New York Broadway Tours

02/13/2025

The current revival of Cabaret continues to play to packed houses taking theater on a dark, powerful, haunting, and emotional rollercoaster ride. If you are familiar with the story, the musical is set in Pre-WWII Berlin, Germany during the N***s rise to power. The show’s themes are very similar what is happening in the world today especially with situations of antisemitism.

However, some people are not taking it seriously. A few weeks ago during a performance at the August Wilson Theatre, current “Emcee” Adam Lambert called out several members who inappropriately laughed during one of the most darkest parts of the musical. The Emcee’s Gorilla serenade IF YOU COULD SEE HER.

The antisemitic song ends with the lyric IF YOU COULD SEE HER THROUGH MY EYES, SHE WOULD’T LOOK JEWISH AT ALL. Members of the sold out crowd at the August Wilson Theatre giggled. Without breaking character (since “The Emcee” also improvises his dialogue throughout the show to interact with the crowd), Lambert turned to the audience and said “No! This is NOT comedy! Pay attention!”. Members of the audience who believed in the true meaning behind the lyric and on Lambert’s side applauded.

Theater podcaster David Rigano wrote an open letter to Lambert applauding for the way he delivered the moment. More people began to comment (even fellow theatergoers) who were there that night. Horror.

Thoughts?

Anyone has seen the production or heard people laughing during that emotional song?

Adam Lambert stayed in character when he stopped the live Broadway performance to make a point about the show's material.

02/13/2025

ON THE MARQUEE: Disney’s smash hit The Lion King recently welcomed Ntsepa Pitjeng Molebatsi who takes over the role of the spiritual guide and wisecracking baboon “Rafiki”. The South African native has played this role (delivering that infamous opening calling chant) on and off in various companies consisting of the Las Vegas sitdown, Brazil, Shanghai residency at Shanghai Disneyland, London’s West End, the International Touring company, and in Paris. Her stint in the New York cast marks Pitjeng Molebatsi’s Broadway Debut!!!!

Pitjeng Molebatsi is doing a tenporary run here in NYC. Longtime “Rafiki” Tshidi Manye (who has played the role for over 5,000 performances) will return to the Pride Lands later this Summer 2025.

In the meantime, check out this brand new production photo of Ntsepa Pitjeng Molebatsi herself in costume as “Rafiki” outside the show’s home at the Minskoff Theatre.

How amazing is Ntsepa? Anyone seen her recently?

02/13/2025

BREAKING NEWS: The Great Gatsby’s got another major cast change for its 2nd year on the Great Bright Way!!! Starting March 31st, 2025 at the Broadway Theatre, the PARTY will keep ROARING ON with its new principal stars Linedy Genao and Austin Colby.

Genao (Broadway’s On Your Feet and last seen as the titular role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Bad Cinderella) will replace Sara Chase in the role of the flirty and complicated “Myrtle Wilson”

And

Original Ensemble member Colby (who also appeared in Jersey Boys and the National Tour of Frozen) will replace John Zdrojeski take on the role of the wealthy, aggressive, and controlling “Tom Buchanan” fulltime, a role he previously served understudying.

Chase and Zdrojeski will play their final performances on March 30th, 2025.

It was also revealed that Noah J. Ricketts will also be departing the same day as Chase and Zdrojeski. However, no world has been said on who will replace him in the role of the show’s narrator and observer “Nick Carraway”.

Who is excited for the new cast change?!

The Great Gatsby will welcome a new Myrtle Wilson and Tom Buchanan. Linedy Genao joins as Myrtle, while Austin Colby takes over the role of Tom. …

02/12/2025

Last week marked the 21st Anniversary of the heartbreakingg passing of a rising ROYAL Broadway star….. Jason Raize. He tragically took his own life on February 3rd, 2004 in Yass…. Located in South Wales. He was 28 years old. This July 2025 coming up will also would have commorated Raize’s 50th Birthday.

For those not familiar with Raize, he appeared in the National Tours of Jesus Christ Superstar and Miss Saigon. In addition, he was offered a recording deal with Universal Records which came with a Disney Channel concert with Jessica Simpson in 2001…. But the album alone entieled NYC was never released. That’s not all, Raize had his own animal disocvery TV show KEEPING IT WILD. He was also the voice of “Denahi” in Brother Bear.

