Theatre News: Good Night, Oscar, Water For Elephants, Between Riverside and Crazy, Marva Hicks and Christy Altomare Marries

We have been hearing wonderful things about Doug Wright’s Good Night, Oscar, starring Sean Hayes. Now it is official Good Night, Oscar will begin previews on Apr. 7 and officially open on Apr. 24 at the Belasco Theatre. Sean Hayes stars as the actor and concert pianist Oscar Levant. The show played at the Goodman’s Albert Theatre March 12 – April 24, to rave reviews.

It’s 1958, and Jack Paar hosts the hottest late-night talk-show on television. His favorite guest? Character actor, pianist and wild card Oscar Levant. Famous for his witty one-liners, Oscar has a favorite: “There’s a fine line between genius and insanity; I have erased this line.” Tonight, Oscar will prove just that when he appears live on national TV in an episode that Paar’s audience—and the rest of America—won’t soon forget. Good Night, Oscar explores the nexus of humor and heartbreak, the ever-dwindling distinction between exploitation and entertainment, and the high cost of baring one’s soul for public consumption.

Additional Broadway casting will be announced at a later date. The Broadway production will run for a 20-week limited engagement, ending on Aug. 27, 2023.

Tickets went on-sale to the public today for the Alliance Theatre’s upcoming world premiere musical, Water For Elephants.  Based on the critically acclaimed and best-selling novel by Sara Gruen, Water For Elephants  is an adventure filled with romance, deception, and a little bit of magic, all under the big top of a traveling circus.  Closing the Alliance’s 54^thseason, Water For Elephants will premiere on the Coca-Cola Stage June 4 – July 9, 2023.

In Water For Elephants, Jacob Jankowski is running towards a new life when he hitches a ride on a mysterious train.  He finds himself in the heart of a traveling circus, the Benzini Bros Most Spectacular Show On Earth, with a new job, a new home, and a new family. When charismatic ringmaster August brings Rosie the elephant on as the new star attraction, Jacob and August’s wife Marlena join forces to train her.  As Jacob and Marlena’s shared compassion develops into love, August’s cruel nature surfaces, threatening to derail Jacob’s life once more.  Brought to theatrical life by an internationally acclaimed and innovative creative team, Water For Elephants will reignite your dreams of running away with the circus.

Water For Elephants is helmed by an exciting creative team led by Director Jessica Stone (Kimberly Akimbo), with a book by Rick Elice (Jersey Boys, Peter and the Starcatcher), and a score by the award-winning PigPen Theatre Co.  Additional casting and creative team information for Water For Elephants will be announced in early 2023.

The musical had a sneak peek presentation in New York City on June 27 and 28 this year. The cast includes Cameron Adams, Sebastian Arcelus, Alex Branton, Stan Brown, Paul Castree, Jennifer Frankel, Marco Ingaramo, Bill Irwin, Jonathan Kim, Oliver Layher, Isabelle McCalla, Michael Mendez, Erika Olson, Natasha Patterson, Dina Sok, Teo Spencer, DeAnne Stewart, Yasmeen Sulieman, Ben Thompson, William Fintan Underwood, Ryan Vasquez, Kyran Walton and Michael Wordly.

Tickets for WATER FOR ELEPHANTS are available now at www.alliancetheatre.org/waterforelephants. 

Common, is an American rapper and actor. Now he will make his Broadway debut in ‘Between Riverside and Crazy, as  Junior, the son of Walter “Pops” Washington, to be played by Stephen McKinley Henderson.

Marva Hicks, the singer and actor who made her Broadway debut in 1981’s Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music and most recently appeared in 2013’s Motown The Musical, died September 16 in New York City. She played Rafiki in The Lion King and, in 2004, was part of the original cast of Caroline, Or Change. TV credits include One Life to Live, L.A. Law, the recurring role of Remy on Mad About You, Star Trek: Voyager and Madam Secretary. She is survived by husband Akwasi Taha and other family members. Memorial arrangements will be announced in the coming days.

Christy Altomare

COVID brought them back together. Anastasia‘s Christy Altomare and her childhood crush Chris Crook tied the knot Sunday at the Lambertville Station in New Jersey. The pair  reconnected after 20 years when the software engineer met up with the singer after her solo concert last June at Bucks County Playhouse. They were engaged in February and married Sunday. Altomare who was performing in The Wanderer [at Paper Mill Playhouse], had just two days to find a dress. Over 160 guests attended including Liz Callaway, who voiced the character of Anastasia in the 1997 animated film; Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, the Tony-winning duo who wrote Anastasia‘s score; Orange Is the New Black actress Kimiko Glenn; and husband-and-wife Broadway actors Krystina Alabado, who toured with Altomare in the musical Spring Awakening, and Robert Lenzi.