Broadway Watch - February 2006
Fri, 24 Feb 2006, 12:35 pmWalter Plinge1 post in thread
Broadway Watch - February 2006
Fri, 24 Feb 2006, 12:35 pmLast Friday of the month, here we go...
Last month one Lord Lloyd Webber show broke his own record for most performances on Broadway.
This month another Lord Lloyd Webber show closes after just over three months!
One Musical opened this month
The Pajama Game
Opened 23/02/2006; Closes 11/06/2006 (Limited Run!)
Music by Richard Adler; Lyrics by Jerry Ross; Book by George Abbott & Richard Bissell
2006 Broadway Revival (Original production ran 1954-1956; previous revival 1973-1974)
Featuring Harry Connick, Jr., Kelli OÂ’Hara & Michael McKean
No Cast Recording – Original Broadway Cast Available
Two Musicals closed this month
Chita Rivera: The DancerÂ’s Life
Opened 11 Dec 2005; Closed 19 Feb 2006; 72 performances
Book by Terence McNally
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Featuring Chita Rivera (wellÂ… obviously!)
No cast recording
The Woman in White
Opened 17 Nov 2005; Closed 19 Feb 2006; 109 performances
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by David Zippel; Book by Charlotte Jones
Broadway version of Original 2004 London Production
Featuring Michael Ball & Maria Friedman
No Cast Recording – Original London Cast Recording Available
Seventeen other Musicals currently running:
The Color Purple
Music & Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray; Book by Marsha Norman
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Cast Recording Available
Jersey Boys
Music by Bob Gaudio; Lyrics by Bob Crewe; Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Cast Recording Available
Sweeney Todd
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by Hugh Wheeler
Broadway Version of 2004 English Revival (Original Broadway Production ran 1979-1980; Revival 1989-1990)
Featuring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris
Cast Recording Available
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music & Lyrics by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Transferred from Off-Broadway in 2005
2005 Tony Awards – Book & Featured Actor (Dan Fogler)
Cast Recording Available
The Light in the Piazza
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel, Book by Craig Lucas
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Closes 02/07/2006 – Limited Run (extended – for the THIRD TIME!!)
Featuring Victoria Clark
2005 Tony Awards – Score, Lead Actress (Victoria Clark), Orchestrations, Lighting Design, Costume Design & Scenic Design
Cast Recording Available
Monty PythonÂ’s Spamalot
Music by Eric Idle and John Du Prez; Book & Lyrics by Eric Idle
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Featuring David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria & Sara Ramirez
2005 Tony Awards – Musical, Director & Featured Actress (Sara Ramirez)
Cast Recording Available
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek; Book by Jeffrey Lane
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Featuring Johnathan Pryce, Norbert Leo Butz, Gregory Jbara, Joanna Gleason & Erachel York
2005 Tony Award – Lead Actor (Norbert Leo Butz)
Cast Recording Available
Wicked
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; Book by Winnie Holzmann
Original 2003 Broadway Production
Featuring Shoshana Bean, Ben Vereen & Carol Kane
2004 Tony Awards – Actress (Idina Menzel); Scenic Design & Costume Design
Cast Recording available
Avenue Q
Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; Book by Jeff Whitty
Transferred from Off-Broadway in 2003
2004 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score & Book of a Musical
Cast Recording Available
Hairspray
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman; Book by Mark OÂ’Donnell and Thomas Meehan
Original 2002 Broadway Production
Featuring Darlene Love
2003 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score; Book of a Musical; Actor (Harvey Fierstein); Actress (Marissa Janet Winokur); Featured Actor (Dick Latessa); Direction & Costume Design
Cast Recording available
Mamma Mia!
