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By Mark A. Robinson 

September is here! Falling back into our routines after a summer of vacationing and sunbathing casts a grey cloud over our spirits while foreshadowing the crisp, cooler weather that comes with the new season. This doesn’t mean we cannot find a little time for escapist fun, and the theater is the perfect place to keep our hearts and minds alive with excitement. Say hello to September with these top Broadway offerings. 
 
The Lion King 
A trip to the African Savannah comes complete with an infectious score, high adventure, astonishing special effects, and beloved characters in the Disney stage adaptation of the animated classic The Lion King. The young lion cub Simba, heir apparent to the throne of the Pride Lands, must learn to be a courageous ruler when his unscrupulous uncle tries to usurp the title of “Lion King.” This family-targeted production brims with color, spectacle, and some of the most awe-inspiring puppetry ever utilized in musical theatre. You will never forget this trip to the Minskoff Theatre where an entire menagerie comes to life before your very eyes!  

Sweeney Todd 
What starts out as a bone chilling musical of gothic horror proportions evolves into an evening of devastating tragedy with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. The title character, a barber who is wrongly imprisoned by a corrupt judge, returns from his incarceration to exact revenge on the unscrupulous magistrate who rendered the sentence. With the help of a scheming pie maker, Sweeney turns murder into an art form in this Stephen Sondheim masterpiece about social injustice. Starring Tony and Grammy-nominated multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban as the title character, this show is not to be missed. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child 
The world of Harry Potter, The Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and the parade of beloved characters that inhabit J.K. Rowling’s series of novels continue their magical life in the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Picking up where Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows concludes, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child follows Albus Severus Potter (Harry’s offspring) on his adventures at Hogwarts. He and his classmate Scorpius Malfoy soon find themselves embroiled in a complicated mess when they try to alter history with the aid of a time turner.  

Some Like It Hot 
Things aren’t always what they seem, and the new musical Some Like It Hot insists that that is just fine. When two male musicians witness a terrible crime, they become afraid for their own lives. They disguise themselves as women and join an all-female band to remain incognito. In the process, they begin to realize that being a woman isn’t exactly easy, especially where romance is concerned, and the easiest path to love is to be your true self. Some Like It Hot is a farcical musical comedy with a delightful, jazz-inspired score by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman (the composer-lyricist team that brought us Hairspray).  

The Shark is Broken 
The making of the 1975 film classic Jaws did not happen without a litany of challenges. Filmmaker Stephen Spielberg was plagued by setbacks, particularly in the form of a mechanical representation of the titular monster that refused to work correctly. In the comedic play The Shark is Broken by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon, we witness the film’s stars Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Schneider as they must endure the arduous task of making the film while trying to keep their egos in check. The Shark is Broken is a hilarious exploration of the ins and outs of Hollywood magic (and how that magic comes at a price).  

The Play That Goes Wrong 
Anyone who has participated in a theatre production knows that the road to opening night is a minefield of things that will undoubtedly go awry. From technology issues to human error, there are just too many factors that can create a recipe for disaster. In The Play That Goes Wrong, playwrights Henry Lewis, Jonathan Sayer, and Henry Shields imagine the worst. The result is a side-splitting comedy that delights audiences as they witness, first hand, the myriad complications that befall the fictional Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society as they attempt a production of The Murder at Haversham Manor. 

By Mark A. Robinson
 
Although the Fourth of July has come and gone, we continue to celebrate America and all the things that make it a special place to pursue our dreams. What few people take time to consider is that the Broadway musical is a uniquely American art form, created out of theater traditions brought to this country and combined in the great melting pot that is America. Now is the perfect time to embrace America’s finest theatrical art on the Great White Way, celebrating with shows that embody just what it means to live in a country where we are free to have big dreams and endeavor to make them come true. 

Hamilton  
What better way to celebrate the founding of our country than to take that journey firsthand with one of its founding fathers? Patriotism and politics are all a part of the American dream. So are having big aspirations and bringing them to fruition. Alexander Hamilton, the titular and controversial centerpiece of the Lin-Manuel Miranda musical Hamilton, makes for a fascinating catalyst and the ideal character to usher us through the idealism, success, setbacks, and the compromises required when starting a country like the United States of America.  

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical  
Much is said about the American Songbook and the artists who have contributed to its legacy. One of its most celebrated and consistent contributors has been the legendary pop star Neil Diamond. A Beautiful Noise takes audiences on the journey of Diamond’s career, from his humble beginnings to his escalation as a music superstar. A jukebox musical brimming with favorites, A Beautiful Noise features a parade of Diamond hits that are “America” captured through music. Songs such as “Sweet Caroline,” “Love on the Rocks,” “Hello, Again,” “Forever in Blue Jeans,” and, perfectly tethered to our theme, “America” are among the tunes that captured our hearts and have remained synonymous with the USA.  

Shucked
Our next show takes us to the rural Midwest, where comedy abounds in the musical Shucked. The hardworking citizens of Cobb County, where corn farming is a way of life, are in a predicament – their crops are failing. These blue-collar Americans count on the corn crops to make their ends meet and their agricultural conundrum could easily lead to their ruin. Enter: Maizy, a spunky young woman who goes on a journey to find a cure for their woes. In the wild unknowns of the big city she thinks she’s found hope, but is it in the hands of a self-serving con-man? With a hilarious book by Tony winner Robert Horn (Tootsie) and a toe-tapping score by Grammy-winning country songwriters Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, Shucked is a slice of good old-fashioned Americana and down-home charm.   
 
New York, New York  
“Start spreading the news” that the must-see musical event of the Broadway season is the stage adaptation of the Kander and Ebb film musical New York, New York. The only thing that could be more American than apple pie is the “Big Apple” itself, and New York, New York is a glorious valentine to the city that never sleeps. The musical is set in post-World War II Manhattan, and follows a group of dreamers, with hopes as big and diverse as the city itself. If any musical captures the spirit, range, and possibilities of the American dream, it is New York, New York. 

By Mark A. Robinson and Kelly Shoemaker
 
A little summer escape is always a great deal of fun. This summer, escape to the English countryside in 1923 in the new comedy The Cottage, written by playwright Sandy Rustin. Broadway’s latest offering is poised to bring riotous laughter with an effervescent new drawing-room farce sure to tickle your funny bone. The Cottage, under the deft direction of comedic genius Jason Alexander (TV’s Seinfeld and Tony Award winner for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway) opened July 24th at Broadway’s Helen Hayes Theater.  
 

An idyllic bungalow in the countryside becomes the setting for an unexpected romp after Sylvia sends two telegrams – one to her husband Clarke, and one to her lover Beau’s wife Marjorie – exposing their illicit secret affair. A zany cast of characters arrives, seemingly out of the woodwork, to interrupt the lovers’ tryst and add to the complicated fabric of secrets and betrayals as the true meaning of fate, identity, and marriage are all called into question. How will Clarke and Marjorie react to the news? Does Beau have more secrets that he’s hiding, even from Sylvia? And who exactly is the mustached man who arrives with a gun, and what score does he have to settle with Beau? What happens next is a tangled web of twists, turns, and surprises that evolve into an evening of pure hilarity.  

 
This incredibly funny new play features a spectacular cast, each with comedic pedigrees that are sure to heighten the level of laughter. Eric McCormack (Emmy Award winner for TV’s Will & Grace) joins Broadway favorites Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde, Wicked, Hairspray), Lilli Cooper (Tootsie, POTUS, SpongeBob SquarePants), Nehal Joshi (The Phantom of the Opera, School of Rock, Flying Over Sunset), and Dana Steingold (Beetlejuice) in the on stage hilarity, along with Saturday Night Live cast member Alex Moffat, making his Broadway debut. 
 
Playwright Sandy Rustin is no stranger to the comedy genre, having adapted Jonathan Lynn’s screenplay of the movie cult classic Clue for the stage. Her other plays include Struck, Elijah, Houston, and The Suffragette’s Murder. The Cottage marks Rustin’s Broadway debut, which critics are calling “a sensational side-splitting screwball comedy” (Entertainment Weekly), and “frothy, effervescent, and hilarious!  You’ll laugh for two hours straight.” Don’t miss your chance to escape to The Cottage – get your tickets today! 
 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
There is nothing trivial about the complexity of Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and musicals. That doesn’t, however, change the fact that we love the trivia about these productions. Here is your chance to stand in the spotlight! How many of these trivia questions about currently running Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and musicals can you answer?  

