BroadwayGirlNYC: Broadway on Broadway

There are three days I consider high holy days of the Broadway religion: The Tony Awards, the BC/EFA Broadway Flea Market, and Broadway on Broadway.  The Tonys, of course, took place in June; but the other two events happen in September -- which means I'm getting ready for a month of celebrating and rejoicing along with thousands upon thousands of other Broadway fans.

September kicks off the new Broadway season, this year with eight new shows starting previews this month (beginning with Mrs. Warren's Profession at the American Airlines Theatre on Friday, September 3).  September is dubbed "Back to Broadway" month by the Broadway League, which sponsors events throughout the month like guided Open House tours of the theatres, Sirius XM "Live on Broadway" lunchtime concerts, and Broadway Happy Hours with actors and other theatre insiders.  But the first big event that I anticipate is Broadway on Broadway, a huge concert/ celebration featuring the casts of almost every musical on Broadway.  It is, in my mind, the kickoff of the new season, as well as being an open-air showcase of the wide range of incredible offerings on Broadway.

Last year, I set my alarm early the day of Broadway on Broadway -- wanting to get to the Standing Room Only event early enough to be close to the stage.  I had planned to get up at eight so I could be in Times Square by nine; but true to form, adrenaline woke me up before 6:30, and I was showered, fed and out the door by 7.  (It's amazing how the promise of a free Broadway concert can motivate a speedy exodus!)  

I made it to Times Square shortly before 8 o'clock.  The entire area was closed down to traffic -- Broadway on Broadway is one of only two days on which Times Square is closed to cars, the other being New Years Eve -- and a huge stage had been erected at the intersection of 44th and Broadway.  There were already about 2500 people there, most of whom had arrived well before dawn to get spots up against the nearest barricades.  (Seats directly in front of the stage, and bleachers off to the sides, are unfortunately reserved for sponsors and VIPs.)  I quickly established my place in the crowd, and struck up a conversation with the excited fans standing around me.  Even with three hours to wait before the concert began, we were all smiles and anticipation.  It quickly became clear that these were my people, my tribe if you will.  We eagerly compared stories, made predictions, and generally geeked out about Broadway.

Much to my surprise, music began pumping through the speakers just after 9:00am, and familiar faces filed onto the Broadway on Broadway stage!  The show wasn't scheduled to begin till 11, but what I hadn't known was that the soundcheck is done the very same day -- and many of the performances need to be re-rehearsed, since this is a new space and sometimes the numbers have been restaged to accommodate the big crowds and/or lack of sets in the outdoor space.  I remember seeing the little girls from Billy Elliot, the cast of White Christmas, Deidre Goodwin & the cast of Chicago and more do their full routines, before the majority of the crowd had even shown up.  And most exciting, I got to see several run-throughs of a show that had, up to that point, remained a mystery: the (then brand-new) musical called Fela!.  

The popular shows are always the crowd stealers at Broadway on Broadway -- who doesn't love a chance to see a show-stopper from Wicked or In the Heights or West Side Story for free?  But I learned early on last year that for me, the best part of the day is the tastes of the shows that have not yet opened.  The samples of what is to come in the new season, the previews-before-previews, are what light the fuse that becomes the fire inside BroadwayGirlNYC.

As much fun as the soundcheck was (it's exhilarating to get a rare glimpse into the rehearsal process of a Broadway spectacle!), the show itself was the reason to go.  At Broadway on Broadway 2009, on a single stage in the space of two hours, I saw performances by Brian D'Arcy James, Kerry Butler, Alice Ripley, Sahr Ngaujah, Cheyenne Jackson, Aaron Tveit, Kate Baldwin, John Stamos, Gavin Creel, and many many more. The day was a snapshot of the shows I already knew and loved, but also a glimpse into the ones I knew I'd fall in love with over the coming season.  Having new friends there with whom to get excited made it all that much more fun.

That's why September 12, 2010 has a big red circle around it on my (Men of Rock of Ages) calendar.  Broadway on Broadway is promising to be bigger than ever this year, with performances announced by NINETEEN current and upcoming Broadway shows!  From the longest running (Phantom of the Opera, Lion King and Mamma Mia! will all be represented), to this year's hits (Addams Family, American Idiot, and Promises Promises) to the shows we haven't seen a thing from yet (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, The Scottsborough Boys, and Elf), we are sure to be treated to a smorgasbord of Broadway delights.  Kelsey Grammer of La Cage aux Folles will be the master of ceremonies.

Set your alarms if you must, but the true geeks amongst us will wake before the sun rises, wide-eyed and gung-ho, no coffee necessary.  Broadway music is our fuel, and Broadway on Broadway is event that says "the new season has begun"!  

See you there, lovelies.

xxxooo