The Front Page on Broadway

I am very picky about Broadway shows. I have not been to many of them, I like to go when actors I enjoy are performing. My list of attended shows are: Mamma Mia, The Producers, The Odd Couple, Chaplin, The Lion King, Sylvia and It's Only a Play. I really enjoy Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick, separate and even better, together. When I heard about The Front Page opening with the cast of many of my favorites, I knew I had to go.  

Walking through Times Square is so not a favorite of mine, and luckily I was there on a Wednesday afternoon, which made it a little less crazy.  

The fabulous play Matilda, from the Ronald Dahl book, is a favorite with the younger crowd.  

That is some line-up, no? I was really thrilled to see all these talented folks in one show. For sure worth my admission ticket! 

Here is some info about the play which was written in 1928:

The classic comedy The Front Page hits Broadway once again in 2016, boasting an incredible cast of theatre and movie royalty. Directed by three time Tony winner Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, Henry IV), this revival is headlined by Broadway darling and two-time Tony winner Nathan Lane (The Producers), last seen on The Great White Way in the similarly starry It's Only a Play. Joining him in the cast are screen legend John Goodman (10 Cloverfield Lane), John Slattery (Mad Men) and Tony winners Jefferson Mays (A Gent's Guide to Love & Murder) and Rosemary Harris (The Lion in Winter).

First produced in 1928, The Front Page set the template for all wisecracking, rapid-fire comedies that followed. Written by former Chicago reporters Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, this witty escapade follows a court reporter who must ask the assistance of his tyrannical editor when he stumbles upon the story of a lifetime. A big hit in its day, it has been been adapted for the silver screen multiples times, most famously as His Girl Friday, with Gregory Peck and Rosalind Russell. 

In addition to the legends above, I also enjoyed seeing Dylan Baker (Colin Sweeney on The Good Wife), John Magaro (Lorna's husband Vinnie from Orange is the New Black), Christopher McDonald (Shooter McGavin from Happy Gilmore), Dann Florek (Law & Order) and Micah Stock who was in It's Only a Play. There is no shortage of talent here whatsoever!  

The Broadhurst Theatre is very lovely, this was my first time seeing a show here. 

The Broadhurst opened on September 27, 1917 with George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance, the first New York production of the philosophical 1910 comedy.  

The ladies sitting behind me were pretty interesting. Older ladies, who had no clue

what the play was about, or who was in it. I find that rather sad, they may have 

gotten tickets for free, or just go to many shows and not really look at the 

information about them. I am very particular about what I go to see. The lady sitting next

to me didn't seem happy about the play, how could you not be? Asking how 

long it was, and after the 2nd intermission, left and didn't come back. Sad.  

One day I would love a balcony seat!  

The first act of the play was kind of slow. The big names were not in the first act at all, which was kind of disappointing. After that however, I felt it really become very good. John Slattery was quite a main character, and his Mad Men-ish attire had me very happy. He looks great in a hat! John Goodman was really funny, he looked great and pretty trim. When Nathan Lane came into the play, people really started roaring with laughter. He is such a comic Broadway legend, if you have never seen him in a play, you need to do so. It is worth every penny. I was also really amused by Micah Stock, who was in It's Only a Play with Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. He is a really funny guy, and his scenes had me grinning from ear to ear. Robert Morse was really great as well, just perfect in his character. I would highly recommend this show, if you like comedies, you have your best performers here.

The Front Page 

Broadhurst Theatre 

235 West 44th Street 

Opens October 20, 2016 to January 29, 2017

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It's Only a Play on Broadway 2014 Review

I had the pleasure of attending It's Only a Play on Broadway last Wednesday. I myself do not do many plays. I can actually name the ones I have seen pretty quickly: The Producers, Mammia Mia, The Odd Couple, Chaplin and It's Only a Play. I have a fondness for anything Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane are in, so when I heard about this opening, I had to get a ticket. This is not a sponsored review, I purchased my own ticket for the play. The whole cast is pretty amazing, kind of seems like out of a dream. I was pretty excited and even though no photos were allowed during the play, I shot some of the theater for you. 

