NYC’s #1 FREE DAILY www.metro.us 18 theater WEEKEND, JUNE 24-26, 2011 live on broadway Also playing RETROSPECTIVE: Fast on 44th St. ‘Phantom’ facts: ‘Baby ‘Phantom Opened in London in It’s You!’ 1986; came to N.Y. in 1988 Won 7 Tony Awards that A Jersey housewife dis- year, including Best covers girl group, the Musical Shirelles, in this Became the longest- female-empowerment running show in 2006, story of the ’60s. of the Opera’ surpassing ‘Cats’ Broadhurst Theatre Played more than 9,700 $49-$177 performances on www.babyits Broadway; 65,000 total youonbroadway.com How does Broadway’s longest-running musical hold up after 23 years? Grossed more than $5 ‘Memphis’ Moving love story and powerful music balance dated elements billion worldwide JOAN MARCUS In 1950s Memphis, he challenge of a while scenes change; sim- finding love in a show that’s been on- ple aural tricks and flicker- dance club is anything Tstage for nearly a ing lights are as spooky as but safe; this musical quarter-century is to high-tech craft. However, a is inspired by a remain relevant to audi- rejuvenation of energy and true story. ences who might have ac- vision wouldn’t hurt the Shubert Theatre tually first seen it as chil- play, lest it rest on its lau- $42-$252 dren and can now bring rels and retire before your www.memphis their own. “Phantom of the grandkids can attend. themusical.com Opera,” which debuted on the Great White Way in he crystal-clear, mas- ‘Rock of 1988, is now at the Majestic terfully commanded Theatre showing the same Tvocals required by Ages’ songs you may know from the leads (currently a time when the B-side of Sara Jean Ford as Christine Set on the Sunset your Michael Crawford and Hugh Panaro as the Strip in 1987, this mixtape played George Phantom), held against rock musical features Michael. So how does this brilliant compositions by the period’s best, gothic romance, based in Andrew Lloyd Webber, are like “Don’t Stop early 1900s France, hold up the pillars keeping this mu- Believin’.” for modern audiences? sical upright through the Helen Hayes Theatre The show does feel a bit ages. Layered lyrics that re- $70-$199 dated, but not necessarily quire close listening, soar- www.rockofages in a bad way. The once- ing music that fills the musical.com magical plummet of a house and a heartbreaking chandelier over audience love story that’s relatable heads might pale next to to all audiences rarely the high-flying antics of come in one package any- “Spider-Man.” Stage trans- more. Getting back to the formations from lush basics — book, lyrics, mu- READ MORE opera house to candlelit sic — could really do all of OF METRO’S catacombs are labored Broadway some good; and compared with the swiftly despite some weathering, THEATER rotating, preassembled “Phantom” continues to set COVERAGE sets in “Good People.” This the standard. ONLINE production’s preservation WWW.METRO.US/ is a labor of love, and it sa- ‘Phantom of the Opera’ WELLPLAYED vors its own patient Majestic Theatre methodology. “Phantom” 247 W. 44th St. offers traditional staging $27-$202 techniques but utilizes www.phantombroadway.com them to its advantage — Hugh Panaro stars as the Phantom and Sara Jean Ford as Christine in a scene from captivating music swells “The Phantom of the Opera,” the longest-running show in Broadway history. T. MICHELLE MURPHY up from the orchestra [email protected] NOW SHOWING ON BROADWAY TICKETS NOW ON SALE! arts NYC’s #1 FREE DAILY www.metro.us WEEKEND, AUGUST 19-21, 2011 23 live on broadway JEREMY DANIEL WANT MORE? FIND MORE OF METRO’S THEATER COVERAGE ONLINE: WWW.METRO.US/ WELLPLAYED Don’t miss your chance to catch Nikka Graff Lanzarone, center, as Velma Kelly with the company of “Chicago” on Broadway. Retrospective: ‘Chicago’ By the numbers After 14 years and an Oscar-winning movie adaptation, Broadway’s fifth longest-running 6,126 show and longest-running revival is still kicking And singing And all that jazz n 1920s Chicago, a film (released in 2002). Total performances as of woman’s wiles might If you go Hopefully their replace- History musical on Broadway, Aug. 17, 2011 Ibe the only thing ments (see sidebar) can overtaking “A Chorus standing between her ‘Chicago’ maintain this necessary in the Line.” It will also be the and the noose once she’s Ambassador Theatre talent triumvirate. new longest-running 30 been convicted of murder 219 W. 49th St. The classic, vaudevil- making American musical. — that is, if she can corral $69-$137 lian concept is justifiably the public to see her cause www.chicagothemusical.com upheld; but high kicks, The cast is about to Ran in 30 countries and 12 via bold media headlines, minimalist staging and This month makes undergo one of its many languages since 1996 a sensationalistic backsto- seems to confuse subtlety slinky black costumes major waves in the seasonal changes. This ry and a slick courtroom with somnambulism). might not hold the same current rendition of summer, D’Amboise re- performance. But the overall strength allure for modern audi- “Chicago,” Bob Fosse’s placed Christie 6 In Broadway’s stalwart of the leads — with Char- ences