Audra McDonald Rings in the New Year, War Horse Rides Into the Sunset & More in This Week’s Datebook
Audra and Sweeney and War Horse, oh my! 2012 may be coming to a close, but there’s still tons of fun to be had on Broadway. Check out what’s in store on New Year’s Eve and beyond in this week’s Broadway.com Datebook.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 31
POP THE CHAMPAGNE WITH AUDRA MCDONALD & JOSH GROBAN
Avery Fisher Hall is the place to be on New Year’s Eve! Just ask Audra McDonald, Josh Groban, Nice Work’s Kelli O’Hara, Smash star Megan Hilty, Annie's Lilla Crawford, Raul Esparza and Brian d’Arcy James, who will salute late Chorus Line composer Marvin Hamlisch with the New York Philharmonic. If you can’t make it, don’t worry! The concert will be broadcast as it's happening (hosted by Audra) on PBS’ Live From Lincoln Center.
ALSO: Patti LuPone gets festive at 54 Below; Party all night at Ars Nova’s Bootleggers' Ball; sing showtunes galore at the New Year’s Extravaganza at Ellen’s Stardust Diner.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 1
SPEND NEW YEAR'S DAY WITH SWEENEY TODD
Attend the tale of Sweeney Todd in the comfort of your own home, when the film adaptation of Sondheim’s delightfully gruesome musical is rereleased on Blu-Ray. With Johnny Depp in the title role and Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, the critically acclaimed film is still a bloody good time six years after its initial release.
ALSO: Bye Bye Birdie remastered movie soundtrack (with bonus tracks!) hits stores.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2
DONNA MCKECHNIE SALUTES THE '70S AT 54 BELOW
She’s best known for her Tony-winning turn as Cassie in A Chorus Line, so it's apropos that Donna McKechnie would dedicate her new solo show to the disco decade. The Broadway vet will revisit the music of Jim Croce, Peter Allen, Billy Strayhorn, Stephen Sondheim and the late Marvin Hamlisch, composer of the show that transformed her career. Can we put in an early request for “The Music and the Mirror”?
THURSDAY, JANUARY 3
CHAT UP VANYA STARS DAVID HYDE PIERCE & SIGOURNEY WEAVER
If you’ve ever wanted to know what makes the cast of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike tick, now is your chance! Stage and screen stars David Hyde Pierce, Sigourney Weaver and Kristine Nielsen will share their insights on Christopher Durang, Chekhov and more before their January 3 performance of Vanya at Lincoln Center Theater’s Platform Series. Best of all, it’s free.
ALSO: Get jazzy at 54 Below with Alex Bugnon; The Chess Lesson begins previews at IRT Theater.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 4
EMILY BERGL & HEATHER MACRAE ROCK THE ROCKAWAYS
Come to the cabaret, old chums, when Cat on a Hot Tin Roof's Emily Bergl joins Broadway alums Heather MacRae, Natalie Douglas, T. Oliver Reid and more to Rock the Rockaways at the Metropolitan Room. The evening of rockin' performances will benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy.
ALSO: Last call for Zelda at the Oasis off-Broadway; Michael Cerveris and Loose Cattle play 54 Below.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 5
LIGHT UP THE NIGHT WITH ILUMINATE
You’ve seen them on America’s Got Talent—now see them off-Broadway! Go on a magical journey with the artists of light in iLuminate, an innovative theatrical experience featuring musical mash-ups, killer dance moves and a magic paintbrush that lights up the stage. Catch the enlightening production at the Duke at 42nd Street before its January 5 closing night.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 6
LAST CHANCE TO BE WOWED BY WAR HORSE
Say a tearful goodbye to Albert and his beloved horse Joey today, as the Tony-winning play War Horse concludes its Broadway run. Based on the children’s book of the same name, this moving show has been a hot ticket since its March 2011 opening night. From the mystifying puppetry and epic battle scenes to the touching story of friendship between a boy and his horse, the Lincoln Center Theater production will be greatly missed.
ALSO: Chaplin, Grace, Elf, The Old Man and the Old Moon, Golden Age and Then She Fell play their final performances; Lea DeLaria makes ‘em laugh at 54 Below.
