(Last Minute) Holiday Gift Ideas for the Broadway Lover (Updated 2013)

Happy Holidays to all of my followers!  It's been a while since I've blogged, but I'm back- just in time for the holidays! Shopping for the die-hard Broadway fan is about to get a whole lot easier. Just keep reading below as I suggest lots of unique gift ideas that theatre fans will be sure to love! If you would like to read my (longer list of) suggestions from last year (2012), click here.

1.) The Wicked 10th Anniversary World Souvenir Program

For the die-hard Wicked fan, there is never enough Wicked memorabilia to be collected. Here is a brand new souvenir program in celebration of the hit musical's 10th anniversary. Congratulotions, Wicked! Click here to check it out! 

2.) The Sound of Music Live

Despite the recent Internet controversy resulting from NBC's airing of The Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood as Maria, any true theatre fan will appreciate the value of a major television network devoting a three-hour time slot to live theatre. The cast recording or DVD of the live event would make a lovely holiday gift for many Sound of Music fans. 

                 

3.)  Staged by Ruby Preston

Last year, I recommended Ruby Preston's Broadway mystery novel, Showbiz. Staged is the highly anticipated sequel to Showbiz, which continues the story of Scarlett Savoy. Wouldn't you like to know what happens next?

4.) Broadway Tails by Bill Berloni

Animals are some of Broadway's most beloved "actors." Recent Broadway revivals of "Annie" and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" have boasted the talents of cats and dogs. Broadway Tails is the story of Bill Berloni, Broadway's go-to animal trainer. This book is a great read for any Broadway fan or animal lover.



5.) Carols for a Cure

Shop for a great cause! Carols for Cure is a compilation of holiday tunes sung by the casts of your favorite Broadway musicals to support BC/EFA. I look forward to this CD every year-- therefore, it will always have a place on my list of holiday gift recommendations!

6.) Movie tickets to Saving Mr. Banks

Mary Poppins may have ended its Broadway run, but the practically perfect nanny lives on in this new movie about the making of the beloved movie (starring Broadway's Tom Hanks). Check out the movie's trailer below.

7.) Felicia Ricci's Belt Your Face Off

This former Elphaba Standby and author of the hilarious book, Unnaturally Green, has created her own online belting course (click here for a description). Since many theatre fans are also aspiring singers, what better gift than the gift of music? If you are unconvinced, check out Broadway Spotted's review of the Felicia's course.

8.) Tickets to see the U.S. Tour of The Phantom of the Opera

I saw the newly staged version of this long-running hit musical a few weeks ago at the Providence Performing Arts Center (blog to come soon…). Seeing the show for the third time reminded me of how truly awesome it is. The familiar musical phrases, the massive orchestra, the eerie chandelier dangling from the ceiling, the special effects. This is the musical production that I am recommending this holiday season!  

9.) Sheet music!

For the musically-inclined theatre lover, sheet music makes a great gift!  This year, I'm recommending the sheet music from Kinky Boots, which won Cyndi Lauper her first Tony Award for Best Score. 

10.) A subscription to Playbill magazine

The gift that keeps on giving all year 'round.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS, EVERYONE!  

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

BROADWAY
JOHN GOLDEN THEATRE
MAY 3, 2013

SYNOPSIS: Siblings Vanya and Sonia have sacrificed their own happiness to care for their elderly parents at the family’s farmhouse in Pennsylvania, while their self-absorbed sister, Masha, has enjoyed success traveling the world as an actress. One morning, their soothsaying housekeeper, Cassandra, warns Vanya and Sonia of an impending terrible event, and before long, Masha has returned home with her 29 year old boy toy named Spike. Hilarity ensues at this “family reunion”. 

COMMENTS: Since I saw Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, the play has won the Tony Award for Best Play, and I couldn’t be happier! This show had me laughing out loud for the majority of the evening- in fact, I haven’t laughed this hard at a show in a long time. This is attributable to Christopher Durang’s clever writing and the stellar acting of all six actors. 

