Today on the podcast, we talk about Phantom and Beetlejuice closing and a new Sweeney Todd coming to Broadway!

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The Phantom of the Opera is there, but not for long.

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Ham4Sweeney

Critics who write nasty things about good shows and the power of the NY Times continues. The age-long question, what good are they?

Clive Barnes, Antony and Cleopatra - https://www.nytimes.com/1976/06/12/archives/stage-cleopatra-and-earnest-in-canada.html

Producer Stacey Mindich of "Dear Evan Hansen" recently told the Press the story about how Hansen found its way to a Bway stage. Fascinating, but who's making sure that we collect more stories about what it takes to create new theater? https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/theater/dear-evan-hansen-broadway-close.html

"‘The Phantom of the Opera’ to end history-making Broadway run" by Broadway News' Caitlin Hornik - "“The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest-running show in Broadway history, will end its run on Feb. 18, 2023 at the Majestic Theatre. By closing, the musical will have played a total of 13,925 performances. The musical will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Broadway on Jan. 26, 2023, just weeks before ending its run.

Under the direction of Harold Prince and featuring choreography by Gillian Lynne, the musical began previews on Jan. 9, 1988 and opened on Jan. 26, 1988 at the Majestic Theatre. The show shut down temporarily along with all other Broadway shows on Mar. 12, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “Phantom” reopened to audiences on Oct. 22, 2021. … “The Phantom of the Opera” is produced on Broadway by Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group.

“As a British producer who has been lucky enough to have been producing in New York for over 40 consecutive years, it has been an unparalleled honor to have presented the longest-running musical in Broadway’s history, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera,’” said Mackintosh. He added, “Gaston Leroux’s opera ghost may be disappearing for now, but there is no doubt that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s masterpiece will continue to enchant audiences in London and around the world — and one day will return to Broadway. Our gratitude to American audiences falling in love with The Phantom is infinite.”" https://bway.ly/791hxa

"‘Phantom of the Opera’ sales explode after shock closing announcement" by New York Post's Johnny Oleksinski - "After The Post first reported on Friday that the composer’s “The Phantom of the Opera” would close on Broadway this winter after 35 years, the show took in $2 million in ticket sales by 8 p.m., producer Cameron Mackintosh told The Post." https://bway.ly/4zblec

"After ‘Phantom,’ Which Shows Will Be the Longest-Running on Broadway?" by The New York Times' Michael Paulson - "And what will be the most-enduring-and-still-running shows on Broadway once “Phantom” closes? “Chicago” celebrated its 25th anniversary last fall; “The Lion King” is preparing to celebrate that same milestone this fall." https://bway.ly/55inbl

"‘Beetlejuice’ to end Broadway run" by Broadway News' Caitlin Hornik - "“Beetlejuice” will play its final Broadway performance on Jan. 8, 2023. At the time of closing, the musical will have played 27 previews and a total of 679 performances.

The musical, based on the Tim Burton film of the same name, originally opened at the Winter Garden Theatre on Apr. 25, 2019, shuttering along with the rest of Broadway on Mar. 10, 2020 due to the pandemic. Prior to the pandemic, a closing date of June 6, 2020 had been announced as the musical had to vacate the theater after the Shubert Organization invoked a stop clause in the production’s theater rental agreement. 

While it was initially announced that the musical would not reopen post-COVID, “Beetlejuice” found a new home at the Marquis Theatre and reopened on Apr. 8, 2022.

A national tour will open at San Francisco’s Golden Gate Theatre on Dec. 6.

“Beetlejuice” is produced on Broadway by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures and Langley Park Productions." https://bway.ly/7t43gu

COMPANY - https://companymusical.com/

The producers of Hamilton have an epic tale we think you’ll love: Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Tony Award®-winning musical Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street returns to Broadway with Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. Hamilton’s Thomas Kail and Alex Lacamoire reunite to bring the musical thriller to the stage with a 26-piece orchestra.

Previews begin February 26th

Pippin is a 1972 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious performance troupe, led by the Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The 'fourth wall' is broken numerous times during most traditional productions. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pippin_(musical)

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