By Jennifer R Jones | Posted on January 28, 2017 2:37 PM
Six Shows Will Begin Previews In The Month Of February 2017 On Broadway Including Sunset Boulevard, Sunday In The Park With George, Come From Away, And The Price
“Sunset Boulevard” and “Sunday in the Park with George”
In the month of February, six new shows are slated to arrive on Broadway. Beginning on February 2, 2017, a revival of the 1994 musical Sunset Boulevard will begin previews, ahead of an opening night on February 9, 2017. Based on the 1950 Billy Wilder film of the same name, this gorgeous musical is the story of a faded Hollywood actress from the silent film era who aims to make a final comeback. Recently seen in a well-received revival this past spring in London, this musical first opened on Broadway in 1994 starring Glenn Close, who will reprise her role as Norma Desmond in the 2017 production.
The musical has a book and lyrics by Christopher Hampton and Don Black, and music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, and this production will be directed by Lonny Price. Shortly thereafter, on February 11, 2017, a revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s 1984 musical Sunday in the Park with George will begin previews at the newly re-opened Hudson Theatre. While the Hudson was originally reported to re-open with a production of Lanford Wilson’s Burn.
Jake Gyllenhaal Stars in a Limited Engagement on Broadway
This starring Jake Gyllenhaal, the historic venue will instead celebrate its resuscitation as a Broadway theatre with another show that also stars Jake Gyllenhaal. In a transfer production of the celebrated 2016 concert version of this Pulitzer Prize winning musical about the pointillist painter George Seurat, Jake Gyllenhaal will play George, opposite Annaleigh Ashford in the role of Dot and Marie, his mistress and grandmother respectively. The musical will open on February 23, 2017, and will play for a limited engagement to conclude on April 23, 2017.
“Significant Other” and “The Glass Menagerie”
With previews beginning on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2017, a new play by Joshua Harmon, Significant Other, will play at the Booth Theatre, ahead of an opening night on March 2, 2017. This production, which is directed by Trip Cullman, is a transfer from the Roundabout Theatre Company production from 2016 which played Off-Broadway to great acclaim. The play stars newcomer Gideon Glick as a gay bachelor looking for love in the big city. Other roles are played by Barbara Barrie, Lindsay Mendez, John Behlmann, Sas Goldberg, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and Luke Smith.
Joshua Harmon is making his Broadway debut as playwright, following an extremely successful run with his previous Off-Broadway outing, Bad Jews, which became the third most produced play of the 2014-2015 season. Meanwhile, with previews beginning on February 7, 2017, a revival of Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie will play the Belasco Theatre, ahead of an opening night on March 9, 2017.
A Closer Look at this Classic on Broadway
This classic play will be revived in a production directed by Sam Gold (Fun Home), with the role of Amanda Wingfield portrayed by the renowned actress Sally Field. Furthermore, the part of Tom Wingfield will be played by Joe Mantello (The Normal Heart), the role of the Gentleman Caller Jim O’Connor will be played by Finn Wittrock (Death of a Salesman), and the role of Laura Wingfield will be played by Madison Ferris making her Broadway debut.
The Glass Menagerie, often referred to as a “memory play,” was first produced in 1947, and tells the story of a restless young man, his Southern belle mother, and his painfully shy sister who is introduced to a gentleman caller.
“Come From Away” and “The Price”
Starting February 18, 2017, a new musical Come From Away will begin previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, ahead of an opening night on March 12, 2017. With book, music, and lyrics by the husband-and-wife duo Irene Sankoff and David Hein, this musical had its world premiere in the summer of 2015 at La Jolla Playhouse in California, followed by several other very successful regional productions at the Seattle Repertory Theatre, Washington D.C.’s Ford Theatre, and Toronto’s Mirvish Theatre.
Exploring the lasting connection between a group of travelers whose planes were diverted in a small Newfoundland town on September 11, 2001, the musical is directed by Christopher Ashley, with a cast including Chad Kimball, Joel Hatch, Jenn Colella, Caesar Samayoa, and Rodney Hicks. Finally, the month of February will also see the start of performances for the revival of Arthur Miller’s play The Price, with previews beginning on February 16, 2017 ahead of a March 16, 2017 opening.
A Closer Look at this Drama on Broadway
Originally produced in 1968, this drama by one of America’s greatest playwrights deals with the story of two estranged brothers who come together again to sell their parents’ estate. Directed by Terry Kinney, the cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Tony Shalhoub, and Jessica Hecht at the American Airlines Theatre. The production will play a limited engagement to conclude on May 7, 2017.
