The news and information is flying fast and furious around "the Broadway" today.  Yikes!  Take cover and make sure none of the info knocks you in the head.  Ok, I am exaggerating, but now that the strike is over (can I hear another "hooray"...I can't hear you) the press releases and news reports are fleetingly flooding in!  What's with all the "f's" this morning?  I don't know.  Maybe because it is Friday?  Ok.  Let me try to condense the most important news into one location for you (or at least try).

The strike is over!  Oh, wait you knew that.  Ok, moving on...

All Shows Up and Running (except The Homecoming)

Producers worked feverishly to get all the shows up and running last night.  It is unbelievable, but they did it.  Every show, with the exception of The Homecoming (more on that below) performed last night.  It was a happy night in Times Square as folks lined up at TKTS to buy last minute tickets (I bet there were some GREAT seats to be snatched up) and audiences streamed into theaters across the rialto for the first time in 19 days!  Local business were glad to have the customers  back and the actors, technicians, support staff and everyone associated with the shows were happy to be back to work.

Discounts to go to Post-Strike Chicago

The producers of Chicago: The Musical offered tickets to the Thursday evening show for only $26.50 in celebration of the end of the strike.  Tickets could only be purchased at the box office and the word is that they were storming the counters at the Ambassador Theater and that the house was PACKED!  Leave it to the Weisslers to come up with a great marketing idea! 

Another Openin' - Take Two

As you know, several shows had to cancel their opening nights due to the Local One IATSE Stagehands strike.  It seems that they have all figured out when they are going to be holding their new premiers!  I am going to list them in order...

The Farnsworth Invention by Aaron Sorkin

Old Opening: November 14th

New Opening Date: December 3rd

August: Osage County from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company

Old Opening: November 20th

New Opening Date: December 4th

The Seafarer, the National Theatre of Great Britain's production of Conor McPherson play

Old Opening: November 15th

New Opening Date: December 6th

Is He Dead? Mark Twain's play starring Norbert Leo Butz

Old Opening: November 29th

New Opening Date: December 9th

The Homecoming by Harold Pinter

Performances will now begin on Tuesday, December 4th

They were to have started performances on November 23rd but were thwarted by the strike. 

New Opening Date: December 16th

The Little Mermaid, Disney's new mega-musical

Old Opening: December 6th

New Opening Date: January 10th

(apparently they are going to push back all the way to the new year so they can make sure press can see the show during the holidays and that audiences who have tickets for the seasonal performances won't get bumped to make room for critics to see the show)

Start Lining Up NOW!

The League of American Theatres and Producers are hosting a free concert today, Friday November 30th at 12:00pm (noon) to celebrate the end of the strike and the return of "the Broadway".  The show will be at the Marriott Marquis Theatre and will feature Angela Lansbury (wow), Bernadette Peters (wow, part two), Fantasia (from The Color Purple) and Bob Martin (Man in Chair from The Drowsy Chaperone).  Also, it is being reported that cast members from EVERY Bway show will be there - on stage - as well!  This sounds so great.  It doesn't make up for the strike, but it does help!  Doors open at 11:30am.

Note:  If you want to go to this and you are still reading this on your computer at home you need to stop NOW.  You are late.  They started lining up last night!  Run!  Run!  

Now For Something Non-Strike Related.

It is OFFICIAL!  Patti LuPone is coming back to Broadway in Gypsy.  The producers (Richard Frankel Productions) have announced a March 28th opening, but a theatre has not been finalized (many are hinting that the St. James - current home of The Grinch - will be the one).  The show was presented this past summer in a much discussed production at Encores! Summer Stars Series.  Arthur Laurents (who wrote the book) will take the helm as director once again.  It is still unknown whether others will be back to reprise their roles; Boyd Gaines as Herbie and Laura Benanti as Louise have yet to "sign on" for the production (as of now).  The only other outstanding issue is; will Patti win another TONY Award?  You can bet the chateratti on the theater message boards are already typing away.  You are all welcome to comment here.  Discuss!

I think that covers it for now.  I hope you all have a GREAT Friday and a wonderful weekend and I will...

~ See You On The Aisle