Twenty years after the fan-favorite Disney Renaissance film debuted in 1997, legendary composer Alan Menken revealed that he was working on a stage adaptation of "Hercules," the tale of a young man on his road to becoming a hero and finding out where he belongs in the world. Reunited with lyricist David Zippel, the Disney Legend created a number of all-new songs to compliment a book by Kristoffer Diaz and Robert Horn for the latest musical from the House of Mouse.
A few years later in 2019, the production made its world premiere at the Delacorte Theater in New York City's Central Park with a stellar cast that featured Jelani Alladin, who originated the role of Kristoff on stage in "Frozen," as Hercules, Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart of "Aladdin" on Broadway as Phil, star of NBC's "Smash" Krysta Rodriguez as Meg, and, instead of revisiting the character that he...
A few years later in 2019, the production made its world premiere at the Delacorte Theater in New York City's Central Park with a stellar cast that featured Jelani Alladin, who originated the role of Kristoff on stage in "Frozen," as Hercules, Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart of "Aladdin" on Broadway as Phil, star of NBC's "Smash" Krysta Rodriguez as Meg, and, instead of revisiting the character that he...
- 2/24/2023
- by Ben F. Silverio
- Slash Film
If there’s a better, more vital way to honor the late, incomparable Stephen Sondheim than Marianne Elliott’s superb production of Company, Broadway hasn’t invented it. This gorgeous revival of the Sondheim-George Furth masterwork at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, is, from across-the-board excellent performances and thoughtful revisions to the visual delight of a lovely and ingeniously clever set design, a gift both to and from the genius we lost last month.
With its attention-getting gender-switching premise bringing a freshness and nuance that’s nothing short of near-miraculous for a much-revived 51-year-old musical, Elliott’s Company challenges Broadway’s current production of 1955’s Trouble in Mind as the most dizzying time-warp experience on stage this season. Like that Alice Childress play, this Company feels both absolutely of the moment and timeless.
Starring Katrina Lenk as the defiantly single Bobbie – in the original, of course, the bachelor Bobby,...
With its attention-getting gender-switching premise bringing a freshness and nuance that’s nothing short of near-miraculous for a much-revived 51-year-old musical, Elliott’s Company challenges Broadway’s current production of 1955’s Trouble in Mind as the most dizzying time-warp experience on stage this season. Like that Alice Childress play, this Company feels both absolutely of the moment and timeless.
Starring Katrina Lenk as the defiantly single Bobbie – in the original, of course, the bachelor Bobby,...
- 12/10/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Patti LuPone will miss this weekend’s performances of Broadway’s Company due to a non-Covid-related illness.
Press had been invited to both of Saturday’s performances – matinee and evening – but the production rescheduled the press nights for early next week after LuPone’s return. The actress also missed last night’s and tonight’s performances.
Opening night remains set for Thursday, December 9.
LuPone stars in the revival of the classic Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical, directed by Marianne Elliott, along with Katrina Lenk, Matt Doyle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Terence Archie, Etai Benson, Bobby Conte, Nikki Renée Daniels, Claybourne Elder, Greg Hildreth, Manu Narayan, and Rashidra Scott.
During last night’s performance, the show was briefly halted when a section of the moving set malfunctioned, prompting the evacuation from the stage of the performers. Tonight’s performance was to proceed as scheduled.
Press had been invited to both of Saturday’s performances – matinee and evening – but the production rescheduled the press nights for early next week after LuPone’s return. The actress also missed last night’s and tonight’s performances.
Opening night remains set for Thursday, December 9.
LuPone stars in the revival of the classic Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical, directed by Marianne Elliott, along with Katrina Lenk, Matt Doyle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Terence Archie, Etai Benson, Bobby Conte, Nikki Renée Daniels, Claybourne Elder, Greg Hildreth, Manu Narayan, and Rashidra Scott.
During last night’s performance, the show was briefly halted when a section of the moving set malfunctioned, prompting the evacuation from the stage of the performers. Tonight’s performance was to proceed as scheduled.
- 12/4/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Producers of Broadway’s Company have completed casting with the hiring of Manu Narayan, who takes over the role of Theo previously filled by Kyle Dean Massey.
Narayan’s Broadway credits include Gettin’ the Band Back Together, Bombay Dreams and Lincoln Center Theater’s My Fair Lady revival. He appeared in Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2019 Off Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along, like Company a classic Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical.
