TAMMY FAYE will transfer to Broadway in 2024-2025 Season

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:03am

https://www.broadway.com/buzz/203513/new-elton-john-musical-tammy-faye-is-coming-to-broadway/

Tammy Faye, a musical about the heavily made-up American televangelist with music by Elton John, is headed to Broadway for the 2024-25 season. In addition to John's music, the score features lyrics by Jake Shears, a founding member of the dancefloor-rockers Scissor Sisters, who starred in Kinky Boots on Broadway. James Graham wrote the book; Rupert Goold directs. Tammy Faye had its world premiere at London’s Almeida Theatre in 2022 in a production that was nominated for four Olivier Awards. The show features choreography by Lynne Page, sets by Bunny Christie, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Neil Austin, sound design by Bobby Aitken and video design by Finn Ross.

Updated On: 11/17/23 at 09:03 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:05am

Jeez, we’re not even halfway through the 23-24 season and the 24-25 season is already shaping up to be very busy. 

[NakedMaid]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:07am

Interesting that they announced the Nederlander Theatre. Not only rare to announce a theatre this far out from opening but also a theatre that already has a new/upcoming show already in place.

Thoughts?

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:21am

NakedMaid said: "Interesting that they announced the Nederlander Theatre. Not only rare to announce a theatre this far out from opening but also a theatre that already has a new/upcoming show already in place.

Thoughts?"

From the Times: "The producers said Friday that the musical would open at one of the nine Nederlander Broadway houses in the 2024-25 theater season; they did not specify which theater, and did not announce any casting."

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/17/theater/tammy-faye-bakker-musical-broadway.html

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:27am

This has the Palace after it reopens.

[OhHiii]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:28am

EDSOSLO858 said: "This has the Palace after it reopens."

Hate to say he's right, but the Oracle is correct about the sequence of events on The Palace. A-list residency artist to formally re-open it, Tammy Faye first musical to play the Palace post-lift.

[binau]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:30am

There was only one exceptional thing about the show and that was the lead actress.  Hope they transfer. Otherwise, I’m curious how New York will respond to the show and if there will be changes to the writing. Like Ghost I think people in the UK are overly excited because it’s rare to have a decent new musical, but in the context of New York. Well. Unless it’s a weak season, I don’t think it’s a best musical winner to say the least. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 2:12pm

If Katie Brayben can’t transfer for whatever reason, I’d love to see Betsy Wolfe as Tammy!

[BoringBoredBoard40]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 2:38pm

In what universe is this show going to fill 1800 seats a night? 

[mshalo18]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 2:43pm

Call_me_jorge said: "If Katie Brayben can’t transfer for whatever reason, I’d love to see Betsy Wolfe as Tammy!"

Ironically enough, Betsy was petitioning the creatives of Tammy Faye for the role lol. She would fit the part perfectly. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 5:39pm

BoringBoredBoard40 said: "In what universe is this show going to fill 1800 seats a night?"

This has me wondering if the capacity of the palace is expected to remain the same. Was there any reporting on that?

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 6:04pm

Call_me_jorge said: "BoringBoredBoard40 said: "In what universe is this show going to fill 1800 seats a night?"

This has me wondering if the capacity of the palace is expected to remain the same. Was there any reporting on that?"

I don't recall any talk of removing seats or changing the configuration (so those weird obstructed-view side orchestra sections would still exist).

1,750 seat houses kind of feel like a thing of the past. Nederlander has two already in the Minskoff and Gershwin. If they killed the 300-seat balcony, that would bring it to approximately the same size as the Shubert, Hirschfeld, Neil Simon, and Imperial –– plenty large enough for most shows. But I doubt they want to do that.

These are the 2017 renderings approved by the Landmark Preservation Commission, but idk what's changed since then. It's not raised nearly as high as I thought (and hopefully will not require an elevator like the Rose Theatre at Columbus Circle).

[Timon3]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 6:53pm

This is an intimate show, the Palace would be way too big. The Nederlander Theatre is a good shout, but I also wonder if Six would run out of steam by then freeing up the Brooks Atkinson?

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 8:38pm

I see this going into the Marquis honestly. If not, probably the Lunt. 

[TBFL]

Posted: 11/17/23 at 9:02pm

binau said: "There was only one exceptional thing about the show and that was the lead actress. Hope they transfer. Otherwise, I’m curious how New York will respond to the show and if there will be changes to the writing. Like Ghost I think people in the UK are overly excited because it’s rare to have a decent new musical, but in the context of New York. Well. Unless it’s a weak season, I don’t think it’s a best musical winner to say the least."

Lets not kid ourselves about Broadway churning out decent new musicals, they're as rare on Broadway as they are in London.

I enjoyed Tammy Faye a lot, ended up seeing it 3 times and think its got a fantastic score, a great book and a fabulous leading lady in Katie Brayben, who I believe is booked for the Broadway production. Yes Act 2 needed work, but i believe they have had workshops this year with the new rewrites and new songs added, so fingers crossed improvements have been made. As long as they have changed the opening of Act 2 (which would really benefit from a Dreamgirls style montage song) and 'Run This Show' I'll be happy, but it wont stand a chance in an 1800 seat house, its much more intimate than that. It was looking to go to the Gillian Lynne in London before plans change and that is only 1100.

