Tomorrow, it will have been exactly two years since I last posted a "Looking Forward to..." quarterly column. What is interesting about looking back at that is seeing that in recent months I actually got to see a few of them, and am looking forward (as you'll see) to seeing a few of them. Given everything that has happened in the past two years, it is wonderful to see that many of those shows are still around, while mourning the loss of a few.
Looking Forward to Spring:
March - May 2022
As we normally do, before we look ahead, we look back at what we did see. And we were very, very fortunate, with a series of amazing shows: Caroline, Or Change (C+), off-Broadway's Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (A), The Music Man (A), the new version of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (A+), Six (A+), a second trip to Jagged Little Pill (A+), and two absolutely stunning Sondheim revivals, Company (A+) and Assassins (A++). That's a very solid A average, which is the best way to get back to the art that we love!
This spring certainly looks like it'll be a super busy one, and here are nine shows we are excited to see over the next three months.
Broadway Plays:
The Minutes (Broadway - Studio 54) - A holdover from before times, the cast is aces, to subject matter timely, and its a new-ish work from Tracy Letts. I really hope we get to this one!
Neil Simon's Plaza Suite (Broadway - Hudson Theatre) - Okay, if we are being honest, I can take or leave Matthew Broderick, but I do enjoy Sarah Jessica Parker, and Simon revivals are few and far between lately. He's one of my favorite playwrights, so it's on the list.
Take Me Out (Broadway - Hayes Theatre) - Another show from before times, this past two years have only made me want to see it more. I've seen it regionally years ago, and it's a solid work. Really looking forward to seeing a Broadway-level production.
Broadway Musicals:
Funny Girl (Broadway - August Wilson Theatre) - I think people believe this is a show that is better than it actually is, but they are blinded by the legendary star-turn of one Barbra Streisand. And though the score is pretty good, with a few real classics, the book is, to be nice, dull. Well, thankfully Harvey Fierstein is doctoring it, so that has great potential, and Michael Mayer is at the helm, so it could be staged in a really cool way. Beanie Feldstein has huge shoes to fill, but I'm optimistic, and I'm always up to seeing Ramin Karimloo.
MJ: The Musical (Broadway - Neil Simon Theatre) - I want to hear the music and watch the dancing. I'm a child of the 80s. That's it.
Mr. Saturday Night (Broadway - Nederlander Theatre) - I've never seen the movie, and frankly these "make any movie into a musical" musicals are really hit or miss. For every Once and The Band's Visit there's two or three Tootsies it seems. But here's why I'm looking forward to this one: Jason Robert Brown's score and the cast. I've always liked Billy Crystal and David Paymer, and, well, what's not to love about Randy Graff and Shosha Bean?
Mrs. Doubtfire (Broadway - Stephen Sondheim Theatre) - I meant what I said above about these "make any movie into a musical" musicals. But we already had tickets for it, which were cancelled when Covid hit the cast. It's probably the lowest on our list, but if we make it, Rob McClure never disappoints.
Paradise Square (Broadway - Barrymore Theatre) - As you probably know, the sharks are circling the blood in the water that comes with this one. Most of it is aimed at the show's producer, Garth Dabrinsky, a bad man by all accounts. But let's not forget that he did bring us Best Musicals Fosse, and Kiss of the Spider Woman, Best Musical Revival Show Boat, and the much beloved Ragtime and Parade. The story sounds great, and I'm dying to see Jaoquina Kalukango in action. If you read this site even semi-regularly, you know I love challenging shows most of all, success or flop!
A Strange Loop (Broadway - Lyceum Theatre) - What else is there to say? this is the one I'm looking forward to the most. I simply cannot wait. Bring it on!
