American Repertory Theater Season with 1776 Revival, new musical starring Idina Menzel, and more

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/American-Repertory-Theater-Announces-Upcoming-Programming-New-Dates-For-Broadway-Bound-1776-New-Musical-Starring-Idina-Menzel-and-More-20210605

American Repertory Theater has announced its upcoming programming, including updated dates for Broadway-bound 1776, a new musical starring Idina Menzel, and much more.

1776 will now play May - July 2022 in the Loeb Drama Center before it plays at Roundabout Theatre Company in fall 2022 and begins a national tour in February 2023.

WILD in Concert is a new musical starring Idina Menzel, which was created by Tony and Obie Award-winning playwright V (formerly Eve Ensler).

Diane Paulus has turned A.R. T. into a theatre for pre-Broadway musicals. The majority are directed by her. The 2021-22 season looks like little thought was  given in selecting the shows.  For the most part, the A.R. T. Institute is dead. Ms Paulus should be replaced.

A Director said: "Diane Paulus has turned A.R. T. into a theatre for pre-Broadway musicals. The majority are directed by her. The 2021-22 season looks like little thought was given in selecting the shows. For the most part, the A.R. T. Institute is dead. Ms Paulus should be replaced."

Umm, since we are only about five minutes into the promise of theater going back to normal (or a new normal), perhaps we suspend judgment of decisions made by any regional theater company for their coming seasons. After the past year, decisions  for a season that might or might not have happened could not have been easy - so  unless you were in the room where decisions were made and know for a fact  "little thought" was given that critique seems somewhat tone deaf to the challenges that all theaters are facing. Maybe save the "off with their heads" outrage for the 22-23 season.

As to Paulus turning the ART into a theater for pre-Broadway musicals - do you live in the area and are you aware of the A.R.T programming across the board - not just what is presented on the main Loeb stage, but that which is at the Oberon and other smaller spaces (or you just notice the shows that make it out of the A.R.T)? The breadth is extensive. Musical and non-musical - and not one of them Broadway bound anytime soon. I hated, no, loathed  "Jagged Little Pill" (don't get me started on the grossly over-praised Lauren Patten) but if its success puts A.R.T on sounder financial footing and helps subsidize the other things the A.R.T. does - then hats off to DP.  Paulus could have Ariana Grande star as J. Pierrepont Finch  in an all nude production of "How To Succeed In Business...." and if the profits from that could help more idiosyncratic work be presented - I say Paulus can knock herself out. Too easy to take pot shots at her and way too easy to take potshots at her in a very difficult year.

Since Medina's project IS labeled as a concert, perhaps there is little to no set, allowing them to run them in reparatory.