Dr. Blackwell's BLOG

The Broadway touring production based on the acclaimed 2012 revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s classic musical EVITA makes its way to Orlando and the Bob Carr Center for the Performing Arts today through Sunday. And this EVITA is absolutely AMAZING! Rarely does a touring production of a Broadway show have the quality of what is seen in its original incarnation in New York. And it’s an even more rare feat for a touring production to eclipse the quality of its Broadway parent. I’m not sure I have ever experienced that before–until now! THIS touring production of EVITA does just that! I saw this show in NYC a few months into its run. To be able to see Ricky Martin play Che was pretty cool. He did a great job and was fun to watch on stage, probably more because of his fame and the fact that he’s a popstar icon rather than his true talent as a musical actor. However, Elena Roger, who played the title role in that production, absolutely butchered the show. Her voice had a horrific screeching quality that absolutely devastated my admiration for the story and music that grew from my love of Alan Parker’s 1996 award winning motion picture starring Madonna (who gave a rare superb performance that earned her the Golden Globe for Best Actress) and Antonio Banderas.

In this production, Caroline Bowman takes the lead as Eva Peron. Her voice is absolutely gorgeous. She sings with a very clear enunciation of the lyrics and possesses a powerful range and dynamic that catapults the character into its both hated and loved dichotomy beautifully. She is also a great actor who nails this role all the way from her young 15 year-old impoverished ghetto roots to her rise to power and ultimately untimely demise. And while normally one standout performance punctuates a production, here, Bowman is joined by the equally talented Josh Young (Che), Sean MacLaughlin (Juan Peron), and Christopher Johnstone (Magaldi). Sorry Ricky, but Young absolutely hits a home run with his performance as the show’s quintessential narrator. He conveys the excitement of Eva’s rise to stardom and the disappointment of her Robin Hood approach to social justice perfectly; and his voice is chill-inducingly gorgeous. Not surprisingly, Young was nominated for a Tony Award in 2012 for his portrayal of Judas in the Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar.

MacLaughlin, who I originally thought was a little young to play the infamous and controversial dictator, proved me wrong quickly. He is superb. He knows the precise vocal inflections to exhibit Peron’s commanding presence; and yet he is so talented and capable as a performer that he knows how to sing melodically when the score demands it. The entire ensemble here is also absolutely phenomenal. The staging, lighting, sets, choreography, and every other aspect essential to a premium production is absolutely perfected in this production of EVITA. It really is THAT good! To be honest, I disliked the Broadway version of this show so much that I wasn’t looking forward to it one bit when I saw it was part of the 2013-2014 Broadway series. I was sure that to make it more like its Broadway originator, the role of Eva would most likely be played by another overbearing singer with an accent so thick that it butchered the beautifully lush and gorgeous music of the show. However, this couldn’t have been further from the truth. This show is hands down my favorite show of this season by far. And although I absolutely loved the original production of GHOST The Musical on Broadway, with only a non-equity production of the show remaining in the series, EVITA will mostly likely remain that favorite. Unlike the tired and horrible show that Roger ruined on Broadway, this touring production is downright  perfect in every way imaginable. If you miss this show, you will really regret it! So, don’t miss it! Purchase a ticket by visiting the tour’s Web site at: http://www.evitaonbroadway.com/tour.html.

Broadway.com reported today that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s spectacularly beautiful and lushly scored Love Never Dies, the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, is moving ever so closer to a Broadway bow. Check out the article, posted on March 14th by the broadway.com staff below:

Are you ready for Love Never Dies, Broadway? Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Simon Phillips have confirmed to Broadway.com during an exclusive Google Hangout that the musical is aiming for a long-brewing American premiere, possibly with a brand-new ending.

The creative duo chatted with Broadway.com Editor-in-Chief Paul Wontorek as they were preparing for the show’s first performance in Japan on March 12. The musical sequel to The Phantom of the Operais now playing at the Nissay Theatre in Tokyo. Phillips’ reworking of the show, which first played for 18 months in London’s West End under the direction of Jack O’Brien, premiered to great acclaim in Melbourne, Australia in 2010 and can also be seen in Vienna, with plans for a Hamburg bow in the works.

