At This Theatre: The Al Hirschfeld

At This Theatre:

The Al Hirschfeld

On November 11, the Al Hirschfeld Theatre turned 100 years old! Back then, it was known as the Martin Beck Theatre, and it stayed that way until June 21, 2003, when the name was changed to honor the great American caricaturist, famously known for his iconic images of Broadway shows. In 1924, the doors opened to a brand new musical, Madame Pompadour. Over the century, the theater was host to a variety of plays and revivals, new and revival. Among the high profile productions that played there are: Victoria Regina starring Helen Hayes, original productions of The Teahouse of the August Moon, The Crucible, and Candide. Transfers of the original runs of Man of La Mancha and Bye Bye Birdie. Celebrated flops include Tony-winner Hallelujia Baby!, Bring Back Birdie and Drat! The Cat!. Over the past forty seasons or so, big names have trod the boards there, including Chita Rivera and Liza Minnelli in The Rink, Brian Stokes Mitchell in both Kiss Me, Kate and Man of La Mancha, Nathan Lane and Faith Prince in Guys and Dolls, and Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed...

Number of Shows We've Seen There: 10

Curtains, Elf, Grand Hotel, Hair, How to Succeed In Business Without Really Trying! (2011), Into the Woods (1987), Kinky Boots, Moon Over Buffalo, Moulin Rouge!, The Wedding Singer

The 5 Shows That Were Our Favorites at the Hirschfeld:

5. Hair (2009) I caught this one in early previews and was completely bowled over by its energy, artistry and importance. At the performance I attended, I got to see the actual Broadway debut - his very first performance - of Jay Armstrong Johnson on as Claude, not to mention a very up close encounter with Will Swenson, and a patchouli scented cloud surrounding Caissie Levy, all of whom have become some of my very favorite performers. It was an exciting bolt of theatrical lightning!

4. Moulin Rouge! We caught this exciting show first in Boston, and knew immediately we would see it on Broadway. Spectacular doesn't really quite do this amazing production justice. The sets, costumes and lighting are eye-popping, and the choreography by Tony-winner Sonya Tayeh is thrilling. But for me, the original cast was the reason to see the Rouge again. Aaron Tveit and Karen Olivo had smoldering chemistry, and the always wonderful Danny Burstein was extra special. 

3. Moon Over Buffalo When the great Carol Burnett announced her long-awaited Broadway return, I had to see her. She was, of course, brilliantly funny and bursting with joy. But the rest of the company was no slouch, either. A cast that included Philip Bosco, Randy Graff and Jane Connell was more than up to the task of sharing the stage with Burnett. The best part of it all was that Ken Ludwig's ridiculously funny script was smart and clever enough to be worth the comedienne's time. This is a truly cherished memory of mine.

2. Into the Woods (1987) One of the things I am most proud of in my theater collection is a Playbill from an early preview of this show, as it includes songs that are no longer part of the script, now familiar tunes not in the song list, and a different order to some songs. A devout Sondheim fan, seeing it as a work in progress was a distinct thrill. I would end up seeing the original production and cast several more times. I mean how could I resist seeing Bernadette Peters, Chip Zien and the brilliant Tony-winning turn of Joanna Gleason multiple times?

1. Grand Hotel I knew I was going to love this show when the pre-show announcement came on: "Grand Hotel: The Musical, like the film upon which it is based, will be performed without an intermission." (Back then, one act Broadway shows were rare.) From that moment, I was smitten. The mysterious score, the non-stop choreography and tight Tommy Tune staging were a feast for the eyes, heart and mind. The opportunity to see such great performers as Lillian Montevecchi, Karen Akers, Jane Krakowski and Michael Jeter at their peak is an honor I fully recognize and will cherish for the rest of my life.

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