Kristine Nielsen as Sonia stole the show with a performance that was hilarious, neurotic, and heartbreaking. She was the definition of perfection, and I so wanted her to win the Tony Award. She brought so many different layers to this character and had the audience rooting for her (despite her neuroses).  Her Maggie Smith impression was spot-on and her chemistry with David Hyde Pierce and Sigourney Weaver was perfect.  Her performance alone makes this play worth seeing. 

This was my first time seeing David Hyde Pierce on stage and he did not disappoint as Vanya, the dry and quietly sarcastic brother of Sonia and Masha. Often acting as the mediator between his two sisters and as a “voice of reason”, DHP garnered many laughs with his facial expressions alone. And no one wears a Dwarf costume better than him! His passionate and cathartic monologue was hilarious... and true! 

Sigourney Weaver was impeccable as Masha, the glamorous, self-absorbed movie star. She played a selfish and insecure actress very well. Her scenes with Billy Magnussen, who played her boy toy Spike, were hilarious. Billy Magnussen was also well-cast as Spike and he had the abs to prove it. Liesel Allen Yeager (love her name) was great as aspiring actress, Nina. Shalita Grant gave the second most hilarious performance (after Kristine Nielsen) as Cassandra, the soothsaying housekeeper. Her presence on stage always guaranteed many laughs. She was completely over the top and I loved it. 

I was also impressed by the detail of the sets. From the audience, I actually felt like I was looking at a real farmhouse, complete with grass, trees, a screened-in porch, wicker furniture, a ceiling fan, and stairs leading to the second floor. Pictures of a younger Masha adorned the walls and old board games like Monopoly and Scrabble were hidden under the table. I was actually glad that I arrived at the theatre early, just so I could take in the amazing set before the show started. 

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike is the best play I have seen in a long time and I HIGHLY recommend that you check it out at the Golden Theatre on Broadway! And good news- it has been extended through August 25, 2013! 

KINKY BOOTS

AL HIRSCHFELD THEATRE
BROADWAY 
MAY 4, 2013

SYNOPSIS: The most recent Tony Award winner for Best New Musical is currently playing to sold out audiences at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Based on the 2005 movie, Kinky Boots follows a young man named Charlie, who moves away from his father’s Northampton shoe factory to the bustling city of London in order to pursue a career in marketing with his fiance, Nicola. When his father dies unexpectedly, Charlie is forced to return to his home and he must decide what to do with his father’s failing shoe factory. Enter Lola, a sassy but classy drag queen, who inspires Charlie to start a new and innovative line of men’s footwear for drag queens, AKA kinky boots, and together, they work to save his father’s factory and the jobs of its workers. 

COMMENTS: I love it when a new show comes to Broadway and initially, there’s not much buzz about it. Then (seemingly overnight), the rush lines are a block long, performances are sold out, there are no ticket discounts, and the show becomes the Broadway musical to see. 

This seems to be the case for Kinky Boots, a new musical directed by Jerry Mitchell, with a book by Harvey Fierstein, and music by Cyndi Lauper. Big names in the world of theatre. One might expect some hype, but instead, all the hype surrounded the Olivier award winning musical, Matilda. For months and months, all I heard about was Matilda, who was sure to win the Tony Award for Best New Musical. What’s a kinky boot? 

Luckily, the world soon found out what a kinky boot is. Now the winner of six Tony Awards (with 13 nominations) including Best New Musical, this production is doing quite well over at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre and I suspect it will be running for a long time. 

I think the success of Kinky Boots is largely attributed to the fact that most everyone loves a story about equality and acceptance and can appreciate its heartwarming message. The story is injected with humor and great musical numbers so that it avoids becoming too predictable or bland. Speaking of the music, the score (composed by Tony winner Cyndi Lauper- the first female to win Best Score solo) is very strong. I have since purchased the cast recording, and it’s one of those CDs that I can listen to without skipping any songs. 

