We are excited to announce the release of the app you’ve all been waiting for. iBroadway is finally here! It’s the easiest, most savvy way to access all things Broadway, all via you iPhone and iPod touch. Watch exclusive videos, read from Theater’s top bloggers (more on that to come), get show listings, and be able to buy tickets all from your phone. To download the app, visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibroadway/id349362702?mt=8. It’s fast and free!
This week we selected one from the vaults of YouTube. This video goes back a long ways away, back to 2008. A certain group of Broadway veterans put together a satirical video series based called Legally Brown based on the short lived MTV reality show Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods. The web series focused on replacing The Piragua Guy from the Tony Award Winning In The Heights. This particular video features Golden Globe and Tony Nominee Matthew Morrison. You may know him from a tiny show called Glee.
A Look at Broadway’s Ups and Downs during the week
A Little Night Music will be closing its doors after June 20th and therefore, won’t be recasting its lead women. It’s too bad. We were having so much fun at surmising the possibilities. We know we were rooting for Betty White as Madame Armfeldt.
The Drama League and Drama Desk honored very different performances this year. We all know what this is leading up to, a massive battle of who will win the coveted MTV Movie Award (Best Kiss) this year?
Rumors were confirmed that Sutton Foster would appear as the new Reno Sweeney in an upcoming revival of Anything Goes, following in the footsteps of Ethel Merman and Patti Lupone. To which we wonder if soon Foster will soon be venting, half of America loves me, and half hates me.
Beyonce, Jay-Z, and Will and Jada Pinkett Smith attended an after party thrown by 11-time Tony Nominee FELA! at the Palm last week. To which, Memphis replied, we got the guy from…Bon Jovi.
The guest appearances on Glee grew even more Broadway-ier with Neil Patrick Harris singing Aerosmith’s Dream On with Matthew Morrison. We really can’t wait to hear Boyd Gaines and Jonathan Groff’s duet of Love in an Elevator.
Finally, Pee Wee Herman comes to Broadway. Nah, too easy.
iBroadway is a huge fan of video content, both professional and amateur. Once we launch, expect a whole bunch of fun footage to get you acquainted with shows you might not know of, and showcase ones you know quite well. Also, we would love for all you Broadway fans out there to submit your own YouTube videos for us to feature so we can highlight you!
In the meantime, here are three recent videos that we really like:
Katie Finneran and Sean Hayes in Promises Promises
Sahr Ngaujah in FELA!
La Cage Aux Folles – Sneak Peak
It’s been a crazy week for the Broadway community since the Tony nominations were announced. While we are super excited about the June 13th ceremony (Watch on CBS at 8pm Eastern Standard Time), there are so many other thrilling occasions that you may have missed out on. Here are several events that have occurred since the Antoinette Perry Awards nominations.
Sondheim on Sondheim had to cancel a matinee due to lack of a 2nd understudy. Vanessa Williams and Erin Mackey were reported as both being ill, but we hear that they were both secretly out at another 80th Birthday Party for Stephen Sondheim.
Judith Light joins Dan Luria in the fall production of Lombardi at Circle in the Square. In other news, Fred Savage and Alyssa Milano are slated to appear in the revival of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf” at the Lyceum.
Off-Broadway production The Irish Curse, “a new comedy about guys with one tiny problem” closes its doors on May 1st. Did anyone else predict a “short” run?
Betty White successfully hosted SNL based on a Facebook campaign. Recently several more campaigns have sprung up including ones for Oprah and Rue McClannahan. Where is the Angela Lansbury love people?
Million Dollar Quartet performed on Late Night with David Letterman. Regarding their performance, Letterman proclaimed, “If it’s not great, I’m gonna eat my tie.” To which we wonder, what would Conan eat if they weren’t good?
It’s that time… Tony Nominations! Here is the list courtesy of The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing
Best Play
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Next Fall
Red
Time Stands Still
Best Musical
American Idiot
Fela!
