Prince of Broadway

Prince of Broadway

The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre

Manhattan Theatre Club

August 8, 2017

 

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

Prince of Broadway is presently in previews at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.  Produced by Manhattan Theatre Club and under the direction of Hal Prince himself, the show celebrates his career and highlights some of the most memorable moments in Broadway musical history.  Susan Stroman collaborates as co-director and choreographer doing what she does best, making this a cohesive piece of theatre.  The cast of nine of heavy hitting performers (Chuck Cooper, Janet Dacal, Bryonha Marie Parham, Emily Skinner, Brandon Uranowitz, Kaley Ann Voorhees, Michael Zavier, Tony Yazbeck, and Karen Ziemba) left me wanting more.

Hal Prince started his career working for free in the office of director George Abbott in the late 1940s.  He stage managed, directed, and/or produced some of the most well know Broadway musicals.  The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, She loves Me, West Side Story, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Merrily We Roll Along, Parade, and Phantom of the Opera, to name a few.  He has worked with the top directors, choreographers, composers, lyricists, book writers, and performers ever known.  The nine cast members all tell his story, wearing his trademark look, glasses on top of his head, when they are speaking his words.

The cast of Prince of Broadway
Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The Follies sequence is intense and mesmerizing.  The two selections from A Little Night Music are biting and emotional.  The Act II opening of three songs from Company pulls you into the questioning/rebellion mindset of the time period.  The Evita section is powerful.  The Sweeney Todd scenes are haunting.

The highlight of Act I is Karen Ziemba’s rendition of “Who Cares” from Cabaret.  The Act I finale of “Cabaret” sung by Bryonha Marie Parham is stunning.  Chuck Cooper delivers an invigorating “If I Were a Rich Man” from Fiddler on the Roof, then later pulls you into the rolling rhythm of “Ol’ Man River” from Mr. Prince’s Showboat revival.  Ms. Stroman’s choreography for “The Right Girl’ from Follies masterfully depicts the inner conflict of Buddy's character.  Tony Yazbeck delivers it to perfection.

Photo courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club

The scenic design by Beowulf Boritt and lighting design by Howell Binkley are brilliant and effective.  They create strong impressions and vivid images that exemplify the complete settings and overall mood of each varied segment.  They keep the flow seamlessly moving from one moment to the next. 

From the insert in the program you can see they are tweaking and refining, but no matter what they do, this show is a wondrous look at the legendary body of work of a Broadway icon.  Prince of Broadway is scheduled to open on August 24.  It is on TDF during previews.  Get a ticket right away!

  

Domenick Danza