BACKDROP (Magazine Prototype)

t h e

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t h e a t e r

backdrop LADIES OF THE STAGE Jessie Mueller stars in WAITRESS: The musical with Broadway’s first ever all-female creative team MISS SAIGON: BEHIND THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT HAMILTON: THE INNER WORKINGS OF LIN MANUEL MIRANDA’S MIND RENT: AN ORAL HISTORY OF THE CLASSIC 90’S MUSICAL

PLUS: biggest snubs & surprises from the tony nominations3

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letter from the editor

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CONTENTS | may 2017 82

85

OVERTURE

looking back Cabaret’s 50-year Legacy

TONY AWARDS 2016

15

showstopper Jennifer Shimard steals the show in Disaster as a nun with a gambling addiction.

23

stage to screen Here’s a full list of upcoming movie musical adaptations and releases.

35

in the limelight The list of top 15 breakout performances this season.

39

no day but today Remembering Jonathan Larson, plus an oral history of Rent on its 20th anniversary.

james corden

88

looking back on 70 years of the tony’s

68

cue and a Audra McDonald

90

nominations breakdown and by the numbers

in the spotlight Cinderella

79

REVIEWS 47

the shining opera This is what happens when a thriller movie goes to Broadway.

61

wintour is coming Vogue editor Anna Wintour will once again dress Tony nominees.

92

nomination snubs and surprises

65 going straight

94

a talk with host james corden

95

behind the scenes at the beacon theatre

97

lifetime achievement award: sheldon harnick and marshall mason m ay 2 0 1 6

FEATURES

124

56

inside lin manuel miranda’s mind

The Hamilton genius gives us a glimpse into the gears and pulleys of his creative brain.

miss saigon’s silver celebration

Broadway cast members reprised 138 Original their roles for the musical’s 25th anniversary.

going for two Kelli O’Hara dishes on being nominated for a second Tony in a row

Director Andy Sandberg talks his play, Straight, and defining sexuality.

77

all work, all play Married lyricists Nathan Tysen and Kait Kerrigan talk careers and a newborn child.

on the cover jessie mueller – waitress photo by margaret lin

waitress is serving up a success

its all-female team and a stellar movie 144 With foundation, this show is full steam ahead.

the musical no one saw coming

musical Dear Evan Hansen about teen 154 Pop angst exceeds all expectations. b a c k d ro p . c o m • bac k d r o p

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A TOAST TO THE HOSTS Every single host since 1947

70 Celebrating seven decades of the Tony Awards

Brock Pemberton Bert Lytell Hiram Sherman Harry Hirshfield James Sauter Helen Hayes Faye Emerson Jack Carter Bud Collyer Eddie Albert Phil Silvers Ray Bolger Abe Burrows Robert Morse Sidney Blackmer Tom Bosley José Ferrer Van Johnson George Abbott Ginger Rogers Mary Martin Angela Lansbury Diahann Carroll Julie Andrews Lauren Bacall Deborah Kerr Celeste Holm Florence Henderson Larry Blyden George Irving Larry Kert Carol Lawrence Michele Lee

Bernadette Peters Bobby Van Jane Fonda Bea Arthur Edward Asner Jane Alexander Henry Fonda Liv Ulmann Mary Tyler Moore Jason Robards Ellen Burstyn Rich Chamberlain Tony Randall Richard Burton Lena Horne Jack Lemmon Robert Preston Kathleen Turner Jeremy Irons Glenn Close Liza Minnelli Anthony Hopkins Amy Irving Nathan Lane Gregory Hines Rosie O’Donnell Matthew Broderick Hugh Jackman Whoopi Goldberg Neil Patrick Harris Sean Hayes Kristin Chenoweth Alan Cumming

multiple-time hosts

4

Neil Patrick Harris Hugh Jackman Angela Lansbury James Sauter

Bud Collyer Nathan Lane Rosie O’Donnell

2

3

Julie Andrews Glenn Close Helen Hayes Brock Pemberton Bernadette Peters m ay 2 0 1 6

tony nominations 2016

Tony Awards returns to Beacon Theatre For the first time in three years, the show will not be held at Radio City Music Hall 16

Radio City Music Hall has hosted the most Tony Awards in history, including 13 of the last 15 awards ceremonies.

