New York, New York (musical)

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New York, New York
New York, New York musical Playbill.jpg
Broadway Playbill cover
Music
Lyrics
Book
Basis
PremiereApril 26, 2023 (2023-04-26): St. James Theatre, New York City
Productions2023 Broadway

New York, New York is a musical with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and Lin-Manuel Miranda, and a book by David Thompson and Sharon Washington. Inspired by and loosely based on the 1977 film of the same name by Martin Scorsese, [1] the musical premiered on Broadway on April 26, 2023.

Contents

Despite receiving mixed to mostly dismal reviews and becoming a commercial disappointment, the Broadway production, directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, received nine nominations at the 76th Tony Awards, including Best Musical, [2] winning one award for Best Scenic Design in a Musical.

Production history

Broadway (2023)

The musical had its world premiere at the St. James Theatre on Broadway with the first preview occurring on March 24, 2023. The cast, which was announced on February 1 of the same year, included Clyde Alves, Emily Skinner, and Janet Dacal. [3] It officially opened on April 26, 2023, [4] and closed on July 30, 2023, having played 33 previews and 110 regular performances. [5]

The production was nominated for nine Tony Awards at the 76th Tony Awards including Best Musical and Best Book of a Musical, winning the award for Best Scenic Design in a Musical.

Planned North American Tour (2025)

In May 2023, it was announced that the show will embark on a North American national tour in January 2025. Cities, dates, and casting will be announced at a later date. [6]

Cast and characters

CharacterBroadway
2023
Jimmy Doyle Colton Ryan
Francine Evans Anna Uzele
Tommy Caggiano Clyde Alves
Jesse WebbJohn Clay III
Sofia Diaz Janet Dacal
Gordon KendrickBen Davis
Alex MannOliver Prose
Mateo DiazAngel Sigala
Madame Constance Veltri Emily Skinner

Musical Numbers

Notes:

† - Not included on the cast recording

‡ - Titled "A Quell'Amor" on the cast recording

≠ - Not included on the cast recording but there is an included instrumental version as a bonus track

Cast Recording

On May 8, it was announced that the production would release a cast recording, which was released on June 23, 2023. [7] The recording also features five original demo recordings of "Can You Hear Me?" "Along Comes Love," "Wine and Peaches," and "New York, New York" by Lin-Manuel Miranda, John Kander, and Fred Ebb as well as an instrumental version of the title song.

Reception

The Broadway production received mixed to negative reviews from critics. As of May 2,2023, the theatre review aggregator Did They Like It? includes 14 reviews of the show, of which one is categorized as positive, six are categorized as mixed, and seven are categorized as negative. [8]

Writing in The New York Times , Elisabeth Vincentelli called the show "sprawling, unwieldy, [and] surprisingly dull", and criticized the new songs written for the production, saying they "lack Kander and Ebb's serrated edge". [9] Greg Evans of Deadline Hollywood praised the cast, particularly Ryan, but called the rest of the show "overstuffed" and criticized David Thompson and Sharon Washington's book as "predictable [and] cliché-loaded". [10] At Time Out New York , Adam Feldman gave the production three stars out five, writing that a number featuring "a tap bonanza for workers balanced on the beams of an uncompleted skyscraper" was "as good a metaphor as any for the musical as a whole", concluding, "there's a lot to enjoy if you don't look down". [11]

Robert Hofler of TheWrap was more positive, calling the first act "confused" but writing that the show "ultimately delivers its melting-pot message with intelligence, style and, yes, good old-fashioned razzle-dazzle". [12]