After being away from Broadway for many years, Billy Porter has finally found his perfect role. As drag queen Lola, Billy Porter is wise, vulnerable, sassy, and fierce. He truly steals the show. I think the group of actors who were Tony nominated for Best Lead Actor in a musical gave some of the strongest performances of the season and I myself was having difficulty deciding who to root for. When all is said and done, Billy deserved to win. 

Not that fellow nominee Stark Sands wasn’t great in his role as Charlie. Billy Porter may have stolen the show, but Stark Sands was the glue that held the show together. He had great chemistry with the other actors on stage, especially Lauren, played by Tony award nominee Annaleigh Ashford. Annaleigh, as usual, nailed the comedic timing. She is truly one of Broadway’s “funny ladies”. I also loved the factory workers, who gave the impression of being one great big family on stage. 

I highly recommend Kinky Boots on Broadway. There’s something for everyone in this new musical. Check it out at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre! 

BEST TONY MOMENTS 2013

1.) BEST SPEECH- Billy Porter has waited so long for his perfect stage role, and watching him accept his first Tony Award was just the icing on the cake. Remember Stark, he’s keeping that Tony at his house. 

2.) BEST PRESENTER(S)- Jesse Tyler Ferguson (with Jane Krakowski) burst out with “Girl, you’re gonna have fun tonight” when he presented Cyndi Lauper with the Tony Award for Best Score. Very clever, JTF. And the audience went wild. 

3.) BEST DRESSED- Annaleigh Ashford 

4.) BEST PERFORMANCE- The Opening Number was by far the best performance of the evening with lots of laugh-out-loud-inducing lyrics. For example. 

“You could bounce a quarter off the ass of Billy Porter”. 

“Hats off to Berry Gordy, he runs Motown like a boss. He dominates Top 40 and he banged Diana Ross”. 

And to the Broadway kids, NPH sings, “Is there a Tony daycare where all of you go?... Do your parents set aside your Broadway dough”? 

“Can I have my Tom Hooper Les Mis close-up please? You see, on Broadway, we don’t need extreme close-ups to prove we’re singing live”. 

“If you win, have the time of your life, tell your manager, dad and your mom, thanks. Hi to your kids and your husband or wife, maybe just for the hell of it, Tom Hanks”. 

“Kathie Lee’s a Broadway lyricist so anything can happen”. 

In addition to the clever lyrics, Neil Patrick Harris was just phenomenal when you think about the limited rehearsal time. He didn’t stumble on a single word and he was full of energy. I see an Emmy win in NPH’s future! Bravo! 

5. “OTHER” BEST MOMENTS-

Shout-outs to Cinderella for those seamless costume “transformations”. They were just as magical on TV as they were in person! More shout-outs to Matilda for including all of their principal actors and all four Matildas in their Tony performance. And finally, one last shout-out to Jane Lynch, who can actually sing pretty well. She is definitely scaring those “Little Girls” over at the Palace Theatre! 

Tony Trivia 2013

Happy Tony Weekend, everyone!  I've listed some examples of Broadway trivia questions below. Feel free to use them at your own Tony Awards Parties!  For more tips on how to throw a Tony Awards Party, check out my blog entry from last year by clicking here. 

TONY TRIVIA

1.) What actress has played Wicked’s Elphaba in three languages? 

Willemijn Verkaik

2.) True or False. The current production of Annie is Jane Lynch’s Broadway debut. 

True. 

3.)  Motown the musical is the story of what man? 

Berry Gordy

4.) What is the name of the circus choreographer who choreographed the new revival of Pippin?

Gypsy Snider

5.) What short-lived musical was based on a documentary? (this season)

Hands on a Hardbody

6.) Which nominee for Best New Musical won an Olivier Award this past season?

Matilda

7.) This musical’s 25th anniversary celebration was in January. 

Phantom of the Opera

8.) Which long running Broadway musical will be changing theatres at the end of the year? 

