Good morning theater fans. This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Friday, March 13th.Due to rising concerns about the global coronavirus pandemic, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ordered that Broadway theatres go dark beginning 5 PM last night. Performances are currently scheduled to resume the week of April 13. Ticketholders are advised to contact their point of purchase regarding refunds or exchanges. In addition to the shows currently open on Broadway, the order impacts several new shows which were set to begin their Broadway runs. SIX: THE MUSICAL was set to officially open last night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, while Lincoln Center Theatre's FLYING OVER SUNSET was to have played its first preview performance. The Broadway revivals of CAROLINE, OR CHANGE and PLAZA SUITE were scheduled to begin previews tonight. Meanwhile, the limited engagements of A SOLDIER'S PLAY and THE INHERITANCE were set to play their final performances on March 15.The capacity ban of no gatherings of more than 500 people also impacts a number of Off-Broadway theaters and productions. Ticketholders for these shows are advised  to contact their point of purchase for exchanges, refunds, or to donate to the theatre. Here at The Broadway Scoop we urge everyone to carefully follow the guidelines of the CDC, be safe and stay healthy.  And that's The Broadway Scoop for Friday, March 13. 

Broadway Scoop

Episode 124: 03-13-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, March 12th. Broadway star Kelli O'Hara will take on the role of 'Mother' in The Actors Fund's upcoming benefit concert of RAGTIME. The Tony Award winner joins previously announced cast members Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell and Peter Friedman. Taking place on April 27th at the Minskoff Theatre, the event will be dedicated to late Broadway star Marin Mazzie.BEETLEJUICE stars Alex Brightman and Leslie Kritzer will announce the nominations for the 2020 Drama League Awards, in a live broadcast from Sardi’s on April 16th. The duo will reveal the nominees for Outstanding Production of a Play, Outstanding Production of a Musical, Outstanding Revival of a Play, Outstanding Revival of a Musical, and the coveted Distinguished Performance Award. Winners will be announced at a ceremony to be held on May 15 at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.And a happy opening to the new musical SIX, officially opening tonight at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre following a preview period which began on February 13.  Showcasing the six wives of Henry VIII, the show originated at the 2017 Edinburgh Fringe Festival before going on to a West End run, and earning five Olivier Award nominations. SIX made its critically-acclaimed U.S. premiere last July in Chicago.And that's The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, March 12th

Episode 123: 03-12-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Wednesday, March 11. As concerns about coronavirus continue to rise nationwide, producer Scott Rudin has announced that beginning tomorrow, all remaining tickets through March 29th to THE BOOK OF MORMON, THE LEHMAN TRILOGY, TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, WEST SIDE STORY and WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? will be available for $50. In a statement, the Tony Award-winning producer explained,  “As long as New York City is open for business, its beating heart remains the Broadway stage."Concord Theatricals has acquired the worldwide licensing rights to the hit musical ANASTASIA, making it available for school productions throughout North America. The musical officially opened at Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre in April 2017, where it ran for two years, before embarking on its current national tour. Based on the 1997 animated film, ANASTASIA features a book by Terrence McNally, and score by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, And THE PROM star Isabelle McCalla has joined Broadway veterans Norm Lewis and Faith Prince for Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of 42ND STREET.  Directed and choreographed by Stephen Mear and based on the 1933 Busby Berkeley movie, the musical is set to run from May 29 through June 21 at the Lyric Opera House. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Wednesday, March 11th. 

Episode 122: 03-11-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Friday, March 6th.Casting has been announced for the Kennedy Center's upcoming semi-staged concert of BYE BYE BIRDIE. In a gender-swapping twist, Tony winner Harvey Fierstein will take on the role of Mae Peterson, alongside Dawson's Creek star James Van Der Beek as Albert Peterson. Joining them in the cast will be Broadway alums Carly Hughs, Mallory Bechtel, and Ann Harada, and Tony nominees Caitlin Kinnunen and Reg Rogers. The central role of Conrad Birdie will be announced at a later date. Directed by Marc Bruni and choreographed by Tony nominee Denis Jones, the Washington D.C. production will run from April 23 through April 28. The opening of the West End premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s  CINDERELLA musical has been pushed back from a September.2020 start date to October 9. A spokesperson for the production explained that the delay was due to “current global circumstances." Starring Carrie Hope Fletcher in the title role, CINDERELLA features an updated story and book by Emerald Fennell and lyrics by David Zippel.And congratulations to the cast and creative team of COME FROM AWAY, this week celebrating three years at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The Tony-winning musical officially opened to critical acclaim on March 12, 2017 and tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 passengers stranded on 9/11 and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Friday, March 6th.

