2023 - 2024 Musical Logos: Gutenberg! The Musical!

2023 - 2024 Broadway Musical Logos:

Gutenberg! The Musical!

The first first thing you notice about the logo for the soon-to-close Gutenberg! The Musical! is the warm orange color. According to several sources (psychological, spiritual, etc.), orange represents energy, warmth, enthusiasm, optimism and adventure. These are attributes are all things one would want associated with a show.Now, mind you, I've not seen the show, but from everything I've read and heard about it, a musical about two guys trying to get their highly unlikely musical a producer would definitely fit the the criteria for using orange as their "show color."

The second first thing you probably notice about the show's key art is the prominence of the two stars, Josh Gad and Andrew Rannells, original co-stars of the mega hit The Book of Mormon. Not since Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick took the stage in The Odd Couple and It's Only a Play post The Producers has a Broadway show used such a hard sell of a comedy team to get butts in the seats. They are practically begging us to see for ourselves if theatrical lightning can strike twice. Judging by the better than decent box office this one had had its entire run, I'd say it worked.

The rest of the logo is a clever nod to Broadway show advertising. We all know adding punctuation automatically makes any show title more exciting, right? Just ask Oklahoma!, Hello, Dolly! and Moulin Rouge!. Not to be outdone, this one has two exclamation marks. Then there's their multiple taglines. "Two men. One Dream. No chance." It's the patented Neil Simon 1-2-3 joke, really. The first two parts set us up as if this is serious art. The third is the unexpected (and humorous) twist that is supposed to reel us into the box office. Then there's the "twist" on the typical "The Musical" where they have "handwritten" in some supplemental hype. It is kinda smart.

Wisely, they've made a joke about the subject of The Musical! (which isn't what the show is about, really) by using two stylized fonts. "Guten" is old school German looking (just like the printing press Bible guy was), followed by the broken, off kilter "berg!" that somehow evokes an iceberg of the type that sinks ships.

As if a well thought-out and presented logo wasn't enough, they really upped the ante with the other big selling point of the show - a cameo by someone famous at the end of each performance. Word spread over social media like a wildfire every night bout who it was. So they were smart and got out ahead of it by appealing to theater fans with Broadway themed ads hinting at who was the next cameo. Kudos for that!

Clearly, the combination of logo and prominently featured co-stars worked. The limited run show is a hit. Good for them!

Grade: A+

Looking Forward to Winter: December 2023 - February 2024

Brrr! It sure has been cold lately. But even as the winds topple Christmas trees and snows have already slowed traffic, Broadway remains hot. Well, at least pretty warm. Though only a few new shows will be opening this winter, we have plenty to catch up on.

As usual, before we look ahead, let's review how our show-going fall went. We only made it to four shows, but it was very successful. Talk about variety! A staged concert of a rarely seen Sondheim show, a new musical by LaChiusa, a spectacular immersive staging, and a fun trip down memory lane were what we got to, and we liked them all. In the order we saw them: Back to the Future: The Musical (A-), Here Lies Love (A), The Frogs (A-), and The Gardens of Anuncia (A). That's an average of roughly 93% - an A!

And now, on to the future. (The list below includes only shows that have already opened, or will open during December - February.) Be sure to let us know what you are looking forward to this winter!

Looking Forward to Winter:

December 2023 - February 2024

Holdovers From Autumn:

Gutenberg! The Musical (James Earl Jones Theatre)

I know almost nothing about this one, other than Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad are the stars, Alex Timbers is directing, and it has something to do with the guy who invented the printing press. There are worse ideas out there, right?

Harmony (Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

I'm looking forward to hearing what kind of score Barry Manilow has come up with, and I am very interested in the subject matter, especially given the current climate. Plus, I am excited to see the great Chip Zien, and I am charmed by Sierra Boggess, plus I really need to see what all the fuss is about Julie Benko. 

How to Dance in Ohio (Belasco Theatre)

Despite very mixed early audience reports and an underwhelming parade performance, I'm still hoping to catch this one. I find the whole autism spectrum to be very interesting, and hope to learn a lot about this sensitive subject in researching it and from the show. 

