The bright lights and glamour of New York City's Times Square are closer to Tufts than you'd think - just take the T to Boylston Street, the heart of Boston's theater district. Though not quite the same size and scope as their Manhattan counterparts, the streets that line Boston Common boast a wide array of theaters, from the enormously grand Wang Center to the smaller and more intimate Charles Playhouse.
This spring promises a remarkable season for the Boston theatrical community as touring companies of award-winning musicals from New York and London present a smorgasbord of dramatic fare. Boston is known for producing top-quality theater, having been the home of the pre-Broadway tryouts for shows as triumphant as Ragtime and Mamma Mia.
Though many of Boston's shows this season have already completed successful New York runs, at least one of the new ones is likely to be the next Broadway hit. Others are weaker, overdone incarnations of film-based musicals that lack creativity and innovation. Here's a rundown of what to expect.
If the shoe fits
Known for nearly half a century solely as a movie musical, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella is beginning to come into its own right, and the stage production makes a stop in Boston as part of its first national tour. Capitalizing on the success of ABC's recent made-for-television update of the musical, the revival promises to incorporate many new ideas while showcasing the dynamic Eartha Kitt as the Fairy Godmother.A vibrant rendering of the timeless story, the stage production should not be confused with the familiar Disney animated version of Cinderella. There are no singing mice or "Bibbity Bobbity Boo" in this production - in fact, the Disney cartoon commissioned an entirely new score that has come to overshadow Rodgers and Hammerstein's beautiful melodies. But the original songs, like "In My Own Little Corner," "Impossible" and "Stepsisters' Lament" have regained popularity of late through increased exposure and will continue to shine in this production.
Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Cinderella' plays at the Wang Theater through this Sunday, Jan. 20.
Disco Inferno
One might think that the success of the '70s film classic Saturday Night Fever would make its stage adaptation a surefire hit. Not so. Though its crowd-pleasing familiarity helped it gain popularity and a short-lived New York transfer, the musical is at best a lackluster clone of the film, sans the effervescent John Travolta. Alas, the touring company has survived despite the criticism and makes its way to the Wang Center for a few performances.The show features a score made up of The Bee Gee's movie soundtrack, featuring disco classics like "Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," and "What Kind of Fool." Two additional songs were written especially for the stage, framing the coming-of-age tale of young Tony Monero who discovers love and realizes that there is more to life than dancing.
'Saturday Night Fever' plays at the Wang Theater from Jan. 22 through Jan. 27.
Let the memory live again
Though Cats' nine lives on Broadway expired back in 2000, the popularity of the longest running musical in Broadway history continues to soar nationwide. A new touring company -the first to follow its legendary Broadway run- is still going strong as it makes a three-week stop at the Schubert Theater beginning next weekend.The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is based on a series of poems by T.S. Eliot called "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats." Virtually plotless, members of a special breed of "Jellicle" cats are introduced throughout the play, including The Rum Tum Tugger, Grizabella the Glamour Cat, and Magical Mr. Mistoffeles, to name a few. The underlying premise is that one of the cats will be chosen to journey to the "Heaviside Layer," a mystical sort of cat heaven. Over the course of the play, each cat states his or her case for deserving the honor.
Cats features exquisite costumes, choreography, and acrobatics, but the major reason to take a trip to see Cats is just to see what all the hype is about. Unfortunately, that's about where the magic ends. The dramatic value of the show isn't much more than spectacle - Cats is exciting to the eyes and pleasant to the ears, but doesn't do much to capture the soul or the heart.
'Cats' plays at the Schubert Theater from Jan. 29 through Feb. 17.
It all adds up
Proof began its journey in 2000 as a small-scale off-Broadway production at New York's Manhattan Theater Club. Two years, three Tony Awards, and a Pulitzer Prize later, the beautifully crafted tale of a genius mathematician's daughter who faces the challenges of life and love makes its way to Boston's Wilbur Theater.
Though the Boston production will be without the enigmatic Tony Award-winning Mary Louise Parker in the leading role of Catherine, the dramatic value of the story itself is enough to make the show a must-see. Captivating and engaging throughout, with an incredible ending, Proof makes the audience think, feel, and wonder as the characters must solve an intricate problem of truth. The mathematical proof that forms the backbone for this play is really a metaphor for life, and David Auburn's structure and dialogue allow for the formation of several interesting parallels.
'Proof' plays at the Wilbur Theater from Jan. 29 through Feb. 10.
Pomp and circumstance
When The Graduate opened in London in March of 2000, its claim to fame was being the first West End theatrical production to depict nudity onstage. Such a concept met much criticism from the conservative British theater community, which claimed that nudity compromised the integrity of its theatrical traditions. Regardless, the play adaptation of the classic 1967 film managed to break box office records with highest opening advance for any play in the entire history of the West End.Though the American production of The Graduate did not face the same controversy, the all-star cast seems ready to steer the official Broadway opening of the play in March to success. Kathleen Turner reprises her role as the sultry Mrs. Robinson (played in the film version by Anne Bancroft), with the popular Jason Biggs and Alicia Silverstone stepping in as her co-stars. Biggs plays Benjamin, a college graduate struggling to come to terms with his future, and Silverstone plays Elaine Robinson, the girl who helps him find meaning in his life. But Mrs. Robinson, in keeping with her own sexual desires, opposes their relationship as she attempts to make Benjamin her own.
'The Graduate' plays at the Colonial Theater from Feb. 20 through Mar. 3.
Every Story is a Love Story
Aida opened on Broadway in 2000 to mixed reviews. And though it won nearly every award imaginable for Elton John's dynamic score, it failed to garner even a nomination for Best Musical. Now, this Disney version of Verdi's classic opera makes its Boston premier at the Wang Center in March, starring Patrick Cassidy as Radames, Kelly Fournier as Amneris, and Simone as Aida.In typical Disney fashion -and much like it's signature song suggests - Aida is in every sense a love story. This love faces struggle, however, as Aida, an enslaved Nubian princess, falls in love with Radames, the captain of the Egyptian guard. Aida faces competition from her royal mistress Amneris, and throughout much of the show the two women duke it out to win his heart.
Technically speaking, the show is full of excitement and wonderment. The lighting design creates a realistic rendering of an evening sky and elaborate jewels for the royal chamber. The costumes are exquisite as well, covering up many flaws in the dramatic structure.
'Aida' plays at the Wang Theater from Mar. 27 through April 7 .
Good ol' reliable
Exactly ten years after a highly acclaimed New York revival of Guys and Dolls made stars out of Faith Prince and Nathan Lane (who chose his pseudonym after being cast as Nathan Detroit) comes a new production of this classic musical. This time, the award-winning Maurice Hynes takes the reigns as high-rolling gambler Detroit, supported by Alexandra Foucard as Miss Adelaide and Brian and Diane Sutherland as Sky Masterson and Sarah Brown.
This production is a bit different from typical musical theater fare - instead of remaining true to the era in which the show takes place, a balanced multiracial cast plays out the action in a colorblind setting. The streets of New York come alive with an array of gamblers, Salvation Army missionaries, and nightclub dancers as a gambler's bet leads him to the girl of his dreams.
The diversity isn't limited just to the cast. Frank Loesser's score encompasses some of the greatest songs in musical theater history; highlights include operatic love ballads like "I'll Know" and "I've Never Been In Love Before," plus the upbeat numbers "Bushel and a Peck" and "Luck Be a Lady Tonight."
'Guys and Dolls' plays at the Colonial Theater from April 2-April 14.
Tickets for all shows can be obtained by calling the theater box offices or via the internet at www.telecharge.com
