B'way & Off Update: Forbidden B'way Back on the Boards; Michael Urie Stars in Mattress

Chris Collins Pisano (left) and Jenny Lee Stern (right)
 will be featured in Gerard Alessandrini's
new "Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole A Song"
at Theater555 
Credit: Carole Rosegg

Forbidden Broadway is back on the boards. The latest edition of Gerard Alessandrini's long-running satirical revue, subtitled Merrily We Stole a Song had been announced as playing Broadway's Hayes Theater this summer, but the engagement was postponed indefinitely. Now, the production will open Off-Broadway at Theater 555 on W. 42nd St. on Sept. 12 with previews beginning Aug. 23.

Created, written and directed by Gerard Alessandrini, with musical staging by Gerry McIntyre, Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole a Song skewers the latest deluge of Broadway offerings including Hell’s Kitchen, Stereophonic, The Outsiders, The Great Gatsby, Back to the Future, The Wiz, and of course, Merrily We Roll Along. In addition, there will be sendups of Roger Bart, Patti LuPone, Daniel Radcliffe, Ariana DeBose and Jeremy Jordan, among others. This up-to-the-minute version will also poke fun at the 2024 Tony Awards, and will include some of the most popular numbers from Alessandrini’s recent Forbidden Sondheim.

 

Gerard Alessandrini says “I am thrilled that this latest incarnation of the show that I had been preparing for more than a year, can now open Off-Broadway, where Forbidden Broadway has felt at home for over 40 years. The exciting new Broadway season has inspired me to create a barrage of theatrical zingers, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to present this edition in New York after all.”

 

The company will be headed by Chris Collins-Pisano and Jenny Lee Stern with musical director Fred Barton on piano.  The remainder of the cast and creative team will be announced. 

B'way Update: Audra McDonald to Star in Gypsy

Audra McDonald
Credit: Allison Michael Orenstein

The rumors have been confirmed. Six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald will tackle the King Lear of musical theater roles when she plays Mama Rose in the fifth Broadway revival of Gypsy, the musical suggested by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee with book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The production will be directed by five-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe (Angels in America, Shuffle Along) and choreographed by four-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown (Hell's Kitchen, for colored girls) and begin previews at the re-opened Majestic Theatre on Nov. 21 prior to a Dec. 19 opening. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.

“When we began this journey we had the specific dream of pairing Audra McDonald, our most lauded stage actress, with legendary director George C. Wolfe in a musical deemed by many to be the greatest. Sometimes the theatre gods smile upon us. This is one such time. We could not be more honored to bring this particular Gypsy to the Broadway stage and also include the singular Camille A. Brown as part of our creative team," said producers Tom Kirdahy and Mara Isaacs.

B'way Update: Job Transfers; Marin Ireland's Pre-Existing Condition

Peter Friedman and Sydney Lemmon
in Job
Credit: Emilio Madrid

Job, the hit Off-Broadway two-character play by Max Wolf Friedlich, will make the leap to Broadway this summer. Performances begin July 15 at the Hayes Theater in advance of a July 30 opening for a limited run through Sept. 29. Sydney Lemmon and Peter Friedman will repeat their performances as a recently-fired big tech company employee and her crisis management therapist. 

According to the press release, the plot is described as follows: “Jane (Lemmon), an employee at a big tech company (you know the one), has been placed on leave after becoming the subject of a viral video. She arrives in the office of a crisis therapist – Loyd (Friedman) – determined to be reinstated to the job that gives her life meaning. Job zooms in on two careerists of different generations, genders, and political paradigms to examine what it means to be a citizen of the internet and our obligation to help the people who need it most.”

NYDCC and OCC Awards

Two major theater critics' groups, the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Outer Critics Circle, handed out their annual awards last week. At both ceremonies, the winners were known in advance, so everyone could relax. The NY Drama Critics Circle was held at 54 Below on Tues. May 21 with Circle president Adam Feldman of Time Out New York presiding. Jim Walton of the original cast of Merrily We Roll Along presented the special award to Maria Friedman, director of the revival. Walton said he imagined when Stephen Sondheim got to heaven, God said to him, "Steve, I think I know how to fix Merrily." This is because the show has gone through so many iterations and revivals since its infamous 1981 flop run on Broadway. 