However, it was Raize’s performance originating the role of “Adult Simba” in Disney’s The Lion King on Broadway that put him on the map. He earned him critical acclaim for the role. He stayed with the long-running Disney show for 3 years at its initial home at the New Amsterdam Theatre from 1997-2000.

When you think of Raize in THE LION KING, there was one standout moment that he would bring down the house every night singing 8 times a week. The emotional powerhouse ballad ENDLESS NIGHT.

For those who don’t know the actual song, it uses an element from a Zulu choral interlude from the original 1994 film called LALA by Lebo M, Hans Zimmer, and Jay Rifkin. It deals with the loss of a loved onee. The full version that inspired the song was featured on the concept album RHYTHMS OF THE PRIDE LAND. Taymor gave English lyrics based on the melody to go with the flow of the story. In the actual show of THE LION KING, ENDLESS NIGHT takes place in the middle of Act 2 after “Adult Simba” gets a haunting flashback of his Father’s death. He takes a moment to reflect, grieve, and think of all the responsibilities and the spirit of his Father still there. When THE LION KING on Broadway opened, critics praised the new song as it really helped develop more of the storyline for “Simba”.

Raize is heard on the Broadway cast album but sang it on various TV shows including this 1997 appearance on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. Watch it and take a moment as we remember Jason. Always and forever our KING!!! RIP.

Any Jason Raize fans out there?!

02/11/2025

SHE’S NOT GOING TO THE PLAZA HOTEL….. No more!!! It has just been announced that The Great Gatsby’s original showstopper Sara Chase is set to depart the smash hit show this spring. The actress (who also appeared on Broadway in First Date and on TV’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) will take her final bow as the trapped and complicated “Myrtle Wilson” on March 30th, 2025 at the Broadway Theatre.

No word has been announced on who will take over the role fulltime.

Chase has had one whirlwind experience taking part in The Great Gatsby since its premiere run at Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ back in 2023 and instantly transferring the show to Broadway. Despite all the success and rave reviews as one of the show’s standouts performer, she was going through a personal crisis. During the rehearsal proccess for Broadway, Chase received devastating news that she was diagnosed with Fallopian tube cancer. She kept everything hidden within the company until she felt ready to share. The cast, crew, and creative team took Chase in with open arms supporting her. The treatments for her cancer consisted of a full hysterectomy and went through 6 rounds of Chemotherapy…. All while still rehearsing and performing 8 shows a week!!!

However to take everything easy, Chase took a summer off from the production. She was temporary replaced by Chilina Kennedy. Chase returned this past September to GATSBY where she is wrapping her run this Spring.

Most recently, Chase took 2 weeks off again from the show starring in the premiere of the stage musical adaptation of the TV series SCHMIGADOON at The Kennedy Center in our nation’s capital of Washington D.C. No word has been said for if that show will go to Broadway next.

Sara will be missed on that ONE WAY ROAD!! We can’t wait to see what is next.

FUN FACT: Sara Chase is cousin to one off our very own NYBT Guides and blogger Mikey!!!!

Thoughts?!

02/11/2025

BREAKING NEWS: Broadway and Disney Channel veteran Christy Carlson Romano was recently shot!!

The Kim Possible and Even Stevens favorite (who appeared in the original production of Jason Robert Brown’s Parade, the 10th Anniversary “Belle” in Beauty and the Beast, and last seen in Avenue Q) went clay pigeon shooting with her husband for his birthday. Someone from another party aimed a gun in the wrong way landing towards Romano and hit her in 5 places in the face near her right eye. A fragment got lodged behind the eye which doctors were unable to remove surgically at the moment. However, the doctors will continue to observe.

Romano took to her Instagram to explain and that she’s ok, she survived, ans her eye sight is still normal.

No word has beenn said on the person who accidentally shot the actress.

Love and healing prayers for Christy.

Thoughts?!

"Even Stevens" star Christy Carlson Romano shared on Instagram that someone "unsafely fired in the wrong direction" but said she can still see normally.

02/10/2025

Last week, internet sensation Trisha Paytas fulfilled a longtime dream come true ON BROADWAY for one night only. The podcast host, comedian, and entertainer presented her BIG BROADWAY DREAMS variety show at Broadway’s St. James Theatre (current home of Sunset Boulevard).

