1. Annie Baker:

Baker is best known for her 2013 Pulitzer-winning Off-Broadway play “The Flick.” Aside from having written many other Off-Broadway plays, she was a MacArthur Fellow for 2017.

2. Lisa D’Amour:

D’Amour’s Off-Broadway plays include “The Cataract” and “Nita and Zita,” the latter of which won an Obie Award. Her play “Detroit” was a finalist for the 2011 Pulitzer Prize, and her Broadway play “Airline Highway” received four Tony nominations and three Drama Desk nominations.

3. Sarah DeLappe:

Her 2016 Off-Broadway play “The Wolves,” which is about a high school girls’ soccer team, was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize. She has an MFA from Brooklyn College.

4. Margaret Edson:

Her play “Wit,” which ran Off-Broadway from 1998-2000, earned her the Pulitzer Prize, an Emmy for Outstanding Made for Television Film, and a Tony nomination for Best Revival of a Play. The Broadway production starred Cynthia Nixon, who also received a Tony nomination.

5. Liz Flahive:

A graduate from NYU Tisch, Flahive’s play “From Up Here” received nominations from Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle. She has co-produced the shows “Nurse Jackie” and “GLOW.”

6. Amy Freed

Her Off-Broadway play “Freedomland” was a finalist for the 1998 Pulitzer Prize. Another Off-Broadway play of hers, the Shakespeare-themed “The Beard of Avon,” played Off-Broadway in 2003. More recently, the San Francisco Public Library named her a Library Laureate.

7. Madeleine George:

Her 2013 Off-Broadway play “The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence” was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Along with Young Jean Lee, Anne Washburn, and Sarah Ruhl, George also co-founded the Obie-winning collective 13P. She is married to Lisa Kron, who co-wrote the musical “Fun Home.”

8. Rebecca Gilman

Her best-known works are the Off-Broadway plays “Spinning Into Butter” and “Boy Gets Girl.” The former play examines political correctness and racial identity, whereas the latter play examines power dynamics in gender relations. Another play, “A True Story of the Johnstown Flood,” was inspired by Hurricane Katrina.

9. Gina Gionfriddo:

Two of her Off-Broadway plays, “Becky Shaw” and “Rapture, Blister, Burn,” were 2009 and 2013 finalists for the Pulitzer Prize. She has also written for “Law and Order” and “Cold Case.”

10. DW Gregory

Her plays are tragicomedic examinations of American life throughout history. One of her most famous works, “Radium Girls,” is about a group of female factory workers who fall ill with radium poisoning. It is a popular choice among high schools and community theaters.

11. Danai Gurira:

You might know her as Michonne from “The Walking Dead” and as Okoye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Gurira’s play “Eclipsed” received six Tony nominations (winning one), and her play “Familiar” won her the Sam Norkin Award from Drama Desk.

12. Leslye Headland:

Headland is known for her “Seven Deadly Plays” cycle, in which each play covers one of the seven deadly sins in Christianity. She has directed multiple films, and her Netflix series “Russian Doll,” which she created with Natasha Lyonne and Amy Poehler, premieres later this year.

13. Amy Herzog:

Her Off-Broadway play “4000 Miles” won a 2012 Obie Award and was a 2013 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Her other Off-Broadway plays, including “The Great God Plan,” Mary Jane,” and “Belleville,” each received Drama Desk nominations.

14. Quiara Alegría Hudes:

Best known for writing the book for “In the Heights,” Hudes’ Off-Broadway play “Water by the Spoonful” won her the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Her most recent musical “Miss You Like Hell,” which she wrote with Erin McKeown, played Off-Broadway last year.

15. Lucy Kirkwood:

This British playwright has found success on West End and on Broadway. Her most famous play, “The Children,” premiered in London in 2016, opened on Broadway a year later, and earned two Tony nominations.

16. Young Jean Lee

Lee has written and directed ten shows for her own non-profit theater company, of which she is the Artistic Director. Her most famous play, “Straight White Men,” made her the first Asian-American woman to have a play produced on Broadway.

17. Jennifer Maisel:

Her 2012 Off-Broadway play “The Last Seder” is about a Long Island family coming together during a difficult time. She is a lecturer at USC’s School for Dramatic Arts, and has been a Playwright in Residence for The Jewish Women’s Theatre Project.

18. Martyna Majok:

This Polish-American playwright won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her Off-Broadway play “Cost of Living.” More recently, her play “Queens,” which is about a group of immigrant women growing in the New York borough of the same name, premiered Off-Broadway last year.

19. Lynn Nottage:

Nottage is the only woman to have won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama twice. Her most recent major play “Sweat” is about a group of factory worker friends who are pitted against each other when layoffs occur. The play received three Tony nominations in 2017.

20. Antoinette Nwandu:

Nwandu is a member of the Ars Nova Play Group, and her play “Pass Over,” which ran Off-Broadway last year, became a film for Amazon that Spike Lee directed.

21. Suzan-Lori Parks:

In 2002, her play “Topdog/Underdog” made her the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. She then was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in 2015 for her Off-Broadway play “Father Comes Home from the War (Parts 1, 2, and 3).” Her upcoming Off-Broadway play “White Noise” will premiere at the Public Theater in March of this year.

22. Theresa Rebeck:

Her Off-Broadway play “Omnium Gatherum,” which she wrote with Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros, was a 2004 Pulitzer Prize finalist. Rebeck has had other Broadway plays, including “Seminar” and “Dead Accounts.” Her most recent Broadway play”Bernhardt/Hamlet” is about Sarah Bernhardt’s groundbreaking performance as the iconic Shakespearean protagonist.

