FALL BROADWAY PREVIEW: From ‘Chaplin’ to Patti LuPone to Frankie Valli to Jessica Chastain
The fall Broadway season has officially arrived. Light up the marquees. Grab those tickets. Head to midtown Manhattan for some stargazing.
Note to readers: Heavy discounts are available for most new shows on the Rialto. Check out the TKTS booth in Times Square for half-off tickets (day of performance only) or www.broadwaybox.com for more discounts.
• Chaplin — The new Broadway musical about the life of Charlie Chaplin opened last night, Sept. 10, at the Barrymore Theatre. The open-ended engagement stars Rob McClure (Where’s Charley?) and Christiane Noll (Ragtime). Tickets cost $66.50-$135.50. Premium tickets cost $185.50-$195.50. Rush tickets, priced at $35, available at the box office on the day of the performance only.
• An Enemy of the People — Political will and personal ethics are put to the test in the new thriller from Manhattan Theatre Club. An Enemy of the People stars veteran actors Richard Thomas (Democracy) and Boyd Gaines (Gypsy). Tickets cost $67-$120 for the limited engagement, which runs through Nov. 11. Student rush tickets cost $27.
• Grace — Hollywood A-listers Paul Rudd (My Idiot Brother), Michael Shannon (Take Shelter), Ed Asner (The Mary Tyler Moore Show) and Kate Arrington star in this new play from Craig Wright at the Cort Theatre. Tickets cost $32-$132 for the limited engagement, which runs through Jan. 6. Premium seats are available for $175-$199. Rush tickets ($30-$35) are available as well.
• Cyrano de Bergerac — After the successful revival of Cyrano with Kevin Kline and Jennifer Garner a few years ago, it comes as a surprise that Roundabout is bringing out the “nose” once again. But then again, this time we get to see Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge (La Cage Aux Folles) in the title role. Tickets cost $42-$137, with discounts available for younger theatergoers (check out Roundabout’s HipTix program). Previews begin Sept. 14, with opening night set for Oct. 11. The limited engagement, playing at the American Airlines Theatre on 42nd Street, concludes Nov. 25.
• Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — The Booth Theatre will be home to the celebrated revival of Edward Albee’s masterpiece, thanks to Chicago’s world-renowned Steppenwolf Theatre. Tracy Letts hangs up his playwrighting pen and steps onto the stage (he wrote August: Osage County and Superior Donuts, among other plays). He’ll be joined by Amy Morton, another veteran of Osage County. Previews begin Sept. 27. Opening is set for Oct. 13. The three-hour production is on sale until Jan. 27. Tickets cost $67-$132, with premium seating as high as $227.
• Annie — The red-headed orphan is back on Broadway, with previews beginning at the Palace Theatre on Oct. 3. Opening night is set for Nov. 3. Tony winner Katie Finneran (Miss Hannigan) joins Anthony Warlow (Daddy Warbucks) and Lilla Crawford (Annie). Expect this one to be a hot seller. Tickets, which can be secured through Ticketmaster, cost $69-$129. Premium pricing is also available.
• The Heiress — Hollywood “It” Girl Jessica Chastain heads over to the Walter Kerr Theater for a revival of this play by Ruth and Augustus Goetz. Also starring: Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), David Strathairn (Alphas) and Judith Ivey. Moisés Kaufman directs. Tickets, priced $50-$135, are on sale through Feb. 3. Note: Balcony seats must be purchased at the box office. Premium pricing is also available. Previews begin in October, with opening set for November.
• Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson — Carolee Carmello, one of the powerhouse voices of Broadway, returns to the stage for this new musical biography. Kathie Lee Gifford provides the book and lyrics, with David Pomeranz writing the music. It’s a rare new Broadway musical this season. Previews begin Oct. 13 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Tickets cost $57-$127.
• Glengarry Glen Ross — David Mamet. Al Pacino. Bobby Cannavale. Jeremy Shamos. Richard Schiff. David Harbour. Enough said. Performances will run for only 10 weeks (tickets will fly at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre). Previews from Oct. 16. Opening is Nov. 11. Limited engagement ends Dec. 30. Tickets run $72-$157, with premium seats available.
• The Mystery of Edwin Drood — Roundabout Theater Company’s other Broadway offering is a whodunit comedy starring Chita Rivera and Jim Norton. Previews begin Oct. 19. Opening is set for Nov. 13. The show closes Feb. 13. Tickets run $42-$147, and they can be purchased at Studio 54 or online.
• Rebecca — The long-awaited new musical, based on the classic novel, will premiere at the Broadhurst Theatre this fall. The cast includes Jill Paice, Ryan Silverman and James Barbour. Tickets run $47-$142.
Other shows this fall:
The Performers — Starring Henry Winkler, Alicia Silverstone, Daniel Breaker and Cheyenne Jackson at the Longacre Theatre
Dead Accounts — A new play by Theresa Rebeck, starring Katie Holmes and Norbert Leo Butz, at the Music Box Theatre
A Christmas Story, The Musical — The traveling production lands on Broadway for the first time, at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre
Golden Boy — Lincoln Center Theater’s revival of the classic play by Clifford Odets. The last time Bartlett Sher directed Odets at the Belasco Theatre, audiences were treated to a first-rate revival of Awake and Sing!
Elf The Musical — The holiday favorite returns to the Al Hirschfeld Theatre
The Anarchist — David Mamet. Patti LuPone. Debra Winger. Enough said. Playing at the Golden Theatre
Special engagements:
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas — Once a regular stop on Broadway, the holiday show will set up Whoville at the Theater at MSG
Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons — The true “Jersey Boy” will perform with his band for seven performances at the Broadway Theatre
Lewis Black: Running on Empty — Lewis Black arrives on Broadway for several October dates
Shows that remain on Broadway:
The Book of Mormon
Bring it On: The Musical
Chicago
Evita
The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess (through Sept. 23)
Jersey Boys
The Lion King
Mamma Mia!
Mary Poppins
Newsies
Nice Work If You Can Get It
Once
Peter and the Starcatcher
The Phantom of the Opera
Rock of Ages
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
War Horse
Wicked
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