Narayan joins a production headed by Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone. Other principal cast members include Matt Doyle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Terence Archie, Etai Benson, Bobby Conte, Nikki Renée Daniels, Claybourne Elder, Greg Hildreth and Rashidra Scott.
Company, which was in previews when the Covid pandemic shutdown hit in March 2020, resumes performances Monday, Nov. 15 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, with an official opening on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Massey said in June that he would not return to the show,...
Narayan’s Broadway credits include Gettin’ the Band Back Together, Bombay Dreams and Lincoln Center Theater’s My Fair Lady revival. He appeared in Roundabout Theatre Company’s 2019 Off Broadway production of Merrily We Roll Along, like Company a classic Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical.
Narayan joins a production headed by Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone. Other principal cast members include Matt Doyle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Terence Archie, Etai Benson, Bobby Conte, Nikki Renée Daniels, Claybourne Elder, Greg Hildreth and Rashidra Scott.
Company, which was in previews when the Covid pandemic shutdown hit in March 2020, resumes performances Monday, Nov. 15 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, with an official opening on Thursday, Dec. 9.
Massey said in June that he would not return to the show,...
- 9/14/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Company, Marianne Elliott’s reimagined production of the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, will begin Broadway performances a month earlier than previously announced, with the new preview date now set for Monday, Nov. 15.
The official opening night is now Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, a full month earlier than the previously announced opening.
Producers today also confirmed the return of nearly the entire cast from the show’s shutdown-interrupted run in March 2020. A replacement for original cast member Kyle Dean Massey will be announced in the coming weeks, producers said.
In addition to Lenk and LuPone, the Company cast will include Matt Doyle as Jamie, Christopher Fitzgerald as David,...
The official opening night is now Thursday, Dec. 9 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, a full month earlier than the previously announced opening.
Producers today also confirmed the return of nearly the entire cast from the show’s shutdown-interrupted run in March 2020. A replacement for original cast member Kyle Dean Massey will be announced in the coming weeks, producers said.
In addition to Lenk and LuPone, the Company cast will include Matt Doyle as Jamie, Christopher Fitzgerald as David,...
- 7/6/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Kyle Dean Massey has announced that he will not return to the Broadway revival of Company when it resumes performances post-shutdown this December.
In a since-expired Instagram story, Massey, who, with husband Taylor Frey is expecting the couple’s first child this fall, wrote that he feels “very sad about withdrawing” from the Sondheim musical, but “I will be getting something pretty spectacular in return.”
“I loved getting to work with the entire group of creatives, actors, musicians and crew,” Massey wrote. “But as you may be aware, Taylor and I are expecting our first child this fall and I want to be 100% present for that.”
Company, the Marianne Elliott-directed revival of the classic Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, will resume performances at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Dec. 20, with an official opening on Jan. 9.
Prior to Broadway’s Covid...
In a since-expired Instagram story, Massey, who, with husband Taylor Frey is expecting the couple’s first child this fall, wrote that he feels “very sad about withdrawing” from the Sondheim musical, but “I will be getting something pretty spectacular in return.”
“I loved getting to work with the entire group of creatives, actors, musicians and crew,” Massey wrote. “But as you may be aware, Taylor and I are expecting our first child this fall and I want to be 100% present for that.”
Company, the Marianne Elliott-directed revival of the classic Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, will resume performances at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Dec. 20, with an official opening on Jan. 9.
Prior to Broadway’s Covid...
- 6/18/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Company, the Marianne Elliott-directed revival of the classic Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical starring Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, will resume performances at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre in December, producers announced today.
The production will being previews on Dec. 20, with an opening night planned for Jan. 9, 2022.
Company is a show about connecting, about the necessity of having other people in our lives,” Sondheim said in a statement. “This past year, with its isolation, has reminded us all of that need for togetherness, so I’m happy that Marianne Elliott’s startling and exhilarating production is coming back to Broadway.”
Tickets for the musical go on sale tomorrow. Company played nine preview performances before the March 12, 2020 Broadway shutdown.
As with the other shows announcing Fall returns – Come From Away, Six, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Mrs. Doubtfire and Clyde’s – Company will comply with Covid safety...
The production will being previews on Dec. 20, with an opening night planned for Jan. 9, 2022.
Company is a show about connecting, about the necessity of having other people in our lives,” Sondheim said in a statement. “This past year, with its isolation, has reminded us all of that need for togetherness, so I’m happy that Marianne Elliott’s startling and exhilarating production is coming back to Broadway.”
Tickets for the musical go on sale tomorrow. Company played nine preview performances before the March 12, 2020 Broadway shutdown.
