Anthony Rosenthal To Host YesBroadway's Coverage Of The Newsies Red Carpet

Falsettos star Anthony Rosenthal will host YesBroadway’s coverage on the red carpet for the premiere of the Newsies Movie Event. Join YesBroadway on Facebook Live on Monday, February 13 from 5:00-6:30pm EST as Anthony chats with stars Jeremy Jordan, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, and Kara Lindsay, along with writers Alan Menken and Harvey Fierstein and many more Broadway celebrities as they head into the theater for the premiere. Anthony starred in the national tour of Newsies and many of his former castmates are featured in the film, so he’ll also be interviewing several of his friends as they come down the red carpet!

Read more about the movie event, and why you should see it, by clicking here.

Like YesBroadway on Facebook to get ready for Monday:

Photo: The EMMA Experience

"Anthony Rosenthal makes you question how some child actors can be that precocious and poised..." - (Not The Same Ol' Boring) Top 10 Theater Experiences of 2016

5 Times BroadwayCon Inspired Us to Fight Against Tyranny

5 Times BroadwayCon Inspired Us to Fight Against Tyranny

By Brookelynn Mason

1.  When the Opening Ceremony made us cry.

Anyone attending BroadwayCon 2017 will attest to the heightened emotions over the weekend due to the political atmosphere -- from Trump defunding the arts to the ban on Middle Eastern immigration, it was a scary and uncertain weekend. The opening ceremony for BroadwayCon, however, reminded us that art can enact change. Check out clips from the show, in which an evil "mayoress" (the blindingly talented Lesli Margherita) who really likes to tweet tries to silence the theater community, but doesn't realize that art is what helps us use our voice. It gives us the strength to go on even when the world is in chaos. OG Rent cast member Anthony Rapp, who co-founded BroadwayCon, also stars.

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2.  When Oak from Hamilton discussed activism with three extremely powerful women.

BroadwayCon's "Actors and Activism" panel could not have come at a more appropriate time: the day after Trump's immigration ban from Muslim countries. Panelists included Okieriete ("Oak") Onaodowan, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Tina Landau. From concerns of being blacklisted from producers and directors for speaking up, to feeling physically ill at the revival of Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (I'm looking at you, Celia Keenan-Bolger), this panel left us with a fire in our bellies and a hope in our hearts. Art is activism!

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3.  When Jeanine Tesori told us that simply showing is a political act.

Check out the video of Fun Home composer Jeanine Tesori explaining to us that simply showing up is a political act. While thousands of people protested the immigration policy at JFK Airport in New York City, thousands more attended BroadwayCon. The famous @BroadwayGirlNYC, Laura Heywood, said it best:

#Privilege is the ability to disappear into a joyful bubble like #BwayCon, while the government threatens countless lives. ❤😭🇺🇸 #NoBanNoWall

— Laura Heywood (@BroadwayGirlNYC) January 30, 2017

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4.  When Paula Mothafuckin' Vogel reminded us that we are ALL Muslim right now.

Paula Vogel is one of the most influential playwrights of our time. Her upcoming debut on Broadway (!) with Indecent involves a play within a play about a lesbian from a religious family who falls in love with a prostitute. In this clip, Paula explains why she thinks the theater is so important right now. Once again, we were reminded that love, art, and standing together and fighting were all needed in order to make it through the next four (difficult) years.

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5.  When the entire cast of Hamilton talked about the show's powerful lines.

Hamilton is constantly in the narrative whenever Broadway is mentioned, and BroadwayCon was no exception. Taran Killam recalled that the King George songs that incited the most applause changed with the political climate. "Immigrants: we get the job done!" had an extremely powerful reaction during Saturday night's show after the Muslim ban was announced. Watch more clips here to see how Hamilton and everyone involved with it continues to turn the political world upside down.