Mamma Mia

9.) The actor who played the Teen Angel in the 1994 Broadway revival of Grease is now a Tony nominee for which new musical?

Kinky Boots (Billy Porter)

10.) What Bring It On actress is now playing Sherry in Rock of Ages? 

Kate Rockwell

11.) What famous talk show host was tied to the musical Scandalous?
Kathie Lee Gifford

12.) Who played Drood in the original Broadway production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood?

Betty Buckley

13.) In this show’s playbill, there is an ad that says, “you’ve seen the play, now read the book”. 

Book of Mormon

14.) Is Cinderella considered a new musical or a revival?  

Revival

15.) What shows on Broadway right now have been influenced by choreographer Bob Fosse?

Chicago and Pippin

Motown the Musical

Broadway
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
5/18/13 

Matinee

I’m not going to lie to you. I’m probably the least qualified person to take on the task of reviewing Motown the Musical. I was born decades after the Motown era. While some of these classic songs are familiar to me (thanks to a childhood filled with my father’s “oldies” records), they were never really ingrained in my musical taste. Speaking of my father, it was because of him that I ended up in the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre last weekend. I invited him to accompany me on a NYC day trip and I told him I would get tickets to any new Broadway show- his choice. He picked Motown. 

So although I may not be the most qualified reviewer, I would like to say a few words in support of the show simply because it far exceeded my expectations. Despite the fact that I knew nothing about Motown and only recognized about 25 percent of the music, I really did enjoy the performance. 

Synopsis: Motown the Musical chronicles the career of Mr. Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label. Motown boasted the talents of Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Jackson Five, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Temptations, and Stevie Wonder. The musical essentially portrays three main events in the career of Berry Gordy between 1938 and 1983: his founding of the record label including his family’s financial support; his relationship with Diana Ross; and the loss of many key artists to larger record labels and his ultimate decision to sell the company. 

Comments: For me, Motown was actually reminiscent of Million Dollar Quartet in that both musicals represented the struggle of smaller record labels to compete with larger companies. Many great artists got their big breaks from smaller record labels, only to later leave the label for the offer of more money from a larger company. From a financial perspective, the smaller labels simply could not compete with the larger labels. However, both Million Dollar Quartet and Motown portray the indelible role of these labels in history.  In particular, Motown recognizes the record label’s role in civil rights. 

As book writer and producer, Berry Gordy integrates sixty songs into his life story pretty seamlessly. As I mentioned earlier, the plot is quite simple and mainly covers the start of Motown, Gordy’s relationship with Diana Ross, and his decision to sell Motown after many artists move on to larger record labels. Though simple and straightforward, the book is injected with familiar, humorous inferences. 

The music was, of course, the big audience pleaser. If you see Motown, expect the audience to be singing along with these popular covers. Expect to feel like you’re at a Diana Ross concert. And if you’re sitting in the front row, expect to get onstage and sing with Diana Ross (aka Tony nominated Valisia LeKae). Motown is not your typical Broadway musical. 

There are many things to enjoy at Motown the Musical. The spot-on acting/impersonation, the familiar music, the choreography.  I think I appreciated the historical significance of Motown most of all and I’m glad that Berry Gordy has the chance to share his story with Broadway audiences. 

Matilda

Broadway
April 20, 2013
Matinee

Synopsis: Matilda Wormwood is an exceptional little girl who is born into un-exceptional circumstances. Her mother is vain, shallow, and loud. Her father is a dishonest, book-loathing car salesman, who can’t seem to remember that Matilda is, indeed, a girl. Her brother is dull and dim-witted. Matilda finds an escape in books and story-telling, and she eagerly embraces the start of school. However, school brings new challenges, most notably, the evil, child-hating headmistress- Miss Trunchbull. Matilda unleashes secret powers in order to help her fellow classmates, her new teacher, Miss Honey, and herself. Winner of seven Olivier awards, Matilda was recently nominated for twelve Tony Awards. 

