Happy Birthday Sheldon Harnick

I starred in my first show in the eighth grade. Now even though my love for the theatre started years before, it grew even stronger now that I was behind the footlights. That production was Bye Bye Birdie. For the next few years, I had roles in Play It Again Sam, Oliver, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown, and Peter Pan. However it wasn't until the Summer between my sophomore and junior year, that I did my first show outside the walls of my high school auditorium. The show? Fiddler on the Roof? The lyricist? Why none other than today's blog subject, the one and only Sheldon Harnick.

Since I was in the chorus, I spent a lot of time back stage. Thankfully, that gave me plenty of time to hear his exquisite and touching lyrics night after night. Now while that was my last Sheldon Harnick show that I was in, I have had the chance over the years to see several of his shows on the big stage. My first was Fiorello,which launched the Encores! Series in 1994. Then there was the 2006 Broadway revival of The Apple Tree, starring Kristin Chenoweth, Brian D'Arcy James, and Marc Kudisch. Oh and of course two revivals of Fiddler on the Roof in between.

But my most memorable of all of them, was the 1993 Broadway revival of She Loves Me. Prior to moving to New York, I had never heard of the show. Then my first semester at college, I was assigned the show's title song. From then on, it became one of my favorite shows. For those of you that are not familiar with this amazing show, it takes place in Budapest at a local Parfumerie, and is based on 1940 award winning film Shop Around The Corner starring Jimmy Stewart and Margaret Sullivan. That film, was then remade in 1998, in the romantic classic You've Got Mail, starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.

So, now that you know a little bit about the show's background, I'll get back to the reason the show is so special to me. For starters, I saw the show on Christmas Day, which for those of you who know the show, is when the last part of the show takes place. It was also my first Christmas that I would not be spending with my family. Oh and to top it all off, Santa Claus came out for the curtain call. Which I found out later was just a one time thing for that performance. Regardless, it topped off a magical evening in the theatre that I will never forget. Happy Birthday Sheldon Harnick. Broadway would not have been the same without you. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
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2020 Radio City Christmas Spectacular Is Now On Sale

That's right holiday fans. We are only two hundred and forty-one days away until Christmas. Trust me. It will be here before you know it. Plus with the state of the world that we are in, a little holiday cheer is exactly what we need right now my friends. Now in it's 87th year, performances are scheduled to begin at the historic Radio City Music Hall on November 6, 2020, and play thru January 3, 2021. Oh and did I mention that we are selling it? Well we are. Get your tickets to see the 2020 Radio City Christmas Spectacular. Until next time theatre fans.

Friday November 6 2pm, 8pm
Saturday November 7 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Sunday November 8 11am, 2pm, 5pm
Wednesday November 11 11am, 2pm
Friday November 13 2pm, 8pm
Saturday November 14 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Sunday November 15 11am, 2pm, 5pm
Wednesday November 18 2pm, 8pm
Friday November 20 2pm, 8pm
Saturday November 21 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm
Sunday November 22 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Monday November 23 2pm, 8pm
Tuesday November 24 11am, 2pm, 8pm
Wednesday November 25 1pm, 4pm, 7pm
Thursday November 26 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm
Friday November 27 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Saturday November 28 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Sunday November 29 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Monday November 30 2pm, 8pm
Tuesday December 1 2pm, 8pm
Wednesday December 2 11am, 2pm
Thursday December 3 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Friday December 4 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Saturday December 5 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Sunday December 6 9am, 11:30am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Monday December 7 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Tuesday December 8 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Wednesday December 9 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Thursday December 10 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Friday December 11 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm,7:30pm, 10pm
Saturday December 12 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Sunday December 13 9am, 11:30am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Monday December 14 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Tuesday December 15 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Wednesday December 16 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Thursday December 17 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Friday December 18 10:30am, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 7:30pm, 10pm
Saturday December 19 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Sunday December 20 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Monday December 21 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Tuesday December 22 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Wednesday December 23 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Thursday December 24 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Friday December 25 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Saturday December 26 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Sunday December 27 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Monday December 28 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm, 10pm
Tuesday December 29 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Wednesday December 30 10am, 1pm, 4pm, 7pm
Thursday December 31 11am, 2pm
Friday January 1 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Saturday January 2 11am, 2pm, 5pm, 8pm
Sunday January 3 11am, 2pm, 5pm

