Posts Tagged ‘Kinky Boots’

Enjoy an Outdoor Broadway Concert FREE – June 2, “Stars in the Alley”

Theater lovers, it’s time for one of my favorite Broadwa experiences , STARS IN THE ALLEY®, a showpiece of what’s currently playing on the Great White Way, held one week before the Tony Awards® for the 2016-2017 season. Scheduled on Friday, June 2, Stars in the Alley is a celebration of the current Broadway season, and you get to see a sampler of songs and performances from nearly two dozen shows, all FREE. A 12-piece live orchestra accompanies. Given the price of theater tickets, this is a show you don’t want to miss.  #StarsInTheAlley

Heather Hedley and the cast of The Color Purple at Stars in the Alley 2016. Photo by Jeremy Daniel

Actor Tituss Burgess (“Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” “30 Rock,” Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid and much more) is the host of this year’s outdoor concert, scheduled rain or shine on June 2, at 1 PM in Shubert Alley, between Broadway and 8th Avenue and 44th and 45th Streets. Come early for the best seats.

The show is produced by the Broadway League and sponsored by United Airlines.

Crowd at Stars in the Alley 2016 (bottom). Photos by Jeremy Daniel

How many of these shows, scheduled to appear, have you seen? Now’s your chance!

Musicals:

Aladdin

Anastasia

Bandstand

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical

A Bronx Tale

Cats

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Chicago

Come From Away

Dear Evan Hansen

Groundhog Day the Musical

Kinky Boots

Miss Saigon

Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan

The Phantom of the Opera

School of Rock the Musical

Sunset Boulevard

Waitress

Wicked

Plus star appearances from:

Jitney

The Little Foxes

The Play That Goes Wrong

Present Laughter

Six Degrees of Separation

Sweat

War Paint

Visit broadway.org for more information.

Hungry after the show? Stop by Juniors, right next door, for a pastrami on rye or a slice of strawberry cheesecake.

Broadway Shows to See NOW (and soon)

Theater lovers, if you watched the 2013 Tony Awards two weeks ago, you know there are some shows you have to see.  There are also four that are closing in the next week that I would recommend searching out.  Here’s a list with my comments so you don’t miss out.

I’ll Eat You Last – Bette Midler’s one-woman show depicts the raunchy, aggressive, and sometimes self-pitying life of talent agent Sue Mengers in the 70s.  It’s the Divine Miss M completely transformed into Hollywood’s brash, super-agent, who represented a glittering roster of filmmakers and actors including Barbra Streisand, Steve McQueen, Marlon Brando, Mike Nichols and Cher.  Directed by Joe Mantello.  Closes Sunday June 30. Booth Theatre, 222. West 45th Street, Manhattan. www.IllEatYouLast.com.

Ann – Holland Taylor (the sassy mother on Two and a Half Men) is Texas governor Ann Richards in this one-woman show at Lincoln Center.  The show offers a very personal look into the life of the wise-cracking Richards and her trials and tribulations as both a high-power politician and family woman. Closes Sunday June 30.  Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 West 65th Street, Manhattanwww.TheAnnRichardsPlay.com.

Lucky Guy – Although Tom Hanks didn’t win a Tony award for this show by the late (and great) Nora Ephron, his Broadway-debut performance is still up there with some of the greats.  If you love New York history, and especially the sagas of New York tabloid journalism, this show is for you.  The rest of the cast, including the wonderful Maura Tierney (Maddie on The Good Wife) and Tony Award-winner Courtney B. Vance, is terrific, too. Directed by George C. Wolfe.  Closes Wednesday July 3.  Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street, Manhattan. www.luckyguyplay.com .



Silence! The Musical – Not the faint of stomach, this parody of Silence of the Lambs, made a successful transition from off-off-Broadway to off-Broadway with its hilarious depiction of Hannibal Lecter, Clarice Starling (the impression is dead on) , and, especially, the lambs themselves. Closes Sunday July 7.  Elektra Theatre, 669 Eighth Ave., Manhattan. www.silencethemusicalnyc.com.

Others not to miss (but difficult to get tickets) are:

Pippin – Tony winner for Best Revival of a Musical, the magically recast Pippin is a glorious evening of circus, music, theatrics, and Bob Fosse dance.  Tony Award winners Patina Miller and Andrea Martin are breathtaking as are the entire cast of players.  Music Box Theater, 239 West 45th Street, Manhattanwww.PippinTheMusical.com.

Kinky Boots – Tony award winner for Best Musical, this is another show that’s having a nearly sold-out run.  Without ruining the story, suffice it to say that kinky boots are the salvation for a shoe manufacturing company down on its luck.  Billy Porter, Tony award winner, is memorable.  Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th Street, Manhattanwww.KinkyBootsTheMusical.com

Planning a trip to NYC?