Make way, #Broadway! Colton Ryan and Anna Uzele are ready to shine bright on our stage as Jimmy Doyle and Francine Evans in New York, New York: A New Musical. #BeAPartOfIt
Since I already admitted that I never heard of either of them, definitely going to wait for the reviews on this one (I really disliked the movie big-time).
Ahead of the show's debut at the St. James Theatre in New York City this spring, PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that Colton Ryan and Anna Uzele will lead the musical, which features a score by Tony, Emmy and Grammy winners John Kander and Fred Ebb.
Ryan, 27, is known for his performance as Conrad "Coco" Roy in the Hulu miniseries The Girl from Plainville and for playing Connor Murphy in the 2021 film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen (a role he also understudied on Broadway). He was most recently on the boards in last season's Girl From The North Country.
Uzele, 27, has appeared on screen in City on a Hill, FBI, and Apple TV+'s Dear Edward. She was among the cast of the 2017 Tony-winning revival of Once on This Island and originated the role of Catherine Parr in the Broadway transfer of Six. She starred as another queen — the rat queen — in the famed Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical back in 2021.
In New York, New York, Ryan will play Jimmy Doyle — an aspiring saxophone player who meets USO band singer Francine Evans (Uzele) during V-J Day celebrations at the end of World War II. The musical follows the ups and downs of their romance over the years.
"Anna and Colton were both born to play these parts," five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman, who directs and choreographs New York, New York, tells PEOPLE. "They have unstoppable stage presence. When they share the stage, their chemistry is electric."
"We see New York City through the eyes of their characters — two strangers determined to make it in the greatest city in the world, a place in constant motion where everything you've ever dreamed of seems just around the corner," she adds. "Everyone here is looking for love, success, and the chance to do something you can't do anywhere else."
"Watching them fall in love, fight to hold onto their dreams and to each other is extraordinarily powerful and the very essence of New York, New York," Stroman says.
New York, New York is the first new Kander and Ebb musical to open on Broadway since The Visit, which opened on Broadway in April 2015, less than a year after lyricist Ebb died in September 2014 at the age of 76. The duo wee known for hits like Cabaret, Chicago and The Scottsboro Boys.
Lin-Manuel Miranda will provide new lyrics for the musical, which features the four beloved songs from the movie including "But the World Goes 'Round" and the iconic title theme.
David Thompson and Sharon Washington co-wrote the show's book. Also on the creative team are music supervisor and arranger Sam Davis, orchestrators Daryl Waters and Davis, vocal arranger David Loud and music director Alvin Hough, Jr.
Back in October, when the musical's Broadway dates were announced, Kander gave insight into the type of show the group is creating.
"In 1945, World War II ended," he said in a statement. "In the years that immediately followed, hundreds of thousands of ex-servicemen and women — myself included — descended on New York City, a tough, gritty, beautiful dream palace, filled with youthful energy and optimism. 'The sadness is over! This is where I can become the person I was meant to become!' And this is the New York of our story."
An amazingly talented crew, too bad this will have such a devastating run it will make Bullets over Broadway look like it was a hit.
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
PegasusOasis said: "Not famous enough. Lin carrying this show on his back I fear."
He co-wrote one song that came out as one of those hamil-drops from a few years back. Cheering for me now
In our millions, in our billions, we are most powerful when we stand together. TW4C unwaveringly joins the worldwide masses, for we know our liberation is inseparably bound.
Signed,
Theater Workers for a Ceasefire
https://theaterworkersforaceasefire.com/statement
Or maybe it could be the spring's Kimberly Akimbo, minus a pre-Broadway run. Y'all put so much energy into cynicism. Meanwhile, I wish them the best and look forward to a new Kander & Ebb musical on Broadway.
Neither are names to sell this. There's no buzz on this show whatsoever.
A Chorus Line revival played its final Broadway performance on August 17, 2008. The tour played its final performance on August 21, 2011. A new non-equity tour started in October 2012 played its final performance on March 23, 2013. Another non-equity tour launched on January 20, 2018. The tour ended its US run in Kansas City and then toured throughout Japan August & September 2018.
Well we can rule this out as the Amanda Seyfried secret musical project.
I wish them the best, but I feel unless this is a "star is born" story in the making, I fear this may end up the way of BULLETS - and that had a lot of heavy-hitters on it's roster.
Maybe there's some surprises in the supporting cast we don't know about yet?
Check out my eBay page for sales on Playbills!!
www.ebay.com/usr/missvirginiahamm
Jordan Catalano said: "I’m just happy that (so far) two of the ladies of “Six” have moved on to leads in huge new musicals."
It's always interesting to see what shows do and don't release a number of new "stars" out into the world. A hot show will make someone the "flavor of the moment."
There were many from HAMILTON (pretty much the entire principal cast)
DEAR EVAN HANSEN did (Platt, Ryan, Faist, etc)
Gary Beach was cast in the '04 LA CAGE off his work in THE PRODUCERS.
Many a former Elbaha and Glinda replacement have gone on to major projects, perhaps most successfully Annaleigh Ashford, Megan Hilty, and Stephanie J. Block.
I'm as apprehensive as anyone about the sales prospects for this, but we'll see...
Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not saying her being in "Six" is going to help box office AT ALL, I was just saying that I'm happy these ladies are getting the chance to lead new shows.
Jarethan said: "Since I already admitted that I never heard of either of them, definitely going to wait for the reviews on this one (I really disliked the movie big-time)."
Never heard of them either and they are the stars of the musical that's probably budgeted around $20M.
Why these 2 unknowns? Is Stro and the producers crazy? Glad I'm not an investor. Another flop ala Bullets for Stro?
"Anything you do, let it it come from you--then it will be new."
Sunday in the Park with George
I love both of these actors and can’t wait to see their performances. Love this casting from an artistic sense. From a commercial sense, though, this is starting to look like a flop.
Stroman's last big splashy "New York" musical (Bullets Over Broadway) at the St. James didn't fare too well... I personally LOVED it, but it flopped big time. Hoping this does better.
"There’s nothing quite like the power and the passion of Broadway music. "
Sight unseen, I feel like this entire enterprise is being launched off the hope that public affinity for the song "New York, New York" is going to inspire people to buy tickets. Setting the song aside, there is little about the source material that makes sense for a Broadway adaptation. The film was considered a colossal disaster at the time, despite the fact that De Niro, Minnelli and Scorsesse were three of the biggest names in entertainment. To stage this with unknowns seems risky to say the least. Has anyone seen the investor offering papers? Whats the budget and running costs for this?
“I knew who I was this morning, but I've changed a few times since then.”
The negativity in this thread on a show that has never been seen yet is really disheartening. At this point why not just be thankful a new show is going to be opening and save the predictions of what will happen to the show till after it opens.
"I hope your Fanny is bigger than my Peter."
Mary Martin to Ezio Pinza opening night of Fanny.