On Inclusion in the Theater Community in Donald Trump's America

On Inclusion in the Theater Community in Donald Trump's America

By Brookelynn Mason

On the eve of Donald Trump's ban on immigration from some Muslim countries, we talked with Luis Crespo, Lin-Manuel Miranda's brother-in-law and manager of his merchandising company TeeRico at BroadwayCon 2017. We discussed Hamilton's message of inclusion and acceptance and the importance of the arts in communities and how to enact change in our own backyards, not knowing that these ideas would need to be thrusted to the forefront and translated into action the very next day. Check out the video interview here.

Triple Threat? Nah, Nick Blaemire Is An Octuple Threat!

Triple Threat? Nah, Nick Blaemire is a Octuple threat!

You may remember Nick from such things as: the guy in the suspenders in the 2011 revival of Godspell, the star of Found in 2014, the evil Plankton in the pre-Broadway run of The SpongeBob Musical in Chicago last year, or from Glory Days, the musical he wrote that was on Broadway when he was only 23 years old. Phew, now take a deep breath...that’s not even his full resume!

Fresh off a career-defining performance playing Jonathan himself this fall in Off-Broadway’s “tick, tick…BOOM!”, Jonathan Larson’s autobiographical musical, Nick Blaemire continues to work on about one billion projects and is about to rule your 2017 if you’re into, oh let’s say, theater, television, OR music. The dude is a ridiculously talented singer and actor, but also a wildly impressive writer and composer. When does he sleep?

Here's what's coming up for Nick.

Photo: Shervin Lainez

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MUSIC

Check out the video for Nick's "Trouble" and tell us you don't want to hear more of those sweet #nerdsoul grooves. Nick recently finished up a new album called The Ampersand EP and is performing songs from it at Rockwood Music Hall on February 4th. Dreams came true when he got Chris Gehringer to master the album, who Nick says “mastered every album I’ve loved on the past few years”, including the Hamilton Mixtape, and albums by Drake, Rhianna, and The 1975...no big deal. Jo Lampert, who will star as Joan herself in the upcoming Joan of Arc: Into The Fire even has a track on it called "Trees". Nick's tick, tick...BOOM! costar Lilli Cooper and Hamilton’s Daniel J Watts will be performing with Nick at the concert, when he will also be premiering his new music video for the track “She’s You” (sneak peek here on Facebook...omg, that funky groove!). Get tickets to the Rockwood show via the link below.  

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TELEVISION

Nick has also been devoting his time to taking over your big and small screens, with some projects that are so big he’s not even allowed to talk about them! What we do know is that he’s developing a comedy with his wife Ana Nogueira with the production company Thinkfactory and that he co-wrote a new web series called The Next Four Years. Nope, it’s not about the experience we’re all about to have with you-know-who in the White House. Nick wrote this show with producer Hunter Arnold to explore what happens as the fairy tale of childhood ends and the reality of being an adult sets in, what he calls a “traumatic and odd, but ultimately hilarious transition”. The episodes are only 8-minutes long, but don’t worry musical theater fans: Nick had a “secret agenda” when he was writing it to sprinkle in some songs. The Next Four Years, premieres on February 15 on Next4YearsShow.com.  Watch the trailer here.

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THEATER

Now, for the stuff we’re here for: musical theater. Nick is writing a new musical called Fallout with Kyle Jarrow, who wrote the aforementioned Broadway-bound The Spongebob Musical and is a frequent Duncan Sheik collaborator. Both writers are known for musicals that excite and push audiences past their comfort zones, so the seismic cultural shift of the early 60’s during the Cuban Missile Crisis seemed like a perfect story to tackle. Not unlike our current political climate, that time was a breeding ground for interesting art. Nick says that "it is exciting to musicalize moments in history like this because those moments catalyze everyone and change the way they think about being alive”.  Nick and Kyle are taking the show to the next level with an Off-Broadway development process after a super successful workshop at 54 Below last year starring Adam Chanler-Berat (Amelie), Hamilton’s Nicholas Christopher, American Pyscho's Theo Stockman, and Hadestown’s Patrick Page, who played Walter Kronkite. Check out the video from the 54 Below and watch out for this musical!

