My Broadway Review

David Hyde Pierce and Sara Ramirez the past winners of the Tony award announced this year’s nominations. “In the Heights” created by Lin- Manuel Miranda and “South Pacific”, the music revival, lead the list of nominations with thirteen and eleven nominations respectively. Lin- Manuel is nominated for best leading actor as well as for his scores in the sentimental drama. “Gypsy” and “Passing Strange” which are autobiographical plays got seven nominations each whereas “Sunday in the Park with George” received nine nominations. Tracy Lett’s August: Osage County received seven nominations including the one for Best Play category. The other major contender for Best Play is “The 39 Steps” adapted from Alfred Hitchcock’s movie.

The “Bridge Over Land” written and directed by Gilbert Girion has already started its performance at the Interart Theater Annex from April 18^th and will be entertaining the audiences with its captive stories till the 10^th of May. Girion has three different short plays which do not have character resemblance, but are woven in such a manner that it has a cohesive feeling. The three short plays talks about bridges between people over a course of time and highlights issues like longing, loss and hope.

The Broadway showing of Bridge Over Land is sure to bring in many more theater lovers to the Interart Theater as it has been receiving good reviews from both the masses as well as the classes. Girion has been very careful in choosing the artist to play the different characters in his play and some of the artists are Lisa Chess, Kati Rediger, David Gelles and Ed Setrakian.

Houdini, magician extraordinaire and one of the world’s most prolific escape artists probably needs no introduction. Although he has a small part being mentioned in a Broadway musical show in the year 1988 called “Ragtime”, he has yet to star in his very own Broadway production.But come 2010, Scott Sanders is hoping to make Houdini even larger than life when he brings him to Broadway. He is doing so out of awe and respect for the iconic symbol of creativity and imagination, an outstanding figure who should always be remembered for his contributions. Scott Sanders will be aided by architect David Rockwell who has stepped up with his offer to design the sets and stage as well as implement the heart stopping stunts. Another addition to the team is director Jack O’Brien as well as Danny Elfman, composer extraordinaire who made Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Corpse Bride” successful hits.

Macbeth-The story of the greedy couple has gripped Broadway from March 29th at Lyceum Theatre. Patrick Stewart plays the role of the murderous general and Kate Fleet Wood comes as his malicious wife. The director of Macbeth Rupert Gold has won the Olivier award for the direction of this Shakespearean play. The story is taking place in a make shift Military Hospital in an unknown country. The set designs by Anthony Ward and lighting design by Howard Harrison has imparted the essence of the villainous theme appropriately.

Macbeth has reached Broadway after gaining much critical acclamations from BAM and West End. According to the reviews from the theatre world, the lead roles are well supported by a group of competent artists. Fights are made realistic by the excellent direction of Terry King. Tickets are available at nominal rates and the play will definitely take you to the bloody tragedy in a very convincing way.

A special show of the play “Pamela’s First Musical” presented by Broadway Cares is scheduled for May 18 at Town hall at 3 p.m. The proceeds from the show will benefit the Broadway Cares and Equity Fights AIDS in their activities. This musical play has Cy Coleman as its music director and the book work is done by Pulitzer and Tony award winner Wendy Wasserstein. The lead role of Pamela’s aunt “Louise” is done by Donna Murphy, a two-time Tony Award winner.

The artist for Pamela’s role is not yet decided, but David Garrison is going to make a guest appearance in this Broadway musical. This is the story of a young girl from suburb who happens to celebrate the birthday with her aunt along with the glamorous artists and creative people of a Broadway production. The performance on May 18th will be the First Public staging of this show. The Broadway reviews about the play are very positive as it has a very experienced creative team behind the scenes.

The last performance of Celia: the life and Music of Celia Cruz will be at New World Stages on the 25th of May. Celia gave the preview on August 28th in 2007 and the official opening was on September 26th. The production has now completed more than 25 previews and 269 regular shows. The producer of Celia, Henry Cardenas, thanked the cast, crew and audiences for making this show successful. Though the production is ending the New York show, they have plans to take it to other parts of world where they expect the “Queen of Salsa” to perform well.

