Big name actors and actresses on Broadway isn’t something new, necessarily; Humphrey Bogart, Liza Minnelli, and Nathan Lane are just a few well-known stars who’ve starred in a Broadway show (or many) and still maintained Hollywood celebrity status.
But this year feels extra star-studded. There’s something kind of exciting about seeing your favorite celebrities take on the stage. For one thing, they’re right there instead of on a television or movie screen. For another, live acting has its challenges, and people always wonder how stars will fare.
Check out some of the Hollywood stars we’re excited to see on Broadway in 2013.
Tom Hanks
About the actor: Show me a person who doesn’t like Tom Hanks, and I’ll show you a liar. It’s not enough that he’s been in some of the most classic romantic comedies of all time, like "You’ve Got Mail" and "Sleepless in Seattle," he’s also been in movies like "Big," "Forrest Gump," "Saving Private Ryan," "The Green Mile," and "Cast Away." That’s right — Tom Hanks made us feel for a beaten up volleyball because he’s that good. Oh, and, he was also Woody in the "Toy Story" franchise. No big deal.
Broadway Show: Lucky Guy
Synopsis: It's a Nora Ephron play, so it'll probably be good. Tom Hanks plays real-life journalist Mike McAlary, who worked for the New York Daily News police beat. His involvement with police work didn't stop there, as he went on to write a book, contribute to a movie script, and even won a Pulitzer Prize in 1988 for his coverage of police brutalization. The show documents McAlary's life up through his untimely death in 1998.
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Even if you've never stepped foot inside of a theater, you've probably heard of Wicked, The Lion King, and The Phantom of the Opera. If you’re a bit of a theater geek, there are probably a slew of other titles that you find recognizable, including Jersey Boys, The Book of Mormon, and Avenue Q.
Those well-known titles are frequently among the top sellers here at TicketNetwork, as evidenced by Mike’s monthly Top 10 events. Of course, those shows arguably rise to the top because they tell a moving story, the actors are fantastic, and it strikes the right combination of music, costumes, and mood — but that doesn't mean worthy theater shows stop and end with the biggest names.
What about some shows you may not have heard of, but still might be worth checking out?
My Name is Asher Lev
Synopsis: My Name is Asher Lev is about a young artist who is struggling to reconcile his artistic talent with his father’s desire for him to grow up and become something "useful." It doesn't help that his Jewish community in 1950s Brooklyn is against his art, too. If he’s not spending time working on religious art, they ask, then what’s the point?
Why I’m interested: The show combats an issue that I think many can sympathize with: do you pursue what you love or do you go after what your parents want? There are only three actors in this entire play — Ari Brand is Asher, while Mark Nelson and Jenny Bacon play his parents, plus all the other male and female roles — which I think makes it even more amazing. Tickets for this show are available through May.
What critics say: The Huffington Post’s Michael Glitz called the show "one of the best shows of the year". Stumbling upon Ari Brand’s talent, he wrote, "makes you know how that art dealer felt when she first saw Asher's work. It doesn't happen often." Scott Brown, of Vulture, wrote that My Name is Asher Lev is "spare, piercing, and beautiful."
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Disney's long-running Broadway hit Mary Poppins may be say closing to make room for Aladdin, the Associated Press reports.
Mary Poppins, which opened back in 2006 and has since toured the country, will have its last show March 3, 2013, at the New Amsterdam Theater. Right now, tickets for the tour are available through June.
But Disney is said to replace the production with Aladdin, based on the 1992 animated film of the same name. The movie is set in fictional Agrabah and featuring the story of peasant-turned-prince Aladdin, The Genie, Abu, the flying carpet, Princess Jasmine, Rajah, the Sultan, Iago, and Jafar.
AP writes,
The show is part of Disney Theatrical Productions' five big Broadway hits from seven attempts since 1994 — a profitable list that includes "The Lion King" and the more recent "Newsies." That's way above the 3-in-10 average recoupment of most Broadway shows. "Mary Poppins" routinely grosses over $1 million every week despite the presence of touring versions.
When it closes, it will have been performed 2,619 times and have been seen by more than 4 million people. It recouped its initial Broadway investment within a year, and has gone on to be among the top 10 grossing shows for the past six years and top five for attendance. It will rank as the 22nd longest-running show in Broadway history.
I'm stoked to see how Disney will pull off the magic carpet ride, a talking parrot, and The Genie's ever-changing forms. I love this film, and I think it'll translate amazingly to the stage. How quickly will you snatch up Aladdin tickets? Because I'm thinking about camping out in line. What say you?
As the days in November wound down, there was one thing that I kept hearing people say, "I can't believe its almost December already." Well, you can eliminate the "almost" from that statement because December is here with all the cold weather and holiday cheer you can handle.
For a lot of us, December also marks one of the busiest times of the entire year between holiday shopping, visiting family, decorating... well, you get the idea. So, if you are looking for something fun to do in between all the holiday chaos, here are some of the top events that are coming up in this month:
Concerts
The Rolling Stones: The aging rockers celebrate their 50th anniversary with three shows, including December 8 in Brooklyn and December 13 and 15 in Newark.
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Shania Twain in Las Vegas: Shania Twain begins her two year residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on December 1.
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Trans-Siberian Orchestra: TSO will continue its holiday schedule this month before concluding on December 30.
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Other Concerts in December:
- Bands, including Coldplay, Further and the Zac Brown Band, will be playing shows on New Year's Eve.
- Bryan Adams has a few shows in December. They start on December 10 in Tulsa, OK.
- Artist with tours ending in December include Aerosmith and Cheap Trick; Journey; 3 Doors Down and Daughtry; Eric Church; Leonard Cohen; Carrie Underwood; and Dave Matthews Band.
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It sure doesn't feel like the end of October, does it? We here in southern New England are getting back into the swing of things after Hurricane Sandy flew through yesterday. Meanwhile, our friends in southern New York and the New Jersey coast are dealing with the aftermath, trying to piece things back together (and get the subways running again).
With that reality, it is possible that some of the productions in the theater section below may change their opening dates or have one or more nights go dark, depending on how fast everything in the city can get fixed. Be sure to check the Broadway Leauge's website for updates.
Concerts
The Who: Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, and the band are heading to the stage for their first full-scale tour since 2007, playing their classic album Quadrophenia.
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Trans-Sbierian Orchestra: The rock opera band is back for its annual holiday tour. Two national tours begin on November 15 and run until December 30.
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Paul McCartney: The rocker will visit North America for several dates in November, beginning with a stop in St. Louis on the 11th.
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Other Concerts in October:
- The Dave Matthews Band begins their 2012 Winter Tour on November 30.
- Aerosmith is beginning the second leg of their Global Warming Tour on November 8. Cheap Trick will join up for all shows. The tour will end on December 13.
- 3 Doors Down and Daughtry are going on tour beginning November 18. P.O.D. will also join the two headliners for all but a few select dates.
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