B'way Update: Shark Jumps the Atlantic; Pre-Tonys on Pluto TV

Demetri Goritsas, Ian Shaw, and Liam Murray Scott 
in The Shark Is Broken
Credit: Helen Maybanks

Broadway is about to jump the shark. The Shark Is Broken, a new play based on the filming of the blockbuster film Jaws will make the transatlantic leap from London to New York this summer (after an engagement in Canada). After runs at the Edinburgh Festival and the West End where it was nominated for two Olivier Awards and at the Royal Alexandria Theater in Toronto, Shark will swim into the John Golden Theater for previews starting July 25 in advance of an Aug. 10 opening. The three-character comedy is written by Ian Shaw and Joseph Nixon. Shaw will also reprise his role of his father Robert Shaw who played the gruff shark hunter Quint in the 1975 Steven Spielberg original film. Casting for the other roles of Shaw's co-stars Richard Dreyfuss and Roy Scheider will be announced. The action follows the feuding between the three stars as production is held up when the mechanical aquatic monster breaks down.    

Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider, and
Richard Dreyfuss in Jaws.

In more immediate news, the streaming service Pluto TV will present a Tony Awards pre-show for free on June 11 from 6:30-8PM EST. For the past two Tony Awards, fans had to subscribe to Paramount + to watch pre-ceremony events. This is a step up for Pluto which is best known for its massive catalogue of film and TV reruns (I love their Amazing Race channel). Hosts and further details about The Tony Awards: Act One will be available in the coming weeks. For the second year in a row, the 76th Tony Awards will be hosted by Oscar winner and Tony nominee Ariana DeBose. The ceremony will follow the pre-show from 8-11pm on CBS and on demand on Paramount +.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Pluto TV to kick off this year’s Tony Awards celebration,” said Jack Sussman, executive vice president of specials, music, live events and alternative programming at CBS. “This cross-company partnership allows us to utilize the breadth of the Paramount Global family to bring the best of Broadway into homes of more viewers than ever before.”

“We’re excited to spotlight this live, exclusive pre-show event for Broadway’s biggest night,” said Jeff Grossman, EVP of content and business operations for Paramount Streaming. “Our partnership with CBS continues to bring even more programming from across the Paramount ecosystem to Pluto TV audiences for free.”

Nominations for the Tonys will be announced on May 2 by Lea Michele (Funny Girl) and Myles Frost (MJ) from the Sofitel New York hotel. A selection of the nominations will be announced live on CBS Mornings at 8:30 am EST.  

2022-23 and 2023-24 Broadway/Off-Broadway Schedule 

April 25--Summer, 1976 (MTC/Samuel J. Friedman) 
April 25--Drama League Award nominations announced (NY Public Library)

April 26--Outer Critics Circle nominations announced

April 26--New York, New York (St. James)

April 27--Drama Desk nominations announced

April 27--The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (James Earl Jones)
April 29--Fuenta Ovejuna (TFANA/Polonsky Shakespeare Center)
May 2--Tony Award Nominations Announced (Sofitel Hotel)
May 4--Primary Trust (Roundabout/Laura Pels) (previews begin; opening TBA)

May 4--shadow/land (Public Theater)
May 7--Lortel Awards (NYU Skirball Center)
May 16--King James (MTC/City Center Stage I)
May 16--Outer Critics Winners announced
May 19--Drama League Awards (Ziegfeld Ballroom)
May 25--Outer Critics Circle Awards (Bruno Walter Auditorium/Lincoln Center Library)
May 30--Grey House (Lyceum)
May--Wet Brain (Playwrights Horizons)

June 5--Days of Wine and Roses (Atlantic Theatre Company) 
June 11--Tony Awards (United Palace)
June 22--Once Upon a One More Time (Marquis)
June 28--Hamlet (Delacorte/Shakespeare in the Park) 
July 9--Orpheus Descending (TFANA/Polonsky Shakespeare Center)
July 20--Here Lies Love (Broadway)

July 20--Flex (Mitzi Newhouse/LCT)
July 24--The Cottage (Hayes)
Aug. 3--Back to the Future (Marquis)

Aug. 10--The Shark Is Broken (Golden)
Sept. 19--Merrily We Roll Along (begins previews; opening TBA) (Hudson)
September--Here We Are (The Shed Griffin Theater)

September--The Refuge Plays (Roundabout/NYTW/Laura Pels)

October--I Need That (Roundabout/AA)

Summer 2023

Purlie Victorious

Fall 2023

I Can Get It for You Wholesale (CSC)

Poor Yella Rednecks (MTC/City Center Stage II)

Winter 2024

Pericles (CSC)

Spring 2024

Home (Roundabout/AA)

Jonah (Roundabout/Laura Pels)

Wine in the Wilderness (CSC)

2024-25

Smash

2024 and Beyond

Game of Thrones, The Great Gatsby, Frida, the Musical, High Noon, The Mousetrap

Future--Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death; Black Orpheus; BOOP! The Betty Boop Musical; Come Fall in Love--The DDLJ Musical; The Devil Wears Prada; Ella: An American Miracle; Everybody's Talking About Jamie; The Griswolds' Broadway Vacation; Harmony; Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; The Karate Kid; La La Land; Lempicka; Our Town; Pal Joey; The Nanny; The Normal Heart/The Destiny of Me; The Secret Garden; Sing Street; Soul Train; What a Wonderful World; The Who's Tommy; The Wiz; Working Girl