Music and Lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson; Book by Catherine Johnson
2001 Broadway version of Original 1999 London Production
Currently featuring Michele Pawk
No Cast Recording – Original London Cast available
The Producers
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks; Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Original 2001 Broadway Production
Featuring Hunter Foster, Gary Beach & Jai Rodriguez
2001 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score; Book of a Musical; Actor (Nathan Lane); Featured Actor (Gary Beach); Featured Actress (Cady Huffman); Direction; Orchestrations; Scenic Design; Costume Design; Lighting Design & Choreography
Cast Recording available
The Lion King
Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice; Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
Original 1997 Broadway Production, Based on 1994 Film Musical
1998 Tony Awards – Musical; Direction; Scenic Design; Costume Design; Lighting Design; Choreography
Cast Recording available
Chicago
Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb; Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
1996 Broadway Revival (Original production ran 1975-77)
Currently featuring Robin Givens
1997 Tony Awards – Revival of a Musical; Actor (James Naughton); Actress (Bebe Neuwirth); Direction; Lighting Design & Choreography
9th Longest Run in Broadway History (9th Most Performed Musical)
Cast Recording available
Rent
Music Lyrics & Book by Jonathan Larson
Transferred from Off-Broadway in 1996
1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1996 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score; Book of a Musical & Featured Actor (Wilson Jermaine Heredia)
8th Longest Run in Broadway History
Cast Recording available
Beauty and the Beast
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice; Book by Linda Woolverton
Original 1994 Broadway Production, Based on 1991 Film Musical
1994 Tony Award – Costume Design
6th Longest Run in Broadway History (8th Most Performed Musical)
Cast Recording available
The Phantom of the Opera
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
1988 Broadway version of London Production
Currently featuring Howard McGillin
1988 Tony Awards – Musical; Actor (Michael Crawford); Featured Actress (Judy Kuhn); Direction; Scenic Design; Costume Design & Lighting Design
Longest Run in Broadway History and Most Performed Musical
No Cast Recording – Original London Cast available
Attendance figures for last four weeks (to 19 Feb 06)
Top Three Shows by Attendance
Wicked – 57551
The Lion King – 45375
The Phantom of the Opera – 45367
Top Three Shows by Capacity
Wicked – 99.4%
Jersey Boys – 94.3%
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 92.5%
Bottom Three Shows by Attendance
Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life – 16281
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 20237
The Light in the Piazza – 20790
Bottom Three Shows by Capacity
Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life – 54.6%
The Producers – 60.9%
The Woman in White – 61.7%
Now In Previews
Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show – New Musical – Previews begin 08/02/2006; Opens 12/03/2006
Coming Soon
The Threepenny Opera – New Revival – Previews 24/03/2006; Opens 20/04/2006; Closes 18/06/2006 (Limited Run!)
Lestat – New Musical – Previews begin 25/03/2006; Opens 25/04/2006
The Wedding Singer – New Musical – Previews Begin 30/03/2006; Opens 27/04/2006
Hot Feet – New Musical – Previews begin 18/04/2006; opens 30/04/2006
The Drowsy Chaperone – New Musical – Previews begin 03/04/2006; opens 01/05/2006
Tarzan – New Musical, based on the 1999 Disney film – Previews begin 24/03/2006; Opens 10/05/2005
Les Miserables – Revival – Previews begin 21/10/2006; Opens 09/11/2006; Closes 22/04/2007 (Limited Run)
Mary Poppins – Broadway Version of Original 2004 London Production – Previews begin 14/10/2006; Opens 16/11/2006
In the Pipeline
A Chorus Line – New Revival
Jerry Springer: The Opera – Broadway version of Original English Production
Princesses – New Musical
A Tale of Two Cities – New Musical
The Times They Are A’Changin’ – New Musical
The Wiz – New Revival
Zanna – Broadway version of Original 2003 Off-Broadway Production
Longest Runs (as at 19 Feb 2006)
7533 Phantom of the Opera (still running)
7485 Cats
6680 Les Miserables
6137 A Chorus Line
5959 Oh! Calcutta
4860 Beauty and the Beast (still running)
4092 Miss Saigon
4081 Rent (still running)
3859 Chicago (still running)
3486 42nd Street
(The Lion King, currently 11th, due to enter Top Ten in March 2006)
Most Performed (as at 19 Feb 2006)
7533 Phantom of the Opera (still running)
7485 Cats
7273 Oh! Calcutta (2 runs)
6680 Les Miserables
6137 A Chorus Line
5010 42nd Street (2 runs)
4893 Grease (2 runs)
4860 Beauty and the Beast (still running)
4795 Chicago (2nd run still running)
4484 Fiddler on the Roof (5 runs)
(Rent, currently 12th, due to enter Top Ten in February 2007)
Cast Recordings
No Cast Recordings announced
Last month one Lord Lloyd Webber show broke his own record for most performances on Broadway.
