Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Broadway Milestones

With so much attention these past few days on the milestone achievements of Chicago: The Musical, it might have been easy to overlook a few other events that are going into the Broadway history books this week.  First, though, a look at that celebration, courtesy of Playbill Online.

I wonder if this cake also comes as a window card?

The celebrating cast of Chicago:
Christopher Sieber (Billy Flynn), Carol Woods (Matron "Mama" Morton),
Charlotte d'Amboise (Roxie Hart) and Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Velma)


Velma, meet Velma!

  • Mary Poppins, the mega-hit over at the New Amsterdam Theatre also has reason to celebrate. On September 4, the show will give its 2,000th performance! Laura Michelle Kelly, who originated the role in London and Gavin Lee, who originated the role of Bert both on the West End and on Broadway, currently star in the show.
Olivier Award-winner
Laura Michelle Kelly

  • The National Tour oh Hair celebrated its 300th performance at the St. James Theatre, where it is playing a limited run through September 10.  That special occasion happened on Monday, August 29.  The show will continue to tour throughout the U.S. into 2012.  Kacie Sheik, who has been with the production as Jeannie since its beginnings at the Delacorte in Central Park, then on Broadway, London and now on tour, will leave the show on September 10th (along with fellow tour Tribe-mates Arbender Robinson and Caitlin Rose.  For Ms. Sheik, that has meant over four years of harmony and understanding - a real achievement these days!
Goodbye, Starshine!  Caitlin Rose,
Kacie Sheik and Arbender Robinson

  • But a world-record setting run is about to be celebrated and ended when The Phantom of the Opera original cast member George Lee Andrews leaves the stage of the Majestic Theatre for the last time on September 3rd.  He is officially named in The Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running actor in the same Broadway show.  If you've seen Phantom on Broadway, you've probably seen him.  He started in the ensemble, but for the majority of his 23 year run, he played one of the opera company managers, Firmin or Andre (his current role) - one guesses he wanted to switch things up a bit over the years.  Interestingly enough, his replacement will be Aaron Galligan-Stierle who is Andrews' son-in-law!  Congratulations, Mr. Andrews! Phantom just won't be the same without you!
George Lee Andrews

Phantom's new Opera Company managers:
Kevin Ligon and Aaron Galligan-Stierle


Looks like Chicago will have to go another 7 years or so to even approach that record! 




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Jeff
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1 comment:

  1. I'm so happy for Mary Poppins! 2000th show AND the original London stars! That's incredible.

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