Issue #172: June 1, 2006

• The producers have finally announced their Mary Poppins.  Look for Ashley Brown (Beauty and the Beast) to play the magical nanny when it opens on November 16.

• Matthew Broderick is heading to San Diego’s Old Globe Theater in the New Year to start the pre-Broadway tryout of Kenneth Lonergan’s latest work The Starry Messenger.  Opening is set for January 13.

• Once again Broadway success doesn’t necessarily translate on the West End.  Case in point the Tony award-winning hit Movin’ Out prematurely closed after only eight of the sixteen scheduled weeks at the Apollo Victoria.  Composer Billy Joel doesn’t seem to be a very high profile personality in the UK, which probably had some impact.  In addition Twyla Tharp’s name associated with the piece had the media send dance reviewers instead of theatre critics.

• The Tony Awards were announced on May 16 and the leader of the pack is that little Toronto Fringe Festival hit The Drowsy Chaperone with 13 nominations.  Oprah Winfrey’s little gem The Color Purple picked up 11 nominations with the Jersey Boys collecting eight and movie to musical The Wedding Singer received five.  Noticeable by their absence in the best musical category were Elton John’s Lestat and Disney’s Tarzan with music by Phil Collins…hmmmmmm. The Tony Award ceremony takes place at Radio City Music Hall on June 11.

• Broadway lost a legendary producer on May 17 when Cy Feuer succumbed to bladder cancer at the age of 95.  For over 50 years, Feuer along with his partner Ernest H. Martin produced many beloved musicals including Guys and Dolls, Can-Can and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  In addition to the stage Feuer was also known for film versions of musicals including A Chorus Line and Oscar-winning Cabaret.  The Broadway community looked at Feuer and Martin as a brand….way before branding became the norm.  As a salute to this Broadway legend the lights on Broadway marquees were dimmed on Thursday, May 18.