Good idea to list everyone alphabetically as how do you pick otherwise with this cast?? 

MATTHEW BRODERICK and NATHAN LANE lead an all-star cast, including F. MURRAY ABRAHAM, STOCKARD CHANNING, RUPERT GRINT, MEGAN MULLALLY and MICAH STOCK. This hilarious ensemble comes together in a comedy written by four-time Tony® winner TERRENCE McNALLY and directed by three-time Tony® winner JACK O’BRIEN—a celebration of theatre at its best…and theatre people behaving their not-so-best.

It’s opening night of Peter Austin’s (Matthew Broderick) new play as he anxiously awaits to see if his show is a hit. With his career on the line, he shares his big First Night with his “best” friend, a television star (Nathan Lane), his novice producer (Megan Mullally), his doped-up diva (Stockard Channing), his genius director (Rupert Grint), a lethal drama critic (F. Murray Abraham), and a fresh-off-the-bus coat check attendant (Micah Stock) on his first night in Manhattan.

It’s alternately raucous, ridiculous and tender—and proves that sometimes the biggest laughs happen offstage.

My bucket list has that I must sit in one of those balcony seats at least once in my lifetime. It has to be so cool sitting there, and how gorgeous is this theater? 

The Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, previously known as the Plymouth Theatre, located at 236 West 45th Street (George Abbott Way) was renamed in 2005 in honor of Gerald Schoenfeld.

Designed by architect Herbert J. Krapp to resemble the neighboring Shubert and Booth theatres designed by Henry B. Herts, the building was constructed by the Shubert brothers in 1917-18, christened the Plymouth Theatre, and leased to producer Arthur Hopkins. He intended it to be a venue for legitimate plays starring notable actors like John and Lionel Barrymore. The premiere production was A Successful Calamity, a comedy with William Gillette and Estelle Winwood.
After Hopkins died in 1948, control of the theatre returned to the Shuberts, who still own the property, which was designated a New York landmark in 1987. The 1,080-seat house was renamed after Gerald Schoenfeld, chairman of the Shubert Organization, in 2005.

I kept looking up quite a bit, and the beauty of this place was just overwhelming. I don't think there is a bad seat in the house, I had a great one very close to the stage. I like to sit close for anything but a musical, so I can see the actors. The theater is not that huge, so you can see well from any area. 

I am not a person to stand outside the theatre after a performance, but with all the great actors in this play, I gave it a shot. Unfortunately, the only actors who appeared were Rupert Grint and the newcomer above Micah Stock. Rupert signed for fans and took photos, but I couldn't get in to take a shot for you. Micah was very nice to everyone, and after taking some photos and autographs, just walked away from the theatre! Rupert had a car waiting for him, guess walking around Broadway would be hard since he is more known. 

I thought the play was really very funny. The newcomer, Micah Stock had great comic delivery, and had the audience laughing regularly. I felt the character of Megan Mullally was very similar to her part on Will & Grace. Rupert Grint, making his Broadway debut, was really funny as the young troubled director, and a far cry from his Harry Potter character. Stockard Channing was good, it was fun to see her in person, she knows how to work the stage. F. Murray Abraham was my least favorite, I see he has an Oscar, but I didn't feel his character was really that important. Matthew Broderick was good as well, he is one of my most favorites, and it was fabulous seeing him onstage again. Nathan Lane stole the show! He was just so amazing, and he was on stage for almost the whole play. If you like comedy, and you are a fan of any of the actors in the play, I would be sure to see it. The play is running until January 4, 2015. You can click on the link below if you wish to obtain tickets, I do not receive any profit from the link, just wanted to make it easier for you if you wish to see what is available. 

Today's Words of Wisdom: L.A., it's nice, but I think of sunshine and people on rollerblades eating sushi. New York, I think of nighttime, I think of Times Square and Broadway and nightlife and the city that never sleeps. - Jimmy Fallon

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