23. Yasmina Reza:

This French playwright has had two Broadway plays, “Art” and “God of Carnage,” which both received Tony nominations. Last year, she published a novel “Elisabeth,” which is about a woman whose curiosity and ambition turn her quaint life into a police thriller.

24. Sarah Ruhl:

Two of her plays, “The Clean House” and “In the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play),” were Pulitzer Prize finalists. The latter play received three Tony nominations. More recently, her Off-Broadway play “For Peter Pan on Her 70th Birthday” received its New York premiere in 2017.

25. Laura Shamas:

Having earned a Ph. D. from Pacifica Graduate Institute, Shamas has written over 40 plays. She has also published “Pop Mythology,” which is an essay collection about mythology and modern life. Shamas is part-Chickasaw, and her works are featured in the Native American Women Playwrights Archive at Miami University in Ohio.

26. Lisa B. Thompson:

Thompson is a professor of African and African Diaspora Studies at UT-Austin, whose play “Single Black Female” ran Off-Broadway in 2006. She has had multiple plays receive productions throughout Texas.

27. Lucy Thurber:

Thurber is a playwright and opera librettist who has taught at NYU and Sarah Lawrence College. Her plays “Bottom of the World,” “Scarcity,” and “Tranfers” all received Off-Broadway runs during this decade.

28. Joyce Van Dyke:

Van Dyke is a lecturer at Harvard Extension School. Her play “The Women Who Mapped the Stars,” which tells of the discoveries made by five female Harvard astronomers, premiered last year in Cambridge. Her Off-Broadway play “Daybreak,” originally called “Deported,” is about the Armenian Genocide.

29. Paula Vogel:

Vogel is a playwright who was a Creative Writing Professor at Brown University for 24 years. She has written multiple Off-Broadway plays, including “How I Learned to Drive,” which received the 1998 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Her Broadway play “Indecent” won two Tony Awards in 2017.

30. Anne Washburn:

She is best known for her 2013 Off-Broadway dark comedy, “Mr. Burns, a Post-Electric Play.” Despite a polarized reception, the play one Drama League nomination. Washburn’s theatrical adaptation of “The Twilight Zone” is opening on West End in March.

Did we leave off your favorite female playwright? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 30 Female Playwrights You Should Know appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

How do you measure a year in the life? How about…love?

FOX’s “RENT: Live” finally premiered on January 27th after months of hype and anxious expectations from fans of the musical. With the hit-or-miss nature of live televised musicals, I pass no judgment until each premiere. That being said, as a longtime fan of “RENT,” I found the “live” televised production to be somewhat of a mixed bag. On top of showing mostly pre-recorded footage due to a foot injury from Brennin Hunt (the cast’s Roger), the entire broadcast was flawed, but not entirely hopeless.

With contemporary musicals that have fanbases as large as “RENT,” any post-Original Broadway Cast roster will be unfairly compared. The cast for this production is by no means untalented, but as a whole is unfortunately inconsistent. The roster seems better imagined than implemented. Some cast members such as Tinashe (as the club dancer Mimi Marquez) and Valentina (as the street percussionist and fashionista Angel Dumott Schunard) have commendable stage presence. They both look fierce in their respective solo numbers of “Out Tonight” and “Today 4 U, Tomorrow 4 Me.” Their vocals, on the other hand, are generally a poor fit for this show. While I don’t see a future for Valentina in singing, Tinashe’s vocals are best heard in her signature R&B style and not rock musicals. Luckily, Tinashe’s singing improves in the second act, as heard in “Without You” and the end of “Goodbye Love.”

The saviors of this cast are unsurprisingly the ones with more musical theater experience. Brandon Victor Dixon, who stole the show as Judas in last year’s “Jesus Christ Superstar Live” for NBC, gives an impressive, tenor-voiced Tom Collins. It is a welcome change from the usual baritones tackling the role. Dixon’s riffs and spectacularly sustained high notes make the heartbreaking “I’ll Cover You (Reprise)” only more thrilling, and the lower notes never sound forced or gravelly. Elsewhere, Vanessa Hudgens shines as the performance artist Maureen Johnson. Although best known for doing the “High School Musical” series, her stints playing Gigi on Broadway and Rizzo in “Grease: Live” three years ago have clearly paid off. Hudgens nails the vocal prowess needed for “Take Me or Leave Me,” as well as the over-the-top exuberance for “Over the Moon.” Another Disney Channel alum, Jordan Fisher, has just the right blend of charm and quirk to make him one of my favorite Mark Cohens that I have seen.

Further adequate performances come from Kiersey Clemons as the lawyer Joanne Jefferson and R&B singer Mario as the yuppie landlord Benny Coffin III. Clemons immerses herself in the “classy, yet sassy” dry humor that makes her character so memorable. She does not always have solid high notes, but Clemons carries herself with dignity and comedic flair. These traits are especially present in the dialogue throughout “Tango: Maureen.” Similarly, Mario gives a surprisingly convincing landlord and is careful not to overwhelm with too many vocal gymnastics.

Finally, we have former X Factor contestant Brennin Hunt as Roger Davis. His performance as the singer-songwriter is a slow burn. In spite of his foot injury and pitchy vocals through the first act, he redeems himself in his heartrending rendition of “Your Eyes” towards the finale.

