NYS Music 2024

Category: Broadway/Musicals

  • Arthur Miller Foundation Honors 10 Years of Theater Education Programs

    The Arthur Miller Foundation holds its annual Arthur Miller Foundation Honors on Sunday, October 27, at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre. This year, the Foundation celebrates 10 years of the Arthur Miller Foundation Theater Education Programs, a program affiliated with NYC public schools.

    Each year, the foundation honors those who have made a significant impact in the world of the arts and arts education. This year’s honorees include 16-time Grammy Award winner Alicia Keys, Tony-nominated playwright and Pulitzer Prize finalist Kristoffer Diaz, and musician and Keys’ former educator Linda Aziza Miller.

    the arthur miller foundation

    The Arthur Miller Foundation is a nonprofit organization that, through its theater education programs, provides access to theater education for over 60,000 New York City public school students. Teachers are provided with certification, training, and resources necessary to build their schools’ productions.

    During the ceremony, patrons can attend the 3:00 pm matinee performance of Hell’s Kitchen, the Tony-award-winning autobiographical musical written by Alicia Keys. Following the matinee is the awards ceremony, which closes with a musical number showcasing NYC public school students as a tribute to Keys and the organization’s tenth anniversary. 

    For her contributions to the world of music, as well as her contributions to providing music education to thousands of public school students, Alicia Keys will receive the AMF Arts & Culture Award. Receiving the award for AMF Excellence in Arts Education Award is Keys’ former instructor and longtime NYC public high school teacher Linda Aziza Miller, for her outstanding commitment to teaching music to thousands of students over the years.

    American playwright Kristoffer Diaz will be honored with the AMF Legacy Award. In 2010, Diaz was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for his play 2010 play The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, for which he received a Lucille Lortel Award and The New York Times Outstanding Playwright Award. Diaz has also worked on the aforementioned Hell’s Kitchen, as well as several plays and television shows throughout his career.

    Tickets and sponsorship packages will soon be available on the Arthur Miller Foundation’s website.

  • Rocky Horror Picture Show Returns to The Palace Theatre

    The Kids of Albany’s annual production of Rocky Horror Picture Show returns to the Palace Theatre with the toast and toilet paper flying on October 21st. This year will be the Kids of Albany’s 15th performance of Rocky Horror at the theater.

    Since its release in 1975, a million midnight screenings have earned The Rocky Horror Picture Show cult classic status. Its themes of sexual liberation and androgyny have made it a staple in Queer cinema and culture.

    A straight couple, played by Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick, find themselves stranded in a spooky house filled with strange people from Transylvania, living under the watchful eye of Dr. Frank N. Furter, played by Tim Curry. The kinky and outrageous spoof of classic horror movies has a reputation for being the ultimate audience-participation based show. Tickets for the Palace Theater’s production include a prop kit and a roll of toilet paper.

    Constructed in 1931, The Palace Theatre has become a landmark for Albany’s cultural scene. The building retains much of its original design and character, and has a rich history in Albany’s downtown area. The Palace Theatre is the perfect intimate venue for the audience participation Rocky Horror inspires.

    General admission tickets for the Palace Theatre’s Rocky Horror night are $29, and include prop kits and toilet paper. Guests are encouraged to wear their best Rocky inspired outfits. Tickets are on sale at the following link, and at the Palace Theatre box office located at 19 Clinton Avenue.

  • The Sembrich Announces Exciting Mid-August Events

    The Sembrich, Bolton Landing’s historical museum and music venue, announced their mid-August event schedule. Featuring violin guitar duo ArcoStrum, a James Joyce inspired opera, and an acclaimed Polish violinist, the Sembrich has an exciting month ahead.

    The Sembrich boasts a variety of musical events, a museum with a rich history, and indescribable natural beauty. Whether it’s a new museum exhibition or their annual music festival, The Sembrich always offers something to look forward to.

    On August 17, acclaimed Polish violinist Kinga Augustyn will perform at The Sembrich. Augustyn will perform a program of Polish masterworks, including Saint-Saëns’ “Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso,” Op. 28, Kreisler’s “Three Old Viennese Dances” and Polish masterworks by Henryk Wieniawski and Grażyna Bacewicz, accompanied by Alla Milchtein.

