What's New on the Great White Way

As is usually the case, there are a multitude of shows available to see on Broadway right now. Currently, it seems that the top ticket sellers are Billy Elliot, Memphis, and A Little Night Music. Other popular shows right now are The Lion King, Wicked, Jersey Boys, The Phantom of the Opera, Ragtime, In the Heights, and Finian's Rainbow, Mamma Mia, Mary Poppins, Chicago, Rock of Ages, Hair, Next to Normal, and White Christmas. Tickets for these shows are available on multiple websites online, such as http://ppc.broadway.com, http://tickets.orbitz.com/broadway.aspx, or http://www.telecharge.com/. If one prefers not to buy online, reserving tickets with the theatre box office itself is possible, but the recommended strategy is to buy from a discount ticket supplier online. Not only is it more convenient, but also often much cheaper.
Out of all of the popular shows right now, the one I would most like to see would probably the A Little Night Music. I really enjoy Sondheim, and the run on Broadway is currently starring Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt and Catherine Zeta-Jones as Desiree Armfeldt. Angela Lansbury is one of the absolutely favorite actresses of the stage (maybe not the screen, but definitely the stage). The show is playing at Walter Kerr Theatre in New York and just opened on December thirteenth. The show was written by Hugh Wheeler, with music by Stephen Sondheim. This current incarnation is directed by Trevor Nunn and choreographed by Lynn Page. David Farley designed the costumes and the set, an impressive feat due to the importance of the elaborate costumes, and Hartley Kemp designed the lights. In addition to Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones, the cast includes Alexander Hanson, Aaron Lazar, Erin Davie, Leigh Ann Larkin, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, and Ramona Mallory. The run of A Little Night Music on Broadway has had a good deal of success among critics. Catherine Zeta-Jones's performance has been praised numerous times in the reviews, as has Angela Lansbury's apparently incredibe portrayal of the aging process onstage as Madame Armfeldt.
Another show currently running that I would love to see is Hair. It is currently playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theater in New York. It opened on March 31, 2009. The production, written by James Rado and Gerome Ragni, was directed by Diane Paulus. Choreography was by Karole Armitage. Lights were designed by Kevin Adams, sound designed by a company called Acme Sound Partners, set designed by Scott Pask, and costumes designed by Michael McDonald. The current cast includes Gavin Creel as Claude, Will Swenson as Berger, Caissie Levy, Sasha Allen, Bryce Ryness, Vanessa Ray, Darius Nichols, Kacie Sheik, Andrew Kober, and Rachel Bay Jones. This revival has met incredible commercial and critical success; more so than any previous attempt at a revival. The critics are calling it breathtaking, exuberant, powerful, and flawless.
Currently on Broadway, there is a little something for everyone. There are a multitude of revivals, so there are options for lovers of more traditional fare. There are new musicals, appealing to those who are looking for something new and exciting. Many different musical tastes are also being catered to. Hair offers 60s rock, Rock of Ages offers 80s music, Chicago offers jazz, White Christmas offers the big band sound..the list goes on and on. In my opinion, this time could be called the Golden Age of Broadway due to the incredible variety and the awesome success of all the different genres of musical theatre.