Despite shortcomings from certain lead cast members, I have to give the ensemble their props. I love the background dancers’ aggressive choreography in numbers such as “Rent” and sensual energy in “Tango: Maureen.” Songs such as “Will I?,” which is about fear of dying a so-called undignified death from AIDS, rarely leave a dry eye in the audience. The ensemble seriously delivered the emotion not just in “Will I?”, but also in the musical’s most famous number, the Act II opener “Seasons of Love.” I always love a great featured soloist for this song, and who better to tackle those ending riffs than “Waitress” and “The Greatest Showman” star Keala Settle! Settle gracefully handles the soul and stamina needed for this song, and is a total gem in her brief appearances onstage. The ensemble’s closing rendition of “Seasons of Love” featured the Original Broadway Cast, and was a fitting, surreal finish to the broadcast.

From a technical standpoint, the warehouse-like set for the live production is absolutely remarkable. Complete with brick walls and metal bars, it perfectly resembles the rough, Bohemian vibe of Manhattan’s Alphabet City. I loved seeing the audience become involved towards the end of the broadcast. Crowd-surfing during “What You Own” and the full-house camera angles during “Finale B” helped keep momentum high.

While the novelty of a live televised musical intrigues me, there are of course aspects that are bound to go wrong. Like NBC’s “Hairspray Live!” from 2016, “RENT: Live” was not immune to issues with volume and sound mixing. Some performers’ microphone feeds dropped out and made some scenes super distracting, particularly for Tinashe in “Out Tonight” and “La Vie Boheme.” Another questionable aspect for me is which words get censored. I understand that network television is obviously going to change a few obscenities. That being said, why are some words and phrases such as “kink club,” “goddamn,” and “dildo” censored, but not “S&M,” “masturbation,” or “dyke”? It just does not add up.

Without a doubt, this production has obstacles and imperfections. However, it does not diminish the cultural significance that Jonathan Larson’s work continues to have. Regardless of how even the purest “RENT” fans feel about the FOX broadcast, this presentation is not totally in vain. “RENT” is still relevant in the movement for LGBT+ rights and finding a cure for HIV/AIDS. Furthermore, it was a great choice of a show to do: contemporary, well-known, and containing the inspiring message of “no day but today.” NBC and FOX take serious risks by putting on live musicals, and I hope they continue to happen so that younger people see musical theatre’s broadening appeal. I hope that Larson’s influence in telling realistic musical stories inspires future generations of thespians to discover their creative voices.

You May Like: Quiz: Which ‘RENT’ Character Are You?

The post Review Of FOX’S ‘RENT: Live!’ appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outta My Hair” (South Pacific) –> “New Rules” (Dua Lipa)

“Waste no time, weep no more
Show him what the door is for
Rub him out of the roll call
And drum him out of your dreams”

“Two: Don’t let him in
You’ll have to kick him out again
Three: Don’t be his friend
You know you’re gonna wake up in his bed in the morning
And if you’re under him, you ain’t gettin’ over him”

2. “Helpless” (Hamilton) –> “Countdown” (Beyonce)

“Helpless!
Look into your eyes, and the sky’s the limit I’m helpless!
Down for the count, and I’m drownin’ in ‘em”

“Killing me softly, and I’m still falling.
Still the one I need, I will always be with you.”

3. “Out Tonight” (RENT) –> “Tik Tok” (Kesha)

“Let’s Go Ouuuuuut Tonight
I Have To Go Ouuuuuut Tonight
You Wanna Play?
Let’s Run Away
We Won’t Be Back
Before It’s Christmas day
Take Me Ouuuuuut Tonight (Meow)”

“Tonight, I’m-a fight
Till we see the sunlight
Tick-tock on the clock
But the party don’t stop, no”

4. “Get Out And Stay Out” (9 to 5) –> “Bye Bye Bye” (*NSYNC)

“So get out and stay out, I’ve finally had enough
Don’t kiss me on your way out, it wouldn’t move me much
You used me, abused me, you cheated and you lied
So get out and stay out, I’m taking back my life”

“Don’t want to be a fool for you
Just another player in your game for two
You may hate me but it ain’t no lie
Baby bye bye bye”

5. “I’m Not That Girl” (Wicked) –> “Dancing On My Own” (Robyn)

“Hands touch, eyes meet
Sudden silence, sudden heat
Hearts leap in a giddy whirl
He could be that boy
But I’m not that girl”

“I’m in the corner, watching you kiss her, oh oh oh
I’m right over here, why can’t you see me, oh oh oh
And I’m giving it my all, but I’m not the guy you’re taking home, ooh
I keep dancing on my own”

6. “Tonight” (West Side Story) –> “Teenage Dream” (Katy Perry)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_QffCZs-bg

“Tonight, tonight
The world is full of light
With suns and moons all over the place
Tonight, tonight
The world is wild and bright
Going mad
Shooting sparks into space”

“Let’s go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance until we die
You and I
We’ll be young forever
You make me feel like I’m living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can’t, sleep
Let’s runaway
And don’t ever look back
Don’t ever look back”

7. “Candy Store” (Heathers) –> “Primadonna” (Marina and the Diamonds)

“Time for you to prove you’re not a loser anymore
Step into my candy store!”

“You say that I’m kinda difficult
But it’s always someone else’s fault
Got you wrapped around my finger, babe
You can count me to misbehave”

8. “Nobody Needs to Know” (The Last Five Years) –> “Burn” (Usher)

“Hold on, clip these wings –
Things get out of hand
All right, it’s over, it’s done –
No one will understand”

“Deep down, you know it’s best for yourself, but you
Hate the thought of her being with someone else
But you know that it’s over, we knew it was through
Let it burn, let it burn, gotta let it burn”

9. “Born to Entertain” (Ruthless!) –> “When I Grow Up” (The Pussycat Dolls)

“Instead of walkin’, I go flappin’
When I tap, I make it happen!
Mom says I have Broadway on the brain!