Under the direction of Broadway illusionist Skylar Fox and choreographed by longtime Broadway dancer Sarah Meahl, the show takes on Paytas personality into her life as she shows the world the magic it takes to make it on Broadway. Paytas had been a lifelong theater nerd for so long. Despite people trash talking her & accusing her thoughts being racist, homophonic, transphobic, and more, the negative energy did not stop Trisha.

Backed by a small Ensemble led by Broadway favorite Amber Ardolino and a small band, TRISHA PAYTAS BIG BROADWAY DREAMS was a part variety show and live podcast talk show in one. In the podcast section, she interviewed 3 of Broadway’s best past, present, and future consisting of….

Tony winner Sutton Foster,
Tony winner Ben Platt,
&
Golden Globe winner Rachel Zegler.

The sold out show served as a benefit for the Entertainment Community Fund. For those who couldn’t afford a ticket, the show was also live-streamed.

If you missed the experience, you can watch Trisha’s Broadway experience here!!!!

How great and inspiring is she?!

02/10/2025

A few weeks ago, Tony and Olivier Award nominated powerhouse Eva Noblezada ended her run in The Great Gatsby on Broadway. However, the celebrated performer is keeping herself busy. A few days after her final bow, Noblezada took a layover on her way to London by stopping in Northridge, CA for a concert with the Pacifica Jazz Orchestra.

Those who weren’t able to make it out, the show itself was also live-streamed and available to watch now!!! In the concert, it features Noblezada performing music from her whole Broadway and West End career including Miss Saigon, Hadestown, and The Great Gatsby. She also performed some of her favorite songs and influences growing up as well. Of course, no Noblezada concert is complete without appearances from The Carneys….. Paris and her HADESTOWN co-star and boyfriend Reeve!!!

Noblezada is currently back in London doing a limited encore stint reprising her performance as “Eurydice” in HADESTOWN. She will also be part of the musical’s upcoming filmed proshot as well of that. Immediately after her run ends next month, Noblezada will go straight back to Broadway to play “Sally Bowles” in the current revival of Cabaret.

How amazing is Eva?!

7:26 - Don't Rain on My Parade11:22 - Colors of the Wind16:53 - Teach Me Tonight21:27 - Corcovado27:13 - Man! I Feel Like a Woman (w/ Paris Carney)32:43 - Cr...

02/10/2025

BREAKING NEWS: Alex Joseph Grayson is set to join the cast of the Tony winning The Outsiders later this month. Beginning February 28th, 2025, the rising Broadway star will return to the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (where he was seen in the 45th Street house’s most prior show the Tony winning revival of Parade) this time to take on the role of the instant jumping, tough and extremely rebellious “Dallas Winston”.

Winston officially replaced original cast member Tony nominee Joshua Boone who departed the production last month. Currently, both understudies Aramie Payton and Daryl Tofa have been alternating going on for “Dallas” during the interim of the officially announced permanent cast “Dallas”.

Who is excited?!

Alex Joseph Grayson joins the company after Joshua Boone’s departure.

02/10/2025

What’s been happening to the size of Broadway’s best musicians?!

Luckily, there is a limit to how many musicians that can be cut for a Broadway show on the main stem, in the form of musician minimums. These minimums range as high as 19 for the Broadway, Lyric, Minskoff, Marquis, New Amsterdam, and St James Theatres, to as low as three for Circle in the Square, Bo...

02/10/2025

FIRST LOOK & LISTEN: Tony Award winner Jonathan Groff is heading back to the Great Bright Way with the ultimate passion project. The Spring Awakening, Glee, Frozen, Looking, Hamilton, and Merrily We Roll Along favorite will star in the new musical JUST IN TIME, all about the short lived life of singer Bobby Darin.

Groff will BOTH produce the show and star as “Bobby Darin”, one of the most successful entertainers from the worlds of jazz, pop, rock & roll, swing, and country. It will feature many of his songs including BEYOND THE SEA, MACK THE KNIFE, SPLISH SPLASH, and more.

It features a book by Warren Leight and Issac Oliver,

Choreography by Shannon Lewis,

&

Direction by Tony and Golden Globe winner Alex Timbers.

In addition to Groffsauce, the cast will also feature….

Gracie Lawrence (Broadway’s 2009 revival of Brighton Beach Memoirs, TV’s S*x Life of College Girls, and lead singer of her family band LAWRENCE) as “Connie Francis”,

Erika Hennigsen (Mean Girls and Les Miserables) as “Sandra Dee”,

Tony winner Michelle Pawk (Hollywood Arms and Wicked),

&

A full all-star Broadway cast!!!!

