excellence, and international star Lea Salonga. Yesterday, BroadwayWorld caught up with Salonga in rehearsal for the event and was given a sneak peak of her rendition of Sondheim's 'Move On'!
The 20th annual production of Pittsburgh CLO's A Musical Christmas Carol will feature an exceptional cast of exciting new faces and returning favorites, led by Pittsburgh's own Tom Atkins as Ebenezer Scrooge.
Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!
Their 2011/12 season marks several milestones for Scarborough Music Theatre. Not only is it their 50th season, it is also their 30th year performing at Scarborough Village Theatre.
It was announced today that The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will open at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway on Thursday, March 22, 2012. Previews will begin Thursday, March 1, 2012.
Nominations are now being accepted for the second annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! Click here to submit the names of the artists, shows and theaters that you feel should be nominated for this year's awards, the Chicago area's only comprehensive fan awards for local and touring theatrical productions.
People's Light & Theatre presents Treasure Island: A Musical Panto, by Kathryn Petersen, with music and lyrics by Michael Ogborn. It runs November 16, 2011 - January 8, 2012 on the Main Stage.
The Stratford Shakespeare Festival has just announced the filming of the 2011 production of Twelfth Night, directed by Artistic Director Des McAnuff. The production will be screened exclusively at Cineplex and participating theatres across Canada in 2012.
Broadway By The Bay, the Peninsula's premier musical theatre company, honors outgoing Artistic Director Brooke Knight with Applause! Applause! A Grand Farewell To Brooke Knight on November 13, 2011 at the Four Seasons Hotel Palo Alto.
Philippine Development Foundation ('PhilDev') announces that Filipino-American Robert Lopez-Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist and co-creator of Broadway smash hit musicals Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon-will be honored with an Award of Excellence at its upcoming gala event, PhilDev Celebrates Broadway: Suites by Sondheim, on Monday, November 7, 2011 at 7:30pm at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City.
The 2011-2012 season of Metropolitan Museum Concerts combines the return of acclaimed ensemble series - Pacifica Quartet, New York Philharmonic CONTACT!, and Metropolitan Museum Artists in Concert - with unique programs conceived to complement the Met's collection and galleries by a distinguished roster of world-renowned artists.
HOWL! Arts Project 2011 and The Actors Fund welcome Robert I. Rubinsky, a member of the original Broadway cast of HAIR, for one night only - Wednesday, October 19 at 8pm - to Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place) in the autobiographical musical comedy BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY: THE NRV 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL. Natalie Mosco directs.
HOWL! Arts Project 2011 and The Actors Fund welcome Robert I. Rubinsky, a member of the original Broadway cast of HAIR, for one night only - Wednesday, October 19 at 8pm - to Theatre 80 (80 St. Marks Place) in the autobiographical musical comedy BOBBY THE MIDDLE-AGED CELEBRITY: THE NRV 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL. Natalie Mosco directs.
The national touring production of MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, will kick off on October 16, 2011 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, TN (203 South Main Street) where it will play through October 23.
New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' opens its 21st season with the St. Louis premiere of the electrifying Broadway rock musical PASSING STRANGE, running September 22 through October 15, 2011, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend. Tickets are on sale now through Metrotix, at 314-534-1111.
New Line Theatre, 'the Bad Boy of Musical Theatre,' opens its 21st season with the St. Louis premiere of the electrifying Broadway rock musical PASSING STRANGE, running September 22 through October 15, 2011, at the Washington University South Campus Theatre (formerly CBC High School), 6501 Clayton Road, just east of Big Bend.