“It’d be great to get it into America now,” Lloyd Webber said, adding the Tokyo production is a scaled-down version of the Australian staging, making the show easier to move. The musical theater icon praised Phillips’ staging (which was preserved on film and released on home video in 2012) for being a perfect fit of design and material: “It matches the music entirely. It’s seamless, absolutely of one piece.”

[SPOILERS AHEAD! If you haven’t seen Love Never Dies, read no further!]

To get the show ready for America, the creators are considering reworking the Love Never Dies ending, in which Christine dies and her son, Gustave, is left in the Phantom’s care. Might the Phantom die instead?

“We’re thinking about it,” confirmed Lloyd Webber. “Since the DVD came out, we’ve had a tremendous amount of feedback.”

“Artistically, we have no problem with the current ending,” added Phillips. “It makes completely coherent artistic sense and in many contexts, couldn’t be better.” However, the director added that the current ending is a “shock to the system” for many audience members. “People worry about what happens to the child,” Lloyd Webber added. “That’s the feedback we’ve had. If we do change the ending, we could make it more comfortable for people.”

Wontorek also asked if original London Love Never Dies star Sierra Boggess, who had a smashing run as Christine in Broadway’s Phantomlast year, might repeat her role for the show’s Broadway premiere. “We absolutely love Sierra,” Lloyd Webber gushed. “She’s the best, the best Christine certainly!”

Fingers crossed!

On Monday February 17th, a once in a lifetime experience occurred on the stage of Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. The original Broadway cast of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical TITANIC reunited for a concert performance of the show, complete with a 120-piece orchestra and 200-member choral ensemble. The experience was truly memorable and is something I will cherish and never forget. It was a great way to close a chapter on the show and open a new one as it plans to return in a newly conceived version on Broadway in the Fall. Below is Playbill’s Steven Suskin’s beautifully articulated review of the event and a video of the cast in rehearsal last week.

By Steven Suskin
18 Feb 2014

Titanic steamed into Avery Fisher Hall last night and received a more-than-rousing reception from a house packed with thousands of diehard fans of the 1997 musical by Maury Yeston and Peter Stone. Not only were the musical numbers ecstatically (and deservedly) received; many of the members of the original cast who were on hand to recreate their roles were greeted with strong entrance applause. To borrow a phrase from Walter Lord’s 1955 bestseller about the ill-fated maiden voyage, it was “a night to remember.”

Titanic was the massive musical that overcame a rocky in-town preview period to become the Best Musical of the 1996-97 season, winning Tony Awards for Yeston, Stone, designer Stewart Laing, and Jonathan Tunick(inaugurating the new category of Best Orchestrations). The show ran two years, which was not quite enough to bear the outsized costs — including a shipload of scenery and a cast of 42 — but sufficient to establish it as one of the most significant musicals of its time.Stripped of scenery and costumes, but supported by a full orchestra conducted by original music director Kevin Stites — and including seven members of the 26 piece opening night pit band — Yeston’s score sounded glorious. Augmenting the effect was an added chorus; while the original show was sung wholly by the principals, last night’s event added more than 200 singers from seven high school choirs coming from as far as Nebraska and Colorado. Craig Arnold of Manhattan Concert Productions, which offered last year’s concert version of Ragtime, produced. Don Stephenson, who in 1997 played the second class Englishman eloping with a member of the nobility (and who was subsequently a replacement star of The Producers), directed the concert. 

More than half of the original cast was assembled, with 22 actors recreating their roles. Some of the cast members have gone on to Broadway stardom, like Michael Cerveris and Brian d’Arcy James. (Among the most celebrated of the originals was the then-little known Victoria Clark, who all but stole the show as Alice Beane, the second class passenger who storms the First Class deck. Clark was announced for the concert but withdrew last week.) Others have been little seen in the interval, but last night the years seemed to melt away. The voices were true, if not always as strong as originally, with the various solos — Yeston’s score is filled with important solos for many of the characters — ringing authentic.

