Henningsen to lead JOY musical world premiere at George Street

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 8:44pm

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]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 8:45pm

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

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 8:52pm

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.  

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 9:10pm

When will Ken Davenport's reign of terror end.

[teatime2]

Posted: 4/1/22 at 10:10pm

For a few minutes, I didn't realize this was an April Fools joke... This sounds like something he'd do... sigh. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 2:49pm

Instead of being an NFT, this will happen at the George Street Playhouse in 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

Jeanna de Waal and Laura Bell Bundy both did readings of this, FWIW. (edited)

I only know Milazzo's work as a vocal arranger, and we know Davenport has an...interesting...track record as a bookwriter. Casey Hushion is the longtime associate director for Casey Nicholaw, but her solo directing work has been spotty (and really hated her CALL ME MADAM at Encores).

Updated On: 6/22/22 at 02:49 PM

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 2:51pm

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...

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 2:58pm

ElphabaGoodman said: "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..."

I'd LOVE to see Laura Bell Bundy in a new musical!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 3:01pm

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.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/22/22 at 3:34pm

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "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."

 

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 12:43pm

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]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 1:11pm

How’d they get Andy einhorn for this, this seems very below him.

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 1:25pm

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.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 1:45pm

Oh Ken.

[gleek4114]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 1:58pm

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]

Posted: 8/15/22 at 2:42pm

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!”

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/19/22 at 3:26am

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. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 8/19/22 at 11:38am

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!”"

 

Exactly.  He also uses his company to general manage, do marketing, "consulting", etc -- all of which he pays himself hefty fees and weekly "office charges".  So even on the biggest flop -- he still makes money.  That's why he's referred to in the industry as "Ken Bialystock"!

[BJR]

Posted: 8/19/22 at 11:43am

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

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 8/19/22 at 11:48am

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

 

[gleek4114]

Posted: 8/19/22 at 11:54am

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

I like the movie quite a lot too. It’s fun and quirky, I could see it being an interesting musical in the right hands… key words being “in the right hands”.

 

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

Posted: 8/19/22 at 4:23pm

Updated On: 3/3/23 at 04:23 PM

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/3/22 at 11:42am

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).

[JanMaxwellsBag]

Posted: 11/3/22 at 11:52am

I really hope there’s a song called “Adversaries In Commerce”

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/10/22 at 12:14pm

The world premiere of Joy The Musical begins its run via New Jersey's George Street Playhouse December 10. The production will continue through December 30 at The Elizabeth Ross Johnson Theater in The New Brunswick Performing Arts Center. Opening night is December 16.