The Great White Way will soon be abuzz with some brand new productions and revivals to cater to every taste. Here’s a brief look at what to expect in the new year:
LEGALLY BLONDE - Palace Theatre
The musical adaptation of the hit 2001 MGM film of the same name marks Tony Award-winning choreographer Jerry Mitchell’s directing debut. Not surprisingly, Mitchell will handle the choreography here as well. LEGALLY BLONDE is the story of Elle Woods, a fun-loving sorority girl who finds herself enrolled in Harvard Law and is determined to challenge the doubters who think she can’t succeed. Featuring music and lyrics by Nell Benjamin and Laurence O'Keefe and a book by Heather Hach, LEGALLY BLONDE will open on Broadway in April following its world premiere at San Francisco’s Orpheum Theatre next month.
YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN – Theatre tbd
Based on Mel Brooks’ hilarious black & white spoof of the classic horror film genre, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN is expected to open in late 2007 and promises to have critics and audiences alike rolling in laughter. Inspired by the Mary Shelley novel and drawing closely from the 1974 film, the mad scientist, Dr. Frankenstein, resumes reanimation experimentation on a mythic monster. The show held a workshop in October which included Broadway notables Kristin Chenoweth, Brian D’Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Roger Bart and Cloris Leachman.
THE PIRATE QUEEN – Hilton Theatre
Celebrating the life of Grace O’Malley, the legendary Irish chieftain, THE PIRATE QUEEN is a musical adventure documenting the experiences of an inspirational woman who led an extraordinary life in 16th century Ireland. This sweeping new production by the Tony-Winning duo of Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creative team behind LES MISERABLES and MISS SAIGON, features gripping storylines, romance, history and a dash of Irish song and dance. Directed by Frank Galati, THE PIRATE QUEEN is set to begin previews on March 2nd with the official opening on April 5th.
TALK RADIO – Longacre Theater
This revival of the 1987 play by Eric Bogosian deals with a controversial late-night talk show host who is on the verge of having his Cleveland-based radio program nationally syndicated. Film and stage star Liev Schreiber is set to play the role of shock-jock Barry Champlain for the Broadway premiere. Director Oliver Stone adapted the work for the big screen in 1988 in which Bogosian played the lead role. This new stage production, directed by Robert Falls, is slated to open on February 25th.
CURTAINS – Al Hirschfeld Theatre
CURTAINS marks one of the final collaborations of the legendary Broadway songwriting team of John Kander & Fred Ebb (CHICAGO, CABARET, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN). In this new comedic murder mystery set in Boston in 1959, the leading lady of a theatrical production dies mysteriously onstage at the end of her show and everyone involved in the production – from the actors to the producers to the songwriters - becomes suspect. Directed by Scott Ellis and featuring David Hyde Pierce and Karen Ziemba, CURTAINS is scheduled to open on March 2nd.
THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING – Booth Theatre
Vanessa Redgrave stars in this solo play based on Joan Didion’s best-selling 2005 memoir which spans the year following the death of her long-time husband, novelist John Gregory Dunne, and the fatal illness of their daughter. British playwright David Hare will direct this production which is set to open on March 29th.
110 IN THE SHADE – Studio 54
Four-time Tony-winner Audra McDonald stars as Lizzie Curry and Steve Kazee as Starbuck in 110 IN THE SHADE, the latest musical offering by the Roundabout Theatre Company. Based on the play THE RAINMAKER by N. Richard Nash and directed by Lonny Price, 110 IN THE SHADE takes place during a sweltering Texas heat wave during the 1930s. The unmarried Lizzie is longing for change in not just the weather, but in her luck with love. The production begins previews April 13th with the opening scheduled for May 9th.
LOVEMUSIK – Biltmore Theatre
Fresh off his success in SWEENEY TODD, Michael Cerveris will join fellow Tony-winner Donna Murphy in a romantic new musical about the dark German composer Kurt Weill and his wife/muse of 25 years, singer Lotte Lenya. Directed by the legendary Harold Prince, the production will feature Weill’s music along with a book by Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Alfred Uhry. Presented by the Manhattan Theatre Club, LOVEMUSIK is scheduled for a May 3rd opening.
DEUCE – Music Box Theatre
Angela Lansbury will return to the Broadway stage for the first time in more than 20 years as a retired professional tennis player in Terrence McNally’s new play. Featuring fellow Tony-winner Marian Seldes as the other half of the former champion doubles team, the play centers around two women trying to make sense of their lives in their waning years. DEUCE, directed by Michael Blakemore, is set to open on May 6th.
