The 1997-98 Broadway season began June 1. As the fall rush of plays and musicals go into rehearsal, here is how the production schedule is shaping up. Proposed shows have been divided into categories, based on how firm their bookings are. Note that, in contrast to recent seasons, musicals seem to be scheduled early- or mid-season, rather than clustered at the end.
The schedule is subject -- in fact, virtually guaranteed -- to change. But if all these productions were to open, the season would consist of 10 new musicals, five new plays, five musical revivals, five play revivals and five miscellaneous (revues, solo shows or specialty acts).
ALREADY OPENED
These are shows that are running now and will be in cosideration for the 1998 Tony Award nominations.
FOREVER TANGO: Dance revue. Opened June 19. Scheduled to run through January. Walter Kerr Theatre. (212) 239-6200. 1776: Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Sherman Edwards/Peter Stone musical. Directed by Scott Ellis. Opened Aug. 14. Limited run through Nov. 9. Criterion Stage Right Theatre. (212) 869-8400.
DEFINITE
These are shows that have secured opening dates and booked a theatre. In several instances, tickets are already on sale.
SIDE SHOW: New musical by Henry Krieger (Dreamgirls) and Bill Russell, about a pair of Siamese twins in vaudeville. Starring Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner. Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom. Begins previews Sept. 19. Opens Oct. 16. Richard Rodgers Theatre. Tickets on sale now: (212) 307-4100. Outside NY metro area: (800) 755-4000. See story in Theatre News
TRIUMPH OF LOVE: New musical starring Susan Egan, Betty Buckley, F. Murray Abraham and Elayne Boosler. Based on the Marivaux comedy. Book by James Magruder. Music by Jeffrey Stock. Lyrics by Susan Birkenhead. Previews begin Sept. 23. Opens Oct. 23. Royale Theatre. Tickets on sale now at (212) 239-6200, outside metro NY: (800) 447-7400. You can also order tickets on Playbill On-Line. Royale box office opens Sept. 15. See story in Theatre News
PROPOSALS: New comedy by Neil Simon, starring Ron Rifkin, Kelly Bishop, and L. Scott Caldwell. Directed by Joe Mantello. Previews begin Oct. 29. Opens Nov. 6. Broadhurst Theatre. Tickets go on sale in September. See story in Theatre News
THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL: New musical based on the novel by Baroness Orczy. Music by Frank Wildhorn of Jekyll & Hyde; book and lyrics by Nan Knighton. Directed by Peter Hunt. Previews begin Oct. 7. Opens Nov. 9. Minskoff Theatre. Tickets on sale now: (212) 307-4100. Outside NY metro area: (800) 755-4000. Minskoff box office will open Sept. 8. See story in Theatre News
JACKIE: Gip Hoppe's farcical play about late first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Previews: Oct. 10. Opens Nov. 10. Belasco Theatre. Tickets on sale now at (212) 239-6200, outside metro NY: (800) 447-7400. See story in Theatre News
THE LION KING: Stage adaptation of Disney animated musical, with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice. Directed by Julie Taymor. Previews Oct. 15. Opens Nov. 13. New Amsterdam Theatre. Tickets on sale now: (212) 307-4100. Outside NY metro area: (800) 755-4000. See story in Theatre News
STREET CORNER SYMPHONY: Revue of 1960s and '70s soul music, conceived and staged by Marion J. Caffey. Previews begin Oct. 23. Opens Nov. 17. Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Box office not open yet. See story in Theatre News
IVANOV: Kevin Kline stars in a revival of Anton Chekhov's drama, presented by Lincoln Center Theatre. Previews: Oct. 23. Opens Nov. 20. Limited run through Jan. 3, 1998. Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Tickets go on sale Sept. 28 at the box office and at (212) 239-6200, outside metro NY: (800) 447-7400. See story in Theatre News
THE CHERRY ORCHARD: Revival of Anton Chekhov's drama, presented by Sovremennik Theatre of Moscow. Stars Marina Neyolova, Yelena Yakovleva, Valentin Gaft, Igor Kvasha and Boris Dyachenko. Oct. 29-Nov. 9. Martin Beck Theatre. (212) 239-6200, outside metro NY: (800) 447-7400.
EUGENE ONEGIN: Moscow's Novaya Opera Theatre presents Tchaikovsky's opera, staged by artistic director Evgeny Kolobov with 55 singers and a 60-piece orchestra. Nov. 19-30. Martin Beck Theatre. (212) 239-6200, outside metro NY: (800) 447-7400.