Guy Davis and Hasna Muhammad
with their sister Nora Day on the phone
accepting the NYDCC award for
their father's play Purlie Victorious.

Jonathan McCrory, artistic director of the National Black Theater, presented the special award for the Purlie Victorious revival to Guy Davis and Hasna Muhammad, the children of playwright Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee who co-starred with her husband in the original 1961 Broadway production. Guy was carrying his cell phone so that their sister Nora Day could join in on Face Time. 

Hasna related how their dad originally wrote the play in anger in reaction to what was happening to black people in the South at the time. Davis and Dee were working on a production of The World of Sholom Alcheim and the actor-playwright was inspired by the humor of the Alcheim stories to use satire and wit to address the injust situation. She also told that their mother was not originally chosen for the role of Lutiebelle since she was primarily a dramatic actress. She had to audition for her husband's play.

Book Review: Glass. Kill. Bluebeard. Imp.

(Bought at the Drama Book Store in NYC) I bought this collection because the Public Theater has announced they will be presenting 3 of the 4 short title works plus What If If Only instead of Bluebeard's Friends. Caryl Churchill is one of the most influential and important playwrights of her era. I first encountered her in the 1980s and '90s with the Public Theater productions of Fen, Top Girls, Serious Money, and The Skriker. Then New York Theater Workshop's A Number and Far Away; followed by Blue Heart at BAM and a brilliant revival of Cloud 9 at Atlantic Theater Company. Mad Forest and a Broadway revival of Top Girls were presented by Manhattan Theater Club. She continues to reinvent herself and break all theatrical rules. While most authors stick to their signature style, everyone of her works is unique. Here the four pieces detail the impact of fantasy and folklore on modern life. A girl made of glass metaphorically breaks down. The Greek myths of murder are explored. Bluebeard gets the #MeToo treatment. An imaginary wishgranting imp influences four despondent people. Intriguing and haunting as are all of Churchill's works. I'm looking forward to seeing them on stage next year.

The other shorts were all very brief and political, amounting to editorials rather than dramas. I agree with the anti-Trump and pro-gay pieces but disagree with her anti-Israel stance, and would like to see the plays in production.

B'way Update: Romeo and Juliet Sets Date, Theater

Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler

The Sam Gold-directed revival of Romeo and Juliet starring Kit Connor (Heartstopper) and Rachel Zegler (Steven Speilberg's West Side Story) has announced a theater and production dates. This 37th Broadway production of Shakespeare's classic of star-crossed lovers will begin performances at the Circle in the Square on Sept. 26 prior to an Oct. 24 opening. The production will feature music by Jack Antonoff, best known for his collaborations with Taylor Swift. Sonya Tayeh, Tony winning choreographer of Moulin Rouge, is credited with movement. Meanwhile, the West End production of R&J starring Tom Holland and Francesca Amewudah-Rivers and directed by Jamie Lloyd does not appear to be moving to Broadway when it completes its sold-out run as has been previously rumored. But you never know. Tom Holland's Spider-Man box office appeal may inspire producers to try it in 2025-26.

Chita Rivera, Drama League, Other Awards

Winners of the Chita Rivera, Drama League and awards presented by Actors Equity Foundation were recently announced. On Mon. May 20, the Chita Rivera Awards for outstanding dance and choregraphy in theater and film were presented at NYU's Skirball Hall (site of the Drama Desks on June 10).

BROADWAY

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A BROADWAY SHOW: TIE – Camille A Brown, Hell’s Kitchen; Jesse Robb and Shana Carroll, Water for Elephants

Isabella McCalla and Antoine Boissereau
in Water for Elephants.
Credit: Matthew Murphy

OUTSTANDING DANCER IN A BROADWAY SHOW: Antoine Boissereau, Water For Elephants; Tilly Evans-Kreuger, The Outsiders

OUTSTANDING ENSEMBLE IN A BROADWAY SHOW: Illinoise

FILM AND DOCUMENTARY

OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHY IN A THEATRICAL RELEASE: Barbie, Jennifer White

OUTSTANDING DIRECTION OF A DANCE DOCUMENTARY: Lift, David Petersen

SPECIAL AWARDS

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Bernadette Peters

VANGUARD AWARD: Phil LaDuca

DOUGLAS AND ETHEL WATT CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD: Mayte Natalio.