This month another Lord Lloyd Webber show closes after just over three months!
One Musical opened this month
The Pajama Game
Opened 23/02/2006; Closes 11/06/2006 (Limited Run!)
Music by Richard Adler; Lyrics by Jerry Ross; Book by George Abbott & Richard Bissell
2006 Broadway Revival (Original production ran 1954-1956; previous revival 1973-1974)
Featuring Harry Connick, Jr., Kelli OÂ’Hara & Michael McKean
No Cast Recording – Original Broadway Cast Available
Two Musicals closed this month
Chita Rivera: The DancerÂ’s Life
Opened 11 Dec 2005; Closed 19 Feb 2006; 72 performances
Book by Terence McNally
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Featuring Chita Rivera (wellÂ… obviously!)
No cast recording
The Woman in White
Opened 17 Nov 2005; Closed 19 Feb 2006; 109 performances
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by David Zippel; Book by Charlotte Jones
Broadway version of Original 2004 London Production
Featuring Michael Ball & Maria Friedman
No Cast Recording – Original London Cast Recording Available
Seventeen other Musicals currently running:
The Color Purple
Music & Lyrics by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray; Book by Marsha Norman
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Cast Recording Available
Jersey Boys
Music by Bob Gaudio; Lyrics by Bob Crewe; Book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Cast Recording Available
Sweeney Todd
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim; Book by Hugh Wheeler
Broadway Version of 2004 English Revival (Original Broadway Production ran 1979-1980; Revival 1989-1990)
Featuring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris
Cast Recording Available
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Music & Lyrics by William Finn; Book by Rachel Sheinkin
Transferred from Off-Broadway in 2005
2005 Tony Awards – Book & Featured Actor (Dan Fogler)
Cast Recording Available
The Light in the Piazza
Music & Lyrics by Adam Guettel, Book by Craig Lucas
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Closes 02/07/2006 – Limited Run (extended – for the THIRD TIME!!)
Featuring Victoria Clark
2005 Tony Awards – Score, Lead Actress (Victoria Clark), Orchestrations, Lighting Design, Costume Design & Scenic Design
Cast Recording Available
Monty PythonÂ’s Spamalot
Music by Eric Idle and John Du Prez; Book & Lyrics by Eric Idle
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Featuring David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria & Sara Ramirez
2005 Tony Awards – Musical, Director & Featured Actress (Sara Ramirez)
Cast Recording Available
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Music & Lyrics by David Yazbek; Book by Jeffrey Lane
Original 2005 Broadway Production
Featuring Johnathan Pryce, Norbert Leo Butz, Gregory Jbara, Joanna Gleason & Erachel York
2005 Tony Award – Lead Actor (Norbert Leo Butz)
Cast Recording Available
Wicked
Music & Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; Book by Winnie Holzmann
Original 2003 Broadway Production
Featuring Shoshana Bean, Ben Vereen & Carol Kane
2004 Tony Awards – Actress (Idina Menzel); Scenic Design & Costume Design
Cast Recording available
Avenue Q
Music & Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx; Book by Jeff Whitty
Transferred from Off-Broadway in 2003
2004 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score & Book of a Musical
Cast Recording Available
Hairspray
Music by Marc Shaiman; Lyrics by Scott Wittman; Book by Mark OÂ’Donnell and Thomas Meehan
Original 2002 Broadway Production
Featuring Darlene Love
2003 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score; Book of a Musical; Actor (Harvey Fierstein); Actress (Marissa Janet Winokur); Featured Actor (Dick Latessa); Direction & Costume Design
Cast Recording available
Mamma Mia!