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

New York City Ballet To Live Stream

Let's be honest. Not being able to go to the theatre sucks. Actually not being able to do a lot of the things we used to do sucks. Thankfully the last few weeks, we have been lucky enough to be able to watch dozen's of full productions and concerts from the comfort of our own couch. But what if theatre isn't your thing? What if ballet is more your cup of tea? Well have I got good news for you dance fans. From now thru May 30, the New York City Ballet, will stream some of their most celebrated performances on their website, as well as their Facebook page, and their YouTube Channel. Some of the show's highlighted are a trio of George Balanchine's favorite's. Apollo, Ballo Della Regina, and Rubies From Jewels, as well as a series of educational workshops. Ballet Essentials for all ages, and Ballet Breaks, for ages three to eight. Well would you look at that? Something for everyone. Hopefully more dance companies will follow suit, and other events like these will be available to view in the near future. Stay safe everyone, and continue to look out for each other. 

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Broadway's Sing Street Cast To Live Stream This Week

As you all know, last night was the premier of "Take Me To The World, A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration." The all-star event, that streamed on YouTube/Broadway.com was a huge success, despite a few technical difficulties at the beginning. One of the highlights of the evening, was of course those talented trio of diva's, Meryl Streep, Audra McDonald, and Christine Baranski, who brought down the house with their rendition of "The Ladies Who Lunch", made famous by the late Elaine Stritch.

Thank god for all these events. I mean let's face it, where else would get our theatre fix right? Plus, they help raise money for a lot of great organizations at the same time. Which brings me to today's blog subject. Sing Street, which was scheduled to premier on Broadway this month at the Lyceum Theatre, will live stream a concert featuring both the cast's of the U.S. and U.K. companies.

The event, which will benefit The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Covid-19 Emergency Assistance Fund, will begin at 6:30PM ET on April 30, and continue thru 7PM ET on the Sing Street's Facebook page, and will feature songs from the show. Well I know where I'll be this Thursday. Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Fifty Years Ago Today

Fifty years. Seems like a lifetime ago doesn't it? Actually I wouldn't know, as it would be a few years until I came into the world. Anyway, if you are a theatre fan like me, you probably know something big happened on this day fifty years ago in theatre history. Give up? Well, if you guessed that Stephen Sondheim's and George Furth's Company opened on Broadway, then you would be right.The show, which won six 1970 Tony Awards, was recently in the middle of previews at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

Sadly the show, along with every other show on Broadway, closed down on March 12 due to the coranavirus. In fact, I saw the production the night before everything was shut down.Here's hoping it, along with every other show will be able to return in the near future. Oh and for those of you that need a little Sondheim fix, tonight is " Take Me To The World, A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration" hosted by four-time Tony Award nominee Raul Esparza, who played Bobby in the 2007 Broadway revival.

Featuring over thirty performers including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Audra McDonald, Neil Patrick Harris, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Patti LuPone, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Ben Platt, Katrina Lenk, Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep, and many, many more, will air beginning at 8pm on YouTubecom/Broadway.com, and will benefit ASTEP (Artist's Striving To End Poverty). Stay safe everyone, and as always don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

My First Show

In the thirty plus years that I have been going to the theatre, I have seen hundreds and hundreds of shows. Most of those being in New York City. I have seen long running shows like The Phantom of the Opera and Chicago, life changing shows like Rent and The Secret Garden, and of course so many flops like Side Show and Chess. All of them I loved, and all I still listen to this day. However my first show was in 1979. A local high school production of Oklahoma! From that moment on, I was hooked.

For the next eight years, I saw every production I could. Then in 1987, I auditioned for my first show, and for the first time, I was a part of something that I loved more than life itself. Now even though that Rodgers and Hammerstein classic was my introduction to live theatre, I want to talk about the first show I saw beyond the walls of my small town of Paris, Illinois. Big River. I first discovered the show in 1985, during that year's Tony Award telecast.

