THEATRE
FROM LONG- RUNNING SHOWS SUCH AS CHICAGO, RECENT REVIVALS MY FAIR LADY AND CAROUSEL TO NEWER HITS INCLUDING WAITRESS AND HAMILTON, BROADWAY HAS IT ALL — AND THEN SOME. HERE ARE A FEW RECENT AND FUTURE OPENINGS THAT WE THINK SHOULD BE ON YOUR RADAR…
MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL
Opening for previews in late June, Baz Luhrman’s 2001 Oscar- nominated movie is an obvious choice for the Broadway treatment. The Australian auteur’s lush cinematography should translate beautifully on stage, and the story about a poet’s infatuation and romance with a cabaret singer has enough depth to make this more than just a visual feast. As for the music, three words: Elephant Love Medley.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Perhaps once the bane of your English lessons, this stage version of the Pulitzer Prize- winning classic novel by Harper Lee arrived in the Big Apple in December. Adapted by Aaron Sorkin and starring Jeff Daniels as paragon of virtue Atticus Finch and Celia Keenan- Bolger as tomboy Scout, Lee’s tale of justice and tolerance in the American South will resonate with today’s audiences as much as it did almost 60 years ago when it was published.
THE CHER SHOW
A jukebox musical akin to the likes of Jersey Boys and Sunny Afternoon, The Cher Show charts the early life and career of the gay icon. Featuring 35 of the diva’s greatest hits, the show’s already a smash success: it grossed $ 1.1m in its opening week in early December. Three actresses portray Cher during the show, covering her ‘ Babe’, ‘ Lady’ and ‘ Star’ eras, and Bob Mackie — who designed the costumes and has created some of Cher’s most memorable outfi ts — is featured, too.
CHOIR BOY
New to Broadway, Choir Boy has been written by Tarell Alvin McCraney, who co- wrote the Oscar- winning Moonlight, based on his own play, In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue. It’s set in the Charles R. Drew Prep School for Boys and follows one talented student as he tries to become leader of the legendary gospel choir, while staying true to his identity.
HILLARY AND CLINTON
Imagined into existence by Lucas Hnath — hailed by the New York Times as “one of the brightest new voices of his generation” — Hillary and Clinton is set in a world where a woman named Hillary is trying to become president of the USA. Sound familiar? Well, it takes place in 2008 in a hotel room in New Hampshire on the eve of the last Primary Election, which she’s poised to lose — then her husband Bill arrives in the night. Fastpaced and funny, Hillary and Clinton draws back the curtain on a political storm that may not be far removed from reality. Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow will play the political power couple, with Joe Mantello directing and Tony and Oscar- winning producer Scott Rudin heading up the production, which opens in April.
BEETLEJUICE
A musical version of Tim Burton’s 1988 supernatural movie starring Michael Keaton and Winona Ryder, Beetlejuice arrives in NYC in late March. Directed by Alex Timbers — who’s also directing Moulin Rouge! — it tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a death- obsessed teenager whose new house is haunted by a recently deceased couple and a degenerate demon, who she teams up with to scare her parents away. A much- loved cult movie, Beetlejuice’s musical adaptation promises crude excess.
THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA
Most of the details for this are still TBC, but we couldn’t not include a mention. The fi lm is one of the most meme- able movies out there, and Miranda Priestley practically invented Big Dick Energy — though whoever steps into Meryl Streep’s shoes had better know what they’re doing. One detail that has been confi rmed is that the music is being written by Sir Elton John, which is giving our gay asses life. Perhaps it’ll arrive in the spring — that would be… groundbreaking.