A few tidbits in the afterglow of the 75th Annual Tony Awards. Plus which shows might factor into next year's Tony race.
Max Clayton labelled this photo "chlll date night" haha. Photo by Emilio MK
• Hugh Jackman tested positive for COVID after his Tony night performance. What timing. So his standby Max Clayton will be playing Harold Hill for the next week of Music Man shows. You saw Max Clayton a couple of times on Tony night since he got a big smooch and shout-out from his boyfriend Matt Doyle who who Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Company. Incidentally the role of "Jamie" in Company, which Doyle won for, is the same role that won Bridgerton star Jonathan Bailey an Olivier in London so this gender-bent version of Sondheim's classic has been a huge boost for super-handsome out gay theater actors!
• Ratings are in and the Tony Awards were up 40% from last year's strange nearly awards free edition of the show. The Tonys went back to basics...
As many of you noted in the comments of our Tony Review it was just wonderful to watch an awards show where everyone involved loved their chosen artform without shame. The Oscars could learn a lot. Those ratings aren't up to pre-COVID standards but they're a huge step back in the right direction.
• You may have noticed (it was hard to miss) that the name Michael Jackson came up a lot on Tony night. That wasn't just because of the jukebox musical MJ about the famous pop star but also the musical A Strange Loop a personal show written by Michael R Jackson. Hence this fun tweet...
Let me get this straight.
— Zach Spound (@ZachSpound) June 13, 2022
The actor playing Michael R. Jackson lost to the actor playing Michael Jackson, and the musical about Michael Jackson lost to the musical about Michael R. Jackson
which is called
"A Strange Loop."
• Stefano Massini's The Lehman Trilogy (adapted by Ben Powers), a play covering two centuries of the Lehman family's rise and fall, was hot hot hot at the Tonys even though it closed quite a while ago. It just got its contract for future licensing deals via Concord Theatricals. The play was originally in French but its English language adaptation can expect a lot more interest now with Olivier nominations and Tony wins behind it, especially for theaters that like small cast shows (there are only 3 men in the play). Theoretically it can now be performed all over the place in years to come.
• And because our first coming-back-from-COVID theater season is over we can start discussing the next one. Everyone cross your fingers that it's a doozy to complete Broadway's grand return! Here's what's scheduled to open:
2022/2023 BROADWAY SEASON
Dates are first previews
summer
INTO THE WOODS - Revival of Sondheim's 1988 Tony nominated fairytale musical. Lots of theater stars are in it: Sara Bareilles, Patina Miller, Gavin Creel, and Brian D'Arcy James, etcetera. June 28th.
THE KITE RUNNER -Musical based on the bestseller which got a film version in 2007. July 6th
fall
ALMOST FAMOUS - Musical based on the 2000 Cameron Crowe rock journalist film. Sept 13th
LEOPOLDSTADT - New Tom Stoppard play about an Austrian family before, during, and after World War II. Patrick Marber directs. Sept 14th
1776 -Second Broadway Revival of the 1969 Best Musical winner about the Founding Fathers and the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That musical also got a film version in 1972. In a twist for today's polarized political environment, this production will entirely star actors who identify as women, non-binary, or trans. Sept 16th
DEATH OF A SALESMAN - Revival of Arthur Miller's classic 1949 Broadway play. This is the fifth Broadway revival and this one is a transfer from the West End with Sharon D Clarke and Wendell Pierce reprising their roles. Sept 19th
THE PIANO LESSON - First Broadway Revival of August Wilson's 1990 Tony nominated play.
Samuel L Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Brooks will star and then supposedly reprise those roles in an immediate film version once it closes as previously discussed. Sept 19th
TOP DOG / UNDERDOG - Revival of Suzan Lori-Parks Pulitzer winning and Tony nominated play with rising film stars Corey Hawkins (In the Heights) and Yahya Abdul Mateen II (Watchmen) in the roles originated by Jeffrey Wright and Mos Def back in 2002. September 27th for 16 weeks only.