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We all need a lot more Nick Blaemire in our lives and he's making it easy, getting at us from all angles. Of course, there's even more up his sleeve than all of this. For now, though, hit up his dope concert at Rockwood Music Hall, check out his web series, and get ready for him to rock your world onstage in 2017. Nick Blaemire 4 Prez!

Brandon Victor Dixon to host Paul Rudd's SAY Bowling Benefit

BRANDON VICTOR DIXON TO HOST PAUL RUDD'S SAY BOWLING BENEFIT

By Brookelynn Mason

Hamilton's Brandon Victor Dixon is everywhere these days...and we're not complaining! This time, however, it's not for publicly addressing a questionable politician. On February 13, 2017, Dixon will be the guest host of the fifth annual Paul Rudd All-Star Bowling Benefit. This year, the benefit hopes to top the previous year's $160,000 raised to benefit the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY). All proceeds help send kids who stutter to Camp SAY, which helps them develop necessary skills for communication and confidence in an environment where they are not held back by their stutter.  The event, which will be held at Lucky Strike Lanes in NYC at 7:00pm, will include a cocktail reception and a chance for kids from SAY programs to bowl with Broadway stars such as James Monroe Iglehart, Kelli O'Hara, and Alex Lacamoire (full list below).

Photo: brandonvictordixon.com

The full list of participants includes: Erich Bergen, Emily Bergl, Alex Brightman, Alexander Chaplin, Maddie Corman, Nadia Dajani, Gilbert Gottfried, Jenna Leigh Green, Mariska Hargitay, Jeremy Hays, Peter Hermann, Seth Herzog, Cady Huffman, James Monroe Iglehart, Richard Kind, Alex Lacamoire, Keira Naughton, Greg Naughton, Michael Oberholtzer, Kelli O’Hara, Steven Pasquale, Nicki Richards, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Betsy Wolfe, Frank Wood, & many more, as well as SAY kids. Paul Rudd’s filming schedule will likely be unable to attend this year.

Hamilton Fans To Raise $37k for BC/EFA for Lin-Manuel Miranda's 37th Birthday

By Brookelynn Mason

"Rise up!" is more than just a call to action in Broadway's Hamilton — it is the rallying cry of an entire fandom to come together. Two 20-somethings from Arkansas started the "Happy Birthday Lin-Manuel Miranda” charity fundraiser on January 1 with a goal of raising $37,000 (for Lin’s 37th birthday, get it?). The money goes to one of Miranda's favorite charities: Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, which "helps men, women and children across the country and across the street receive lifesaving medications, health care, nutritious meals, counseling and emergency financial assistance."

The fundraiser has received recognition from BC/EFA, several members of the #HamiltonCHI cast, and even caught the eyes of Lin-Man himself on his birthday, January 16th. The founders have worked together with the Hamilcast podcast and TeeRico, Miranda's official merchandise website, to reach thousands of people for this ambitious charity goal.

Alicia Watt, the co-founder of the project, helps facilitate weekly raffle events through the project's Facebook page for donors who have given at least $5. Previous winners received various Hamilton merchandise (including the Hamiltome and Hamilton Mixtape), fan-made artwork and merchandise, and swag bags with Moana-themed items. The coming week’s theme is inspired by Miranda’s first Broadway musical, In the Heights, with a chance to win a signed playbill from the show with each donation. This final raffle will take place on the “Happy Birthday Lin-Manuel Miranda” Facebook page on Thursday, January 26th, at 7:00pm EST.

Get in a donation before then to have your chance at winning raffle items, but more importantly, to make a difference in the lives of those who are supported by such awesome organizations as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids.

Facebook page: @HappyBdayLin

Twitter: @HappyBdayLin

Photo: Joan Marcus

Well this moves me very much indeed. Thank you. https://t.co/LKqxTDxwBW

— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 16, 2017

5 Times Broadway Stars Destroyed Donald Trump

5 Times Broadway Stars Destroyed Donald Trump

By Brookelynn Mason

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When Lin-Manuel Miranda almost let it slip on SNL.

