We had a blast during the last avalanche of Broadway openings just before the deadline for consideration for the 2015 Tony Awards. The summer, as is typical, has proved much more sparse, but that only increases our anticipation for the bound-to-be amazing plays and musicals that will be opening this fall. Without further ado, here are the five Broadway show openings we are most excited for in Fall 2015.
1. Hamilton
Previews begin July 13, Opening August 6
While not technically opening in the fall, Hamilton is at the top of the list for anyone who didn’t get in to see the Public’s sell-out production this spring, and likely quite a few people who did. Having already won a huge pile of accolades including Lucille Lortel Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, Drama Desk Awards, an Off-Broadway Alliance Award and an Obie, the show still remained committed to accessibility with their “Hamilton for a Hamilton” $10 lottery tickets, and we are interested to see if the offer continues on the larger Broadway stage (especially if Alexander Hamilton is no longer on the $10 bill).
Largely considered a shoo-in for the Best Musical Tony in 2016, this gripping story of one of America’s most complicated Founding Fathers is told in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s distinctive rap style. From bastard orphan to Washington’s right hand man, rebel to war hero, loving husband caught in the country’s first sex scandal to Treasury head who made an untrusting world believe in the American economy, Hamilton is an exploration of a political mastermind.
2. Allegiance
Previews begin October 6, Opening November 8
In case you missed it: George Takei is going to be in a Broadway musical. Inspired by Takei’s own experiences during World War II, Allegiance follows the Kimura family in the weeks and years following the attack on Pearl Harbor as they are relocated from their farm in Salinas, CA to the Heart Mountain internment camp in rural Wyoming. Allegiance can be considered a triumph for Japanese-American representation in American theater, and we are thrilled that the production, which first premiered in 2012 in San Diego, is making its way to a national and international audience.
3. School of Rock
Previews begin November 9, Opening December 6
However you felt about Jack Black, it has soon become clear that Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new stage musical School of Rock is going to be good. You probably remember the plot of this modern classic: down-on-his-luck wannabe rock star Dewey Finn (Alex Brightman) poses as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school to make ends meet. When he discovers his students’ musical talents, he enlists his fifth-graders to form a rock group and conquer the Battle of the Bands. Imagine this iconic story with a clever mix of rock music and more traditional theater songs, and a stronger focus on the children in the band and their stories.
4. King Charles III
Previews begin October 10, Opening November 1
We had to have a British import on the list. After receiving its world premiere at London’s Almeida Theater, King Charles III transferred to the West End, where it played an extended run and won the prestigious Olivier Award for Best New Play. With current productions like The Audience and Wolf Hall Parts 1 and 2 (not to mention Will and Kate’s second child), American mania for the British royals has never been higher, especially on the stage. So how will this story, which imagines a future when Britain’s Prince Charles takes over the monarchy from his mother Queen Elizabeth II, fare this fall?
5. Sylvia
Previews begin September 25, Opening October 15
With her recent first Tony win for Best Featured Actress in a Play for You Can’t Take It With You, Annaleigh Ashford’s star is on the rise. So what’s next for this charming young lady? Playing a dog. In this revival of A. R. Gurney’s 1995 comedy, a man adopts a sweet little puppy, Sylvia (who can talk to the audience), only to find that she soon drives a wedge between him and his wife. How can he balance the two females in his life?
From the silly to the revolutionary, the second half of 2015 is shaping up to be a great time for Broadway. Do you have another favorite play or musical that’s coming up this season? Let us know!
