What’s opening on Broadway this spring?

BY BETH WOJCIECHOWSKI
Web site Supervisor

This text will probably be printed in The Evaluate’s particular journal problem, set to be out there on campus beginning the week of April 24. 

After an autumn stuffed with many present closings because of the lingering financial struggles from Broadway’s closure in the course of the pandemic, Broadway has many new productions opening this spring, proper in time to be thought of for the 2023 Tony Awards, which will probably be broadcasted on June 11. With out additional ado, let’s pull again the curtain and discover this spring’s Broadway openings.

“Parade”

The primary revival of the musical “Parade” starring Michaela Diamond and Tony-winner Ben Platt opened on the Bernard B. Jacobs theater on March 16 to a standing-room-only crowd and rave critiques. The musical facilities across the real-life 1913 trial of Leo Frank, a Jewish man who was accused of raping and killing a 13-year-old lady who works on the manufacturing facility he manages. The manufacturing showcases the misinformation and corrupt testimonies given in the course of the trial, and the eventual lynching of Frank by an offended mob.

The musical is extra pertinent than ever because it offers with antisemitism, which is a matter that has grown steadily in america previously few years, in line with PBS. Regardless of the darkish subject material, “Parade” is sort of hopeful and focuses on preventing towards prejudice. The musical additionally options an unique rating by Tony Award successful composer Jason Robert Brown, who additionally composed the hit musical “The Final 5 Years.” “Parade” is a restricted engagement on Broadway, and will probably be closing its 18-week run this August.

“Sweeney Todd” 

“Sweeney Todd” first opened on Broadway in 1979 and has seen tons of revivals on the West Finish (the U.Ok.’s model of Broadway) and each on and off Broadway within the years since. The musical is ready in Victorian-era London and facilities round Sweeney Todd, who’s known as  “The Demon Barber of Fleet Avenue,” and who makes use of his razor to kill unfortunate prospects at his barbershop. In a sick flip, Sweeney Todd sends the our bodies of his victims to pie store proprietor Mrs. Lovett who, predictably, bakes the victims into her pies. The hilariously macabre musical is written by the notorious Stephen Sondheim, and has received quite a few awards in its 44 years. 

The 2023 revival stars singer Josh Groban as Sweeney Todd and Tony-winning actress Annaleigh Ashford as Mrs. Lovett. Jordan Fisher, recognized for his previous Broadway roles of Evan in “Pricey Evan Hansen” and Laurens/Phillip in “Hamilton,” and Gaten Matarazzo, often called Dustin Henderson in Netflix’s “Stranger Issues,” star alongside Groban. The musical has been in previews on the Lunt-Fontanne Theater since Feb. 28 and formally opened on March 26. This revival of the musical includes a solid of over 25 individuals and a 26-piece orchestra. 

“As soon as Upon a One Extra Time”

As evidenced by the title, this new musical completely options music from the one and solely, Britney Spears. This present is totally new to Broadway, and facilities round a Disney movie-esque fairytale world. Nevertheless, not like the fairytales that the present is predicated on, this musical reveals the heroines of the fairytales being modified by a feminist awakening and discovering their very own voices – all to the soundtrack of Britney Spears’ best hits. The musical is projected to open in previews in Might on the Marquis Theater.

“New York, New York”

Based mostly on the Seventies Martin Scorsese movie with the identical title, the musical “New York, New York” is ready in New York Metropolis proper after the top of World Conflict II and focuses on aspiring artists and musicians in the course of the time interval. Whereas the musical does function some extensively recognized pre-existing songs akin to “New York, New York,” it additionally highlights model new songs written by Tony-Winner Lin-Manuel Miranda. The musical started previews on the St. James Theater on March 24 and will probably be formally opening on April 26. 

“Dangerous Cinderella”

“Dangerous Cinderella” is a brand new musical by “The Phantom of the Opera” composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. “Dangerous Cinderella” is a contemporary tackle the basic fairytale “Cinderella,” and includes a gothic cinderella because the city outcast, who the fairy godmother offers a cosmetic surgery makeover to be able to win over Prince Charming. Nevertheless, because the makeover disappears at midnight, Cinderella should notice the true that means of magnificence. 

The musical is the primary new Andrew Lloyd Webber musical to come back to Broadway in virtually 30 years, following the success of “The Phantom of the Opera,” which is, regardless of closing on April 16, Broadway’s longest-running present. “Dangerous Cinderella” opened on the Imperial Theatre on March 23.

With last-minute tickets ranging at a median of $20 off the total worth, a pair hour practice or automotive experience into the town can enable for college college students to see a present.