Comments: Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl, the most remarkable thing about Matilda is that it is appropriate and enjoyable for people of all ages. Part of this is due to Dahl’s ability to portray the darker side of childhood, and this is not lost in the transition from book/movie to musical thanks to book writer Dennis Kelly. 

The title role is shared by four young actresses. It should be noted that the four Matildas are not eligible for a Tony Award, but instead, are sharing a special Tony Honor at this year’s Tony Awards. My Saturday matinee Matilda was the very spunky and adorable Miss Sophia Gennusa, who rapidly won the hearts of the audience members.  I particularly loved her performance of “Naughty”, which I thought was written, choreographed, and performed cleverly. Sophia’s Matilda was quietly intense, mysteriously imaginative, and wise beyond her years. 

I can’t talk about Matilda without discussing the stand-out performance of Tony nominee Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull. If I had to describe his performance in one word, it would be: scary. I am not a child and I was scared of him, or at least scared of the possibility of his character breaking the fourth wall! First of all, the costume designers and make-up artists must be credited with making Miss Trunchbull look truly hideous. The rotting teeth and facial warts complete with a single protruding hair were particularly effective. I also loved the hairy legs- a nice touch.  With a chilling smirk, an insidious glance, a determined narrowing of the eyes, and an intimidating command of the stage, Bertie Carvel has created a truly creepy character.  Bravo. 

Tony nominee Gabriel Ebert and Lesli Margherita were a great comic duo as Matilda’s parents. Though the characters were ignorant and self absorbed, I thoroughly enjoyed their time on the stage because they were just hilarious.  Tony nominee Lauren Ward was perfectly sweet and well-mannered as Miss Honey, Matilda’s teacher and advocate.   

Choreography by Peter Darling was fabulous- it made me want to go home and jump on a swing-set! The energetic ensemble of young performers, who played Matilda’s classmates, was fantastic. I also loved the library-themed sets. 

Music by Tim Minchin included several memorable songs, specifically “Revolting Children” and “Naughty”, but many songs seemed to support the choreography rather than provide a memorable melody to the ear. Not that I’m complaining, because as I mentioned earlier, the choreography was a major highlight in this show. 

Check out Matilda at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway! 

My Tony Award Picks 2013 (Musicals)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year..... for the Broadway lover!  On Tuesday, April 30, Sutton Foster and Jesse Tyler Ferguson will announce the highly-anticipated 2013 Tony Award nominations. The Tony Awards will air live from Radio City Music Hall on June 9th. 

As I eagerly await Tuesday’s nominations, I’ve made a list of my own Tony picks for some of the musical categories. 

I hope you enjoy- please comment and share your own Tony picks below! 

BEST MUSICAL
1.) Hands on a Hardbody- a very unique and original musical that closed far too soon. With its creative choreography, solid music, heart-warming story, and stand-out performers, this musical deserves a Tony nod. 

2.) Kinky Boots- book by Harvey Fierstein + music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper + Billy Porter’s amazing voice = great entertainment. Need I say more?

3.) Matilda- The dark children’s book by Roald Dahl has been transformed into a stage production. Matilda is well-written, well-staged, and boasts several stand-out performances- particularly Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull. 

Who will win? 
Matilda. 
However, I would love to see Hands on a Hardbody take home this Tony Award. 

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
**All five eligible productions- Annie, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Cinderella, Jekyll and Hyde, and Pippin- were very solid and any of these shows would, in my opinion, be deserving of a nomination. However, two shows did stand out for me. 

1.) Pippin- with its spectacular circus choreography, this production brings something new and exciting to the Broadway stage and quite possibly employs the most talented ensemble on Broadway right now. 

2.) The Mystery of Edwin Drood- How many musicals have more than one possible
ending? This killer cast (no pun intended) had me in stitches. 

Who will win?
Pippin. 

BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
1.) Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda- an outstanding, formidable, transformative performance. 

2.) Rob McClure as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin- He transfixed the audience with his perfect embodiment of Charlie Chaplin. 

