While everyone equates the holidays in New York with the evergreen, ever satisfying Radio City Music Hall Christmas show, and dance aficionados look forward to the Ailey's annual month long extravaganza, plus the requisite Big Apple Circus, the true appeal of New York City will always be Theater and business is booming! Here's a glance at what's here and a sampling of shows to look forward to:
Radio City Christmas Spectacular features a cast of more than 140-people, glamorous costumes, and holiday music written exclusively for the Show. The stars of The Christmas Spectacular, the Radio City Rockettes, will continue to dazzle audiences with precision dance and world-famous eye-high kicks and Santa Claus will make a special appearance.Radio City Box Office,Avenue of the Americas between 50th Street and 51st Street 212 247-4777 or Christmas Hotline, 212 307-1000
The Big Apple Circus, a holiday tradition in New York City, Picturesque brings great artists Renoir, Degas, Chagall, Lautrec, Calder and Picasso to life, transforming their works into a riot of motion plus clown star Barry Lubin, the Mongolian Angels female trapeze artists; the Kovgar Troupe on the teeterboard; juggling by Guiming Meng and more by Picaso, Jr; hand balancing soloist Chy Meiling and Arabian stallions, birds, dogs and cats, hosted by emcee Dinny McGuire
October 21 2004 thru January 9 2005, Damrosch Park | Lincoln Center, 800-922-3772
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) opens its New York season at City Center on December 1 with a gala performance featuring a world premiere conceived and directed by Judith Jamison as well as the Ailey classic Revelations, which will be performed with live music. The season includes the world premiere of Love Stories, choreographed in three parts by Judith Jamison, Rennie Harris and Robert Battle, set to the music of Stevie Wonder and a new work called Shining Star performed by 10 dancers to music by Earth, Wind and Fire, the company premiere of Caught. And Donald Byrd's Burlesque , with music by Louis Armstrong, and a new production of Alvin Ailey's 1973 ballet Hidden Rites and a special New Year's Eve gala.
City Center, West 55th Street between Sixth & Seventh Avenues, (212) 581-1212 or (877) 581-1212, online http://www.alvinailey.org/ or www.nycitycenter.org.
CLARA'S CHRISTMAS DREAMS
On Christmas Eve 1812, a young girl receives the gift of a nutcracker in the shape of a toy soldier. That night as she sleeps and sinks into a fevered delirium, the Nutcracker and figures from her bedtime stories come to life and battle for her very soul. Told in verse, song and dance,this holiday tale is also a coming of age story for the entire family.
Recommended for children from 4 to 14 and for adults of all ages. Theatre at St. Clements Church,423 West 46th Street, Nov 24th-Dec 31st ,$50.00, 212-353-3101
BROADWAY:
The Good Body, Eve Ensler (Vagina Monolgues)'s new play and Broadway debut, Dir. Peter Askin, turns her unique eye to women of all cultures and backgrounds who feel compelled to discuss their bodies. Booth Theater, opened. Exuberant celebration of the female body!
700 Sundays. As directed by Des McAnuff, Billy Crystal's life has gotta be a hoot. Dec 5th opening, Broadhurst Theater. A treat to see the man in person!
Twelve Angry Men The Roundabout Theatre Company's mounting of Reginald Rose's timeless opus features Philip Bosco and Dan Hedaya with Tom Aldredge, Larry Bryggman, Robert Clohessy, Boyd Gaines, Kevin Geer, Michael Mastro, John Pankow and James Rebhorn. American Airlines theater. Opened. Great cast! Timely subject and we're all experts on juries by now.
Mario Cantone's Laugh Whore , a solo, Score by Jerry Dixon/Cantone, Dir. Joe Mantello. S howtime's debut as a Broadway producer will air Laugh Whore exclusively in 2005. Cort Theatre. Opened . Stand up comedy with music…what could be bad… if you like it raw
Dame Edna: Back with a Vengeance, Music Box, opened. What a dame! Always a joy!