QUESTIONS:  

1. Off-Broadway’s  Rock & Roll Man is a bio-musical about D.J. Alan Freed, one of the early proponents of Rock & Roll music. What American Idol finalist plays Freed in this new musical? 

2. The Shark is Broken is a play by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon that reveals the behind-the-scenes insanity that ensued during the filming of the 1975 horror classic Jaws. Who was the director of that famous film?  

3. This former Filipino leader is the subject of the immersive musical  Here Lies Love that chronicles her rise and fall from power. 

4. What popular country music variety and sketch comedy program was the basis for an earlier project that was revised and grown into Broadway’s musical comedy hit  Shucked? 

5.  MJ, the music biography that tells the life story of the King of Pop Michael Jackson, features many songs by the superstar. Which Michael Jackson album was the artist’s best-selling of his career and the top-selling pop album of all time?  

6.  Harry Potter and the Cursed Child continues the story of the titular wizard in J.K. Rowling’s best-selling book series. The play follows Harry’s son on an adventure at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. What are the names of the four dormitory houses at Hogwarts?   

7.  Titanique, the Off-Broadway musical that spoofs the film Titanic, uses songs made famous by this pop star to make up its score. Adding to the fun, she is also a character in the musical’s story.  

8. Trey Parker and Matt Stone are the comedic geniuses behind the musical  The Book of Mormon. What irreverent television cartoon for adults, that has been running since 1997, did Parker and Stone also create?  

9.  SIX is a Broadway musical-meets-pop music concert, that gives a voice to the half-dozen wives of Henry VIII. Can you name all six of these dynamic ladies?  

10. Who doesn’t love  Wicked, the long-running musical about the unlikely friendship between the two Witches of Oz? The musical spectacle features a character named Elphaba, better known to us as “The Wicked Witch of the West.” What was the inspiration for Elphaba’s name?  

ANSWER KEY: 

1. Rock & Roll Man stars Constantine Maroulis who was an American Idol finalist in the fourth season of the hit reality series. Maroulis received a Tony Award nomination for his appearance in the jukebox musical Rock of Ages. He also starred on Broadway in a revival of Jekyll and Hyde.  

2. Steven Spielberg directed the film Jaws. The production was plagued with myriad complications, among them the ongoing technical issues with the mechanical shark that portrayed the title character. The Shark is Broken delves into the comical and frustrating setbacks that came while making this movie classic.  

3. Imelda Marcos, played by Arielle Jacobs. Jacobs has appeared on Broadway in Aladdin, Wicked, and In the Heights. Here Lies Love features a score by Grammy winners David Byrne and Fat Boy Slim. The musical is set in the confines of a dance club and the audience gets to be part of the action. 

4. Hee-Haw! was a country music variety and sketch program that ran on various television channels from 1969 to 1997. Robert Horn, book writer for Shucked, previously worked on a project with composers Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally in 2015 called Moonshine: That Hee Haw Musical. The show’s 2020 run at the National Theater was cancelled by the pandemic, after which extensive rewrites left only two songs and the character name “Lulu” behind to forge a new path for the Shucked audiences know and love today. 

5. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album was released in November of 1982. It soared to the top of the charts and went on to become the best-selling pop music album of all time. Among its hit songs, “Beat It”, “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’”, “Billie Jean”, “Human Nature” and “Thriller” are all performed in the Broadway musical MJ.  

6. Gryffindor, Ravenclaw, Hufflepuff, and Slytherin are the names of the four houses at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. In the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, they feature as well. Albus, Harry’s son, defies family tradition when he is sorted into Slytherin instead of Gryffindor.  

7. The musical Titanique features songs made famous by pop star Celine Dion. Dion won both an Oscar and a handful of Grammy Awards for “My Heart Will Go On,” the love theme from the popular 1997 film Titanic. In the musical, the character of Celine Dion surprises patrons at a Titanic museum and serves as their guide through the telling of her version of the tale of the greatest maritime disaster.  

8. South Park, which premiered on Comedy Central in 1997, was the brainchild of Parker and Stone. The duo collaborated on the 2011 musical The Book of Mormon, bringing their devilish wit and ribald storytelling to a tale about two Mormon missionaries sent to serve in a remote African village.  

9. Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard, and Catherine Parr were Henry VIII’s wives. In SIX, each one gets a chance to make their case for why they had the worst deal as his spouse.  

10. The book Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire was the basis for the musical Wicked. Maguire, as an homage to Oz creator and author L. Frank Baum, added a vowel sound to each of Baum’s initials L.F.B. to create the moniker Elphaba. The beloved character lives on in the musical Wicked where she brings the house down every performance with the show stopping Act I finale “Defying Gravity.” 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 

As summer begins to wrap up and the kiddos get ready to go back to school, there is still time for a theater outing or two. Broadway and Off-Broadway have a wide variety of offerings, many of which are perfect for the entire family. Here are some of our picks of the top Broadway shows to see this month!  

Hadestown
Australian-American singer-songwriter Betty Who, making her Broadway debut as Persephone starting September 5th, is reason enough to make a journey back to Hadestown! And if you haven’t already seen the show, what are you waiting for? This trip to the Underworld where Hades reigns supreme may just be the most harrowing love story to ever play on Broadway. It certainly is one of the liveliest, propelled by Anais Mitchell’s intoxicating and pulsating score.  

Aladdin
There is nothing more perfect for a family outing than an event curated by Disney. On Broadway, that can be found on the magic carpet ride of a musical called Aladdin. Full of terrific music, adventure, romance, and spectacle, this one is ideal for anyone and everyone. Rub that magic lamp and be sure to tell the genie that one of your wishes is to see Aladdin on Broadway. No genie? No problem! You can always get tickets the old-fashioned way.  

Kimberly Akimbo
Meet Kimberly Levaco: she’s just your average high school girl with homework, crushes, a screwed up family and self doubts. Okay, so average doesn’t exactly describe her – Kimberly has a disorder where she ages physically at an exponential rate. If you think surviving the pressures of high school are difficult, try doing so while looking like an elderly woman. Kimberly’s life certainly is akimbo, but her heart and resolve make her one of Broadway’s most unforgettable heroines – so unforgettable that Kimberly Akimbo was awarded the 2023 Tony Award for Best Musical!  

Chicago
“Lucky Lindy never flew so high!” boasts the showtune standard “All That Jazz” in the musical Chicago. That may well be, but you’ll have to judge for yourself. When Roxie Hart commits murder in the Windy City of the 1920s, she parlays her predicament into publicity, launching a career in vaudeville. Chicago is the longest-running musical currently playing on Broadway, and there is a reason. It is a fizzy champagne cocktail of a musical with a whiskey chaser: a sparkling story of love, fame, and murder served up with a jazzy, edgy, Kander and Ebb score.  

Back to the Future
New to Broadway this summer is the musical adaptation of the 1985 film comedy Back to the Future. A teenage boy named Marty McFly finds himself accidentally sent via time machine back to the 1950s. There he meets his parents as teenagers and complications ensue when his mom starts to fall in love with Marty instead of his father. Can Marty fix things, bring his parents together, and ensure that his very existence is not put in jeopardy? Back to the Future is an exhilarating theatrical jaunt that takes audiences on a trip through time!  

Little Shop of Horrors
Off Broadway is always a delightful alternative to Broadway, particularly for those who crave a more intimate theatrical experience. One of Off Broadway’s current highlights is a revival of the perennial favorite Little Shop of Horrors. Audience charmer Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) is reprising his role as the nebbish plant enthusiast Seymour from July 25 through September 17. Head on down to Skid Row, revel in this campy classic, and remember – “don’t feed the plants!” 

By Mark A. Robinson 
Let us lift a glass and toast all the terrific shows playing on Broadway. Whether it’s a pre-show apéritif or a post-show nightcap, there are plenty of establishments that offer cocktails themed to some of Broadway’s biggest hits. From SIX to Wicked, from A Beautiful Noise to Back to the Future, you can partake in a libation tailored to that experience.  

SIX
Stop by Bond 45 at 221 W 46th Street to get into the mood for SIX. They feature “The Queen’s Cup,” a purple potion that celebrates those empowered wives of Henry VIII. The drink is a blend of Butterfly Pea Blossom Gin, plum liquor, lavender & blueberry tea, blue flower extract and lemon. Adding to the mood, Bond 45 features a special dining area inspired by the musical featuring purple upholstery and a brass plaque to celebrate the production. “Six” of these beverages might be too much, but one or two shouldn’t result in you losing your head (Henry’s input pending).  