As with the other shows announcing Fall returns – Come From Away, Six, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and Mrs. Doubtfire and Clyde’s – Company will comply with Covid safety...
- 5/10/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Monday, March 22, was Stephen Sondheim’s birthday, his 91st, and it came and went without one of the star-packed concert extravaganzas that marked previous milestones in the composer’s life, musical celebrations that were staged at Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center and are still racking up views on YouTube.
Even last year, as Covid-19 was in its first months of devastating New York City and had already scotched the planned opening night of the 50th anniversary Broadway production of Company –– an opening night that also would have marked the composer’s 90th birthday — the theater community came together, virtually and a month after the fact, to sing the great man’s songs in a remarkable, precedent-setting Zoom-style benefit event. Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Celebration was livestreamed on April 26 as a sort of pandemic rain date for Company‘s stolen night.
None of which is to say...
Even last year, as Covid-19 was in its first months of devastating New York City and had already scotched the planned opening night of the 50th anniversary Broadway production of Company –– an opening night that also would have marked the composer’s 90th birthday — the theater community came together, virtually and a month after the fact, to sing the great man’s songs in a remarkable, precedent-setting Zoom-style benefit event. Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Celebration was livestreamed on April 26 as a sort of pandemic rain date for Company‘s stolen night.
None of which is to say...
- 4/1/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The early weeks of spring 2020 and Broadway’s pandemic shutdown already seemed like a distant, bygone era by summertime. Initial hopes for a two- or three-week hiatus had morphed into talk of maybe a few months and then even that seemed like wishful thinking. Near the end of April, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, at the height of a newfound popularity built on the image of righteous truth-teller, openly mocked the possibility of an imminent Broadway reopening. “I wouldn’t use what Broadway thinks as a barometer of anything…,” he sniped at a press conference. New productions that had planned fall 2020 openings re-set their sights on winter or spring 2021, at least publicly. Within the theater community, private conversations and gut feelings were even darker.
Greg Hildreth, cast as Peter in the much-anticipated Broadway revival of the beloved Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical Company, remembers it this way: “Every time the...
Greg Hildreth, cast as Peter in the much-anticipated Broadway revival of the beloved Stephen Sondheim-George Furth musical Company, remembers it this way: “Every time the...
- 3/18/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
To hear the cast of Broadway’s Company tell it, the industry’s shutdown one year ago today was perhaps more shocking than surprising, arriving swiftly but maybe not swiftly enough. For at least a couple of the musical’s preview performances leading up to the city’s historic closing of March 12, 2020, the stage jitters had little to do with the usual pre-opening night nerves. In fact, the show was doing very well – the revival and its biggest star Patti LuPone had been a hit in London, Broadway performances with LuPone and an otherwise new American cast were falling into place, advance ticket sales were strong, audiences were delighted, and the spring Tony Award season had its most anticipated pairing in LuPone and The Band’s Visit‘s Katrina Lenk, one a true icon of the theater, the other one of two or three more recently arrived stars with the talent,...
- 3/12/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley, alongside Broadway superstar Audra McDonald, director Schele Williams, and Broadway Inspirational Voices’ Joseph Joubert and Michael McElroy, announced today that they have released a very special recording and music video of the beloved song “Georgia On My Mind” to mark the first day of voting for the January 5th Georgia Senate runoff elections.
The song, which premiered during Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight organization’s “Rock The Runoff” Virtual Concert, will help to raise funds and awareness for Fair Fight’s work to ensure that every eligible Georgian has the resources and information they need to vote in the January 5th runoff election.
The single is released by Broadway Records, and is available wherever digital music is sold and on BroadwayRecords.com. The video, which was directed by Schele Williams, is available for viewing via Fair Fight’s YouTube Page.
The song was recorded by...
The song, which premiered during Stacey Abrams’ Fair Fight organization’s “Rock The Runoff” Virtual Concert, will help to raise funds and awareness for Fair Fight’s work to ensure that every eligible Georgian has the resources and information they need to vote in the January 5th runoff election.
The single is released by Broadway Records, and is available wherever digital music is sold and on BroadwayRecords.com. The video, which was directed by Schele Williams, is available for viewing via Fair Fight’s YouTube Page.
The song was recorded by...
- 12/21/2020
- Look to the Stars
As we are now about halfway through the Broadway season, and there are currently nine productions of musicals set to open this spring. Could we be seeing any of them contend at this year’s Tony Awards? Below, we recap the plot of each musical as well as the awards history of its author, cast, creative types, the opening, and (where applicable) closing dates.
