http://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/theater-art/2013/10/05/art-all-way-broadway-bound/B0GOCLisEIv9SDcMjwkoLP/story.html
Transferring with Cranston in tow.
Updated On: 11/26/13 at 12:52 PM
Sounds like perfect timing too, right at the height of the Breaking Bad craziness.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/16/06
Wonder what theatre they'll put it into? Not many available, perhaps the Longacre or the Cort? The Booth is likely too small.
The article states that Cranston will star, but the rest of the cast is not yet secure.
Wow, for the ART. They've gotten quite the run with b'way transfers: Porgy, Once, Pippin, Glass Menagerie...now this? Pretty damn impressive!
Understudy Joined: 9/3/11
This might do well on Broadway. The concurrent themes are Johnson's ambition to be elected President and the passage of the Civil Rights bill and there's a raft full of fascinating characters populating the stage in both those quests. I do hope Cranston comes to New York- it's a towering performance and Brandon Dirden is excellent as Martin Luther King. I didn't think Reed Birney was a convincing Happy Warrior (he plays Hubert Humphrey) but I'm sure the performance will sharpen enroute to Broadway; Dan Butler was a feisty George Wallace; Michael McKean is an unctuous J. Edgar Hoover--
it's a large scale play and bites off a large chunk of history (I mean 1964 was a rather tumultuous year). Ironically it couldn't be more timely with the current reassessment of the Voting Rights Act. But I'd go see it again-- there's a lot of meat on those dramatic bones and Cranston is, well, awesome. I think this would be his Broadway debut.
dramamama, you might be able to speak to this as I haven't lived in Boston for many years now, but certainly this would have to do with Diane Paulus' tenure as Artistic Director, no? Appointing her made ART more commercial, and it's certainly become a launching ground for Broadway.
Michael McKean tweeted about it yesterday, so I would assume he's going to continue on as Edgar Hoover. I imagine Cranston's willingness to bring the play to Broadway has a lot to do with the move--this does not seem like the kind of play (a fairly cut-and-dry, if interesting, historical drama) that would come in for a commercial run without a name celebrity attached.
It can LARGELY be attributed to Paulus as Artistic Director. She really shook things up at the ART. At first, the subscribers were pretty pissed with the change she rattled, but either they've realized what they now have, or they have simply been replaced with new subscribers.
I have to admit: I am in awe of her vision and work. I would love to do some sort of workshop or lecture with her.
The play didn't get the most dazzling reviews in Boston. Maybe they'll rewrite it and change it up?
Joined: 12/31/69
I AM SICK OF TV STARS HEADING TO BROADWAY FOR BIG PAYDAY WHEN THEIR TV CAREERS ARE OVER! BRYAN CRANSTON ISN'T A BROADWAY ACTOR! TAKING THIS ROLE MEANS A REAL BROADWAY ACTOR LOSES OUT BECAUSE OF STUNT CASTING!
Did I miss anything?
Wonder which theater they have?
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/23/08
After seeing it (and really enjoying it) in Cambridge, I think it would be kinda cool if it were re-staged to be done in the round at Circle in the Square.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
KirbyCat,
So, they should throw out the set and the projections because you think it would be kinda cool if All The Way
was re-staged to be done in the round at Circle in the Square? Not a smart suggestion.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/22/03
I wonder if Diane will ever create an original musical that doesn't sputter put in Cambridge?
Dates and theater set (Neil Simon; previews start 2/10, opens 3/6):
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/ALL-THE-WAY-Starring-BREAKING-BADs-Bryan-Cranston-to-Open-at-Neil-Simon-Theatre-on-36-Previews-Begin-210-20131126
Updated On: 11/26/13 at 03:23 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
I was under the impression that this would be a limited run, but it doesn't say that anywhere in the Times article.
Saw it at ART, Cranston is a lock for a nomination if not a win. Hopefully they have cut it down, it ran exactly 3 hours. And last note, the Neil Simon is WAY too big! It's a small play and really does not need a theater that big. However, I'm sure it will be breaking a ton of house record.
Best actor will be very tight this year.
I do think this is supposed to be a limited run, mostly because I was under the impression that "The Last Ship" had the Simon in the fall.
Stand-by Joined: 7/4/12
Broadwayworld link above states it is a limited run
ALL THE WAY is most certainly not a small play. It is large in scope, cast, length, and conception, and was large in its staging at ART. Whether it "fits" into the Simon is debatable, but to say it's small, especially as plays go, is a gross mischaracterization.
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