It's that time of year -- a new arts season is en route, and hopes are as high as they always are for the new Broadway theater lineup. Here are a few possible highlights -- remember that when it comes to the theater, what looks great on paper can falter, and dark horses can save the day.
The juggernaut would seem to be "Young Frankenstein", which begins previews October 11. Out-of-town tryouts in Seattle earned only mixed reviews, but Broadway is counting on Mel Brooks and director/choreographer Susan Stroman to pull it off. And there's no other musical of interest scheduled until "The Little Mermaid" begins previews on November 3.
Unusually for Broadway, it looks like the straight plays will be the strong suit of the fall. On tap are revivals of "Pygmalion" (with Claire Danes and Jefferson Mayes), Terrence McNally's "The Ritz" with Rosie Perez, and "Cyrano de Bergerac" with Kevin Kline. New plays include Aaron Sorkin's "The Farnsworth Invention" starring Hank Azaria (first preview October 15) and a transfer from Britain's National Theatre of Conor McPherson's new play called "The Seafarer," set in Dublin. Not only that, but a newly rediscovered play by Mark Twain, "Is He Dead?" will be performed, along with a first-class revival of Shakespeare's "Cymbeline," directed by Mark Lamos.
More, anon!
written on Thursday Aug 30, 2007
plays,
musicals,
theater.
