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

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

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

Take my money now.

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

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

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I hope they cast Broadway veterans like Dee Hoty etc 

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

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

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

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.

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.