12 8

4 Minskoff

Gerhshin

5 Hellinger

6

Shubert Theatre

Waldorf Astoria New York

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NUMBER OF TONY’S HOSTED

staff writer

Radio City Music Hall

BY CHLOE MEISTER

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Brian Stokes Mitchell to receive Stevenson Award Mitchell’s community efforts will be recognized, despite lack of Tony nomination

BY MARA CORBETT staff writer

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tony nominations 2016

Nominations Breakdown Analyzing the trends and milestones from this year’s Tony Award nominations

MUSICALS

PLAYS Best Play

Best Musical

shuffle along

hamilton

bright star

school waitress of rock

Best Revival

the color purple

fiddler on the roof

she loves me

ORIGINAL REVIVAL

10

spring awakening

spring awakening

number of nominations

NOMINATIONS: BY THE NUMBERS

15 17 10 4

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PEOPLE OF COLOR

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FIRST-TIME NOMINEES

UNDER 40 PLAYWRIGHTS

creative: 5

}

3

}

3

she loves me

‘‘

performance: 7

5

fiddler on the roof

noises off

11

MUSICALS

WOMEN

king charles iii

miller’s blackbird long day’s a view the journey from the crucible into night bridge

}

the color purple

the humans

16 Nominations for Hamilton (New Record)

8 4

the father

Best Revival

Original vs. Revival Comparison 11

eclipsed

design: 3 best musical

“It’s the best awards show on TV. It’s not just a succession of people receiving trophies. You’re really going to see a proper show. There’s real entertainment there, and to just be in the middle of it…

It’s not lost on me what a privilege it is to do such a thing.

–james corden on hosting the tony awards m a y 2 0 1 6 m ay 2 0 1 6

INSIDE Miss Saigon: This is the Hour

138

Waitress: Recipe for Sucess

144

Dear Evan Hansen: The New Kid

154

features

inside the mind of

LIN MANUEL MIRANDA

lin-manuel miranda stars in “Hamilton,” a musical he created based on the life of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.

First, a Grammy.

Then, a Pulitzer.

Now possibly, a Tony.

Lin-Manuel Miranda has done the unprecented.

BY EMILY O’HARA

contributing writer

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photo by alexa torrens

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THIS IS THE

HOUR It’s been 25 years since Miss Saigon first touched our hearts with its story of love, war, and sacrifice. Today, it’s regarded as a classic, leaving its mark on the Broadway world forever.

Take a look at how the original cast members reprised their roles in the 25th anniversary concert for one of theater’s most captivating tales.

TEXT BY RACHEL GILBERT staff writer

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PHOTOS BY FRANKIE PRIJATEL staff photographer

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lea salonga (left) reprises her role as the original Kim, the Vietnamese bar girl who falls in love with an American soldier. m ay 2 0 1 6

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2 1. jonathan pryce (center)

won both the 1991 Laurence Olivier Award and the Tony Award for originating the role of The Engineer. 2. eva noblezada, who currently plays Kim in the West End production of Miss Saigon, sings “I’d Give My Life For You.” m ay 2 0 1 6

(from left) lea salonga and simon bowman sing the song “Sun and Moon.” Bowman originated the role of Chris, the American soldier Kim falls in love with. m ay 2 0 1 6

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1

2

3 1. jon jon briones, who currently plays The Engineer in the West End production of Miss Saigon, joined Jonathan Pryce onstage during one the musical number for “The Heat is On in Saigon.” Both Briones and Eva Noblezada (Kim) will also star in the Broadway revival of Miss Saigon in 2017. 2.

alistair brammer,

who plays Chris in the West End production, gives his rendition of “Why God, Why.” Brammer will leave the production this July. 3.

keith burns

originated the

role of Thuy, cousin and bethrothed of Kim. Sangwoong Jo currently portrays Thuy in the West End production.

4. jonathan pryce is joined onstage by the bargirls of the original 1991 and the current West End cast, including Rachelle Ann Go, Isay Alvarez, and Marsha Songcome . 5.

briones, The Engineer, sings “The

Morning of the Dragon,” promising to find Kim for Thuy, a commissar in the new Communist government.

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‘‘

It’s hard to believe that it has been 25 years since Miss Saigon first opened in New York, but if anything, the tragic love story of the show has become even more relevant today.

–cameron mackintosh

5 m ay 2 0 1 6

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With an all-female creative team and renowned cast, Waitress is making Broadway history and cooking up a

REC I PE FO R

SUCCESS STORY BY CLARE RAMIREZ staff writer

J

PHOTOS BY MARGARET LIN staff photographer

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continued on page 85

jessie mueller stars in Waitress, a new musical about a newlypregnant woman named Jenna who is unhappy with her life and loveless marriage.

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•••

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‘‘

It’s a very human story about somebody who is exploring her worthiness of love and whether she is worthy of that, and whether she’s worthy of happiness.

