Latest news with #KinkyBoots
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Chicago – The Musical Announces 'Criminally Great' Cast!
Press Release – Sandra Roberts The razzle dazzle is back—and bolder than ever. The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical today announces its 'criminally great' cast ahead of its strictly limited season touring Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin starting next month. Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mamma Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly. They're joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie's loyal husband Amos Hart, burlesque star Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz, and veteran performer Stephen Butterworth (Pop-up Globe, Lord of the Rings) as the stern but theatrical Judge. Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show's dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington. Premiering at Auckland's Bruce Mason Centre from 31 July, then heading to Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal from 17 August, and finally Dunedin's Regent Theatre from 29 August, this is a strictly limited run of one of the most popular musical theatre shows in history. Featuring a cast of top-tier singers, dancers, and actors, this is a full-scale professional production set to light up the stage with its intoxicating mix of 1920s glamour, Prohibition-era grit, and dazzling choreography. 'Chicago the Musical is one of the world's most iconic stage shows. It's a delicious blend of showbiz, crime, and satire—with a dream cast to match. We can't wait to share this knockout production with audiences across the country,' says producer Ben McDonald. Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act. Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame. Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance. Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart's world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage. With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Chicago – The Musical Announces 'Criminally Great' Cast!
The razzle dazzle is back—and bolder than ever. The global smash-hit Chicago the Musical today announces its 'criminally great' cast ahead of its strictly limited season touring Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin starting next month. Taking centre stage in this bold new production is a stellar line-up of Aotearoa talent, led by entertainment icon Jackie Clarke as the indomitable Mamma Morton, alongside musical theatre powerhouse Nomi Cohen (Kinky Boots, We Will Rock You) as the sly and ambitious Roxie Hart, and Lily Bourne (Shortland Street, Fun Home) as the sharp and sizzling Velma Kelly. They're joined by screen and stage favourite Joel Tobeck (Shortland Street, One Lane Bridge, Avatar: The Way of Water) as the slick, silver-tongued lawyer Billy Flynn, seasoned actor Andy Grainger (Jersey Boys, The Brokenwood Mysteries) as Roxie's loyal husband Amos Hart, burlesque star Hannah Tasker-Poland (Legend of the Seeker, Ash vs Evil Dead) as the fiery inmate Liz, and veteran performer Stephen Butterworth (Pop-up Globe, Lord of the Rings) as the stern but theatrical Judge. Helmed by acclaimed Kiwi theatre director Michael Hurst ONZM, this striking new staging of Chicago promises to deliver all the scandal, sass and showstopping musical numbers that have made it a global sensation—including All That Jazz, Cell Block Tango, and Razzle Dazzle. Joining him in sculpting the show's dynamic visual world is celebrated choreographer Shona McCullagh MNZM while the elaborate set is being created by award-winning designer Chris Reddington. Premiering at Auckland's Bruce Mason Centre from 31 July, then heading to Christchurch's Isaac Theatre Royal from 17 August, and finally Dunedin's Regent Theatre from 29 August, this is a strictly limited run of one of the most popular musical theatre shows in history. Featuring a cast of top-tier singers, dancers, and actors, this is a full-scale professional production set to light up the stage with its intoxicating mix of 1920s glamour, Prohibition-era grit, and dazzling choreography. 'Chicago the Musical is one of the world's most iconic stage shows. It's a delicious blend of showbiz, crime, and satire—with a dream cast to match. We can't wait to share this knockout production with audiences across the country,' says producer Ben McDonald. Based on real events and created by the legendary Broadway trio John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Bob Fosse, Chicago is a searing satire on celebrity and justice, set in a world where fame is the ultimate currency and murder is just the opening act. Chicago centres on Roxie Hart, a chorus girl who dreams of being a vaudeville star. She's cheating on her sweet but dim-witted husband named Amos — and when her lover tries to end their affair, she kills him in a fit of rage. Getting thrown in the Cook County Jail seems like a surefire end to Roxie's dreams of stardom, but her sentence ends up being her ticket to fame. Her lawyer, the smooth-talking Billy Flynn, helps her concoct a defence that earns the press' sympathy and gets her face on the cover of every newspaper in Chicago. And while in jail, Roxie meets Velma Kelly, an established vaudeville star who murdered her husband and sister. The women begin as rivals, as Roxie seeks to steal Velma's lawyer (Billy) and her spotlight, but they come around to an unlikely alliance. Chicago is a spectacle full of social satire, intrigue, love, betrayal, rivalry and friendship, a pageant of music and dance that adroitly shifts between reality and fantasy, as Roxie Hart's world moves from prison to the courtroom to the stage. With a trophy shelf that includes six Tonys, two Oliviers, a Grammy, and six Academy Awards, Chicago is the longest-running musical revival in Broadway history and continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
