New York City Broadway Theater Guide

Working Notes

Basically just an electronic notebook of shows mentioned in passing that might be worth to keep an eye on. Not really kept up to date, more to prod the memory

Baitz "Evans" Work
Producer John N Hart
Creative  Jon Robin Baitz author | Richard Eyre director
A new, untitled Baitz work on the life of write-actor-producer Robert Evans. Based on a mashup of Evans' The Kid Stays in the Picture and The Fat Lady Sang. Possible 2010-2011 (February 2010)

bare
Creative  Damon Intrabartolo & Jon Hartmere book | Damon Intrabartolo music | Jon Hartmere lyrics | Stafford Arima director
Debuted LA's Hudson Theater October 2000. After long wait, finally made it to NYC with American Theatre of Actors April 2004. Now, after another long wait, look to Broadway 2010-2011 | Martian Entertainment (November 2009)

Beauty
Tina Landau book | Regina Spektor music | Michael Korie lyrics | Tina Landau director
Elephant Eye Theatrical production of La Jolla Playhouse one-act. Due 2011-12 (September 2009)

Blazing Saddles
Word is that a certain 83-year-old mensch is at work on a musical version of Blazing Saddles. With two songs done and, say, a dozen or so more to go, Mel Brooks said the show "could be completely written within the next year." Guess that would make 2011-2012 a reasonable target (March 2010)

Bring It On
Jeff Whitty book | Lin-Manuel Miranda & Tom Kitt music | Amanda Green lyrics | Alex Lacamoire orchestrations | Andy Blankenbuehler director & choreographer
That adds up to a bunch of recent Broadway success to craft a show based on the 2000 flick
May 2010 casting for Sep-Oct NYC workshop prior to Jan 1st to Feb 20th 2011 run at Atlanta's Alliance Theater (Just in time for Spring on Broadway? (September 2009 Updated May 2010)

Don't Dress for Dinner
Creative  Marc Camoletti author
Sequel to Boeing Boeing ran in Paris under title Pyjamas Pour Six, debbed April 2009 at Chicago's Royal George Theatre. Maybe Broadway Fall 2010 | Martian Entertainment (November 2009)

Dumbo
Creative  Stephen Daldry director | Peter Darling choreography
Most other producers must really be jealous of the folks at Disney Theatricals. Face it, when in doubt all they have to do is riffle through the film library and come up with a concept for a stage show. In this case it's a stage adaptation of the 1941 family favorite Dumbo, said to be in the very early stage of development
Neat Note Disney animator Bill Tytla used his baby son Peter as his live reference for Dumbo's personality and movements (March 2010)

Family Fortune
Cinda Firestone Fox book | Alberto Carrion & Nile Rodgers music | Nile Rodgers lyrics
Debs in New Orleans Summer 2012 with eye on Broadway (August 2009)

A Few Good Men
Producer Ken Davenport
Creative Aaron Sorkin author | David Esbjornson director
The NY Times reported that the first Broadway revival of the show is coming sometime in 2010-2011 season
First run was at the Music Box Theater from November 1989 to January 1991 for 497 performances. Tom Hulce starred and was Tony-nominated as best actor (January 2010)

Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Producer David Binder
Creative John Cameron Mitchell book | Stephen Trask music & lyrics | Peter Askin director
A Broadway production due possibly early 2010-2011
Hedwig opened at the Jane Theater February 14, 1998, and went on to an 857-performance run, spawning a 2001 cult favorite flick and many, many local productions around the world. Mr Askin directed the original production with Jerry Mitchell providing the musical staging. Mr Mitchell starred as Hedwig with Miriam Shor as Yitzak. Other actors to take the stage as Hedwig during the run were Kevin Cahoon, Michael Cerveris, Matt McGrath and Ally Sheedy (March 2010)

Laughing Matters
Producers  Roundabout Theatre Company
Creative  Iris Rainer Dat book & lyrics | Mike Stoller & Artie Butler music | Leonard Foglia director
Cast  Christopher Innvar, Donna Muphy, Heidi Blinkenstaff, Chris Hoch, Jayne Houdyshell, Martin Moran, Emily Skinner, Chip Zien
Workshops Jan 2010 for about three generations of Jewish women with roots in Warsaw ghetto (January 2010)

Little Miss Sunshine
Creative  James Lapine book & director | William Finn music & lyrics
Wow, seems like they're scraping the bottom of the barrel for concepts now. I enjoy a really good senseless comedy on a Saturday afternoon; this was not one. But if anybody can bring it off it's Messrs Lapine and Finn. Show had a run at the Sundance Theater Lab in Fall 2009 and is to play La Jolla Playhouse Feb-Mar 2011 (September 2009 Updated May 2010)

