Broadway Headliners

• Move over, Wicked. There's a new budget breaker in town (well, sort of). The new production of The Lord Of The Rings is now in previews in London at the Theater Royal, Drury Lane (where I saw the amazing Witches of Eastwick in 2000, but that's a different story). The $23 million budget (that's right, with the zeros that's $23,000,000..six of 'em) nearly doubles out the meak $14 million of Wicked, which is now only the most expensive show in Broadway history, not theater history.
  The show is not coming at a price, both for the investors' pocket books and the actors. The May 31 and June 1 performances were cancelled due to an incident where an actor's leg became caught in the hydraulic stage. Adam Salter was heard screaming, "My leg! My leg" before the curtain was promptly dropped and the rest of the performance was cancelled. Ouch.
  Performances were set to resume at the June 2 matinee after the staging was modified to prevent further casualties. It will officially open June 19. Still sound daunting? Well don't worry, although the musical combines the entire LOTR series into one production, the London production clocks in at 3 hours, a full 40 minutes shorter than the world premiere Toronto production. That alone should boost the ticket sales!
• The London production of Disney's Mary Poppins posted its closing notice yesterday, announcing the show will close January 12, 2008, just over three years since its opening. A UK and international tour is in the works. That means you only have 6 more months to see Gavin Creel (who literally ran away from my parents when they saw the show and tried to get his autograph...but we still love him) pretend to be British...maybe they will convince him to come to the US and play the role on Broadway. Then they could do an American Poppins, just like the British production of Wicked in London. Hmm, or maybe not.
• Vantriliquist Jay Johnson is bringing his "one-man" show, Jay Johnson-The Two and Only! back to New York. No, not Broadway, thank God, but a tour starting in Ithaca, NY. Apparently his 30% attendance rate (and lower by the time the show closed) wasn't enough of a sign to put his little buddy back in the box...
• The Paper Mill Playhouse, the popular New Jersey regional not-for-profit theater that has been in financial crisis for the last few months, finally received a $3.5 million loan from Investors Savings Bank. In a statement Paper Mill chairman of the board Ken Thorn said, "This is the first step in a long-range plan to revitalize the Playhouse and ensure the theatre's financial stability." The loan will help the theatre not only mount its final production of the season, Pirates!, but prepare for the launch of the 2007-2008 theatre season.
  I think this is great. I have grown up hearing about Paper Mill, and hope to once chance be able to perform there. I know tons of the big Broadway performers there were able to get their careers kick-started thanks to the Playhouse (including Gavin Creel, Kristin Chenoweth, John Lloyd Young, and more), so it's been really great to see so many people come out to support one of the biggest regional theaters in the nation. I just hope they are able to overcome their troubles and stay in business!
• The after-hours comedy revue, Don't Quit Your Night Job will end its run on June 4, just a few weeks after beginning its commercial run. The revue was initially started as a benefit for Wendy Wasserstein's Open Doors program, became a monthly installment at Joe's Pub, and officially opened a 6 performance-a-week schedule at the Ha! Comedy Club on May 17. So much for people thinking Broadway performers are funny, huh? The craziest thing is that creator Sarah Saltzberg is listed as performing at the show each night, as well as in Spelling Bee in LA. She certainly gives the term "bi coastal" a new meaning!
• A revival of Terrance McNally's The Ritz is set for Studio 54 October 11 through December 2. Produced by Roundabout, the show will star Rosie Perez, Kevin Chamberlin, and Brooks Ashmankas. A chica from the hood, a fat guy, and a Martin Short wannabe. Director Joe Mantello certainly has his hands full...