Kathleen Turner will return to Broadway in the role of a recovering alcoholic nun in "High."
The new play by Matthew Lombardo explores the relationship between a nun and a 19-year-old drug addict she's trying to help. "High" will begin previews March 25 and officially open April 19 at the Booth Theatre on 45th Street.
Rob Ruggiero will direct.
It's the first time back on Broadway for Turner since she nabbed a Tony nomination opposite Bill Irwin in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" She also received a Tony nomination for "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof."
Lombardo's credits include the Katharine Hepburn bio-play, "Tea at Five," starring Kate Mulgrew that played off-Broadway. He made his Broadway debut last year with "Looped," starring Valerie Harper.
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Broadway. Show all posts
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
'Spider-Man' Broadway Musical Delayed for Fourth Time
If your spidey senses were tingling Thursday night, you might head over to the Great White Way and lend a hand on set. The Wall Street Journal reports that the problem-plagued Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" has once again pushed back its opening night.
This is the fourth time the show has delayed its first official performance, now scheduled for March 15. The show's received a lot of negative attention, for bad reviews and the multiple sidelining injuries incurred by the actors and crew.
A statement released by the show said they needed time to work on a new ending. Some theatergoers have been confused by what went down after intermission.
"We simply need more time to fully execute the creative team's vision before freezing the show," said lead producer Michael Cohl. He then reassured audiences this would be the "final postponent" of the show, which has been in an usually long preview period of more than 15 weeks.
Despite 'Spider-Man's' rather tumultuous start in theater, the clearly popular show was the number one musical on Broadway. I vote they keep working out those set kinks, brush off the critics and if at all possible, bring James Franco on board. Multi-talented Harry Osborn could undoubtedly weave a web of gold. .
This is the fourth time the show has delayed its first official performance, now scheduled for March 15. The show's received a lot of negative attention, for bad reviews and the multiple sidelining injuries incurred by the actors and crew.
A statement released by the show said they needed time to work on a new ending. Some theatergoers have been confused by what went down after intermission.
"We simply need more time to fully execute the creative team's vision before freezing the show," said lead producer Michael Cohl. He then reassured audiences this would be the "final postponent" of the show, which has been in an usually long preview period of more than 15 weeks.
Despite 'Spider-Man's' rather tumultuous start in theater, the clearly popular show was the number one musical on Broadway. I vote they keep working out those set kinks, brush off the critics and if at all possible, bring James Franco on board. Multi-talented Harry Osborn could undoubtedly weave a web of gold. .
Indie Film 'Once' Heads to Broadway
If you caught John Carney's indie romance 'Once' and thought it would make a great Broadway production, you aren't alone. Producers John N. Hart Jr., Jeff Sine and Fred Zollo snagged the live theater rights to the film back in 2008 with initial plans to have it on the stage for the 2010-2011 theater season.
While they didn't quite make that schedule, there's good news for fans who've been waiting to see the live version of the little film that came seemingly out of nowhere.
The producers announced yesterday that Irish playwright Enda Walsh and Scottish director John Tiffany will team up to adapt the film for the stage with an eye set on a fall opening. The music and lyrics of stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, which were good enough to win the duo an Oscar for Best Original Song, will be featured prominently alongside the design work of Bob Crowley.
Details on casting have yet to be ironed out. It seems unlikely that Hansard and Irglova will reprise their roles. (The duo, who dated in real life, split in 2009.)
'Once' burst onto the scene at Sundance back in 2007. The title garnered an Audience Award at the festival, along with the requisite amount of buzz.
The film tells the story of a busker who meets a young immigrant woman who plays piano. The two struggling musicians team up to create a demo, but the music is more than that – it's therapeutic and chronicles the beginning of their own love affair. With a heavy emphasis on character and music, 'Once' should make a nearly seamless transition to the more intimate setting of the theater.
Check out the trailer for 'Once' below.
While they didn't quite make that schedule, there's good news for fans who've been waiting to see the live version of the little film that came seemingly out of nowhere.
The producers announced yesterday that Irish playwright Enda Walsh and Scottish director John Tiffany will team up to adapt the film for the stage with an eye set on a fall opening. The music and lyrics of stars Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, which were good enough to win the duo an Oscar for Best Original Song, will be featured prominently alongside the design work of Bob Crowley.