Lend Me a Tenor: The Musical
Producers  Martin Platt, David Elliot
Creative  Peter Sham book & lyrics | Brad Carroll music | Ian Talbot director | Randy Skinner choreographer
Design Paul Farnsworth costume & set design | Tim Mitchell lighting design
First mounted in Summer 2007 at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, the musical version of Tenor had industry workshops March 2010 aiming for a quick stop in September 2010 at Plymouth's Theatre Royal before October transfer to the West End. Then maybe Cleveland (Get it?) before Broadway maybe 2012-2013 or later (April 2010)

Louis & Keely: Live at the Sahara
Louis Prima, Keely Smith circa '50s, '60s. Created by Jake Broder and Vanessa Claire Smith at Sacred Fools Theatre Company June 2008. Geffen Playhouse 2009, numerous LA area awards. Eyes 2010 tour, then Fall to Broadway
Show was scheduled for a December 2010 gig at the St Louis Rep, but problems with Mr Broder's and Ms Smith's schedules forced a cancellation (September 2009 Updated April 2010)

Love and Mercy
Producers Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel
Creative Jon Robin Baitz author
According to Playbill, this play about a media-politico-centered family will deb during 2010-2011 (February 2010)

The Mountaintop
Producers Jean Doumanian, Sonia Friedman
Creative Katori Hall author | Kenny Leon director (?)
Design London Libby Watson production design | Emma Chapman lighting design | Richard Hammarton sound design
Two-character play explores possible events the night before Martin Luther King's assassination. Mountaintop had a critically-acclaimed run at London's Trafalgar Studio 1 from July through September 2009. Directed by James Dacre, the production starred David Harewood and Lorraine Burroughs
Due Broadway possibly Fall 2010 (February 2010)

National Pastime
Producer Algonquin Theater Productions
Creative Tony Sportiello book & lyrics | Al Tapper music | Tom Herman director
Baseball tuner to first play Cooperstown starting May 1, 2010, then tour as it aims for sometime in 2010-2011 (February 2010)

The Nutty Professor
Jerry Lewis wants to bring a musical version of his 1963 laugher to Broadway in Fall 2008 - via Variety (May 2006)

The Orphan's Home Cycle
Producers Daryl Roth, Jeffrey Richards, Signature Theater Company, Hartford Stage
Creative Horton Foote book | Michael Wilson director | John Gromada music | Peter Pucci choreographer
David Woolard costume design | Rui Rita lighting design | David Barber & Jeff Cowle scenic design | John Gromada sound design
Cast (Sig Theater) James De Marse, Hallie Foote, Bill Heck, Maggie Lacey
A three-play cycle based on the author's family in early 1900s Texas. Each play is three acts, each of which is derived from original full-length plays. The Story of a Childhood (Roots in a Parched Ground, Convicts, Lilly Dale); The Story of a Marriage (The Widow Claire, Courtship, Valentine's Day); The Story of a Family (1918, Cousins, The Death of Papa)
Orphan's premiered September 2009 at the Hartford Stage (Childhood Sep 3rd, Marriage Sep 17th, Family Oct 9th), running through Oct 24th. It had its NYC deb at the Signature Theatre Company Nov 19th (Childhood), with Marriage following on Dec 13th and Family on Jan 24th 2010 in a run scheduled through Mar 28th. Producers were planning to transfer the show to the Neil Simon Theater in Spring 2010, but decided to hold off until Fall (December 2009, Updated January 2010)

Private Lives
Creative  Noel Coward author | Richard Eyre director
Cast Kim Cattrall, Matthew Macfadyen
London's Daily Mail reports that Mr Coward's Private Lives will return for its eighth incarnation on Broadway "early in the New Year" -- 2011. The London production opened at the Vaudeville Theatre March 3rd with a run scheduled to May 1st (April 2010)

Queen of the Stardust Ballroom
Creative  Jerome Kass book | Billy Goldenberg music | Marvin Hamlisch additional music | Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman lyrics | Jerry Mitchell director & choreographer
Maureen Stapleton and Charles Durning starred in the 1975 Sam O'Steen made-for-television flick about a, erm, "later in life" Cinderella. In 1978 Michael Bennett brought a simpler titled Ballroom to the Majestic Theater with Dorothy Loudon and Vincent Gardenia
Word of a new production started to emerge in early winter 2010 with subsequent backer workshops in April directed by Mr Mitchell featuring Tyne Daily, Keith Carradine, Lucy Arnaz, Rita Gardner and Rondi Reed. Said to be aiming for Spring 2011 (February 2010 Updated May 2010)