Don’t get too comfy, in that seat.
When I strut my stuff, you’ll be on your feet!
I was born to sing and dance!”

“When I grow up
I wanna be famous
I wanna be a star
I wanna be in movies
When I grow up
I wanna see the world
Drive nice cars
I wanna have groupies”

10. “Climb Every Mountain” (The Sound of Music) –> “The Climb” (Miley Cyrus)

“Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
‘Till you find your dream”

“Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb”

11. “Bring On the Men” (Jekyll and Hyde) –> “It’s Raining Men” (The Weather Girls)

“So let’s bring on the men
And let the fun begin
A little touch of sin
Why wait another minute?!”

“God bless Mother Nature, she’s a single woman too
She took off to heaven and she did what she had to do
She taught every angel to rearrange the sky
So that each and every woman could find her perfect guy”

12. “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (The Phantom of the Opera)–> “My Immortal” (Evanescence)

Knowing we must say goodbye
Try to forgive, teach me to live
Give me the strength to try
No more memories, no more silent tears
No more gazing across the wasted years
Help me say goodbye”

“I’ve tried so hard to tell myself that you’re gone
But though you’re still with me
I’ve been alone all along”

13. “Cell Block Tango” (Chicago) –> “Hit Em Up Style” (Blu Cantrell)

“He had it coming
He had it coming
He only had himself to blame
If you’d have been there
If you’d have heard it
I betcha you would have done the same!”

“There go the dreams we used to say
(Oops) There goes the time we spent away
(Oops) There goes the love I had but you cheated on me
And that’s worth that now”

14. “There’s a Fine, Fine Line” (Avenue Q) –> “Too Little, Too Late” (JoJo)

“And I don’t have the time to waste on you anymore.
I don’t think that you even know what you’re looking for.
For my own sanity I’ve got to close the door
And walk away…”

“I can love with all of my heart, baby
I know I have so much to give (I have so much to give)
With a player like you, I don’t have a prayer
That’s no way to live
It’s just too little too late”

15. “Astonishing” (Little Women) –> “Roar” (Katy Perry)

“I will blaze until I find my time and place
I will be fearless,
Surrendering modesty and grace
I will not disappear without a trace
I’ll shout and start a riot
Be anything but quiet”

“I got the eye of the tiger, a fighter
Dancing through the fire
‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar
Louder, louder than a lion
‘Cause I am a champion, and you’re gonna hear me roar!”

16. “Say It Somehow” (The Light in the Piazza) –> “Thinking Out Loud” (Ed Sheeran)

“You are good to me
I know the sound
Of touch me
I think I hear the sound of
Wrap your arms around me
Tell me things”

“Take me into your loving arms
Kiss me under the light of a thousand stars
Place your head on my beating heart
I’m thinking out loud
Maybe we found love right where we are”

17. “A Call from the Vatican” (Nine) –> “Partition” (Beyonce)

“I’ve got a plan for what I’m gonna do to you
So hot!
You’re gonna steam and scream
And vibrate like a string I’m plucking.
Kiss your fevered little brow”

“Take all of me
I just wanna be the girl you like, girl you like
The kinda girl you like
Is right here with me”

18. “If I Can’t Love Her” (Beauty and the Beast) –> “It Will Rain” (Bruno Mars)

“No pain could be deeper
No life could be cheaper
No point anymore
If I can’t love her
No spirit could win me
No hope left within me
Hope I could have loved her”

“‘Cause there’ll be no sunlight
If I lose you, baby
There’ll be no clear skies
If I lose you, baby
Just like the clouds
My eyes will do the same, if you walk away

Everyday it will rain”

19. “Stars and the Moon” (Songs for a New World) –> “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (U2)

“And you’ll meet stars at the parties I throw at my villas
In nice and Paris in June.
And I woke one day
And I looked around
And I thought, “My God
I’ll never have the moon.”

“I have run I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still haven’t found
What I’m looking for”

20. “I Am What I Am” (La Cage Aux Folles) –> “Born This Way” (Lady GaGa)

“It’s one life and there’s no return and no deposit
One life so it’s time to open up your closet
Life’s not worth a damn till you can shout out
I am what I am”

“I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way”

Let us know your favorite Show Tune-to-Pop Song parallel in the comments!

The post 20 Show Tunes And Their Pop Song Counterparts appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Here we have a cast that could not have been better assembled, since they fit their respective roles like a glove… or in this case, like a corpse in a hearse! In the title role is Alex Brightman, who is best known for his Tony-nominated performance as Dewey Finn in “School of Rock.” His embodiment of Beetlejuice would make even Michael Keaton shudder. Brightman’s portrayal of the shameless, sailor-mouthed miscreant is complete with spot-on accents and a devilishly convincing comical timing. Brightman’s consistently raspy voice throughout the show is proof that the man has vocal cords of steel, and his performance is a must-watch for Tony voters. Alongside him playing Lydia is Sophia Anne Caruso (“The Sound of Music Live!”, “Lazarus”). Whereas Winona Ryder’s Lydia is low-key and subtle, Caruso’s Lydia has more attitude. Lydia grieves over her mother’s death and barely tolerates her selfish, oblivious father, and Caruso nails the angst needed for the self-proclaimed “strange and unusual” goth teenager.

