By Sondra Smith | Posted on April 11, 2024 8:00 PM
Broadway's Iconic Palace Theatre Will Finally Reopen Its Refurbished Doors With Ben Platt Warming Up The Summer 2024 Stage For The Tammy Faye Bakker Musical Set For The Fall of 2024
Broadway's Palace Theatre Finally Reopens
After extensive renovations and delays, The Palace Theatre is finally set to reopen its doors. The long awaited christening will happen in two distinct parts. First up is Ben Platt who will be doing a limited concert residency, in what’s being regarded as a soft opening. And then for the main event, a new musical based on the life and times of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker will set up shop in the house that Judy built.
Once the Palace is back in action, the number of operational Broadway theatres will rise again to 41.
Times Square Makes Room For TSX Broadway
Also home to a DoubleTree Suites, the entire site was recently redeveloped to create TSX Broadway, a $2 billion mixed-use building featuring a structurally innovative hotel, which had to be built around the Palace's auditorium, as well as above and below it. The old lobby was replaced with retail space, extending to subterranean levels. In order to complete the massive renovation, the auditorium itself famously needed to be raised by approximately 30 feet.
Clearly, the increase in foot traffic now that the theatre is back in business, will benefit the whole TSX Broadway operation.
The Legendary Palace Theatre’s Storied Past
Over the years, The Palace has housed a broad range of top-tier tenants including Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Bette Midler, Ethel Merman, Diana Ross, Josephine Baker and even Elvis Presley, not to mention a slew of hit Broadway musicals like An American in Paris, Beauty and the Beast and La Cage aux Folles. In 2018, the historic venue, much worse for wear, closed for an overdue facelift, including hoisting the landmarked venue 30 feet in the air.
Ben Platt: Opening Act
While Ben Platt: Live at the Palace doesn’t have the same ring to it as Liza or Judy or what many hoped would be Barbra, and many have credited nepo-baby Platt’s producer father for arranging the extremely high profile gig, the TONY award-winning star of Dear Evan Hansen will hopefully fill the space with his vocals and his fan base. The concert runs from May 28th through June 15th for 18 performances only. Surprisingly, Platt will not be front-loading the event with showtunes. Instead, he’s using the occasion to promote the upcoming release of his new album Honeymind.
Tammy Faye: The Bakkers Book Broadway
Once Ben Platt completes his exclusive residency, the Palace will stay quiet for the summer before ushering in its first potentially long-term tenant, a new musical about the not-so-fabulous Bakker boy and his bride Tammy Faye , written by Elton John (music), James Graham (book) and Jake Shears (lyrics). Simply titled Tammy Faye, the hot transfer from London’s West End will begin previews on October 19th, 2024 in anticipation of an opening on November 14th, 2024.
Broadway newbie Katie Brayben will reprise her Olivier Award-winning turn as the titular televangelist, alongside two-time Tony Award nominee and fan favorite Andrew Rannells, in his previously lauded performance as populist preacher Jim Bakker.