Brooklyn follows a young French orphan whose search for her father lands her in the city of his birth for which she was named. Book/music/lyrics by Mark Schoenfeld and Barri McPherson. Kevin Anderson, Eden Espinosa, David Jennings, Ramona Keller and Karen Olivo. Plymouth theater. Opened. Production has elevated urban decay to a new level!
Democracy Author Michael Frayne, Dir. Michael Blakemore, Intrigue in German Chancellor Willie Brandt's party which will be. Richard Thomas' teammates, above the title, will be Robert Prosky, James Naughton and Michael Cumpsty. Brooks Atkinson previews started Nov. 2, Election Night, a great night for some, a downer for others. We certainly know about political intrique!
August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean stars Phylicia Rashad, directed by Marion McClinton, It is the ninth in Wilson's cycle of plays chronicling the African-American experience through each decade of the 1900s. Set in 1904, the first in the cycle. Sadly, financing problems for the only new American play this season are delaying opening. Let us hope!
Whoopi 20th anniversary of star' offbeat characters Lyceum Theater , November – Jan 30th . Always nice to have a return visit plus some current commentary!
The Rivals, Sheridan's 1775 comedy about society's values features Richard Easton and Dana Ivey at Lincoln Center's Beaumont theater, Dec 16 – Jan 23 Charming and clever.
La Cage aux Folles Book Harvey Fierstein, Music/lyrocs Jerry Herman, Dir Jerry Zaks, Choreo. Jerry Mitchell. Gay lovers pretend to be straight for the sake of son's engagement. Opens 12/9 at the Marquis Was marvelous last time around.
Pacific Overtures , Book John Weidman/Hugh Wheeler, Score Stephen Sondheim, Cast features B.D. Wong. Commodore Perry brings Western culture to Japan in 1853. opened, Studio 54 Another Sondheim oddball about ugly Americans – haven't we been bashed enough?
Little Women at the Virginia Theatre starring Sutton Foster, directed by Susan H. Schulman, will start previews on December 2 and open on January 23. Ah! Something for the girls!
Brooklyn Boy, Margulies' play about a successful author and his failing family, stars Adam Arkin with Dana Reeve, Biltmore theater, previews January 13 2005 – March 20.Dana returns to theater, welcome.
Fool for Love Sam Shepard's tough love in a motel. American Airlines Theater Previews January 14 2005 Not for the tender hearted.
Good Vibrations , John Carrafa choreographs/directs this musical inspired by The Beach Boys . Richard Dresser's book is set, naturally, in California. at Eugene O'Neill theater opens 1/27,Oh, good! Something hummable!
Monty Python's Spamalot has Mike Nichols directing Tim Curry, David Hyde Pierce, Hank Azaria around the famous Knight's Table, at Shubert Theater previews Feb 7 2005 Great Cast, Great Director!
The Glass Menagerie, Music Box, Previews February 12 2005 another Williams favorite
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels John Lithgow Joanna Gleeson & Norbert Leo Butz, in Yazbek's musical. Imperial Theater, previews February 14 2005 Yazbeck's credentials include The Full Monty!
All Shook Up, the King is back, singing his favorites, Palace Theater, previews February 20 2005 but who will play Elvis?
A Streetcar Named Desire Studio 54 , features Natasha Richardson as Tennessee Williams' faded New Orleans belle, Studio 54, opens March 2005 Natasha can really turn it on!
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Albee's biting drama pits Kathleen Turner vs. Bill Irwin. Theater TBA, opens March 30 2005 Should be a torrid war!!!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Sherman brothers musical stars Marc Kudisch, Jan Maxwell and possibly Meg Tilly, Ford Center for the Performing Arts, previews March 27 2005 Joy! A kiddie musical!
Sweet Charity Neil Simon/Cy Coleman/Dorothy Fields. 1966 places Christina Applegate as the loveable happy hooker in the Gwen Verdon role, Previews April 2005 Applegate has a lot to prove here! Nice posthumous tribute to Cy
After the Night and the Music a new play by Elaine May, Biltmore Theater, Previews Apr 28th – July 3 . Anything by Elaine will be pithy!
Subject to change, as always with theater…. Enjoy!!!