At This Theatre: The St. James: 1987-2011

 At This Theatre:

The St. James: 1987-2011

Through the years, I've seen more different productions at the St. James Theatre than at any other Broadway house - 21! So, in order to give them their due for this series, I've divided it into two articles. Today, we'll cover the first ten shows we saw there, beginning in 1987, when we saw the original production of 42nd Street, which famously tapped its way across 44th Street to move across the street from the Majestic Theatre to make room for The Phantom of the Opera.

Over that nearly quarter of a century of shows, we got to see ground-breaking shows, record setters, hits and flops, Broadway legends and dazzling newcomers that became legends in their own right.

Number of Shows We Saw There (1987-2011): 10

42nd Street, The Who's Tommy, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, High Society, The Civil War, The Producers, Gypsy (2008), Finian's Rainbow, American Idiot, On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

  

  

   

5 Favorite Shows We Saw There (1987-2011): Not every show was great, or even our cup of tea. But here are five that really stood out as memorable even all these years later.

The Who's Tommy (1993): This production was amazing from start to finish! Loud, uncompromising, and visually stunning, it was unlike anything I'd ever seen on Broadway before. The effects - something somewhat new called video projection - supplemented the vivid colors and textures of the technical elements. And the cast was stacked, too, including such fresh faces as Alice Ripley, Sherie Rene Scott, Norm Lewis, and, in the title role, a guy named Michael Cerveris. The show has since been revived, but I don't think anything could match that first experience.

The Civil War (1999): The Broadway "it" composer of the mid to late 1990s was Frank Wildhorn, then famous for Jekyll and Hyde and The Scarlet Pimpernel. At the time, his most ambitious project was The Civil War, a revue of sorts, held together by the reading of letters written by and to union and rebel soldiers. A moving, glorious tribute to the sacrifices, bravery and sheer audacity of America's darkest hour. A blend of period sounding ballads, country music and rousing Broadway production numbers, Wildhorn's score was wide-ranging and bold. The entire production asked a lot of the audience, which I loved, and that probably caused its sadly quick demise. The enormous company included Michel Bell, Matt Bogart, Leo Burmester, Cheryl Freeman, Capathia Jenkins, and Beth Leavel.

Gypsy (2008): Before Audra changed the entire Gypsy game, there was the definitive Rose of none other than Patti LuPone, who seemed born to play the titan of all musical roles. Then there was the always delightful Boyd Gaines as her Herbie, and the absolutely devastating Laura Benanti as the titular Gypsy Rose Lee. All three won Tonys that year, but if you ask me, it was the audience that really won.

Finian's Rainbow (2009): Rarely produced for a variety of reasons, I snapped up the chance to see this show when it transferred from New York City Center's Encores! production. Enhanced from that previous incarnation, it was slightly revised to address its more problematic aspects. Overall, though, the show embraced its old-fashioned-ness, and delivered a quaint, endearing three hours' entertainment. The production starred some high quality vocalists, including Cheyenne Jackson, Kate Baldwin, Christopher Fitzgerald, Jim Norton, Chuck Cooper and Terri White. One has to wonder if the show will ever be done again, a relic trapped by its passe themes and lack of universality. Still, the Lane-Harburg score is a gem, with several standards. I'm really glad I didn't miss it.

American Idiot (2010): Here is the show that Mike absolutely adores - it is among his all-time favorites. He loves to remind me that I hated it the first time we saw it in early previews. He convinced me to return, and I loved it. What a thrill ride! Stunning imagery, edgy vocals and a powerful, cohesive score. I loved it so much, I saw it three times on Broadway, and twice on tour, including an overnight car trip to catch the premiere of the national tour in Utica, New York. Who'd have thought? And the original cast! What an opportunity! Seeing John Gallagher, Jr., Stark Sands, Michael Esper, Rebecca Naomi Jones, and new guy named Joshua Henry share the stage was something I'll never forget!

That span of 24 years gave us lots of memories. Not only the five shows above, but the other five as well. For instance, 42nd Street was a chance to see the gold standard of a dying breed of Broadway musical - glitz, glamor, snappy dialogue and a score full of tunes you left humming as your exited the theater. Forum  gave us the chance to see Nathan Lane in his musical prime, and a fresh new talent, Mary Testa. High Society was largely forgettable, but a young girl named Anna Kendrick gave a performance that you knew was just the beginning of a long career. I never did see what the big deal was about The Producers. I really hated it, but it was great to see some favorites, nonetheless, like Matthew Broderick, Roger Bart and Cady Huffman. Then there was On a Clear Day... featuring the very definition of a "phoned in" performance by Harry Connick, Jr., though it introduced me to a new favorite performer, and the talk of the season, Jesse Mueller. None of these will ever make my favorites list, but each proves one of the greatest lessons I've learned about seeing shows: every experience in the theater offers something positive!