–jessie mueller

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BROOKS ATKINSON THEATER: 90 YEARS 2016 marks the 90th anniversary of the Brooks Atkinson Theater, where Waitress premiered on April 24. Here’s a list of notable productions at the Brooks Atkinson over the years: photo by zach barlow

SPRING AWAKENING IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU LOVE LETTERS AFTER MIDNIGHT HANDS ON A HARDBODY PETER AND THE STARCATCHER RELATIVELY SPEAKING

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ROCK OF AGES GREASE THE ODD COUPLE JANE EYRE MARK TWAIN TONIGHT THE LOOK OF LOVE UNCLE VANYA m ay 2 0 1 6

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‘‘

This show depends on the music serving the book, the book serving the music, the music serving the actors. Everything has its mirror image.

–sara bareilles

sara bareilles, Grammy Award-winning songwriter and artist, makes up one-fourth of Waitress’s all-female creative team, making history as the first of its kind on Broadway. Bareilles is also nominated for a Tony Award for her music and lyrics in Waitress.

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MAKING THE MOVE TO MUSICAL THEATER Tony Award nominee Sara Bareilles is just one example of women who have made their marks as singer-songwriters and are looking to branch out. Here’s a status report on several others doing the same:

Bull Durham starring Kevin Costner Susan Sarandon creators Music and lyrics by the folk/jazz/pop singer-songwriter susan werner Susan Werner; Book

by Ron Shelton (based on his script) world premiere Alliance Theater in Atlanta in 2014.

Aiming for Broadway in 2017

Diner starring Mickey Rourke Ellen Barkin creators Music and lyrics by the pop/rock singer-songwriter sheryl crow Sheryl Crow; Book

by Barry Levinson (based on his script) world premiere World premiere in 2014 at the Signature Theater in Arlington, Va.; Delaware Theater Company production in 2015. Next edition, per producers, “in development and will be announced at a later date.”

Miss You Like Hell musical Original work about an illegal immigrant ` and her Americanborn daughter creators Music and lyrics erin mckeown by the folk/rock singer-songwriter Erin McKeown; Book and lyrics by Quiara Alegría Hudes world premiere Scheduled for October at La Jolla Playhouse in California.

(from left) drew gehling and jessie mueller play Dr. Jim Pomatter and Jenna, respectively — both married, both unable to resist their attraction to each other. Gehling and Mueller sing a number of duets in the show, including “Bad Idea” and “You Matter to Me.” m ay 2 0 1 6

photos courtesy of susan werner, sheryl crow, and erin mckeown mgmt b a c k d ro p . c o m • bac k d r o p

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IN FULL SWING DID YOU THINK ONE ROLE WAS HARD TO LEARN?

MEET THE PEOPLE WHO PERFORM MULTIPLE... EVERY WEEK. becky struxness ephraim sykes

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morgan marcell

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Nine of Broadway’s most talented swings rehearse for an opening number at the 2016 Tony Awards. m ay 2 0 1 6

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photo by sara swann

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stage runs curtain call

‘Hughie’ ends run weeks faster than expected

casting

‘Hamilton’ crowns King George replacement

Disappointing ticket sales force the Eugene O’Neill revival starring Forest Whitaker to close its doors jonathan groff

rory o’malley

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Jean Valjean flies off to join ‘Neverland’ cast

alfie boe

forest whitaker

portrays Erie Smith, the fidgety lead character of the Eugene O’Neill play, “Hughie.” Whitaker’s captivating (but modest) Broadway debut and his Hollywood movie fame, however, did not translate well to ticket sales among theater fans. photo by liam sheehan

BY ANNIE PALMER contributing writer

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john owen-jones

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‘Color Purple’ finds new Shug Avery actress

jennifer hudson

heather headley

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what’s next

Original works outnumber revivals for next season Upcoming plays and musicals foreshadow a promising new year for Broadway Spongebob Squarepants

Paramour

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Gotta Dance

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danielle rink • waiting in the wings

Review: ‘Fully Committed’ Jesse Tyler Ferguson shines as 43 characters in one-man play

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curtain call

Broadway Closings The Father Eclipsed Long Day’s Journey into Night She Loves Me The Crucible Fully Committed Finding Neverland An Act of God The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time Les Miserables Motown the Musical

June 12 June 19 June 26 July 10 July 17 July 24 Aug. 21 Sept. 4 Sept. 4 Sept. 4 Nov. 13

Off-Broadway Closings Do I Hear A Waltz?

In the Secret Sea The Robber Bridegroom Mike Birbiglia: Thank God for Jokes The Woodsman Dear Evan Hansen The Ruins of Civilization Indecent A Better Place Friend Art Hadestown

May 15 May 21 May 29 May 29 May 29 May 29 June 5 June 5 June 12 June 12 June 12

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