Tony Awards season is nearly here! The nominations will be announced on Tuesday, April 30th, and then the big night is on Sunday, June 9th, with the ever-hilarious James Corden hosting. While we can’t say for sure who will be nominated just yet, there are several buzzy new Broadway plays that have recently opened that are certainly contenders. From personal histories to adaptations of classic novels, here are five new Broadway plays to check out this spring.
What the Constitution Means to Me
Yes, it’s got a title that might have some people scratching their heads, but this is one new play that has already blown audiences away. Writer/actress Heidi Schreck takes center stage in this mighty new work that takes on the issues of the day from a fresh perspective, as Schreck looks back on her life and the document that founded our country. It all ends with a live debate (we won’t say anything else). But we will say it’s nothing like you’ve ever seen on stage – and that The New York Times raves, “Joy comes from watching an imaginative new kind of theater emerge.”
To Kill a Mockingbird
Harper Lee’s classic novel comes to life on stage in a vibrant new production written by Oscar winner Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network, The West Wing) and directed by Tony winner Bartlett Sher (My Fair Lady). It’s the beloved story of a young girl named Scout trying to find her place in the world as her father, attorney Atticus Finch, wages a difficult court case in Alabama. In a theatrical coup, all of the children are played by actors in their 20s and 30s for an unforgettable dramatic event.
Hillary and Clinton
Tony winners Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow star in this new play, subtitled “primarily a comedy,” by Lucas Hnath, who was a Tony nominee for A Doll’s House, Part Two. Set in the early days of the 2008 election (when Hillary was facing off against Barack Obama), this is a personal look into the lives of two very public figures. But here’s the thing: Metcalf and Lithgow aren’t doing impersonations. It’s a wondrously loose look at these people, with each actor putting his and her stamp on the roles.
All My Sons
Academy Award Nominee Annette Benning, who was last seen on Broadway in Coastal Disturbances, returns to center stage as grieving mother Kate Kellerman in Arthur Miller’s classic play. She is joined by Tony Winner Tracy Letts as patriarch Joe Kellerman, who in addition to being an award-winning actor is also a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer for his play, August: Osage County. The Hollywood Reporter called the new production of All My Sons “One of the dramatic highlights of the Broadway season.”
Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Like Constitution, don’t let the title throw you off. For one thing, it’s written by downtown sensation Taylor Mac, so you know things will be off-kilter. For another, it stars five-time Tony winner Nathan Lane, so you know it’s going to be hilarious. Set just after the fall of the Roman Empire, picking up where Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus left off, anything is possible in this production. And with Lane and his co-stars Kristine Nielsen and Julie While, anything just might happen – and history could be changed, as well as Shakespeare’s drama. Four-time Tony winner George C. Woolfe (Take Me Out, Angels in America) directs.
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