Of course immediately after it was over that night, I was determined to find out everything I could about the show. Only problem was, is that is was 1985, and a little thing called the internet hadn't been invented yet. So, I did what any other obsessed kid would do, and headed down to the local library to get a copy of the New York Times. Now the year prior, I had read Mark Twain's classic novel Huckleberry Finn. I loved it. And now all these years later, it had been turned into an award winning musical.

A few weeks later, I had saved enough money, so the next time my parent's and I went to Terre Haute, Indiana to go shopping, I bought the cast recording, which of course I made my parent's blast on the ride home. Thankfully both my Mom and Dad loved country music, so they didn't seem to mind. Plus after I told them that the composer was Roger Miller, they were a little more enthusiastic, then if it was say Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Oh and case you were wondering, I did end up making them listen to Phantom just a few years later. Now at the time, I had resolved the fact that I would probably never get the chance to see Big River on Broadway. Then something unexpected happen. The touring production was set to play in Champaign, Illinois, which was only about ninety minutes away.

To this day, I'm still not exactly sure how I was able to convince my parents to take me to see it, but they did. Well as you can probably guess, I loved it. And to this day, it is still one of my favorite theatrical experiences of all time. Oh and by the way, the day that Big River opened on Broadway? April 25, 1985. Exactly thirty-five years today. Stay safe everyone. And don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Today In Theatre History

April 24, 1997. Care to guess what happened on that date theatre fans? Now to be honest, 1997 was not a very successful year on Broadway. Yes, a total of thirty-four shows opened between July 1996 and April 1997. However, the biggest hit of the season that year? The first ever Broadway revival of Chicago. The original production ran from June 3, 1975 thru August 27, 1977. Nowadays a show that lasts more than three or four years is considered a success. But back then, a two year run was unheard of on Broadway. Unfortunately, the show opened the same season as A Chorus Line, and was overshadowed by it that season.

Cut to twenty-one years later, and a new production as part of Encores! at City Center opens to rave reviews, and within six months it is back on the Great White Way once again, where it continues to run all these years later. In fact, it is the second longest running show in Broadway history. Who would have thought? Now I know what you're probably thinking. "What does this have to do with the date that I mentioned at the beginning of the blog"? No, it's not the day the new revival of Chicago opened on Broadway. That was on November 10, 1996.

It was in fact, the opening night of the new musical Steel Pier. The writer's? Why none other than John Kander and Fred Ebb, the same writer's of Chicago. See how it all ties together? Now while Steel Pier received eleven Tony Award nominations that year, including Best Musical, it won none, losing the top prize to Titanic, and closed after seventy-six performances. And who knows? Maybe in ten or twenty years, it will make a comeback, and go on to be a big success it's second time around. After all, it happened to Chicago right? Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Happy Birthday William Shakespeare

Now the truth is, nobody is actually sure if William Shakespeare was really born on this date on April 23, 1564. However, that is the day that is celebrated each and every year, so here we go. Throughout his illustrious career, he wrote thirty-nine plays including As You Like It, Twelfth Night, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Macbeth, and Romeo and Juliet, some of which were turned into successful Broadway musicals, that reached the same heights as their dramatic inspiration. Another one of those, West Side Story, was currently playing until everything was shut down to the coronanvirus. Make no mistake, Broadway will be back. Let me rephrase that. We will be back, and when we do, we will be stronger than ever. Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

In The Heights Movie Postponed Until 2021

It was the Spring of 2008. A first term United State's Senator from Illinois by the name of Barack Obama, was chomping at the heels of Hilary Clinton. The country was on the brink of a recession. And a little show called In The Heights was taking Broadway by storm. I had first heard of the show from my coworkers who saw the show the year before during it's Off-Broadway run in 2007, where it won the Outer Critic's Circle Award for Best Musical of the Year.

Who would have thought that a little over a year later, it would go on to receive thirteen Tony Award nominations, winning four, including Best Musical of the Year, along with the Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album.Now here we are twenty years later, and the show is headed to the big screen. Shot on location in New York city in the Summer of 2019, the film was scheduled to open this Summer.

