The Broadway Collection News for the Week Ending in January 11, 2013
Happy New Year! The Broadway Collection has had a great start to 2013, and is welcoming four new members: The Metropolitan Opera, Pump Boys and Dinettes, Hands on a Hardbody and Flashdance. Here is some additional information about each:
– The Metropolitan Opera: The Metropolitan Opera, now in its 129th season, is a vibrant home for the most creative and talented artists, including singers, conductors, composers, orchestra musicians, stage directors, designers, visual artists, choreographers, and dancers from around the world. Known as the venue for the world’s greatest voices, the Met has been under the musical direction of James Levine since 1976. Maestro Levine is credited with having created one of opera’s finest orchestras and choruses.
– Pump Boys and Dinettes: Somewhere in America’s heartland, between Frog Level and Smyrna, North Carolina, stands a rest stop, for those who need a good rest. The four hard-working fellas at the gas station, Jim, Jackson, Eddie and L.M., have been known to do some auto repairs, but only when aided by ample quantities of time, great tunes and a few beers while they’re at it. Just a few feet away, there’s also a roadside eatery, the Double Cupp Diner, where the Cupp sisters, Prudie and Rhetta, celebrate their famous home cooking and gift for song with the same zeal they bring to their kinship with the boys. Pump Boys and Dinettes will open for previews on March 19, 2013 and officially open April 8, 2013 at the Circle in the Square Theatre.
– Hands on a Hardbody: For ten hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they’ll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand new truck in order to win it. In the hilarious, hard-fought contest that is Hands on a Hardbody only one winner can drive away with the American Dream. Previews start Fabruary 23 and the show officially opens March 21 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.
– Flashdance: Flashdance tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a working-class girl from Pittsburgh with a dream of becoming a professional dancer. She works by day as a steel mill welder, and a bar dancer at night while aspiring to be accepted at a prestigious ballet academy. When Alex catches the eye of her boss Nick Hurley, their romance shows her the meaning of love and drives her ambition to pursue her dream. Flashdance will open in August 2013.
Sadly, Mary Poppins will be closing its doors on March 3, 2013. Book your tickets now before this great Disney classic is gone!
The producers of the Tony-winning hit musical comedy Nice Work If You Can Get It have announced that Tony Award nominee Brad Oscar will perform the role of ‘Cookie McGee’ during Michael McGrath’s two month leave of absence. This reunites Mr. Oscar with Matthew Broderick for the first time since they starred together in the original cast of The Producers.
Although Chaplin the Musical has said farewell to Broadway, the production will open its doors once again next year in Brazil. The show will be produced in São Paulo, Brazil at the Teatro Procópio Ferreira in April 2014 by Chaim XYZ Produções.
We have also had a lot of records broken over the holidays! The Book of Mormon broke the Eugene O’neill house record for the 44th time, Once broke the house record at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, and Annie broke the house record at the Palace theatre for the second time! Wicked has broken an remarkable record – It has been the number one show on Broadway for nine consecutive years! Now that’s an achievement!