After 7 years of development, the show will debut at Broadway’s Circle in the Square Theatre this Spring!!! Previews begin March 28th, 2025 and will open April 23rd, 2025.

Get a sneak peak that will keep ROLLIN AND A STROLLIN, MOVIN WITH THR GROOVIN!!!

Who is excited?!

PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 28, 2025 | Get Tickets Now: https://justintimebroadway.com/Look out, Jonathan’s back! Tony Award® winner Jonathan Groff (Merrily We...

02/10/2025

Currently, one of the hottest tickets on the Great Bright Way is a unique immersive version of one of Broadway’s most iconic musicals of all time….. Kander & Ebb’s Cabaret. Now we’ve seen many Tony winning stagings of this powerful musical show…… The 1967 original Hal Prince & Ron Field staging and the 1998 Donmar Warehouse / Roundabout Sam Mendes & Rob Marshall production. However, this new staging from Rebecca Frecknail and Julia Cheng brings 1930’s Berlin and the story’s legendary venue of the Kit Kat Club to a whole new level!!!

Frecknail and Cheg’s rendition of CABARET gives the show an immersive experience. The minute you enter the theater, you are immediately transported into an actual Weimar era nightclub. You walk through various corriders filled with preshow music, dance, and more right before settling into the auditorium itself. They’ve taken the traditional proscenium theaters and transforming it all IN THE ROUND with the action taking place all around you. If you’re close to the stage, you’re even placed in table seating too. This new experience was done by its scenic designer Tom Scuttt, who won a Tony for this setup!!!

Check out this behind the scenes tour of this Tony winning set at the August Willson Theatre.

This production alone was first done in London’s West End in 2021 and won multiple Olivier Awards including BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL. The production continues to play there to packed houses. The production first opened there with….

Eddie Redmayne as “The Emcee”,

Jessie Buckley as “Sally Bowles”,

Omari Douglas as “Clifford Bradshaw”,

Stewart Clarke as “Ernst Ludvig”,

Liza Sadovy as “Fraulein Schneider”,

Elliott Levy as “Herr Schultz”,

&

Anna Jane Casey as “Fraulein Kost”.

Since Redmayne and Buckley left London, there have Bremen notable all-star castings that have continueded for both “The Emcee” and “Sally Bowles”.

The Broadway company of this staging opened last year at the August Wilson Theatre where the whole creative team including Scutt’s design went the same direction. When it opened here, the cast featured…

Eddie Redmayne reprising his role as “The Emcee”,

Gayle Rankin (who also appeared as “Fraulein Kost” in the 2014 remounting of the 1998 Roundabout revival) as “Sally Bowles”,

Ato Blankson-Wood as “Clifford Bradshaw”,

Tony winner Bebe Neuwirth as “Fraulein Schneider”,

Tony nominee Steven Skybell as “Herr Schultz”,

Henry Gottfied as “Ernst Ludvig”,

&

Natacisa Katz as “Fraulein Kost”.

Currently, Adam Lambert and Auli’i Cravalho are starring as “The Emcee” and “Sally Bowles” till March 29th, 2025.

Starting March 31st, 2025, Country singer Orville Peck and Tony nominee Eva Noblezada will resume the roles of “The Emcee” and “Sally Bowles” for a limited run through July 20th, 2025.

Who has seen this CABARET?!

Broadway.com Managing Editor Beth Stevens speaks with Cabaret’s Tony®-nominated scenic and costume designer, Tom Scutt. Get tickets to CABARET: https://www.b...

02/08/2025

There’s been some changes going on to one of the world’s most legendary performing arts spaces. Thoughts?!

President Trump announced he will be the new chair of the Kennedy Center after saying he was terminating the entire board of trustees. Democratic strategist ...

02/07/2025

BREAKING NEWS!! This is an exciting time for GREAT EXPECTATIONS as the Tony winning smash hit The Outsiders are beginning their search for find a new set of leading men!!!! On February 22nd, 2025 at Pearl Studios, an opening casting call will be happening to seek 2 potential new talents for the roles of main central greasers themselves lead dreamer “Ponyboy Curtis” and his BFF “Johnny Caddle”.

