Just So - 1985 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 3

Back to the Future The Musical has been bringing audiences on a time-travelling adventure on the West End for four years, adapting the iconic 1985 film by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale for the stage. Recently, we had the chance to chat with Oliver Halford, who was cast as the alternate Marty McFly after an open casting call. We discussed what the casting process was like, how this role in particular is full-circle for him and how he survived an absolutely chaotic opening week!

Good morning, Broadway lovers! It’s a big news day with fresh faces, exciting sneak peeks, and some major industry updates lighting up the stage. Hadestown launched a brand-new Broadway cast (with first bow video too!), plus there are West End updates as Girls Aloud’s Nicola Roberts preps for her London debut.

Classic Adventure Movie; or Never Say Die will run Thursdays – Saturdays from September 11 – 27, 2025 at The Chapel. Tickets can be purchased, and more information can be found here!

Here are a few top picks to consider in NYC this week including a free outdoor summer concert, magicians Penn and Teller at Radio City Music Hall, and stars of Broadway and film/TV doing solo shows.

Next month, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Beth Leavel, Casey Likes, Joe Iconis and more. See the full month of programming here! 

See some of the biggest stars of the stage, screen, jazz, cabaret & Broadway performing at cabaret venues this month at a range of budget points. Tickets to these shows are limited and likely to sell out

This record-breaking musical production will commemorate its 40th anniversary in Australia with a celebratory performance attended by many of the original Australian cast and crew.

If you don't know the capsule plot of Back to the Future yet, close this review and go pull it up for streaming, or check TBS (Back to the Future is almost always running on TBS these days).

Boston-based string band Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light took home the top prize at the 2025 Telluride Bluegrass Band Contest. The trio, made up of Club Passim staff members including School of Music Manager Rachel Sumner on vocals and Performance Manager Kat Wallace on fiddle, craft music that blends folk tradition with feminist storytelling, poetic lyricism, and a touch of grit.

Just In Time’s origin story as well as overall conceit has much in common with one of Broadway’s very first jukebox musicals, which was ahead of its time. In 1985, Leader of the Pack, telling the story of pop singer-songwriter Ellie Greenwich, opened at the Ambassador on Broadway. Learn all about pop music bio-musicals here!

Brian Wilson, musical genius and founder of the Beach Boys, died today (Wednesday, June 11, 2025), so in honor of him, here is an article of the 40 greatest Beach Boys songs that I wrote for Broadway World two years ago.  Love & Mercy, Brian!

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE MUSICAL lands at Providence Performing Arts Center. National Tour delivers spectacle, nostalgia, and a flying DeLorean.

Once again, Broadway's biggest night has come and gone! With the 78th Annual Tony Awards now behind us, we have compiled a list of some of the most memorable moments from the evening, including fun references and Easter eggs you may have missed, standout segments, performances, and more.

Next week, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Jenn Colella, and more. See the full lineup here.

Dear Readers, when discussing the musical of Alice Walker’s classic novel “The Color Purple”, you must acknowledge the production’s own journey from the tepidly received original 2005 Broadway production to the enthusiastically received 2015 Broadway revival which launched the career of the incredible Cynthia Erivo. We can discuss them in a bit but to start I will say that the current production at Village Theatre is certainly in the 2015 camp, with its streamlined production and roof shaking performances.

Next month, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Tracie Thoms, Jenn Colella and more. See the full lineup here!

This fall, Jon Muq will join GRAMMY®-winning trio I’m With Her as direct support on their Wild and Clear and Blue tour. The run includes major stops in Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, and Muq’s adopted hometown of Austin.

Today’s subject Francesca Zambello is currently living her theatre life as the Artistic Director of Washington National Opera (WNO). She has been in the position since 2012. Her production of Porgy and Bess begins performances this evening in the Opera House at Kennedy Center where it will play through May 31st.

The new musical Goddess can currently be seen in its New York premiere production at the Public Theater on Lafayette Street. Directed by the Public’s associate artistic director and resident director Saheem Ali, who is currently Tony Award-nominated for directing Buena Vista Social Club, Goddess is playing at the Public’s largest space by capacity, the Newman Theatre.

Clue is based off of the 1985 black comedy film of the same name, based on the Hasbro game also of the same name. Reimagined by Sandy Rustin, with the help of Hunter Foster and Eric Prince, Clue provided roughly an hour and twenty-five minutes of continuous entertainment. It was a joy to watch.

This June, the Hollywood Fringe Festival shines a light on the raw, darkly funny, and heartbreakingly human story of Dolores, a one-act play by Edward Allan Baker. Starring Davonna Dehay and DeeDee Woche, staged at the Stephanie Feury Studio Theatre.

Jerry Harrison doesn’t have too many regrets in his musical career. The Talking Heads’ keyboardist, who was in town to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the band’s landmark film STOP MAKING SENSE May 4 at the Southern Theatre (21 E. Main Street in downtown Columbus), is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with his bandmates in 2002 and received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement award in 2021.

The 92nd Street Y, New York will present Benjamin Verdery & Friends: Some Towns and Cities with special guests next week. Learn more about the upcoming performance here!

Back to the Future at the Straz wasn’t just a performance but a phenomenon. It was a collision of story, skill, and science fiction that made the impossible feel intimate.

A bevy of Broadway’s brightest stars - from icons Jennifer Holliday and Andrea Martin to show-stopping newcomers Tom Francis and Jasmine Amy Rogers - lit up the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on April 28, 2025, at the inaugural Broadway Dream Roles. The lineup brought to life the characters they’ve always longed to play through spectacular performances and heartfelt storytelling. Check out photos of the show.