Coming Up
Broadway’s offerings for this fall are taking a decidedly nautical theme. One of the most highly anticipated of the pack is the new musical “Last Ship” with a score written by Sting, who released many of the songs from the show on his recent album of the same name. Debuting in the fall, the show will be directed by Joe Mantello, who previously directed “Wicked” and “Assassins” on Broadway, and is based on Sting’s upbringing in the historic shipbuilding areas in northern England.
Returning to Broadway for the first time since 1999, “Titanic” will bring a new production to New York after wrapping up previews in Toronto this summer. With direction from Thom Southerland, who recently directed the popular London production, the quintuple Tony Award winner will splash down in September.
Hometown favorite “On the Town,” which follows three sailors on shore leave in New York City, will bring Leonard Bernstein’s classic tunes, like “New York, New York,” back to the Big Apple this October. Director John Rando, best known for the lively premiere of “Urinetown,” and choreographer Joshua Bergasse from the television show “Smash” head the production.
Though it’s already open, the musical revenue “After Midnight,” which takes place after midnight in Harlem during the heyday of the Cotton Club jazz era, is something for tour operators to keep an eye on. Rather than the regular cast rotation of Broadway shows, “After Midnight” is switching up its headliners almost as fast as a jazz club, with guest stars Patti LaBelle, Gladys Knight and Natalie Cole on the way.