Episode 121: 03-06-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, March 5th. Full casting has been announced for the world premiere of the Britney Spears jukebox musical ONCE UPON A ONE MORE TIME. The production will feature Great News star Briga Heelan as Cinderella, American Idol alum Justin Guarini as Prince Charming, and Tony nominee Emily Skinner as Stepmother.  Described as a jukebox spin on a classic fairytale,  the show is set to begin preview performances at Chicago’s James M. Nederlander Theatre on April 14, ahead of an official opening on April 30. A Broadway premiere is expected to follow. Tony winners Kristin Chenoweth and Santino Fontana will be among the performers honoring Signature Theatre's 2020 Stephen Sondheim Award recipient, Carol Burnett. The legendary performer is best known for her iconic variety series The Carol Burnett Show, and for her Tony-nominated performance as the original Princess Winnifred in Broadway's ONCE UPON A MATTRESS. Burnett most recently starred on Broadway in the 2014 revival of A.R. Gurney's Love Letters.And a happy opening to the Broadway premiere of Conor McPherson's GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY,  officially opening tonight at the Belasco Theatre following a preview period which began on February 7th. Featuring music from the Bob Dylan catalog, the Depression-era set musical stars Tony nominees Marc Kudisch and Mare Winningham, Broadway veteran Tom Nelis, and actor Todd Almond in his Broadway debut. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, March 5th.

Episode 120: 03-05-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Wednesday, March 4th.Nominations have been announced for the 2020 Olivier Awards, recognizing productions and artists for their work on the U.K. stage. The new musical & JULIET led the pack with nine nominations, including Best New Musical. Also earning multiple nominations were the West End productions of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, with eight nods, and DEAR EVAN HANSEN, with seven. Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Phoebe Waller-Bridge earned two nominations for bringing her troubled character from FLEABAG to the stage. Winners will be announced on April 5 at a ceremony to be held at London's Royal Albert Hall.The 2020 Susan Smith Blackburn Prize, awarded to women playwrights for a play written for the English-speaking theatre, will go to ENRON scribe Lucy Prebble for her theatrical adaptation of A VERY EXPENSIVE POISON.  The play, which centers on the notorious poisoning of ex-FSB Officer, Alexander Litvinenko, premiered at London's Old Vic Theatre last fall. And the upcoming album Losing My Mind: A Sondheim Disco Fever Dream will be released digitally by Broadway Records on March 20, ahead of a physical release on April 17. The recording will include disco re-imaginings of over forty Stephen Sondheim classics, and feature performances by WAITRESS stars Alison Luff and Charity Angél Dawson, among many others. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Wednesday, March 4th. 

Episode 119: 03-04-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Tuesday, March 3rd. Broadway grosses are in for the week ending March 1, and Tony winner Ivo van Hove’s reimagined version of the classic American musical WEST SIDE STORY enjoyed strong returns at the box office. The production, which officially opened on February 20, played to 100 percent capacity and took in nearly $1.6 million. Four Broadway productions played to S.R.O. seating capacity this week, including COME FROM AWAY, HADESTOWN, MOULIN ROUGE! and HAMILTON, which once again led the pack by earning over $2.6 million.  The full creative team has been announced for MJ, the Broadway-bound musical inspired by the life and work of Michael Jackson. Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon, the production will feature sets by Tony winner Derek McLane, lighting by Tony winner Natasha Katz,  costumes by Tony winner Paul Tazewell and sound design by Tony nominee Gareth Owen. Preview performances are set to begin on July 6 at the Neil Simon Theatre, ahead of an official opening on August 13.And preview performances for the Broadway revival of WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? get underway tonight at the Booth Theatre, ahead of an official opening on April 9th. Two-time Tony Award winner Laurie Metcalf stars in the production alongside Rupert Everett,  Russel Tovey and  2019 Olivier Award winner Patsy Ferran. Tony winner Joe Mantello directs the strictly limited engagement. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Tuesday, March 3rd. 

Episode 118: 03-03-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Monday, March 2nd.The Broadway premiere of Rona Munro's MY NAME IS LUCY BARTON ended its limited run at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Saturday.  Adapted from Elizabeth Strout's best-selling novel, the Manhattan Theatre Club production starred Tony nominee Laura Linney, who reprised her role from the show's acclaimed London engagement. Also wrapping up its limited run over the weekend was the Broadway premiere of Bess Wohl's GRAND HORIZONS. Among the cast members taking their final bows at the Hayes Theater on Sunday was Gotham star Ben McKenzie, who made his Broadway debut in the production.The new revival of Stephen Sondheim and George Furth's COMPANY begins preview performances tonight at Broadway's Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, ahead of an official opening on March 22nd, the date of Sondheim's 90th birthday.  Marianne Elliott’s gender -reversed production stars Tony winner Katrina Lenk alongside Tony winner Patti LuPone, who reprises her Olivier Award winning performance from the production’s West End premiere.And DIANA, the new musical about the late Princess of Wales, also begins previews tonight at Broadway's Longacre Theatre, ahead of an official opening on March 31. Directed by Tony winner Christopher Ashley, and featuring a score from the Tony-winning duo of Joe DiPietro and David Bryan, the bio musical stars Jeanna de Waal in the title role, alongside Tony winner Judy Kaye as Queen Elizabeth.And that's The Broadway Scoop for Monday, March 2nd.