The Hamilton star and creator was a very vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign season. He and fellow Hamilton cast member and Tony Award winner Renee Elise Goldsberry even performed at “Broadway for Hillary” with a rendition of the show’s “Ten Duel Commandments” to encourage citizens to register to vote. It’s no surprise, then, that the first on our list of epic Trump shade is Miranda’s songwriting prowess directed at the man himself as part of his monologue rewrite of “My Shot” during his time hosting Saturday Night Live. Maybe he should be rewrite it to be "Never gon' be (my) president now..."

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That time the ENTIRE CAST of Avenue Q sang a protest song.

Anyone who’s been to see this puppet musical knows that satire and comedy are a pastime for Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, the brains behind Avenue Q.  It seems this does not stop with the theatre, as they teamed up in August of 2016 with Swedish songwriter Ledinsky to re-imagine his protest song to take a stab at Donald Trump.  The track was entitled “DonaldTrumpMakesMeWantToSmokeCrack”, and was featured on Ledinsky’s EP, High Society. 

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When Audra McDonald reminded us that we are *his* boss.

She has six Tony Awards, a Drama Desk Award, and a run in the show Private Practice. She also doesn't take kindly to the new president. Though many Broadway stars have used words of compassion and togetherness to unite people under this new regime, none did so as eloquently as Audra McDonald. She reminded us that Trump is our employee, and his new job involves serving us, not the other way around. Can we say “you’re fired” yet?

Remember, tomorrow we are not crowning a king, or bowing down to a dictator. Tomorrow our new employee starts his temp job. We're the boss.

— Audra McDonald (@AudraEqualityMc) January 19, 2017

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That time Bette Midler roasted his reliability with the ladies.

Bette Midler, the star of the upcoming Hello Dolly revival, is known for her boisterous personality and outspokenness. This extends to her political views as well, as she called out The Donald’s precariousness with women. Can you blame her? This is, after all, the same guy that bragged about sexually assaulting women and was in the midst of a trial for raping a minor.

Donald Trump is running for president again. If he wins, his third lady will become the First Lady!

— Bette Midler (@BetteMidler) June 16, 2015

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When Jennifer Holliday pulled out of performing at Trump’s inauguration.

Dreamgirls star Jennifer Holliday canceled a mere 24 hours after the announcement that she would perform at the inaugural concert due to pressure from her fanbase, largely comprised of LGBT and people of color. She stated that she did not realize the performance would be interpreted as support for Donald Trump, and apologized for her lack of judgment. It’s okay, Jen. Not only did you refuse to give him your support, but your cancellation brought this video from the Miss Arkansas pageant of 2010 to the surface of the Internet (again).  

We’ll consider it a nice consolation prize slash NO THANKS THIS PERFORMANCE IS A LITERAL NIGHTMARE!

Need to cleanse your palate? Check out Holliday's lifechanging performance for both her and the entire gd world:

7 Awesome I AM/I FIGHT #GhostlightProject Signs

7 AWESOME I AM/I FIGHT #GHOSTLIGHTPROJECT SIGNS

Yesterday, theaters around the world hosted tens of thousands of people at 5:30pm local time to "create a light for dark times ahead, and to make, or renew, a pledge to stand for and protect the values of inclusion, participation, and compassion for everyone regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin, immigration status, (dis)ability, age, gender, identity, or sexual orientation".  Artists and anyone in the community were encouraged to fill out signs identifying who they are and what they fight for. Here's 7 of the best from Instagram.

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Andy Mientus and the national tour of Wicked knock it out of of the park with this lyrical wordplay.

WE ARE

Wicked

WE FIGHT FOR

Good

We are Wicked. We fight for Good. #ghostlightproject #bealight #allarewelcome 💡

A photo posted by @andymientus on Jan 19, 2017 at 3:01pm PST

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Hamilton's Andrew Chappelle finds the poignancy in keeping it simple.

I AM

a human

I FIGHT FOR

basic human rights

Today I'm joining the @ghostlightproject #shinebright #humanrights #riseup #ghostlightproject

A photo posted by Andrew Chappelle (@achapphawk) on Jan 19, 2017 at 12:50pm PST

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Jessica Vosk fights for the Elphabas of the world.