Merrily We Roll Along (Hudson Theatre)

I've said it before, I'll say it again: The Sondheim enigma show. Groff. Radcliffe. Mendez. How could we not? BUT will it live up to the hype?

Here We Are (Off-Broadway at The Shed)

The final Sondheim musical. Ever. Are we interested? Duh. And that cast! Double duh!

New to Broadway This Winter:

Days of Wine and Roses (Roundabout Theater Company at Studio 54)

Intriguing. All indications say that this is a show we need to bring your brain to. I always like challenges. That its score is by Adam Guettel and it stars two of my all-time favorite actors, Kelli O'Hara and Brian d'Arcy James only sweetens the pot.

Looking Forward to Autumn: September - November 2023

Autumn is my favorite time of year, especially in New York. The weather is nice and the theater season is ramping up. This year is no different, with half a dozen shows on our immediate radar, and another pair left over from the summer. (To be honest, I'm pretty sure there will be some of these that we won't get to until this winter.)

As we always do, before we look forward, we look back. During the summer, we saw four productions that really ran the gamut, not only in style, but in quality as well. They were: The Light in the Piazza (A+), off-Broadway, Parade (A+), New York, New York (C), Once Upon a One More Time (F), on Broadway, and most recently, The Play That Goes Wrong (C-) at the Kennedy Center. That's a C+ average, one of the lowest in some time. Still, I am optimistic that the fall will include an upswing in quality!

Looking Forward to Autumn: 

September - November 2023

Left Over From Summer:

Back to the Future (Winter Garden Theatre)

Great Scott! Casey Likes and Roger Bart are reason enough to put this one on our list. And while we are growing weary of film to stage musicals like most of you, this title is one of my all-time favorite films (I'm a Gen-Xer, after all), and I'm excited to see just how they do it.

Here Lies Love (Broadway Theatre)

We loved this when we saw it at the Public a few years ago, and we are looking forward to see it in this new environment, along with seeing some great original cast members and exciting new ones! Controversy aside, I'm excited to revisit this one!

Regional:

Swept Away (Washington, DC - Arena Stage)

Even if the talent attached to the project wasn't as phenomenal as it is, I'd still be intrigued by the subject matter - how four people survive a catastrophic ship wreck, based on a true story. But with a book by Jonathan Logan (Moulin Rouge!) and direction by Michael Mayer (Head Over Heels, American Idiot), and a cast that reunites Tony-winner John Gallagher, Jr. and Tony nominee Stark Sands, both from American Idiot, seeing this is a no-brainer.

Broadway:

Gutenberg! The Musical (James Earl Jones Theatre)

I know almost nothing about this one, other than Andrew Rannells and Josh Gad are the stars, Alex Timbers is directing, and it has something to do with the guy who invented the printing press. There are worse ideas out there, right?

Harmony (Ethel Barrymore Theatre)

I'm almost afraid I'll jinx this by putting it on the list. It has been on again, off again for years. I hope it happens because I'm looking forward to hearing what kind of score Barry Manilow has come up with, and I am very interested in the subject matter.

How to Dance in Ohio (Belasco Theatre)

This is the show that intrigues me the most this fall. This is one I've only recently heard of, and what I've heard is positive. I find the whole autism spectrum to be very interesting, and hope to learn a lot about this sensitive subject in researching it and from the show. And I trust director Sammi Cannold will handle it well.

Merrily We Roll Along (Hudson Theatre)

The Sondheim enigma show. Groff. Radcliffe. Mendez. How could we not?

Off-Broadway:

The Gardens of Anuncia (Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre)

Michael John LaChiusa is one of my favorite composers, and his subject matter, Graciela Daniele has been a favorite director-choreographer of mine for decades. With a cast that includes Andrea Burns, Priscilla Lopez, Eden Espinoza, Mary Testa and Tally Sessions to tell her story, this new show looks like it will elevate the bio-musical to a new level.

Here We Are (The Shed)

The final Sondheim musical. Ever. Are we interested? Duh.