Episode 117: 03-02-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Friday, February 28th.A star-studded lineup will take the stage of the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 16 for the 15th Annual Broadway Backwards.  The annual fundraising event, benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Center, features gender-reversed renditions of both classic and modern show tunes. Among this year's line-up will be Tony winners Nikki M. James, Laura Benanti and André De Shields, Tony nominees Beth Malone, and Brandon Uranowitz, and fan favorites Jordan Fisher, Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Derek Klena.  MATILDA THE MUSICAL JR.  is now available for licensing from Music Theatre International's JR. Collection.  Based on the Roald Dahl novel, MATILDA JR is specifically created for young performers and is adapted from bookwriter Dennis Kelly and songwriter Tim Minchin's Olivier and Tony winning full-length musical.And preview performances for Martin McDonagh's HANGMEN get underway tonight at Broadway's Golden Theatre, ahead of an official opening on March 19th.  The Olivier Award-winning production marks the Broadway debut of Game of Thrones' actor Mark Addy, who stars alongside Broadway veterans John Horton, Tracie Bennett and Dan Stevens.And that's The Broadway Scoop for Friday, February 28th.

Episode 116: 02-28-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, September 27th.Ensemble member Presley Ryan will temporarily take over the role of Lydia Deetz in the hit Broadway musical, BEETLEJUICE. As previously reported,  the show's original Lydia, Sophia Anne Caruso, departed the production to pursue opportunities in film and TV.  Ryan will play the role through March 29th, with future casting to be announced at a later date.  The North American premiere of Stephen Lloyd Helper’s A SIGN OF THE TIMES, starring HAMILTON and IN THE HEIGHTS star Javier Muñoz officially opens off-Broadway tonight.  The new monologue play, described as an epic theatrical exploration of life, loss, and hope, is directed by the playwright and will play a limited run at Theater 511 through April 4th.And the screen-to-stage musical adaptation of THE PRINCE OF EGYPT has added seven additional weeks to its limited West End run at London's Dominion Theatre. The musical, which officially opened on February 25, is now set to run through October 31. Based on the 1998 animated film, the show features five of the film's original numbers by Stephen Schwartz, including the Oscar-winning song, "When You Believe",  as well as ten new songs from the prolific composer.  And that's The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, February 27th.

Episode 115: 02-27-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Wednesday, February 26th. Actor Greg Kinnear will make his Broadway debut as Atticus Finch in the hit Broadway production of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.  The Oscar nominee will take over the role from Ed Harris, who takes his final bow at the Shubert Theatre on April 19. Kinnear earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the 1997 romantic comedy, As Good As It Gets. In other TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD news, the current Broadway cast of the production will take the stage of Madison Square Garden tonight, for a free, one-night-only performance of the show before a crowd of 18,000 New York City public school students. The event marks the first time a Broadway play will be performed at the Manhattan arena. And a host of Broadway favorites are among the nominees for the 34th Annual MAC Awards, honoring achievement in cabaret, comedy and jazz in New York City. This year's nominees include Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz for their duo act entitled, Twohander ,and Donna McKechnie and Andrea McArdle, for their tribute to Marvin Hamlisch and Stephen Sondheim.  Others receiving nods include playwright and cabaret entertainer Charles Busch,  Tony winner Joanna Gleeson and Tony nominee Max von Essen. Winners will be announced on March 30 at New York City's Sony Hall. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Wednesday, February 26th.