Vocally, Caruso has a solid belting register that is far beyond her 17 years. Her first big solo number “Dead Mom” is a midtempo rock number in the vein of Paramore, and I can easily see Caruso fronting her own future band if she chooses to do so. Other standouts in the cast include Broadway veteran Kerry Butler (“Catch Me If You Can,” “Mean Girls”) and Rob McClure (“Chaplin”) as the adorkable recently deceased couple Barbara and Adam Maitland. Leslie Kritzer (“Legally Blonde”), who plays Delia, Lydia’s soon-to-be stepmother and life coach, is an absolute riot, as is her co-star Adam Dannheisser (“Oslo”), who plays Lydia’s father, Charles. Also noteworthy is Kelvin Moon Loh (“The King and I” 2015 Revival) as Delia’s ethereal guru Otho. Although a minor character, it would be remiss not to applaud Dana Steingold’s brief but screamingly funny performance as an innocent, easily scared Girl Scout in the second act.

One of the show’s most significant assets is its spectacular set, costume, and lighting design. The production is complete with animatronic sandworms and shrimp-arms, not to mention at least five different backgrounds throughout the course of the show. The set’s gothic aesthetic is spot-on with Tim Burton’s style from the movie, and its immaculate versatility is something that I hope Tony voters remember come spring. Moreover, the costumes are nearly exact replicas of the movie ones (e.g., Beetlejuice’s striped suit and Lydia’s red wedding dress). In classic Broadway fashion, the costume changes in numbers such as “Creepy Old Guy” are swift and stunning. Elsewhere, the lighting design strikes gothic gold. Before the curtain rises, it is covered with a beaming spiral, as if to hypnotize the audience into a world far beyond our darkest fears. Perhaps my favorite use of the lighting is how minimal it is in the netherworld scenes, heightening the Tim Burton-like desolation of the next world. The crew has crafted a flexible set that turns the seemingly impossible into a reality.

Meanwhile, the writing is sensational. Like last year’s production of “Mean Girls,” the book here is not just a total copy-and-paste of the movie to the stage. The book writers Scott Brown and Anthony King (both “Gutenberg! The Musical”) have expanded character backstories. For example, the musical opens with Beetlejuice wreaking havoc in a graveyard shortly before cutting to the funeral for Lydia’s mother. Some plot details have changed, however, such as how Barbara and Adam die in the story’s beginning. A car driving off a bridge, like in the movie, here turns into the couple falling through the floor in their house. With the dialogue, Brown and King have upped the ante on the humor. The script is replete with explosive jokes and lyrics that tip-toe between knee-slapping and just plain wrong (“There are misogynistic guys here/Someday you’re gonna die here/It’s basically Dubai here”). Musically, Eddie Perfect lives up to his surname with his lively rock/swing hybrid score that enhances the brash dark humor throughout the story. The score hits the ground running with the uptempo opening number “The Whole Being Dead Thing.” Other highlights throughout the show include “That Beautiful Sound,” “Creepy Old Guy,” and “Everything Is Meh.” The latter number features another delightful addition to the story: the fictional boy band Boy Inferno, which greets people upon entering the netherworld. Furthermore, fans of the movie will be relieved to know that the two Harry Belafonte songs used in the movie’s iconic dinner scene and finale scene are recycled for the stage version.

The show is already a hit among audiences, with many patrons arriving on opening night in full gothic makeup, dyed hair, and costumes. Ticket-wise, some performances are already down to single tickets in certain sections. Overall, I hope the show is not altered too much when it transfers to New York in the spring. There are already several strong aspects, and I hope that all the aforementioned musical numbers stay intact. As the DC production is currently the only incarnation of the musical, it is hard for me to imagine a better cast than the current one. I do hope though that Otho’s character is expanded. I know his Act II appearance is brief, but I feel that there is much comedic potential to explore with him. Regardless of how the final version manifests, “Beetlejuice” is already a hit of demonic proportions!

WARNING: Contains strong language, suggestive content, and strobe light effects. Not recommended for children under 15.

“Beetlejuice” plays at DC’s National Theatre through November 18th. Get your tickets HERE

The post ‘Beetlejuice: The Musical’ DC Review appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Although they are not as common in contemporary musical theatre, we’ve compiled 15 of our favorite entr’actes since 1992 below:

1. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (1994)

During this sequence, the Beast risks his life to save Belle from a pack of wolves.

2. ‘Ragtime’ (1998)

At the start of Act II, the boy Edgar has a dream about Houdini attempting to escape from a box covered in dynamite.

3. ‘The Hunchback of Notre-Dame’ (1999/2014)

This fantastic Act II opener features text from the Latin Requiem Mass.

4. ‘Matilda’ (2011)

Matilda’s entr’acte from the original Royal Shakespeare production was significantly cut for the Broadway production.

5. ‘Bright Star’ (2016)

Aspiring editor Alice Murphy is gearing up to study in Chapel Hill while longing for her son.

6. ‘Mamma Mia!’ (1999)

Sophie’s nightmare about her three possible fathers fighting over who will walk her down the aisle leaves her anxious.

7. ‘The Scarlet Pimpernel’ (1997)

This instrumental medley of Act I melodies precedes the Act II events at the Prince of Wales’ ball.

8. ‘Honeymoon in Vegas’ (2015)

After Betsy (Jack’s girlfriend) agrees to leave with Tommy for Hawaii, Jack follows them there attempting to win back Betsy.

9. ‘Mary Poppins’ (2004)

Before the curtain rises on Act II, the orchestra treats the audience to a brief reprisal of “Jolly Holiday.”

10. ‘Ruthless!’ (1992)

After Tina is revealed as Louise’s murderer, she is sent away while Tina’s mother Judy becomes a Broadway star.

11. ‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’ (2002)

Millie and her fellow stenographers dance their way to work while she tries to get over her fallout with Jimmy.