Unfortunately due to the coronavirus, the film has been postponed until June 18,2021. Now I don't know about you, but Summer 2021 cannot come fast enough my friends. Until then, here is the official trailer of the film to sort of wet your appetite until then. Stay safe everyone, and as always, don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

2020 Drama Desk Nominations

Now I know what some of you might be thinking. "How can there be nominations if there is no theatre?" Well in some cases, it's true. After all, this year's Tony Awards have been cancelled, along with the Outer Critic's Circle Awards, and the West End's Olivier Awards. But there is some good news to celebrate theatre fans. This years Drama Desk Award nominees.

Celebrating both Broadway and Off-Broadway, the awards which were scheduled for May 31 at Town Hall, will now be held online. Leading the pack with eleven nominations is Soft Power, written by Tony Award winners David Henry Hwang (Madame Butterfly), and Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home), followed by The Wrong Man with nine nominations, and Octet with eight.

Now I'll be honest while looking over the list, I didn't recognize some of the nominees. Don't get me wrong, I love Off-Broadway. It's just that this season, most of the shows that I had seen were on Broadway. Plus Broadway has been hiatus since March 11, with fourteen shows that were unable to open due to the shutdown. Despite that, there were six Broadway shows that were recognized, for a total of twenty-six nominations. Now on to the rest of the nominees.

Outstanding Play
Cambodian Rock Band
Greater Clements
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Heroes of the Fourth Turning
The Inheritance

Outstanding Musical
Octet
The Secret Life of Bees
Soft Power
A Strange Loop
The Wrong Man

Outstanding Revival of a Play
Fefu and Her Friends
For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is Enuf
Mac Beth
Much Ado About Nothing
A Soldier's Play

Outstanding Revival of a Musical
Little Shop of Horrors
The Unsinkable Molly Brown
West Side Story

Outstanding Actor in a Play
Charles Busch, The Confession of Lily Dare
Edmund Donovan, Greater Clements
Raúl Esparza, Seared
Francis Jue, Cambodian Rock Band
Triney Sandoval, 72 Miles to Go…
Kyle Soller, The Inheritance

Outstanding Actress in a Play
Rose Byrne, Medea
Liza Colón-Zayas, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Emily Davis, Is This a Room
April Mathis, Toni Stone
Ruth Negga, Hamlet

Outstanding Actor in a Musical
David Aron Damane, The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Chris Dwan, Enter Laughing
Joshua Henry, The Wrong Man
Francis Jue, Soft Power
Larry Owens, A Strange Loop

Outstanding Actress in a Musical
Tammy Blanchard, Little Shop of Horrors
Beth Malone, The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Saycon Sengbloh, The Secret Life of Bees
Elizabeth Stanley, Jagged Little Pill
Adrienne Warren, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
Victor Almanzar, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Esteban Andres Cruz, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
David Alan Grier, A Soldier's Play
Paul Hilton, The Inheritance
Chris Perfetti, Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play
Patrice Johnson, Runboyrun and In Old Age
Kristina Poe, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Belange Rodríguez, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
Elizabeth Rodriguez, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Lois Smith, The Inheritance

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical
George Abud, Emojiland
Christian Borle, Little Shop of Horrors
Jay Armstrong Johnson, Scotland, PA
Conrad Ricamora, Soft Power
Ryan Vasquez, The Wrong Man

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical
Yesenia Ayala, West Side Story
Paula Leggett Chase, The Unsinkable Molly Brown
LaChanze, The Secret Life of Bees
Alyse Alan Louis, Soft Power
Lauren Patten, Jagged Little Pill

Outstanding Director of a Play
Jessica Blank, Coal Country
Stephen Daldry, The Inheritance
John Ortiz, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven
Tina Satter, Is This A Room
Erica Schmidt, Mac Beth

Outstanding Director of a Musical
Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop
Thomas Kail, The Wrong Man
Kathleen Marshall, The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Leigh Silverman, Soft Power
Annie Tippe, Octet

Outstanding Choreography
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker, West Side Story
Keone Madrid and Mari Madrid, Beyond Babel
Kathleen Marshall, The Unsinkable Molly Brown
Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge!
Travis Wall, The Wrong Man

Outstanding Music
Ross Golan, The Wrong Man
Michael R. Jackson, A Strange Loop
Dave Malloy, Octet
Joshua Rosenblum, Einstein’s Dreams
Duncan Sheik, The Secret Life of Bees
Jeanine Tesori, Soft Power

