‘New York, New York’ to close on Sunday
Of the five musicals that were nominated for this year’s Tony Award for Best Musical, the first one to throw in the towel is now “New York, New York,” which announced earlier this week that it will play its final performance on Sunday, July 30. Rumors suggest that a revival of “Spamalot” which recently played Washington, D.C. may take its place at the St. James Theatre in the fall.
“New York, New York,” which is based on the divisive film of the same name with Liza Minnelli and Robert De Niro, combined the well-known ballads from the film (“The World Goes Round” and “New York, New York”) with other songs by John Kander and Fred Ebb, in addition to some new lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The storyline of the film was overhauled to become a nostalgic, romantic, feel-good celebration of postwar New York City and aspiring musicians. Director-choreographer Susan Stroman, who previously directed “The Producers” at the same theater, created some standout moments of choreography, including a dance sequence set on the steel beams of a construction site.
Irish Rep to devote new season to Brian Friel
Off-Broadway’s Irish Repertory Theatre will celebrate the dramas of playwright Brian Friel next season with new productions of “Translations” (to be directed by Doug Hughes, “Doubt”), “Aristocrats,” and “Philadelphia, Here I Come!” All three plays are set in the fictional Irish community of Ballybeg. Friel, who died in 2015 at age 86, is one of the world’s best-known Irish playwrights. During the pandemic, the Irish Rep presented a virtual production of Friel’s monologue-based drama “Molly Sweeney.”
