The New Year marks the midpoint of the Broadway 2014-2015 season. We have seen some beautiful productions so far this season (The Elephant Man, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, On the Town, just to name a few). Let’s take a look at the more highly anticipated plays of the second half of the season.
Dark comedy is a rarity on Broadway. Well-written, biting and hysterical dark comedy is almost nonexistent. When it was announced that the caustic Off-Broadway production of Hand to God would be transferring to the Great White Way, devotees of the show were thrilled to learn the audience would reach new audiences. The production, about a shy man and his demonic hand puppet, is scheduled to open April 7, with its original Off-Broadway cast.
Two words: Helen Mirren. A few more: Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II. Mirren is coming to Broadway playing the same woman that won her an Oscar and in a performance that won her an Olivier. The Audience, penned by Peter Morgan, screenwriter of The Queen, chronicles her (imagined) meetings with several British Prime Ministers. In other words, this show will open on Broadway on March 8th, boasting more awards before its opening than most shows will ever see in its lifetime.
Another West End import about a British monarch, Wolf Hall brings the ‘epic’ back to Broadway. Based on the bestselling books by Hilary Mantel, this double bill theatrical event chronicles the goings-on during King Henry VIII’s tempestuous rule. Like The Audience, Wolf Hall is transferring after a hugely successful run in the West End, and has already garnered a rave from The New York Times’ Ben Brantley. Performances begin on March 20.
New York has yet to see a ‘Main Stem’ revival of the late, great Wendy Wasserstein’s Pulitzer-winning masterpiece and it seems to be a perfect vehicle brilliant television actress, Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men). Add Jason Biggs (brilliant on Orange is the New Black), Bryce Pinkham (brilliant in Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder) and Tracee Chimo (brilliant in Bad Jews) and the future looks bright for Heidi, when she opens on March 19.
Not too much is known about the Larry David’s upcoming Broadway debut other than he wrote and will star in the play about a family’s reaction to a recent death. David, who always proves insightful and hysterical, has also admitted to not having appeared onstage since he was in the 8th grade. However, if he can bring his apoplectic lovability to a live theatre, audiences will flock to see this new comedy. Directed by the always sharp Anna D. Shapiro and featuring a cast that includes Rita Wilson, Jayne Houdyshell and Rosie Perez, Fish in the Dark opens March 5.
A revival of David Hare’s two-hander, starring Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy, was a rave in the West End. The two Hollywood heavyweights are repeating their acclaimed roles in this tension-soaked drama, opening March 16.
Interestingly, the second half of the season is filled with highly anticipated productions headed to Broadway after runs at other venues. The West End brings us Skylight, Wolf Hall and The Audience. Hand to God is an off-Broadway transfer and The Heidi Chronicles is not new material for Broadway. Only David’s Fish in the Dark, brought to us by a Hollywood heavyweight with no theater background, is a brand new play. It will be fascinating to see how Winter/Spring 2015 unfolds.
