Broadway makes money for some and sinks others into despair but for producers Tom Kirdahy, Roy Furman, and Ken Davenport these saver producers reported that the Broadway production of It’s Only a Play has recouped its $3.9 million capitalization.
It’s Only A Play was breaking house records at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street) since opening in October, and now becomes the first show of the 2014-15 Broadway season to recoup.
“We are delighted that Broadway audiences have embraced the laughter and hijinks of It’s Only A Play. We knew, with Terrence, Jack and this phenomenal cast, we had something special, but these results exceeded our expectations,” producer Tom Kirdahy said.
It’s Only A Play (Terrence McNally) recently welcomed 1/17) Tony® and Emmy® winner Martin Short, Two-time Tony® winner Katie Finneran, and “30 Rock” alum Maulik Pancholy, into the original cast which includes F. Murray Abraham, Matthew Broderick, Stockard Channing and Micah Stock. Three-time Tony® Award winner Jack O’Brien directs.
It’s Only A Play ( www.ItsOnlyAPlay.com).
In news that Hollywood is now coming to Broadway - let’s settle on the new musical about rock it’s quirky paring School of Rock—The Musical, with the producers the Really Useful Group, Warner Music Group & Access Industries, The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization. This combo might actually make a hit from the movie.
Previews will begin on Monday, November 2, 2015 at the Winter Garden Theatre, with an opening set for Sunday, December 6.
It’s based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, School of Rock will feature music from the movie, as well as new music written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, with a book by Julian Fellowes. School of Rock—The Musical will be directed by Laurence Connor (currently represented on Broadway by Les Miserables).
Produced by Paramount Pictures, the 2003 film was directed by Richard Linklater and starred Jack Black in a career-defining performance. The film received universal critical acclaim and was hailed by The New York Times as an “irresistible comic postscript to the rock revolution.” The film went on to gross more than $130 million worldwide.
In School of Rock—The Musical, down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star Dewey Finn poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet. When he discovers his students’ musical talents, he enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands.
Unique point of fact, Jack Black will be performing at the 87th Oscars in a top, top, top secret performance that may or may not include something with director Richard Linklater whose “BoyHood,” is being favoured to win a few gold men!
Three-time Grammy Award-winner Rob Cavallo also joins the creative team. Cavallo is one of the top-selling record producers in the world, has been involved in albums that have sold more than 150 million units and has worked with Green Day, My Chemical Romance, Paramore, Goo Goo Dolls, Phil Collins, Cary Clark Jr., among others.
Cavallo said "School of Rock is a wonderful film, a rock and roll story that transcends the genre with passion and heart. To be able to creatively collaborate with Andrew Lloyd Webber, Glenn Slater, Julian Fellowes and the rest of the team is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I can't wait to see School of Rock take on a whole new life."
Co-producers The Shubert Organization and The Nederlander Organization issued a joint statement: “This partnership is an extension of a long-standing and productive relationship between our two organizations, and it gives us the exciting opportunity to work with Andrew again. We are thrilled to be on the producing team with The Really Useful Group and Warner Music Group to bring School of Rock – The Musical to Broadway.”
“I am excited to be working on bringing Jack Black and Mike White's iconic movie to the stage,” said Andrew Lloyd Webber. “It is a joy for me to return to my Jesus Christ Superstar roots – when Deep Purple's Ian Gillan was recording Jesus for Tim Rice and me at London's Olympic Studios, Led Zeppelin was recording next door and a glimpse of a Stone or two was routine! School Of Rock is hugely about how music can empower kids. Tim Rice and my first performed piece, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, was written for a school. Ever since then I and my Art Foundation have been actively involved in music education back home in Britain. It will be a joy to discover and work with talented musical kids in the USA and, who knows, maybe discover a rock star or three of the next generation.”
School of Rock will feature Choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, Scenic and Costume Design by Anna Louizos, Lighting Design by Natasha Katz, and Sound Design by Mick Potter. Nina Lannan serves as Executive Producer.