They are seeking for a new fresh face to originate the role in the upcoming 1st National Tour plus also future replacements for BOTH its original stars Brody Grant and Sky Sakota Lynch on Broadway. Seeking both the fulltime track and as an understudy.

For the rehearsal, prepare your best 16 barsor 30 seconds of your best pop, country, rock, or soul song in the style of the show. No Theater and NOTHING from THE OUTSIDERS.

Who is excited?!

The Outsiders will hold an open casting call for the roles of Ponyboy Curtis and Johnny Cade this month. The call is for the national tour, as well as future Broadway replacements. Find out how to audition!

02/06/2025

THRILLIFYING NEWS: The Broadway company of WICKED has announced more casting for its exciting new cast change next month!!! Are you ready for that real GOOD NEWS?! Stating March 4th, 2025 at the Gershwin Theatre,

Tony nominee and Grammy winner Natasha Yvette Williams (Some Like It Hot, Waitress, Chicago, Tina, and more) will take over the role of the mischievous headmistress and sorceress “Madame Morrible”. She will become the 2nd African American actress EVER to play the role fulltime on Broadway following Sheryl Lee Ralph,

Jenna Bainbridge (most recently seen in the Tony winning Suffs) taking over the role of the wheelchair rollin’, spoiled, and soon to be “Wicked Witch of the East” herself “Nessarose”. She will also be making history as the first actress EVER in an actual wheelchair in real life to play the role in the actual stage production,

&

WICKED alumni and Broadway favorite Daniel Quadrino (Broadway’s Bye Bye Birdie, Newsies, and last seen in The Who’s Tommy) who will now take on the role of the lovable mere munchkin “Boq” full-time after many years on and off understudying the role.

This new cast will join the previously announced Allie Trimm (Broadway’s 13 and Bye Bye Birdie) returning to Oz to take on the role of the bubbly, blonde, and POPULAR “Glinda” and Lencia Kebede (The National Tours of Hamilton and Rent) who will make her Broadway debut in a history making performance as the first African American actress EVER to play the role of the smart, fiery, misunderstood, and not so green faced “Wicked Witch of the West” herself “Elphaba” fulltime on Broadway!!!

The show will continue to star Tony nominee Brad Oscar as “The Wizard”, Jordan Litz as “Fiyero” and original cast member William Youmans as “Dr. Dillmond”.

WICKED’s current stars Alexandra Socha, Mary Kate Morrisey, Tony winner Donna McKechnie, Natalie Ortega, and Jake Petersen who will all fly out of THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ on March 2nd, 2025.

Who is excited for this new cast?!

02/05/2025

BROADWAY THROWBACK: 21 years ago, Hugh Jackman made a SMASHING debut in his Tony winning portrayal of the flamboyant Australian entertainer Peter Allen in the musical THE BOY FROM OZ. We all know his story from that musical. However, did you know the REAL Peter Allen did some Broadway as well. Notably, he did the score for a short lived musical called LEGS DIAMOND.

For those who don’t know LEGS DIAMOND was based on a 1960 crime film from Warner Bros, telling the story a a real famous honest to goodness gangster during the prohibition era. Allen did the music and lyrics along with a book by Harvey Fierstein and Charles Suppon. Some of the songs in it would later be used for Allen’s life story musical THE BOY FROM OZ including WHEN I GET MY NAME IN LIGHTS, ALL I WANTED WAS THE DREAM, & SURE THING BABY.

It opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in 1988. However it turned out to be a huge FLOP closing after 72 previews and 64 regular performances.

Lot of the reviews were against Allen’s portrayal being too flamboyant. It also marked as the last Broadway show to ever play the Hellinger before being sold & became today as the Times Square Church.

Under the direction of Robert Ackerman and choreographed by Alan Johnson, the cast was led by…..

Allen as a flamboyant “Jack “Legs” Diamond”,
Julie Wilson as “Flo”,
Randall Edward’s as “Kiki Roberts”,
Brenda Braxton as “Madge”,
&
More.

Despite it flopping, the show was nominated for 3 Tony Awards including BEST FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL (for Julie Wilson), BEST CHOREOGRAPHY (for Alan Johnson), & BEST COSTUME DESIGN (for Willa Kim).

No revivals have ever been done for LEGS DIAMOND.

Anyone ever knew of this show?!

Legs Diamond Commercial 2