Robin and the Seven Hoods
Creative  Rupert Holmes book | Jimmy Van Heusen & Sammy Cahn music & lyrics | Casey Nicholaw director & choreographer
Debs at the Old Globe July 14, 2010, in a run to August 22nd. Look to Broadway 2010-2011 (February 2010)

Rocket Boys
Creative  Homer Hickam Jr & Carl Anthony Tramon book | Dan Tramon & Diana Belkowski music & lyrics | Carl Anthony Tramon director
It does take a bit of time to get a new musical to Broadway. Boys started on that road with Apr 2004 readings at NJ's Spotlight Theatre Company. It's next stop was at the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop (NYC) in May 2005. Staged readings followed three years later at, appropriately, Huntsville, AL's Merrimack Hall in May 2008. NYC readings scheduled for Jun 2010
Rocket Boys the Musical
(May 2010)

The Rothschilds
Producer  Arnold Mittelman
Creative  Sherman Yellen book | Jerry Bock music | Sheldon Harnick lyrics | Jeffrey B Moss director
Revival of the 1970 tuner looking to 2010-2011 (November 2009)

Run-DMC: The Musical
Hollywood type Paula Wagner is working to make it so - via New York Times ArtsBeat (October 2009)

Stuff Happens
David Hare's new play with title out of the mouth of SecDef Donald Rumsfeld goes from England to Los Angeles to Sydney with hopes for B'way. A very well traveled show (July 2005)

The Sunshine Boys
The second revival of Neil Simon's 1972 hit, now with Richard Benjamin and Elliot Gould. Roundabout readings Spring 2010 possibly lead to Fall bow  (March 2010)

They're Playing Our Song
Toronto's Dancap held NYC readings with Christian Borle & Sherie Rene Scott (October 2009)

The Thief
Rock musical, maybe 2010-2011 | Martian Entertainment (November 2009)

Venus in Fur
Producer Robert Fox
Creative David Ives author | Walter Bobbie director
Design Anita Yavitch costume design | Peter Kaczorowski lighting design | John Lee Beatty scenic design | Acme Sound Partners sound design
Cast Nina Arianda, Wes Bentley
Producer Robert Fox seeks to transfer Classic Stage Company production -- January 26 thru March 28, 2010 -- to an "intimate" Broadway theater (March 2010)

Viva Forever
Creative Simon Fuller, Judy Craymer
Spice Girls project based on 1998 same-titled hit single (November 2009)

Wanda's World
Creative  Eric H Weinberger book | Beth Falcone music & lyrics | Lynne Taylor-Corbett director & choreographer
NY premiere at  Amas Musical Theatre January 2008, then Austin's Zach Theatre a year later. January 2010 readings in NYC with Sandie Rosa, James Royce Edwards, Leo Ash Evens, Heather Jane Rolff, Michael Dexter, Devin Ilaw, Karla Mosley, Christine Scharf, Valerie Wright, Alan H. Green and Liz Holtan
 Wanda's World | Martian Entertainment (November 2009, Updated January 2010)

War Horse
Creative  Michael Morpurgo original novel | Nick Stafford stage adaptation | Marianne Elliott & Tom Morris directors
Acclaimed National Theatre production moved to West End in March 2009. Via New York Times,  report that producer Bob Boyett planning to bring show to NYC 2011 with possible early 2010 announcement. At same time DreamWorks announced plans for a screen adaptation, though no timeline (December 2009)

Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure
Creative  Jack Murphy & Gregory Boyd book | Frank Wildhorn music | Jack Murphy lyrcs | Gregory Boyd director | Marguerite Derricks choreographer
Susan Hilferty costume design | Neil Patel scenic design | Paul Gallo lighting design
World Premiere run at Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center Nov 24th 2009 through Jan 3rd 2010. Then tour to Houston's Alley Theater Jan 15th to Feb 14th 2010
Wonderland the Musical
(November 2009)

Woodstock
or something along those lines. Michael Lang (the original Woodstock dude) and Samuel G Nappi plan a tuner (September 2009)

Zorba
Producers Barry and Fran Weissler
Creative Niko Kazantzakis original novel | Joseph Stein book | John Kander & Fred Ebb music & lyrics | David Leveaux director
Cast Antonio Banderas
The NY Post's Michael Riedel reported that Mr Banderas would star in the revival in the 2010-2011 season (January 2009)