Broadway To Vegas: Lion King Goes West

The massively successful original Broadway production of The Lion King continues to run after over 10 years, and other incarnations have popped up in cities across the United States. Now the Julie Taymor-directed Disney musical based on the animated film will have a sit-down production in Las Vegas. Although many Broadway transfers have crashed and burned in Vegas, The Lion King seems like a good candidate for a successful desert city production since it is big on theatrics and recognizable songs, but short on plot. The Lion King will open at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, where Mamma Mia! is concluding its lengthy run, on May 2, 2009.

Xanadu Ends Broadway Run Today

The Broadway musical Xanadu has its final performance on Broadway this afternoon. Based on the flop film musical starring Olivia Newton-John, Broadway's Xanadu featured Kerry Butler as a Greek muse and Cheyenne Jackson as the artist who she inspired. The Tony-nominated show, featuring a slew of memorable pop songs, played over 500 performances at the Helen Hayes Theatre before having its final performance on Broadway today. Xanadu is expected to have a production in London soon.

American Psycho To Become Broadway Show

Just when we thought we'd seen it all as far as Broadway musical adaptations go, here comes the announcement that the brutally satiric Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho (also a film starring Christian Bale) is aiming to hit the Broadway stage. Producers are working to make it happen, along with the blessing of the book's author, but a creative team has yet to be announced. So far the plan is for the Broadway version of American Psycho to include a mix of original music and hit songs from the '80s.

Equus Opens On Broadway Tonight

The Broadway revival of Equus opens tonight at the Broadhurst Theatre. The production, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths (both best known from the Harry Potter franchise), comes to Broadway following a successful run in London. This limited Broadway run of Equus, scheduled to play through February 8, marks Radcliffe's Broadway debut and Griffiths return to the Great White Way - he first appeared on Broadway in The History Boys (playing a role won him a Tony Award).

Legally Blonde To Close On Broadway 10/19

The bad economy appears to be taking a heavy toll on Broadway. In just a week's time we've had closing announcements from Xanadu and [title of show], and now comes the word that Legally Blonde will have its final Broadway performance on October 19. Although the musical (based on the popular film of the same name) has managed okay during its year and a half run, Legally Blonde has had to resort to some high profile stunts in order to maintain ticket sales, such as participating in the MTV reality TV series "The Search for Elle Woods". Legally Blonde will close at Broadway's Palace Theater on October 19 having played 595 performances.

Xanadu Moves Up Broadway Closing Date

It was only a few days ago that Xanadu announced it would be ending its Broadway run on October 12, but today came the news that the campy musical will be wrapping up even earlier. Xanadu is now scheduled to have its final Broadway performance on September 28. Get discount tickets to see the show while you still can!

Broadway Performers Nab Emmy Awards

The 60th Annual Emmy Awards that aired last night could have just as easily been a Tony Awards ceremony, considering all the Broadway regulars who accepted awards. Winners Jeremy Piven (Entourage) and Dianne Wiest (In Treatment) are both appearing on Broadway this season, in Speed-the-Plow and All My Sons, respectively. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, who won for playing John and Abigail Adams, both have extensive theater credits, though Linney is more frequently seen on Broadway than Giamatti these days. Zeljko Ivanek, Eileen Atkins, and Alec Baldwin, as well as Jean Smart and Glenn Close, all honored for their TV work this year with Emmys, have traversed the Broadway stage as well.

[title of show] Announces Closing October 12

On the heels of Xanadu's announcement of its impending closing comes the news that another small musical, [title of show], is calling it quits on the same day. [title of show] was the first show of this Broadway season, opening mid-summer, and it will close having played only 102 official performances on Broadway. Because of the "insider" nature of this 'musical about writing a Broadway musical', bringing [title of show] to Broadway was always a big financial risk, but stars and creators Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell are no doubt pleased to have been able to realize their dream of making it to Broadway, even if only for a few months.

Xanadu To Close On Broadway October 12

Broadway's Xanadu, the new musical based on the infamous film musical flop, will be closing on October 12. With a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, and featuring the disco-pop songs from the movie, Xanadu is a campy, colorful laughfest that caters more to the sensibilities of Broadway fanatics. For that reason, most people didn't think it would last long, but the show snagged great reviews when it opened last summer and managed a healthy run. When it closes, Xanadu will have played 49 previews and 528 regular Broadway performances.

Broadway's Chicago Starts Post-Show Talks

Lively post-show talkbacks with cast, crew, and creative team members are a staple at regional theaters and Off-Broadway theaters, but they're less common at Broadway shows. And they're pretty much unheard of for long-running Broadway musicals. But the Tony-winning Chicago is bucking the trend by introducing "Talkback Tuesdays," a Q&A session to be held once a month following a designated performance. The first talkback at the Ambassador Theatre will be with Chicago's director, Walter Bobbie, following the September 23 performance of the show.

Forbidden Broadway Closing In January

The long-running Off-Broadway show Forbidden Broadway, which appeared in its first incarnation in 1982, will be closing in January 2009. It wouldn't be the first time that composer/lyricist Gerard Alessandrini's Forbidden Broadway, a musical revue that parodies Broadway musicals and plays, took a break, so it's possible that Forbidden Broadway will return to New York soon enough.

Hair Coming To Broadway In 2009

After loads of speculation, it has finally been confirmed that the Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair will indeed make the move to Broadway. The free Public Theater production has drawn big crowds to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park all summer, necessitating several extensions. Producers are now hoping that the 1960s "tribal love-rock musical" will be able to draw crowds to Broadway in early 2009, when the show is expected to open. Details about theater, casting, and dates have yet to be announced.

All-Teen Dress Rehearsal For Broadway's 13

The new Broadway musical 13 is holding a free teens-only dress rehearsal for the show on Saturday, September 13 at 8pm at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Teenagers aged 13-18 are invited to sign up at www.13fans.com to get a free ticket (if your request is granted, you'll get a confirmation e-mail by September 10). First come first served, one ticket per teen, and IDs will be checked at the door of the theater. Parents and guardians aren't permitted to attend this all-teen performance of 13, but nearby Planet Hollywood will be offering discounts and priority seating for adults that would like to wait there while the kids enjoy the show (details will be offered at the theater on the night of the dress rehearsal).

New EP For Broadway's Spring Awakening

Tony-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening, which has been lauded for its rock score by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, now has a second recording that fans can enjoy along with the original Broadway cast recording. "Spring Awakening: Live from SoHo" features six tracks that composer Sheik re-arranged for a seven-piece acoustic band. Sheik himself, along with a couple original cast members and a couple from the current Broadway cast, sing on the recording. "Spring Awakening: Live from SoHo" is now available as a digital EP on iTunes.

Broadway Previews of MTC Play Delayed

To Be Or Not To Be, Nick Whitby's new stage adaptation of the famous film, will start Broadway preview performances later than planned. Instead of beginning on September 11, the play will now start on September 13. The Manhattan Theatre Club production has experienced some difficulties with casting recently, replacing leading men Craig Bierko and Brian Murray with David Rasche and Peter Maloney, respectively. To Be Or Not To Be is scheduled to have its official Broadway opening at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (formerly the Biltmore Theatre) on October 2.