By Lina Zeldovich
Follies
Follies are back! So is Bernadette Peters. Don’t miss this limited engagement with its 28-piece orchestra and an impressive cast of 41, which The New York Times dubbed one of the greatest musicals ever written. The original musical opened in 1971 at the Winter Garden Theater and won seven Tony Awards. 40 years later, Bernadette Peters, Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein and Ron Raines are set to reprise their starring roles in this great revival. After a limited run at the Kennedy Center in DC, the show comes to Broadway. With its huge cast, elaborate sets, and eclectic charm, Follies promises to be a larger-than-life performance. Marquis Theater, 1535 Broadway
Bonnie and Clyde
Perhaps the blues of the current great recession can be lightened by the blues of a depression-era outlaw romance. This fall director Jeff Calhoun is bringing back from the dead the ill-famous but much romanticized mutinous couple: Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. He says that he was attracted to the story because it was “compelling and sexy, distinct from the film and yet faithful to these personalities who remain such a part of the American landscape.” Scheduled for previews on November 4th and opening on December 1st, Bonnie & Clyde will star Laura Osnes (2011 Drama Desk nominee, Anything Goes) and Jeremy Jordan (West Side Story.) Jeff Calhoun says he can’t wait to see his leads in those iconic roles. “They are both extraordinary talents," he comments. Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 West 45th St.
Sister Act
Whoopie’s Sister Act may not be an easy act to follow. Yet, thanks to Jerry Zaks’s clever directing and Patina Miller’s terrific performance, this new Broadway musical stands to be among the best of the season. And of course, Whoopie’s acting as a producer surely had something to do with it too. You may remember the plot, but will be entertained regardless: the costumes grow more dazzling with each successive number and a huge glittering statue of the Virgin Mary is an unforgettable sight. Throw some biting witticisms into the mix and the show proves Broadway-worthy. Besides, didn’t you always want to know all the dubious and dutiful tasks nuns have to do? One of the funniest musical numbers, “It's Good to Be a Nun” will tell you all about it. The Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Oh, wouldn’t that be wonderful if we all could climb the corporate ladder without much effort? We all could use the guidebook young ambitious mailroom employee J. Pierrepont Finch uses to launch his spectacular corporate success, quickly becoming Vice President of Advertising at the World-Wide Wicket Company. Yet, the sly manual, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, delivers not only triumphs, but some predicaments as well, which can put Finch’s career on the line and ruin his romance with secretary Rosemary Pilkington. Starring Daniel Radcliffe, the production is funny and upbeat – something we all could use in this economy. Al Hirschfeld Theatre, 302 West 45th St.
The Addams Family
The Addams Family has crept its way onto Broadway and is creeping out the audience in this new musical comedy. Don’t miss the latest reincarnation of the macabre kin carrying out their deadly deeds amidst tombs and crypts. No Broadway performance fits the fall and Halloween theme better than this production of The Addams Family with film, TV and stage star Brooke Shields as Morticia and Tony Award® winner Roger Rees as Gomez. The gist? Oh, it’s every parent’s nightmare: your wicked little girl has grown up and fallen in love with a nice young man from a good family. Shocked and perplexed, Gomez and Morticia have no clue how they are going to host a “normal” dinner for their daughter’s boyfriend and his parents. Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th St.
Mary Poppins
Can you say “Spercalifragilisticexpialidocious”? She can! Plus she can do a few other terrific things: get your offspring under control, take them on magical adventures and even fly. The most beloved and magical nanny of all times does not need an introduction – she is equally admired by children and adults, which is what makes this performance a family’s favorite. New Amsterdam Theater, 214 West 42nd St.
Untapped!
Performing at the New Victory Theater from Nov 11 to 27, Untapped! is an exciting and eclectic fusion of tap, acrobatics, funk and rock which will leave no one untapped. While New Victory Theatre tends to host children-oriented production, Untapped! is a great show for the entire family. The five performers, Andrew, Daniel, Kieran, Matthew and Reece strut their stuff with limitless energy and energizing flamboyance to the pulse of their beat-boxer as they reinvent moves and rhythm. As a live rock band shares the stage with the dancing Aussies, the audience can’t help to join in – clapping, tapping and whistling. A fun night for everyone, but it’s a limited engagement, so book early! The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd St.
Improv Nation
A unique innovative, Improv Nation show created by award-winning Megan Boyle runs every Wednesday and Thursday at 7pm at eGarage, a new theater company in Long Island City, just one stop from midtown Manhattan. The show features the most diverse actors imaginable: here you will find ex-lawyers who gave up their bar memberships for the stage’s lime light and former bankers who traded their balance sheets for future fame. Things heat up every other Friday when the in-house cast competes with visiting Improv teams. The line-up changes every time, ranging from professional performers to rising stars of Columbia University’s Improv troupe. Can this non-stop laugh-out-loud match be made any better? Yes! The ticket price is $5 plus a drink. For schedule go to www.egarage.tv • The eGarage, 44-02 23rd St, Studio 104, Long Island City
Le Scandal
Burlesque made a super-popular comeback in the last decade. Whether you are a first timer or a returning fan, Le Scandal will keep you entertained. New York’s longest running variety show, Le Scandal features circus, burlesque, belly dancing, fire juggling and of course black stockings, silk corsets, lacey girdles, and sharp stilettos, A New York Times Critic Pick, Le Scandal has been featured on MTV, HBO, The Travel Channel, WE, and HD Voom. Le Scandal performers include an “America's Got Talent” winner comedian acrobat, striptease trapeze, an adorable comedian juggle, an exotic contortionist and a sword swallower. Combining everything from comedy, classic and neo-burlesque backed by the live musicians of the show’s Orchestra, Le Scandal is posh, sassy, mischievous, and fun; it is also a popular bachelorette’s party place. The Laurie Beechman Theater, 407 West 42nd St.
The Complete World of Sports (Abridged)
So can Muggles really play Quidditch? For those who always wanted to know everything about every form of competition but didn’t know who to ask – now there are answers. Come see The Complete World of Sports (Abridged) and you will leave an expert. Reed, Matt and Austin will answer all your questions about sports, Muggle’s and otherwise. For example, is bowling actually a sport? What about competitive eating? Or poker? Or something more deep – like who invented curling? Playing for a limited time (Oct 21-Nov 6), this wildly witty comedy is a must-see for the young sport enthusiasts and their dads. So, dudes, step up to the plate and let the games begin! The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd St.