I think this definitely has the potential to win best new musical. Didn't the NY Times rave over it? But it will also attract attention because i believe certain Evangelical and Christian groups will have alot to say about it.... edited to add the NY Times review:  https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/theater/tammy-faye-review-almeida.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article

This is the first show in many years that will get me to make the trip to NYC .
 

Updated On: 11/17/23 at 09:02 PM

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Posted: 11/18/23 at 12:05am

TBFL said: "I think this definitely has the potential to win best new musical. Didn't the NY Times rave over it? But it will also attract attention because i believe certain Evangelical and Christian groups will have alot to say about it.... edited to add the NY Times review: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/27/theater/tammy-faye-review-almeida.html?action=click&module=RelatedLinks&pgtype=Article"

The NYT review has a big asterisk because Matt Wolf is based in London, does not review Broadway shows, and has different sensibilities than some of the NY-based critics –– so they can advertise his quotes, but they can't expect to get the same effusive review in New York. Sort of like what HARMONY went through last week: Vincentelli raves off-Bway, Green is cooler towards it on Bway.

I doubt the Evangelicals will have much impact (positive or negative) on sales. The 2021 film grossed an abysmal $2.4 million domestically, and that had Chastain and Garfield. This show will have to stand on its own and appeal to people who have never even heard of the Bakkers.

Can't speak about its award chances as I didn't see it in London.

Updated On: 11/18/23 at 12:05 AM

[TBFL]

Posted: 11/18/23 at 2:43am

I didn't say they would have an effect on sales. I suspect they might have something to say about the portrayals of Billy Graham and Jerry Fullwell, who is the big villain of the show.  both were great in London.

 

[whatever2]

Posted: 11/18/23 at 10:50am

> Jerry Fullwell, who is the big villain of the show

And in real life.

[caitlinette]

Posted: 11/18/23 at 2:48pm

Same. What's the appeal here? I don't want to sit and watch two incredibly toxic characters sing for 2 1/2 hours. Not sure why we're supposed to care. 

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 11/18/23 at 5:33pm

Then…:don’t go? You’re allowed to not see the appeal or care about the show. There’s no obligation on your part. 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 11/18/23 at 5:50pm

I’m personally very excited about it. The reviews were pretty great and I love how Tammy Faye was religious and very empathetic and pro Gay people. There’s also a political element to it. Throw in Elton John songs, a James Graham book, and great performances.  It sounds like it will make for a fantastic musical!  It seems like it would make for a better musical than a film honestly.  I hope all sorts of people go and see it.  It seems like they’re trying to open this fall. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 11/23/23 at 8:37am

According to casting it'll be next Fall.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/5/23 at 12:09pm

https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/jake-shears-reveals-new-song-for-tammy-faye-broadway-transfer

Jake Shears has revealed a new song for the Broadway transfer of Tammy Faye, and has credited starring in Cabaret for inspiring its lyrics.

Shears, who is currently playing Cabaret’s Emcee in its production at the Playhouse Theatre in London, said that being in a "classic musical" was an education in "what makes a good show".

It comes after the former Scissor Sisters bandmate enjoyed news that Tammy Faye, which premiered at the Almeida Theatre last year, will transfer to an as-yet-unannounced Nederlander venue for the 2024-25 season.

Alongside Shears’ lyrics, Tammy Faye, which tells the story of an American televangelist, features music by Elton John and a book by James Graham.

In conversation with his Cabaret co-star, pop singer Self Esteem, at an event at the Cumberland Hotel’s SOUND Cafe in London, Shears admitted that he had been "having a blast" performing in the West End.

He continued: "I have found that being inside musicals and writing them and making records and performing my own work all links together. There is something about being inside of a classic musical, being inside of a great show and inside that structure – you learn so much about what makes a good show.

"Cabaret is of course one of the best musicals ever made. I’ve been working on an extra song for my musical Tammy Faye before it goes to New York next year and sitting there listening to What Would You Do?, a song in the second act of Cabaret, sparked a whole other idea in my head. There’s nothing like being in a show to feed your imagination."

Shears made his Broadway debut in Kinky Boots on Broadway in 2018, in the role of Charlie Price. He has previously composed music and lyrics alongside John Garden for the musical Tales of the City, based on the series by Armistead Maupin.

Reflecting on his journey from pop touring to musical theatre, Shears added: "I’ve been having a relationship now with theatre for years. I started writing musicals in 2006, so I feel like it’s always gone hand in hand with [my music career].

"Going into Kinky Boots changed my performance on stage and my own stuff in a big way. There’s something about going out every night, every day, sometimes twice a day, over and over and over again, that takes all your fear away."

[ElphabaGoodman]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 8:53pm

Have heard this is going to the Palace in October, with Jessie Mueller starring 

[Broadway Flash]

Posted: 3/18/24 at 9:03pm

Oh my gosh I had her in mind for the role. I kept thinking about her and Laura Bell Bundy.  It’s funny, Katie Breyban played Carole King in London, and now Jessie is playing Tammy Faye here.  Similar type I guess.