NEW YORK (AP) — Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night? FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts? FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady idea. AP: Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to do. AP: You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then? FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay people. AP: You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down? FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it all. AP: What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season? FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a play. AP: Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and wallets. AP: What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it? FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems appropriate. FIERSTEIN: I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
NEW YORK (AP) — Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night? FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts? FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady idea. AP: Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to do. AP: You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then? FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay people. AP: You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down? FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it all. AP: What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season? FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a play. AP: Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and wallets. AP: What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it? FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems appropriate. FIERSTEIN: I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Harvey Fierstein, on eve of Tony honor, looks back on his career
NEW YORK (AP) — Last year, Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein handed director Jack O'Brien the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre. This year, it's his turn. 'Following him is not an easy task. In fact, I spoke to him and he said, 'I just want to put my name in there as someone who would love to give you the award.' And I said, 'Well, I'd rather you didn't.' I said, 'I'd rather you wrote my speech,'' Fierstein says. Fierstein, the four-time Tony winner behind 'Torch Song Trilogy' and 'Kinky Boots,' will get the award Sunday at Radio City Music Hall. He connected by Zoom from his home in 'a small fictional town in Connecticut' to talk about his career and a Broadway season dominated by George Clooney in 'Good Night, and Good Luck' and Denzel Washington in 'Othello.' The conversation has been edited for clarity and brevity. AP: Do you know what you're going to say on Tony night? FIERSTEIN: I never know what I'm going to say. But I have been trying to gather thoughts, which I guess is a good idea. And I watched at least five or six lifetime achievements speeches by others. AP: Has the honor triggered any personal thoughts? FIERSTEIN: I did write a line that may or may not end up in my speech, saying that the most humbling thing is to think that my life meant something to the community. It's one thing to be enjoyed, but to have the kind of meaning that they turn around and say, 'We want to give you a lifetime achievement'? That's a very heady idea. AP: Was a lifetime in the theater inevitable? FIERSTEIN: No, no, no. I guess there are theatrical types, but art was always inevitable. I was sort of artistic, but I thought I'd maybe be a Disney animator. I don't think I ever believed I was good enough to create the Disney characters, but there were people that took the creation and then did the other drawings. I thought I could do that. Something in the arts. I had my BA in painting from Pratt. That's what I thought was going to do. AP: You arrived on Broadway just as AIDS was consuming the arts. What was Broadway like then? FIERSTEIN: There was no time to think about it. We had to go to war immediately. If you remember, Ronald Reagan never said the word 'AIDS' in eight years. There was no attack against the disease; there was only an attack against people. People wouldn't go to restaurants because there were gay waiters. There were people that wouldn't go to Broadway because there were gay people. They might be in the audience with gay people. AP: You work has always been about compassion. Why didn't you want to burn it all down? FIERSTEIN: My writing is telling stories that mean something to me. And certainly there's hatred and there's anger in my stories — and truth — as far as I can tell them. But the horrible truth is that no matter how badly we act as human beings, there's still a humanity under it all. AP: What are your thoughts about the current Broadway season? FIERSTEIN: Who would have guessed that we'd have a season where the plays were the big thing and the musicals are sort of ignored? Thanks to George and Denzel and these stars that return to Broadway — thankfully return to Broadway — and they've done these plays and it's wonderful. They're bringing an audience that maybe wouldn't go see a musical or a play. AP: Just get them to experience it, right? FIERSTEIN: Once you go to the theater, once you get in there and if you have a good time, if it does something, you're going to come back. I don't care why you came in the first place. Come back and see what else we have and open your mind and heart — and wallets. AP: What about the pipeline of playwrights — are you happy with it? FIERSTEIN: There are people that are in love with theater, certainly, but there are people that want to make a living. And those people seem to drift to television and movies. I have a nephew married to a wonderful woman who wants to be a writer, but what she wants to write is movies and TV. It wouldn't even interest her to write a play. I don't know why. It seems easier to write television. It seems easier to write a half-hour where you already are given the characters. AP: Congratulations again. You are beloved in this community and a lifetime achievement award seems appropriate. FIERSTEIN: I thought it was because they just wanted to give me something else to dust, because I ain't got enough stuff to dust here. ___ For more coverage of the 2025 Tony Awards, visit .