“West Side Story”
In the fifth Broadway revival of Arthur Laurents, Lenoard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim’s 1957 classic inspired by William Shakespeare’s famous play, “Romeo & Juliet,” this musical is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City. The story explores the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The Jets, a white gang, and the Sharks, who are immigrants from Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang’s leader,...
“West Side Story”
In the fifth Broadway revival of Arthur Laurents, Lenoard Bernstein, and Stephen Sondheim’s 1957 classic inspired by William Shakespeare’s famous play, “Romeo & Juliet,” this musical is set in the Upper West Side neighborhood of New York City. The story explores the rivalry between two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. The Jets, a white gang, and the Sharks, who are immigrants from Puerto Rico. Meanwhile, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang’s leader,...
- 1/28/2020
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Rashidra Scott (Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptations) has been cast in the role of Susan for Marianne Elliott’s upcoming Broadway revival of the Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical Company.
Scott will join a cast headed by Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, and will play opposite Greg Hildreth’s Peter as “the couple that seems to have the perfect marriage, until perfection proves impossible.”
Company will begin performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Monday, March 2, 2020 with an official opening night set for Sunday, March 22.
Elliott & Harper Productions and The Shubert Organization announced Scott’s hiring, completing principal casting. The principal cast, previously announced, also includes Matt Doyle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Terence Archie, Etai Benson, Nikki Renée Daniels, Claybourne Elder, Kyle Dean Massey and Bobby Conte Thornton. Casting for the ensemble will be announced in the coming weeks.
Scott’s other Broadway credits include Beautiful,...
Scott will join a cast headed by Katrina Lenk and Patti LuPone, and will play opposite Greg Hildreth’s Peter as “the couple that seems to have the perfect marriage, until perfection proves impossible.”
Company will begin performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Monday, March 2, 2020 with an official opening night set for Sunday, March 22.
Elliott & Harper Productions and The Shubert Organization announced Scott’s hiring, completing principal casting. The principal cast, previously announced, also includes Matt Doyle, Christopher Fitzgerald, Christopher Sieber, Jennifer Simard, Terence Archie, Etai Benson, Nikki Renée Daniels, Claybourne Elder, Kyle Dean Massey and Bobby Conte Thornton. Casting for the ensemble will be announced in the coming weeks.
Scott’s other Broadway credits include Beautiful,...
- 12/11/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The less you know about the Temptations, the more you’ll get out of “Ain’t Too Proud,” a finger-snapping, hand-clapping new jukebox musical passing through Los Angeles’ Ahmanson Theatre en route to Broadway, where it is scheduled to open at the Imperial next spring. This nearly-all-black show’s got a lot going for it, between the sheer quality of the beloved R&B vocal group’s catalog and director Des McAnuff’s experience with such material (including the Four Seasons tuner “Jersey Boys” and “Summer: The Donna Summer Musical”), and yet, considering that the Temptations — who are, incredibly enough, still touring — have several SoCal playdates this September, it’s hard to compete with the thrill of seeing the actual group in concert.
Of course, we could debate all day whether today’s Temptations are still the same Temptations that broke through in the ’60s and ’70s with such hits as “My Girl,...
Of course, we could debate all day whether today’s Temptations are still the same Temptations that broke through in the ’60s and ’70s with such hits as “My Girl,...
- 8/26/2018
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
A musical about the great Temptations is headed to Broadway. Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations, directed by Des McAnuff and produced by Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce, will begin performances at the Imperial Theatre in spring 2019.
The musical, which follows the classic Motown vocalists – and their signature dance moves – from “the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” had its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where it became the highest grossing production in that theater’s nearly 50-year history. The musical later broke the single-week box office record at Washington D.C.’s Eisenhower Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to producers.
Producers describe the show as the “story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal,” all playing out against a backdrop of civil unrest and set to Temptations classics like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,...
The musical, which follows the classic Motown vocalists – and their signature dance moves – from “the streets of Detroit to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame,” had its world premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre, where it became the highest grossing production in that theater’s nearly 50-year history. The musical later broke the single-week box office record at Washington D.C.’s Eisenhower Theater in the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to producers.
Producers describe the show as the “story of brotherhood, family, loyalty, and betrayal,” all playing out against a backdrop of civil unrest and set to Temptations classics like “My Girl,” “Just My Imagination,...
- 8/24/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.