The most significant of these solos were those written for the three crew members. D’Arcy James’ “Barrett’s Song” and “The Proposal,” Martin Moran’s “The Night Was Alive,” and David Elder‘s “No Moon” were all as chillingly pristine as they were on opening night in 1997. Cerveris, John Cunningham and David Garrison reprised their roles as architect, captain and owner, climaxing in their vicious trio “The Blame” and the architect’s wild “Vision” as he pores over the blueprints while the ship goes down.Theresa McCarthy and Jennifer Piech were joined by Erin Hill as the three Kates, scoring with the charming-turned-majestic anthem “Lady’s Maid.” Michele Ragusa, who played a small role in the original, moved up to Clark’s role of Alice Beane and did especially well. David Costabile andJohn Bolton helped steer the proceedings from the bridge, while Ted Sperling was back onboard — with his violin — as ship bandleader Hartley. As the evening approached its inevitable climax, Alma Cuervo and Ron Raines as the Strauses of Macy’s offered the tender showstopper “Still.” Serving as a central cog — and a humanizing touch as the ship starts to sink — was Allan Corduner as Etches, the First Class Steward.

The bravura fifteen-minute opening sequence (“The Launching”) drew an almost astonished ovation from the crowd. The show was intact with one addition, an operetta-like duet called “I Give You My Hand.” This was cut during previews, leaving the characters played by Stephenson (the concert’s director) and Judith Blazer without a major singing moment. Performed here by Ryan Silverman and Jill Paice, one understands how it doesn’t enhance the show.

The performance ended with a firestorm of curtain calls, capped by Yeston graciously bowing to the audience and acknowledging the late librettist Stone, whose picture appeared on a screen above the stage. This was a one-shot Titanic, but fans of the musical can look forward to Thom Southerland’s intimate production from London’s Southwark Playhouse, which is scheduled for Toronto in July and Broadway in the fall. The concert suggests that Yeston’s Titanic remains as powerful and glorious as originally.

I had the opportunity to venture off to New York City last weekend and got to see some amazing new Broadway shows, including 2 musicals (both of which were in previews) and 2 plays (one of which was in previews). Check out my reviews below:

 Bridges of Madison County. To preface this, I must divulge that I never saw the movie incarnation of this story and have never read the book. However, I did see and LOVE Parade, which hails from the same composer as this fantastic show. Bridges tell the story of Francesca (Kelli O’Hara) a middle-aged Italian immigrant housewife who’s mundane existence is turned upside down when a rugged and handsome stranger named Robert (Steven Pasquale) comes to town to photograph historic bridges that punctuate the local landscape. While many stories of love affairs fall into the realm of cliche and silliness, Bridges is somewhat immune to that because of the unique aspects of its story. For example, the main character’s immigration experience is integrated into the plot and is used to provide an etiologic framework to explain the rationale for her behavior. The book is written by Marsha Norman of The Color Purple (which incidentally, I did not like). The pace is perfect and the character development superb. And O’Hara’s performance as Francesca is one of the finest I’ve ever seen on stage. Her voice is purely angelic; and she portrays the character with an amazing realism. Pasquale is also great as her opposite; and the side characters are also very well portrayed. Hunter Foster provides a solid performance as Francesca’s husband Bud; but the amazingly talented Cass Morgan (the original Mama from MEMPHIS) is relegated to the sidelines with only one solo number, which to me is sad because Morgan gushes with talent. The beautiful and soaring score from Jason Robert Brown is both moving and engaging, pulling the audience in and truly conveying the emotions of the complex characters. The only downside of the show is the sets, which are manually manipulated by cast members throughout the production. They are a little too simplistic; and the need for the actors to shift them from one end of the stage to the other comes off as a little cheap. Regardless, by the end of the show, I found myself incredibly moved and connected to each character of the story. And in a time when many musicals come off as trite and superficial, Bridges of Madison County is surprisingly fresh and excitingly phenomenal!