BACK TO THE FUTURE
“It don’t take money, it don’t take fame,” all it takes is a jaunt to Dolly Varden (302 West 51st Street) to enjoy the two libations themed to one of Broadway’s newest musicals, Back to the Future. First up is the “88 Miles Per Hour,” served with a coconut rim and featuring Kahlua, vanilla, cold brew, and chocolate bitters. It’s guaranteed to get your pulse up to that 88 miles per hour required to head back to the 1950s. Also on the menu is a mocktail (without alcohol) called “For the Dreamers,” featuring chamomile, lemon and soda. 

A BEAUTIFUL NOISE: THE NEIL DIAMOND MUSICAL
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical features a parade of hits by the musical’s titular singer-songwriter. At The Long Room (120 West 44th Street) the big hit at the restaurant is a drink named after A Beautiful Noise. Tequila, habanero-infused agave, fresh lime, and tajin rim come together for an unforgettable cocktail that may not be quite as sweet as “Sweet Caroline,” but it sure comes close. Regardless, it’s a perfect homage to Diamond and his music.

GOOD NIGHT, OSCAR
Speaking of The Long Room, there is another cocktail on the menu honoring a Broadway show. The “Good Night, Oscar” is a delightful blend of vodka, rose water, and lemon citrus, topped with sparkling rosé wine. Musician and celebrity personality Oscar Levant, who the play Good Night, Oscar is about, was himself a complicated blend of elegance, sarcasm, humor and storyteller. This drink is the perfect concoction to capture his complex personality and unrivaled pizazz.  

WICKED
In the musical Wicked, a green elixir is responsible for the birth of a baby that would ultimately become one of the most powerful (and greenest) witches of Oz. Azalea (224 West 51st Street) has a green aperitif called a “Wickedtini” that may not lead to the same results, but the combination of vodka, lime juice, and melon liquor defies gravity with its fruity flavor and enticing, verdant hue. This is a potion that has the approval of the Wizard of Oz himself!  

FUNNY GIRL
A trip to New York isn’t complete without a stop at Don’t Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street), one of the Theatre District’s most beloved piano bars and eateries. Don’t Tell Mama’s cocktail menu includes the “Funny Girl,” a blend of Absolut Mandarin, Peach & Cranberry Juice, with splashes of lemon & lime. Equal parts sweetness and sass, it’s the perfect beverage to get you ready for a performance of the celebrated revival of Funny Girl and the colorful comedienne at its core: the late, great Fanny Brice. 

By Mark A. Robinson

One of the greatest thrills of the entertainment world is to see a Broadway show. The key reason for this thrill is that we get to witness some of the industry’s greatest talent, live and in person. This also means that there is a chance that you can catch these artists at the stage door after the show and maybe get their autographs. In the world of theatergoing, this is known as “stage-dooring.” It can be an exciting experience, one that makes your trip to a play or musical twice as memorable, but there is an etiquette that is essential to keep the experience fun and safe for all.  

Don’t Make Assumptions:  
Most performers are great with patrons at the stage door, but please remember that their interaction with you is a courtesy, not a requirement. Your ticket guarantees you a performance and that is all. There is nothing on it that suggests you will get a “meet-and-greet.” The performer has no obligation to stop for 15 or 20 minutes to sign autographs and pose for pictures. How fortunate are we, then, that so many DO provide this extra treat at the stage door!  

Don’t Expect All Performers to Participate in the Stage-Dooring Experience:  
Have you ever finished your workday and had to make a mad dash to pick up the kids, then stop at the grocery store, before going home and collapsing on the couch for a quiet night? Performers leaving the theatre may have somewhere to be, or maybe they are just exhausted from a day of rehearsals and performances. They may simply wave and walk by, in a hurry to get where they need to be. Performers are human, just like everyone else. If they cannot stop, it might be disappointing, but let them get where they need to go.  

It’s Not All About You:  
Typically, you are not the only person at the stage door waiting for a picture or an autograph. Don’t assume it’s only about you. At the stage door there can often be dozens (or hundreds) of adoring fans waiting their turn to grab someone from  Back to the Future, Kimberly Akimbo, or Moulin Rouge! Do not monopolize the talent, and certainly do not push in front of others to get to that performer you are hoping to meet. It keeps things calmer, happier, and safer when we take into consideration the bigger picture.  

Come Prepared:  
Getting an autograph from a theater celeb or getting a quick photo with your favorite performer can be a wonderful memento of your theatre excursion. Keep in mind, however, that actors do not always come armed with autograph pens, so make sure you have one with you if you are seeking a signature. If you are going to ask for that “quick” photo, have your camera open and ready to go so that you aren’t cutting into the time others might have to get THEIR memento!  

Be Respectful of the Artists:
As we’ve said before, the artists are under no obligation to stop and spend time with you. But many of them will, so reward their kindnesses with courtesy. Use words like “please” and “thank you.” Manners will get you far. Make it a positive experience for the performers so that they are enticed to make stage-dooring a regular part of their day!  

Don’t Do It Unless You’ve Seen the Show:  
Look, it can be tempting to stage-door at shows you haven’t purchased tickets for and/or watched, but it is definitely poor etiquette to do so. You might see people huddling around the stage door for  A Beautiful Noise, The Book of Mormon, or  Wicked, but YOU didn’t see the show. How unfair would it be to foist yourself upon the talent when there are already throngs of people waiting, AND they actually bought tickets and did see the show?  

Show Gratitude:  
It’s always best to show kindness and gratitude to anyone who does something special for you. When cast members of Here Lies Love sign those autographs, maybe take a moment to tell them how much you loved their performance. When a dancer in Some Like It Hot inspires you, TELL THEM THAT and explain why! Even better, you can send these special performers a “Thank You” note in care of the theatre and they will get it. Put your thoughts on paper and show just how grateful you are to the artist who goes above and beyond!  

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
Cirque du Soleil delights audiences around the world with its incredible productions, featuring stunning special effects, music, acrobatics and storytelling for the whole family. With several touring shows around the country, the opportunities to enjoy Cirque are endless, so let us take a closer look at current shows now playing near you: 

KOOZA 

The first of these is KOOZA, an adventure seen through the eyes of The Innocent. The central character is a naïve, lovable clown in search of his purpose. While flying a kite, a mystery item is delivered into his hands, launching him on an adventure of self-discovery. Transferred to a colorful, curious, alternate reality, this journey is an eye-opening experience that guides him to his rightful place in the world.  

BAZZAR 

Never content with just one jaw-dropping experience in their repertoire, Cirque du Soleil offers another entertainment delight with BAZZAR. Billed as “an eclectic lab of endless invention where a joyous troupe of acrobats, dancers, and musicians create an awe-inspiring display,” BAZZAR boasts a kaleidoscope of visuals paired with thrilling musical displays, all guaranteed to transport audiences to fascinating places. Under the watchful eye of their maestro, the company weighs the balance between order and disorder, reimagining scenes from everyday life into show-stopping moments of creative invention.  

ECHO  

Yet again, Cirque du Soleil keeps the experiences coming with ECHO. Poetry, stagecraft, aerial acrobatics, and stage spectacle merge to tell a tale about evolution and our symbiotic relationships with the planet. Our female heroine known as “Future,” along with a cast of supporting players, explore “the delicate balance between people, animals, and the world we all share.” Through individual and collective discoveries, they realize that their choices and actions have long-lasting effects that shape the planet’s future. Their optimism, their creativity of invention, and their embrace of empathy become the magical ingredients toward making a happier, enduring Earth for all.  

CORTEO 

With CORTEO, Cirque du Soleil takes audiences on a jaunt with Mauro, a clown who has a carnival-inspired vision of his burial. Attended by a cluster of angels who lovingly usher him through life’s penultimate transition, we experience the clown’s strengths and vulnerabilities when faced with what comes “next.” Featuring music, poetry, expressionistic movement, fantasy, and surprising splashes of humor, CORTEO is a unique character study that becomes a relatable tale for all of us. After all, we all must face our mortality, sooner or later.  

CRYSTAL  

One of the latest entries in the Cirque du Soleil oeuvre is CRYSTAL, a cirque experience that “pushes boundaries of the circus arts by combining stunning skating and acrobatic feats that defy the imagination.” Seamlessly, performers navigate a world of movement that seems to defy gravity. On the ice and in the air (and in the area in-between), artistic athletes perform stunning demonstrations of synchronized skating, pulse-augmenting magical freestyle, and then they up the ante with sequences of heart-stopping, extreme skating. This one is for the thrill-seeker in us all!  

