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Fall Broadway Preview Part III

James William Bruce • October 5, 2022

That’s right theatre fans. It is time for Part III of my “Fall Broadway Preview” where I will discuss three more upcoming productions set to open before the end of the year. So, let’s get to it.


First up, and one that I think is going to be one of the biggest winners come award season next June. Kimberly Akimbo, which is based on David Lindsey-Abaire’s 2001 play of the same name, is set to begin previews at the Booth Theatre on October 12, with opening night scheduled for November 10. Featuring book and lyrics by the playwright himself, and music by Tony Award winner Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Caroline or Change), Kimberly Akimbo stars Tony Award winner Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza) as the title character Kim, that of a shy and lonely teenage girl, who over a period of time begins to experience symptoms similar to that of the disease progeria, that causes individuals to appear older than they actually are due to their rapidly advancing age. Kind of like a modern version of the lead character in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button you might say.


Prior to its Broadway bow, the show played a celebrated run Off-Broadway at the Linda Gross Theater from November 6, 2021, thru January 15,2022, where it was nominated for a total of twenty-three awards, and won the Drama Desk, Outer Critic’s Circle, and the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical of the Year. Now do you see why I think there might be a slew of awards in its future. Time will tell. Let me just start off by saying that I know nothing about KPOP, or the worldwide phenomenon behind it. What can I say? I am a guy in my late 40’s. What I do know however, is how excited people seem to be that it is coming to Broadway. Previews for the show are set to begin at the intimate Circle in the Square Theatre on October 13, with opening night scheduled for November 20. The show first premiered Off-Broadway at the Arts Nova Theatre in 2017. However due to delays with casting, and the pandemic, it was postponed until now. Now while the show may not be my cup of tea, I have a strong feeling that KPOP is going to take Broadway by storm.


Next up, and one that I really want to see is Martyna Majok’s Cost of Living which began previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on September 13, with opening night scheduled for October 3. Directed by Obie Award winner Jo Bonney, and starring Greg Mozgola, Katy Sullivan, Kara Young, and David Zayas, Cost of Living, according to the show’s official website is described as a play about ,” the forces that bring people together, the complexity of caring and being cared for, and the ways we all need each other in this world.” Sounds like one compelling night in the theatre to me. The show, which won the 2018 Lucille Lortel Award for Best Play, and the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama will play a limited engagement thru October 30.


So, there you have it theatre fans. Three exciting new shows for you to check out this Fall. Look out for more of my show previews in the coming days. Oh, and of course don’t forget, we sell them all, along with every other play and musical both On and Off-Broadway. Which one will you see? Until next time theatre fans.


JWB

Broadway’s “Left on Tenth”-Lights Up the James Earl Jones Theatre

By Richard Gladstone • September 30, 2024
In addition to the two main stars, Kate MacCluggage (Are you There God? It’s Me, Margaret) and Peter Francis James (Ziegfield, Funny Girl) round out this great production. These two seasoned actors are extremely talented.  Left On Tenth is directed by the very talented Broadway veteran, Susan Stroman. Ms. Stroman has been the recipient of five Tony Awards during her storied career.  Celeste and I have seen about a dozen shows so far this year and Left on Tenth is clearly one of our favorites. This wonderful, new romantic comedy along with some very serious life challenges thrown in, is one just about everyone can relate to.  I hope you’ll consider treating yourself and someone you care about and buy some tickets for this great new show. With a running time of only one hour and 40 minutes and no intermission, even the timing is perfect.  Please consider a call to Applause-Tickets at 800-451-9930 or 212-307-7050. We are open seven days a week with a personal service that we think is second to none.  Sincerely Rich Gladstone aka The Broadway TicketMan on behalf of Applause-Tickets.com 800-451-9930

2024 Tony Awards Winners

By Joe Acevedo • June 17, 2024
2024 Tony Awards Winners
Tony Awards

2024 Tony Awards Nominees

April 30, 2024
The 2024 Tony nominations have been announced, honoring the best of the 2023–2024 Broadway season.

Home is Coming to Broadway

By James Bruce • March 16, 2024
The first entry of the 2024-2025 Broadway season is Home . Premiering in 1979 at the Negro Ensemble Company before transferring to Broadway the following year, is set to open at the newly renamed Todd Haimes Theatre in June with previews scheduled to begin on May 17. Written by Samm-Art Williams and directed by Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, A Soldier’s Play), Home is set in North Carolina during the height of the Vietnam War, and focuses on farmland owner Cephus Miles who flees his small town after serving time for being a draft evader, and his slow but tragic dive into the world of drugs and prostitution before his return to North Carolina in search of the life he always wanted. Well, I’m sold.