Casting for the show will begin in January in cities across the country, including New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Just in case your under a rock and don’t know the heavy hitters involved in this new Broadway musical take a look below:
Andrew Lloyd Webber (Composer) is the composer of some of the world’s best known musicals including Cats, Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera and Sunset Boulevard. As theatre producer he has presented not only his own shows but others, including the Olivier award-winning La Bete and Daisy Pulls It Off. As composer he has received many awards including seven Tonys, seven Oliviers, a Golden Globe, an Oscar, two International Emmys, the Praemium Imperiale, the Richard Rodgers Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, a BASCA Fellowship, the Kennedy Center Honor and a Grammy for Best Contemporary Classical Composition for Requiem, his setting of the Latin Requiem mass which contains one of his best known compositions, “Pie Jesu.” He owns six London theatres including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the London Palladium. He was knighted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1992 and created an honorary member of the House of Lords in 1997. The Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation has become one of Britain’s leading charities supporting the arts and music. For information about the pioneering music in education work supported by the Foundation in the UK please visit: www.andrewlloydwebberfoundation.com
Glenn Slater (Lyrics) co-created Disney’s 2010 worldwide smash Tangled (2011 Grammy Winner, 2010 Oscar and Golden Globe nominee), as well as the Broadway and international hit musicals Sister Act (2011 Tony nominee – Best Score) and The Little Mermaid (2008 Tony nominee – Best Score, Grammy nominee – Best Cast Album). With longtime collaborator Alan Menken he has also written songs for the Disney animated film Home On The Range (2004) and Broadway musical Leap of Faith (Tony nominee – Best Musical, 2012), as well as acting as both songwriters and executive producers of the medieval musical comedy television series “Galavant,” premiering January 2015 on ABC-TV. In the West End, Glenn provided both book and lyrics for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Love Never Dies (2010 Olivier nominee – Best Musical), the sequel to Phantom of the Opera. Other work includes an Emmy-nominated song for the ABC-TV comedy “The Neighbors” (2013), and the stage revue Newyorkers at The Manhattan Theatre Club (Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations). Glenn is the recipient of the prestigious Kleban Award for Lyrics, the ASCAP/Richard Rogers New Horizons Award, and the Jonathan Larson Award. He is an alumnus of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, and a member of both ASCAP and the Dramatists’ Guild. Glenn lives in New York City with composer/lyricist/wife Wendy Leigh Wilf and sons Benjamin and Daniel.
Julian Fellowes (Book) is a prolific actor, writer, director, and producer. As an actor, he is probably best known for the BBC series, “Aristocrats,” and for his portrayal of Lord Kilwillie in the BBC’s popular series, “Monarch of the Glen.” On the big screen, he has been seen in many films, including Shadowlands, Damage, Place Vendôme, Fellow Traveller, and Tomorrow Never Dies. As a writer for television, he produced the scripts of “Little Lord Fauntleroy” (winner of an International EMMY, 1995) and “The Prince and the Pauper” (nominated for a BAFTA, 1997) which he also produced. His first screenplay was Gosford Park, directed by Robert Altman, which won him several prizes, including the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Laurence Connor (Director). Laurence's directorial credits include: Les Miserables (Broadway), Miss Saigon (London), Jesus Christ Superstar (UK and Australian Arena Tour and released for DVD), the entirely new stage production of The Phantom of the Opera (US and UK), Oliver! (UK Tour) and Miss Saigon (UK Tour and Worldwide), which received critical acclaim for two years and won the Manchester Evening News Award for Best Touring Musical, Best New Foreign Production (Korea), Best Ensemble in a Musical (Korea) and the Green Room Award for Best Director of a Musical (Australia). Laurence is also the Co-Director of the new version of Les Miserables which has enjoyed worldwide success including Broadway, UK and US Tours and won awards including Best Musical at the prestigious Manchester Evening News Awards and Best Director of a Musical in Korea. Laurence directed the 25th anniversary concert of The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall and the 25th Anniversary concert of Les Miserables at the O2 in London both of which were simultaneously broadcast in cinemas worldwide and subsequently released on DVD. Laurence has also been associated with the London productions of The Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty's Theatre), Oliver! (Drury Lane), The King and I (London Palladium) and A Slice of Saturday Night (Liverpool Empire). Cinema and Television: Jesus Christ Superstar (Cinema Streaming Worldwide and DVD), Phantom of the Opera (Cinema Streaming Worldwide and DVD), Les Miserables at the O2 London (Cinema Streaming Worldwide and DVD) Current projects include: The Sound of Music Live for ITV.
JoAnn M. Hunter (Choreography) has recently been in development of a new rock musical about the life of Genya Raven, Cheesecake Girl. Other recent credits include Harmony by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman at the Ahmanson Theatre, LA, and the world premiere of Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes’ The Nutty Professor directed by Jerry Lewis. Broadway credits include: On A Clear Day You Can See Forever, She Loves Me (Roundabout Gala), and Broadway Bound. Off Broadway credits include: Dedalus Lounge and The Twelve (workshop). National Tour/Regional credits include: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Grease (PMP), Oliver (PMP), and Curtains (PMP/TUTS). She directed Debra Monk in her one woman show in February of 2014 with special guests Ron Rifkin, Andrea Martin, Victor Garber, Charlotte D’Amboise, Jimmy Newman, Brandon Victor Dixon and David Hyde Pierce. She also choreographed The Drama League Galas honoring Angela Lansbury, Kristen Chenoweth and Neil Patrick Harris. She served as Associate Broadway Choreographer for Spring Awakening, Curtains, The Wedding Singer, and All Shook Up.