12. ‘Titanic’ (1997)

The orchestral interlude is the final calm before the doomed ship’s sinking.

13. ‘Steel Pier’ (1997)

This jazzy prelude sets the mood leading up to Bill and Rita’s mock wedding.

14. ‘Sunset Boulevard’ (1993)

This lush prelude juxtaposes the glamour of Hollywood with the seductive nature of “Salome,” the screenplay-within-the-musical.

15. ‘Seussical’ (2000)

After Horton is abducted by hunters, the Cat in the Hat conducts the orchestra into Act II.

Let us know your favorite entr’acte in the comments below…

The post 15 Great Contemporary Entr’actes You Should Listen To appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. His ‘Musical Monday’ Series Is Wildly Entertaining

Every Monday, Lynch posts a video of himself singing and playing either an original song or a selection from a musical or movie. His performances are often ambitious, sometimes lasting well over 10 minutes.

2. His Live Reaction Videos Are the Best

Lynch also records a series of live reactions while listening to contemporary cast albums and performances gone wrong.

3. His Piano Skills Are Outstanding

Lynch is a music graduate of William Paterson University and used to be a staff accompanist at Juilliard. He has also recorded videos playing works by Mozart and Chopin.

4. He Spotlights Lesser-Known Shows

Lynch sure does his research by mentioning and praising shows with niche cult followings, such as “Bare” and “Glory Days.”

5. He’s Hilariously Blunt

Lynch is an outspoken critic of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music and isn’t afraid to toss a few jabs at musicals such as “Starlight Express” and “Cats.”

6. He’s a Master Parodist

Formerly his most popular video, “Worst Musical Theatre Song Ever Written for Auditions” pokes fun at all of contemporary musical theatre’s most notorious cliches.

7. He Thoroughly Explains Music Theory in Broadway Shows

Lynch uses his music major background to explain common, effective musical trends found in shows such as “Next to Normal” and “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812.”

8. He’s Writing His Own Musical

Lynch is currently writing “Abstinence: The Musical” and has premiered the opening number for his YouTube audience.

9. He Sells His Original Pieces Online

In addition to having an album of original music, Lynch sells sheet music for his original pieces on his website. Recordings can be found on Spotify and iTunes.

10. He Has Helpful Lifestyle Advice

Lynch has made several videos about his enormous weight loss and how he’s maintained his health over the years.

11. He Does Clever Arrangements of Pop Songs

Lynch’s pop covers include a mashup of Mariah Carey and Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, as well as a mashup of “Hello” by Adele and “Let It Go” from “Frozen.”

12. He’s Transparent About His Personal Life

Lynch is open about having ADD and how to cope with it and use it to his advantage.

Why do you love Kevin Lynch? Which one of his videos is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

The post Why Theatre Nerds Need To Know About Kevin Lynch appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. ‘Seize the Day,’ from ‘Newsies’

“Now is the time to seize the day,
Answer the call and don’t delay.
Wrongs will be righted, if we’re united.
Let us seize the day!”

2. ‘Good Morning’ from ‘Singin’ in the Rain’

“Good morning
Good morning
Sunbeams will soon smile through
Good morning
Good morning to you and you and you and you!”

3. ‘Morning Person’ from ‘Shrek the Musical’

“Good morning birds
good morning trees
Oh, what a lovely day
The suns so big it burns my eye
but really that’s okay!”

4. ‘Just Another Day’ from ‘Next to Normal’

“Just another day, for another stolen hour,
When the world will feel my power and obey.
It’s just another day, feeling like I’ll live forever.”

5. ‘Circle of Life’ from ‘The Lion King’

“From the day we arrive on the planet
And blinking, step into the sun
There’s more to see than can ever be seen
More to do than can ever be done”

6. ‘Day One’ from ‘Groundhog Day’

“Who is that?
Who is that?
Emerging from his burrow?
Who can see today what we won’t see until tomorrow?”

7. ‘Bikini Bottom Day’ from ‘SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical’

“How I love this town
Bikini Bottom
When the sun shines down
On a beautiful Bikini Bottom day”

8. ‘Opening Up’ from ‘Waitress’

“The day starts like the rest we’ve seen
Another carbon copy of an old routine
Days keep coming
One out, one in
They keep coming.”

9. ‘Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’’ from ‘Oklahoma’

“Oh, what a beautiful mornin’
Oh, what a beautiful day.
I’ve got a beautiful feelin’
Everything’s goin’ my way.”

10. ‘In the Heights’ from ‘In the Heights’

“Lights up on Washington Heights, up at the break of day.
I wake up and I got this little punk I gotta chase away.
Pop the grate at the crack of dawn, sing
While I wipe down the awning
Hey y’all, good morning!”

11. ‘A Brand New Day’ from ‘The Wiz’

“Everybody look around,
‘Cause there’s a reason to rejoice you see.
Everybody come out,
And let’s commence to singing joyfully.”

12. ‘One Day More’ from ‘Les Misérables’

“Tomorrow we’ll discover
What our god in heaven has in store!
One more dawn,
One more day,
One day more!”

13. ‘Feeling Good’ from ‘The Roar of Greasepaint — The Smell of the Crowd’

“It’s a new dawn; it’s a new day;
It’s a new life for me.
Feeling good.”

14. ‘Here I Go’ from ‘If/Then’

“And I’ve studied all the stories,
And what our chances are.
Then my heart starts beating faster,
And it makes this disaster worst by far.
Still, here I go.”

15. ‘Good Morning, Baltimore’ from ‘Hairspray’

“Good morning, Baltimore.
And someday when I take to the floor,
The world’s gonna wake up and see
Baltimore and me.”