I AM

a storyteller, a woman, strong

I FIGHT FOR

those who are different, those who can't fight, THE WORLD

#GhostLightProject is important. You are all important. Let's always remember that. I love you. Xoxoxoxo, Me. 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

A photo posted by Jessica Vosk (@jessicavosk) on Jan 19, 2017 at 6:53pm PST

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Rocky's Vasthy Mompoint is what this country is all about.

I AM

black, female, and the daughter of immigrants

I FIGHT FOR

America

On January 19TH, 2017 at 5:30PM, in each time zone, we will gather at theaters all across the country to create "light" for the dark times ahead. We will make, or renew, a pledge to stand up for and protect the values of inclusion, participation and compassion for everyone regardless of race, class, religion, country of origin or sexual identity/orientation, or mental/physical disability. Join the movement. Theghostlightproject.com #ghostlightproject #theghostlightproject

A photo posted by Frostyvasthy (@frostyvasthy) on Jan 12, 2017 at 10:40am PST

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Jason "SweetTooth" Williams sneaks in a pitch for a HP printer.

I AM

an artist, a husband, a father, more than my demographic, wishing I owned a printer

I FIGHT FOR

my family, my country, equality, an HP Laserjet wireless printer

A photo posted by Jason Williams (@jasonsweettooth) on Jan 19, 2017 at 7:39pm PST

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One half of The Ensemblist podcast Mo Brady tugs at heartstrings.

I AM

a gay dad

I FIGHT FOR

my family

#ghostlightproject

A photo posted by Mo Brady (@mo_brady) on Jan 19, 2017 at 3:04pm PST

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Amelie's Adam Chanler-Berat is brave about showing his vulnerability.

I AM

angry, scared, confused

I FIGHT FOR

human rights + our planet's future

#bealight @ghostlightproject

A photo posted by Adam Chanler-Berat (@adamchanlerberat) on Jan 10, 2017 at 4:46pm PST

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For more, search the hashtag #ghostlightproject on social media or visit theghostlightproject.com. 

Kid's Night on Broadway: February 28

Kid's Night on Broadway: February 28

Looking for a way to go see a Broadway show as a family on a budget?  On Tuesday, February 28th, Kids Night on Broadway enters its 21st year of providing free tickets to young people under the age of 18 for every full paying adult ticket.

There are several YesBroadway recommended shows participating in Kid's Night, including the front runner for Best Musical, Dear Evan Hansen along with The Lion King, Aladdin, Kinky Boots, and Significant Other.

It's a great time to take your kids to see professional theatre and be able to enjoy shows that have sold out audiences and typically high ticket prices. For a list of shows and the discount codes you'll need to use to take advantage of this offer, click below!

Check out our new Kids Zone here.

Get A Lot More Matt Doyle In Your Life In 2017

Broadway hunk Matt Doyle has a big...2017 coming up! The star of The Book of Mormon, Spring Awakening, and Brooklynite recently taught his last class as a trainer at Barry's Bootcamp to focus on all his other projects. We spoke with Matt about what he's got going on in 2017 besides that smoking hot body:

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A SMOKING HOT VOICE

He will be performing songs from Uncontrolled, the album he released last year, at Joe's Pub on January 21. He will chase your winter blues away with laid-back vibes and really catchy pop tunes from his album in addition to covers of crowd favorites like Stevie Wonder and Radiohead. We're hoping he throws in "Fall For Me" from his album, a groovy pop number that makes you feel like you are dancing outside on a warm summer day.

Listen to Uncontrolled on Apple Music and Spotify:

Photo: Luke Fontana

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A SMOKING HOT MEAT...PIE! 

Matt is starring as Anthony in the upcoming Off-Broadway immersive Sweeney Todd, which he calls "Matt In A Nutshell" because this is the exact kind of theater he's attracted to. In his words, “It's going to push me to let down my guard a little bit to have to interact with the audience like that and not be afraid to push them around a bit and test their boundaries, which has always been fascinating to me.” The very idea of the insanely talented Matt, with his incredible stage presence, performing Sondheim songs is enough to make anyone weak in the knees. Good luck getting tickets! It's almost completely sold out.