A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE: Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Arthur Miller's play, directed by Michael Mayer and starring Anthony LaPaglia (The Rose Tattoo). Previews Nov. 25. Opens Dec. 14. Runs through Feb. 1. Criterion Stage Right Theatre. (212) 869-8400. See story in Theatre News
THE SUNSHINE BOYS: National Actors Theatre revival of Neil Simon's comedy, starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. Previews begin Nov. 9. Opening TBA. Lyceum Theatre. Tickets not yet on sale. See story in Theatre News
THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK: James Lapine directs a revival of the 1955 Frances Goodrich/Albert Hackett drama starring Natalie Portman, Linda Lavin, George Hearn, Sophie Hayden, Austin Pendleton and Harris Yulin. Previews begin Nov. 21. Opens Dec. 4 at the Music Box. See story in Theatre News
THE CAPEMAN: Musical with music by Paul Simon, lyrics by Simon and Derek Walcott, book by Walcott. Stars Ruben Blades and Marc Anthony. Previews Dec. 1, 1997. Opens Jan. 8, 1998. Marquis Theatre. Tickets on sale now: (212) 307-4100. Outside NY metro area: (800) 755-4000. See story in Theatre News
RAGTIME: New musical with score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, libretto by Terrence McNally, based on the E.L. Doctorow novel. Directed by Frank Galati. Choreographed by Graciela Daniele. Previews Dec. 26, 1997. Opens Jan. 18, 1998 Ford Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets on sale now: (212) 307-4100. Outside NY metro area: (800) 755-4000. See story in Theatre News
THE SOUND OF MUSIC: Revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein musical directed by Susan H. Schulman and reportedly starring Rebecca Luker. Previews Feb. 6. Opens March 12 at the Martin Beck. See story in Theatre News
JUST WAITING FOR A THEATRE
These are shows that have secured opening dates and/or have financing in place, but are waiting for a suitable theatre to become available.
All in this category have now booked theatres.
PROBABLE
These are shows that have been announced for Broadway, but have not secured opening dates or a theatre.
HIGH SOCIETY: Stage adaptation of the Cole Porter film musical High Society, based on Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story. Produced by Dodgers Productions; directed by Christopher Renshaw. The has been adapted by Arthur Kopit. Opens late 1997 or early 1998 at a theatre TBA. See story in Theatre News
GOLDEN CHILD: New drama by Henry David Hwang, directed by James Lapine. Winter 1998 previews, opening and theatre TBA. See story in Theatre News
THE HERBAL BED: Royal Shakespeare Company production of Peter Whelan's play about the trial of Shakespeare's daughter. Theatre, previews and opening TBA. See story in Theatre News
ART: U.S. premiere of Yasmina Reza's international hit drama. Previews begin Feb. 12. Opens March 1. Royale Theatre (all tentative). See story in Theatre News
POSSIBLE
These are shows that have been mentioned in print for Broadway, or which will have major non-New York engagements that could turn into transfers within the 1997-98 time frame.
FREAK: Writer/actor John Leguizamo in a new one-man show, subtitled "A Semi-Demi-Quasi-Pseudo Autobiography (His Most Dangerous Work Yet)." Fall previews and opening TBA. Cort Theatre (tentative). See story in Theatre News
WAITING FOR GODOT: Ben Kingsley in a 14-week transfer of the Peter Hall Company revival of the Samuel Beckett classic. Late 1997, early 1998 previews, opening and theatre TBA.
SWAN LAKE: Matthew Bourne's part-ballet, part-musical that's been a hit in London and L.A. Tentative March 1998 previews and opening at a theatre TBA, possibly with London cast. See story in Theatre News
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN: Bernadette Peters stars in a revival of the Irving Berlin musical, produced by Fran and Barry Weissler. Spring 1998 previews, opening and theatre TBA.
JANE EYRE: New musical based on the Charlotte Bronte novel, starring Anthony Crivello and Marla Schaffel. Directed by John Caird. Spring 1998 previews and opening TBA. Theatre TBA. See story in Theatre News
PIAF: Revival of Pam Gems' play about the French chanteuse, starring Elaine Paige. Preview, opening and theatre TBA.
SISTERELLA: African-American adaptation of the "Cinderella" story, with music, lyrics and book by Larry Hart. Previews, opening and theatre TBA. See story in Theatre News
TOM SAWYER: New musical based on the Mark Twain novel. Music by Don Schlitz, book by Ken Ludwig. Previews, opening and theatre TBA.
-- By Robert Viagas