KIMBERLY AKIMBO - Musical adaptation of David Lindsey Abaire's Off Broadway play from the Early Aughts about a teenage girl with progeria (causing her to age abnormally fast so the role is always played by an older woman). The great Tony winner Victoria Clark (Light in the Piazza) stars as Kimberly. Oct 12th
KPOP - Musical which was a big Off Broadway hit in 2017. 28 year old South Korean celebrity Luna (who has a lot of musical theater credits in South Korea) makes her Broadway debut. Oct 13th
SOME LIKE IT HOT - Musical adaptation of the 1959 film comedy classic. Marc Shaiman & Scott Whitman (Hairspray & Catch Me If You Can) did the song score. Nov 1st
A BEAUTIFUL NOISE - Jukebox Musical about Neil Diamond. Tony nominee Will Swenson (aka Mr Audra McDonald) played the role in its pre Broadway run but casting is not yet confirmed for the Broadway production. Rooting for Swenson! Nov 2nd
CAMELOT - Musical Revival of the Lerner & Lowe classic with a new book from Aaron Sorkin. Bartlett Sher (who often helms Tony favourite "prestige" revivals is directing. No casting announced yet but expect major Broadway stars. Richard Burton on the 1961 Tony as King Arthur with Julie Andrews nominated as Queen Guinevere. The smash hit, which ran for three years (a long run back then) got an expensive film adaptation in 1967 and has been revived on Broadway three times though none lasted long. The last Broadway revival was way back in 1993 so expect this one to be an event if it's good. Nov 3rd
AND MAYBE?
Naturally we're still a ways away from learning what will actually hit the boards in early 2023 (Broadway seasons run summer through spring) but the following shows might open in time for the next Tony Awards. In addition to these possibilities there is always the chance that something explodes Off Broadway this summer or fall and gets a quick transfer.
AINT SUPPOSED TO DIE A NATURAL DEATH - Revival of the 1971 musical by Melvin Van Peebles. His son Mario is the producer.
CINDERELLA - This fairytale has had multiple musical adaptations. The latest if from Andrew Lloyd Webber. TBA
COME FALL IN LOVE (THE DDDLJ MUSICAL) - Adaptation of the 1995 Bollywood hit Dilwale Dulhania Le Jauyenge
COST OF LIVING - Martyna Majok's Off-Broadway play from 2018
DANCING - First ever Broadway Revival of the Bob Fosse Dance Revue which was Tony nominated back in 1978.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA - Musical adaptation of the 2006 blockbuster comedy. In a fun bit of revenge (?) Beth Leavel, who saw her Tony-nominated part in The Prom taken over by Meryl Streep for its film version, will be playing Meryl Streep's Oscar nominated role.
THE GRISWOLD'S BROADWAY VACATION - Musical based on the National Lampoon's Vacation movie franchise.
& JULIET - Possible transfer from the West End. A jukebox musical about an alternate version of Juliet who doesn't die at the end of Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet.
THE KARATE KID MUSICAL - Based on the 1984 film. Just had its world premiere in St Louis.
OHIO STATE MURDERS - First Broadway run of a 1992 mystery play about an author visiting her alma mater. Tony-magnet Audra McDonald will headline. Audra has won Tonys in all four acting categories: Best Actress in a Musical, Best Actress in a Play, Best Featured Actress in a Musical (x2), and Best Featured Actress in a Play (x 2).
PAL JOEY - Musical revival which will change the setting slightly to a 1940s night club on the South Side of Chicago. The Rodgers & Hart classic first debuted on Broadway way back in 1940. This will be the fifth revival if it happens.
PRIMA FACIE - Emmy winner Jodie Comer will be making her Broadway debut in this transfer from the West End. She plays a barrister dealing with the patriarchal system of law.
SING STREET - Musical adaptation of the 2016 film.
THANKSGIVING PLAY - New production of a 2018 OffBroadway play by Larissa Fasthorse. If it makes it to Broadway it will be the first Broadway run ever for a Natvie American playwright.