It’s officially the fall so get ready for pumpkin spice everything and a slew of new Broadway musicals.
Let’s dive in with the fall 2015 musical preview, BBox style:
*Twitter length plot summary: John Newton goes from slave trader to the writer of Amazing Grace after a crazy adventure teaches him 1st hand the horrors of being enslaved
Moment we’ll be living for: The finale when everyone sings the title song. People were standing to testify as the cast sang.
Performance to watch out for: Tony winner Chuck Cooper will break your heart as Pakuteh (Thomas). *
Twitter length plot summary: Rap opera chronicling Alexander Hamilton rise to founding father status. Also spotlights his love triangle w the oh-so-fab Schuyler sisters.
Moment we’ll be living for: So many amazing numbers but you will hard-pressed to find a better moment this season than when Renée Elise Goldsberry starts the rewind that sets the showstopper “Satisfied” in motion.
Performance to watch out for: Other than future Tony nominee Renée Elise Goldsberry? Future Tony nominee Daveed Diggs in the dual roles of Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson. He’s perfection.
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Twitter length plot summary: 19th century German kids learn about sex, love & the power of shame the hard way. This revival introduces sign language as one more barrier.
Moment we’ll be living for: Randomly, the book scenes between Emmy winner Camryn Manheim and the two actresses who share the role of Wendla.
Performance to watch out for: Austin McKenzie does a stellar job carrying this musical on his back, giving the breakout performance you’d expect from Spring Awakening.
Twitter length plot summary: Small town starlet Ruby arrives in the city, lands a Bway musical & ends up taking the show to sea after the theatre is demolished #MajorTap
Moment we’ll be living for: Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita plays Broadway diva Mona Kent, and they’ve already previewed her big song "That Mister Man of Mine" a few times—happy to report, it’s everything.
Performance to watch out for: Eloise Kropp. It’s her first leading role on Broadway, and this same role turned Bernadette Peters into a star, so all eyes are on Ms. Kropp.
Twitter length plot summary: Award winners unite to create this fun jukebox musical jam-packed with beloved Gloria Estefan hits. Tells the story of Gloria & Emilio.
Moment we’ll be living for: I imagine we’ll all be living so many times throughout, but let’s go with the opening number “Rhythm Is Gonna Get You.” With the closing of Mamma Mia!, On Your Feet is going to be Broadway’s place to have legit fun.
Performance to watch out for: Another newcomer has to take this one too. Ana Villafane makes her debut as Gloria and she’s going to have all NYC buzzing.
Twitter length plot summary: Get ready to fall in love (and yes, cry) watching the Kimura family as they find hope and happiness in a WW2 Japanese internment camp.
Moment we’ll be living for: Tony and Olivier winner Lea Salogna stars, and you can bet we’ll be LIVING during her huge solo “Higher”.
Performance to watch out for: I’m going with Katie Rose Clarke. She was a truly excellent Glinda and a moving Clara Johnson, and it will be wonderful to see her work again in a brand-new musical.
Photo by Matthew Murphy
Twitter length plot summary: ALW reminds you he was the original king of Bway rock scores w/ this musical adaptation about a messy sub who inspires kids to love music.
Moment we’ll be living for: Prepared to just buy real estate on cloud nine during the big rock songs “Stick It to the Man” and “You’re In the Band”.
Performance to watch out for: Brightman is an obvious choice, so let’s go with the kids. These kids are the band IRL. They are really playing their own instruments and it’s so special to watch them shine. They are what's going to make this new musical a big hit.
Twitter length plot summary: A true tear-jerker, the London transfer follows Celie on her incredible journey filled abuse & neglect until she finally finds happiness.
Moment we’ll be living for: We’ll need a seatbelt for Jennifer Hudson singing “Push Da Button”.
Performance to watch out for: Moving beyond the three female headliners, I think Isaiah Johnson as Mister is going to be really interesting. He made such a huge impression as The Prince of Morocco in The Merchant of Venice a few years back, let’s see what he does with this meaty role.
Twitter length plot summary: King of the revival Bart Sher puts his spin on Tevye & his 5 daughters as they grapple w tradition, anti-Semitism & a rapidly changing world
Moment we’ll be living for: Can’t wait to see Danny Burstein’s talking to God monologues after each daughter announces her engagement (“They gave each other a pledge”, etc) and the “Sunrise Sunset” into the Bottle Dance as choreographed by famed Israeli dancer Hofesh Shecter.
Performance to watch out for: Everything about this cast feels pretty exciting. Is this finally Burstein’s Tony-winning role? How funny are Alix Korey and Adam Dannheisser going to be? Final answer: Adam Kantor as Motel; the nebbish tailor is always nomination bait.
*Denotes a show that is already opened.