The world tour of Celia will include places like Mexico, Spain, Puerto Rico, Colombia and different parts of U.S. The production will announce the dates and venues later. The play is based on the life of Celia, the Cuban artist and the title role is handled by Xiomara Laugart. The role of Pedro Knight is safe in the hands of Modesto Lacen and the cast for loyal confidant is played by Pedro Capo. Sunilda Caraballo, Wilson Mendieta and Elvis Nolasco come as ensembles. The play reveals the story of artist’s love towards her country. The play is written by Carmen Riviera and is directed by Jamie Azpilicueta

August: Osage County’s Oklahoma family is to be shifted to a new home at the Box Music Theater once they finish their performances at the Imperial Theater on April 20. The last show of the critically acclaimed play August: Osage County will be staged at the famous Imperial Theater at 3 pm on April 20 and this famous play by Award winning writer Tracy Letts has recently played its 100th show at the Imperial Theater on February 20. August: Osage County directed by Anna D. Shapiro talks about the Western clan family that returns to their three-storey home in Oklahoma in an effort to trace the sudden disappearance of the patriarch.

The Play, August: Osage County has had a sold out run at the Steppenwolf Theater and has been thrilling audiences at all the theaters it has featured with its funny story and gripping screenplay. The funny cast of this riveting play includes Ian Bradford, Francis Guinan, Amy Morton, Deanny Dunagan, Jeff Perry, Kimberly Guerrero and Susanne Marley. The show is produced on Broadway by Jeffery Richards, Jerry Frankel, Ostar Productions and Steve Traxler. The lively Oklahoma home sets are designed by Yodd Rosenthal and the glittering costumes that match the sets are by Ana Kuzmanic. The show at the Imperial Theater runs from Tuesday to Friday at 7:30 pm, matinee shows are on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2 pm and the show on Sunday is at 3 pm.

Billy Elliot- the musical based on the movie of same name that was released in 2000, will play the preview at Broadway in the Imperial Theater on September 17th. This play has won the Olivier award for Best Musical and has music by Elton John and Lee Hall. The official opening of this enthusiastically awaited musical will happen on October 16th, again at the Imperial. This musical drama created an impression in London. Elton John has done matured writing for this musical and the compositions are enthralling. The director of the movie Billy Elliot, Stephen Daldry, has done the direction of this play as well.

The tale is about a working-class boy who wishes to become a ballet dancer and the problems and obstacles faced by him in reaching his goal. Billy Elliot has choreography done by Peter Darling and he won the Best Theater Choreographer award for his work in this play. Scene design is done very artistically by Ian McNeil and costume designs by Nicky Gillibrand. The producers of this musical are Universal Pictures, Working Title and Old Vic pictures along with Tim Bevan, Sally Greene, Jon Finn and Eric Fellner. The title role is alternately done by three boys namely, James Lomas, George Maguire and Liam Mower and they shared the Best Actor in a musical award.

Boeing-Boeing, the West End hit has completed the casting with the addition of Kathryn Hahn. Boeing-Boeing is expected to arrive at the Longacre theatre in Broadway on April 19th 2008, with its official opening set for May 4th. Kathryn Hahn is doing the cast of Gloria, the flight attendant in this play. Mark Rylance, who has done the cast of Robert, for the London production of Boeing, will be repeated for Broadway. Mark was nominated for the Olivier Award for the role recently. The other actors and actresses are Bradley Whitford, Mary Mc McCormack Christine Baranski and Gina Gershon.

Marc Camoletti tells the story of a bachelor and his three fiancées played by Hahn, Gershon and McCormack. His house keeper is forced to do the role of the regulator of the romance to avoid clashing between the three fiancées. But everything changes with the arrival of his schoolmate. The direction of this comedy play is done by Matthew Warchus. The scenic designs as well as costumes are featured by Rob Howell and Music is by Claire Van Kampen. This play was originally staged in London in 1960’s and holds the record for the longest –running comedy in the history of West End with more than 2,000 shows.

The theatre version of Macbeth, one of the most famous dramas written by Shakespeare is coming to Broadway on April 8th. The play was a great success at Brooklyn Academy of Music, West End and U.K’s Chichester Theatre Festival. This production is directed by Rupert Goold and has won the Evening Standard award. The play will be performed at Lyceum theatre in Broadway till May 24th. Tickets are on sale for the Broadway staging of Macbeth. This outstanding play has received many awards and appreciation like the “What’s on Stage Award” given to the Best Shakespearean production, Best Revival Award etc.

In this Shakespearean drama, Patrick Stewart, who plays the character “Macbeth” is determined to become the king. He murders the king with the help of his wife and in the end he looses everything in life. Rupert Goold has created the psychological details of Macbeth in an authentic way and the chilling tragedy will get into your nerves. Patrick received the best actor award of Evening Standard and the Critics Circle award for Best Shakespearean performance. The other members of the cast are Michael Feast, Kate Fleetwood, Martin Turner, Ben Carpenter etc. This production has a sold out tag attached with it wherever it is staged, Broadway will not be different either.