    Richard Wargo, The Sembrich’s artistic director, said, “Kinga was a part of our 2021 festival ‘Nature and Music,’ when she delighted listeners with nature-inspired violin melodies… This year’s performance promises an elegant evening with the celebrated musician and renderings of several rarely performed violin masterworks here in the Adirondacks.” Tickets are available at the following link.

    Award winning instrumental duo ArcoStrum will bring their exhilarating mix of music from around the world to The Sembrich on August 21. Guitarist TY Zhang and Violinist Strauss Shi met at Julliard, and discovered a personal and musical chemistry that would enhance their charismatic stage performances and immense technical proficiency. Committed to pushing boundaries, ArcoStrum creates a one of a kind performance by combining personal compositions with traditional Chinese instrumental music and 21st Century rock. Tickets are available here.

    Karina Rodriguez

    The James Joyce inspired musical At That Hour, Act One will be performed on August 24. Composed by Richard Wargo, the opera draws inspiration from Joyce’s poetry and prose. Wargo is an experienced composer who has drawn from literature before, namely when composed an opera inspired by classic Anton Chekov. Wargo has also served as the Sembrich’s Artistic Director and Composer-In-Residence since 1991, and write the opera as part of The Sembrich’s centennial anniversary. Tickets are available here.

    A video about The Sembrich’s centennial celebration is available below.

  • Tina Turner Musical Makes Its Way to Schenectady

    Tina, the Tina Turner Musical on Broadway, will tour upstate to Schenectady from July 30 to Aug 4.  

    The eight performances are part of the Keybank Broadway series at Proctors Theater. Tina just finished performances further north in Toronto at the CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre from June 18 to July 28. 

    Tina Musical

    The historical Proctors Theatre has been open since 1926 and first brought in large audiences by hosting continuous performances like they do today.

    Tina first made its debut in London in 2018. Other international productions began to open in the following years. In 2019, Tina opened in Germany. It made its way to the Netherlands in 2020 and Spain in 2021. The show opened on Broadway in 2019 and was nominated for 12 Tony Awards that year and re-started in 2021 after the industry’s complete shutdown due to COVID-19.

    The current North American tour has a talented cast led by Ari Groover and Zurin Villanueva who share the role of Turner herself. The musical was directed by Phyllida Lloyd and written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Katori Hall.

    Tina tells the life story of the Grammy award winning artist. Tuner began her musical career as a duo with her then husband Ike Turner. The two rose to fame with their cover of “Proud Mary” in 1966. In 1976, Turner divorced her husband after years of abuse. She made her comeback in the 80’s with her solo album Private Dancer. The singer had decades of musical success until her recent death in 2023. A feature documentary TINA exploring the life and career of this esteemed singer is available to stream on HBO Max.

    To buy tickets to Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, you can visit the Proctors website here.

  • Christmas Spectacular Starring the Rockettes Returns to Radio City Music Hall This November

    In celebration of “Christmas in July,” Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. has announced that America’s most beloved holiday show, the Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes, will be returning to the Great Stage at Radio City Music Hall from November 8, 2024, through January 5, 2025.

    November 3, 2021: Dress rehearsal for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes.

    A staple of the holidays in New York City, the awe-inspiring Christmas Spectacular features intricate choreography performed by the incomparable Radio City Rockettes throughout nine show-stopping numbers. The production, which can only be seen at Radio City Music Hall, blends classic numbers that audiences know and love, such as “Parade of the Wooden Soldiers,” with innovative technology that extends the show beyond the stage, including immersive digital projections.

    In “Dance of the Frost Fairies,” the production’s newest number, which was introduced in 2022, the Rockettes perform alongside Frost Fairy drones that magically fly above the audience, turning Radio City into a winter wonderland. Since it opened at Radio City in 1933, the Christmas Spectacular has brought holiday joy to more than 71 million people from around the world.

    The Radio City Rockettes, the longest-running precision dance company in America, are renowned for their unity, athleticism and iconic precision style that combines elements of ballet, jazz, and tap, as well as techniques of modern and contemporary dance. In addition to the Christmas Spectacular, the Rockettes perform annually in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the Christmas in Rockefeller Center tree lighting and have appeared as part of some of the biggest events in entertainment, including the Tony Awards, the MTV VMAs, the NYC Pride Parade, and “Saturday Night Live.”