Outstanding Lyrics
Susan Birkenhead, The Secret Life of Bees
Adam Gwon, Scotland, PA
Michael R. Jackson, A Strange Loop
Joanne Sydney Lessner and Joshua Rosenblum, Einstein’s Dreams
Dave Malloy, Octe
Mark Saltzman, Romeo & Bernadette

Outstanding Book of a Musical
David Henry Hwang, Soft Power
Michael R. Jackson, A Strange Loop
Dave Malloy, Octet
Lynn Nottage, The Secret Life of Bees
Mark Saltzman, Romeo & Bernadette
Dick Scanlan, The Unsinkable Molly Brown

Outstanding Orchestrations
Tom Kitt, Jagged Little Pill
Alex Lacamoire, The Wrong Man
Or Matias and Dave Malloy, Octet
Danny Troob, John Clancy, and Larry Hochman, Soft Power
Jonathan Tunick, West Side Story

Outstanding Music in a Play
Steve Earle, Coal Country
Frightened Rabbit, Square Go
Jim Harbourne, Feral
Martha Redbone, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Adam Seidel, Jane Bruce, and Daniel Ocanto, Original Sound

Outstanding Scenic Design for a Play
Catherine Cornell, Mac Beth
Clint Ramos, Grand Horizons
Adam Rigg, Fefu and Her Friends
Paul Steinberg, Judgment Day
B.T. Whitehill, The Confession of Lily Dare

Outstanding Scenic Design for a Musical
Julian Crouch, Little Shop of Horrors
Anna Louizos, Scotland, PA
Derek McLane, Moulin Rouge!
Clint Ramos, Soft Power
Amy Rubin and Brittany Vasta, Octet

Outstanding Costume Design for a Play
Asa Benally, Blues for an Alabama Sky
Montana Levi Blanco, Fefu and Her Friends
Toni-Leslie James, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf
Antony McDonald, Judgment Day
Rachel Townsend and Jessica Jahn, The Confession of Lily Dare
Kaye Voyce, Coriolanus

Outstanding Costume Design for a Musical
Vanessa Leuck, Emojiland
Jeff Mahshie, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice
Mark Thompson, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Anita Yavich, Soft Power
Catherine Zuber, Moulin Rouge!

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Play
Isabella Byrd, Heroes of the Fourth Turning
Oona Curley, Dr. Ride’s American Beach House
Heather Gilbert, The Sound Inside
Mimi Jordan Sherin, Judgment Day
Yi Zhao, Greater Clements

Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical
Betsy Adams, The Wrong Man
Jane Cox, The Secret Life of Bees
Herrick Goldman, Einstein’s Dreams
Bruno Poet, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Justin Townsend, Moulin Rouge!

Outstanding Projection Design
David Bengali, Einstein’s Dreams
Julia Frey, Medea
Luke Halls, West Side Story
Lisa Renkel and POSSIBLE, Emojiland
Hannah Wasileski, Fires in the Mirror

Outstanding Sound Design for a Play
Paul Arditti and Christopher Reid, The Inheritance
Justin Ellington, Heroes of the Fourth Turning
Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.
Palmer Hefferan, Fefu and Her Friends
Lee Kinney and Sanae Yamada, Is This A Room

Outstanding Sound Design for a Musical
Tom Gibbons, West Side Story
Kai Harada, Soft Power
Peter Hylenski, Moulin Rouge!
Hidenori Nakajo, Octet
Nevin Steinberg, The Wrong Man

Outstanding Wig and Hair Design
Campbell Young Associates, Tina: The Tina Turner Musical
Cookie Jordan, Fefu and Her Friends
Nikiya Mathis, STEW
Tom Watson, The Great Society
Bobbie Zlotnik, Emojiland

Outstanding Solo Performance
David Cale, We’re Only Alive for a Short Amount of Time
Kate del Castillo, the way she spoke
Laura Linney, My Name is Lucy Barton
Jacqueline Novak, Get on Your Knees
Deirdre O’Connell, Dana H.