DRAWN TO LIFE 

The only thing that could possibly make Cirque du Soleil more magical that it already is would be to pair it with the wonderful world of Disney. DRAWN TO LIFE does just that! Presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney, this collaboration yields an unforgettable entertainment experience, envisioning a three-dimensional, art-in-motion experience that celebrates the creations of Walt Disney and the legendary studio that continues to bear his name and legacy. The show follows a young woman who stumbles upon a sketchbook of incomplete drawings created by her animator father. Accompanied by a magical pencil and a funny band of creative muses, she sets out on a journey into the art her father left unfinished. This is the perfect show for any Cirque du Soleil lover, young and old, and the ideal outing for the families that can’t live without a regular dose of Disney magic. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
Everyone loves committing to a theme, whether it be an art installation, a favorite movie or TV genre, or best of all - a themed party or event. If you find yourself in the Big Apple for the weekend with 48 hours to pack in some theater-going, why not make it a themed weekend? To make it easier to “commit to the bit,” we have curated some possible Broadway themes that will make your Broadway-filled weekend an exciting adventure. 

You and the Zoo: The Lion King, Life of Pi and Wicked 
The Lion King and  Life of Pi make a great two-show-day pairing. Both shows have animals central to the plot, both shows have riveting twists, and both shows boast jaw-dropping puppetry that can make you forget that you are not witnessing living, breathing members of the animal kingdom running wild on stage. You can see The Lion King on Saturdays at 2 pm, followed by Life of Pi at 8:00 pm. In between, take a quick jaunt over to the Central Park Zoo and see some real-life animals. On Sunday, your animal kingdom sojourn can continue with Wicked (2:00 or 8:00 pm) where flying monkeys, talking goats, cowardly lions and other crazy creatures come together to support the origin story of the two Witches of Oz.  
 
Royal Engagement: Once Upon a One More Time, SIX and Camelot  
We all have our fascination with royalty, and why not? We love castles, crowns, elegance and power. You’ll begin with a two-show Saturday that is indeed a royal engagement. Catch a 2:00 pm matinee of Once Upon a One More Time, where your favorite storybook heroines create a brand-new kind of fairytale, all to the music of Britney Spears, the Princess of Pop. Then top off your day with an 8:00 pm showing of SIX, where the half-dozen wives of Henry VIII have their say. On Sunday, take in the Royal Tea at the Russian Tea Room before you return to the royal court, this time with Camelot at Lincoln Center Theatre (3:00 pm) and witness firsthand the rise and fall of an idealistic, mythical kingdom.  
 
Get A Life! Bio Musical Must-Sees: MJ, A Beautiful Noise and Funny Girl 
If you’re interested in learning about some of the 20th century’s great entertainers, spend your weekend taking in musical biographies. Start out with a 2:00 pm Saturday matinee of MJ and find out how Michael Jackson became the “King of Pop.” At night, Neil Diamond’s epic career will entertain with a catalogue of his song standards in A Beautiful Noise (8:00 pm). For a more traditional Broadway score, spend Sunday at Funny Girl,(times vary by date) and get a dose of heart and humor as you navigate the life of stage and screen comedienne Fanny Brice.  
 
The Good, The Bad, and The In-Between: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Chicago and Hadestown 
For those of you who like some variety in your theatergoing weekend, why not try out our itinerary for "The Good, The Bad and The In-Between." Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Saturdays at 1:00 pm) makes for a “good” Saturday matinee choice, with its story of young wizards trying to right the wrongs of evil doings in the wizarding world. The “bad” is, of course, Chicago (Saturdays at 8:00 pm), a show populated with murderesses, corrupt law officials, slick lawyers and aspiring actresses who will stop at nothing to make it to the top. Finally, the “in-between” is Hadestown (Sundays- matinee times vary) a musical where characters in love must go to hell and back to be together. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
Father’s Day is just around the corner, and it’s time to celebrate the dads in our lives. Everyone knows that fathers are notoriously difficult to buy for and even the most fashion-conscious dad doesn’t want another necktie to add to his collection. Fortunately, Broadway offers worthwhile alternatives with many opportunities to create a memorable Father’s Day outing. Here is a list of the perfect Broadway show for every type of dad!  

The New Dad –  The Lion King 

What Broadway musical is perfect for that new dad, the one who is just learning the ins and outs of parenthood? Disney’s The Lion King is the ideal show for this scenario. From proud Mufasa’s first public presentation of the lion cub Simba to his firm but loving conversations with his offspring, this parent is killing it at the “new dad” thing. Even after sacrificing his life while saving his little boy in a wildebeest stampede, his presence remains, offering the young feline advice on growing up.  

The Down Home Dad –  Shucked   

Hilarious one-liners and a score overflowing with country music-inspired ear worms all add up to make Shucked the terrific choice for those dads who live for down home fun. They’ll feel right at home watching this delightful comedy about a small town with suffering corn crops and the spunky young woman who goes on an adventure to look for the solution.  

The History Buff Dad –  Leopoldstadt  

If dad is a history buff, you get bonus points for taking him to something that is equally compelling and historically significant. Tom Stoppard’s play Leopoldstadt has all these ingredients. The story follows a Jewish family in Austria over a 50-year span, concluding in the harrowing days of World War II. Your father will marvel at the play’s myriad characters expertly brought to life in a play by one of the world’s most-prolific and enduring playwrights.  

The Dad with the Crazy Sense of Humor –  The Book of Mormon 

Everyone knows that one dad with a wild sense of humor. He makes goofy jokes while mom rolls her eyes, and he is always trying to make his kids laugh. This dad deserves a night out at The Book of Mormon. Written by the creators of the wildly funny South Park, Dad will enjoy a musical that will tickle his funny bone with comedy that is expertly done. 

The Tired Dad –  SIX   

Some dads are just exhausted, working all day, mowing the lawn, then tucking their kids in at night before taking out the garbage. For these dads, they need a night out that’s sure to energize and inspire. SIX is guaranteed to give them that jolt of energy, with its half-dozen powerhouse ladies belting about what it was like to be married to a challenging husband (Henry VIII). At a running time of approximately 80 minutes, dad can get his Broadway fix but also be home and in bed by the ten o’clock news.  

The Protective Dad –  Sweeney Todd 

Some of us grew up with that overprotective dad; the one who would kill for us if necessary. That’s what the title character does in the Stephen Sondheim musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. In order to protect his daughter Johanna from the lecherous advances of Judge Turpin, Todd (played by Grammy Award winner Josh Groban) concocts a plot for murder that takes a heart stopping journey filled with twists and turns. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
This year’s 76th Annual Tony Awards celebrated an amazing year for theater in the Big Apple. Now, theatergoers must make the decision of which productions to see following Broadway’s biggest night. We’ve done the heavy lifting – here is your guide to the top Tony-winning shows you should catch while you can with great prices on tickets!   

 
Kimberly Akimbo 

2023 Tony Award winners Jeanine Tesori (music) and David Lindsay-Abaire's (book and lyrics) musical Kimberly Akimbo (2023’s Tony Award winner for Best Musical) has audiences delighting in the story of the title character who is a high school student with an affliction that causes her body to age at an exponential rate. 2023 Tony Award winner Victoria Clark embodies this unconventional heroine who takes us on an emotional, yet comedic journey of adolescence. Joining Clark is the always hilarious Bonnie Milligan (also a 2023 Tony Award winner) as her criminal Aunt Debra and Justin Cooley as Kimberly’s friend Seth. Jessica Stone directs this intimate, unique musical. 
 
Some Like it Hot

Turning the MGM classic film comedy Some Like It Hot into a musical may have seemed like a challenging prospect, but Matthew Lopez/Amber Ruffin (book) and Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman (score) have made this an inspired and seamless adaptation. Under the deft direction of Casey Nicholaw (2023 Tony Award winner for his breathtaking choreography), two musicians (Christian Borle and 2023 Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee) don disguises as women when they are sought after by a gangster who wants them dead, leading to a journey that turns out to be as life-changing as it is life-chasing. 

Leopoldstadt 

Prolific playwright Tom Stoppard (The Real Thing, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead) once again awes audiences with his complex, epic storytelling with Leopoldstadt. Under the direction of 2023 Tony Award winner Patrick Marber, and featuring unforgettable performances by 2023 Tony Award winner Brandon Uranowitz and a cast of 38, Leopoldstadt tells the story of an Austrian-Jewish family over a half-century, culminating after the end of World War II.  Winner of 2023’s Tony Award for Best Play! 