Today, in an extension of the FLASH FRIDAY column, we are sharpening our focus on the six upcoming revivals of musicals that are soon to hit the boards in the next few months (post-FOLLIES) and battle it out for the Best Revival as the Broadway season heats up just when the weather begins to cool: the classic Jule Styne/Bob Merrill musical that originally starred that star-of-stars, Barbra Streisand - FUNNY GIRL; the groundbreaking rock opera that rewrote the theatrical rulebook thanks to young creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice - JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR; the hippie, flower child take on the Christ story covering some similar Biblical ground to that of SUPERSTAR, with this one being the composing debut of WICKED songwriter Stephen Schwartz - GODSPELL; another Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice collaboration that won seven Tony Awards and acted as the vehicle for Patti LuPone's blazing Broadway debut in a starring role - EVITA; the significantly reworked, revised and rewritten new version of the beautifully scored time-travel musical by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner, this time starring a male movie star crooner - ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER; and, the landmark American opera composed by the Gershwins with DuBose Haywerd - PORGY & BESS. While each and every one of these entities has a huge hit song or two that nearly everyone on the planet knows by heart - "Don't Rain On My Parade", "I Don't Know How To Love Him", "Day By Day", "Don't Cry For Me Argentina", "On A Clear Day…" and 'Summertime' included - each of these revivals also comes after a film version (or two) that, in more than a few of these cases, will be relatively difficult to top as far as expectations of many audience members undoubtedly will go. So, by taking a listen to the smash hit crossover songs from these musicals as well as looking at their respective film version's trailers - as well as a couple of surprises, too - perhaps we can glean some insight into what makes these generally pretty terrific properties so well worth reviving on Broadway, here, now, today, in 2011. Furthermore, all of this crystal ball commentary is not even taking into account the starry assortment of performers that have already been announced for these productions so far - especially with FUNNY GIRL's Lauren Ambrose and Bobby Cannavale, GODSPELL's Hunter Parrish, SUPERSTAR's lauded Josh Young, EVITA's Ricky Martin and Michael Cerveris, PORGY's Norm Lewis and Audra McDonald, as well as the leading man in what was once a leading lady's role (that of Barbara Harris) in ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, Harry Connick, Jr.! What a tight race it is turning out to be for these new productions, particularly come Tony time in June! With rock to rhumba and borscht belt comedy to messianic hosannas and even full-out opera, seemingly every conceivable customer base is more than covered by this packed, potentially, well, awesome, season of shows - and many Broadway babies around BroadwayWorld are undoubtedly looking most forward to these six forthcoming revivals - with particularly good reason given the relative dearth of new musicals announced so far. So, let these revivals revive your flagging spirits as we leap into the 2011-2012 season with this comprehensive prospective and retrospective all about what makes them work so well in the first place and so worthy of another look!
Nominations are now being accepted for the second annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards! Click here to submit the names of the artists, shows and theaters that you feel should be nominated for this year's awards, the Chicago area's only comprehensive fan awards for local and touring theatrical productions.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Gary Griffin's 'Follies,' David Cromer's 'Rent,' two productions of 'Joseph...' in November, cabaret nights at Stage 773, the 'Footloose' remake and more...
It was announced today that The Stratford Shakespeare Festival's hit production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, directed by the Festival's Artistic Director Des McAnuff, will open at the Neil Simon Theatre on Broadway on Thursday, March 22, 2012. Previews will begin Thursday, March 1, 2012.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey ushers in the Fall portion of its 2011 Season with Othello -- Shakespeare's tragic tale of love, jealousy and betrayal featuring a prestigious cast of Shakespeare Theatre veterans including Lindsay Smiling and Robert Cuccioli. Performances of Othello end October 2 at the Theatre's Main Stage, the intimate F.M. Kirby Theatre.
1971 | Broadway |
Original Broadway Production Broadway |
1972 | West End |
London Production West End |
1977 | US Tour |
Touring Revival US Tour |
1977 | Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
Paper Mill Production Milburn, NJ (Regional) |
1977 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
1995 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway Revival Off-Broadway |
1996 | West End |
London Revival West End |
2000 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2002 | US Tour |
First Class National Tour US Tour |
2006 | Beverly, MA (Regional) |
North Shore Music Theatre Production Beverly, MA (Regional) |
2012 | Broadway |
Broadway Revival Broadway |
2017 | Off-Broadway |
All-Female Concert Production Off-Broadway |
2017 | St. Louis, MO (Regional) |
The Muny's Revival Adaptation St. Louis, MO (Regional) |
2017 | West End |
Regents Open Air Theatre Revival West End |
2018 | Motion Picture |
NBC Live Televised Production Motion Picture |
2019 | West End |
London Return Engagement at the Barbican West End |
2019 | US Tour |
2019 North American Tour US Tour |
2023 | US Tour |
US Tour US Tour |
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