Broadway Man - 2004 - Chicago Articles Page 1

THE NOTEBOOK The Musical was a charming chamber piece when I first read Bekah Brunstetter's adaptation of Nicholas Sparks' breakout bestseller. But the touring version is now playing to bigger houses than either its original Chicago premiere or its New York engagement. With Broadway-extravaganza pretensions. Call me back when a local company decides to mount this musical at an appropriate scale.

Based on Ron Chernow's 2004 biographical book titled Alexander Hamilton, this musical tells the true story of America's $10 Founding Father. The story begins when he was an immigrant who came to New York from the West Indies. Eventually, he became George Washington's right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was later named the nation's first Treasury Secretary.

Jesus Christ Superstar began as a concept album in 1970 before making its stage debut in 1971. The original 1970 concept album was the brainchild of composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Tim Rice.

Veteran theatrical press agents Heath Schwartz and Michelle Farabaugh have acquired principal ownership of Boneau/Bryan-Brown, Inc., a publicity firm with over three decades of experience serving the theater industry, rebranding the company effective June 1, 2026 as Aperture Public Relations.

The stage production does make a lot of strides that strengthens the endurance and popularity of this love story. It repeats iconic moments from the popular 2004 film, but isn’t aping the original screenplay in any way. A new libretto offers a fresh take that borrows the basic structure of the novel and memorable film moments, whilst breathing in new voices and new scenes that add different layers to these familiar characters.

What did our critic think of GEM OF THE OCEAN at Actors' Shakespeare Project?

There’s a strange dichotomy that exists in live theater. I may not like the material, but will still find reason to love its execution. And at Theater West End, they’ve culled together a company of players who help elevate the material of POTUS into a comedy that now exists thanks to their approach to the characters. They form a symbiotic relationship with the audience throughout the two acts to make us still care for them, for their arcs, and for their resolutions – no matter how far-fetched it may seem. This is where the production of POTUS shines.

The musical “Swept Away” tells the story of four whalers shipwrecked off New Bedford in 1888, making it especially resonant for local audiences, who can experience the musical drama in a well crafted New England premiere at SpeakEasy Stage Company in the Virginia Wimberly Theatre at the Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts, through May 23.

London's Playground Theatre will present the New York premiere of PICASSO: LE MONSTRE SACRÉ at La MaMa, starring Peter Tate and directed by Olivier Award winner Guy Masterson.

Chromolume Theatre will present William Finn's ELEGIES: A SONG CYCLE at the Hollywood Fringe Festival, directed by Carol M. Becker, at the Zephyr Theatre in Los Angeles for three performances only.

Astounding triple-threat talent is on display in big production numbers with attention-grabbing scenic elements by brilliant designers add to the artistic wonder of the entire production helmed by EWP Artistic Director Lily Tung Crystal, choreographed by Janelle Dote Portman, with music direction by Marc Macalintal.

Kathleen Marshall’s sumptuous revival of (Top Hat) transforms the Théâtre du Châtelet into a 1930s fantasia of tap brilliance, screwball romance, and Irving Berlin classics. Phillip Attmore and Nicole‑Lily Baisden lead a radiant cast through a whirlwind of mistaken identities, Art Deco glamour, and showstopping choreography. Running until 3 May.

The acting in this production of Assassins is phenomenal, giving the audience the unsettling experience of relating to these characters as they plot and execute their assassination attempts. Assassins is a musical that will speak to many today.

Director Rebecca Saari and the cast and crew from Fargo Davies bring one of the most beloved stories of all time to life in Mary Poppins. This theatrical adaptation of the classic stories by P. L. Travers and the beloved Mary Poppins produced by Walt Disney premiered in London’s West End in 2004 before moving to Broadway in 2006. The show features music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman, along with new songs by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe.

Tony and Emmy Award-winner Billy Crystal will return to Broadway this fall in a new one-man show, 860, written and performed by Mr. Crystal and directed by Olivier Award-winner Scott Ellis. We have all of the details!

Laurie Metcalf is back on Broadway! The actress of stage and screen is back in New York, starring in Death of a Salesman. As Metcalf takes her next Broadway bow, we're looking back on some of her many iconic roles.

BroadwayWorld is featuring Ismael Loutfi in a special Off-Broadway Debut of the Month! Read BroadwayWorld's full interview with Ismael as he talks about performing Ismael Loutfi: Heavenly Baba Off-Broadway at SoHo Playhouse.

Marc Anthony has added new fall 2026 performance dates to his BleauLive Theater residency, “VEGAS… MY WAY!, returning to the stage this September. Tickets for the new dates go on sale on Friday, April 10, at 10 a.m. PDT.

The biggest change from prior years is at The New York Times, where Helen Shaw became the first female chief theater critic at the paper of record earlier this year. Previously, The Times has had plenty of female second-string critics, but the top seat was always held by a man.

A first look at Richard Kind in the major West End revival of The Producers at the Garrick Theatre has been revealed. Kind will star in the role of Max Bialystock for seven weeks only. See photos of him reprising his Broadway role now!

Arizona Broadway Theatre will present a diverse lineup from October 2026 through September 2027, including classics like MY FAIR LADY, family favorites such as MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, and the world premiere of TRIÂNGULO.

New York City Ballet principal dancer, choreographer, curator, actress, and author Tiler Peck will receive the 2026 Jacob's Pillow Dance Award. Peck will accept this award at Jacob's Pillow's annual Season Opening Gala on Saturday, June 20. 

Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century.  Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life. 

Little Theatre of Fall River, the birthplace of theatre on the South Coast, will present Indoor/Outdoor, a play by Kenny Finkle, opening at Little Theatre’s Firebarn. See photos!

Little Theatre of Fall River, the birthplace of theatre on the South Coast, will present Indoor/Outdoor, a play by Kenny Finkle at Little Theatre's Firebarn.