    To ensure that the Rockettes line showcases greater diversity and that dancers from all backgrounds see themselves represented, the dance company actively works to open education and training opportunities to more dancers through a robust dancer development program, including the no-fee Rockettes Conservatory, and by establishing strong partnerships with diverse dance organizations like The Ailey School, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Harlem School of the Arts, and the International Association of Blacks in Dance.

    Radio City Music Hall and the Christmas Spectacular provide a variety of accessibility offerings so more guests have an opportunity to enjoy the magic of Christmas. Through an ongoing partnership with KultureCity, a sensory room and sensory bags that contain special KultureCity VIP badges, fidget tools, noise-canceling headphones, and other resources are available at all performances of the Christmas Spectacular. Audiences at every performance can also access closed captioning on their personal devices via VITAC, and additional accessibility programming is offered at designated shows each season, including open-captioned, audio-described, and American Sign Language-interpreted performances, as well as a sensory-friendly performance in partnership with the Theatre Development Fund. For more information on these and other accommodations, including accessible and companion seats, please visit here.

    Tickets for the 2024 production start at $45 when purchased in person at the Ticketmaster Box Office at Radio City Music Hall and for $56 when purchased online here. Visit here for more information.

  • Playhouse Stage Co. Presents Legally Blonde: The Musical

    Playhouse Stage Company is extending its 36th season with a production of Legally Blonde: The Musical at Cohoes Music Hall. Previews will take place on July 17 and 19, and the production will last through August 11.

    Playhouse Stage Co. presents Legally Blonde: The Musical at Cohoes Music Hall

    Playhouse Stage Co. has been presenting musical theatre productions year-round at the Cohoes Music Hall since 2016. They are continuing that tradition with Legally Blonde: The Musical this summer. The musical comedy based on the beloved movie will feature Playhouse Stage Academy students as well as professional performers. The talented actors will tell the story of sorority girl, Elle Woods, who attends Harvard Law School to follow her ex-boyfriend and finds herself in the process.

    Legally Blonde will have two previews taking place on July 17 at 7:30 PM and 19 at 2 PM for press coverage. For the rest of the run there will be 7:30 PM evening performances on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. 2:00 PM matinee performances on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

    The show is directed and choreographed by Ashley-Simone Kirchner, assistant choreographed by Gabi Bazinet Douglas and Alexis Papaleo, and musically directed by Brandon Jones. Additionally, Scenery is designed by Marc Christopher, costumes are by Minah Tucker, lighting is by PJ Davis, and sound is designed by Tommy Rosati.

    Legally Blonde Cast

    Elle Woods- Selma Fabregas

    Emmett Forest- Jon Maltz

    Paulette Bonafanté- Molly Rose McGrath

    Professor Callahan- Patrick Ryan Sullivan 

    Warner Huntington III- AJ Halsey

    Brooke Wyndham- Gabi Bazinet Douglas

    Tickets are on sale at the Cohoes Music Hall and Playhouse Stage Co. box office. Adult tickets are $35.00, with $25.00 available for Seniors (65 and older). Tickets are $18 for children and students with identification. To purchase tickets online, visit www.playhousestage.org.

  • Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Set to Premiere at theREP in Albany

    Coming to Albany’s Capital Repertory Theatre (theREP) this summer is their very own rendition of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Previews begin on Friday, July 12. The official opening night is Tuesday, July 16, and the show will run through Sunday, August 18.

    Featuring over two dozen pop classics, including “You’ve Got a Friend,” “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling,” and “Natural Woman,” this international phenomenon is filled with the showstoppers everyone knows and loves.

    beautiful: the carole king musical

    The Tony® and Grammy Award®-winning Carole King musical thrilled Broadway audiences for six years, and now makes its way over to theREP in its own up-close-and-personal production for a unique experience unlike anything on Broadway. On certain days of the show’s running, theREP will host pre-performance events serving complimentary food and drinks, all provided by local restaurants, distilleries, and vendors. Events include a chef’s table, a happy hour, and special conversation with cast and crew members. Below is the full list of events and their descriptions.

