January and February Bring About Change to the Broadway World

Although people hate to say good-bye, that one word seems to be going around lately in the world of Broadway. Even though many new shows come in to replace the departing family members of the theatre world, the months of January and February appear to have a lot more departing members then new arrivals.

The biggest announcement this month is that the Nederlander Theatre will be losing its’ hit show RENT on June 1^st. After 12 years, RENT will finally close their doors as one of Broadway’s biggest hits. Based on Puccini’s Opera, La Boheme, RENT tells the story of a group of friends living through a year with drugs, sex, friendship, loneliness, and AIDS. Opening in 1996, RENT won the Tony for Best Musical and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Its’ creator, Jonathan Larson, was unable to see his creation at work, due to his untimely death the day before opening night. Currently staring Tamyra Gray from American Idol, RENT helped launch many careers, such as Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Idina Menzel and many others. Do not miss this Broadway Blockbuster before it leaves for good. As Anthony Rapp said on his Broadway.com interview, “it’s the end of an era.”

February 24^th will also have it’s goodbyes as both The Color Purple and The Fantasticks close their doors to theater goers in New York. The Color Purple will be leaving the Broadway Theater after having 30 previews and 910 performances. Based on the Pulitzer Prize wining novel by Alice Walker, this show, produced by Oprah Winfrey, opened on December 1^st, 2005 to very mixed reviews. Having received 11 Tony nominations and only winning 1 (LaChanze for leading role of Celie), The Color Purple took the ever-popular trend at that time and brought in an American Idol. For this show, theatre management brought in Fantasia to assume the role of Celie in spring of 2007, and the ticket sales boomed. After closing on February 24^th, The Color Purple will tour around the United States through 2009. Look for theaters in your area to see if the show is coming to you.

Also, on that same day, The Fantasticks will be departing its’ home of The Snapple Theatre Center. After 27 previews and 628 performances, The Fantasticks is still known as the longest running musical on Broadway. Originally opening on May 3^rd, 1960, closing Jan 13th, 2002 and playing for 17,162 performances, The Fantasticks reopened its’ arms to the Broadway fans on August 23^rd, 2006. This show also felt the Idol sting and brought Anthony Federov to the stage to play one of its’ leads, Matt.

With all the departures from the theater, there has to be some announcements of shows arriving to the Great White Way. The biggest one is Disney’s newest creation, The Little Mermaid. This underwater spectacular opened on January 10^th, 2008 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre to huge publicity around the nation. Starring Broadway newcomer, Sierra Boggess and veterans Sherie Rene Scott and Norm Lewis, this production is sure to please Disney lovers of all ages. Based on the 1989 classic, The Little Mermaid tells the story of Ariel, a young mermaid who wants to leave her underwater world and experience life above the sea after falling in love with a human.

Be sure to experience these shows and many more the next time you are in New York. Whether it’s to visit a land “Under The Sea” or enjoy some “Seasons of Love”, this critic can guarantee you will have a great time with your family.