 ROCKY: The Musical. I have never been a major fan of the story of Rocky. There’s nothing wrong with it per se; but the underlying message of the underdog being triumphant and the shy and quirky girl falling for the big dumb jock is certainly a little overdone. What attracted me to the Broadway show was simple–the composers of the music! Ragtime is one of my all-time favorite Broadway shows. And with the same composers (Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Aherns) on board, there was no way I was missing Rocky. And guess what? I’m glad I didn’t! This show is A LOT of fun! No, you won’t leave the theater with a new knowledge of an amazing piece of history or even something of significance; but you WILL leave with a smile! And the performances of the leads (Andy Karl as the Italian Stallion and Margo Seibert as his love interest Adrian) are strong. Both have great voices and give convincing interpretations of their respective characters. The music of the show is pop-rock in style and is catchy and fun. The sets (when they’re working–there were two long technical holds during the performance I sat through) are breath-taking and incredibly technologically complex. And the final fight scene, complete with a regulation-sized boxing ring that extends several rows into the orchestra (the rows are cleared and audience members transferred to seating areas on the stage), had the audience cheering. Although the overhead projection of the event and large flat television screens which float down to the stage throughout the show to illustrate media coverage of the fight threaten the show’s time setting, which is supposed to be in the late 1970’s. And there are some issues with pacing in the show currently; it is a little too long. Rocky’s training scenes are a little repetitive and monotonous; and the setup of the matchup, cooked-up by Apollo Creed’s promoter, is way underdeveloped and seems plopped together and rushed in haste. These issues are easy fixes, however, and I expect these kinks will be smoothed before opening night. Rocky really is a TON of fun! Don’t go see this show expecting an intellectual exercise. Relax, eat a little popcorn, and sit-back and enjoy the guilty pleasure Rocky provides.

 Machinal. Roundabout’s production of Machinal, which is loosely based on the true story of the life of husband-killer and executed American criminal Ruth Snyder, is a haunting work of theater. Rebecca Hall’s portrayal of Young Woman (names are never revealed in the show) is flawless. And the show’s rotating set is literally mind-boggling and incredibly effective at augmenting the story itself and further demonstrates the mechanistic nature of the main character’s unraveling life. Young Woman obviously suffers from mental illness. When she begins to have loose associations (the actual clinical term for the condition in which a psychotic individual links words together that are often situationally unrelated), the set darkens and only Hall’s face is spotlighted during the event. As a nurse practitioner, I immediately diagnosed the character’s condition and appreciated this highly effective manner of allowing the audience to literally enter the character’s psychology. Machinal isn’t a fun show. It isn’t a show that lightens one’s mood. But it does demonstrate a powerful story of a disturbed person during a time in American history when women were treated much differently than they are today. It is a haunting and amazingly crafted work and should not be missed.

 All The Way. I decided last minute to see this show. And I am really glad I did. Bryan Cranston’s performance as Lyndon Johnson surely puts him as the frontrunner for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. The story follows Johnson’s unofficial term as President immediately following the assassination of President Kennedy up to his election night victory. An amazing cast brings the story to life. There’s just too many good actors for me to even begin to mention here. And they all provide stand-out performances. The book tells the story of a tumultuous time in American history when the civil rights movement was in full-gear and Johnson was working feverishly to pass a civil rights bill that would pave the way for racial equality throughout the nation. The set (a round congressional appearing arena with the Oval Office at center) is simple yet appropriate. The show could be trimmed down a little; it seems to drag a little bit at the end. But, the amazing performances provided by this amazingly talented ensemble cast makes every minute an absolute joy.

The touring production of the Tony-Award winning musical Once makes its way to Orlando this week for a week-long residence at the Bob Carr Center for the Performing Arts. The show, which garnered several 2012 Tony Awards, including the coveted Best Musical, has become a fan-favorite in New York and has been a success in both its off-Broadway and Broadway runs. Some of what translates to the touring production works. But unfortunately, some of the performances somewhat keep the show from reaching its full potential. First let’s identify what works–The sets (which somehow managed to best the groundbreaking and technologically advanced sets of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark at the 2012 Tonys) and the lighting of the show are picture-perfect carbon copies of their Broadway counterparts. And the overall performance of the ensemble cast is strong and impressive. Unfortunately, not all of the performers in the show stand out. Or, perhaps they do, but not for good reason. And herein lies the main problem with this touring production of the show–their lead Guy (the character’s true name is never revealed throughout the show) played by Stuart Ward (who also played the role on the West End) delivers an amazingly well-acted performance that is ultimately damaged by subpar singing that results from his attempt to make his performance of the character unique from the original.

