Henningsen to lead JOY musical world premiere at George Street

From Ken Davenport email:

Here’s what I’m going to do.

JOY is going to open on Broadway.  

Just a different Broadway.

No, not the Broadway in Fells Point, Maryland . . . or any of the “other” Broadways around the country.

We’re going to premiere the musical version of JOY on Broadway . . . in the Metaverse.  

That’s right. 

Since streaming was such a big thing over the last two years, I figure Broadway in the Metaverse is the next big thing.

So, over the past six months, I made a goal of trying to figure out the Metaverse and NFTs and all the crypto stuff that’s out there.  (Super thanks to Randi Zuckerberg for consulting with me on this – check out her Insta if you want a common sense understanding of how it works.)

Then, I became a user on the Metaverse site, SUPERWORLD, and I bought a virtual plot in Times Square.  Cost me quite a few ether, but NYC real estate always goes up, right?

I’m constructing a virtual theater on that virtual plot.

And that’s where JOY will premiere . . . LATER THIS YEAR!  

No waiting.  No rent.  Just JOY. 

Fun, right?  

Super thanks to Joy herself, for being game for this “invention”.  Couldn’t do it without her blessing.  

If you want to see the plans for my virtual theater, and sign up to be the first to get tickets to the very first Metaverse Broadway musical, click here.

If you are unsure what the Metaverse is, click here.

Updated On: 8/15/22 at 08:44 PM

joevitus said: "There was a musical called Joy that premeired in the early 70's. I guess this is a different one?"

Joy is a 2015 American biographical comedy-drama film, written and directed by David O. Russell and starring Jennifer Lawrence as Joy Mangano, a self-made millionaire who created her own business empire.  

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Instead of being an NFT, this will happen at the George Street Playhousein NJ this coming December.

book by Ken Davenport, music and lyrics by AnnMarie Milazzo, choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, music direction by Andy Einhorn, directed by Casey Hushion

Laura Bell Bundy did the readings of this, FWIW."

There was a more recent workshop with Jeanna de Waal...

Laura Bell Bundy did THE HONEYMOONERS at Paper Mill a few years back, which had Broadway aspirations for years but never made it. I don't think she means anything at the box office, but would be interesting to see her in a musical & see how she's evolved as a stage performer since Legally Blonde.

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Erika-Henningsen-Will-Lead-World-Premiere-of-New-Musical-JOY-Opening-in-December-at-George-Street-Playhouse-20220815

Henningsen will lead the world premiere of new musical Joy the Musical at George Street Playhouse, directed by Casey Hushion (Broadway: Aladdin, The Prom), with choreography by Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Joshua Bergasse. The new musical features a score by Tony Award nominee AnnMarie Milazzo , musical supervision by Andy Einhorn and a book by Tony Award winner Ken Davenport, who obtained the rights to the life of best-selling author, inventor, and self-made millionaire Joy Mangano.

Updated On: 8/15/22 at 12:43 PM

Call_me_jorge said: "How’d they get Andy einhorn for this, this seems very below him."

Perhaps a friend of the composer. He’s also never MD’d a new score on Broadway…and that involvement can have much more longterm value than sticking with revivals and catalogue shows.

Ken Davenport just needs to stop. I’m not against this story being adapted, but anything with his name attached is shady from the start. The Spring Awakening Tonys performance stunt was pretty despicable. 

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I just find it frustrating that he continues to “hire himself” as bookwriter when his past book writing gigs have gone so poorly! And there’s sort of a crassness in it of “well if this goes poorly for the investors at least I could still make money as the credited author!”"

And such a corny and unnecessary story. That movie made me embarrassed to be in public while watching. 

I forgotten Jennifer Lawrence got an Oscar nod for this...! Completely memory-holed this.

BrodyFosse123 said: "Loved this movie, Jennifer Lawrence, and that cast were beyond fabulous. Even Melissa Rivers as her mom Joan Rivers circa QVC.”

Updated On: 8/19/22 at 11:54 AM

Full casting has been announced for the George Street Playhouse world premiere of Joy the Musical, running December 7-30 at New Brunswick Performing Arts Center.

As previously announced, Erika Henningsen (Mean Girls) will lead the cast in the title role. She is joined by Vicki Lewis (Newsradio) as Toots, Stephen De Rosa (Mr. Saturday Night) as Rudy, and Trent Saunders (Hadestown) as Tony.

Rounding out the ensemble are Sami Bray (Christie), Badia Farha (Ronnie/Ensemble), Pomme Koch (Dan/Ensemble), Gaelen Gilliand (Ensemble), Hazel Anne Raymundo (Thelma), Olivia Jones (Young Joy), John Hickok (Cowboy Eddie/Ensemble), Ashleigh Marie Arnold, Brian Shepard, Dana Costello, Kristen Faith Oei, Alanna Saunders, Ryan Duncan, Anthony Wayne, Justin Gregory Lopez, (Ensemble), Bronwyn Tarboton (Dance Captain/Swing), and Michal Kolaczkowski (Swing).