    REP-ception nights sponsored by Delmar Beverage Center

    Preview Performance – Friday, July 12-Sunday July 14
    Patrons can act out their own “Beautiful” dreams by jumping on stage for a karaoke session before each preview performance.

    Opening Night – Tuesday, July 16
    Includes complimentary post-show champagne toast. Sponsored by Columbia Development Companies. 

    Chef’s Table – 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 23
    Hors d’oeuvres will be provided by local restaurants

    ASL Performance – 3 p.m. Saturday, July 27
    This performance features sign language interpreters. To request access to the designated seating section, please call the box office at 518.346.6204

    Thirsty Thursday – 6:30 p.m. Thursday, August 1
    Light fare and tasting samples from local breweries, cideries, and distilleries.

    Behind the Scenes – 1 p.m. Sunday, August 4
    12:30 p.m., complimentary coffee and pastry before the pre-show presentation of the special effects behind “Beautiful,” hosted by Producing Artistic Director Maggie Mancinelli-Cahill. This special conversation is free and open to the public.

    This production also sees the return of several alumni from theREP, including Elizabeth Nestlerode, playing the role of Carole King. Nestlerode returns to the MainStage in the titular role after playing Darlene in Honky Tonk Angels, and Evelyn/Mary Bailey in It’s A Wonderful Life. Shannon Rafferty (Cynthia Weil) and Taylor Hilt Mitchell (Barry Mann/Dance Captain) make their way back to theREP stage after stellar performances at theREP’s production of Jersey Boys earlier this year.

    beautiful: the carole king musical

    However, several actors make their debut at theREP with this production. Male lead Nikita Burshteyn (Gerry Goffin) is performing at theREP for the first time in his life after his landmark Off-Broadway performance as Romeo in Romeo and Bernadette.

    Making their debut at theREP are Stavros Koumbaros (RB Bobby Hatfield), Adriana Vicinanzo (Betty), Christian A. Boyd (Drifter), Byron St. Cyr (Drifter), Damon McToy (Drifter)and Cal Mitchell (Drifter)

    Previews for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical take place at theREP, 251 N. Pearl St., Albany ,July 12-14. Opening night is Tuesday, July16. Regular performance times from July 16 to August 18 are 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday with matinees 3p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays. There is no matinee on July 17. Tickets are available on theREP’s website, linked here.

  • DRAG: The Musical Will Premiere in New York This September

    Fresh off its stellar premiere in Los Angeles, DRAG: The Musical is making its way over to New York City for its official off-Broadway premiere. Previews begin on September 30, with its official opening on October 21.

    DRAG: The Musical will make its home in off-Broadway’s New World Stages. Be sure to hold on to your wigs during this incredible performance of drag culture, fashion, family, and forgiveness.

    drag: the musical

    DRAG: The Musical tells the story of two Houses competing for success and fame after a bitter split. In the wake of intense rivalry, up-and-coming Queen Alexis Gilmore opened her club, The Fishtank, and the glamorous Miss Kitty opened The Cathouse. Fueled by their individual heartbreak (and a lot of spite) for one another, the two queens do everything they can to make sure their club comes out on top, while simultaneously fighting against homophobia, transphobia, and financial struggles, even if it means scuffing their platform shoes. Old and fresh wounds open as the two see their clubs, their careers, and their beloved Houses compete for love, attention, and fame in Hollywood.

    Written by drag superstar Alaska Thunderf*ck, along with critically acclaimed songwriters Thomas Costanza and Ashley Gordon, DRAG: The Musical brings drag performance culture to the next level. Unlike traditional drag, there’s only one rule: No Lip Synching Allowed. Even with this distinction, DRAG: The Musical brings the heat to the stage, featuring incredibly dynamic and energetic performances quintessential to the world of drag.

    drag: the musical
    DRAG: The Musical – Billboard

    DRAG: The Musical has garnered rave reviews during its West Coast runs, taking home the Broadway World Los Angeles Award for “Best New Play or Musical” and the Queerties Award for “Live Theater.” The epic cast of drag, theater, and LGBTQ+ icons features iconic drag queen and winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race: All Stars Alaska Thunderf*ck (through 1/11/25), Jujubee, Jan Sport, Lagoona Bloo, J. Elaine Marcos and features New Kids on the Block’s, Joey McIntyre (through 11/24/24). Additional cast members will be announced shortly. 

