Bernadette Peters & Lea Salonga to Lead Sondheim’s OLD FRIENDS On Broadway in 2025

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 10:25am

OMG OMG OMG

Beginning March 25th, 2025 at the Friedman!!

Updated On: 4/8/24 at 10:25 AM

[BMcGregor]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 10:28am

Great for MTC. The Friedman seems like an odd house for this, though. Other than Prince of Broadway, I can't remember a true musical in there for a long long time...

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 10:47am

BMcGregor said: "Great for MTC. The Friedman seems like an odd house for this, though. Other than Prince of Broadway, I can't remember a true musical in there for a long long time..."

Ten musicals have played the Friedman/Biltmore throughout history, including the original runs of Hair and Robber Bridegroom, Prince of Broadway, and Hal Prince's LoveMusik.

It's more a matter of MTC not usually producing musicals on Broadway without sizeable commercial enhancement, which they have here.

Considering the limited commercial ceiling for Sondheim, Peters, and Salonga, this seems like a win-win for both MTC (who will no doubt fill the houses) and Cameron Mackintosh (who can mount it in New York and be Tony-eligible for less than the cost of a traditional commercial production). It's something of a homecoming, too, since Putting It Together also played MTC.

Updated On: 4/8/24 at 10:47 AM

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 10:50am

This is a win/win. It would sell dismally in a commercial setting, but will work better with a subscription model. When I saw it in London, my first reaction was “This has Roundabout written all over it.”  Close enough I guess! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 10:54am

I can’t wait to see who else will be in this. 

[Dylan Smith4]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 11:04am

Wonderful news!

[mshalo18]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 11:17am

Take my money now.

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 11:22am

Great news that I'll be able to see the show in LA before NYC next year.  YAY!!!

[quizking101]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 11:35am

This is going to be a sellout hit. Not just Bernadette, but Lea has her following in NYC (that boosted HLL in the beginning)

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 11:39am

BroadwayNYC2 said: "“This has Roundabout written all over it.” Close enough I guess!"

If only roundabout had money.

[JoeW4]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 12:00pm

BMcGregor said: "Other than Prince of Broadway, I can't remember a true musical in there for a long long time..."

But by that same token, this is on-brand in the sense that it's an intuitive follow-up to Prince of Broadway. I'm not sure why MTC would choose "revues based on the works of musical theatre giants of the 2nd half of the 20th century" to be their specific niche when it comes to programming musicals, but at least there's a certain internal consistency to it lol

 

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 12:17pm

I’m curious who they fill the cast out with.   Anyone have any speculations? 

 

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 12:26pm

Theatrefanboy1 said: "I’m curious who they fill the cast out with. Anyone have any speculations?

"

I hope they cast Broadway veterans like Dee Hoty etc 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 12:32pm

Theatrefanboy1 said: "I’m curious who they fill the cast out with. Anyone have any speculations?"

We've had so many retrospectives of Sondheim's work that I'd be thrilled if the majority of the people cast had never been in a Sondheim show in New York before and aren't typically associated with his work. That would be much much more interesting to me than people like Norm Lewis, Karen Ziemba, Liz Callaway, Santino Fontana, Melissa Errico, etc. Be daring. But CamMack is not daring these days so I'll manage expectations...

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 12:49pm

This will do MUCH better with a subscription audience. A real coup for MTC. 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:02pm

I wonder if they will try to mine Broadway names from recent Sondheim revivals to fill out the cast. (I do think Cameron will try and get Broadway folk associated with Sondheim). Stephanie J Block, Brian d'Arcy James, Montego Glover, Claybourne Elder, Christopher Fitzgerald, Victor Garber, Nikki Renee Daniels, Linda Lavin, Erin Davie, Gavin Creel, Phillip Boykin, Alexander Gemignani, Santino Fontana, Norm Lewis. 

I think these are the type of names we are looking at for other key roles.

[hearthemsing22]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:06pm

Trying to get tickets for this will be a bloodbath. I hope they're smart about setting up a queue for the general onsale

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:22pm

That’s what we all thought about London and they ended up not doing nearly as well as everyone thought. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:31pm

I expect this will do good solid business for its 10(ish) week long MTC run, selling due to the subscriber base + Bernadette. It won't sell at MARY JANE numbers, but it will do fine for MTC.

If it were a commercial production or a longer run, it would be a different story.

By the nature of it being Sondheim songs + Bernadette, I expect it will sell a bit better than the concept of Prince of Broadway (scenes from Hal Prince shows)

Updated On: 4/8/24 at 02:31 PM

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 2:48pm

The show was near empty when I saw it in London. Bloodbath? It will barely break skin. 

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 3:11pm

I think it 100% has to do with what casting we get.  HLL did get a good uptick when Lea was in it, but that was also a Filipino story and the same people may not be as interested in seeing a Sondheim revue.  Even Here We Are wasn't completely sold out and the Sondheim revivals are mostly doing well based on casting, but I do think it's a good get for MTC to include it in their season.

[binau]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 3:29pm

The problem with London is that no one knew who Bernadette was. I'm sure it'll do just fine - no issues for people getting tickets of course but I wouldn't expect to see the 'half empty houses, la, la, la' that we saw in London.

I kind of wish they would bring the real heavy hitting Sondheim Alumni back - Patti, Donna, Raul, maybe Sutton now I guess etc. to make it a true event but I'm guessing if they're already (and only) announcing Bernadette & Lea it doesn't sound like this is the direction they are going..

[OuttaTowner]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 3:47pm

If his tv shooting schedule allows, would love to see Skylar Astin take part in this. I understand he was very well received at the Sondheim celebration at the Hollywood Bowl last year. 

[berniesb!tch]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 3:50pm

I am so excited for this. Sold on Bernadette alone, but can't wait to see Lea and whomever else! 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/8/24 at 3:51pm

Would love someone like Joanna Gleason to be part of this.