Awards and nominations

2023 Broadway production

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResult
2023 Tony Awards [13] [14] Best Musical Nominated
Best Book of a Musical David Thompson & Sharon WashingtonNominated
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical Colton Ryan Nominated
Best Scenic Design of a Musical Beowulf Boritt Won
Best Costume Design of a Musical Donna Zakowska Nominated
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Ken Billington Nominated
Best Sound Design of a Musical Kai Harada Nominated
Best Choreography Susan Stroman Nominated
Best Orchestrations Daryl Waters & Sam DavisNominated
Drama Desk Awards [15] Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Anna Uzele Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical Beowulf BorittWon
Outstanding Costume Design of a Musical Donna ZakowskaNominated
Outstanding Lighting Design for a Musical Ken BillingtonNominated
Outstanding Choreography Susan StromanNominated
Outstanding Orchestrations Daryl Waters and Sam DavisNominated
Drama League Awards [16] Distinguished Performance Award Colton RyanNominated
Anna UzeleNominated
Outstanding Production of a MusicalNominated
Outstanding Direction of a MusicalSusan StromanNominated
Outer Critics Circle Awards [17] Outstanding New Broadway MusicalNominated
Outstanding New Score John Kander and Lin-Manuel Miranda Nominated
Outstanding Director of a MusicalSusan StromanNominated
Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway MusicalColton RyanNominated
Anna UzeleNominated
Outstanding Scenic Design (Play or Musical)Beowulf BorittWon
Outstanding Costume Design (Play or Musical)Donna ZakowskaNominated
Outstanding Lighting Design (Play or Musical)Ken BillingtonNominated
Outstanding Sound Design (Play or Musical)Kai HaradaNominated
Outstanding Video or Projection Design (Play or Musical)Christopher Ash and Beowulf BorittNominated
Outstanding OrchestrationsSam Davis and Daryl WatersNominated
Outstanding ChoreographySusan StromanWon

Related Research Articles

Kander and Ebb were a highly successful American songwriting team consisting of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb. Known primarily for their stage musicals, which include Cabaret and Chicago, Kander and Ebb also scored several movies, including Martin Scorsese's New York, New York. Their most famous song is the theme song of that movie. Recorded by many artists, "New York, New York" became a signature song for Frank Sinatra. The team also became associated with two actresses, Liza Minnelli and Chita Rivera, for whom they wrote a considerable amount of material for the stage, concerts and television.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Kander</span> American musical theatre composer

John Harold Kander is an American composer, known largely for his work in the musical theater. As part of the songwriting team Kander and Ebb, Kander wrote the scores for 15 musicals, including Cabaret (1966) and Chicago (1975), both of which were later adapted into acclaimed films. He and Ebb also wrote the standard "New York, New York". The team also received numerous nominations, which include five additional Tony Awards, two Academy Awards, and four Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Ebb</span> American lyricist (1928–2004)

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Stroman</span> American theatre director and choreographer

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<i>New York, New York</i> (1977 film) 1977 American musical-drama film directed by Martin Scorsese

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References

  1. Bamigboye, Baz (August 25, 2022). "Lin-Manuel Miranda Teams With John Kander On New Broadway Musical Loosely Based On Martin Scorsese's 'New York, New York'; Susan Stroman Directing". Deadline. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
  2. "2023 Tony Awards Nominees". www.tonyawards.com. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  3. Culwell-Block, Logan (February 1, 2023). "Clyde Alves, Emily Skinner, Janet Dacal, More Join Cast of Broadway's New York, New York". Playbill. Retrieved February 2, 2023.
  4. "New York, New York". Playbill. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  5. "New York, New York Closes On Broadway". Playbill. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  6. Wild, Stephi (May 18, 2023). "NEW YORK, NEW YORK Will Launch North American Tour". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
  7. Masserson, Meg; Culwell-Block, Logan (May 8, 2023). "New York, New York Will Release Original Cast Recording". Playbill. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  8. "New York, New York". Did They Like It?. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  9. Vincentelli, Elisabeth (April 27, 2023). "Presenting the Big Apple, Without Much Bite" . The New York Times . p. C1. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  10. Evans, Greg (April 26, 2023). "New York, New York Broadway Review: Kander & Ebb Musical Wakes Up Late For A City That Doesn't Sleep". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  11. Feldman, Adam (April 26, 2023). "New York, New York". Time Out New York . Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  12. Hofler, Robert (April 26, 2023). "New York, New York Broadway Review: Martin Scorsese's Movie Finally Gets Its Happy Ending". TheWrap . Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  13. Sherman, Rachel; Cohn, Gabe (May 2, 2023). "Tony Awards Nominations 2023: The Complete List". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  14. Nordyke, Kimberly (June 11, 2023). "Tony Awards: Winners List". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 12, 2023.
  15. Rosky, Nicole (April 27, 2023). "SHUCKED, SOME LIKE IT HOT Lead Nominations for 2023 Drama Desk Awards". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  16. Levitt, Hayley (April 25, 2023). "2023 Drama League Award Nominees Announced". TheaterMania. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  17. Hornik, Caitlin (April 26, 2023). ""New York, New York," "Some Like It Hot," "Shucked" lead 2023 Outer Critics Circle nominations". Broadway News. Retrieved April 26, 2023.