Life of Pi 

Yann Martel’s best-selling novel Life of Pi has been adapted for the theatrical stage by playwright Lolita Chakrabarti. An imaginative production employing puppetry and other arresting special effects, the story of a teenage boy named Pi who is trapped in a lifeboat with four wild animals is one of Broadway’s most visually stunning productions of the season. 

Parade 

Tony-winner Ben Platt (Dear Evan Hansen) makes his triumphant Broadway return in this critically acclaimed revival of the Jason Robert Brown (score) and Alfred Uhry (book) musical based on the true story of Leo Frank, a Georgia Jew wrongly accused of the murder of a young girl. Micaela Diamond plays his determined wife Lucille. Under the direction of 2023 Tony Award winner Michael Arden, Parade takes audiences into an unimaginable test of faith, humanity, justice, and devotion. Winner of 2023’s Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical! 

It’s a tall order for one production to feature tragic romance, thrilling choreography, heart-stopping spectacle, unforgettable performances and terrific music. Fortunately, you’ll only have to go as far as the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in the heart of Broadway to find this combination delivered with sheer exhilaration at Moulin Rouge! The Musical. The winner of the 2021 Tony Award for Best Musical (and a litany of other accolades), Moulin Rouge! The Musical is the theatrical gem you’ll want to experience this summer.  

Moulin Rouge was adapted for the Broadway stage from the 2001 Baz Luhrmann film of the same name. The spirit, story, and several of the songs from that audience favorite have made the transition to the Broadway stage along with some additional material that elevates the drama and the fun. Under the direction of the acclaimed Alex Timbers (who won a Tony Award for his inspired take on the staging), and with Sonya Tayeh’s incredible choreography, Moulin Rouge is a uniquely reimagined departure from the film while still being true to its source’s heart. Derek McLane’s scenery is like stepping inside a velvet-lined jewelry box, complemented by the kaleidoscopic lighting design of Justin Townsend.  Catherine Zuber’s costumes are just as unforgettable, defining each character exquisitely.  All together, it’s a visual splendor not to be missed. 
 
Another thrilling element about Moulin Rouge is the parade of extraordinary songs that compose the musical’s score. Audiences will find themselves delighted by how cleverly the pop hits they know and love are interpolated into Moulin Rouge’s plot. From mega-hits like “Bad Romance,” “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and “Single Ladies,” to the beloved classics pulled from the movie score like “Lady Marmalade,” “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend,” and “Come What May,” it’s a celebration of popular music coursing with heart and heat that perfectly scores the action, sung by an extraordinary cast of performers. Pop star Joanna “JoJo” Levesque stars as Satine through July 30th, and don’t miss Corey Cott (Riverdale) in his Broadway debut as Christian beginning August 1st. 

When we go to the theatre, we are looking for a transformative experience. The creative minds behind Moulin Rouge! have understood that and have given audiences a musical that supplies them with what they want. Step inside that crimson windmill and see what all the excitement is about – you’ll be treated to an unforgettable theatrical experience guaranteed to appeal to everyone. 

By Mark A. Robinson
 
Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr – what do these six ladies all have in common? Each was married to King Henry VIII, a powerful leader and marital nightmare. Known for the radical changes he made to England (including the English Reformation which separated the Church of England from the authority of the Catholic Church), Henry was also known for his radical changes in marital status, leaving behind the legacy of six wives who were “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived” in turn. 
 
The musical  SIX ventures to tell the stories of Henry’s half-dozen wives, giving them each an opportunity to share their individual tales and points of view that were often left out of the history books. But SIX is no stuffy historical drama. The show’s creators (Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss) have breathed a modern sensibility into these ladies’ accounts, setting their narratives in the form of a pop music concert. The result: an evening of entertainment that is equal parts Broadway musical, social commentary and a modern music concert experience exploding with verve and vivacity.  
 
The basic plot: these historical ladies come together as a girl group (with plenty of girl power to spare), debating over who should be the lead singer.  How do they decide?  After each telling their tales of woe, the wife who had the hardest life with the miserable monarch will become the leading lady. But SIX is not just an evening of wives complaining about their experiences with ol’ Henry – in fact, it is just the opposite. The musical empowers each lady to reclaim her own story, unfettered by the spin they are usually given in history books, as a mere accessory to a powerful man. In SIX, we see real human beings, nuanced personalities reclaiming their voice and making their very real accomplishments and experiences both palpable and deeply personal.  
 
After a successful run in London’s West End and a hit pre-Broadway tour, SIX was scheduled to open on Broadway in the spring of 2020. Covid put that opening on hold, and SIX ultimately opened in October of 2021, making it the first new musical to open on Broadway after the pandemic closed down New York City theatre. A musical as tenacious as the queens that inhabit its story, SIX overcame its timely setbacks to become one of the season's hit shows, winning the Tony Award for Best Original Score and Best Costume Design of a Musical. It has since evolved into an audience favorite, with many theater goers returning, time and again, to be reinvigorated by SIX’s music and message.  
 
So don’t wait – now is the perfect time to get yourself tickets to see SIX – divorced...beheaded...LIVE and in person. You can judge for yourself, and you’ll soon realize why this “histo-remix” has such enthusiasm from audiences around the world – and why it's truly “one of a kind, no category!” 

By Mark A. Robinson

That time has come: the de facto end of summer festivities. Even though summer officially concludes on September 23, Labor Day weekend has always signaled the end of summer fun as the kids head back to school and we return to our more structured lives. With that last hurrah this weekend, why not try to get another Broadway show in? There are no Broadway performances ON Labor Day, but multiple shows have added an additional Sunday night performance to their schedule for the big weekend.   

Here are the shows with an extra performance that you can grab tickets for this Labor Day weekend! Please note: this schedule reflects Labor Day weekend performances only. Be sure to check performance times for other dates. 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child  

Additional 7pm performance on Sunday evening, also shows on Saturday at 1pm and 7pm, and on Sunday at 1pm.  
 
A magical outing for the entire family, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child takes audiences on a jaunt into the world of J.K. Rowling’s favorite wizarding world. Picking up where the novels leave off, this spectacular play filled with glorious stagecraft and illusion follows Harry Potter’s son Albus on his adventures at Hogwarts Academy of Witchcraft and Wizardry.  

A Beautiful Noise  

Additional 7:30pm performance on Sunday evening, also shows on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.  

What does it take to become a music icon and a national treasure? The prolific music of Neil Diamond is such an exhilarating part of the American songbook, but it has become so commonplace that is easy to take for granted. The jukebox musical A Beautiful Noise tells Diamond’s compelling life story, from his humble beginnings to becoming one of pop music’s most celebrated artists.  

The Cottage  

Additional 7:30pm performance on Sunday evening, with shows on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.  

Love, sex, betrayal and a little bit of madness come together in the hilarious comedy The Cottage which arrived on Broadway this summer. Under the direction of Jason Alexander, and featuring a top-notch cast of comedic geniuses, the play by Sandy Rustin imagines a situation rife with humorous possibilities. What happens when a woman who, in the middle of a secret affair, brings together the spouses to reveal the indiscretion?  

Moulin Rouge  

Additional 7:30pm performance on Sunday evening, with shows on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 1:30pm.  

A jukebox musical featuring dozens of famous pop songs, based on a beloved, Oscar-winning film, and designed with a nonpareil opulence, Moulin Rouge! is definitely an event that is likely to enthrall anyone who sees it. The tragic love story at its heart makes for the perfect framework to hang almost a century’s worth of great music, gorgeously choreographed to our delight. Riverdale’s Casey Cott starts as Christian through December 3rd. 

Shucked  

Additional 7:30pm performance on Sunday evening, with shows on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.  

August and September is corn harvesting season, so this is the perfect time to see a Broadway musical called Shucked. Shucked is a side-splitting comedy about a rural town whose corn crop is failing. They dispatch one of their own into the world to try to find a solution for their agricultural woes. Soon, the young Maizy is on an adventure of a lifetime and what she learns along the way changes her world.  

Back to the Future

Additional 7:30pm performance on Sunday evening, with shows on Saturday at 2pm and 8pm, and Sunday at 2pm.  

