The Spring 2015 Broadway Musicals Guide

Russia. Paris. Las Vegas. Neverland. Musicals will take us to a wide variety of places this spring on Broadway. And we’ll have some famous tour guides along the way, like Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Morrison, and Chita Rivera, singing scores from some of Broadway’s best composers, like Rodgers and Hammerstein, Jason Robert Brown and Kander and Ebb.

Here’s everything you need to know about the spring season:

Honeymoon in Vegas
Currently in previews at the Nederlander Theatre. Opens Jan. 15.
The musical adaptation of the 1992 movie of the same name comes with music and lyrics from Tony winner Jason Robert Brown (“Bridges of Madison County”) and a book by the film’s writer/director Andrew Bergman. The story follows Jack Singer (“Chaplin” star Rob McClure) who finally gets the nerve to ask his girlfriend Betsy (Brynn O’Malley) to marry him — only to almost lose her in a Vegas bet gone wrong. Oh, and did we mention Tony Danza is in it? Tap dancing? Yeah, you’re gonna want to see that.

On the Twentieth Century
Previews begin Feb. 12. Opens March 12 at the American Airlines Theatre.
Cy Coleman, Betty Comden and Adolph Green’s 1978 musical “On the Twentieth Century” gets its first Broadway revival thanks to the Roundabout Theatre Company, with a superstar cast led by Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth (“Promises, Promises”) and Peter Gallagher (“Guys and Dolls”). Set on a transcontinental train, the comedy is about a down-and-out producer (Gallagher) trying to convince a successful film actress (Chenoweth) to return to Broadway. “Rocky” star Andy Karl and Tony winners Michael McGrath and Mary Louise Wilson also star. Scott Ellis (“The Elephant Man,” “You Can’t Take It With You”) directs.

The King and I
Previews begin March 12 at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Opens April 16.
Tony nominee Kelli O’Hara and director Bartlett Sher reunite for another Lincoln Center production of another Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, just as they did for 2008’s Tony-winning “South Pacific.” Joining them for the telling of the story of a British teacher who falls for the King of Siam, and relive classic songs as “Shall We Dance” and “Getting to Know You.” Oscar nominee Ken Watanabe (“The Last Samurai”) and Ruthie Ann Miles (“Here Lies Love”) also star. Something wonderful indeed.

An American in Paris
Previews begin March 13 at the Palace Theatre. Opens April 12.
The beloved 1951 Oscar-winning MGM movie musical comes to the stage -- with George and Ira Gershwin’s gorgeous score in tact. Craig Lucas’s book moves the story to the end of WWII, but the story remains the same: a young American soldier (Robert Fairchild) and a French girl (Leanne Cope) fall in love in Europe’s most romantic city. Artistic associate of the British Ballet Royale Christopher Wheeldon makes his Broadway debut as director/choreographer. This is one you’ll want to take your bae to.

Finding Neverland
Previews begin March 15 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre. Opens April 15.
“Glee” star Matthew Morrison will take on the role of “Peter Pan” scribe J.M. Barrie in the new musical based on Allan Kee’s play “The Man Who Was Peter Pan” and the 2004 Johnny Depp film of the same name. “Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer also stars, alongside Laura Michelle Kelly (“Mary Poppins”) and Carolee Carmello (“Scandalous”). The score comes from Take That’s Eliot Kennedy and British pop musician Gary Barlow. Tony winner Diane Paulus (“Pippin”) directs, with choreography coming from Emmy-winner Mia Michaels (“So You Think You Can Dance”).

It Shoulda Been You
Previews begin March 17 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Opens April 14.
It’s been 23 years since Tony-winning “Gypsy” star Tyne Daly was in a musical on Broadway. But she returns to the genre in Brian Hargrove and Barbara Anselmi’s new musical comedy “It Shoulda Been You,” which follows two wildly different families as they converge on one weekend to celebrate a wedding. Among the others joining Daly? Tony winner Harriet Harris (“Cinderella”), Sierra Boggess (Daly’s co-star in “Master Class”) and Mr. Neil Patrick Harris, David Burtka. Tony-winning star David Hyde Pierce makes his directorial Broadway debut.

"Gigi"
Previews begin March 19 at the Neil Simon Theatre. Opens April 8. 
"High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens will make her Broadway debut in the title role of the new revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's "Gigi." The musical, which first played Broadway in 1951 with a then-unknown Audrey Hepburn starring, and was adapted into a 1958 movie musical, is about one woman's journey to find herself among the fashion, glamour and romance of Paris. Direction comes from Eric Schaeffer ("Follies"), with Tony winner Victoria Clark ("Cinderella") and Corey Cott ("Newsies") among the powerhouse cast. The revival will also feature songs from the film and four new songs written and added to the score by Lerner and Loewe in 1973. Thank heaven for Broadway revivals! 

Something Rotten
Previews begin March 23 at the St. James Theatre. Opens April 22.
When siblings Nick and Nigel Bottom set out to write a play, they’re overshadowed by another scribe: William Shakespeare. So the brothers decide to create another form of entertainment: the world’s first musical comedy. “Something Rotten” follows the story of the two brothers, with music and lyrics coming from another set of brothers: songwriters Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick. (The duo also collaborated with John O’Farrell on the book). Tony winner Christian Borle (“Peter and the Starcatcher”) stars as The Bard himself, with Brian d’Arcy James (“Shrek the Musical”) playing Nick. Casey Nicholaw (“The Book of Mormon,” “Aladdin”) directs and choreographs.

The Visit
Previews begin March 26 at the Lyceum Theatre. Opens April 23.
Two-time Tony-winner Chita Rivera returns to Broadway in the final musical from “Chicago” duo Kander and Ebb. Based on the satirical play by Friedrich Dürrenmatt as adapted by Maurice Valency, “The Visit” tells a story of greed and love, with Rivera playing a woman scorned out for revenge. Direction comes from Tony winner John Doyle (“Company”), with a book by four-time Tony winner Terrence McNally. It will be third collaboration for Kander and Ebb, Rivera and McNally, who previously worked together for “The Rink” and “Kiss of the Spider Woman.” Hat trick! 

Fun Home
Previews begin March 27 and the Circle in the Square Theatre. Opens April 19.
The critically acclaimed musical, based on Alison Bechdel’s 2006 best-selling graphic memoir, had a sold-out run at The Public Theater in 2013. Now, it transfers on Broadway, with most of its Off-Broadway cast intact, including Tony winner Michael Cerveris (“Evita“), Judy Kuhn (“Passion”) and all three Alisons — Sydney Lucas, Alexandra Socha and Beth Malone. The first mainstream musical with a lesbian protagonist, “Fun Home” tells the story of Bechdel’s complex relationship with her closed father -- who would go on to commit suicide four months she came out to him. The beautiful score comes from “Violet” composer Jeanine Tesori, with book/lyrics by Lisa Kron. Bring your tissues to this one.

Doctor Zhivago
Previews begin March 27 at the Broadway Theatre. Opens April 21.
The stage adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s classic novel about love during the Russian Revolution comes from a superstar team, lead by two-time Tony-winner director Des McAnuff (“Jersey Boys”). The book comes from Michael Weller (“Ragtime”), with music by Lucy Simon (“The Secret Garden”) and lyrics by Michael Korie (“Grey Gardens”) and Amy Powers (“Ella Enchanted”). Starring as Doctor Zhivago himself? British actor Tam Mutu, who will be making his Broadway debut.

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