Memphis
Million Dollar Quartet
Best Book of a Musical
Everyday Rapture – Dick Scanlan and Sherie Rene Scott
Fela! – Jim Lewis & Bill T. Jones
Memphis – Joe DiPietro
Million Dollar Quartet – Colin Escott and Floyd Mutrux
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Addams Family
Music & Lyrics: Andrew Lippa
Enron
Music: Adam Cork
Lyrics: Lucy Prebble
Fences
Music: Branford Marsalis
Memphis
Music: David Bryan
Lyrics: Joe DiPietro, David Bryan
Best Revival of a Play
Fences
Lend Me a Tenor
The Royal Family
A View from the Bridge
Best Revival of a Musical
Finian’s Rainbow
La Cage aux Folles
A Little Night Music
Ragtime
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Jude Law, Hamlet
Alfred Molina, Red
Liev Schreiber, A View from the Bridge
Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane
Denzel Washington, Fences
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Viola Davis, Fences
Valerie Harper, Looped
Linda Lavin, Collected Stories
Laura Linney, Time Stands Still
Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Kelsey Grammer, La Cage aux Folles
Sean Hayes, Promises, Promises
Douglas Hodge, La Cage aux Folles
Chad Kimball, Memphis
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Kate Baldwin, Finian’s Rainbow
Montego Glover, Memphis
Christiane Noll, Ragtime
Sherie Rene Scott, Everyday Rapture
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
David Alan Grier, Race
Stephen McKinley Henderson, Fences
Jon Michael Hill, Superior Donuts
Stephen Kunken, Enron
Eddie Redmayne, Red
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Maria Dizzia, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family
Jessica Hecht, A View from the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson, A View from the Bridge
Jan Maxwell, Lend Me a Tenor
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family
Robin De Jesús, La Cage aux Folles
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian’s Rainbow
Levi Kreis, Million Dollar Quartet
Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Barbara Cook, Sondheim on Sondheim
Katie Finneran, Promises, Promises
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
Karine Plantadit, Come Fly Away
Lillias White, Fela!
Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, The Royal Family
Alexander Dodge, Present Laughter
Santo Loquasto, Fences
Christopher Oram, Red
Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, Fela!
Christine Jones, American Idiot
Derek McLane, Ragtime
Tim Shortall, La Cage aux Folles
Best Costume Design of a Play
Martin Pakledinaz, Lend Me a Tenor
Constanza Romero, Fences
David Zinn, In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play
Catherine Zuber, The Royal Family
Best Costume Design of a Musical
Marina Draghici, Fela!
Santo Loquasto, Ragtime
Paul Tazewell, Memphis
Matthew Wright, La Cage aux Folles
Best Lighting Design of a Play
Neil Austin, Hamlet
Neil Austin, Red
Mark Henderson, Enron
Brian MacDevitt, Fences
Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, American Idiot
Donald Holder, Ragtime
Nick Richings, La Cage aux Folles
Robert Wierzel, Fela!
Best Sound Design of a Play
Acme Sound Partners, Fences
Adam Cork, Enron
Adam Cork, Red
Scott Lehrer, A View from the Bridge
Best Sound Design of a Musical
Jonathan Deans, La Cage aux Folles
Robert Kaplowitz, Fela!
Dan Moses Schreier and Gareth Owen, A Little Night Music
Dan Moses Schreier, Sondheim on Sondheim
Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage, Red
Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall
Kenny Leon, Fences
Gregory Mosher, A View from the Bridge
Best Direction of a Musical
Christopher Ashley, Memphis
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime
Terry Johnson, La Cage aux Folles
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Promises, Promises
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Lynne Page, La Cage aux Folles
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away
Best Orchestrations
Jason Carr, La Cage aux Folles
Aaron Johnson, Fela!
Jonathan Tunick, Promises, Promises
Daryl Waters & David Bryan, Memphis
* * *
Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Alan Ayckbourn
Marian Seldes
Regional Theatre Tony Award
The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Waterford, Connecticut
Isabelle Stevenson Award
David Hyde Pierce
Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre
Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York
B.H. Barry
Tom Viola
Tony Nominations by Production
Fela! – 11
La Cage aux Folles – 11
Fences – 10
Memphis – 8
Ragtime – 7
Red – 7
A View from the Bridge – 6
The Royal Family – 5
Enron – 4
A Little Night Music – 4
Promises, Promises – 4
American Idiot – 3
Finian’s Rainbow – 3
In the Next Room or the Vibrator Play – 3
Lend Me a Tenor – 3
Million Dollar Quartet – 3
The Addams Family – 2
Come Fly Away – 2
Everyday Rapture – 2
Hamlet – 2
Next Fall – 2
Sondheim on Sondheim – 2
Time Stands Still – 2
A Behanding in Spokane – 1
Collected Stories – 1
Looped – 1
Present Laughter – 1
Race – 1
Superior Donuts – 1
Awards Season is here, and the chatter this year is all over the place. If you aren’t already placing your bets for who will be nominated, who will be robbed and who will go on to garner a holy Tony, we advise you to hold onto your wallets. At iBroadway, of course, we have our own predictions, but, quite frankly, this is the year of the unexpected.
