Now that vaccines are coming into focus, it’s time to start thinking about Broadway’s return. We’ve all been wondering, exactly when will the fabulous invalid get back on its feet? Well, there are signs of renewed life on the Great White Way, though it’s going to be quite a while before any of us can set foot in a Broadway house. I compiled a short list of productions that have announced performance dates, along with some others that provided a general projection of their opening night.
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"Hamilton”
Contrary to recent reports that the blockbuster musical is aiming to return on July 4, making it the first musical to re-open after the pandemic, producers say there is no return date scheduled as of yet.
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“The Music Man”
Opening: February 10, 2022,
Theater: Winter Garden Theatre
Directed by Jerry Zaks, and starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, the revival will begin performances on December 20, 2021.
“The Minutes”
Opening: March 15, 2022, (exactly two years after original opening date)
Theater TBA
Written by Tracy Letts with Anna D. Shapiro directing, the play stars Tracy Letts, Armie Hammer, Jessie Mueller, Ian Barford, Blair Brown, K. Todd Freeman, Sally Murphy, and Austin Pendleton.
“Sing Street”
Opening: Sometime between winter 2021 and winter 2022
Theater: TBA
Directed by Rebecca Taichman, The NY Theatre Workshop production based on John Carney’s 2016 film features music by Carney and Gary Clark with a book by Enda Walsh, the same team behind the hit musical “Once.”
“How I Learned to Drive” by Paula Vogel
Opening: Spring 2022
Theater: Samuel J. Friedman Theatre
Written by Paula Vogel and directed by Mark Brokaw, the revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama will star the original leads, Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse.
“Lackawanna Blues”
Opening; Fall 2021
Theater: TBA
Written, directed and performed by Ruben Santiago Hudson with original music by Bill Sims Jr.
“David Byrne’s American Utopia”
Opening: Fall 2021. Performances begin September 17, 2021.
Theater: TBA
“MJ”
Opening: Fall 2021. Performances begin September 2021
Theater: Neil Simon Theatre
Original musical about the life of Michael Jackson by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, “MJ” is co-produced by the Michael Jackson Estate and will feature the pop star’s iconic songs with Ephraim Sykes in the title role.
“Flying Over Sunset”
Opening: Fall 2021
Theater: Vivian Beaumont
Lincoln Center Theater’s new musical by James Lapine with music by Tom Kitt and lyrics by Michael Korie.
“Intimate Apparel”
Opening: Fall 2021
Theater: Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre
The opera version of Lynn Nottage’s play is directed by Bartlett Sher, with a score by Ricky Ian Gordon. Nottage wrote the libretto for this Off-Broadway production.
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“The Lion King” and “Aladdin”
Disney Theatrical Productions tells us it’s “working to set return dates for both its hit Broadway musicals in 2021.”
So, just as surely as the sun’ll come up tomorrow, so will the curtains in our precious live theaters…just not quite tomorrow.
TODAY IN THEATER HISTORY
December 3, 1947: “A Streetcar Named Desire” opens on Broadway
I’ve seen a lot of production of “A Streetcar Named Desire” but my mother was there for the very first. She was a cub reporter writing entertainment stories for the World Telegram and Sun at age 23, and even managed to snag an interview with Marlon Brando in his very messy apartment. The Tennessee Williams play won the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and was adapted into a critically acclaimed film in 1951.
December 3, 2018: “The Cher Show” opens on Broadway
A whole new kind of jukebox musical rocked the Neil Simon Theater when Stephane J. Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond embodied the larger than life icon. The show took a non traditional approach to telling the story of Cher’s life, with all three actors weaved throughout the show. It paid off, earning Block her first Tony Award.
Here’s a look back at my review:
BROADWAY AT HOME - This week’s theater events, available right on your computer
December 3 at 7 p.m. EST: WP Theater Presents: Lockdown, a live broadcast reading
The play by Cori Thomas is inspired by her conversations with people serving life sentences at San Quentin Prison. After the live reading, it will be available online until December 7th.
For more information and to get access to the live reading, click here.
December 3 at 7 p.m. EST: Old Friends New Works: A Benefit for Manhattan Theater Club
This virtual benefit will feature several big ticket collaborations, including Laura Linney performing a new work by Pulitzer Prize Winner Elizabeth Strout, Edie Falco in a new work by Simon Stephens, and Jeremy Pope in a new work by Jason Michael Webb.
You can watch the benefit for free on YouTube here.
For more information and to donate to support the benefit, click here.
December 6 at 8 p.m. EST: Ana Gasteyer on the Seth Concert Series
Gasteyer appeared on Broadway in the 2009 play The Royal Family. But the former SNL cast member is more well known for her work on screen, including in the movie “Mean Girls” and in the ABC sitcom “Suburgatory.”
Buy tickets here.
December 8 at 2 p.m. EST: Premiere of “As Is: Conversations with Big Black Women in Confined Spaces” with the Manhattan Theater Club
This show by Stacey Rose is part of MTC’s Ted Snowdon Reading Series. The reading will premiere on MTC’s YouTube channel and remain online until Saturday, December 12th.
For more information, click here.
CRYPTIC PLAYBILL
And finally, some fun for theater fans: each week, we’ll share artwork from a Playbill cover minus the title and see if you can identify the show.
Last week’s Cryptic Playbill was “Sweet Charity”. The legendary Bob Fosse won a Tony Award for his choreography for the 1966 musical, which starred his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. This playbill is from the 2005 Broadway revival, starring Christina Applegate.