Arts > Life
Big Apple Attractions
Our annual fall roundup of new and upcoming New York theater offerings with a Jewish twist.
ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER
Special to the Jewish News
T
heatergoers who fancy one-
person shows will be pleased
with this fall's Broadway and
Off-Broadway offerings.
"If you are looking for trends, I
would say it's a season of one-person
shows," says Jed Bernstein, president
of the League of American Theaters
and Producers. "To name just a few,
we have Billy Crystal for the first time,
Whoopi Goldberg coming back to
Broadway, Dame Edna, who's back,
and Mario Cantone. There are proba-
bly more, too."
This fall also sees the opening of
new musicals, including the classic
Little Women and All Shook Up, a
musical featuring the songs of Elvis
Presley.
And the biggest buzz in New York
theater circles, notes Bernstein, seems
to be the play Democracy, written by
Michael Frayn, who also penned the
critically acclaimed Copenhagen.
The good news is that New York
theater is back in full swing after a
slow period following Sept. 11. Ticket
sales, Bernstein says, are running
about 6 percent ahead of last year at
this time, and grosses are up 6-7 per-
cent.
The hardest time to get tickets?
Thanksgiving through New Year's,
when tourists flock to New York,
vying for seats to the hottest shows.
In keeping with our annual fall tra-
dition, here is a sampling of new pro-
ductions on Broadway and Off-
Broadway that feature Jewish play-
wrights, actors, themes, composers
and/or directors.
BROADWAY
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2004
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Brooklyn the Musical
A band of sidewalk singers and sto-
rytellers, with a mix of pop and soul,
tell the story of a famous pop star
named Brooklyn. In the city that bears
her name, Brooklyn searches for fame
and the father she never knew. Book,
music and lyrics are by Mark
Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson.
Currently running at the Plymouth
Theatre, 236 West 45th St. (212) 239-
6200.
New Dodger Stages, Stage 3, 240
West 50th St. (212) 239-6200.
David Holcenberg is the musical
supervisor/arranger.
Previews begin in December; show
opens January 2005 (exact dates tbd),
at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre, 230
West 49th St. Tickets are not yet on
sale.
Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays
Democracy
In his one-man show, veteran
Set in West Germany, Michael
comedian Billy Crystal takes
Frayn's play — receiving rave
a look at his life and rela-
reviews for its performances on
tionship with his father.
the London stage — is about
Brooklyn Boy
Crystal, who lost his father
the career of former chancellor
The play begins with writer Eric
when
he
was
a
teenager,
Willy Brandt and his personal
Weiss sitting by his father's bedside in
only had 700 Sundays to
assistant, Gunter Guillaume,
Brooklyn. Weiss has been living on the
spend time with his dad. In
who became a spy for East
fast track as a successful writer and is
an autobiographical jour-
Germany.
about to have his book, Brooklyn Boy,
ney, Crystal plays
In the cast is Robert
made into a movie. While trying to
numerous charac-
Prosky, who played
deal with his father's illness, he must
ters who have
the rabbi in a recent
come to terms with his current fame,
touched
his
life.
Off-Broadway adapta-
his
past and how Brooklyn will always
Previews
tion of the The
be
a
part of him.
begin
Nov.
12;
Golem.
Penned by Jewish playwright
show opens
Previews begin Nov.
Donald Margulies ("Judaism in my
Dec. 5, at the
3; show opens Nov.
life is omnipresent — it's the way I
Broadhurst
18, at the Brooks
was raised and is always with me," he
Theatre, 235
Atkinson Theatre,
told the Jewish News when his award-
West 44th St.
256 West 47th St.
winning
play Dinner With Friends ran
(212)
239-
(212) 307-4100.
Brooklyn Boy stars Adam
in
Detroit),
6200.
Billy Crystal in "Billy Crystal: 700 Sundays"
(Chicago
Hope).
Arkin
La Cage Aux Folks
Previews begin Jan. 13, 2005; open-
Based on the
ing night is Feb. 3, at the Biltmore
Little Women: The Musical
French film by the same name, this
Theatre, 261 West 47th St. (212) 239-
This musical, based on the Louisa
musical comedy is about two middle-
6200.
May Alcott classic about life in 19-
aged gay partners who run a drag
century New England, is directed by
nightclub in St. Tropez. Their life
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
Susan H. Schulman (The Secret
becomes even more outrageous when
Based on the 1988 Steve Martin and
Garden).
their son announces he is about to
Michael
Caine film, the play is a com-
Michigan-raised
Sutton
Foster,
fol-
marry the daughter of a local morals
edy about two con men who join
lowing her Tony-winning Best Actress
crusader. The original production of
forces on the French Riviera to fleece
in a Musical run in Thoroughly
La Cage Aux Folles opened on
Broadway in 1983 and went on to win Modern Millie, plays Jo March.
BIG APPLE ATTRACTIONS on page 68
Southfield native and U-M musical
six Tony Awards, including Best
theater grad Danny
Musical.
Gurwin also is in the
Music and lyrics are by Jerry
cast.
Herman, book by Harvey Fierstein
Previews begin Dec.
and direction by Jerry Zaks.
7; opens Jan. 23, 2005,
Previews begin Nov. 10, show opens
at the Virginia Theatre,
Dec. 9, at the Marquis Theater, 1535
245 West 52nd St.
Broadway at 46th St. (212) 307-4100.
(212) 239-6200.
Modern Orthodox
Good Vibrations
This romantic comedy starring
A musical based on
Jason Biggs (American Pie on film; The
the
songs of the Beach
on
Broadway)
is
about
a
Graduate
Boys, Good Vibrations
financial consultant, his doctor girl-
follows the adventures
friend and a Jewish diamond dealer.
of small-town teenagers
How their faith is relevant in the hec-
who make their way
tic world of New York City is
from the East Coast to
explored. Daniel Goldfarb, who also
penned Adam Baum and the Jew Movie Southern California.
Jess Goldstein is the
and Sarah, Sarah, is the playwright.
costume designer, and
Performances begin Nov. 11, at the
Adam Arkin and Allen Miller in "Brooklyn Boy"