Broadway Journal

CRITIC ISHERWOOD EXITS TIMES; PAPER SEEKS REPLACEMENT

February 7, 2017 by Philip Boroff

UPDATED THROUGHOUT: The New York Times is seeking a full-time theater critic to replace Charles Isherwood.

Times spokeswoman Eileen Murphy confirmed Isherwood’s departure as the No. 2 theater critic, but said the paper doesn’t discuss personnel matters. Isherwood joined the Times from Variety in 2004. He declined to comment.

The position has been one of the most influential in theater journalism. Its current minimum salary is $2,075 a week, said Grant Glickson, the president of the NewsGuild of New York and a staff assistant and head of the bargaining unit at the Times. That’s just above the Broadway performer minimum of $1,974, according to Actors’ Equity.

ECONOMICAL ‘IN TRANSIT’ SEEKS BOOST FROM CLINTON ENDORSEMENT

February 2, 2017 by Philip Boroff

In Transit, the low-grossing new musical that Bill and Hillary Clinton saw Wednesday night, is losing less money than you might think.

As Broadway’s first a cappella musical, it doesn’t employ musicians, besides 11 hardworking onstage actor-vocalists, including one who does percussion. (Steven “HeaveN” Cantor and Chesney Snow alternate in the role of “Boxman.”)

According to a budget filed over the summer with the office of New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, to pay expenses the production needs minimum weekly sales of $439,000. (The figure includes credit card commissions and other extras that count toward Broadway League official grosses.) Lead producer Janet Rosen said in an interview that because the show was budgeted conservatively, actual breakeven is below $400,000. Sales last week were $338,000.

OSCAR BOUNCE FOR ‘DEAR EVAN HANSEN’?

January 30, 2017 by Philip Boroff

DEH Ben Platt 0030 - Photo Credit Matthew Murphy — Ben Platt/photo by Matthew Murphy

Dear Evan Hansen, the new show by the lyricists of La La Land, had a record week on Broadway as their movie musical got 14 Academy Award nominations.

With music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, Broadway’s Dear Evan Hansen is about an anxious high school boy (played by Ben Platt) whose life changes after a lie he tells about a troubled classmate goes viral. Steven Levenson wrote the book. Sales for the week ending Jan. 29 increased by 1% to $1.1 million. That’s its best showing for an eight-performance week since it began previews on Nov. 14. The last week of 2016 was higher, when Dear Evan Hansen and most other shows held nine performances to capitalize on the influx of tourists.

THE GRANT WHERE IT HAPPENS: THE N.E.A. SEEDS BROADWAY

January 26, 2017 by Philip Boroff

The Band's Visit at the Atlantic/Ahron Foster — The Band’s Visit/Ahron Foster

CORRECTION: This story originally referred to a pro-N.E.A. tweet by Rex Tillerson, U.S. Secretary of State designate at the time. A Trump transition official later said the Twitter account was fake.

Hamilton, Next to Normal, War Horse and South Pacific have something in common besides acclaim and awards. They share a patron in the federal government.

The National Endowment for the Arts, which may face an existential threat from the new administration in Washington, has subsidized the development of many of the most praised shows on Broadway and off-Broadway. (See below for a list of nonprofits that have received notable NEA grants.)

HISTORIC BROADWAY SEASON PRODUCES MUSICAL DELUGE

January 20, 2017 by Philip Boroff

EXCLUSIVE: For anyone in need of a diversion, Broadway is presenting its busiest season for musicals in 36 years.

Nineteen new musicals and revivals have opened or are scheduled to open through April 27, the cut-off for Tony Award eligibility. That’s the biggest tally since 1980-81, according to the Broadway League. If all 19 arrive, 2016-17 will have the most musicals since Ronald Reagan was first sworn in as President.

Without an early Hamilton-scale blockbuster, the competition for theatergoers and Tony Awards should be robust. There are constraints on how much demand can rise to meet supply. In recent seasons, about 15 percent of all seats have gone unsold. The average musical customer sees just four a year, according to the Broadway League’s demographic study, regardless of how many are playing. And of the 13 new musicals this season, five at most will be nominated for best musical and guaranteed a performance slot on the Tony telecast in June.

BRYAN CRANSTON ON DECK FOR ‘DAMN YANKEES’ REVIVAL

January 6, 2017 by Philip Boroff

Cranston in ‘All the Way’/Evgenia Eliseeva

EXCLUSIVE: A star of the new heyday of television is taking a swing at a golden age musical.

Bryan Cranston, the Breaking Bad actor who loves baseball and theater, is in talks to headline Damn Yankees, people familiar with the discussions said.

Jeffrey Richards leads a team of producers developing it for 2018. Richards enhanced (or subsidized) an Encores! revival of the show at New York City Center in 2008. Kathleen Marshall is to direct and choreograph Damn Yankees on Broadway.

HELLO MIDLER! ‘DOLLY’ INTRODUCES $525 TICKET

November 29, 2016 by Philip Boroff

The producer of Hello, Dolly! starring Bette Midler recently raised its top ticket to $525, the most expensive seat on Broadway that isn’t for Hamilton.

Introduced after runaway advance sales, it’s the biggest price ever for a musical revival. As of a few weeks ago, Dolly’s costliest ticket on Telecharge or at the box office was $425. But like Hamilton, it’s exploding on the resale market. Prime Dolly tickets on StubHub exceed $2,000, with seventh row center offered for over $5,000, with fees.

BROADWAY ON TRUMP: RESISTANCE ISN’T FUTILE

November 14, 2016 by Philip Boroff

Broadway’s unofficial post-election strategy: hope for the best, prepare for the worst.

Citing Donald Trump’s campaign statements, commercials and recent appointments, many theater artists — including actors, writers and producers — fear that as president he’ll curtail civil liberties, accelerate climate change and undermine the nation’s moral authority and standing in the world.

BROADWAY RECOILS AT TRUMP UPSET

November 9, 2016 by Philip Boroff

Broadway performers and writers, who lampooned Donald Trump and his wife during the presidential campaign and raised millions for Hillary Clinton, expressed despair and defiance as the developer and reality TV performer pulled off what Politico called the biggest upset in United States history. Continue Reading

PATTI LUPONE, JESSE TYLER FERGUSON DERIDE TRUMP AS ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE BLASTS COMMERCIAL

November 5, 2016 by Philip Boroff

UPDATE WITH ADL statement: Patti LuPone and Jesse Tyler Ferguson have taken themselves out of the running for a Presidential Medal of Freedom in a Donald Trump administration.

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