Details on casting have yet to be ironed out. It seems unlikely that Hansard and Irglova will reprise their roles. (The duo, who dated in real life, split in 2009.)
'Once' burst onto the scene at Sundance back in 2007. The title garnered an Audience Award at the festival, along with the requisite amount of buzz.
The film tells the story of a busker who meets a young immigrant woman who plays piano. The two struggling musicians team up to create a demo, but the music is more than that – it's therapeutic and chronicles the beginning of their own love affair. With a heavy emphasis on character and music, 'Once' should make a nearly seamless transition to the more intimate setting of the theater.
Check out the trailer for 'Once' below.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
'Spider-Man' Becomes Broadway's No. 1 Musical
'Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark' has become a bit of a punch-line over the last month or so, but the latest news about the Broadway adaptation of the popular Marvel comic will have Julie Taymor and her producers laughing – all the way to the bank.
The New York Times is reporting that the upstart production, plagued by bad press since a rash of accidents left several actors and crew injured, has knocked 'Wicked' from the top of its Broadway box-office perch last week, but just barely. The web-slinger edged out the revised take on 'The Wizard of Oz' by a whopping $58.
The margin might have been bigger – 'Wicked's' 1.5 million haul was based on 100% of the audience paying for tickets, while Spidey's numbers didn't factor in all the free and reduced price seats they were offering patrons while it continues its preview period. 'Wicked' had an average paid admission of $109.76, while 'Spider-Man' was slightly less at $102.86.
Could this be a portent of things to come? 'Wicked' has been one of the highest earning shows on Broadway since it debuted back in 2003, while 'Spider-Man' won't officially open until February 7th (after nearly a year of delays). The battle could be quite interesting – as 'Spider-Man' plays in a slightly larger theater (The Foxwood Theater) and boasts the name recognition of director Taymor (who helmed the stage version of 'The Lion King') and music from U2's Bono and The Edge.
However, as The Times mentions, the 'Wicked' team has more experience in figuring out how to sell the most seats at premium ($300 a pop) prices – which should keep its grosses in the stratosphere for the foreseeable future. Plus, 'Wicked' hasn't shown any signs of waning popularity even after a seven year run. It's a proven commodity.
Either way, it seems safe to say that the executives behind 'Spider-Man' have to be breathing a sigh of relief. After weeks of bad news, edging out a popular production like 'Wicked' is definitely something to crow about. Sony Films executives have to be pleased as well – as negative publicity for the musical could have a trickle down effect that compromises the earning ability of the new 'Spider-Man' movie, which is set to reboot the franchise.
The New York Times is reporting that the upstart production, plagued by bad press since a rash of accidents left several actors and crew injured, has knocked 'Wicked' from the top of its Broadway box-office perch last week, but just barely. The web-slinger edged out the revised take on 'The Wizard of Oz' by a whopping $58.
The margin might have been bigger – 'Wicked's' 1.5 million haul was based on 100% of the audience paying for tickets, while Spidey's numbers didn't factor in all the free and reduced price seats they were offering patrons while it continues its preview period. 'Wicked' had an average paid admission of $109.76, while 'Spider-Man' was slightly less at $102.86.
Could this be a portent of things to come? 'Wicked' has been one of the highest earning shows on Broadway since it debuted back in 2003, while 'Spider-Man' won't officially open until February 7th (after nearly a year of delays). The battle could be quite interesting – as 'Spider-Man' plays in a slightly larger theater (The Foxwood Theater) and boasts the name recognition of director Taymor (who helmed the stage version of 'The Lion King') and music from U2's Bono and The Edge.
However, as The Times mentions, the 'Wicked' team has more experience in figuring out how to sell the most seats at premium ($300 a pop) prices – which should keep its grosses in the stratosphere for the foreseeable future. Plus, 'Wicked' hasn't shown any signs of waning popularity even after a seven year run. It's a proven commodity.
Either way, it seems safe to say that the executives behind 'Spider-Man' have to be breathing a sigh of relief. After weeks of bad news, edging out a popular production like 'Wicked' is definitely something to crow about. Sony Films executives have to be pleased as well – as negative publicity for the musical could have a trickle down effect that compromises the earning ability of the new 'Spider-Man' movie, which is set to reboot the franchise.
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