With “Wicked” and “Death Becomes Her” topping theatergoers’ attention in a busy and starry week, Paul Tazewell – the costume designer for both — is offering lessons in the art of storytelling through fabric. (See video below, along with one of the Wicked musical number “What Is This Feeling”)
There are other lessons offered by “Wicked” and “The Piano Lesson,” two films adapted from Broadway theater, both of which were released this weekend — Stephen Schwartz’s musical in cinemas, directed by John Chu; August Wilson’s play on Netflix, directed by Malcolm Washington (with the participation of every other member of Denzel Washington’s family.)
Wicked Movie vs Stage Musical
The Piano Lesson on Netflix. A lesson in film vs theater
Dressing for the Emerald City in NYTimes)
The Week in New York Theater Reviews
Death Becomes Her
“Death Becomes Her,” a stylishly macabre Broadway musical comedy about a love/hate triangle, has much the same plot, catty repartee, and even some of the same comically gruesome special effects as the 1992 Meryl Streep/Goldie Hawn/Bruce Willis movie on which it is based. Although not as starry a draw as their cinematic predecessors, Megan Hilty, Jennifer Simard and Christopher Sieber — all Broadway favorites — do a fine job in the principal roles, and there are several memorable supporting players. But if I’m being honest, one theater artist stood out for me: Paul Tazewell, the costume designer….t’s Tazewell’s costumes that seemed most fully to express the tone of the show: over-the-top but simultaneously making fun of how over-the-top it is — and having fun doing so.
Swept Away
In “Swept Away,” which is loosely inspired by the grim true story of a 19th century shipwreck, a quartet of magnetic performers work passionately to deliver the mellifluous folk-rock score culled from a decade’s worth of songs composed by the popular indie band the Avett Brothers. The production is marked by some stunningly staged moments that showcase the work of the lighting and set designers. But if the creative team is hoping that this dark musical will provoke deep questions — about the ethics of survival; about guilt and redemption — I was left with a more practical question: Is now the right time or Broadway the right place to mount such a bleak and basic book?
True Love Forever
Third Rail Projects is back, with the most adventurous expedition yet – into our own heart.“True Love Forever,” a literally lovely show created and directed by Jeannine Willett, one of the three artistic directors of Third Rail Projects, invites audience members to explore our personal experiences with love – inventively, memorably, sometimes uncomfortably.
Babe
Marisa Tomei, who got her Oscar for portraying a super-competent woman who solves the case for her somewhat-clownish lawyer-boyfriend in “My Cousin Vinny,” has a new role Off-Broadway in “Babe,” as Abigail, a super-competent record producer who has helped turn raw talent into rock stars for her somewhat creepy boss and mentor, Gus. For playwright Jessica Goldberg, Abigail’s competence is apparently not enough. Goldberg’s play paints an ambivalent portrait of Tomei’s character in a world reshaped by the #MeToo movement.
The Week in New York Theater News
Blue Man Group, which for more than three decades and 17,000 performances has presented a trio of blue painted bald men engaging in performance art and beating drums, will conclude its New York run on February 2. (NY Times)
Fast, but not a surprise: Five days after opening, “Tammy Faye” announced it will play its final performance December 8, after 24 preview and 29 regular performances
The Arts After the Election: What Happens Now?
Highlights and complete video of Webinar by arts advocates organized by Americans for the Arts
Broadway 2024-2025 Season
“All in: Comedy about Love” finally has an opening date. It will be the last Broadway show of 2024, opening December 22nd. Also: Nick Kroll joins the cast in January.
Jeremy Jordan to star as trapped miner in Adam Guettel’s musical “Floyd Collins,”, opening April 21 at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont. Other principal cast: Jason Gotay, Lizzy McAlpine, Taylor Trensch (pictured), Sean Allan Krill, Marc Kudisch , Wade McCollum, Jessica Molaskey, Cole Vaughan
Joining Idina Menzel in the cast of “Redwood,” which opens at Broadway’s Nederlander Theater Feb 14: De’Adre Aziza (Passing Strange), Michael Park (Dear Evan Hansen), Zachary Noah Piser (Dear Evan Hansen), and Khaila Wilcoxon (SIX)
The Spring season of theater at PacNYC:
Murielle Borst-Tarrant’s Tipi Tales from the Stoop (Jan 8 –11), Jaha Koo’s Cuckoo (Jan 16-18), Urban Bush Women’s SCAT!… (Feb 5-8), The Centre for the Less Good Idea’s African Exodus (Feb 27-March 2), Reginald Dwayne Betts’ March Forth (March 4), Alix Dufresne & Étienne Lepage’s Malaise dans la civilisation (March 13-22).
Adding to the feminist reappraisal of Arthur Miller — after the recent production of A Woman Among Women and the announcement of a Broadway production in the Spring of “John Proctor is the Villain” — there will be a revival of “Mrs. Loman,” the 2022 play by Barbara Cassidy that’s a sequel to Death of a Salesman, opening in Feb at Theatre Row.
The Mint Theater Company’s latest excavation: “Garside’s Career,” a 1919 political satire by Harold Brighouse about a silver-tongued politician, at Theatre Row Feb 1 to March 15. “You don’t know the glorious sensation of holding a crowd in the hollow of your hand, mastering it, doing what you like with it.”
A memorial celebration of Gavin Creel will be held at the St. James Theatre (246 West 44th St, NYC) on Monday, December 2nd at 4:00PM EST. The event will be open to the public. MCC will host live streaming access on their YouTube channel in the US at 4:00PM EST:
Creel, 48, died on September 30
