Long Story Short - 2010 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 1

Crow's Theatre will present the world premiere stage adaptation of Rohinton Mistry's A FINE BALANCE, adapted by Anosh Irani and directed by Artistic Director Chris Abraham, at the Guloien Theatre in Toronto.

Looking to escape from the hot sun? Why not check out one of the many intriguing offerings at greater Boston venues where this summer’s vibrant theater scene boasts pre-Broadway productions, national tours, and summer-stock productions of everything from Shakespeare to classic and contemporary plays, musicals, and concerts. Bay State audiences have much to look forward to, including:

Tony Danza returns to 54 Below with his Sinatra tribute show this July, joined by Linda Eder and a packed lineup of Broadway and cabaret stars.

Have you ever wondered what really goes on in cemeteries when memories are shared with those seen and unseen at grave sites?  Then head on over to see two, funny and life-affirming plays in this year’s Hollywood Fringe Festival, bundled together as Amazing Graves, produced by Amanda Lynne for Neo Ensemble Theatre.

English Touring Theatre announced a season of five plays, including world premieres of APPLICATION 39, LANNY, and PERICLES, alongside a new production of ROMEO AND JULIET, touring venues across the UK.

Much has been written about the proliferation of pop singer-songwriters writing new musicals for Broadway and off-Broadway. Less covered is the trend of pop singers performing on Broadway, which has made for a number of memorable appearances in current and recent seasons. 

Hey There! Have you seen MAMMA MIA the Musical? How about Mamma Mia the film with the legendary Meryl Streep? How about Abba, the band? You know, the Swedish group that took the world by storm in 1974 when they won the Eurovision song contest with “Waterloo”?

In April, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Marilyn Maye, Claybourne Elder and many more. 

An Equity Principal Audition is being held for a developmental production of Tangled, presented by Disney Theatrical Group. The production is looking to cast the roles of Rapunzel, Mother Gothel, and Flynn Rider. 

Winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Choreography and Best Costumes, Some Like It Hot is set in Chicago during Prohibition, when everyone is thirsty for a little excitement.

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. 

The Bent, the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ+ theatre, is presenting a wonderfully directed and acted and technically superb dramedy, IN THE WAKE, by Lisa Kron. The play is well-written and generates lots of laughs and lots of pathos, although I consider it a bit too wordy. Still, it is well worth seeing.

With Ariana Grande returning to the stage in Sunday in the Park with George, here is our roundup of theater “kids” who we would love to see return to their stage roots!

A new musical is in development based on the best-selling novel by Alice Hoffman and the cult-classic WarnerBros. Motion Picture, Practical Magic, with an original score by Grammy Award-winners Norah Jones and Gregg Wattenberg.

San Francisco Opera will present a dynamic 2026-27 season, featuring a mix of classic operas and new productions. Highlights include premieres and revivals at the iconic War Memorial Opera House.

Next month, 54 Below, Broadway’s Supper Club & Private Event Destination, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Vanessa Williams, Tony Danza and more. 

Since its 1980 debut in Paris, Les Misérables has transcended the medium of musical theatre to become a global cultural force.

Sinatra The Musical, a new musical based on the life and career of the legendary artist and cultural icon, will open in London in 2026. The Broadway-aimed musical will begin performances at Aldwych Theatre, London on Wednesday 3 June 2026.

One of the most effective things the musical gains by moving from page to screen to stage is permission to reframe the story without betraying it. By leaning harder into the Curtis brothers as the emotional spine, the musical clarifies a distinction that’s always been present in the text but rarely foregrounded this explicitly: Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy are family by blood, bound by obligation and grief; while the Greasers are family by choice, bound by loyalty and survival.

The world premiere of All Out: Comedy About Ambition by Simon Rich, with direction by Tony Award-winner Alex Timbers, begins performances on December 12 at the Nederlander Theatre. Meet the cast of All Out here!

Folger Theatre at the Folger Shakespeare Library revealed the plays and playwrights for the fourth annual Reading Room Festival, a four-day festival of staged readings, panel discussions, workshops, and community celebrations.

Sabrina Carpenter is coming to screens near you in a new movie musical from Universal Pictures based on Lewis Carroll's classic story, Alice in Wonderland.

While different tryout theaters have different relationships to the development of new shows, it’s worth looking at both which commercial rental theaters and which non-profit theaters have had the most Best Musical Tony Award winners come from their stages.

Today’s subjects Edwaard Liang and Dwight Rhoden make up two fourths of the choreographic team for The Washington Ballet’s program of Moving Forces. The production will be presented in the Eisenhower Theater at Kennedy Center on October 24th through 26th.

Chess is back on Broadway! Previews for Chess begin Wednesday, October 15 at the Imperial Theatre. The production officially opens Sunday, November 16. Meet the cast of Chess below!