3.) Billy Porter as Lola in Kinky Boots- the heart of the show. 

4.) Constantine Maroulis as Jekyll and Hyde in Jekyll and Hyde- Constantine carried the entire show and transformed effortlessly between good and evil.... and that voice. 

5.) Anthony Warlow as Daddy Warbucks in Annie- some of the best moments in this show were the scenes between Daddy Warbucks and Annie thanks to the great chemistry between him and Lilla Crawford. 

Who will win?
Bertie Carvel. 
However, I would love to see Rob McClure win for his role in Chaplin. 

BEST LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
1.) Carolee Carmello as Aimee Semple McPherson in Scandalous- a powerhouse performance. 

2.) Patina Miller as the Leading Player in Pippin- she gave a mysterious and manipulative performance, while mastering Fosse’s choreography. In this role, Patina has proven that she is the ultimate triple threat. 

3.) Laura Osnes as Cinderella in Cinderella- she was born to play this part. 

Who will win?
Patina Miller

BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
1.) Will Chase as John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood- Did he really do it?

2.) Hunter Foster as Benny Perkins in Hands on a Hardbody- his character started out as a jerk but ended up having so much depth. 

3.) Gabriel Ebert as Mr. Wormwood in Matilda- one word: hilarious. 

Who will win?
Gabriel Ebert. 

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
1.) Andrea Martin as Bertha in Pippin- With one musical number, she somehow managed to steal the show while simultaneously dangling from a trapeze. (Note: she plays a grandma......)

2.) Annaleigh Ashford as Lauren in Kinky Boots- It’s about time this talented funny girl got a Tony nomination!

3.) Keala Settle as Norma in Hands on a Hardbody- with her killer pipes, she brought the house down with her big number. 

Who will win?
Andrea Martin. But I would not be sad if Keala Settle won....

What were your favorite Tony-worthy performances this season??

5 Great Things About Hands on a Hardbody

Broadway
Brooks Atkinson Theatre
3/2/13 matinee

Synopsis: Hands on a Hardbody is based on the 1997 documentary about a group of down-on-their-luck Texans who enter the ultimate competition of endurance. The contestant who is able to stay standing with his or her hand on a shiny, new Nissan truck for the longest amount of time will take that truck home! The musical introduces ten contestants with very different backgrounds and life experiences, some based on real-life contestants from the documentary and some fictional.  Each character reveals his or her story to the other contestants, and in doing so, embarks on a physical and spiritual journey. And while there is only one winner (no spoilers), every contestant takes something special away from the competition and becomes a stronger person for having participated in the contest. 

5 Great Things About Hands on a Hardbody

1.) The Timing. Everyone knows that timing is critical to the success of a Broadway musical. I would argue that Hands on a Hardbody has impeccable timing and this is why. This musical depicts the lives of ten very heterogenous and very real people. The ten actors on stage, who could easily be mistaken for members of the audience, appear no different than the people you might pass by on the street. There are no flashy costumes or lion puppets or flying witches or dancing ensembles. They are simply ten down-on-their-luck Texans, not unlike many real-life Americans who are currently struggling with economical and financial hardships and the effects of war. Given the current economic climate, I think this story could really strike a chord with people because the story is true to the times and the characters are real and relatable. 

2.) The Truck.  The truck (named Layla) is its own unique entity on the stage, a separate character and the star of the show. After all, everything- the story, the choreography, the music- revolves around the truck. Gliding gracefully across the stage, the truck is seamlessly incorporated into Sergio Trujillo’s clever, inventive choreography. To envision choreography in which each actor must keep one hand on the truck at all times is an impressive feat, and for that reason alone, this show is something to see. 

3.) An Original Concept. With all the shows on Broadway, why did I choose to spend my Saturday afternoon at this particular show? Because the concept of ten contestants who vie to be the last person with their hands on a hardbody is, well, unique, and elicits curiosity. The concept is not something you see every day on Broadway and what theatre fan doesn’t crave subject matters that are new and fresh? And I promise you, this original concept does not disappoint. 