Unique Theatrical Experience
Beyond Babel, Hideaway Circus
Feral, Tortoise in a Nutshell/Cumbernauld Theatre/59E59
Is This A Room, Vineyard Theatre
Midsummer: A Banquet, Food of Love Productions/Third Rail Projects

Outstanding Fight Choreography
Vicki Manderson, Square Go
Thomas Schall, A Soldier’s Play
UnkleDave’s Fight House, Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven

Outstanding Adaptation
A Christmas Carol, by Jack Thorne
Judgment Day, by Christopher Shinn
Mojada, by Luis Alfaro
Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow, by Halley Feiffer

Outstanding Puppet Design
Raphael Mishler, Tumacho
Rockefeller Productions, Paddington Gets in a Jam
Amanda Villalobos, Is This A Room

Ensemble Award
The eight performers in Dave Malloy’s a cappella musical Octet: Adam Bashian, Kim Blanck, Starr Busby, Alex Gibson, Justin Gregory Lopez, J.D. Mollison, Margo Seibert, and Kuhoo Verma

Sam Norkin Award:
To performer Mary Bacon, recognized for her work this season in Off-Broadway's Coal Country at the Public Theater and Nothing Gold Can Stay from Partial Comfort Productions

Additional Special Awards:
The Actors Fund, Seth Rudetsky, and James Wesley, for connecting the theatre community and lifting spirits during the coronavirus crisis through the ongoing Stars in the House series

The Public Theater’s Mobile Unit, offering free Shakespeare throughout the five boroughs, including prisons, homeless shelters, and community centers

WP Theater and Julia Miles, the company’s founder who died this spring.

Claire Warden, whose work as an intimacy choreographer was featured in such recent projects as Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune and Linda Vista

Productions with multiple nominations:
Soft Power: 11
The Wrong Man: 9
Halfway Bitches Go Straight to Heaven: 8
Octet: 8
The Secret Life of Bees: 7
The Unsinkable Molly Brown: 7
A Strange Loop: 6
The Inheritance: 6
West Side Story: 6
Fefu and Her Friends: 5
Is This A Room: 5
Moulin Rouge!: 5
Einstein's Dreams: 4
Emojiland: 4
for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf: 4
Judgment Day: 4
Little Shop of Horrors: 4
Tina: The Tina Turner Musical: 4
A Soldier's Play: 3
Greater Clements: 3
Heroes of the Fourth Turning: 3
Jagged Little Pill: 3
Mac Beth: 3
Scotland, PA: 3
The Confession of Lily Dare: 3
Beyond Babel: 2
Cambodian Rock Band: 2
Coal Country: 2
Dana H.: 2
Feral: 2
Medea: 2
Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow: 2
Romeo & Bernadette: 2
Square Go: 2

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
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Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies To Stream This Weekend

That's right theatre fans. Here's your chance to see the sequel to one of the most successful shows in Broadway history. Love Never Dies, the highly anticipated follow up to the award winning musical The Phantom of the Opera, will stream on Saturday April 25. The show, which first premiered at the Adelphi Theatre in London in March 2010, will be viewable via The Shows Must Go On YouTube Channel, and will be available for 48 hrs.

Now as much as I love The Phantom of the Opera, I was a little bit skeptical when they announced that a sequel was in the works. After all, sequels are rarely as good as the original. Well, with Godfather II being the exception of course. As expected, the reviews were not that good. But let's face it, Andrew Lloyd Webber has never really been a critic's fave, and yet, he is one of the most successful composers of all time.

Now if that means that Love Never Dies will finally play New York I don't know. It at least deserves a limited engagement at City Center or Radio City Music Hall. But until then day happens, we can all sit back, relax, and enjoy watching it from the comfort of our home's this Saturday night. Stay safe everyone, and continue to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
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Today In Theatre History

Now believe it or not, but a lot of interesting things happened in the theatre world on this day. In 2006, Academy Award winner Julia Roberts made her Broadway debut along side Bradley Cooper and Paul Rudd in Richard Greenberg's Three Days Of Rain. Best Musical Tony Award winner Fun Home premiered on Broadway in 2015. And last but not least, Rodger and Hammerstein's Carousel opened in 1945 at the Majestic Theatre. However, I decided to focus instead on one of the biggest hit's of the 21st Century. No, it's not Hamilton. Although that would be a good guess.

