June 23, 2009

Broadway 2009/10: 'Spider-Man' to 'the vibrator play'

Summer’s only just begun but nearly 20 shows have already announced dates for the new season on Broadway, from “Spider-Man” and the “Addams Family” to “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Fela!” Here’s the list of how the 2009/10 Broadway season is shaping up so far:

Burn the Floor - Ballroom Dance Concert
Previews start July 25
This “dance sensation” with 32 champion ballroom dancers will play the Longacre Theatre for 12 weeks. Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars” will make a three week cameo from July 25 to Aug. 16, Playbill reports.

Finian’s Rainbow
Previews start Aug. 4
The New York City Center Encores! revival of the 1947 musical about an Irishman and his daughter pursued by a leprechaun in the American South will transfer to the St. James Theater. Balcony tickets are priced as low as $25.

Bye Bye Birdie
Previews start Sept 10
The revival of the Elvis-inspired musical will be staged by the Roundabout Theatre Company at the brand new Henry Miller’s Theatre. The cast includes John Stamos (as Albert Peterson, not the hip-shaking Conrad Birdie) as well as Gina Gershon, Bill Irwin, Jayne Houdyshell, and Dee Hoty. All tickets to the first preview are $10 but then rise to the $86.50 to $136.50 range.

The Royal Family Previews start Sept. 15
John Glover, Rosemary Harris, Jan Maxwell and Reg Rogers star in this comedy of manners set in the East 50s.

After Miss Julie
Previews start Sept. 18
Sienna Miller and Johnny Lee Miller will make their Broadway debut in the American premiere of Patrick Marber’s reinterpretation of August Strindberg’s sex-and-class themed play recast in 1945s England.

Wishful Drinking
Previews start Sept. 22
Carrie Fisher’s tabloidy autobiographical show will play Studio 54.

Memphis
Previews start Sept. 23
A new musical set in the segregated 1950s as a young white DJ falls in love with rock ‘n’ roll - and a black singer. The music’s by Bon Jovi’s founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro, who also pens the musical’s book. Tickets will range from $41.50 to $126.50.

Brighton Beach Memoirs
Previews start Oct. 2
This revival of Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical comedy will star Dennis Boutsikaris, Santino Fontana, Jessica Hecht, Laurie Metcalf, Noah Robbins and Alexandra Socha.

Fela!
Previews start Oct. 19
The biographical musical about Nigerian activist and Afrobeat musician Fela Kuti transfers to Broadway after garnering rave reviews Off-Broadway.

In the Next Room (or the vibrator play)
Previews start Oct. 22
A new play from Sarah Ruhl described as a ” comedy about marriage, intimacy and electricity.” Les Waters will direct this Lincoln Center Theater production.

Broadway Bound
Previews start Nov. 18
Another semi-autobiographical comedy from Neil Simon, this revival will include Dennis Boutsikaris, Santino Fontana, Josh Grisetti, Jessica Hecht, Laurie Metcalf and Allan Miller.

Race
Previews start Nov. 20
James Spader, Richard Thomas and Kerry Washington have been cast in this new play from David Mamet, who will also direct.

Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark
Previews start January 16
No casting has been announced for the buzz-worthy musical origin-story of the Marvel Comics hero, but the music’s coming from Bono and The Edge of U2 while Julie Taymor (she of “The Lion King”) directs. Tickets are in pre-sale.

Addams Family
Previews start March 5
A comedy with clever casting: Nathan Lane as Gomez and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia. They’ll share the stage with Kevin Chamberlin, Krysta Rodriguez, Adam Riegler, Zachary James, Jackie Hoffman, Terrence Mann, Carolee Carmello and Wesley Taylor.

Collected Stories Previews start April 6
Linda Lavin and Lisa Morrison star in the Donald Margulies drama about two writers seen “as their relationship evolves the line between fact and fiction starts to blur, their fascinating story comes to an explosive conclusion.”

Hughie
Previews start the week of April 12
The Broadway’s double-barrel of Brian Dennehy includes this Eugene O’Neill revival set in a Midtown hotel. (Listen to Jason Robards in the original 1964 production.)

Krapp’s Last Tape
Previews start the week of April 12
Dennehy will also tackle Samuel Beckett’’s one-man one-act play from 1958.

In addition, there are a number of productions likely to open on Broadway during the 2009/10 season but have not yet announced where or when.

A Steady Rain - Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman will star in this two-man cop drama.

A Behanding in Spokane - A new play from Martin McDonagh that will be directed by John Crowley.

Superior Donuts - New play by Tracy Letts transferring from Chicago’s Steppenwolf troupe.

La Cage aux Folles - On the red carpet at the Tonys, Harvey Fierstein told NY1 the current London production of La Cage will likely transfer to Broadway next year.

Phantom: Love Never Dies - The Coney Island-set sequel to “Phantom of the Opera” is aiming for a March debut on Broadway, according to Playbill.

Present Laughter - A comedy, Victor Garber will star as a matinee idol in this Roundabout Theater production directed by Nicholas Martin.

Fat Pig - The Post floated the rumor that Ashton Kutcher could star in the Neil LaBute transfer from Off-Broadway with the stab: “While Kutcher has no stage experience to speak of, he does Twitter.”

Babes in Arms - Rosie O’Donnell is looking to star in a revival of this 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical, Variety reports.

A Little Night Music - London’s Chocolate Factory-production of this Stephen Sondheim musical is expected to play the Jujamcyn theatre.

Ragtime - This revival may transfer from Washington’s Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, according to the New York Times.

Look Homeward, Angel - This new play by David Auburn recently received a reading with John Lithgow and Cherry Jones, and direction from Daniel Sullivan.

Pure Country - a screen-to-stage musical adapted from the 1992 movie.

Oleanna - This David Mamet play may transfer from L.A.’s Mark Taper Forum production, according to Variety.

Minsky’s - A musical comedy about a Depression-era burlesque house may transfer from Los Angeles, according to the New York Times.

Lastly, Robin Williams’ one-man comedy show “Weapons of Self-Destruction” had been scheduled to play Broadway but the dates were pulled when he went in for heart surgery. His 2009 schedule posted on his website shows no NYC dates, only Nov. 27 and 28 at the Borgata Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City.

June 23, 2009 5:08 PM in Broadway

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