Episode 114: 02-26-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Tuesday, February 25th.Broadway grosses are in for the week ending February 23rd and the new musical SIX hit the ground running in its first full week of performances, earning over $1 million, making over 95 percent of its gross potential and bringing Standing Room Only seating status to the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Enjoying the top spots on the chart once again were Broadway blockbusters MOULIN ROUGE!, THE LION KING and HAMILTON. Complete casting has been announced for New York Theatre Workshop's upcoming adaptation of Anton Chekhov's THREE SISTERS. Joining the previously announced Academy Award nominee Greta Gerwig and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac will be Obie Award winner Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Golden Globe and Emmy winner Steve  Buscemi and The Mindy Project's Chris Messina. Preview performances for the production are set to begin on May 13.And preview performances get underway tonight at the Cort Theatre for the Broadway premiere of Tracy Letts' THE MINUTES. A 2018 Pulitzer Prize finalist, THE MINUTES made its world premiere at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre and stars the Tony Award-winning playwright alongside Tony winners Jessie Mueller and Blair Brown, and Tony nominees Armie Hammer, K. Todd Freeman and Austin Pendleton. The 16-week limited engagement officially opens on March 15. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Tuesday, February 25th.

Episode 113: 02-25-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Monday, February 24th.Sophia Anne Caruso has departed the Broadway production of BEETLEJUICE, playing her final performance as Lydia Deetz last Wednesday.  Representatives of the show confirmed that the actress decided to exercise her contractual out to pursue work in television. Caruso's understudy, Presley Ryan, stepped into the role for the weekend performances, and an announcement of a permanent replacement is expected this week. The Broadway-bound production of PLAZA SUITE, starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Matthew Broderick, wrapped up its out-of-town engagement this Saturday at Boston's Colonial Emerson Theatre. The Broadway revival of the Neil Simon comedy is set to begin preview performances at the Hudson Theatre on March 13, ahead of an official opening on April 13.  Directed by Tony winner John Benjamin Hickey, the production marks the onstage reunion of the husband-and-wife stars, who previously appeared on Broadway together in the 1995 revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING.And tonight, Bernadette Peters, Annaleigh Ashford and Sierra Bogess will be among the Broadway stars taking the stage of the Edison Ballroom for the 10th Annual Broadway Belts, benefitting the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. Hosted by TOOTSIE star Julie Halston, this year's event will honor Tony-winning Broadway producer Daryl Roth with the Ralph Howard Legacy Award. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Monday, February 24th.

Episode 112: 02-24-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Friday, February 21st. The Broadway premiere of Matthew Lopez's THE INHERITANCE has set closing dates.  Directed by Stephen Daldry, the two-part re-imagining of E.M. Forster's Howards End will play its final performance at the Ethel Barrymore Theater on March 15. Upon closing it will have played 46 preview and 138 regular performances.Netflix has announced a May 1st debut date for Ryan Murphy's upcoming limited series Hollywood. Set in Hollywood's Golden Age, the seven-episode series follows a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers in post-World War II Hollywood as they try to make it in Tinseltown. The all-star cast includes Broadway favorites Darren Criss, Jeremy Pope, Jim Parsons, and Tony Award winners Joe Mantello and Patti LuPone.  And over a dozen Broadway theaters will dim their lights on February 29 to commemorate the life and work of Tony-winning producer Margo Lion, who passed away on January 24 at the age of 75. Ms. Lion’s Broadway producing credits included HAIRSPRAY, CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, THE WEDDING SINGER, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, and most recently, 2019's FRANKIE AND JOHNNY IN THE CLAIR DE LUNE. And that's The Broadway Scoop for Friday, February 21st. 

Episode 111: 02-21-2020

Good morning theater fans! This is Caryn Robbins with The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, February 20th.Beginning February 28, HAMILTON alum Nik Walker and MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL touring cast member Matt Manuel will step into the roles of Otis Williams and David Ruffin, respectively in Broadway's AIN'T TOO PROUD - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF THE TEMPTATIONS. The duo will replace Tony nominated actors Derrick Baskin and Ephraim Sykes, who depart the hit musical on February 26. As previously reported,  Sykes will take center stage in MJ,  the Michael Jackson bio-musical, set to begin preview performances at the Neil Simon Theatre on July 6. Performances kicked off yesterday for Encores! presentation of the musical classic MACK & MABEL, now running through February 23 at New York City Center.  Douglas Sills and Alexandra Socha take on the respective title roles in the production, which features a score by late composer Jerry Herman,  book by Michael Stewart and direction and choreography by Josh Rhodes.  And a happy opening to the new revival of WEST SIDE STORY, officially opening tonight at the Broadway Theatre, following a preview period which began on December 10. Directed by Tony Award winner Ivo van Hove, the re-imagined revival features all-new choreography by the internationally acclaimed Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, and stars Shereen Pimentel as Maria and Isaac Cole Powell as Tony.  And that's The Broadway Scoop for Thursday, February 20th.

Episode 110: 02-20-2020

Professional theater writer Caryn Robbins brings you a daily recap of the latest theater-related news in under two minutes - keeping you up-to-date on all that's happening on the Great White Way!

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Broadway Scoop

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