On April 19, 2001, The Producer's opened on Broadway at the St. James Theatre. Not only was it the biggest hit since The Lion King, but it also hold's the record for the most Tony Award's in history, a record that will probably never be broken in our lifetime.When the show first opened, it broke box office records, and finished up with a gross of almost three hundred million dollars during it's six year run. Nowadays, shows grossing a million dollars a week is nothing new, with anywhere from eight to ten shows accomplishing that feat week in and week out.

Now when most people hear the words "Premium Seats", they know exactly what it means. They also know that they will be shelling out a little more money in order to get them. However, what most people don't know, is that the those two words didn't exist until 2001. And the reason they exist, is because of the producers of The Producers. Try saying that five times fast.You see shortly after the show opened, the demand for tickets was at an all time high. Now I have been in the ticket industry for a long time. Actually about three years before The Producers opened on Broadway.

Since that time, I have worked for three different ticket companies. Three companies, that are not only still in business today, but continue to thrive year after year. Unfortunately, not all ticket sellers are legitimate. Of course you can say that about a lot of businesses out there. Now as I was saying, tickets for the show were at an all time high. Which meant that the lines at the box office were long day in and day out. It also meant that those lines were full of what we in the industry call, "Ticket Scalpers".Look, we all know they exist. And we all know that they are not going away anytime soon. It's just the nature of the business.

Finally the producers wised up, and decided that instead of letting others reap the benefit's of all their hard work, they should be the one's that were reaping the rewards. And that theatre fans is how "Premium Seating" was born. My apologies for taking so long to get there, but to be honest there's not a whole lot of stuff to blog on these days. Hopefully things will get back to normal soon, and I can get back to writing about new shows and happenings on the Great White Way.  Stay safe everyone, and keep looking out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Broadway Production Of Hadestown Celebrates Milestone

Let's be honest theatre fans. There isn't a whole lot to celebrate these days. Broadway is shut down thru June 7, and possibly longer. Shakespeare in the Park will not be performing for the first time in it's fifty-eight year history. And then when I thought it couldn't get any worse, Brian Dennehy passes away. O.K. I know. Enough of all this gloom and doom. Yesterday, the Broadway musical Hadestown, celebrated one year on the Great White Way. The show, which won eight 2019 Tony Awards, including Best Musical of the Year, began previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre on March 22, 2019,  prior to opening on April 17. Before the shutdown, Hadestown was one of Broadway's biggest hit's, recouping it's entire $11.5 million investment in less than eight months. Here's hoping that it, along with all other shows will be able to return once this is over, and Broadway will be back in business where it belongs. Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Cancelled Disney Concert Will Now Go On As Planned

What a crazy week theatre fans. Last Saturday, I posted a blog about the previously scheduled live streamed concert, "Celebrating 25 Magical Years of Disney Musical's", on April 13. Of course a few hours after I did that, it was cancelled due to the American Federation of Musicians not allowing their members to participate in the event. I had written, that I had hoped that they would change their mind, and the show would go on as planned. Well thankfully, somebody was listening. The concert, which was held in November 2019, will now stream tonight at 7pm ET, and can be watched live on the Broadway Cares/Equity Fight's Aids YouTube Channel.

The event, which is being hosted by Frozen star Ryan McCartan, will feature over thirty-five Broadway performers, including Tony Award winners Whoopi Goldberg, Christian Borle, Gavin Creel, and James Monroe Inglehart, and Tony Award nominees Kerry Butler, Susan Egan, Adam Pascal, and Sherrie Renee Scott, with proceeds going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund. By the way, it was also announced that over twenty producers of the Broadway community, have agreed to match every dollar up to a million as well. Sounds like a lot of money is going to be raised for this worthwhile cause. Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Two-Time Award Winner Brian Dennehy Passes Away

Believe it or not, but I have been writing blogs for this website for almost fourteen years now. Most days it is pretty easy to find a subject to write about, especially in March and April when so many shows are opening, and then of course in May, when the award season officially begins. For the past four weeks, I have been posting my blogs not from my office, but from my home. Plus with Broadway being on a hiatus right now, trying to find blog subjects has been difficult most days. When I woke up this morning, I perused the usual theatre websites, something I do pretty much every day. I mean where else would I find out all the latest news right?

