Week in Review 3.13.15
Between the announcement of the Broadway mounting and tickets going on sale, Hamilton has been getting extra attention. Watch this CBS Sunday Morning interview in which Hamilton writer and star Lin-Manuel Miranda talks about being inspired to write the musical, and why the hip-hop vernacular is the perfect fit for the story. In this bonus clip, Miranda talks about performing a song from Hamilton at the White House. Miranda also spoke to MSNBC's Chris Hayes, with whom he went to high school. (For more, watch the extended, 20-minute conversation between the old friends.) Hamilton tickets are now on sale, including at the pop-up box office at the Marquis Theatre. The musical continues its Public run through the beginning of May. Broadway previews (at the Richard Rodgers Theatre) begin July 13, with opening night set for August 6. Visit hamiltonbroadway.com for more.
Josh Groban StagesJosh Groban has been working, simultaneously, on two albums. One is a typical Josh Groban album, and the other, Stages, is an album of musical theatre (or movie musical) covers. The musician announced this week that Stages will be released on April 28. The albums includes favorites like, "Finishing the Hat," form Sunday in the Park with George; "Over the Rainbow," from The Wizard of Oz; and "Old Devil Moon," from Finian's Rainbow, plus duets, like "If I Loved You," from Carousel, featuring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald. (McDonald, by the way, won the first of her six Tonys for her performance in the 1994 revival of Carousel. She played Carrie Pipperidge, who does not sing "If I Loved You.") The album is now available for pre-order. (Learn about the different versions of the album on Groban's website.)
Speaking of Audra McDonald (Porgy and Bess, Lady Day...), the six-time Tony Award winner will return to Broadway in spring 2016 in a new show called, Shuffle Along, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All that Follows. Collaborating with director George C. Wolfe (The Normal Heart) and choreographer Savion Glover, the behind-the-scenes show will tell the story of bringing the groundbreaking Shuffle Along to life. The 1921 musical is notable for launching the Broadway careers of many black actors, including Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson. The 2016 Shuffle Along will use pre-existing music and feature a book by Wolfe. Previews at the Music Box Theatre will begin March 14, 2016, with opening night set for April 21. Theater Mania has more.
Additional casting has been announced for the Broadway bow of Allegiance, the new musical coming to Broadway this fall. Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon) and Telly Leung (Godspell) join the previously announced George Takei. The three previously appeared in the 2012 world premiere production, which ran is San Diego. Allegiance features a book by Marc Acito and a score by Jay Kuo. Directed by Stafford Arima, the musical begins previews at the Longacre Theatre October 6. Opening night is set for November 8. Broadway.com has more.
Dig This- The New York Post spoke with siblings Megan Fairchild and Robert Fairchild, two NYCB principal dancers who are making their Broadway debut this season. Megan can be seen in On the Town, and Robert begins previews of An American in Paris today, March 13. (An American in Paris, by the way, now has a rush policy.)
- There's another article about playwrights writing for TV series. (Some such article circulates about once a season.) This one is in the Wall Street Journal, and focuses on playwrights Melissa James Gibson (House of Cards, the upcoming Placebo); Bess Wohl (American Hero); and Tanya Barfield (a Pulitzer finalist).
The Bridges of Madison County, the Jason Robert Brown musical that rightfully won the Tony Award for Best Score, has announced its first national tour. Kicking off in Iowa (where the musical is set), the tour will make stops in South Florida, Los Angeles and Washington, DC, among other places. Theater Mania has details. - The folks at Vice spoke with House of Cards creator and show runner, Beau Willimon (Farragut North, Breathing Time). He dishes on the third season, which is now streaming on Netflix.
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