No one is in for sure, no one is definitely off the table, and even those with the strongest fighting chance aren’t sure of a lock. It’s kind of exciting to watch producers duke it out with each other over their shows, while press, fans, and bloggers share diverse and divisive opinions.
Will Angela win her (record) sixth Tony? Are FELA!, American Idiot and Memphis assured Best Musical nods, or will Come Fly Away or Sondheim on Sondheim sneak in? Everyday Rapture anyone? All we know is, the wait is almost over, and the only sure thing is that the results won’t please everyone. (Do they ever?) I, for one, am excited at the possibility of an exciting awards show season, where anything could happen, and those tossing money into the office Tony pool are throwing out fives instead of twenties.
While the Volcanic Ash has grounded thousands of flights, there are so many people stranded outside of New York City that couldn’t make it into town to see a Broadway show. Similarly, there are many visitors of New York City unable to get back home. For those of you “stuck” in NY (as though, there was such a thing), go see a Broadway show. If you are waiting patiently at the airport or in the city waiting to hear about possible flights, here are a few options to get you in the Broadway spirit and keep your hopes high!
10. Listen to the new soundtrack of A Little Night Music on your computer at the airport.
9. Do your favorite Come Fly Away dance in World Wide Plaza!
8. Download the Finian’s Rainbow soundtrack on iTunes, and think happy lucky thoughts.
7. Put on your favorite Rock of Ages YouTube video! We recommend the Anniversary Video.
6. Enjoy the new Avenue Q Slice at Two Boots Pizza at their Hell’s Kitchen Location on 9th Avenue and 44th Street
7. Sing Happy Birthday to Stephen Sondheim. Did you know he just turned 80?
4. Rent Chicago on DVD, or even better yet, rent Cabaret.
3. Go to the new Housing Works on 9th Avenue and 50th Street and try on some amazing dresses to get in the spirit of La Cage Aux Folles’ Cagettes
2. Visit FelaOnBroadway.com and watch the new commercial over and over and over again
1. Hit Like next to iBroadway on Facebook!
I would love to be in the room with producers or creators who decide to make movies into musicals. Personally I’m a huge fan of turning Adventures in Babysitting (David Stone, please don’t steal my idea) into a musical, but only if Anthony Rapp originates his role as the zany horn-dog Daryl Coopersmith.
This season, I’ve heard rumors of several movie-to-musical adaptations as Dancing With Wolves, Bring It On, and Clueless. I’m not saying that I’m not excited by these new ventures. After all, the original La Cage Aux Folles was based off of a popular French flick. I’m just curious to know why these films, and why now? Firstly, none of the above mentioned (and you can add Catch Me If You Can and First Wives Club to the mix) are recent blockbuster hits. In fact, with the exception of the death of Clueless star Brittany Murphy, I haven’t heard mention of these movies in quite some time. Similarly, I’m not even sure of the cult following that really exists for these films. It’s not like you see NYU kids running to Village East Cinemas with pom-poms and short skirts dancing to “there must be some Toros in the atmosphere” (Cheer-tators anyone?).
Of course, I’m hoping for the success of these pieces of art (and I would like to work on all of them at some point ☺). But, I’m still unsure of their relevancy on Broadway in “the tens.” Maybe in twenty years from now, Bring It On will command the necessary nostalgia for the hit Kirsten Dunst film. Maybe the time for “Virgins Who Can’t Drive” (Clueless) will have its day when the teens that watched Alicia with pure delight have teens of their very own. Since the day has already approached, I thought of a few other movies that could make fantastic musicals. You be the judge:
I Know What You Did Last Summer, The Horror Musical
Happy Gilmore, another Adam Sandler Musical
She’s All That, The Fat Boy Slim Musical (Check out the Funk Soul Brother This Spring)
Ok Broadway fans, start dreaming! 2020 is just around the corner. And once it comes, I’ll meet you in the orchestra section of Don’t Mom The Babysitter’s Dead, the I’m Right on Top of It musical.