16. ‘Buenos Aires’ from ‘Evita’

“I get out here, Buenos Aires.
Stand back!
You oughta know what you’re gonna get in me:
Just a little touch of star quality.”

What’s your favorite showtune to start your day with? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 16 Showtunes To Help You Kick-Start Your Day appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. ‘Put That Thing Back Where It Came From, Or So Help Me!’ from ‘Monsters, Inc.’

In the credits of “Monsters, Inc.,” Mike, Sully and the whole company reenact the movie’s story as a musical. It’s quite the scream!

2. ‘Rochelle, Rochelle’ from ‘Seinfeld’

In the series’ sixth season, Bette Midler guest-stars to perform in the musical “Rochelle, Rochelle.” After George accidentally injures her in a softball game, her understudy, Gennice, performs in her place. The episode is partially inspired by the Nancy Kerrigan incident.

3. ‘Influenza: The Musical’ from ‘Even Stevens’

This episode documents Ren’s bizarre school day as she suffers from the flu while trying to keep her perfect attendance record.

4. ‘Eliza Rocks!’ from ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen’

This pop-rock version of “Pygmalion” features Lindsay Lohan’s character as a modern-day Eliza Doolittle.

5. ‘Freud! The Musical’ from ‘Friends’

The level of cringe in Joey Tribbiani’s musical about the famous neurologist leaves room for its own psychoanalysis.

6. ‘Twinkle Towne’ from ‘High School Musical’

The musical-within-a-musical contains gems such as “Bop to the Top” and “Breaking Free.”

7. ‘LA Bretto’ from ‘Dexter’s Laboratory’

This one-of-a-kind episode in the series is about the famed boy genius’ birth and how he created his laboratory.

8. ‘The Nightman Cometh’ from ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’

The season four finale features Charlie Kelly writing a musical and casting the main characters in it as an attempt to propose to the Waitress.

9. ‘Oh, Streetcar!’ from ‘The Simpsons’

In the fourth season, Marge plays Blanche DuBois in a local musical version of “A Streetcar Named Desire,” complete with some controversial lyrics about New Orleans.

10. ‘Romeo Must Wed’ from ‘The Proud Family’

Penny and her crush, Kwok, star as Juliet and Romeo in their school play and add a hip-hop twist to the final scene.

11. ’Thomas Edison/Topsy’ from ‘Bob’s Burgers’

The third season features a musical number that Gene writes about Thomas Edison and the electrocution of Topsy the Elephant.

12. ‘Snow White and the Seven Dorks’ from ‘Saved by the Bell’

Similarly to aforementioned “Proud Family” episode, the main characters of “Saved By the Bell” make a hip-hop version of “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.”

13. ‘Helen Keller! The Musical’ from ‘South Park’

Cartman decides to turn Helen Keller’s life story into a musical, with professional actor Jeffrey Maynard surprising everyone by playing the late author-activist herself.

14. ’The Deo Variety Hour’ from ‘Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends’

The Hollywood agent Kip Snip turns Bloo into the new face of Deo, a deodorant brand. However, Bloo sneaks his qualms with Snip into the lyrics of the songs he performs.

15. ‘Mr. G: The Musical’ from ‘Summer Heights High’

Mr. G., a flamboyant and egocentric drama teacher, turns his life story (and a student’s drug overdose) into a musical spectacular.

Did we leave out your favorite fictional musical? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 15 Fictional Musicals We Wish Were Real appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

1. ‘Plain and Fancy’

Featuring classic numbers such as “Young and Foolish” and “This Is All Very New to Me,” this musical was one of the earliest depictions of Amish life in American media. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1955 and was revived Off-Broadway in 2006.

2. ‘Pipe Dream’

Based on John Steinbeck’s novel “Sweet Thursday,” this 1955 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is about the relationship between Doc, a marine biologist, and Suzy, a prostitute. Critics panned the show, although “Encores!” performed the musical in 2012.

3. ‘Of Thee I Sing’

This 1931 Gershwin musical is about John Wintergreen, a presidential candidate whose affair with the sensible Mary Turner lands him in hot water. The musical has been revived on Broadway twice and received an “Encores!” performance run in 2006.

4. ‘Where’s Charley?’

This 1948 Frank Loesser musical is about disguised chaperones and relationships among Oxford University students. The musical has been revived on Broadway twice and received an “Encores!” performance run in 2011.

5. ‘Conversation Piece’

This Noël Coward musical is about Paul, Duc de Chaucigny-Varennes, who has escaped the French Revolution and wishes to marry his companion, Melanie, off to a member of Brightonian aristocracy. The musical premiered in London in 1934 before transferring to New York later that year.

6. ‘The Body Beautiful’

This 1958 musical is about a Dartmouth College graduate who wants to be a successful boxer. It was the first collaboration between Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick (“Fiddler on the Roof”) and closed after 60 performances.

7. ‘Knickerbocker Holiday’

This 1938 musical by Kurt Weill is an anti-New Deal allegory narrated by a fictional version of Washington Irving. The musical received a brief Lincoln Center run in 2011.

8. ‘Call Me Madam’

This 1950 musical is a satire on politics and philanthropy and earned Ethel Merman her first Tony Award. “Encores!” staged the musical in 1995, and Paper Mill Playhouse staged it in 1996.

9. ‘Little Mary Sunshine’

This 1959 musical is a campy spoof of operetta. Its portrayal of Native Americans, however, is deeply problematic, and a planned Broadway transfer for 2003 never materialized.

