I took a small break from writing here. Life got hectic on my end with a new job, lots of traveling, and crying over Orlando. But I'm back! With the 2016 Tony Awards behind us, it's time to look forward to the 2016-2017 season.
Cirque du Soleil kicked off the current season before Tonys were even handed out, with their new circus/musical hybrid "Paramour". Most of the critics shrugged their shoulders at the conventional musical plot, but the dazzling acrobatics are getting butts in seats.
The newest season announcement arrived today courtesy of The New York Times: Roundabout's Off-Broadway hit, "Significant Other", will make the leap to the main stem this season. Jeffrey Richards will be producing the Broadway run, at a yet-to-be-announced Shubert owned theater. Previews are slated to begin sometime in February with a target opening in March.
"Significant Other" had its world premier at Roundabout's Laura Pels Theatre, off-Broadway. Its director there, Trip Cullman, will also helm the Broadway mounting. Casting is not 100% confirmed, but Richards is attempting to reunite the original Off-Broadway cast, which featured: Gideon Glick, Lindsay Mendez, Sas Goldberg, Cara Patterson, and Barbara Barrie.
The play, written by 33 year old Joshua Harmon (Bad Jews), follows a young gay man (Glick) desperate to find love in the city. He hangs with his three gal pals on most nights, but the inseparable group of singles gradually starts to dissolve. The women all start to find relationships, and singles nights turn into wedding planning sessions and bachelorette parties. I saw the the play in its original run, and it has a relatable and modern quality to the dialogue rarely seen in new plays. The surprise success of Tony winner "The Humans" (another show that began at Roundabout) has obviously emboldened Richards to make another move to Broadway. I hope "Significant Other" finds the same success. It deserves it.
Another fun tidbit released today: there will be a staged reading today of the long-gestating revival of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas". Rob Ashford is still set to direct and choreograph the musical, despite several delays. The cast for today's reading is impressive: Kristin Chenoweth (Miss Mona), Jennifer Holliday (Jewel), Kevin McKidd (Earl Dodd), Christopher Sieber (Melvin P. Thorpe), James Naughton (Governor), Kerry Butler (Doatsey Mae), Jim Newton (Bandleader), and Helene Yorke (Angel).
The A-List casting doesn't necessarily mean we will see all those faces in the eventual Broadway run of course. But, it would be hard to find fault with any of these choices (though should Cheno turn down the role of Mona, may I suggest Tony nominee Carmen Cusack of "Bright Star". She's in need of a job now, and has the gravitas and earthy voice to nail the part). If "Whorehouse" makes it to Broadway this season, it will compete with "Cats", "Falsettos", and "Hello, Dolly!" for the Best Revival of a Musical Tony.
If you want to take a look at all the confirmed shows for the 2016-2017 season, I've compiled them (as always!) in a handy Production Guide. You can find it listed above the Contenders pages. Is it too early to think about the 2017 Tonys?
Now if you'll excuse me, I'll be singing some 'Hard Candy Christmas' to get in the mood. Take it away, Dolly.
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