who are used to bla- acclaimed 1975 Brinkley’s Roxie Hart; “Chicago,” this process also lotte D’Amboise’s hapless tant blood and sex on- musical about merry former “American Idol” involves singing, dancing charm, Nikka Graff Lan- stage. Going forward, murderesses who judge Kara DioGuardi Winner of six Tony Awards and enough wink-wink in- zarone’s finessed footwork “Chicago” will surely con- attempt to scheme and picks up the part for an in 1997 nuendos that you might de- and Chris Sieber’s silver- tinue to hit its niche with seduce their way off of eight-week stint starting velop an eye twitch. Sadly, tongued turn as attorney tourists, while locals look- death row and into the Sept. 5. Lanzarone despite smart lyrics and a Billy Flynn — buoys the au- ing to drop big Broadway limelight. played Velma Kelly in $411M fast-paced book, it’s entire- dience back into amused bucks might wish to seek the stead of Amra-Faye ly too believable that these anticipation for the lines more contemporary raz- The revival is set to Wright, who reprises jokes have been repeated and lyrics that many of zle-dazzle elsewhere. hit 6,138 performances the role this fall. And Has earned more than $411 every night since 1997 (one them already know from on Saturday, Aug. 27. Sieber’s Billy Flynn will million on Broadway culprit is Carol Woods as owning the original sound- T. MICHELLE MURPHY This makes it the be taken up by Tony “Mama” Morton, who track or the more recent [email protected] fourth longest-running Yazbeck on Aug. 29. now starsin“Aladdin.” mer “LionKing”leadwho few important roles, like dressers) like few important roles, ondeck(minusaThe castandcrew 108 ushers talentto from of “Aladdin,” whoworkoneachproductionPeople 180 w evening behindthescenes spentan We from Disney. the lateststagemusical six-month anniversaryof making thisweekendthe onMarch20,Broadway openedon “Aladdin” hit. latest Disney’s of anniversary the six-month for the scenes goesbehind Metro Whole newworld. with Backstage Exclusive: Here’s what an evening looks like in Adam Jacob’s shoes Jacob’s inAdam like looks whatanevening Here’s thenumbers By rehearsals for thecast. for rehearsals or schedulebrush-up progress on theshow’s business,check conduct to byintermittently comes seen eachother;Nicolaw thetwohave month since beenabouta It’s the show. see to come who’s Nicolaw, Casey choreographer director/ in sheet.Hegreets sign- thecast’s to autograph andaddshis Theatre, behind theNewAmsterdam on41stStreet located door, thestage through enters lait withalmondmilk. He au cafe DailyRoast Oren’s amedium-sizetoting now dinner,” light as “a whathedescribesafter arrives atthetheater Jacobs 6:30 ith AdamJacobs,thefor- [email protected] @TMichelleMurphy MICHELLEMURPHY T. A lot is happening backstage to make this show shine every night; let’s justcallitDisneymagic. thisshowshineevery night;let’s make to Alotishappeningbackstage his daysinthedesert. hespends itlooklike make to Lotion Maui BabeBrowning —including makeup for setasideabout 10minutes rst act. There’s stunts inthefi ofhis explains the actor fl itsnug—Ido “Iwant place: stayinand 12bobbypinsto clips four whichrequires fez, is securing red hissignature Acrucialstep his costume. getinto to about 15minutes Jacobs twin boys.Ittakes andtheir7-month-oldJacobs, Kelly actress of hiswife, downonbypictures looked he’s do hismakeup, he sitsto As warmups. lowed byvocal get thebloodfl to does somequickexercise Jacobs room, In hisdressing 6:35 ips, rolls, go upside down,” goupsidedown,” ips, rolls, Weekend, September 19-21, 2014 19-21, September Weekend, www.metro.us owing, fol- owing, handmaids. Princess Jasmine andher anumberbetween Walls,” —is“ThesePalace overture I —outof11,includingthe joinin Actnumber hedoesn’t lm). Theonly the original fi thevillainousvizierin voiced whoalso (Jonathan Freeman, andJafar Davis) (Clifton theSultan Reed), (Courtney withJasmine scenes palace most ofActI—minusthe isonstagefor the cast.Jacobs ofGenie, aswelltherest InglehartastheMonroe James Award-winning Tony ledby opening number, Nights” during the“Arabian rst appearsonstage Aladdin fi seating—as orchestra of thehouse—behind theback from watch We 7:10 SPONSORED BY shot out of a cannon.” shot outofacannon.” being like inActI:“It’s scenes the action helikes Ultimately, partoftheshow. his favorite askabout We collected. he’s art andfan full ofthetrinkets while heshowsusadrawer mailandonline,through withhim they communicate ofallages,andhowhis fans talkabout We ‘Oooooh.’” andI]kissget[Courtney themagiccarpetafter example, kids,for there’s thesame. Whenalways aren’t reactions audience And — hedoeslittlefaces. too DonDarrylRivera, Iago, meonmytoes. he keeps insomeimprov, will throw but,“James bynow, routine pretty good.It’s he feels says Jacobs intermission, At 8:25 / PRODUCTION PHOTOS BY DEEN VAN MEER; BACKSTAGE PHOTOS BY MILES DIXON, METRO MILESDIXON, BY PHOTOS MEER; BACKSTAGE DEENVAN BY PRODUCTION PHOTOS / they’re onstage together afew onstage together they’re shesays.Although chat,” to get theonlytimeweever “It’s hang outduring intermission: to like that sheandJacobs rms confi Reed aharem.