There's a Rainbow on the Great White Way

The brand new revival of the 1947 musical Finian's Rainbow opened on Broadway this evening. The production, which is playing an open run at the St. James Theatre, began as a part of the City Center Encores! series. Because of its success during that limited run, producers decided that they wanted to transfer it to Broadway. The Broadway production, re-imagined and expanded from the Encores! version, stars Tony Award winner Jim Norton (The Seafarer) as the title character and Christopher Fitzgerald (Young Frankenstein) as the leprechaun who chases him from old Ireland to America's Deep South. Also starring is Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu), Kate Baldwin, Chuck Cooper, Terri White, and William Youmans. A whimsical, satirical, romantic romp, Finian's Rainbow has a score by Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg that features songs such as "How Are Things In Glocca Morra?" and "Old Devil Moon".

Shrek Is Coming To Broadway In November 2008

One book and three successful film incarnations later, Shrek is finally hitting Broadway this Fall in the form of a stage musical. Shrek The Musical will premiere at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in an engagement from August 14 to September 21 before arriving on Broadway in November. Directed by Jason Moore, Shrek has a book by playwright David Lindsay-Abaire and a score by Jeanine Tesori.

Grease Is the Word!

nytix was at the very first performance of the new Broadway revival of Grease, and fans of Max Crumm and Laura Osnes, the winners of NBC's reality TV show Grease - You're the One That I Want, will be happy to know that the young Broadway debutantes acquitted themselves nicely. With a naturally sweet demeanor and a lovely voice, Laura makes an ideal Sandy. Max still strikes one as ever-so-slightly miscast as leather-clad leader-of-the-pack Danny, but the kid is so confident and talented that he's a joy to watch perform.

As it opens with the guys and gals of Rydell High School crooning the seductively hip "Grease is the Word," this Kathleen Marshall-directed production of the perennial American favorite looks like it might finally put the "cool" back in Grease. But it doesn't take long before the show's inherent bubble gumminess starts to ooze out, and the fact that the storyline isn't always coherent doesn't help. However, in addition to Max and Laura, Marshall has assembled a strong cast that -- even in their first performance -- were full of energy and assurance and had no problem whatsoever revving up the audience. When these kids break into classics like "Summer Nights," "Greased Lightnin'," and "We Go Together," you can't help but get caught up in the fun.

To hear the audience, which undoubtedly was full of fans of the TV show, you would have thought it was a Beatles concert. The hooting, wild applause, and at times even screams (yes, screams!) made the show more than just another performance of a Broadway musical -- this show is an event. The official opening of Grease is not until August 19, so what kinks the production has will likely be ironed out. The fact remains that the show itself is far from the strongest in the musical theatre canon, but this production still makes it a silly good time.

Happy Anniversary, Avenue Q!

Avenue Q celebrates its fourth year on Broadway today. The Sesame Street-inspired musical comedy about twentysomething angst began Off-Broadway, but after rave reviews and lots of buzz, the show moved to the John Golden Theatre on Broadway and subsequently won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Original Stars Return to Rent on Broadway

Rent-heads rejoice! Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, the actors who created Mark and Roger in the original Broadway production of Rent over 10 years ago, are returning to the Nederlander stage tonight to reprise their roles. Rapp and Pascal are expected to remain with the musical for a six-week run.

In the Heights Finds Broadway Home

The Off-Broadway hit In the Heights, which recently closed in preparation for a Broadway transfer, has just announced its opening date and theater. The vibrant musical, set in the New York neighborhood of Washington Heights, will start previews at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on February 14, with an official Broadway opening date of March 9, 2007.

Legally Blonde CD Signing in Times Square on July 17

The cast and members of the creative team from the Broadway musical Legally Blonde will be at the Times Square Virgin Megastore (1540 Broadway at 45th Street) on July 17 for the official release of the show's original cast recording. The cast will perform a couple songs from the musical and will also sign copies of the CD. The event starts at 5pm, and the first 100 people in line will get a gift bag with items from Godiva, Elle Magazine, and more.

R&B Singer Brian McKnight To Join Chicago on Broadway

Following in a long line of celebrities from the world of popular music (Huey Lewis, Usher, etc.) who have taken on the role of lawyer Billy Flynn in Broadway's Chicago, R&B singer Brian McKnight will be joining the cast of the show on October 8. The role is currently being played by TV star Harry Hamlin.

Lance Bass To Join Hairspray on Broadway

Lance Bass, member of the now-defunct boy band 'N Sync, will be joining the Broadway cast of Hairspray on August 14. He will play the role of Corny Collins, the host of the TV dance show that is all the rage with Baltimore teens. Bass is just the latest in a long line of young music stars who have been making their Broadway debuts in Hairspray. Others include Tevin Campbell, Ashley Parker Angel, and Haylie Duff.

Broadway's Company Goes From Stage to Screen

The Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical Company closed today, but the production will live on. On June 30, both performances of the show were filmed so that the musical can be aired as a part of the "Great Performances" series on PBS. The air date has not yet been announced.

Xanadu Postpones Broadway Opening

Xanadu, the newest musical to hit Broadway, has had to postpone its opening due to the injury of lead actor James Carpinello. Starting June 22, Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up, Altar Boyz) will take over the role of Sonny until Carpinello heals. A new opening date has yet to be announced for Xanadu, which began Broadway previews on May 23.

In the Heights to Transfer to Broadway

The new musical In the Heights, an Off-Broadway favorite this year, will be transferring to Broadway in the coming season. Featuring a hybrid of hip hop and Latin rhythms, In the Heights tells the story of several inhabitants of the Manhattan neighborhood Washington Heights. The current Off-Broadway production at 37 Arts will close on July 15 so that authors Lin-Manuel Miranda (music/lyrics) and Quiara Alegria Hudes (book) can revise the show for a Broadway bow in the 2007-2008 season.

Addams Family To Become Broadway Musical

They're creepy and they're kooky, and soon they'll be on Broadway! Charles Addams' spooky cartoon family are going to become the subject of their own musical, which will have a book by Jersey Boys scribes Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice and a score by Andrew Lippa. Although Lippa wrote a few songs for another cartoon musical (the Broadway revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown), none of them seem like obvious choices. But no doubt director/designers Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch, the masterminds behind the super eerie Shockheaded Peter, will provide the darkly comic sensibility that the Addams Family requires. Currently the show is expected to arrive on Broadway during the 2009-2010 season.