Hell’s Kitchen Previews on Broadway March 28

By James Bruce • March 14, 2024
Fresh off a critically acclaimed sold out production last year at New York’s famed Public Theater, is Hell’s Kitchen . Based on the life of Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys, the show is scheduled to begin previews at the historic Shubert Theatre on March 28, with opening night scheduled for April 20.  Directed by Tony Award nominee Michael Grief and featuring music and lyrics by Ms. Keys and a book by Kristoffer Diaz, Hell’s Kitchen is loosely based on Key’s childhood spent living in Hell’s Kitchen’s- Manhattan Plaza. A 46-floor building known for offering federally subsidized housing for both artists, as well as other neighborhood residents and the elderly. Not only am I a huge fan of Alica Keys, but I am a sucker for a good bio, jukebox musical. Here’s hoping Hell’s Kitchen is a hit.

Patriots Coming to Broadway in April

By James Bruce • March 12, 2024
Written by Tony Award winner Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Audience) and directed by Olivier Award winner Rupert Goold, (Ink, King Lear) is Patriots . The show which first premiered at the Noel Coward Theatre in London’s West End in 2023, stars Tony Award nominee Michael Stuhlbarg as billionaire Russian businessman Boris Berezofsky during the Soviet Union’s sharp decline and the unexpected rise of Boris Yeltsin. Previews for the twelve-week limited engagement is set to begin previews at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on April 1 with opening night scheduled for April 22. I expect Patriots to be a big Tony contender this Spring.

The Great Gatsby Coming to Broadway April 25th

By James Bruce • March 10, 2024
Just like with fellow new musical, The Notebook, I have never read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby or seen any of its numerous film or television adaptations. I am, however, looking forward to seeing this new take on the classic love story mostly in part due to the show’s two stars. Tony Award nominees Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde) and Eva Noblezada (Hadestown, Miss Saigon) as millionaire Jay Gatsby and his former paramour Daisy Buchanan. The Great Gatsby premiered last year at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse, features music and lyrics by Jason Howland and Nathan Tysen and a book by Kait Kerrigan. Directed by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), The Great Gatsby is scheduled to begin previews at the Broadway Theatre on March 29, with opening night set for April 25. Interesting enough, there is another version of the show scheduled to open in May of this year at the American Repertory Theatre. Dueling Gatsby’s? What will they think of next?
Lempicka on Broadway

Lempicka Scheduled to Begin Previews on Broadway in March

By James Bruce • March 8, 2024
Full disclosure. Until Lempika was announced, I had never heard of famed artist and outlaw aristocrat Tamara le Lempicka, who fled to Paris, France during the Russian Revolution, and used her painting skills to provide for her family. I have, however, heard of Eden Espinosa who has one of the best Broadway voices that I have ever heard, as well as being a former Elphaba in Wicked, the final Maureen in Rent, and the star of Brooklyn to name a few. Not to mention a slew of other critically acclaimed performances across the country, as well as an award-winning debut album. Quite the resume don’t you think? Lempika , which first premiered at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in 2018, followed by another acclaimed production in 2022 at the La Jolla Playhouse, is scheduled to begin previews at the Longacre Theatre on March 19, with opening night scheduled for April 14. Directed by Tony Award winner Rachel Chavkin (Hadestown and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly, the show features music by Matt Gould, lyrics by Carson Kreitzer, with a book by Gould and Kreitzer. I smell a Tony Award nomination in Ms. Espinosa’s future.
Broadway Musical SUFFS opening in March

New Musical SUFFS Coming to Broadway in March

By James Bruce • March 6, 2024
Like with every season, there are some shows that I am not familiar with prior to it being announced, mostly due to not reading up on it beforehand. Case in point, the new musical SUFFS . The show, which I later learned played a critically acclaimed, sold out run last year at the Public Theatre, is set in the years leading up to the signing of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920 and the ultimate battle for a woman’s right to vote. Or as we know it today, the American Woman’s Suffrage Movement. An issue that I actually studied last year in my American History course that while I knew little about prior, proved to be one of the most important times in our country’s history. Not to mention a great idea for a musical in my opinion. Especially after hearing some of Shaina Taub’s amazing songs, who along with writing the book, music, and lyrics, also plays the role of Alice Paul, one of the leaders in the fight for women’s rights. Directed by Leigh Silverman, previews for SUFFS is set to begin at the Music Box Theatre on March 26, with opening night scheduled for April 18. I can’t wait.
a group of people are dancing on a stage .

Previews for The Heart of Rock and Roll Coming to Broadway in March

By James Bruce • March 4, 2024
Show of hands? Who doesn’t love Huey Lewis and the News? How can you not, right? Now while The Heart of Rock and Roll features the music of this iconic band, it is not the story of their meteoric rise to super stardom during the 1980’s. Although, how awesome would that be? Instead, The Heart of Rock and Roll features a brand-new story by Jonathan A. Abrams and Tyler Mitchell that focuses on a group of twenty-somethings on the cusp of achieving their dreams. Their only problem is which one? The corporate world or the world of Rock and Roll? Previews for The Heart of Rock and Roll are set to begin at the James Earl Jones Theatre on March 29 with opening night scheduled for April 22. Featuring over two dozen of the band’s biggest hits, I have no doubt that it will have audiences singing and dancing in the aisles. I know I can’t wait to see The Heart of Rock and Roll .
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