Ones to Watch

Each Broadway season has its breakout stars—individuals whose work on a certain show leaves an impression. It could be an unknown performer who receives rave reviews, an established actor who finally has a star-making role, an unheard of director who has a production of his/hers make a splash, etc. Who are the people you should be keeping your eyes on this fall? We offer a look at some of those poised for the big time.

Adam Brazier
The Woman in White
Brazier, a Canadian who played Sky in the Toronto and pre-Broadway tour of Mamma Mia!, steps into the limelight this fall as the young romantic lead in Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest. As art tutor Walter Hartright, Brazier will make two sisters swoon in the show. He could have the same effect on the audience.

Olivia d'Abo/Jessica Stone
The Odd Couple
D'Abo is a recognizable face from her time as the hippie sis on The Wonder Years, while Stone is a well-liked theater actress. Together they will play the Pigeon Sisters, sexy gals out for a good time. If they can manage to steal scenes from Lane and Broderick, they could be the show's biggest story.

John Doyle
Sweeney Todd
Doyle's mounting of Sweeney Todd will be like nothing Broadway has ever seen, with a small cast taking on all the roles and playing all the music. In the U.K., Doyle is known for his inventive stagings, but Sweeney's his first chance to shine on the Great White Way.

Maria Friedman
The Woman in White
One of Britain's top theatrical leading ladies, Friedman has only previously appeared in New York City in a well-received cabaret engagement. London critics gushed about her performance in The Woman in White, and it stands to reason Gotham reviewers will feel the same way. This three-time Olivier Award winner may just find herself as a nominee at next year's Tony Awards.

Gary Griffin
The Color Purple
An award-winning director in Chicago and a respected figure in the industry, Griffin is making his Broadway debut with The Color Purple. If he's able to pull off a multi-million dollar musical that honors the beloved source material, he'll be at the top of every producer's list.

Christopher J. Hanke
In My Life
Making his Broadway debut, Hanke has what is seemingly one of the more difficult roles to pull off this season. The new musical In My Life centers on his character, a boy without a family suffering from Tourette Syndrome.

LaChanze
The Color Purple
LaChanze is a treasured theater veteran, but she has never carried the weight of a big-budget musical like The Color Purple on her shoulders. Since the show's developmental readings, the buzz for her performance as Celie has been superb. If it continues, LaChanze will be a major contender come Tony time.

Chiara Navarra
In My Life
A preteen whose biggest credit is having appeared in a tour of Scrooge the Musical, Navarra has an emotionally complex character in In My Life; those who saw her in readings of the show have lauded her mature voice and acting style. In My Life will be her first Broadway credit but probably not her last.

Shirley A. Rumierk
Latinologues
A native New Yorker and Harvard University graduate, Rumierk is a new addition to Latinologues—joining three performers who have appeared in the show on the road. She's also the only woman and the likeliest standout.

John Lloyd Young
Jersey Boys
Playing legendary singer Frankie Valli, Young is the only of Jersey Boys' leads to not have appeared in the critically lauded La Jolla Playhouse tryout last year. If he nails it, Young could instantly establish himself as a hot musical theater star.