Anna Louizos (Scenic and Costume Design) received Tony Award nominations for The Mystery of Edwin Drood, In the Heights, and High Fidelity. Other Broadway designs include Honeymoon in Vegas; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella (and US tour); Avenue Q (also US tour, Paris, London & Las Vegas); The Performers; Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (US &UK tours); Curtains; Baby It’s You; All About Me; To Be Or Not To Be; Steel Magnolias; Golda’s Balcony. Many notable Off-Broadway/regional theatres including Roundabout Theatre; Second Stage; 5th Avenue Theatre; Ahmanson; Dallas Theater Center; Stratford; world premier productions of tick. Tick…BOOM and Altar Boyz. Art Direction film/TV: “Sex and the City” (HBO).
Natasha Katz (Lighting Design) has designed extensively for the theatre, opera and dance. Recent Broadway credits include The Glass Menagerie (Tony Award), Once (Tony Award), Aladdin, Motown, Follies, Sister Act, Coast of Utopia: Salvage (Tony Award), Aida (Tony Award), and Beauty and the Beast. She has designed shows Off-Broadway, at American regional theatres, concerts, Las Vegas and permanent installations. Her work with opera and ballet companies include: The Royal Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, NYC Opera, American Ballet Theatre, and City Ballet. Awards: Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics, Hewes Award, Whatsonstage, Joseph Jefferson Award, Ruth Morely Design Award, National Broadway Theatre Award. Upcoming Broadway: An American in Paris and Skylight.
Mick Potter (Sound Design). Mick has designed over 100 productions worldwide including the West End and Broadway musicals Saturday Night Fever, Bombay Dreams, The Woman in White, Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Love Never Dies, and Miss Saigon. Awards include an Olivier for The Woman in White (London 2005), Parnelli Award for The Phantom of the Opera (Las Vegas 2006), Helpmann Award nominee and Green Room Award for Love Never Dies (Australia 2011) and a Tony nomination for Les Miserables (Broadway 2014).
The Really Useful Group (Producer) is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s theatre producing and rights licensing company that controls the theatrical rights for all of his works, including The Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Sunset Boulevard. The Really Useful Group reached over 20 million people across the globe last year from live theatre and concert audiences, cinema goers, television viewers and music fans, to social media and art lovers. 2014 sees The Really Useful Group continue to work across film, television and theatre as it produces and develops new projects and partnerships worldwide alongside its ongoing work in education, amateur licensing and music publishing.
Warner Music Group (Producer). With its broad roster of new stars and legendary artists, Warner Music Group is home to a collection of the best-known record labels in the music industry including Asylum, Atlantic, Big Beat, East West, Elektra, Fueled By Ramen, Nonesuch, Parlophone, Reprise, Rhino, Roadrunner, Rykodisc, Sire, Warner Bros., Warner Classics, Warner Music Nashville and Word, as well as Warner/Chappell Music, one of the world's leading music publishers, with a catalog of more than one million copyrights worldwide.
The Shubert Organization (Producer) has been at the forefront of the American theatre since the start of the 20th century. The Organization currently owns and operates seventeen Broadway theatres. Under the leadership of Philip J. Smith, Chairman and Robert E. Wankel, President, the firm continues to be involved in the presentation of distinguished theatrical presentations. Notable Shubert productions and co-productions include Cats, Sunday in the Park with George, Dreamgirls, The Heidi Chronicles, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Amadeus, Children of a Lesser God, The Grapes of Wrath, Ain’t Misbehavin’, A Few Good Men, God of Carnage, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Lucky Guy, Nice Work if You Can Get It, and Spamalot.
The Nederlander Organization (Producer) is a family owned business founded in 1912. The company is one of the largest and most experienced managers of legitimate venues and entertainment properties in the world today. Under the leadership of James M. and James L. Nederlander, the company oversees an enterprise that encompasses the ownership and/or management of nine Broadway theaters and venues across the country, as well as theatrical producing, concert presentation and patron services. The Nederlanders’ are prolific producers of over 100 distinguished, award-winning musicals and plays. Notable productions currently include The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper; The Last Ship, and Kinky Boots. Their long list of credits include: I'll Eat You Last with Bette Midler; Annie; Evita; Fiddler on the Roof; Grease; La Cage aux Folles; Movin’ Out; Noises Off; The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby; West Side Story; Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf?; Next to Normal; The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee; Les Liaisons Dangereuses; as well as many others. Currently working on the production of My Fair Lady and On Your Feet the Gloria and Emilio Estefan Story. The Nederlanders’ are also co-founders of The National High School Musical Award, named “The Jimmy Award,” a national program that celebrates outstanding student performances in high school musical productions across the United States.
Nina Lannan (Executive Producer). Nina Lannan’s career spans more than 50 major shows on Broadway and includes two years as Chair of The Broadway League where she was the first female to occupy that position in the organization’s 80-year history. She is delighted to renew her association with Andrew Lloyd Webber and The Really Useful Company which began in 1980 and includes the shows CATS, Song and Dance, Starlight Express, Sunset Boulevard, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Whistle Down The Wind. She is the founding partner of Bespoke Theatricals and a board member of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.
