One That Got Away: Flying Over Sunset

Given the circumstances, it is a small miracle that Flying Over Sunset even opened. It was ready to begin previews when everything shut down for COVID, but Lincoln Center kept everything in place for more than a year. There were a few cast changes, but most everyone was ready to get back to work when things slowly began coming back.

Missing this one was due entirely to time. It simply ran out before we could get to it.

One That Got Away:

Flying Over Sunset

     

     

On paper, at least, this had everything I look for in new shows. There was a director/writer I have always enjoyed, James Lapine, and a score by one of my very favorites, Tom Kitt. The cast was full of actors I greatly admire, including Carmen Cusack and Tony Yazbeck. And, of course, a weird, intriguing story that promised a fresh perspective, thought-provoking themes, and an emotional experience. I'm guessing that that "weirdness" had a lot to do with its poor box office performance. People like me, who thrive on unusual theatricality, it would seem are few and far between. Of course, there was also the specter/fear of COVID that even today affects Broadway's comeback.

At least there is the cast recording and several rehearsal videos to revisit. Still, this is one that got away that I really regret.

Flying Over Sunset began its 36 previews at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center on November 11, 2021, and opened on December 13, 3021. It was nominated for four 2022 Tony Awards: Best Actress in a Musical (Carmen Cusack), Best Original Score (Tom Kitt & Michael Korie), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Beowulf Boritt & 59 Productions) and Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Bradley King). After 35 performances, the show closed on January 16, 2022.

📸: J. Marcus

Broadway Boys: Mr. September 2014: Tony Yazbeck

Mr. September 2014

Tony Yazbeck

WHY HE'S MR. BROADWAY: Well, he's a true triple-threat as evidenced in his entire Broadway career to date.  Sing-dancer-actor in Gypsy, A Chorus Line, White Christmas and Chicago.  But it goes way beyond that, with a wide variety of roles in regional theatres, too.  Serious drama in Sycamore Trees, song and dance man in My One and Only, and zany antics in Animal Crackers, just to name a few.  Then, too, there's his charity work, including Broadway Backwards.  He's worked his way up through the ranks from childhood (a was in Gypsy as a Newsboy with Tyne Daly in the early 90's) to understudy to ensemble member to featured roles and as a star, currently headlining On the Town.  And that's why Tony Yazbeck is Mr. Broadway!

HEAD SHOTS AND CANDIDS

(Left) with Smash co-star, Ann Harada

(Right) with wife (and A Chorus Line co-star) Jessica Lee Goldyn

BROADWAY BACKWARDS

"A Boy Like That" (with Arron Lazar)

"Buddy, Beware"

REGIONAL SHOWS (My One and Only, Anthony and Cleopatra, Sycamore Trees)

My One and Only

Anthony and Cleopatra

Sycamore Trees

BROADWAY (Gypsy, A Chorus Line, White Christmas, Chicago, On the Town)

He's a Newsboy in Gypsy!

He's Tulsa in Gypsy!

A Chorus Line - "Sing!" 

and backstage with the boys

ACL's opening night, with

the original "Al"

Chicago - "Razzle Dazzle" and

celebrating with the girls

Irving Berlin's White Christmas

On the Town

(Barrington Stage production photos)

Jeff

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