Highlights From The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream on Broadway In the mid-1960s Felix Cavaliere, Eddie Brigati, Dino Danelli and Gene Cornish helped popularize "blue-eyed soul" as The Rascals. After 40-plus years, they reunite for The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream, a concert performance featuring hits like "Good Lovin'," "Lonely Too Long," "It's a Beautiful Morning," "How Can I Be Sure" and "Groovin'." Along with the music, the history of the group is told through archival footage, narration and dramatic film segments. Steven Van Zandt (star of "The Sopranos" and guitarist in Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band) and Marc Brickman direct the production at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. See all of the show's details at Playbillvault.com.
Highlights From The Nance Starring Nathan Lane Late 1930's New York and the twilight of the burlesque era come to life in Douglas Carter Beane's The Nance, a new dark comedy starring Tony Award winner Nathan Lane as a gay entertainer with everything to lose, now playing on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre. Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien directs a cast that also includes Tony winner Cady Huffman, Tony nominee Lewis J. Stadlen, Jenni Barber, Andrèa Burns, Geoffrey Allen Murphy and Jonny Orsini. For more information on The Nance, including a look inside the opening night Playbill, visit PlaybillVault.com.
Highlights From Berry Gordy's Motown: The Musical Brandon Victor Dixon stars in the real life story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed music forever. Motown: The Musical charts founder Berry Gordy's journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and many more. The production features a book by Berry Gordy and a score comprised of Motown hits. Charles Randolph-Wright directs. See the Playbill Photo Call of the show.
Highlights From Alliance Theatre's Zorro Starring Adam Jacobs Adam Jacobs stars as the masked legend Zorro in the Alliance Theatre production of the Gipsy Kings-scored Zorro: A New Musical. The Atlanta production, which began performances April 10, reunites director Christopher Renshaw (The King and I, We Will Rock You) and Olivier Award-nominated choreographer Rafael Amargo who teamed for the show's West End run. For more on the production, read the Playbill story.
Highlights From Hands on a Hardbody on Broadway Based on the 1997 S. R. Bindler documentary about an endurance contest in which entrants must keep one hand on the surface of a vehicle at all times in order to win a brand new pickup truck, Hands on a Hardbody charts the course of ten hard-luck Texans striving for the American dream. With music by Phish frontman Trey Anastasio and music and lyrics by Amanda Green, the tunes draw from influences such as Dr. John, Aretha Franklin and ZZ Top. After a successful 2012 run at the La Jolla Playhouse, the production arrives on Broadway under the direction of Neil Pepe and stars Keith Carradine, Allison Case and Hunter Foster. For more on the production, read the Playbill story.
Highlights From Matilda the Musical on Broadway Based on the Roald Dahl children's book, Matilda the Musical is the story of a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence and psychokinetic powers who, with the support of her teacher, tries to rid her school of its evil headmistress Miss Trunchbull. The hit London production won seven Olivier Awards. Matthew Warchus directs; lyrics and music are by Tim Minchin with a book by Dennis Kelly. The production plays the Sam S. Shubert Theatre. Read a Brief Encounter with Minchin.
Highlights From The Big Knife Starring Bobby Cannavale Clifford Odets' The Big Knife is the story of Charlie Castle (Bobby Cannavale), a dynamic stage actor who has become a Hollywood star at the expense of his art, his values and his marriage. Longing to walk away from his studio contract, he makes one last attempt to restore his honor. Directed by Doug Hughes, the production plays the American Airlines Theatre. Read Playbill's A Life in the Theatre with The Big Knife's costume designer Catherine Zuber.
Highlights From Kinky Boots Starring Stark Sands and Billy Porter Stark Sands and Billy Porter star in Cyndi Lauper and Harvey Fierstein's new musical Kinky Boots. When Charlie Price (Sands) is forced to step in and save his family's shoe factory in Northern England following the sudden death of his father, help comes from the unlikeliest angel, a fabulous drag performer named Lola (Porter). Together, this improbable duo revitalizes the failing business while stepping out from their fathers' shadows and transforming an entire community through the power of acceptance. Jerry Mitchell directs and choreographs. Read the Playbill Cue & A with Kinky Boots star Celina Carvajal.