And when compared to that original Broadway lead and Tony-Award winning actor Steve Kazee, Ward’s vocals are devastatingly disappointing. His interpretation of the character is good when he’s not singing; but when the songs start, his staccato singing style butchers much of the melodic and beautiful music that made Once so beloved. Also missing from Ward’s performance is some of the gorgeous and often emotional bridging lyrics that Kazee used to really convey the emotion and heart of the music and story. A simple crescendoing and down-scaling “Yeah…” sung by Kazee on the show’s heartbreaking final number “Falling Slowly” is used to bridge a very brief instrumental interlude. Kazee’s singing of what is that small nuanced detail further illustrate the tragic sadness of the plot. It is left out by Ward altogether. And there are many examples of missing vocal nuances throughout his performance. The other lead Girl (the character’s name is also never revealed) is played beautifully by Dana deWaal. She hits the notes and emotions of the character perfectly. She is truly the one standout performer in this cast.

Another major criticism has to be given to Raymond Bokhour, who plays Guy’s dad Da. His performance was one of the flattest I’ve seen on stage in quite sometime. I’ve seen Once twice on Broadway, including a preview performance of the show featuring the entire original Broadway cast. The second time I saw the show, most of the cast (minus Kazee, who was replaced by a fantastic actor named Ben Hope) remained. In both of those performances, I do not remember the character of Da being weak, withdrawn, and sheepish. Bokhour’s interpretation of the character seemed to both my partner and I as being startlingly off. His shy and depressed demeanor significantly damaged the dynamic between his character and Guy. Girl’s sisters, brothers, and mother are skillfully portrayed by their respective actors; and although there were a couple of missed notes in the opening performance, all of the performers should be highly commended on their talent in playing both their character and the entire musical score of the show simultaneously. Witnessing that feat alone is enough of a reason to see Once.

Once truly is an amazing show. But sometimes, when actors attempt to put their own “spin” on a character, they distract from the role rather than augment it. Unfortunately, that’s what ends up happening here with this particular touring production of the show. Stuart Ward’s misdirected harsh singing style and at times rock-like vocals harden a score that is soaring with a delicate beauty. And Raymond Barkhour’s Da is so wildly divergent from what it was originally intended to be that the show seems to careen a little off-course. If you’ve never been spoiled by the amazing performances of the originals (Steve Kazee, Christin Milioti, and even Kazee’s stand-in Ben Hope), then this touring production will more than likely suffice. But, if you were lucky enough to experience the magic of that original cast, you’re more than likely going to be disappointed in the performances of Ward and especially Barkhour, whos’ own personal takes on the main and a pivotal character respectively, detract from, rather than enhance, this truly moving and beautiful show. Once plays through Sunday at the Bob Carr Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Orlando. For tickets, visit the official Web site at: Tour Info – Once the Musical – Official Broadway Site.

Both Playbill and Broadway World have reported the incredible news late last week that the Tony-Award winning Best Musical TITANIC is heading back to Broadway. Rather than inform you of my fond love for the show (it is my all-time favorite show to ever grace the stage), below I have reproduced Broadway World‘s Pat Cerasaro’s fantastic synopsis of the 1997 production and a little more news about the upcoming revival that’s headed to Broadway this Fall:

Today we are celebrating a particularly epic and eminently emotionally evocative Best Musical Tony Award winner just announced to be returning to the Great White Way later this year in a stripped-down, back-to-basics production based on a recent rapturously-received hit London revival – Maury Yeston and Peter Stone‘s TITANIC!

In Every Age

Originally opening on April 23, 1997 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre and ultimately running there for 804 performances, the premiere production of TITANIC started out as anything but a dream – the preview period itself has been described by many directly involved as an all-out nightmare, as a matter of fact; and, understandably so. Originally book-ended by a contemporary prologue and epilogue depicting the unearthing of the famed drowned luxury ship in 1986, the musical was extensively revised and rewritten over the course of its somewhat long preview period. Composer/lyricist Maury Yestonadjusted many musical passages and added material that would go on to become among the most cherished in the score, while master bookwriterPeter Stone and director Richard Jones continued to shape and refine the complex, multi-layered story weaving together fact and fiction in an entertaining and intriguing manner. Undoubtedly, the most problematic element of all those endured during the 27 previews was the oft-malfunctioning three-tiered set, which reflected the sinking of the ship as the show progressed with an increasingly raked series of levels upon which the actors inhabited the various classes on the ship – steerage to crow’s nest. It was a massive production and the famous sinking of the ship was addressed in a surprising way, indeed, yet the prospects of the production as a whole looked quite dire as it faced unfavorable reviews once it finally opened and the production was at last finalized and frozen.