10. ‘I’d Rather Be Right’

This 1937 Rodgers and Hart musical is a satire of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s presidency. The musical, which contains the jazz standard “Have You Met Miss Jones?” was revived Off-Broadway in February 2011.

11. ‘Roberta’

This 1933 musical is about Roberta, a dressmaker whose manager, Stephanie, falls in love with a college football star, John Kent. The show’s most famous number, “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” is usually performed as a ballad nowadays, but it was initially written as a mid-tempo tango piece.

12. ‘A Tree Grows in Brooklyn’

Adapted from the classic novel of the same name, this 1951 musical is about a poor Irish family in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City. A 2005 “Encores!” production starred Emily Skinner and Jason Danieley.

13. ‘Billion Dollar Baby’

This 1945 musical is about Maribelle Jones, a gold digger trying to make a name for herself during the Prohibition era. The 1998 Off-Broadway concert version starred Kristin Chenoweth.

14. ‘Rosalie’

This 1928 musical is about a princess who falls in love with a West Point cadet. A 1983 concert version starred Marianne Tatum (“Barnum”) and Richard Muenz (“Zombie Prom”).

15. ‘Fanny’

Based on Marcel Pagnol’s “Marseille” trilogy, this 1954 musical is about secrets and passion in the south of France. A 2010 “Encores!” production starred Fred Applegate (“Sister Act”) and George Hearn (“La Cage aux Folles”).

16. ‘Carnival in Flanders’

Based on the 1935 French film “La Kermesse héroïque,” this 1953 musical closed after six performances. Although the show has never been revived on Broadway or by “Encores!” its breakout song, “Here’s That Rainy Day,” is a popular standard.

Did we leave out your favorite obscure Golden Age show? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 16 Forgotten Golden Age Broadway Shows appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

While some original cast members remain active in New York’s theatre scene, others have more massive projects while welcoming more accolades. Here’s what the original Broadway cast of “In the Heights” has been up to, 10 years later:

1. Lin-Manuel Miranda:

Undeniably the most successful original cast member, Miranda’s biggest triumph since was writing the hit musical “Hamilton,” which won 11 Tony Awards. He also received an Oscar nomination for writing music for “Moana” and is starring in the upcoming film “Mary Poppins Returns.”

2. Karen Olivo

After winning a Tony Award in 2009 for playing Anita in “West Side Story,” Karen Olivo performed in numerous Off-Broadway shows and co-starred with Miranda in the Encores! production of “Tick, Tick…Boom!” She will star in the pre-Broadway production of “Moulin Rouge” this summer in Boston, according to TheaterMania.

3. Mandy Gonzalez

After finishing her run as Nina, Mandy Gonzalez played Elphaba in “Wicked” and released her debut solo album last year. She has also collaborated with Postmodern Jukebox and is currently playing Angelica Schuyler in the New York production of “Hamilton.”

4. Olga Merediz

Since earning a Tony nomination for playing Abuela Claudia, Olga Merediz ha made several guest/recurring appearances on shows such as “Orange Is the New Black,” “Law and Order,” “Shades of Blue” and the short-lived sitcom “Saint George.”

5. Christopher Jackson

After finishing his run as Benny, Christopher Jackson earned three Emmy nominations and won one for his work on “Sesame Street.” He also received a Tony nomination for his role in “Hamilton” and won a Grammy with the rest of the “Hamilton” cast. He currently plays Chunk Palmer on the CBS drama “Bull.”

6. Andréa Burns

After originating the role of Daniela on Broadway, Andréa Burns starred in the New York premiere of Douglas Carter Beane’s play, “The Nance.” She also originated the role of Gloria Fajardo in the musical “On Your Feet!” and has guest-starred on “Jessica Jones.”

7. Janet Dacal

Janet Dacal played Carla in the Off-Broadway production and continued the role when it transferred to Broadway. After, she originated the role of Alice for the Tampa, Houston and Broadway productions of “Wonderland.” She also performed in the Broadway revue “Prince of Broadway” last year.

8. Priscilla Lopez

A Broadway veteran since 1967, Priscilla Lopez performed the role of Camila from 2008 to 2011. In 2014, she performed for a month in the Broadway revival of “Pippin.” Earlier this year, she starred with Ingrid Michaelson, Annie Potts and Bebe Neuwirth in the film “Humor Me.”

9. Robin de Jesús

After playing Sonny in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions, Robin de Jesús  received a Tony nomination for his performance. He earned another Tony nomination for playing Jacob in the 2010 Broadway revival of “La Cage aux Folles.” He played Boq in “Wicked” from 2014 to 2016 and is now starring in the Broadway premiere of “The Boys in the Band.”

10. Carlos Gómez

After playing Kevin in the Broadway production, Carlos Gómez had a regular role on “The Glades” and a recurring role on “Madam Secretary.” In 2016, he starred with Daphne Rubin-Vega (“Rent”) and Samira Wiley (“Orange Is the New Black”) in the play “Daphne’s Dive,” written by “In the Heights” co-writer Quiara Alegría Hudest.

11. Eliseo Roman

Since his turn playing the Piragua guy, Eliseo Roman has starred in the original Broadway casts of “Leap of Faith” and “On Your Feet!” He recently reprised his role as the Piragua guy in the Kennedy Center production of “In the Heights.”

12. Seth Stewart

After originating the role of Graffiti Pete, Stewart was a dancer in the film “Friends With Benefits” and the TV show “Smash.” Aside from being a backup dancer for Madonna and Jennifer Lopez, he was also Daveed Diggs’ understudy for  Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in “Hamilton.”

The post ‘In the Heights’ Original Broadway Cast: Where Are They Now? appeared first on Theatre Nerds.