Music and Lyrics by Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson; Book by Catherine Johnson
2001 Broadway version of Original 1999 London Production
Currently featuring Michele Pawk
No Cast Recording – Original London Cast available
The Producers
Music & Lyrics by Mel Brooks; Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Original 2001 Broadway Production
Featuring Hunter Foster, Gary Beach & Jai Rodriguez
2001 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score; Book of a Musical; Actor (Nathan Lane); Featured Actor (Gary Beach); Featured Actress (Cady Huffman); Direction; Orchestrations; Scenic Design; Costume Design; Lighting Design & Choreography
Cast Recording available
The Lion King
Music by Elton John; Lyrics by Tim Rice; Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
Original 1997 Broadway Production, Based on 1994 Film Musical
1998 Tony Awards – Musical; Direction; Scenic Design; Costume Design; Lighting Design; Choreography
Cast Recording available
Chicago
Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb; Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse
1996 Broadway Revival (Original production ran 1975-77)
Currently featuring Robin Givens
1997 Tony Awards – Revival of a Musical; Actor (James Naughton); Actress (Bebe Neuwirth); Direction; Lighting Design & Choreography
9th Longest Run in Broadway History (9th Most Performed Musical)
Cast Recording available
Rent
Music Lyrics & Book by Jonathan Larson
Transferred from Off-Broadway in 1996
1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama
1996 Tony Awards – Musical; Original Score; Book of a Musical & Featured Actor (Wilson Jermaine Heredia)
8th Longest Run in Broadway History
Cast Recording available
Beauty and the Beast
Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice; Book by Linda Woolverton
Original 1994 Broadway Production, Based on 1991 Film Musical
1994 Tony Award – Costume Design
6th Longest Run in Broadway History (8th Most Performed Musical)
Cast Recording available
The Phantom of the Opera
Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics by Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe
1988 Broadway version of London Production
Currently featuring Howard McGillin
1988 Tony Awards – Musical; Actor (Michael Crawford); Featured Actress (Judy Kuhn); Direction; Scenic Design; Costume Design & Lighting Design
Longest Run in Broadway History and Most Performed Musical
No Cast Recording – Original London Cast available
Attendance figures for last four weeks (to 19 Feb 06)
Top Three Shows by Attendance
Wicked – 57551
The Lion King – 45375
The Phantom of the Opera – 45367
Top Three Shows by Capacity
Wicked – 99.4%
Jersey Boys – 94.3%
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 92.5%
Bottom Three Shows by Attendance
Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life – 16281
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee – 20237
The Light in the Piazza – 20790
Bottom Three Shows by Capacity
Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life – 54.6%
The Producers – 60.9%
The Woman in White – 61.7%
Now In Previews
Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show – New Musical – Previews begin 08/02/2006; Opens 12/03/2006
Coming Soon
The Threepenny Opera – New Revival – Previews 24/03/2006; Opens 20/04/2006; Closes 18/06/2006 (Limited Run!)
Lestat – New Musical – Previews begin 25/03/2006; Opens 25/04/2006
The Wedding Singer – New Musical – Previews Begin 30/03/2006; Opens 27/04/2006
Hot Feet – New Musical – Previews begin 18/04/2006; opens 30/04/2006
The Drowsy Chaperone – New Musical – Previews begin 03/04/2006; opens 01/05/2006
Tarzan – New Musical, based on the 1999 Disney film – Previews begin 24/03/2006; Opens 10/05/2005
Les Miserables – Revival – Previews begin 21/10/2006; Opens 09/11/2006; Closes 22/04/2007 (Limited Run)
Mary Poppins – Broadway Version of Original 2004 London Production – Previews begin 14/10/2006; Opens 16/11/2006
In the Pipeline
A Chorus Line – New Revival
Jerry Springer: The Opera – Broadway version of Original English Production
Princesses – New Musical
A Tale of Two Cities – New Musical
The Times They Are A’Changin’ – New Musical
The Wiz – New Revival
Zanna – Broadway version of Original 2003 Off-Broadway Production
Longest Runs (as at 19 Feb 2006)
7533 Phantom of the Opera (still running)
7485 Cats
6680 Les Miserables
6137 A Chorus Line
5959 Oh! Calcutta
4860 Beauty and the Beast (still running)
4092 Miss Saigon
4081 Rent (still running)
3859 Chicago (still running)
3486 42nd Street
(The Lion King, currently 11th, due to enter Top Ten in March 2006)
Most Performed (as at 19 Feb 2006)
7533 Phantom of the Opera (still running)
7485 Cats
7273 Oh! Calcutta (2 runs)
6680 Les Miserables
6137 A Chorus Line
5010 42nd Street (2 runs)
4893 Grease (2 runs)
4860 Beauty and the Beast (still running)
4795 Chicago (2nd run still running)
4484 Fiddler on the Roof (5 runs)
(Rent, currently 12th, due to enter Top Ten in February 2007)
Cast Recordings
No Cast Recordings announced