“Hamilton,” the new, hip-hop musical about Alexander Hamilton from “In The Heights” composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda, seems to be the only show getting press notice recently. However, the summer mega-hit is about to meet some new neighbors, as nineteen productions have announced opening nights between September and December. To kick off the start of the fall season, I’ve highlighted four productions (one from each category) which I consider "must sees."
First up is “School of Rock,” a new musical adapted from the 2003, Jack Black movie of the same name. It follows wannabe rock star, Dewey Finn, as he tries to convert an elementary school class into a rock band. The composer is seven-time Tony-winner Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose previous works include “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Cats” and “Evita,” and stars Alex Brightman, who has recently played roles on Broadway in “Big Fish” and “Matilda.” Starring alongside Brightman is Sierra Boggess, who has already garnered a following on Broadway and was seen recently in “The Little Mermaid” and last season’s “It Shoulda Been You.” What in God’s name is it doing on this list? “School of Rock” composer, Andrew Lloyd Webber, also composed “Jesus Christ Superstar.”
The original production of “Spring Awakening” closed on Broadway just under six years ago. Now, it’s being revived in a new production that incorporates the use of American Sign Language. Reviving a show that closed less than six years ago is rare, unless it is “Les Miserables,” which has done so twice. However, the current production already received critical acclaim on the West Cost, where it ran last year, and the use of ASL is new to the revival. For the Broadway run, Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin joins the cast. What in God's name is it doing on this list? The original production of Spring Awakening was at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, now home to God’s favorite musical, “Book of Mormon.”
David Mamet’s new play, “China Doll,” was written specifically for Al Pacino, who stars in the piece about a billionaire on the brink of retirement. Christopher Denham (“The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” “Argo”) also stars. Tony-winner Pam MacKinnon (“Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?”, “Clybourne Park”) directs the production. What in God’s name is it doing on this list? Producer Steven Traxler also produced “Hand to God,” currently running at the Booth Theatre.
Clive Owen makes his Broadway debut this fall in the revival of Harold Pinter’s “Old Times,” which was last seen on Broadway more than 40 years ago. Kelly Reilly (“True Detective”) and Eve Best (“The Homecoming”) round out the cast. Though not a musical, “Old Times” will include incidental music by Thom Yorke of Radiohead. What in God’s name is it doing on this list? “Old Times” is produced by Roundabout Theater Company, which most recently presented Jim Parsons in “An Act of God.”
Bonus: Off-Broadway Happenings
“Invisible Thread,” an award-winning musical about a young actor who travels to Uganda to do aid work, will play at Second Stage beginning in October. The musical was previously produced at Boston’s A.R.T., under the title “Witness Uganda,” where it opened to rave reviews and was directed by two-time Tony-winner Diane Paulus (“Hair,” “Pippin”). Paulus returns to direct the Second Stage production. The team responsible for bringing the show to New York includes myself, as well as “Rent,” “Avenue Q,” and “In the Heights” producer Kevin McCollum. What in God’s name is it doing on this list? The musical begins at a church in New York, and shifts to a religious compound in Uganda.
Oliver Roth is the founder and CEO of OHenry Productions, a theatrical production company based in New York City. His current projects include the world premiere of “Straight,” by Drew Fornarola & Scott Elmegreen, and “Invisible Thread,” by Matt Gould & Griffin Matthews. He has previously worked financing Broadway shows, including “The Realistic Joneses” (Will Eno; dir. Sam Gold) and upcoming “Gettin’ The Band Back Together” (Ken Davenport & Mark Allen; dir. John Rando). In 2013, Roth was the production assistant for Alan Cumming’s one-man “Macbeth.” It was shortly after this experience that he founded OHenry Productions. Before working in New York, Roth worked with Center Stage, the state theater of Maryland, where he spent two seasons assisting in community outreach. Prior to his move into theater production, Roth worked as a talent management intern at True Talent Artist Management. @oliverhenryroth; ohenryproductions.com.
Oliver Roth
Oliver Roth is the founder and CEO of OHenry Productions, a theatrical production company based in New York City.