One of Broadway’s newest musicals will appeal to anyone who loves 80s movies, sci-fi, fun, romance, and nostalgia. Back to the Future is the tale of Marty McFly, a misfit teenager living in the 1980s, who travels in a time machine back to the 1950s where he finds his very existence hinges upon his ability to make a match between the teenage versions of his mother and father. Filled to the brim with some of Broadway’s most jaw-dropping spectacle, Back to the Future is a thrill ride of a show! 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
It’s almost time for Broadway’s most eagerly anticipated night of the year! The Tony Awards brings the theater community together, celebrating the best of the best in a season packed with spectacular new plays and musicals, riveting revivals of classics, and of course those unforgettable turns from a passel of nonpareil performers. It is truly a magical night that often translates into important outcomes for its winners.   
 
The Tony Awards first arrived on the theatrical scene in 1947. The honor was established by the American Theatre Wing and named for one of its founding members Antoinette “Tony” Perry who had died a year earlier. Perry had been an actress, producer and theater director and she served as secretary of the ATW. 
 
On April 6, 1947, the first ceremony was held at Manhattan’s illustrious Waldorf Astoria hotel. Initially the trophy with the spinning medallion that we know today was not what the honorees took home. A scroll, cigarette lighter, gold compacts for the women and gold money clips for the men were originally handed out. At that first ceremony, big winners of the evening included such shows as Finian’s Rainbow, Brigadoon, All My Sons, Cyrano de Bergerac, Joan of Lorraine, Happy Birthday and Years Ago.  
 
In 1949 the Tony medallion became the standard trophy of the evening and a variation on its design has remained to this day. Though the award always carries with it great prestige, it wasn’t until the first annual Tony Awards telecast in 1967 that the honor began to translate into box office success. When the world got to see Broadway celebrated on television, with scenes from the nominated plays and musicals broadcast for all to see, the Tony Awards began to serve as Broadway’s biggest commercial, often translating to a major boost in ticket sales. Many shows have gone on to become beloved classics because the Tony Awards telecast gave them the exposure they richly deserved.  
 
Of even greater consequence, less measurable in ticket sales, but far more impactful overall, the Tony Awards and its annual telecast threw a spotlight on professional theater for the world to see. They brought the wonders of the Great White Way into the homes of millions (just as the Oscars do for film, the Grammys do for music, and the Emmys do for television). Because of the nature of live theater, the art form can seldom reach the wide audiences that these mass media entertainments do. The Tony Awards is that yearly golden opportunity to remind the world of the magic of live theater and inspire the performers, writers, designers and directors of tomorrow while celebrating the successes of the performers and creators of today. The future of theater artistry is inspired by this prestigious accolade and dreams are planted by the annual telecast of its ceremony.  
 
This year’s Tony Awards, marking 76 years of excellence on Broadway, will take place on June 11, 2023 at a new location – the historic United Palace in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.  You can catch the awards (hosted by Tony Award winner Ariana DeBose) at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT on the CBS Television Network, as well as streaming live and on demand on Paramount+. In the lead up to awards night, you can discover great savings on tickets to this year’s nominees here. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
What first comes to mind when you think of a Broadway musical comedy? Maybe you think of an infectious score that gets your toes tapping while planting delectable ear worms? Maybe it conjures images of inventive choreography where the performers dance with unbridled enthusiasm? Perhaps you think of a night of transportive entertainment that takes you away from life’s problems, putting smile upon smile on your face? Then again, maybe you are imagining a show packed with nonstop laughs and wacky situations? Whatever ingredients add up to a night of musical comedy magic for you, there is currently a show running on Broadway that will give you all of them and then some:  Some Like It Hot, currently playing at the Shubert Theatre. 

The authors of  Some Like It Hot are the dynamic book-writing team of Amber Ruffin and Matthew Lopez. They have taken the premise of the 1959 film of the same name and reimagined it with a contemporary slant. While remaining faithful to the momentum and the side-splitting antics of the cinema classic, they have infused this stage adaptation with more laughs and more heart, and composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray) filled it to the brim with one of this season’s most vibrant scores. The title song alone has become the song of the season!  
 
For those who are familiar with the film version, never fear –  Some Like It Hot on the Broadway stage stands on its own merit. If you’re not familiar with the film, get ready for a madcap adventure. Rewind to 1920s Chicago where two musicians witness a crime perpetrated by the notorious gangster Spats Colombo. Frightened for their lives, they go into hiding as women, joining an all-female band on its way to a San Diego hotel for a gig. Navigating life as women proves difficult for the two men, particularly when potential romantic complications combine with journeys of self-discovery. As if things aren’t crazy enough, Spats and his gang catch on to their game. Can our two heroes pull off their ruse, remain alive, and maybe find love (and themselves) along the way?  
 
Critics have delighted in this production, noting the clever staging and joyous choreography by Tony winning director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw, the exhilarating score by Shaiman and Wittman, and the heartfelt and hilarious book, lovingly updated by Ruffin and Lopez. To add to the critical acclaim,  Some Like it Hot is the most-nominated show of this year’s Tony Awards season, with a total of 13 Tony nominations!  Along with a nomination for Best Musical, lead actors Christian Borle and J. Harrison Ghee were honored among Broadway’s best performances this year.  So what are you waiting for – get your tickets, get yourself to the Shubert Theatre, and let  Some Like It Hot etch a permanent smile on your face.  

By Mark A. Robinson 

We often talk about “the magic of the theater” and glory in the possibilities of what can be achieved on the stage through time-honored theater conventions married to groundbreaking innovations. Currently, there is a show running on Broadway that is an example of just how glorious that magic can be. That production is the recently-arrived play  Life of Pi. Now, you might query, “Just what makes this production awe-inspiringly unmissable?” We are glad you asked.  
 
Above all,  Life of Pi boasts spectacular puppetry, designed by Nick Barnes and Finn Caldwell. These are not your simple sock puppets covered in yarn hair and googly-eyes. The story of  Life of Pi requires that four animals be brought to life with expressiveness and authenticity. Barnes and Finn have crafted a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan, and a Royal Bengal tiger that all burst to life under the manipulation and deft interpretation of expert puppeteers. You will often find yourself doing a double take, wondering if these creations are in fact real. More impressively, these puppets also appear to be conveying emotion and character. They are as close to living as you can get and still be called a “puppet.” 
 
Life of Pi draws from a compelling, magical story based on the Yann Martell novel of the same name. Imaginatively adapted for the stage by playwright Lolita Chakrabarti, the tale follows a teenage boy named Pi who is trapped in a lifeboat when the cargo ship he is on capsizes in the Pacific Ocean. Joining him in the tiny vessel are the four wild animals seeking refuge from the turbulent waters. Soon, an unlikely story begins to unfold as Pi interacts with these beasts. But is everything what it seems? You will have to see  Life of Pi to get to the bottom of this fascinating mystery.  
 
Under the direction of Max Webster,   Life of Pi is an expressionistic piece of theater that seamlessly tells a story that one would think defies theatrical staging. This is the magic of theater: defying all odds and overcoming all hurdles to make even the most impossible things possible. The production is now nominated for 5 Tony Awards including Best Scenic Design: Tim Hatley & Andrzej Goulding, Best Costume Design: Tim Hatley, Nick Barnes & Finn Caldwell, Best Lighting Design: Tim Lutkin, Best Sound Design: Carolyn Downing, and Best Director (Webster). This is all a testament to the magic and spectacle that make   Life of Pi a must-see show on Broadway and our “Staff Pick” for June! 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
With Broadway’s biggest night upon us and the Tony Awards about to be distributed, it is exciting to celebrate the best of the Great White Way. Many Broadway musicals have been around for years (even decades) and now is the perfect time to take a closer look at some shows currently running on Broadway that are still sharing their Tony Award-winning magic!  
 
Moulin Rouge! The Musical – Best Musical, 2020 

Packed to the hilt with iconic songs spanning 80 years, adapted for the stage from an Oscar-winning film, and boasting a tragic love story to end all love stories, Moulin Rouge took home the 2020 Tony Award for Best Musical. Christian and Satine are star-crossed lovers kept apart by her engagement to a jealous and vengeful Duke. The jukebox musical also received Tony Awards for its seamless direction by Alex Timbers and its sparkling choreography by Sonya Tayeh.  

Hadestown – Best Musical, 2019 

The 2019 winner for Best Musical was Anaïs Mitchell’s Hadestown, also taking home trophies for Best Score (Anaïs Mitchell) and Best Direction (Rachel Chavkin). In a dystopian, not-too-distant future, we see the myth of “Orpheus and Eurydice” unfold before us with a score that expertly combines jazz, blues, and pop music to tell a romance that literally takes its lovers to hell and back.  

