ART Previews

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/27/25 at 12:00am

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?

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 12:58pm

Snooping around earlier this week and found the standbys for this revival:

• Michael Oberholtzer for Harris
• Howard W. Overshown for Cannavale
• Harry Smith for Corden

Also, Kid Harpoon (Grammy winner for Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” and Harry Styles’ album “Harry’s House”) is credited with original music for the production. 

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 1:06pm

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.

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 1:25pm

EDSOSLO858 said: "Snooping around earlier this week and found the standbys for this revival:

• Michael Oberholtzer for Harris
• Howard W. Overshown for Cannavale
• Harry Smith for Corden

Also, Kid Harpoon (Grammy winner for Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” and Harry Styles’ album “Harry’s House”) is credited with original music for the production."

Michael Oberholtzer?! Damn - Tony nominees are really nabbing up those standby roles these days.

Like Sherie with QOV, I’d probably rather see Michael than Neil.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 7:03pm

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

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

[Kad]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 7:05pm

quizking101 said: "EDSOSLO858 said: "Snooping around earlier this week and found the standbys for this revival:

• Michael Oberholtzer for Harris
• Howard W. Overshown for Cannavale
• Harry Smith for Corden

Also, Kid Harpoon (Grammy winner for Miley Cyrus’s “Flowers” and Harry Styles’ album “Harry’s House”) is credited with original music for the production."

Michael Oberholtzer?! Damn - Tony nominees are really nabbing upthose standby roles these days.

Like Sherie with QOV, I’d probably rather see Michael than Neil."

My first thought was Oberholtzer is too young- but he's apparently 43!

[sinister teashop]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 7:18pm

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

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 10:39pm

This just seems like a really odd choice for a revival right now.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 10:47pm

How did tonight go?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/28/25 at 11:58pm

quizking101 said: "Michael Oberholtzer?! Damn - Tony nominees are really nabbing up those standby roles these days."

There are worse ways to get health insurance than sitting backstage at the Music Box Theatre and attending understudy rehearsals!

The guy has had one credit since TAKE ME OUT. Who could blame him? It's also a way to continue his association with Scott Ellis, one of the most prolific directors around.

[Jeff Tupolski]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 12:24am

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.

[aislestorm2]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:02am

Scott Ellis- the one with a complete lack of imagination or insight.

Updated On: 8/29/25 at 10:02 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:35am

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

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:38am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "The guy has had one credit since TAKE ME OUT. Who could blame him? It's also a way to continue his association with Scott Ellis, one of the most prolific directors around."

He also replaced in Sh*t. Meet. Fan when Billy Magnussen had to drop out. So I can see it as both an Ellis link as well as possibly a NPH suggestion.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:42am

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

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:15am

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "quizking101 said: "Michael Oberholtzer?! Damn - Tony nominees are really nabbing up those standby roles these days."

There are worse ways to get health insurance than sitting backstage at the Music Box Theatre and attending understudy rehearsals!

The guy has had one credit since TAKE ME OUT. Who could blame him? It's also a way to continue his association with Scott Ellis, one of the most prolific directors around."

I didn’t intend to sound shady when I wrote that. I’m just very impressed that these productions are getting such high caliber talent to standby. It makes for exciting possibilities 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:22am

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.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:24am

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."

For better or for worse, Ellis is an extremely consistent if not predictable director. You know what you will get with him at the helm. 

[gibsons2]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 11:34am

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]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 12:37pm

Ellis is a great director. I think a lot of the time we associate great direction with the kind of big swings that Ellis doesn’t really go in for. But he understands and trusts his material, having a great track record for handsome productions with strong performances. 

[Jonathan Cohen]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 12:51pm

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]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 1:42pm

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.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 8:06pm

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

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 8:34pm

It seems he got a taste of fame and then it went to his head and he never really learned how to act after that. Much like certain celebrities, he learned the hard way that the goodwill of the public that accompanies fame is finite and to not squander it on your to the top, because the same people will watch you as you head back to the bottom.

https://www.theguardian.com/culture/article/2024/jun/01/james-corden-gavin-stacey-london-stage-the-constituent

[Auggie27]

Posted: 8/29/25 at 10:24pm

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.