4.) The Characters. Hands on a Hardbody portrays ten very unique characters, some of whom are quite endearing, while others are a bit eccentric. Listening to the dialogue between these characters and watching them interact with each other on stage can be quite hilarious to say the least. I still crack up when I think of Janis’ husband sitting on the sidelines wearing a cardboard sign-hat and sipping a “Big Gulp”, while cheering on his wife. Anyway, these characters are sure to give you lots of “laugh out loud” moments. 

5.) The Music. Hands on a Hardbody offers a solid score by Trey Anastasio and Amanda Green. The score primarily has a country and rock “feel” to it with some powerful ballads and an outstanding gospel number performed by Keala Settle. And as I stated earlier, the integration of the truck into the music and choreography is most impressive and enjoyable to watch. 

UPCOMING BROADWAY MUSICALS

SPRING, 2013

CINDERELLA
Preview: 1/25/2013
Opens: 3/3/2013
Theatre: Broadway
Cast: Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Victoria Clart, Harriet Harris, Marla Mindelle, Greg Hildreth, Peter Bartlett
Description: The classic fairy tale is making its Broadway debut! Under the direction of Mark Brokaw, this beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical has been re-imagined by book-writer Douglas Carter Beane. 

HANDS ON A HARDBODY
Preview: 2/23/2013
Opens: 3/21/2013
Theatre: Brooks Atkinson
Cast: Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster, Mary Gordon Murray, Jay Armstrong Johnson, David Larsen, Allison Case
Description: Based on the 1997 documentary, this show tells the story of ten Texans who are competing for a brand new hardbody truck. The contestant who keeps his or her hand on the truck the longest wins the prize and a chance at living the American Dream. 

MATILDA
Preview: 3/4/2013
Opens: 4/11/2013
Theatre: Shubert
Cast: Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bertie Carvel, Lauren Ward, Gabriel Ebert, Lesli Margherita
Description: Based on the novel by Roald Dahl and winner of seven Olivier Awards, Matilda is a perceptive, but unfortunate young girl who is mistreated by her parents and the headmaster at her boarding school, but she possesses very special powers... 

KINKY BOOTS
Preview: 3/5/2013
Opens: 4/4/2013
Theatre: Al Hirschfeld
Cast: Stark Sands, Billy Porter, Annaleigh Ashford, Celina Carvajal
Description: Kinky Boots boasts music and lyrics by Cyndi Lauper, book by Harvey Fierstein, and direction/choreography by Jerry Mitchell. Based on a British film of the same name, Charlie Price saves his father’s shoe factory with the help of a drag queen named Lola and some kinky boots. 

MOTOWN
Preview: 3/11/2013
Opens: 4/14/2013
Theatre: Lunt-Fontanne
Cast: Brandon Victor Dixon, Valisia LeKae, Charl Brown, Bryan Terrell Clark
Description: Motown tells the story of music producer Berry Gordy as he discovers the talents of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder. 

PIPPIN
Preview: 3/23/2013
Opens: 4/25/2013
Theatre: The Music Box
Cast: Patina Miller, Matthew James Thomas, Andrea Martin, Charlotte d’Amboise, Terrence Mann, Rachel Bay Jones
Description: Hailing straight from the American Repertory Theatre in Cambridge, this is the very first Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz’s musical. A young man named Pippin is on a journey to find meaning his life, and ultimately, he must choose between the ordinary life and a risky chance at greatness. This production boasts circus choreography by Gypsy Snider and is directed by Diane Paulus. 

JEKYLL AND HYDE



Preview: 4/5/2013
Opens: 4/18/2013
Theatre: Marquis
Cast: Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox, Teal Wicks
Description: This production will end its national tour with a limited engagement on Broadway. In an effort to cure his father’s mental illness, Dr. Henry Jekyll conducts a controversial experiment on himself, unleashing the evil alternate personality, Mr. Hyde.