Hamilton – Best Musical, 2016 

“You’ll be back” taunts King George in the Tony-winning musical of 2016 – Hamilton. Let’s face it, he’s right. You can never get too much of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s reimagining of American history. The season’s juggernaut walked away with 11 Tony Awards in total, including Best Original Score, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Leading Actor in a Musical, Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Best Costume Design of a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Best Lighting Design, Best Choreography and Best Orchestrations. Top that!  

The Book of Mormon – Best Musical, 2011 

Not only is The Book of Mormon one of the funniest musicals to grace the Great White Way, but it is also a multi-winner of the coveted Tony Award. The show, about two Mormon missionaries spreading their religion around the remote recesses of Africa, is an irreverent night of hilarity that just happened to win Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Featured Actress, Best Score, Best Book, Best Direction, Best Scenic Design and Best Orchestrations.  

The Lion King – Best Musical, 1998 

When a musical runs for 25 years and continues to draw huge audiences, it must be doing something right. The Lion King, adapted from the Disney animated film, brims with wondrous special effects, breathtaking puppetry, infectious songs, and beloved characters. Guided to the stage by the ingenious Julie Taymor, the coming of age story of a young lion cub leapt off the screen and into our hearts as a fully-realized Broadway musical that’s a perfect night out for everyone.  

Chicago – Best Revival of a Musical, 1997 

Currently Broadway’s longest-running musical still on the boards, the 1997 revival of the Kander and Ebb musical Chicago is still as sassy and potent as ever. Besides winning a Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, Chicago garnered trophies for its two leads: Bebe Neuwirth and James Naughton, she as that ruthless vaudevillian-turned-murderess Velma Kelly and he as the unscrupulous lawyer Billy Flynn. It was the second Tony for both – Neuwirth won for a 1986 revival of Sweet Charity and Naughton for the 1989 musical City of Angels. 

MJ – Myles Frost, Best Actor in a Musical, 2022 

Who could take on the role of Michael Jackson and give a performance so believable that audiences were sure they were in the presence of that iconic “King of Pop”? Myles Frost dazzled us with his embodiment of the musician-dancer who ignited the music scene with such hits as “Billie Jean,” “Beat It,” “Thriller” and dozens of others. Of course, Frost brought home the 2022 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance.  

Wicked – Idina Menzel, Best Actress in a Musical, 2004 

Idina Menzel first burst upon our radar in 1996 with her Tony-nominated performance as the rebellious Maureen in the musical Rent. It was, however, as Elphaba in the musical sensation Wicked in 2003 that this actress (with a thunderous voice and piercing eyes) brought home a Tony Award. Playing the misunderstood Elphaba, whose empowered, progressive views painted her as wicked, Menzel gave an indelible turn that demanded we all “defy gravity.” 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
How often do you go to the theater and have an experience that is bone-chillingly terrifying? Most plays are either comedies or drama, but seldom do they step into the world of psychological thrillers. Enter: Grey House, a new show that is poised to make your blood curdle with its twists, turns and its recipe for terror.  

A couple driving through the remote mountains has a car accident. Seeking refuge from the elements, they make their way to an isolated cabin where they are eagerly greeted by its residents. Initially a welcoming lot, their hosts soon reveal themselves to be peculiar. When a raging blizzard ensues, it turns the couple’s brief stay into an extended sojourn into uncertainty where nothing is exactly what it seems. This is when Grey House launches into full-on terror unparalleled in the annals of theatrical horror.  

Grey House is a new play by Levi Holloway, co-founder and co-artistic director of Neverbird Project, the Chicago-based Deaf and hearing youth theatre company. This is the author’s first play to make its way to Broadway. The production is directed by Joe Mantello, best known for helming such Broadway successes as Assassins, Wicked and The Humans.  

Another reason making Grey House a must-see is the Broadway return of audience favorite Laurie Metcalf. Metcalf is known by television audiences for playing Jackie Harris (a role for which she won 3 Emmy Awards) on the long-running series Roseanne and its sequel The Conners. On Broadway, Metcalf has received two Tony Awards: one for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Play for her work in Edward Albee’s Three Tall Women, and one for Best Actress in a Play for Lucas Hnath’s A Doll’s House - Part 2. Joining Metcalf in Grey House are Emmy Award winner Tatiana Maslany (Orphan Black), Emmy nominee Paul Sparks (House of Cards), Sophia Anne Caruso (Beetlejuice) and Millicent Simmonds (A Quiet Place).  

If you seek out compelling theatre outings and revel in mysteries that keep you guessing, Grey House is definitely for you. After all, who doesn’t like a story that gives an adrenaline rush from mounting suspense and pure, unadulterated terror?  

By Mark A. Robinson 

Now that the Tony Awards have come and gone, it is time to get cracking at seeing some of the terrific performers who took home trophies for their amazing work. Who is on that must-see list? We’ve made it easy for you by compiling a list of the 6 Best Tony-Winning Actors & Actresses of 2023 you will want to see.  

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: 

Victoria Clark - Kimberly Akimbo

For decades, Victoria Clark has been awing audiences with the versatility and heart she brings to every role she plays. As the title character in the musical Kimberly Akimbo, she plays a teenager who is afflicted with a disease that makes her body age well-beyond her adolescent years. Clark brought home the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, her second accolade in this category, having won in 2005 playing Margaret Johnson in The Light in the Piazza. Other Broadway outings include Sister Act, Cinderella, The Snow Geese and Gigi. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:  

Alex Newell – Shucked

Alex Newell has been a critics’ darling this season, as well as an audience favorite as “Lulu” in the new musical Shucked. With a signature song that truly brings the house down at every performance, it should come as no surprise that Newell took home the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for their portrayal of the spunky and sassy whiskey distiller. A Tony nominee a few years back for the revival of Once on This Island, the ever-versatile Newell continues to dazzle audiences with each new performance, while also breaking new ground as the first non-binary performer to win a Tony Award. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: 

J. Harrison Ghee – Some Like it Hot

J. Harrison Ghee received rave reviews for their role as Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot, playing a musician who goes through a journey of self-discovery while posing as a woman to hide out from a gangster who wants him dead. Ghee has appeared on Broadway before, as Lola in Kinky Boots and Andre Mayhem in Mrs. Doubtfire. Ghee’s heartwarming performance is also history in the making – it is the second Tony award won by a non-binary performer. 

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: 

Sean Hayes – Good Night, Oscar

Actor Sean Hayes is giving a show-stopping, tour de force performance as Oscar Levant in the play Good Night, Oscar. Hayes embodies Levant, the musician, actor and talk show mainstay whose unpredictable nature and acerbic wit could liven up any occasion. Hayes, who most audiences will remember for his Emmy-winning turn as Jack McFarland on the TV sitcom Will & Grace, has appeared on Broadway before in An Act of God and Promises, Promises. 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:

Bonnie Milligan – Kimberly Akimbo

Known affectionately as “Belting Bonnie” for her thunderous, powerhouse voice, actress Bonnie Milligan is bringing down the house with her comedic performance as the criminally scheming Aunt Debra in Kimberly Akimbo. Milligan made her Broadway debut in 2018 as Pamela in the Go-Go’s jukebox musical Head Over Heels. For Kimberly Akimbo she takes home her first Tony Award, scoring in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category.  

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: 

Brandon Uranowitz – Leopoldstadt

Brandon Uranowitz has been nominated for four Tony Awards for his work in An American in Paris, Falsettos, Burn This, and now Leopoldstadt. Fourth time seems to be the charm for Uranowitz, who was recognized for his excellent work in Leopoldstadt with the Tony for Best Actor in a Featured Role in a Play. Uranowitz plays Ludwig, an analytical and politically astute Jewish man in Vienna Austria during the rise of Nazi control. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
We often celebrate the celebrities that appear in Broadway plays and musicals. And why not? There is much to get excited about when a bonafide star treads the boards. But what about the celebs that are involved behind the scenes: writing, directing and producing live theater? Currently, Broadway offers many productions where the stars are shining in roles that are less well known. Here are some of the exciting names bringing art to audiences in the Big Apple.  

Mariah Carey – Producer, Some Like it Hot
You would have to live under a rock for the past three decades if you haven’t heard the name of pop music sensation Mariah Carey. The artist who gave us such hits as “All I Want For Christmas Is You,” “Vision of Love,” “Love Takes Time,” “Emotions” and a parade of others, is trying on a new hat: Broadway producer! Carey is an investor in the hit musical Some Like It Hot, a sparkling comedy based on the film of the same name.  