Look for part two of this article next Monday!

Broadway Games: Another Mash-Up!

  Broadway Games:

Another Mash-Up!

This is what happens when two theater icons collide. Figure out each word based on the given clues, then rearrange the "orange" letters to win the game!

___ ___ ___ ___ ___   ___ ___ ___

___   ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___   ___ ___

___   ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

HINT: It's what happens when a Sondheim song meets an Arthur Miller play.

He wrote Joe Turner’s Come and Gone

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Just in Time is all about him

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Drood, 1776 and Carrie star Buckley

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

She’s Mother

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

He’s The Outsiders' Darrel Curtis

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

June Squibb’s most recent Broadway show

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

A roller skating musical

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

The show currently playing at the New Amsterdam

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

“I Dreamed a Dream” singer

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Mrs. Levi-Gallagher

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Three Tall Women playwright Edward

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

He plays the cake carrying Dougal

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

He will be starring in The Rocky Horror Show

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Operation Mincemeat’s Tony-winner

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Queen that sings “Don’t Lose Ur Head” in Six

___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ 

Fathers and Sons II

Fathers and Sons II

This all started when I read over the complete cast list for the upcoming Broadway musical, Beaches, and realized that Ben Jacoby is Mark Jacoby's son and they will both be on the boards at the same time. Boy, did I fall down an internet rabbit hole looking for others. The results came in yesterday's article (HERE) and now today's article.

Here are five more fathers and sons that have been and/or are on America's stages, some at the same time on the same stage, others, years apart.

Mark and Joaquin Consuelos

Both Mark, the dad, Joaquin, the son, are making their New York stage debut this season. Mark, famous for his TV roles in All My Children, Riverdale, and recently, 9-1-1, co-hosts LIVE with Kelly and Mark. The latter he does with his wife, Kelly Ripa. He will be making his Broadway debut in Fallen Angels, co-starring Kelli O'Hara and Rose Byrne. Their son will also be making his Broadway debut in Death of a Salesman, with Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf. What a great way to start for them!

Junius Brutus and Edwin Booth

Here is another father/son Duo that are a part of a true American acting dynasty. Junius Brutus had twelve children, three of whom were active on the Broadway stage. Junius himself, had a distinguished career as a Shakespearean actor, in both Great Britain and the United States, including the title roles in both Othello and Richard III. While his life was a rich one, it was marred by tragedy. In the space of 1833, three of his children died. One of his actor sons went on to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln.  Another of his sons, Edwin, fared much better with an illustrious career in the mid to late 1800s, when he starred in several Shakespearean and classical roles. He was also a prolific producer and owner of Booth's Theatre. In 1913, the Booth Theatre as we know it today was built and named for Edwin.

Chuck and Eddie Cooper

A modern day Broadway dynasty is headed by Tony Award winner Chuck Cooper, father of Lilli and Eddie, both of whom are following in dad's footsteps. Beginning with his debut in 1983 in Amen Corner, Chuck has amassed some 20 Broadway credits, including understudying for two Sondheim shows, Getting Away with Murder and Passion, plus the original casts of Caroline, or Change, Chicago, Prince of Broadway, and his Tony-winning turn in The Life. Recently, father and son appeared together in Encore's Titanic. Eddie has joined the Main Stem ranks with roles in Parade, Dead Outlaw and the upcoming play, The Fear of 13.

Robert and Alan Alda

The Alda men may be more famous for their giant careers on TV and film, but neither were strangers to the stage. While they did appear together on M*A*S*H, they never appeared on Broadway together. Father Robert began his enviable career as the original Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls, winning a Best Actor Tony Award for his efforts. Son Alan, forever Hawkeye Pierce, also had success on The Great White Way, with four Tony Award nominations. He appeared in, among other things, The Apple Tree, Jake's Women, QED, Art, and a revival of Glengarry Glen Ross. In an interesting bookend to his stage career, he was in the original cast of Purlie Victorious, and co-produced the 2023 revival!

Bobby and Jake Cannavale

Bobby Cannavale has become a regular on the theater scene over the past two decades or so. I'm glad he makes time for the stage between TV and film gigs. Most recently, he appeared in the revival of Art, and in Sondheim's Here We Are. Among his other roles, his debut in Mauritius earned him a Tony nomination, which he followed with another Tony-nominated turn in The Motherfucker with the Hat. His son Jake is just getting started - he made his Broadway debut in Fish in the Dark. He certainly comes by his talents naturally with a family that not only includes his father, but he is also the grandson of Sidney Lumet and great-grandson of Lena Horne!

Fathers and Sons I

Fathers and Sons I

When I read over the complete cast list for the upcoming Broadway musical, Beaches, a name stuck out to me, and I had to look up this actor. Was he related to another famous stage star? He is, indeed, related - he is the son of the other guy!The results of that search created a rabbit hole of searches for similar pairs, and then today's article.

