As we begin a new decade, I look back at my past decade of theatre-going and pick my top 10 favorite plays and musicals.
All tagged Heidi Schreck
"Mrs. Doubtfire" the musical will open at Broadway's Stephen Sondheim Theatre; the Broadway-aimed musical "Lempicka" will play La Jolla Playhouse; Tim Sanford will step down as Artistic Director of Playwrights Horizons; stars of "SpongeBob SquarePants" will reunite for a new TV adaptation that will premiere on Nickelodeon; Maria Dizzia to headline “Constitution” tour; Roger Bart joins "Back to the Future" musical; Warren Carlyle to direct and choreograph Barry Manilow's "Harmony"; first look of Carolee Carmello as Dolly Levi in the national tour of "Hello, Dolly!"
Jackie Sibblies Drury's "Fairview" wins the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Drama; Laurie Metcalf, Eddie Izzard, Russell Tovey, and Patsy Ferran to star in 2020 Broadway revival of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"; "Oklahoma!" musical television series in development; 2019-2020 seasons announced at Off-Broadway's Signature Theatre and Playwright's Horizons; "Grease" movie prequel is in the works; Mike Faist will play Riff in “West Side Story" film; Olga Merediz, Gregory Diaz IV, Jimmy Smits join "In the Heights" film; Lila Neugebauer to make film debut; RIP Georgia Engel
REVIEW: Now on Broadway, “What the Constitution Means to Me” is a stirring act of resistance
To see Heidi Schreck’s “What the Constitution Means to Me” is to participate in an act of resistance, of reclaiming hope for the future by doing the hard work of grappling with the past. Part civics lesson, part memoir, Schreck recounts her formative experience of wrestling with the constitution’s meaning as a teenager through the lens of her adult self, the women in her family, and the bitterly divided nation it serves. It is the most important play of this or any season—an act of profound social consciousness expanding, community building, and democratic participation—and a must-see.
James Corden to host the 73rd Tony Awards; "Gary" postpones opening night; "Kiss Me, Kate" extends; Yanni books the Lunt Fontanne Theatre; Anna D. Shapiro to direct "The Devil Wears Prada" musical; "Jekyll & Hyde" musical to receive a film adaption; "Fiddler on the Roof" documentary to premiere this summer; Trump budget threatens to eliminate NEA; Shoshana Bean leads "Waitress" cast; Jeremy Jordan joins April 8th; Brian d'Arcy James to play Officer Krupke in "West Side Story" film adaptation
"Sunset Boulevard" film headed to production with Glenn Close; injury forcesAndrea Martin out of "Gary"; Morrissey to play Broadway's Lunt-Fontanne Theatre; "Tea at Five" will play Boston prior to Broadway; "One Man, Two Guvnors" will be adapted for film; Cynthia Erivo to star in new Rip van Winkle-inspired movie musical; NYPL for the Performing Arts to host Hal Prince exhibit; all female "Glengarry GlenRoss" still in the mix; Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater working on six new musicals; "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" musical to premiere in London; GOT prequel musical to receive workshop; TV series "Nashville" to be adapted for the stage; "To Kill a Mockingbird" licensing controversy; Olivier Award nominations; RIP André Previn and Katherine Helmond
Broadway legend Carol Channing is dead at 97; Heidi Schreck's "What the Constitution Means to Me" will play 12 weeks on Broadway; Palace Theatre renovations have hit a snag; casting announced for “The Ferryman”, "The Courtroom", "Call Me Madam", and the film version of "West Side Story"; Brittney Johnson becomes first Glinda of color in an English language production of "Wicked"; "Beautiful" marks 5 years with appearance by Carole King
FEATURE: Top 10 Shows of 2018
By my count, I’ve attended 246 performances of theatre, dance, music, opera, and cabaret during 2018. Out of a field that large, it’s hard to pick just ten, but nevertheless, here are my top ten favorite shows I saw in New York (including no new musicals and only three Broadway shows!).
REVIEW: Heidi Schreck’s stunning and poignant “What the Constitution Means to Me”
Part civics lesson, part memoir—at once bittersweet and beautiful— Heidi Schreck’s mostly one-woman play “What the Constitution Means to Me” at New York Theatre Workshop recounts her formative experience of wrestling with the constitution’s meaning as a teenager through the lens of her adult self, the women in her family, and the bitterly divided nation it serves. Heartbreaking, humorous, brilliant, and profoundly important, this is a must-see event of the fall season.