Two of Broadway’s more imposing figures are calling it quits: King Kong and The Cher Show have posted closing notices, the latest exits in the annual post-Tony culling.
Each production will play its final performance on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Though Cher star Stephanie J. Block and costume designer Bob Mackie won Tony Awards at the ceremony June 9, the wins apparently didn’t translate into a big enough box office boost to keep the beat going on. For the week ending June 23 – a prime week for the post-Tony b.o. benefits to make themselves known – The Cher Show grossed $858,578, about 58% of its potential at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Written by Rick Elice, directed by Jason Moore and starring Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond as Cher at various points in her life, the jukebox bio-musical opened Dec. 3, 2018, to mixed reviews, with most critics praising Block even when less than dazzled with the glitzy rest.
Each production will play its final performance on Sunday, Aug. 18.
Though Cher star Stephanie J. Block and costume designer Bob Mackie won Tony Awards at the ceremony June 9, the wins apparently didn’t translate into a big enough box office boost to keep the beat going on. For the week ending June 23 – a prime week for the post-Tony b.o. benefits to make themselves known – The Cher Show grossed $858,578, about 58% of its potential at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Written by Rick Elice, directed by Jason Moore and starring Block, Teal Wicks and Micaela Diamond as Cher at various points in her life, the jukebox bio-musical opened Dec. 3, 2018, to mixed reviews, with most critics praising Block even when less than dazzled with the glitzy rest.
- 6/26/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
We had a Huge night at Broadway Sessions recently as we welcomed the cast of King Kong Cast members Erik Lochtefeld, Jaquez Sims, Jennifer Noble, Nick Rashad Burroghs, Leroy Church, Casey Garvin, Kayla Davion, Rhaamel Burke-Missouri, Rory Donovan, Chloe Chambers and our Rising Star Ciana Micelli, proved just how Big talent can be. Do I have time for more giant ape puns No Ok, well, enjoy these Enormously entertaining highlights.
- 2/19/2019
- by Ben Cameron
- BroadwayWorld.com
Update, with video Eighth wonder of the world? King Kong probably isn’t even the eighth wonder of Broadway – those kids in The Ferryman aren’t giving up their spots anytime soon – but the big ape does provide some roaring good thrills.
Picking over Hollywood’s Depression Era beauty-and-the-beast tale for what still works and ditching what doesn’t – the casting of the African American Christiani Pitts as Ann Darrow swiftly does away with the freighted Fay Wray blonde beauty ideal – director Drew McOnie has captured a wildly impressive 1.2-ton puppet, even if the musical surrounding it is considerably less memorable.
So let’s cut to the chase. The monkey in this reported $35 million production is amazing, a 20-foot-tall hybrid of animatronics, puppetry and human performance. Fifteen puppeteers, mostly onstage, work the beast with ropes, poles and pulleys – a show in themselves as they slide down cables like ninjas. Each...
Picking over Hollywood’s Depression Era beauty-and-the-beast tale for what still works and ditching what doesn’t – the casting of the African American Christiani Pitts as Ann Darrow swiftly does away with the freighted Fay Wray blonde beauty ideal – director Drew McOnie has captured a wildly impressive 1.2-ton puppet, even if the musical surrounding it is considerably less memorable.
So let’s cut to the chase. The monkey in this reported $35 million production is amazing, a 20-foot-tall hybrid of animatronics, puppetry and human performance. Fifteen puppeteers, mostly onstage, work the beast with ropes, poles and pulleys – a show in themselves as they slide down cables like ninjas. Each...
- 11/9/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
A new Broadway season is gearing up, and there are currently three productions of musicals (all new) set to open this fall. Could we be seeing any of them contend at next year’s Tony Awards? Below, we recap the plot of each musical as well as the awards history of its author, cast and creative types and the opening and (where applicable) closing dates.
“King Kong” (previews begin October 5; opens November 8)
In this musical adaptation of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s classic 1933 film of the same name, an ambitious young actress and a maverick filmmaker voyage from the bustling streets of 1930s New York to an uncharted island to capture the greatest wonder the world has ever seen. At the center of this 21st-century reimagining: a 2,000-pound, 20-story gorilla, and the woman who risks everything to help him.
With a book by Tony-winning playwright Jack Thorne...
“King Kong” (previews begin October 5; opens November 8)
In this musical adaptation of Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack’s classic 1933 film of the same name, an ambitious young actress and a maverick filmmaker voyage from the bustling streets of 1930s New York to an uncharted island to capture the greatest wonder the world has ever seen. At the center of this 21st-century reimagining: a 2,000-pound, 20-story gorilla, and the woman who risks everything to help him.
With a book by Tony-winning playwright Jack Thorne...
- 9/27/2018
- by Jeffrey Kare
- Gold Derby
Broadway’s beast is offering a peek at its beauty: Check out the photo below of King Kong‘s Christiani Pitts, seen in costume and with the big ape for the first time.
Pitts (A Bronx Tale) plays Ann Darrow, the character made famous by Fay Wray in the 1933 film (and later played by Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts on the big screen). Written by Jack Thorne with a score by Marius de Vries and songs by Eddie Perfect, King Kong is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
King Kong begins previews at the Broadway Theatre on Friday, October 5, with an opening on Thursday, November 8.
Kong, a 20-foot-tall, 2,000-pound mix of animatronics and puppetry, is designed by Sonny Tilders. Check out the behind-the-scenes video above for a good look at the creature.
Co-starring with Pitts are Eric William Morris as Carl Denham, and Erik Lochtefeld as Lumpy. The musical is...
Pitts (A Bronx Tale) plays Ann Darrow, the character made famous by Fay Wray in the 1933 film (and later played by Jessica Lange and Naomi Watts on the big screen). Written by Jack Thorne with a score by Marius de Vries and songs by Eddie Perfect, King Kong is directed and choreographed by Drew McOnie.
King Kong begins previews at the Broadway Theatre on Friday, October 5, with an opening on Thursday, November 8.
Kong, a 20-foot-tall, 2,000-pound mix of animatronics and puppetry, is designed by Sonny Tilders. Check out the behind-the-scenes video above for a good look at the creature.
Co-starring with Pitts are Eric William Morris as Carl Denham, and Erik Lochtefeld as Lumpy. The musical is...
- 9/24/2018
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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