"Sea Wall/A Life" recoups; "Be More Chill" headed to London in 2020; "Girl from the North Country" and “To Kill a Mockingbird” cast announcements; Christopher Ashley and Bridget Carpenter join Cyndi Lauper for the Broadway-aimed musical adaptation of "Working Girl"; Mike Birbiglia’s "The New One" to be a book; “The Phantom of the Opera" to get a graphic novel treatment; early Tony predictions; first look at Katrina Lenk as Bobbie in the forthcoming revival of "Company"; RIP Diahann Carroll and Anna Quayle
All tagged Be More Chill
New Tony nominators announced; "Hillary and Clinton" closes a month early; “The Prom” and “Be More Chill” to close August 11th; Lin-Manuel Miranda's "Freestyle Love Supreme" books the Booth, "Deren Brown: Secret" books the Cort, "Girl from the North Country" books the Belasco, Tracy Letts' "The Minutes" will arrive on Broadway in February, and Jeremy O. Harris’ “Slave Play” rumored for Broadway; Netflix film adaptation of August Wilson's "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom" to star Viola Davis; Richard Kind joins “Kiss Me, Kate”; check out Joel Grey’s latest book of photography; Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford to bring their "Sunday in the Park with George" to the West End
FEATURE: 2019 Tony Award Nominations
The 2019 Tony Award Nominations were announced this morning by Bebe Neuwirth and Brandon Victor Dixon. Take a look at the list and read my analysis of the surprises and snubs.
List of Olivier Award winners; Michael Urie to host Drama Desk Awards; Ryan Murphy to adapt "The Prom" into a movie musical for Netflix; "Tina: The Tina Turner Musical" books Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre; Patti LuPone may head all-female version of "Glengarry Glen Ross" on Broadway next season; "Do You Feel Anger?" extends; a musical of "The Outsiders", a Maya Angelou bio-play, 3 musicals using the BMG catalogue, and a musical of "Mr. Saturday Night" are all in development; 2 new songs from “Beetlejuice”; “The Cher Show” cast recording out tomorrow; RIP Eric LaJuan Summers
REVIEW: “Be More Chill” Gets a Broadway Upgrade
Tween science-fiction, pop-rock sensation “Be More Chill” makes the leap to Broadway and gets an upgrade in the process with a snazzier production design and revised score and script that give it a clearer narrative and a more even tone. Relentlessly hyperactive, broad, and sophomoric, it still lacks the sophistication, polish, and emotional resonance of its high school musical peers, but it is infectiously fun.
REVIEWS: “Alice By Heart” and “Superhero”
Two hotly-anticipated new musicals opened Off-Broadway recently: Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s “Alice By Heart” at MCC Theater, and Tom Kitt and Joshua Logan’s “Superhero” at Second Stage Theater. I take a look at each.
"Don't Stop Til You Get Enough" cancels pre-Broadway tryout; "Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune" books the Broadshurt; “Network” extends to June; Roundabout announces 2020 Off-Broadway season; "Oklahoma!" cast announced; Annie Golden to headline "Broadway Bounty Hunter"; Claybourne Elder and Bryce Pinkham to lead "Benny & Joon"; private reading of "The Prince of Egypt" held in London; Rob Zombie floats "House of 1,000 Corpses" musical; union controversy over musical orchestrators playing in the pit band; RIP Mark Bramble and Stanley Donen
"Network" extends to April 28th; "The Play That Goes Wrong" will transfer to New World Stages; City Center announces Encores! Off-Center series; "Lifespan of a Fact" has recouped; cast announced for Duncan Sheik's new musical, "Alice by Heart" at MCC Theater; Off-Broadway cast of "Be More Chill" will transfer to Broadway; Lea Salonga will return to "Once On this Island"; Christian Dante White will be the next Freddy Eynsford-Hill in "My Fair Lady"; Jack O'Brien replaces Gregory Mosher as director of the upcoming Broadway revival of "All My Sons"; listen to Patti LuPone sing "The Ladies Who Lunch" on the forthcoming West End cast album of "Company"; Galt MacDermot, composer of "Hair" and "Two Gentlemen of Verona", dead at 89
"Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show" books the Imperial for holiday engagement; Danny Burstein to join "My Fair Lady"; Dénee Benton to join "Hamilton"; cast announced for City Center's "A Chorus Line" gala; "Wicked" turns 15 on October 30th; "What the Constitution Means to Me" and "Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish" extend; "Desperate Measures” and "Smokey Joe's Cafe" closing; film adaptation of "Be More Chill" announced; Idris Elba and Dame Judi Dench join “Cats” movie cast; the 73rd Annual Tony Awards will be held on Sunday, June 9th
"Be More Chill" books the Lyceum and "Beetlejuice" books the Winter Garden; "The Band's Visit" recoups; Al Roker will make his Broadway debut in "Waitress"; Hailey Kilgore returns to "Once on This Island"; Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, and John Legend EGOT with "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" Emmy wins; trailer for Gwen Verdon doc "Merely Marvelous"; profile of Cher
REVIEW: “Be More Chill” is Teenage Musical Manna
“Be More Chill” is a new sci-fi, pop-rock, satirical allegory of a musical for tweens and early teens, and probably not anyone else. Based on a 2004 novel about a high school loser who swallows a pill-sized computer that makes him cool, the show is well-staged and performed, but remains an emotionally disengaging experience. Willed into production re-existence on the strength of its international, online teenage fanbase, expect to be hearing about it for some time to come.
Rosemary Harris to replace Diana Rigg in "My Fair Lady"; Hugh Dancy and Megalyn Echikunwoke join "Apologia"; "School Girls” cast reuniting for encore run; MTC expands "30 Under 30” program to age 35; TKTS pilots price listing; “Mean Girls” to offer free fan performance; “Sweat” to tour the Midwest; “Be More Chill” sells out; “Moulin Rouge” aiming for summer 2019 Broadway bow; Tommy Tune hints at “Grand Hotel” revival; Ruthie Ann Miles returns to the stage; Charlotte Rae dead at 92