The new Broadway production of “Romeo + Juliet” starring Kit Connor and Rachel Zegler as the star-crossed lovers, which concluded its limited run last weekend, recouped its $7 million investment costs, officially making it a “hit” under traditional Broadway standards. It also became the highest-grossing limited engagement to play the Circle in the Square Theatre. According to the show’s producers, it attracted the youngest ticket-buying audience in recorded Broadway history, with 14 percent of purchasers aged 18-24, compared to the current industry average of 3 percent.
As directed by Sam Gold (whose starry Shakespeare productions have tended to be scaled-down, experimental, and often perplexing), the production channeled a Gen Z youth sensibility and dance club aesthetic that transformed the play into a communal, intimate, DIY-style gathering. Both the lobby and auditorium were filled with teddy bears wearing shirts that said “The youth are f*cked.” During the run, Zegler (best known for leading the film remake of “West Side Story” as Maria, a character based on Juliet) made headlines for speaking out on social media about her support for Palestine.
‘All In: Comedy About Love’ to be followed by ‘All Out: Comedy About Life’
“All In: Comedy About Love,” an ensemble reading of comic short stories by Simon Rich featuring a rotating cast of four celeb performers, which completed its sold-out Broadway run on Sunday, is getting a sequel: “All Out: Comedy About Life,” which will play Broadway next season, once again with a starry cast and direction by Alex Timbers. In a statement, Rich said that the companion piece is “about ambition, envy, ego, spite, and the blind pursuit of fame and fortune. I think some New Yorkers might find the theme even more relatable than love.”
Tariffs force ‘Operation Mincemeat’ marquee to stay unlit
“Operation Mincemeat,” a new World War II-era musical comedy from London about a secret Allied Forces operation involving a stolen corpse, began previews at Broadway’s Golden Theatre on Saturday night with an unlit marquee. As reported by the Associated Press, a shipment of specialty light bulbs from a China-based supplier has been delayed at customs due to the Trump Administration’s newly enacted tariff policies. It is currently unclear whether the marquee, which was constructed in a retro, 1940s-style, will be lit by opening night on March 20.
Finalists selected in Dolly Parton musical casting contest
Out of thousands of applicants who submitted videos of themselves singing their favorite Dolly Parton song as part of the “Search for Dolly” casting search, 15 women have been selected to audition in person to play Dolly Parton in “Dolly: An Original Musical,” which will have its world premiere over the summer in Nashville before coming to Broadway next season. Seven women hail from New York City, with the rest from Wisconsin, Los Angeles, Tennessee, Georgia, Texas, Canada, and the UK. (Of course, it would have been faster to give the role to Megan Hilty, who played the Dolly Parton character in the 2009 Broadway musical adaptation of “9 to 5.”)
Anika Noni Rose and Aisha Jackson to lead ‘Wonderful Town’
Tony Award winner Anika Noni Rose (“Caroline, or Change”) and Aisha Jackson (“Pal Joey” at City Center”) will play sisters Ruth and Eileen Sherwood, respectively, in City Center’s upcoming Encores! production of the 1953 musical comedy “Wonderful Town,” which will be directed by Zhailon Levingston (Drag Ball-inspired revival of “Cats”) and run from April 30 to May 11. “Wonderful Town” is a last-minute replacement for a planned production of Michael John LaChiusa’s “The Wild Party,” which was postponed to next season due to scheduling conflicts. A prior Encores! production of “Wonderful Town” starring Donna Murphy transferred to Broadway in 2003 to great acclaim.
