The Broadway Collection News for February
February is the month of love! If you’re visiting NYC with your special someone this month, why not celebrate by going to see the Valentine Heart in Times Square? This year’s heart, entitled Match-Maker is designed by Young Projects and is open to the public starting February 6th. More than just a pretty sculpture, Match-Maker offers visitors the chance to arrange themselves at twelve different viewing points around the heart-shaped sculpture according to their zodiac signs. By peering through the colorful periscope, viewers can see their four most ideal astrological mates. http://young-projects.com/portfolio/times-square-valentine-heart-2014/
The New York City Ballet’s winter season comes to an end in early March, so now is the perfect time to go see one of the winter ballets before spring is upon us! This season at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater features two world premieres, two Balanchine full-lengths, and twenty other ballets for you and your loved one to enjoy. For full details, visit http://www.nycballet.com/
For those visiting the City with family, this February welcomes the annual Kids Week at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Kids Week takes place from February 15th through the 22nd and is a celebration of sports, science, theater, music, history and more on board the historic aircraft carrier. Kids Week activities include raffles, special tour guide talks, hands-on workshops and even Broadway performances! For the complete schedule of programming, check out http://www.intrepidmuseum.org/kidsweek2014.aspx
Speaking of annual celebrations, the annual Lunar New Year celebration will take place in Chinatown on February 2nd… also this year’s Super Bowl Sunday, but why not celebrate both? Head down to Chinatown to celebrate the Year of the Horse and enjoy stunning visuals, food and fun for all ages. For more information, visit http://betterchinatown.com/
From February 20th through the 23rd, the famed Apollo Theater will transform into the Apollo Club Harlem. If you didn’t get enough of Harlem’s magical Jazz Age during Broadway’s After Midnight, the Apollo Club Harlem will take you back in time again. The 90-minute revue will include a 16-piece big band, a chorus line of Red Hot Steppers, and a host of sultry and spectacular singers and dancers to make the night complete. The show features the Wall Street Journal’s “hippest man alive,” Maurice Hines, Boardwalk Empire’s Margot B., Kevin Mahogany, the talented Manzari Brothers, and The Wondertwins. For more details, visit https://www.apollotheater.org/all/details/125-apollo_club_harlem
In Broadway news…
Firstly, we are deeply saddened to announce that Valisia LeKae has withdrawn from her role as Diana Ross in Motown the Musical due to her battle with ovarian cancer. Our thoughts are with Valisia and her family during this challenging time and we hope that she will make a full recovery. Taking Valisia’s place as Diana Ross is Krystal Joy Brown of Big Fish, who joined the cast of Motown the Musical on January 23rd.
In other Motown news, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has introduced its first exhibition in 2014 entitled Motown: The Truth is a Hit. The exhibition will feature audio and video clips, books, art, Motown recordings, and other items commemorating Motown founder Berry Gordy and the Motown era. Motown: The Truth is a Hit will be on display from February 1st through July 26th at the Schomburg Center in Harlem.
Arriving on Broadway this month at the New Amsterdam Theatre is the Disney classic Aladdin, directed by The Book of Mormon’s Tony-winner Casey Nicholaw. Previews begin on February 26th and the official opening night is slated for March 20. Rocky will also come to Broadway for previews on February 11th and the show makes its official Broadway debut on March 13th and the Winter Garden Theatre.
More Broadway news…
Rehearsals for the Broadway classic and Tony Award-winner musical Les Miserables began last month. The show will return to Broadway at the Imperial Theatre on March 1st for previews, with the official opening night on March 23rd.
Mamma Mia! will welcome a new principal cast to The Broadhurst Theatre on Monday, February 3rd. Tony-nominated Alan Campbell will take on the role of Sam Carmichael with former Mamma Mia! cast member John Hemphill assuming the role of Bill Austin. Paul DeBoy and Jon Jorgenson will make their Broadway debuts as characters Harry Bright and Sky, respectively. Lastly, Elena Ricardo will assume the leading role of Sophie Sheridan.
Finally, congratulations to Kinky Boots for its best week ever over Christmas! The musical grossed $2,247,239.99 in the week ending December 29th, breaking the all-time box office record at the Al Hirschfield Theatre.