By the afternoon, I had decided on my blog subject, and was just about to post it when it was announced that the brilliant actor Brian Dennehy had died. I, like most people my age, probably know him best for his performance in the hilarious 1997 film Tommy Boy, starring the late Chris Farley. The on-screen chemistry between them as father and son was perfect. So you can imagine my surprise two years later, when I heard that he had been hired to play one of the greatest roles in the history of the American theatre. Willy Loman, in Arthur Miller's masterpiece A Death of a Salesman. After all these years of going to the theatre, I should have learned by now to always expect the unexpected, and most importantly never judge a book by it's cover. 

Up until that point, I had never seen a production of Death of a Salesman. Oh sure I had read it many times, as well as performed a scene or two during acting class. But there is nothing like seeing the real thing.Four years later, I also had the privilege of seeing him play family patriarch James Tyrone Sr. in Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night. And just like with his portrayal of Willy Loman, he went on to win the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. Thank you Mr. Dennehy for your talent, and for your amazing body of work that will live on for years to come. You will be missed. Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB

Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

The Music Man On Broadway

April 15, 1961. Care to guess what happened on that date? Well, if you guessed that it had something to do with the title of today's blog, then you would be right. On that date, the Broadway production of The Music Man closed at the Broadway Theatre, following a total run of 1,375 performances. The show, which originally opened at the Majestic Theatre on December 19, 1957, won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical of the Year, as well as being the very first winner of the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. Pretty impressive stats right?

Now as you all know, there is a brand new production of the show scheduled to open this October at the Winter Garden Theatre, headlined by two-time Tony Award winners Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. As expected, tickets have been flying out the door since going on sale last year. When 2020 began, a revival of this classic musical seemed like so far away. After all, there were still five more months left in the 2019-2020 Broadway season, with over twenty shows still set to open. Cut to three months later, and Broadway is shutdown for the immediate future, with no idea what shows will be still be open when it is time to come back.

After 9/11, Broadway was in a slump. Then Mamma Mia opened, and it was just what we needed. A simple, lighthearted musical that allowed us to escape, if only for a couple of hours. Anyone remember the theatre where it opened? That's right. The Winter Garden Theatre. Same place that The Music Man will be playing six months from now. Who knows, maybe an old-fashioned musical like The Music Man, will be just the thing we need to escape once again. Stay safe everyone, and keep looking out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service

Today In Theatre History

I've been a theatre fan for as long as I can remember. It all started in the third grade, when my music teacher Mrs. McNees told us the story of the Von Trapp's. You probably know them better as the family from Rodger and Hammerstein's The Sound of Music. Anyway, after telling us their fascinating story, she told us that the film version was going to be on television, and that we should watch it. After I got home that day, I told my Mom all about it. However instead of being happy that I was taking an interest in watching something besides cartoons and The Brady Bunch, she looked me right in the eye and said, "Do you know how long that movie is Jamie? Three hours. And there is no way you will be able to sit still for that long.".

I love my Mom, but when somebody tells me I can't do something, you better believe I will do everything in my power to do it. Long story short, I didn't get up from my seat the whole time. Not even to use the bathroom. I guess I loved it huh? Now I know what your're thinking, "What does this have to do with today's blog"? Well, as I mentioned at the beginning, I have been a huge theatre fan since the third grade. Unfortunately, I didn't get up the nerve to audition for the school musical until 8th grade. The show? Bye Bye Birdie, which opened on April 14, 1960. That's sixty-years for you mathematician's out there.

The show, which won four Tony Awards, including Best Musical of the Year, starred two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera as Rosie, and Emmy Award winner Dick Van Dyke, who won a Tony Award for his performance as Albert. Since the original production, it has been revived only once in 2009, where it starred John Stamos and Gina Gershon. That version however was not a success, and closed after three months. Here's hoping that we will eventually get a top notch production in the future. With all the drama in the world right now, a feel good musical like Bye Bye Birdie might be just what we need. Stay safe everyone, and don't forget to look out for each other. Until next time theatre fans.

JWB
Applause Theatre and Entertainment Service, Inc.
165 West 46th Street
Suite 1107
New York, NY 10036
212-307-7050
or 1-800-451-9930

http://www.applause-tickets.com/
Facebook:Applause Theater and Entertainment Service