The new theatre season is full of exciting works by some very well known artists. With the New Year almost upon us, we've turned our focus on the ten personalities we'll be keeping an extra special eye on here at BroadwayWorld.com. So please join us and take a look at our "10" to watch in 2010 and then jump into the conversation and list your own favorites for 2010 in the comments section below, we can't wait to read yours!
BROADWAYWORLD.COM's "10" to Watch in 2010:
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron Producers
These two Oscar winning dynamos return to their "roots" with the upcoming revival of PROMISES, PROMISES opening this spring on Broadway. Zadan and Meron are masters of creative casting and having snagged Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy Award winner Sean Hayes as their leads only continues that successful formula. The revival, which will be under the sure hand of Rob Ashford, is already named as one of the must see events of the 2010 Broadway season.
2009 Highlight: Their hit Lifetime TV series "Drop Dead Diva."
2010 Lineup: Footloose and Damn Yankees on the big screen, a special TV project with Steven Spielberg and PROMISES, PROMISES on Broadway.
Lin-Manuel Miranda Tony Award winning composer and lyricist and Tony nominated actor
Lin-Manuel burst on the theatre scene in 2007 with his musical valentine to upper Manhattan, IN THE HEIGHTS, his emotional mix of salsa, rap and old fashioned show tunes struck a chord with industry titans and local audiences alike. Miranda accepted numerous awards for his inspired tale of faith and family establishing himself a true force to be reckoned with on Broadway, Hollywood and beyond. In 2010 Miranda shows no signs of stopping, seemingly creating projects in every entertainment arena from a big screen version of 'HEIGHTS' to a guest starring stint on the 40th anniversary season of SESAME STREET!
2009 Highlight: Accompanied by fellow Tony Winner Alex Lacamoire, Miranda performed "The Hamilton Mixtape" for President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House Evening of Poetry, Music, and the Spoken Word on May 12, 2009.
2010 Lineup: The National Tour of IN THE HEIGHTS continues to spread its charm all over the US. Miranda is currently working on The Hamilton Mixtape, a hip-hop album based on the life of Alexander Hamilton. The young talent is also teaming with Tom Kitt, Jeff Whitty and Andy Blankenbuehler on a stage bound production of the hit teen film BRING IT ON.
CARRIE, The Musical Beloved Broadway flop currently being "resurrected" for a stage revival
CARRIE, The Musical had a notoriously short 3 night, 5 performance run on Broadway in 1988, those that were lucky enough to catch it will tell you it had some of the best and worst that the stage can offer (Editors Note: Oh did it ever, but Betty Buckley and Linzi Hateley dueting on "And Eve Was Weak" is still one of the most thrilling things I've EVER seen on a stage. EV.). For years Broadway aficionados have yearned for its powerful score to make a return in the right hands. Well, dreams do come true, as Tony winning producers Jeffrey Seller and Kevin McCollum brought the good old gal "back from the dead" for an all-star Equity reading of the musical last month led by Marin Mazzie and directed by Stafford Arima. The big question is, will it soar in a new production? If the creative team embraces the dark and tragic elements of the story and focus on keeping it "real" this musical gem might just shock us all once again, but this time, in a GOOD WAY!