H.E.R. – Producer, Here Lies Love
Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson, known better by the acronym “H.E.R. (Having Everything Revealed),” is the five-time Grammy-winning R&B artist known for such hits as “Hard Place,” “I Can’t Breathe,” “Better Than I Imagined” and “Fight For You.” “Fight For You” was written for the film Judas and the Black Messiah, leading to an Academy Award for the artist. Now H.E.R. is trying her hand at producing a Broadway musical as part of the team behind the pop-disco experience Here Lies Love, which tells the story of Filipina first lady Imelda Marcos’ rise and fall from power. 

Bob Gaudio – Producer, A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
For years, the Broadway stage lit up with the jukebox musical biography Jersey Boys, the story of the band Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Among the quartet of indelible voices that made up the pop group that gave us such hits as “December, 1963,” “Sherry” and “Rag Doll” was Bob Gaudio. Having had his own story ushered to the Broadway stage, Gaudio is now a part of the producing team that has brought another musician’s story to the Great White Way: A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, which tells the story of great American songwriter and performer Neil Diamond through his catalogue of songs. 
 
Jason Alexander – Director, The Cottage
Comedic actor Jason Alexander became a household name in 1989 for his role on the television sitcom Seinfeld, playing the risible, kvetching sidekick George Costanza. Alexander received seven Emmy nominations for his work, but the accolade he took home in 1989 wasn’t an Emmy – it was a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway. Now he returns to the Great White Way, this time as director, applying his genius for comedic timing to the new Sandy Rustin play The Cottage. This hilarious new farce is a tale of sex, betrayal and love set in the English countryside in 1923. 
 
Barry Manilow – Composer, Harmony 
It is not hard to get excited about the forthcoming Broadway berth of new musical Harmony, with a score composed by Barry Manilow. Manilow is, of course, the composer-musician behind such pop standards as “Copacabana,” “Mandy,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “Daybreak”. Harmony has been Manilow’s passion project for many years. After a successful Off-Broadway run, the new musical is coming to Broadway this fall. Set in the 1920s and 30s, Harmony tells the true story of an ensemble of six young men called The Comedian Harmonists, who took the world by storm with their blend of sophisticated close harmonies and uproarious stage antics. 
 
Trey Parker and Matt Stone – Writers/Composers, The Book of Mormon 
It’s hard to believe that the groundbreaking cartoon South Park had its television premiere 26 seasons ago in 1997. Its creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone imagined a colorful (and often twisted) world of quirky, unforgettable characters. Parker and Stone ultimately turned their talents toward writing a Broadway musical, coming up with the 2011 hit The Book of Mormon, an irreverent story about two Mormon missionaries in a remote African village. Here we are, over a decade later, still laughing at what Parker, Stone and The Book of Mormon have to offer.  
 
Max Martin – Composer/Producer, & Juliet 
Swedish record producer and songwriter Max Martin is the musical voice behind such pop standards as Britney Spears’ “…Baby One More Time,” the Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way” and Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl.” The list of number one songs goes on and on. Many of his hits now appear in the jukebox musical & Juliet, the new musical that came to Broadway this last season via London. Martin is also a producer of this exhilarating musical that flips the script and imagines a different ending for Juliet than what is commonly known from the Shakespearean tragedy. 
 
David Byrne and Fatboy Slim – Composers, Here Lies Love 
It’s a two-for-one celebrity experience at the musical Here Lies Love. The groundbreaking new musical about Filipina First Lady Imelda Marcos is set in a dance club, and has been described as “an ecstatic and dynamic party” by Time Out New York. Behind this immersive theatrical experience is the composing team of David Byrne and Fatboy Slim. Byrne is the singer-songwriter and founding member of the new wave band Talking Heads, as well as a Tony, Oscar, and Grammy Award winner. Fatboy Slim is a Grammy-winning performer who rose to fame as a D.J., record producer, and for his work with the indie music band, the Housemartins. 

By Mark A. Robinson 
 
As the iconic Broadway showtune from the musical Carousel asserts, “June is bustin’ out all over,” and what better way to celebrate this time of year than with a trip to see a Broadway show? After all, June is the month of the Tony Awards, Broadway’s biggest night! The Great White Way is bustling with theater events, concerts, and of course, performances of plays and musicals. Here are a handful of shows guaranteed to add to the excitement.  

MJ 

The music of Michael Jackson has been an enduring sensation for decades. The musician produced hit song after hit song, ultimately (and rightfully) claiming the title of “King of Pop.” MJ is a musical biography that celebrates the career and music of this legend, using the superstar’s canon of iconic songs to tell his story. MJ is an evening of pure electricity and stunning choreography that gives the impression that the performers are taking flight!  

Once Upon a One More Time 

It’s the jukebox musical that you’ve all been waiting for! Once Upon a One More Time features the hit songs of pop music diva Britney Spears. In a land far, far away and once upon a time, some of our favorite storybook characters take a break from living happily ever after to gather for a book club meeting, where they are introduced to a new tome: The Feminine Mystique. Will our heroines follow the paths laid out for them, or will they be inspired to rewrite their stories into something new and all their own? 

Peter Pan Goes Wrong 

Sometimes we just need a good laugh. If gut-busting laughter is the medicine you need this June, then Peter Pan Goes Wrong is definitely the show for you! When a theater company tries to put on a production of the classic J.M. Barrie tale of Peter Pan, it leads to a domino effect of disaster when literally anything that can go wrong, does go wrong!  

By Mark A. Robinson 

There is nothing quite as exhilarating or fulfilling as a trip to see a Broadway musical — it’s an unrivaled experience, without a doubt. The only drawback for some is the 8 p.m. curtain time that gets one home at a late hour, particularly on a weekday evening. For the “early-to-bed, early-to-rise” crowd, we are happy to report that there are some Broadway shows providing an earlier option to allow you to get your Broadway fix on a weeknight – with time to spare!  
 
Hamilton
It’s hard to imagine anyone being too tired to make it through the patriotic firecracker of a musical that is Hamilton. Still, for those of us who start our days well before the dawn’s early light, an earlier curtain time makes it easier on us. Hamilton offers 7 p.m. performances on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. Founding father Alexander Hamilton would approve!  
 
Funny Girl
There is no need for us to rain on your parade because you can catch a performance of Funny Girl at a reasonable hour. At 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays, Lea Michele lights up the stage at the August Wilson Theatre playing comic genius Fanny Brice (there are also 7 p.m. performances on Thursdays, when Julie Benko performs the role!). Great music, big laughs and a manageable bedtime all rolled into one make us “the luckiest people in the world.” 
 
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Many of us envision romance as a magical, nighttime affair. Not all of us, however, have the stamina to stay out all night at a nightclub like the Moulin Rouge to find that romance. The same can be said about staying up late for the musical Moulin Rouge! On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, one can catch a 7 p.m. performance of this jukebox musical sensation and still be home before the clock strikes twelve.  
 
Once Upon a One More Time
You don’t need a fairy godmother to wave her wand to make magic happen. The storytellers at Once Upon a One More Time know that a fairy tale needs to conclude early so that no one turns into a pumpkin at midnight. The new musical that puts a modern twist on some classic fairy tales set to music made famous by the Princess of Pop Britney Spears features 7 p.m. curtain times on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays. And they all lived (and slept) happily ever after.  
 
Good Night, Oscar
Though Sean Hayes’ Tony-winning performance as the titular character in the comedy-drama Good Night, Oscar is worth the trip no matter what time you’ll get home, it is nice to know you have the chance to enjoy it at a decent hour. Thursdays and Fridays, one can leave work and pop into the theater for 7 p.m. performance, and on Wednesdays you have an extra half hour to grab a quick dinner and be in your seat for a 7:30 curtain.  
 
Hadestown
To get to hell and back, one is going to need their rest to endure the trip. As the tale of a young couple who journey to Hades’ realm and back unfolds, the audience can feel comforted that accompanying them on such a harrowing journey will not result in a super-late bedtime. With 7 p.m. performances on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, now you can go to the underworld and back and still be in bed by the 11 o’clock news!  
 
New York, New York
The title song may celebrate “the city that doesn’t sleep,” but some of us do need to get up at 6 a.m. for work and we need our shut-eye. Fortunately, New York, New York has a 7 p.m. curtain on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, giving those who need their eight hours a fighting chance. And there is no need to worry about nodding off while you’re there – the catchy music and explosive dance will keep you in sublime alertness through the curtain call.