The Tony Awards are just around the corner, and Broadway is buzzing with excitement. This year's season has been a whirlwind of revivals, new plays, and musicals, all vying for attention before the nominations are announced. With a star-studded lineup and a diverse range of shows, Broadway is offering something for every taste. From one-person plays to spoof musicals, there's a lot to explore.
One of the standout productions is Every Brilliant Thing, starring Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe's performance is magnetic and authentic, as he explores the reasons that make life worth living. His earnestness and charisma captivate the audience, even during the darker moments. It's a thrilling return to Broadway for the Harry Potter star, who has a deep love for the stage that has followed him since his Hogwarts days.
Another highly anticipated production is Giant, a new play about Roald Dahl grappling with his antisemitic views in 1983. John Lithgow gives a gripping performance, layered with nuance, and the production is eerily timely despite its setting. The supporting cast, including Aya Cash, Elliot Levey, and Rachael Stirling, commands the stage with their standout moments, especially in the final minutes of the first act.
For those who love dance, Gotta Dance is a revue-style show that highlights some of the biggest dance numbers in musical theater history. The cast, including Broadway veteran Jessica Lee Goldyn, is a triple threat, singing and dancing with expert precision. Goldyn, in particular, stands out with her emotional and expertly executed rendition of 'The Music and The Mirror' from A Chorus Line.
Becky Shaw is a dark comedy that tackles complex issues like love, lying, feminism, and power dynamics. The play features a stellar cast, including Lauren Patten, Madeline Brewer, Patrick Ball, Alden Ehrenreich, and Linda Emond. Ehrenreich's performance as Max is thrilling and terrifying, stealing the show with his blunt and biting delivery.
Titanique is a spoof-style musical that retells the story of the Titanic through the eyes of Celine Dion. Marla Mindelle's performance as Dion is uproariously funny, and the production is cohesive without feeling forced. The musical includes a singing-dancing iceberg, a duet sung to a prop eggplant, and off-the-charts vocals, including a standout moment from Deborah Cox as Molly Brown.
Fallen Angels is a Noël Coward comedy about a pair of upper-class wives recalling their pre-marital dalliances. The chemistry between Tony winner Kelli O'Hara and Oscar nominee Rose Byrne is magnetic, and their individual comic timing is excellent. The production is enhanced by the ornate set design and the physical comedy hijinks that ensue.
Schmigadoon is a musical based on the beloved Apple TV series. The production is playfully steeped in musical theater tropes, self-aware, and gleefully winking at its conventions. It's a love letter to Broadway, drawing clear lineage from Golden Age touchstones like The Sound of Music and Oklahoma!.
11 to Midnight is a dance story that unfolds during the final hour of New Year's Eve. The piece shifts between early exuberance and reflective passages, tracing lovers' quarrels and the shifting rhythms of friendship. The dance is expressive in its own right, a language used with intelligence and intent.
Death of a Salesman is a revival of Arthur Miller's classic play about a family chasing the American Dream. Nathan Lane and Laurie Metcalf deliver performances that keep the audience on the edge of their seats. Lane's tortured Willy and Metcalf's unwavering Linda have the right chemistry, and the show hits two emotional peaks with gripping scenes.
While Broadway has been relatively light on full-throated Golden Age revivals, Schmigadoon feels like both homage and revival. With its earworm score, polished choreography, and classic love-triangle mechanics, it reintroduces old-school theatricality for a new audience, without losing its sense of fun.
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