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A smoking hot BRAIN

His comic Dents, which he created with 2 Broke Girls star Beth Behrs, is being made into a television series! The comic explores a dystopian 2111 and there was a lot excitement in his voice about not being able to tell us what network has bought it...so that sounds big! So, now we can add "animated television" to the list of industries that Matt is making a name for himself in. When does this guy ever sleep?

Besides being an incredible artist, Matt is also a generally awesome human being, with inspiring courage about these tough political times: "We are facing something so beyond anything we have experienced as Americans before, so I’m not afraid to be loud about it. If you don’t see the danger of this man, we can’t even have a conversation. We have to kick and scream and be loud and protect ourselves. 'It will be over in 4 years' is not okay." 

Matt is quite simply the kind of person that immediately turns anyone who encounters him into the human version of the heart eyes emoji. Get more of him in your life in 2017!

Showtunes from Guffman & Other Christopher Guest Movies at 54 Below

Photo: © Sony Pictures Classics

"Nothing Ever Happens on Mars", but a lot happens on 54th Street.

Robert Schneider was working on a show called "Broadway Goes To The Movies" at 54 Below when someone in the cast said Parker Posey's famous line from Waiting for Guffman: "It's the day of the show, ya'll!". Other cast members started warming up with songs from Christopher Guest movies and Schneider realized that everyone loves these movies and knows these songs, but they don't get the credit the deserve for their genius musical composition and lyrics. There was a production of the musical-within-a-movie Red, White, and Blaine from Waiting For Guffman in Chicago in 2014, but the songs have never been showcased in a musical revue like you'd see for other composers like Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, or Pasek and Paul (Dear Evan Hansen). 

So, he gathered a bunch of Broadway stars and will present "From Guffman To Spinal Tap: 54 Sings Christopher Guest Movies" at Feinsteins/54 Below on January 22 with both an early and a late show. Hosted by the hilarious Ben Rimalower, the night will include songs from Waiting For Guffman, A Mighty Wind, This is Spinal Tap, For Your Consideration, and Best In Show. Rimalower has hosted Broadway trivia nights at 54 Below before, but will graciously let Jane Lynch do the trivia portion of this night via questions she pre-recorded specially for this event.

Performers include Broadway megastar Annie Golden, and favorites George Salazar, Stephen Bogardus, Allison Guinn, and Lauren Molina (one half of 54 Below celebrities The Skivvies), among many others. Schneider says there are solos, duets, trios, and even an epic 9-person number. Guffman and Christopher Guest fans will not want to miss this celebration. Buy Bonnie a new pantsuit and head on over to 54 Below on January 22!

(Not the Same Ol’ Boring) Top 10 Theater Experiences of 2016

By Slade Sohmer (@Slade on Twitter)

There is more to Broadway than hip-hopped 18th-century American history. To wrap up the year, here are 10 of the best nights of theater in 2016. These aren’t necessarily the 10 best shows in NYC right now; rather, these are the best theater-going experiences that one person you may or may not know experienced. As we all know, theater is very much the Snapchat of entertainment: wholly ephemeral, entirely personal, and occasionally there are nudes. Now...on with the show!

#1: Dear Evan Hansen

“You will be found,” they sing, and they’re right -- you will be found swimming in a puddle of your tears on the floor of the theater when the lights come up. Ben Platt’s brilliant performance as the title character has already shut down the Best Actor category at the 2017 Tonys: One second he’s showing off a mastery of comedic timing, the next he’s a literal mess of real tears and snot and spit. Rachel Bay Jones, between this role and Catherine in Pippin, is carving out a legacy as the Queen of Act II. And Will Roland as Evan’s best family friend is the breakout star of the season. Have seen this one three times in 2016 and it’s not nearly enough. Go, now. 

More about Dear Evan Hansen + Tickets

Honorable Mentions

All photos by Joan Marcus, unless otherwise stated.

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