Nevertheless, TITANIC quickly became a hit with audiences – thanks in no small part to the fact that the musical found an early champion in Broadway lover and then-talk show queen supreme Rosie O’Donnell, who praised the new musical continually on her daytime TV talk show – and it managed to run more than two years on Broadway, certainly proving early naysayers wrong. So, what precisely is it about TITANIC that made it a must-see musical back in 1997 and also a delectably revival-worthy property today? Why, the performance opportunities amply afforded by that majestic score and smart, sharp book – let alone the inherent real-life historical attributes contained within them!

Plus, just take a look at that simply remarkable original Broadway cast, with a number of them in early if not their very first major roles – Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Brian D’Arcy James, David Garrison, Alma Cuervo,Larry Keith, John Cunningham, BeckyAnn Baker, Judith Blazer, Martin Moran, David Elder, Theresa McCarthy, Michele Ragusa, Ted Sperling, Henry Stram, Clarke Thorelland William Youmans, to name but a few! How can this new 2014 production ever hope to possibly match, let alone eclipse that vast assortment of phenomenal talent? Well, with a cast of a dozen or so and an orchestra of about half that size – at least judging by the production this revival will be based on – it will be a smaller scale affair, in any event, but with just as rich acting potential allowed to the ensemble of actors.

Additionally, long before Fall, fans of TITANIC will be able to satiate themselves with the February anniversary reunion concert showcasing the original cast of TITANIC, as well – proving, yet again, that TITANIC lives on… in every age!

Check out my recent InDepth InterView with original TITANIC cast member Victoria Clark discussing the TITANIC reunion, as well as sharing stories from the original production, available here.

The soon-to-be headlining Broadway musical Flashdance comes to Orlando this week. Opening on Tuesday, the show runs through Sunday at the Bob Carr Center for the Performing Arts. The show is a fun and energetic production that features mostly original songs punctuated by the classic songs from the 1980’s that made the movie the show is based on so iconic. But it isn’t the songs, acting, or even dancing that’s the real star of Flashdance, it’s the incredible set design and lighting that is on par with what would be seen on a Broadway stage. Similar to recent shows like GHOST and Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, the sets revolve around a series of digitally projected images that provide major structure to the show. The setting is steel-industrilaized Pittsburgh, PA and the sets largely reflect the industrial nature of the story. Set pieces are metal and provide a very manufactured-type feel. In addition to the sets, the lighting is superbly orchestrated, with the ambiance set up perfectly in nearly every scene. The orchestra is also quite strong for this touring production and left the audience impressed. The show itself has its high moments and low. The lead performer Jillian Mueller, who plays steel-worker by day and exotic dancer by night Alex Owens, hits the notes in all the right spots and is a superb dancer. She is truly the performing highlight of the show. Her costar, Corey Mach, gets the job done; but he isn’t the strongest male lead. And David R. Gordon, who plays one of the side characters, turns in a slightly weak performance that distracts from the overall quality of the show. Flashdance is under the incredible direction of Sergio Trujillo, who won the Tony Award for his direction of the absolutely legendary musical MEMPHIS. Many elements of that show are apparent here. The main pitfall of the show lies in its writing. The book is authored by Tom Hedley (who wrote the screenplay for the film) and Robert Cary. Cary also wrote the music for the show with Robbie Roth. None have any serious Broadway contributions under their belt. The story is a bit plodding; and  a serious story element fails to effectively resolve by the show’s end. But, even with those issues, the show mostly reaches its main objective: to entertain through dance and fun music. In concert with the amazing set design, Flashdance is a lot of fun. The show is heading to Broadway. I am not sure how well it will be received by the harsh critics on the Great White Way. But time will tell. With a little sharpening up of the story, it is quite possible Flashdance could find a niche where recent shows based on films like GHOST and Big Fish failed. But without some changes, it has quite an uphill battle. Check out video highlights of Flashdance courtesy of Playbill below:

The high-flying spectacular Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is closing. The $75 million production, which began previews at the Foxwoods Theater over three years ago, will perform its last show in January. An exact date is yet to be set. Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is a fantastic and fun musical featuring music and lyrics by U2’s Bono and The Edge. Unfortunately, the show was plagued by technical mishaps and some truly horrific accidents involving its actors and stuntmen. The show rebounded and was a major hit for most of its run, earning at its peak a record-breaking $3 million weekly take! Unfortunately, its woes caught up; and when actor Daniel Curry had his leg penned under an elevation platform (at a performance I was present at) back in August, the show’s grosses took a major tumble. The show was averaging a weekly take of $750,000-$850,000 over the past several months. And with an operating cost of $1 million per week, it was only a matter of time before the news of the closing would be forthcoming. Curry has had multiple surgeries and unfortunately underwent amputations to his injured foot. But rather than being remembered for the bad news, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark should be remembered for its incredible accomplishments and contributions to musical theater. The show broke ground in set and costume design; and Julie Taymor’s original direction continued to shine through multiple aspects of the show. And the special effects, that proved to be quite breathtaking, were unlike anything ever seen on the stage. The score in the show is truly fantastic and is one to be cherished by just about any rock music fan. Producers have announced that the show will move to Las Vegas, where it will mount its next staging. Details of that show will be forthcoming.

BLOGBOARD Entry by Guest Contributor: Elva Fisher
Saw Big Fish tonight. After the reviews & the recent, surprising news it’s closing 12/29, was expecting a mixed bag & some hefty disappointment. To my surprise & pleasure, much of it was beautiful, wonderful and even astonishing. Of course some was thin, wan & more than a bit static, but my pretty strong reaction is to ask why they’re closing. The reviews have strongly criticized the music, but I found most of it more than acceptable. Not unexpected, Susan Strohman has directed and choreographed an exceptional show. Much of the production is breathtakingly beautiful, lush and astonishing. The large orchestra adds its own strength & color. Andrew Lippa’s music & lyrics aren’t as objectionable as reviewers said. Many of the concepts & scenes are worderful. They and Norbert Butz’s exceptional performance lift this show well above all expectations. Butz is in a class by himself — one of the best actors, dancers and phenomenally wonderful at creating characters. Everything I’ve seen him in — Thou Shalt Not, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Catch Me if you Can & Wicked have all been incredibly wonderful portrayals of remarkable characters. He’s one of a very few actors to win 2 Tonys for Best Actor, as well as a slew of other awards — remarkable talent. Kate Baldwin plays his wife — luminously beautiful, good dancer, fine singer & actor. Bobby Steggert shot to fame & fortune w/ his Tony in Ragtime. I’ve never thought he was as good as many & tonight he did a good performance, but for me, often missed the mark a bit. His wife, Krystal Joy Brown did well, but I wondered why a black woman was chosen for the part. There are 3 young boys that trade off the part of Butz’s son as a child, a necessary part, but nothing very special. Zachary Unger tonight — his diction was poor & he needs to support better. Tonight included a little Pippin, a little Into the Woods & a little Music Man/Oklahoma & Barnum. Having seen a great many productions that have far less to offer than this one, I am at quite a loss to understand why it’s closing. The house was full and the audience frequently & loudly showed enormous approval throughout the performance. Strohman’s huge production numbers & special effects are fabulous & Butz is incredibly wonderful. Those 2 alone make this an amazingly special show. Check out highlights from BIG FISH: The Musical below:

The Tony-Award winning Best Musical TITANIC will get staged in a concert event at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in 2014. The staging will feature actors who’ve played various roles in the original Broadway production as well as regional stagings of the absolutely fantastic musical over the years. It will also be set to a score performed by the entire New York Chamber Orchestra and will feature a hundred-member chorus that will strengthen some of the ensemble numbers of the show. Manhattan Concert Productions, who staged the lush and spine-chilling concert performance of Ragtime last year is behind the concert staging of TITANIC. Tickets for the show, which is scheduled for the evening of February 17th, will go on sale in September. TITANIC, written by the late Peter Stone with music written by Maury Yeston, won the 1997 Tony Awards for Best Score, Best Orchestrations, Best Book, Best Scenic Design, and Best Musical.