MAY 30 • 2024 | 49

and a woman’s right to vote. Written 
and composed by Shaina Taub, who is 
nominated for best book of a musical, it’s 
co-produced by Hillary Rodham Clinton 
and Malala Yousafzai. Leigh Silverman is 
up for best director.
At the Music Box Theatre, 239 W. 
45th St., (212) 239-6200.
The Great Gatsby, with one Tony nod, 
is set in the 1920s and based on F. Scott 
Fitzgerald’s timeless great American 
novel. The audience is taken back to the 
Roaring Twenties, as eccentric millionaire 
Jay Gatsby pursues the lost love of his 
youth, Daisy Buchanan. Starring Jeremy 
Jordan and Eva Noblezada, it’s directed 
by Marc Bruni.
At the Broadway Theatre, 1681 
Broadway, (212) 239-6200.
The Notebook, Nicholas Sparks’ roman-
tic, heartbreaking love story, has gone 
from novel to screen to stage. Allie and 
Noah fall madly in love, spending over 50 
years together as husband and wife. Years 
later, Allie suffers from dementia and, 
at her bedside at a nursing home, Noah 
reads to her from a notebook she had 
written years before. 
Garnering three nominations, it’s 
directed by Michael Greif and Schele 
Williams. The sound design is by Nevin 
Steinberg and music and lyrics by Ingrid 
Michaelson.
At the Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 
45th St., (212) 239-6200.
The Outsiders, up for 12 awards, 
including best musical, is based on S.E. 
Hinton’s novel and the movie. Reaching 
out to a new generation, it’s about teens 
caught in a class war in an Oklahoma 
town. Tony and his brothers try and 
figure out where they fit in the world. 
Justin Levine nabbed three Tony 
nominations — one for book of a musi-
cal, one for orchestrations and one for 
original score. Danya Taymor earned 
a nomination for direction, and Jeff 
Kuperman and Rick Kuperman for 
choreography.
At the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, 242 
W. 45th St., (212) 239-6200.
The Who’s Tommy, with one Tony 
nod, is an unforgettable rock opera that 
returns to Broadway after three decades 

and a fresh new take. It’s the story of 
Tommy Walker, a young boy who became 
traumatized after witnessing a murder. 
He retreats into himself, often staring 
into the mirror. Growing up, he is emo-
tionless and unrelatable to anyone or any-
thing —until he tries pinball, where he 
becomes a wiz. Music and lyrics by Pete 
Townshend, starring Adam Jacobs, Alison 
Luff and Reese Levine as Tommy at age 
10. Scenic design is by David Korins.
At the Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 
41st St., (212) 239-6200.
Uncle Vanya, an amusing production 
of the classic tale written by Anton 
Chekhov, earned one nomination and 
stars Steve Carell. The story focuses on 
a man and his unmarried niece who 
manage the family farm only to have 
everything disrupted when their relatives 
move in. Directed by Lila Neugebauer. 
The show closes June 16.
At the Vivian Beaumont Theater, 150 
W. 65th St., (212) 239-6200.
Water For Elephants, up for seven 
nominations including best new musical, 
is based on Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel. 
When a veterinarian student’s parents 
are killed in an accident, he drops out of 
school and winds up joining the circus, 
where he cares for the animals. He also 
finds romance with the ringmaster’s wife. 
Going back and forth from the past to 
the present, the show includes high wire 
acts, people swinging and death-defying 

leaps. It stars Grant Gustin and Gregg 
Edelman. Jessica Stone is nominated for 
best direction, Rick Elice for book of a 
musical, David Israel Reynoso for cos-
tume design, and Shana Carroll and Jesse 
Robb for choreography.
At the Imperial Theater, 249 W. 
45th St., (212) 239-6200.
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond 
Musical is not a new show, but it is a hot 
ticket in New York, especially since it’s 
closing June 30. It’s the story of music 
legend Neil Diamond, a poor Jewish boy 
from Brooklyn who became universally 
revered. 
His first break into songwriting was 
in the 1960s, and this energetic show 
highlights his disappointments, successes 
and rise to stardom. Direction is by 
Michael Mayer. The musical score fea-
tures the singer’s most beloved hits, 
including “Sweet Caroline” and “Cracklin’ 
Rose.” Audiences sing along with some of 
Diamond’s unforgettable hits during the 
show. 
After the Broadway run, the musi-
cal will go on the road and make its 
Detroit premiere at the Fisher Theatre 
Dec. 24-Jan. 5, 2025. The casting will be 
announced later, but fans are encouraged 
to visit abeautifulnoisethemusical.com to 
sign up for the email newsletter to receive 
tour news and updates.
At the Broadhurst Theatre, 235 W. 
44th St., (800) 447-7400. 

MATTHEW MURPHY, 2023

The leads from Merrily 
We Roll Along at the 
Hudson Theatre

