4 New Broadway Shows We’re Excited About

August Wilson Theatre New YorkThis year promises to be quite memorable on Broadway, with many new, exciting productions in the works! If you’re not living in NYC, it might be time to book those plane tickets because the following four shows might be the start of something big!

 

First up is Mean Girls, Tina Fey’s fetch movie-turned-musical being directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw, who’s known for Aladdin, The Book of Mormon and Something Rotten. Featuring music by Jeff Richmond (30 Rock) and lyrics by Neil Benjamin (Legally Blonde), Mean Girls will begin Broadway previews on March 12 at August Wilson Theatre. The official premiere is April 8, with the cast named as Ashley Park as Gretchen, Taylor Louderman as Regina, Kate Rockwell as Karen and Erika Henningsen as Cady.

 

This new production of Mean Girls was first presented in a trial run at the National Theatre in Washington D.C. from October 31 to December 3. Critic Jennifer Perry of Broadway World described the musical as “highly relevant, well-structured and fun.” She later summarized, “The musical is in really, really great shape. I hope this one has great success on Broadway. It has the potential to be an audience favorite.”

 

Global Creatures produces Broadway bound Moulin Rouge musicalSecondly, Moulin Rouge! The Musical looks alluring, as two-time Tony nominee Alex Timbers (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, Peter and the Starcatcher) directs the 19th-century love story set in the sensual world of Paris’s Montmartre Quarter. Producing company Global Creatures recently held a no-expense-spared workshop according to The New York Post. Sources said the goal was to inspire investors to support the show’s nearly $20 million budget.

 

Perhaps most excitingly, this premier stage production of Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 hit movie will see choreographer Sonya Tayeh involved. We can certainly expect some excellent cabaret numbers!

 

Also of note: Moulin Rouge! The Musical will be the first show to perform at the restored Emerson Colonial Theater in Boston, where it will be presenting its pre-Broadway run this summer. While no official dates have been announced, it’s projected that the show will head for Broadway in 2019. Till then, we’ll have to hold our breath and await the big reveal!

 

June 2018 Oriental Theatre EngagementAnother big production we’re excited about is The Cher Show! This bio-musical about pop icon Cher has been in development for some time. It was announced last September that it would first premiere in Chicago at the Oriental Theatre for five weeks, from June 12 – July 15. After this engagement, the show will open on the Great White Way in the fall at the Neil Simon Theatre, the recent home to Cats.

 

Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Gattelli (Newsies) is on board for The Cher Show, with Jason Moore (Avenue Q) as director and Tony winner Daryl Waters (Memphis) as musical supervisor. According to former reports, the musical could include as many as 40 of the singer’s hits! Three actresses will take on the role of the Oscar-winning performer at various phases of her career.

 

Finally, the show we might be the most eager to see is Pretty Woman: The Musical, which will come to Broadway on July 20 at Nederlander Theatre. It’s directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots). Based on the popular 1990 romantic comedy, the musical will first open in Chicago’s Oriental Theatre on March 13, a few months before The Cher Show does.

 

Nederlander Theatre July 2018Pretty Woman’s cast is stacked with talent too – Samantha Barks will play Vivian and Steve Kazee will be Edward. Then Kingsley Leggs will be James Morse, Orfeh will be Kit, Eric Anderson will be Mr. Thompson, and Jason Danieley will be Philip Stuckey.

 

So, which of these four shows are you most excited about? What other musicals are you looking forward to this year?