ART Previews

The canvas is coming into shape.

The first Broadway revival of Art begins previews tomorrow (August 28) at the Music Box Theatre. The comedy’s starry cast features Bobby Cannavale, James Corden, and Neil Patrick Harris as the three friends at the center of the plot. Art is written by Yasmina Reza (and translated into English by Sir Christopher Hampton); this production is directed by Scott Ellis. Opening night is September 16 for a limited run through December 21.

“Three longtime friends. One ridiculously expensive painting. Is it art, or is it just the world’s priciest inside joke? What begins as a polite debate over aesthetics and taste devolves into a clash of egos and resentments. Can their friendship survive, or will one of them finally draw the line? It’s just 100 minutes of minimalist art, maximalist laughs, and a moving look at what we really see and forgive in the people we love.”

Who’s going?

I didn't know who Kid Harpoon was so went and looked him up. Listened to to preview of the music for the show when they posted it here on BWW and then listened to some of his music. Really interested in hearing more of it as it seems to be a departure from his sound/style. I like it.

Invited dress was this afternoon, anyone here going to tonight’s first preview?

Updated On: 8/28/25 at 07:03 PM

EDSOSLO858 said: 

Who’s going?"

Not me. I do like Neil Patrick Harris but not enough to sit through that short but underwhelming play.

And the use of high culture to one up people, is that even a thing anymore, even in France? I wish it was...

Updated On: 8/28/25 at 07:18 PM

How did tonight go?

Scarywarhol said: "This just seems like a really odd choice for a revival right now."

What I heard is that Corden pushed for it, which makes sense. He’s got an image issue and while I don’t think it’s getting fixed, I can see why he’d think this production can help. It’s a respectable, prestigious comedy with a plum part that fits him and how he probably wants to be seen right now. He’ll get to be the most sympathetic guy onstage while getting a chance to chew the scenery like he did to acclaim in his last Broadway outing. The show also doesn’t have to be sold primarily on his name, as he has two co-leads, played by actors much more widely liked than himself who may bring in demographics that he doesn’t appeal to.

I don’t think Corden’s bad behavior and bad films are being forgotten. I thought he was excellent and deserved his Tony for One Man Two Guvnors, and I’m not very interested in catching him onstage again at this point. But this show will probably be a net positive for him. Nothing too big, but he’s got a strong role that can be expected to steal the show from the characters played by his better regarded costars. And if anyone’s walking out of a show thinking James Corden was the highlight over Neil Patrick Harris and Bobby Cannavale, that’ll be a win for him.

Reddit is saying Corden is stealing the show so… I think the above poster is right on the nose.

RippedMan said: "Reddit is saying Corden is stealing the show so… I think the above poster is right on the nose."

To be fair, the show is designed that way. The part has a tour-de-force monologue and is basically the sympathetic, neurotic straight man to the other two men's petty arguing. Both Ken Scott and Alfred Molina were nominated an Oliver and Tony for the role in the original West End and Broadway productions, respectively, while their formidable costars were ignored. 

Updated On: 8/29/25 at 10:42 AM

aislestorm2 said: "Scott Ellis- the one with a complete lack of imagination or insight."

Oh I disagree. I think he’s a very consistent steady hand. His mid-2010s run of DROOD, ELEPHANT MAN, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU, 20th CENTURY, and SHE LOVES ME is highly underrated, imo

Being a nice guy who’s a good collaborator and knows how to get good performances out of stars will get you far in this biz.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "aislestorm2 said: "Scott Ellis- the one with a complete lack of imagination or insight."

Oh I disagree. I think he’s a very consistent steady hand. His mid-2010s run of DROOD, ELEPHANT MAN, YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITHYOU, 20th CENTURY, and SHE LOVES ME is highly underrated, imo

Being a nice guy who’s a good collaborator and knows how to get good performances out of stars will get you far in this biz."

Don't forget the recent Take Me Out revival. It was one of the best plays I've ever seen on stage.

Jeff Tupolski said: "I don’t think Corden’s bad behavior and bad films are being forgotten. I thought he was excellent and deserved his Tony for One Man Two Guvnors, and I’m not very interested in catching him onstage again at this point. "

To what extent does Corden have a reputation for bad behavior? I don't want to see him onstage either really, I found him exhausting and transparently fake on his late talk show. But I think his reputation for actual bad behavior revolves around yelling at a waiter at Balthazar, and while he was rightly criticized for that, I don't think it tangibly hurt his career opportunities.

verywellthensigh said: "Yelling at a waiter so bad the restaurant banned him, yelling at his wife in public, making his workplace hell...and then there was the issue of how horribly overexposed he was before his big fall. It adds up.

There's room for personal development, sure. I just want to know what it is about hosting a talk show that seems to turn people into massive knobs."

For what it’s worth, a friend of mine was in the Broadway company of ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS and said that Corden was unpleasant even then. Broader recognition might have magnified his personality problems, but it doesn’t seem like he turned into an asshole overnight.

 

Updated On: 8/29/25 at 08:06 PM

I've never quite gotten this play, in a way that I do understand the success of the playwright's God and Carnage, which has a kind of Upper West Side playground relatability. But I've never heard anyone mention Art without a smile. And it's been done in something like 172 languages, so who am I to resist?  But I will resist, since I've seen all three of these actors on stage and these prices are not in my range for a revival with actors I've seen. I suspect it will be a whopping hit and get more smiles and many of us will not feel bad that we missed it.