On Broadway and beyond, a curtain can rise as quickly as it can fall; a star can be swapped as easily as Bernie Telsey can say, “That’s enough.” Theater is the beating heart of New York show business and, if you want to make it here, it’s crucial you’re up to date on incoming projects, latest castings, and other industry news. Don’t worry, Broadway baby, Backstage has your back. Every week, we’re rounding up the can’t-miss stories no thespian should live without, so you can focus on important matters like hitting your high F. Curtain up and light those lights!
Broadway will get an upgrade.
Fans of the musical “Be More Chill” have reason to lose all chill entirely. Just before concluding its sold-out Off-Broadway run on Sept. 30, the megahit announced it will move to Broadway—this season. Previews will begin at the Lyceum Theatre (following the closure of “The Play That Goes Wrong”) on Feb. 13, 2019, ahead of an official opening on March 10. Though not yet confirmed, it’s likely that current stars Will Roland, George Salazar, and Stephanie Hsu will reprise their roles in the Main Stem run.
“Dear Evan Hansen” alum reunite Off-Broadway.
It’ll be a “Dear Evan Hansen” reunion of sorts when “Days of Rage,” a new play, begins previews Oct. 9. Running at Second Stage Theatre, where that musical began, the piece is written by its Tony-winning book-writer Steven Levenson, and will star Tony nominee Mike Faist, who played Connor in the original Broadway cast. Directed by Trip Cullman, the drama will also feature Tavi Gevinson, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Odessa Young. Set amidst an ongoing war halfway around the world and a president who continues to fan the flames of racism, it depicts the generation of young people forced to stand up for change. It also takes place in 1969.
What’s happening in his neck of the woods? Pie, that’s what.
Longtime “Today Show” host and weatherman Al Roker is moving down the street. The NBC mainstay will make his Broadway debut in the long-running musical “Waitress,” stepping into the role of Joe on Oct. 5. He’ll step into a cast led currently by Nicolette Robinson and Drew Gehling.
Broadway is breaking up with “The Band.”
In the first high-profile casualty of the new theater season, “Gettin’ the Band Back Together” will shutter on Broadway. The musical, which opened at the Belasco Theatre Aug. 13, struggled at the box office since performances began and was not helped by mostly negative reviews. Starring Mitchell Jarvis, it plays its final performance Sept. 16.
One small girl’s returns.
After a hiatus away, Hailey Kilgore returned to the Tony-winning revival of “Once on This Island” Sept. 4. The Tony nominee, who had been replaced by Loren Lott in her absence, had departed the production temporarily due to an injury. Performances are ongoing at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre.
Full cast boards “The Ferryman.”
Ahead of its first preview on Oct. 2, Broadway’s “The Ferryman” has announced complete casting. The British import, which won the 2018 Olivier Award for Best New Play, will feature Dean Ashton, Glynis Bell, Gina Costigan, Charles Dale, Justin Edwards, Fra Fee, Fionnula Flanagan, Tom Glynn-Carney, Stuart Graham, Mark Lambert, Carla Langley, Conor MacNeill, Colin McPhillamy, Rob Malone, Dearbhla Molloy, Glenn Speers, and Niall Wright. The comedy is slated for an official opening Oct. 21 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
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