Here are nine fathers and sons that have been and/or are on America's stages, some at the same time on the same stage, others, years apart.

So who started this?

Mark and Ben Jacoby

Mark, the dad, has had a long, illustrious career, including acclaimed performances in Show Boat and The Phantom of the Opera, the show that I first saw him in, the 1986 revival of Sweet Charity. Most recently, he played Neil Diamond in A Beautiful Noise. Today, he appears, albeit briefly, in Chess. His son Ben, who is in the upcoming musical Beaches, has also played a music icon, playing Barry Mann in Beautiful. He also, like his father, appeared in Phantom, as Raoul in the national tour of that show.

Maurice and Lionel Barrymore

Dad Maurice is the father of a true American acting dynasty. All three of his children are likely more famous than he is. His daughter, Ethel, has a Broadway theater named for her, and his other son, John, was also an accomplished stage actor, and is Drew's grandfather. But we chose son Lionel for this article because he might be the most familiar to you, as a star of the beloved film, It's a Wonderful Life. He also had a storied career on the Broadway stage, with over 20 credits, including the title role in Macbeth, and his debut in 1900, in Sag Harbor. His father had many vaudeville and Broadway credits, most famously in 1895's The Heart of Maryland and 1899's Becky Sharp. He led a sensational, news making life right up until his death in a mental institution at age 55.

Herschel and Michael Bernardi

This father and son duo have experience playing the same show, Fiddler on the Roof. Dad Herschel, of course, played Tevye as a replacement in the original production, and as the original lead in the 1981 revival. He also created leading roles in Bajour and as the titular Zorba. His son, Michael, was Mordcha in the 2015 revival, understudying the role of Tevye.

Zero and Josh Mostel

Another even more famous Tevye - the one who started it all - Zero, also has a son with an amazing acting career. That son is Josh, has 8 main stem credits, including My Favorite Year and Getting Away With Murder. His film career includes Jesus Christ Superstar (as King Herod), City Slickers and Sophie's Choice among many others. Zero also famously created the role of Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and starred in the acclaimed Ionesco play, Rhinoceros. He won Tony Awards for all three of his most famous roles.

Tomorrow: 5 more Father/Son acting duos including another theatre namesake, and three currently active pairs!

(Off) Broadway Quiz: The Denizens of Skid Row

(Off) Broadway Quiz:

The Denizens of Skid Row

With the recent announcement of new casting for the long-running (and utterly fantastic) off-Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors, it occurred to me that I haven't paid much attention to this gem of a production since I reviewed it in 2019. That was egregious of me to say the least. Today, I aim to rectify that oversight!

How well do you know the folks who have spent time on Skid Row over the past six or seven years? Take today's quiz to find out! (NOTE: Some of the questions have multiple correct answers.)

1. Soon-to-be Seymour Jordan Fisher co-starred with another Seymour, Nicholas Christopher in which show?

   A. Hamilton   B. Sweeney Todd   C. Dear Evan Hanson   D. Chess

2. Several Disney Channel stars have headlined this revival. Which of these actors has not appeared in a Disney Channel sitcom or movie?

   A. Jordan Fischer   B. Joshua Bassett   C. Corbin Bleu   D. Milo Manheim

   E. Thomas Doherty   F. Darren Criss   G. Andrew Barth Feldman

3. What Broadway show does former Seymour Jeremy Jordan and former Audrey Sarah Hyland have in common?

4. TRUE or FALSE: Former Mushnik Stuart Zagnit also appeared in the original off-Broadway production.

5. Former Audrey Madeline Brewer is probably most famous for her role in which TV series?

   A. Grey's Anatomy   B. The Handmaid's Tale   C. Schitt's Creek   D. Reba

6. Which of the following former cast members have won Tony awards?

   A. Andrew Barth Feldman   B. Jonathan Groff   C. Lena Hall   D. Joy Woods

7. Which of the following former cast members are Tony nominees, but not winners?

   A. Darren Criss   B. Jeremy Jordan   C. Matt Doyle   D. Andrew Durand

E. Joy Woods   F. Conrad Ricamora   G. Constance Wu

8. These former cast members, Jonathan Groff, Matt Doyle, Gideon Glick and Skylar Astin, all have which Broadway show in common? 

9. All of these former cast members have appeared or are currently appearing on Broadway during the 2025-2026 season EXCEPT:

   A. Nicholas Christopher   B. Darren Criss   C. Andrew Barth Feldman   

D. Sarah Hyland   E. Sherie Rene Scott   F. Jeremy Kushnier

10. Graham Phillips was Seymour to Elizabeth Gillies' Audrey. In what show did they both appear with Ariana Grande on Broadway?