The Homecoming - 2007 - Broadway Articles Page 20

It is a rare enough occurrence for a genuine born and bred Broadway star to emerge post-millennium, but one as astonishingly versatile as Raul Esparza, having scored accolades since his blazing debut in a string of hit plays and musicals, ranging from Mamet and Sondheim and Pinter to CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG and his aforementioned Broadway bow in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, is a downright cause for celebration. Esparza makes his grand return to the Broadway stage in a musical with his upcoming starring role in Alan Menken & Glenn Slater's adaptation of the Steve Martin film LEAP OF FAITH, featuring a country and gospel influenced score and a spirited, energetic production by Christopher Ashley (who, incidentally, helmed Esparza's first Broadway show, ROCKY HORROR). While Esparza has been seen in many - most, if not quite all - Broadway seasons in the decade since 2001, he has also scored in leading roles in regional productions such as 2002's spectacular SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE and MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG revivals, part of the unprecedented Sondheim Celebration, as well as the Cincinnati Playhouse COMPANY, directed by John Doyle, which transferred to Broadway and was subsequently preserved on DVD and Blu-ray, in addition to being presented on PBS as part of Great Performances. Besides Esparza's many notable musical revival performances (lest we forget his essaying of the Emcee in CABARET), he also created the Broadway iterations of his roles in the controversial and brilliantly scored TABOO, produced by Rosie O'Donnell and composed by Boy George, as well as the stage adaptation of the hit family classic CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, as well as originating the lead role in TICK, TICK...BOOM! Having played three of Sondheim's most memorable male roles was not enough, though, apparently, for Esparza recently took on the part of the hapless Hapgood in Sondheim's ANYONE CAN WHISTLE when it was revived at City Center's Encores! - with Tony-winners Donna Murphy and Sutton Foster his co-stars, no less - with much success. Yet, in one of a myriad of examples of the broad spectrum of Esparza's abilities, it is instructive to remember he first made a name for himself with the role of Che in an Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice show, directed by no less than the ultimate man of the theatre himself, Harold Prince - EVITA, which, of course, is being revived this season with Ricky Martin in the role of Che. Besides Esparza's many musical roles throughout the past decade and prior, he has also carved out a seriously impressive straight drama resume, having appeared in plays by the great playwrights of our age, such as Pinter (THE HOMECOMING), Mamet (SPEED-THE-PLOW), Stoppard (ARCADIA) and, the greatest of all, Shakespeare (AS YOU LIKE IT, part of Shakespeare In The Park). ROCKY HORROR to ARCADIA to, now, with LEAP OF FAITH, Esparza constantly and consistently surprises fans and audiences alike with his audacious choice in roles and electrifying performances that are indelibly enjoyable in their uniqueness, variety and sheer breadth of emotion - time and time again. Yes, indeed, Raul Esparza is the best of the best Broadway has to offer, so let us hope LEAP OF FAITH is the ideal star vehicle for one of the most charismatic and multi-talented leading men of the 21st century and that it brings him his well-deserved Best Actor Tony at last.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced additional casting for the upcoming world premiere of THE COLUMNIST, by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

La Mama will continue its new Monday Nights at La Mama series -- a signature program of the company's 50th anniversary season -- on Monday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. at La MaMa (74 E. 4 St.) with an evening of New World Music featuring Bjork percussionist Manu Delago and the 24-member Bjork choir, Graduale Nobili, along with veteran La MaMa musicians Peter Gordon and Kit Fitzgerald.

La Mama will continue its new Monday Nights at La Mama series -- a signature program of the company's 50th anniversary season -- on Monday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. at La MaMa (74 E. 4 St.) with an evening of New World Music featuring Bjork percussionist Manu Delago and the 24-member Bjork choir, Graduale Nobili, along with veteran La MaMa musicians Peter Gordon and Kit Fitzgerald.

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that two time Drama Desk Award nominee Margaret Colin ("Gossip Girl," MTC's Defiance) and four time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines (Gypsy, Contact) will join Tony and Emmy Award winner John Lithgow in the cast of the world premiere of THE COLUMNIST by Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn, directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan.

Continuing its 25th Anniversary Season, the Shakespeare Theatre Company is set to present Eugene O'Neill's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Strange Interlude.

It might not be great art, but Xanadu-the new musical onstage through March 3 at Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre-sure is great fun! Pure, unadulterated escapism, Xanadu is laugh-out-loud funny, thanks primarily to the book by Douglas Carter Beane, but you have to give props to director Corbin Green and his talented cast who bring the completely ridiculous musical (featuring the music of Electric Light Orchestra's Jeff Lynne and John Farrar) to life onstage.

