The highly anticipated revival of Spring Awakening started previews on September 8th at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Produced and created by Deaf West, the show transfers after a regional production in California and is performed as a typical show but with sign language also being incorporated and the show is scheduled for an 18 week run at the theatre – break legs guys!
Rumours-wise, two shows are slated for Broadway openings in 2016. The Spongbob Musical, which is confirmed for an out of town run in Chicago next July is aiming for Broadway in 2016. With music and lyrics by greats such as David Bowie, Lady Antebellum and Cyndi Lauper, this show is set to be a smash hit before it’s even begun! Also in the pipelines is The Goonies: The Musical which is aiming for a Broadway landing in late 2016/Early 2017. Anyone else a fan of that movie? I can’t wait to see the Goon Docks be brought to life with massive musical spectacles!
A couple of shows are bidding adieu around this time though. The Tony-nominated revival of On The Town closed its doors on September 6th after a solid year at the Lyric Theatre – one of Broadway’s largest houses. The Broadway revival of Hedwig And The Angry Inch also closed its doors recently after Taye Diggs and Rebecca Naomi Jones played their final performances in the Tony-winning revival on September 13th which boasts an impressive year-and-a-half long run considering the show was originally intending to close after Neil Patrick-Harris’ limited Tony-winning run in the show last year. The Book of Mormon Tony-nominee Andrew Rannells followed his footsteps before Michael C. Hall took on the role after NPH left the show. The show’s creator and original star John Cameron Mitchell took the heels for a spin after him and Glee’s Darren Criss after that (who I got to see in the show!); Rent alum Taye Diggs took over soon after and took the show right up to closing. Lena Hall also won a Tony for her performance in the essentially two-man show and Rebecca Naomi Jones replaced her during JCM’s run – she also took the show through to its closing date.
But if those two closing weren’t heartbreaking enough for you, the original Broadway production of Mamma Mia! closed its doors after a fantastic 14 year run on the Great White Way. After opening at the Winter Garden Theatre back in 2001, the show got itself over to the Broadhurst Theatre and ended its run there on Friday the 11th of September. The show’s closing makes space for the Bruce Willis-led production of Hitchcock’s Misery, which will be followed by Tuck Everlasting in February 2016. The show will continue its West End run regardless and you can get Mamma Mia! tickets here.
Do you guys like to keep up with what’s happening in New York? I keep up with it just as much as I do with what’s happening in the West End!
Have any other Broadway news you want to share? Tweet me @shaunycat and @theatre_direct and let me know what’s caught your eye!
Shaun’s Broadway Report: What’s Going On Across The Pond #1
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If you know me well, you will know that nothing interests or excites me more than Broadway theatre. I don’t even live in New York or America but it just excites me so much! There’s something so fantastic about anything and everything that seems to open there be it a success story or a short run glory. As a result of my passions, I thought I’d run you through all of the big things that are happening on the Great White Way these next few weeks.