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Elizabeth Stanley, Kelly Jeanne Grant, Angel Desai and Raúl Esparza in the revival of "Company"
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This past season on Broadway is sadly over, but it is not one to be forgotten. It has entered a new wave of hit musicals, bringing new ideas to the stage with every performance. From the amazing new rock opera, Spring Awakening, to revivals of much-loved shows such as Stephen Sondheim's Company, this season has had so much to offer, with six new musicals at the Tony awards, five revivals, and many plays, including the fantastic, three part Coast of Utopia.
The musicals were my personal focal point this season. The first one I'd like to bring up is Company by Stephen Sondheim. It ended up winning Best Revival and had an absolutely stunning Tony performance. Companyis about a man, Bobby, celebrating his birthday and thinking about the five married couples that serve as his friends, as well as his three girlfriends. The show seems to take place, for the most part, within Bobby's mind and memories, allowing the audience to imagine it happening within a second. Contrary to most musicals, it is a series of vignettes, or short scenes, instead of a single story. The cast was amazing, with Raul Esparza playing Bobby and many other talented actors and actresses. The Broadway run has unfortunately closed by now, but no worries if you missed out! It was filmed and is due to air some time on PBS.
Other revivals this season included The Apple Treestarring Kristin Chenoweth, 110 In The Shade with Audra MacDonald, and A Chorus Line -- which was one of the longest-running Broadway musicals in its time.
But the revivals had nothing on the new musicals this season. I'd like to focus on the winner for Best Musical this season, Spring Awakening. For those of you who don't know, Spring Awakening is a groundbreaking new musical, based on an 1891 play written by Frank Wedekind, with music by Duncan Sheik and book by Steven Sater. The musical re-invents rock opera yet again, adding Duncan Sheik's alternative twist to the music and giving Spring Awakening the title of "the next Rent". The actual content of the musical, however, is a tad risque. Spring Awakening tells the story of teenagers growing up in 1890's Germany, faced with new discoveries about their bodies, new wanting and yearning, and love.The cast features a young group of actors and actresses, including the stars Jonathan Groff, Lea Michelle, and John Gallagher Jr. The play is extremely successful, targeting young audiences as well as older ones. It will make you squirm in your seat in discomfort as well as bounce up and down in time to the music. Spring Awakening is certainly a welcome addition to the long list of revolutionary Broadway Musicals.
Other new musicals this season include Curtains, a show about a musical where the lead actress dies on stage, Grey Gardens, about two women who go from being rich to lonely in their homes, Legally Blonde: The Musical, Mary Poppins, and LoveMusik.
Of course, everything I've said really hasn't given all the other shows any justice. They're all spectacular, but I simply don't have the time or space to tell you about them all. The two shows I did talk about, however, are what I feel are the highlights of this season. Every show on Broadway is a great show, and I highly suggest seeing some while you still can.
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Jonathan Groff, Lea Michelle, and the cast of "Spring Awakening" in a particularly intimate scene
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I haven't seen Spring Awakening, but I watched the proformance on the Tonys and really enjoyed it!
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