Tom Bateman, Mark Bonnar, Harry Lloyd and Finbar Lynch join Eve Best in John Webster's great Jacobean tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi, directed by Jamie Lloyd. Eve Best last appeared at The Old Vic in London and on Broadway opposite Kevin Spacey in A Moon for the Misbegotten in the 2006/2007 Season. The Duchess of Malfi will open at The Old Vic on 28 March 2012, previewing from 17 March.

STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS, the newest work from the Obie Award-winning and MacArthur Fellow writer, director, multi-media innovator and long-time La MaMa artist John Jesurun. STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS marks Mr. Jesurun's return to La MaMa for the first time in a decade. The production performs at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.), with a press opening set for Sunday, January 22. Heading the cast of STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS is the celebrated downtown actress Black-Eyed Susan.

Artistic Director Bill Rauch announced the 2013 playbill to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival company today.

American Composers Orchestra will present Philip Glass at 75 on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 8pm at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium.

Critically acclaimed soprano Jessica Gould, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra members harpsichordist Bradley Brookshire and lutenist Daniel Swenberg are joined by The Rose of the Compass Ensemble (Nina Stern, recorders, Ara Dinkjian, oud & Glen Velez, percussion) for a unique performance of the music of West and East in the Venetian Empire.

The Marriott Theatre kicks off its 2012 season with the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical LEGALLY BLONDE. Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit 2001 MGM movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, this award-winning Broadway sensation previews opened last night and runs through March 25 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. Check out opening night photos below!

The Marriott Theatre kicks off its 2012 season with the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical LEGALLY BLONDE.

The Marriott Theatre kicks off its 2012 season with the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical LEGALLY BLONDE. Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit 2001 MGM movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, this award-winning Broadway sensation opens January 27, and runs through March 25 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. LEGALLY BLONDE will star Chelsea Packard (Broadway: WICKED and PROMISES, PROMISES; First National Tour of WICKED) as 'Elle', Cole Burden (25th Anniversary National Tour of LES MISERABLES) as 'Warner', and David Larsen (Broadway: AMERICAN IDIOT, BILLY ELLIOT and GOOD VIBRATIONS) as 'Emmett'. The production will be Directed and Choreographed by Multi-Jeff Award Winner Marc Robin.

The Marriott Theatre kicks off its 2012 season with the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical LEGALLY BLONDE. Based on the novel by Amanda Brown and the hit 2001 MGM movie of the same name starring Reese Witherspoon, this award-winning Broadway sensation previews January 18, opens January 27, and runs through March 25 at The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire, IL. LEGALLY BLONDE will star Chelsea Packard (Broadway: WICKED and PROMISES, PROMISES; First National Tour of WICKED) as 'Elle', Cole Burden (25th Anniversary National Tour of LES MISERABLES) as 'Warner', and David Larsen (Broadway: AMERICAN IDIOT, BILLY ELLIOT and GOOD VIBRATIONS) as 'Emmett'. The production will be Directed and Choreographed by Multi-Jeff Award Winner Marc Robin.

The celebrated Obie Award-winning and MacArthur Fellow writer, director, multi-media innovator and long-time La MaMa artist John Jesurun returns to La MaMa with a new work for the first time in a decade when La MaMa presents the world-premiere of Jesurun's STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS with performances starting January 20, 2012 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St. in Manhattan), it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's artistic director. (The press opening is scheduled for January 22.)

STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS, the newest work from the Obie Award-winning and MacArthur Fellow writer, director, multi-media innovator and long-time La MaMa artist John Jesurun. STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS marks Mr. Jesurun's return to La MaMa for the first time in a decade. The production performs at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St.), with a press opening set for Sunday, January 22. Heading the cast of STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS is the celebrated downtown actress Black-Eyed Susan.

Dailey and Vincent will come to Fox Cities PAC, January 20.

The Marriott Theatre kicks off its 2012 season with the seven-time Tony Award nominated musical LEGALLY BLONDE.

The celebrated Obie Award-winning and MacArthur Fellow writer, director, multi-media innovator and long-time La MaMa artist John Jesurun returns to La MaMa with a new work for the first time in a decade when La MaMa presents the world-premiere of Jesurun's STOPPED BRIDGE OF DREAMS with performances starting January 20, 2012 at the Ellen Stewart Theatre (66 E. 4 St. in Manhattan), it has been announced by Mia Yoo, La MaMa's artistic director. (The press opening is scheduled for January 22.)