2010 Broadway Preview

The Great White Way is going to be the Very Busy Way in the coming months, with 20 shows having confirmed openings (plus the possibility of Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark actually bowing at the Hilton and the Neil Simon and Golden Theatres still officially unclaimed). Here’s what audiences can look forward to over the next four months, in order of the show’s official openings.

Present Laughter
The delightfully droll Victor Garber and Harriet Harris headline Nicholas Martin’s production of Noel Coward’s beloved (and often-produced) comedy about a vain matinee idol whose plans to get away to Africa are suddenly disrupted by a slew of visitors. Expect to laugh a lot!

A View from the Bridge
Arthur Miller’s poignant drama about a Brooklyn longshoreman who develops less-than-familial feelings for his wife’s teenaged niece gets another Broadway go-round under the direction of the long-absent Gregory Mosher. The sublime cast is led by Liev Schreiber, Scarlett Johansson (in a much-anticipated Broadway debut), Jessica Hecht, Santino Fontana, and Michael Cristofer.

Time Stands Still
The magnificent Laura Linney returns to Broadway in Manhattan Theatre Club’s production of Donald Margulies’ provocative play — first seen at Los Angeles’ Geffen Playhouse — about two couples facing personal and professional crises. The talented trio of Eric Bogosian, Brian d’Arcy James, and Alicia Silverstone round out the cast.

The Miracle Worker
Rising film star Abigail Breslin takes to the stage as Helen Keller in the first Broadway revival of William Gibson’s now-classic drama. Tony Award nominee Alison Pill plays Helen’s devoted teacher, Annie Sullivan, alongside Matthew Modine, Jennifer Morrison, and Elizabeth Franz.

A Behanding in Spokane
The master of Irish black comedy, Martin McDonagh, debuts his first American-set play, which involves a man searching for his missing hand, two con artists out to make a few hundred bucks, and an overly curious hotel clerk. Oscar winner Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Zoe Kazan, and Anthony Mackie are the intrepid players.

Next Fall
Geoffrey Nauffts’ compelling play about the five-year relationship of a gay couple dealing with significant personal differences makes the journey from Off-Broadway to the Great White Way with its original cast, led by Patrick Breen and Patrick Heusinger, completely intact.

Looped
Stage and television favorite Valerie Harper takes on the mantle of legendary actress Tallulah Bankhead in Matthew Lombardo’s new play, which takes place in 1965 as the inebriated star tries to dub one line of film dialogue while an uptight sound editor (played by Brian Hutchison) stands by.

All About Me

The outrageous Australian star Dame Edna and American cabaret great Michael Feinstein will share the stage — or at least, try to share the stage — in this unusual-sounding entertainment, to be directed by Casey Nicholaw and scripted by the brilliant playwright Christopher Durang.

Come Fly Away
Having previously brought her flair with dance and the music of Billy Joel and Bob Dylan to Broadway, Tony winner Twyla Tharp now turns her attention to longtime favorite Frank Sinatra in this romantic dance-theater piece.

Lend Me a Tenor

This revival of Ken Ludwig’s popular farce about a missing opera singer marks the directing debut of Stanley Tucci, who has assembled an expert cast led by Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams, Justin Bartha, and the always divine Jan Maxwell.

The Addams Family
The creepy, kooky, mysterious, and spooky clan of cartoon fame is brought to life in Andrew Lippa’s new musical, which boasts the estimable talents of Nathan Lane, Bebe Neuwirth, Carolee Carmello, Terrence Mann, Kevin Chamberlin, and Jackie Hoffman.

Million Dollar Quartet
A huge hit in Chicago, this “jukebox musical” is inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together four of the most legendary figures in the history of rock ‘n’ roll: Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.

La Cage Aux Folles
Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s award-winning musical about a French nightclub owner (to be played by Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer) and drag performer (to be played by Olivier Award winner Douglas Hodge) who are trying to impress their son’s conservative soon-to-be-in-laws gets a second recent Broadway revival courtesy of British director Terry Johnson.

American Idiot

Tony-winning director Michael Mayer teams up with rock music supergroup (and Grammy Award winners) Green Day for this evocative new musical, which follows a group of working-class characters on a journey towards redemption.

Sondheim on Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim’s 80th birthday gets celebrated in style by the Roundabout Theatre Company in this new work, created by longtime collaborator James Lapine and featuring interviews with the legendary composer. The superb cast of eight vocalists features Barbara Cook, Vanessa Williams, Tom Wopat, Norm Lewis, Euan Morton, Leslie Kritzer, Matthew Scott, and Erin Mackey.

Promises, Promises
Two of our most dynamic stars, Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes, team up for the first Broadway revival of the 1968 Neil Simon-Burt Bacharach-Hal David musicalization of the Oscar-winning film The Apartment. Tony winner Rob Ashford takes the directorial reins, and the supporting cast includes Tony Goldwyn, Katie Finneran, and Brooks Ashmanskas.

Fences
August Wilson’s prize-winning masterpiece about a frustrated ex-baseball player returns to Broadway for the very first time with Oscar winner Denzel Washington and Tony winner Viola Davis in the leading roles, under the stewardship of Kenny Leon.

ENRON

Tony winner Norbert Leo Butz will star in Lucy Prebble’s much-acclaimed British play, inspired by the real-life financial scandal of 2001, which is receiving its first American production. Rupert Goold, last represented on these shores with his controversial take on Macbeth, directs the proceedings.

Collected Stories
Manhattan Theatre Club presents Donald Margulies’ well-received two-character play — which it first produced Off-Broadway — about a celebrated New York author and her protégée, to be portrayed respectively by Tony winner Linda Lavin and the wonderful Sarah Paulson.

Lips Together, Teeth Apart
The Roundabout serves up the first Broadway production of Terrence McNally’s bittersweet comedy about a Fire Island foursome, to be directed by Tony winner Joe Mantello and starring Megan Mullally, Patton Oswalt, and Lili Taylor.

Which show are you most looking forward to? Please comment below.