    For more information and tickets to Drag: The Musical, visit their website here.

  • Don’t Miss Beetlejuice: The Musical, Now Through June 23 at Proctors

    Beetlejuice The Musical The Musical The Musical opened at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady on Tuesday, June 18, bringing in a packed audience who laughed and sang along to the beloved film, now in musical form.

    Beetlejuice The Musical
    Photo by Matthew Murphy

    Telling the story of Lydia Deetz with greater empathy and backstory – she is at her mother’s burial at the onset of Act 1 – gives cause for Lydia to seek out the help of Beetlejuice, performed masterfully by Justin Collette.

    With a recently diseased deceased couple, Adam (Will Burton) and Barbara (Megan McGinnis) Maitland, taking up residence in their former house – now the Deetz’ – they become visible to Lydia, leading to haunting hilarity and foot-tapping musical numbers amid a visually stunning series of sets that utilize the slant framed doors, windows and hallways of the Tim Burton film.

    Photo by Matthew Murphy

    Pulling from the source material effectively, but introducing Beetlejuice by the end of the first number, the focus in Act 1 on the demon in the striped suit was on par with that of Lydia (Isabella Esler, making her professional debut), a shift from the 1988 film. The 2018 debut on Broadway garnered Tony Award nominations for Best Musical, and well deserved given the production of songs “Dead Mom,” “That Beautiful Sound,” “Say My Name,” “Barbara 2.0” and of course, “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).”

    The first act was Beetlejuice’s time to shine, taking centerstage until he finally joins the world of the living by the end of the act. But Act 2 is greatly focused on Lydia, a time for actress Isabella Esler to be front and center, belting out number after number – “Home” being a show-stopping highlight. In Act 1, Lydia gives the story heart, a tease of what a treat audiences were in store for, both in Act 2 of Beetlejuice and Esler’s career potential as well.

    Beetlejuice The Musical The Musical The Musical contains strong language, mature references, and a lot of the crazy, inappropriate stuff you would expect from a deranged demon, but great family fun nonetheless.

    Photo by Matthew Murphy

    Beetlejuice The Musical The Musical The Musical at Proctors runs through Sunday, June 23. Tickets are available here.

    The Thursday, June 20 performance includes a TheatreTalks, free with ticket to the show. Check out the full schedule of TheatreTalks here. 

    Proctors will host an ASL performance of the show on Sunday, June 23 at 2pm. Contact the box office for specific seating.

  • The Broadway Collection Releases Documentary Short Film

    The Broadway Collection released their first ever documentary short film on June 6. Aimed at the travel industry, the short film emphasizes Broadway’s importance to New York culture, proving no trip to NYC is complete without a trip to the theater.

    Produced by The Broadway Collection and directed by two time Emmy-nominated Jonathan Theodore Baker, the short film is the first of an ongoing video series. Known for the MSNBC films’ documentary “Serving in Secret”, Baker’s prolific career includes award winners and work on box office hits.

    The film features Gavin Creel, a Tony and Olivier Award-Winning Bradway star. Following Creel, the film chronicles his journey to Broadway from childhood. Creel and Baker have been lifetime friends, from performing in their hometown of Findlay, Ohio, to the professional stage.

    The documentary features actress/singer Sara Bareilles (Waitress), Tony-nominated actress Eva Noblezada (Hadestown, The Great Gatsby), director Sammi Cannold (How to Dance in Ohio), and actress/singer Jacqueline Arnold (Moulin Rouge!). Filmed at pre- and post-show hotspot Bond 45, Creel and the special guests discuss the state of Broadway in 2024.

    The aid from hotels and restaurants is testament to the deep ties Broadway has to the community. The theater’s importance to New York’s culture and tourism is difficult to overstate. The Broadway Collection is dedicated to helping New York City visitors experience the theater, including Broadway and off-Broadway productions, the Metropolitan Opera, and the New York City Ballet. The Collection has tickets to suit various tastes and budgets, and has deep connections to the professional travel industry.

    The documentary is available below.