arts&life
theater
Anastasia
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY
Sunset Boulevard
Dear Evan Hansen
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MURPHY
PHOTO BY JULIETA CERVANTES
PHOTO BY NICK WALL
Hello, Dolly!
Broadway In
Springtime
ALICE BURDICK SCHWEIGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
Heading to the Big
Apple? Add these hot
shows to your must-
see list, many with a
Jewish connection.
122
May 25 • 2017
ON BROADWAY
1984 is a new adaptation of
George Orwell’s iconic novel
1984, published in 1949. The
story of government employee
Winston Smith, under the
watchful eye of Big Brother,
introduced to America ideas
about government and power
never before considered. The
show opens June 22. At the
Hudson Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
Anastasia, based on the 1956
and 1997 20th Century Fox films,
features a new musical score.
From the Russian Empire to
Paris in the 1920s, a brave young
woman attempts to discover
the mystery of her past. Pursued
by a ruthless Soviet officer, she
enlists the aid of an endear-
ing con man and together they
embark on an adventure to find
jn
her home and family. Music and
lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and
Lynn Ahrens. Book by Terrance
McNally. At the Broadhurst
Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
Bandstand, a high-energy
musical, features big-band
rhythms of the 1940s. It tells the
story about a group of soldiers
returning home from World War
II. They form a band and enter
a national radio contest look-
ing to find America’s next big
swing band, hoping for a chance
at instant fame. Sound design
by Nevin Steinberg (Dear
Evan Hanson, Hamilton, Bright
Star). At the Bernard B. Jacobs
Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
Charlie and the Chocolate
Factory invites theatergoers to
experience Willy Wonka’s magi-
cal semi-dark chocolate world.
Little Charlie and four other
kids win a contest and are given
a tour of the chocolate factory
led by Willy (played by Christian
Borle). Based on the 1964 novel
by Roald Dahl, it was a film in
1971 starring Gene Wilder, and
a film in 2005 starring Johnny
Depp. John Rubinstein (son
of pianist Arthur Rubinstein)
plays the grandfather. In this
stage production, the book is by
David Greig, music and lyrics
by Marc Shaiman and lyrics
also by Scott Wittman. At the
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. (800)
982-2787.
Come from Away, based on
a true story, follows a group
of travelers whose planes
were diverted to Gander,
Newfoundland, on Sept. 11,
2001. The townspeople of
Gander open up their hearts
and homes to accommodate the
stranded travelers. One of the
passengers is a rabbi who cre-
ates a kosher kitchen while they
are there. This moving, terrific
show has garnered seven Tony
nominations. Twelve talented
actors play multiple roles. Music
and lyrics by the husband-and-
wife team Irene Sankoff and
David Hein. At the Schoenfeld
Theatre. (212) 239-6200.
Dear Evan Hansen, a brilliant,
contemporary, bittersweet musi-
cal, earned nine Tony nomina-
tions. A letter that was never
meant to be seen, a lie that
was never meant to be told, a
life he never dreamed he could
have — high-school student
Evan Hansen finally fits in and is
thrust into social media after a