Yahoo!  My Yahoo!  Mail
				News Home - Help

News Home Top Stories World Asia Pacific Business Technology Entertainment Sports Photos -- News by Country -- Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand -- Greater Asia -- China Hong Kong Taiwan
	Yahoo! Asia News Search Yahoo! News

		advertisement
Thursday July 27, 12:10 AM Broadway Ticket Availability When R&B superstar Usher makes his Broadway debut Aug. 22 in the long-running musical revival of "Chicago," he will be surrounded by a cast of experienced musical-theater performers. Playing murderous chorine Roxie Hart will be Bianca Marroquin, who originated the role of Roxie in the Mexico City production of the Bob Fosse-Kander-and-Ebb musical. Marroquin later played Roxie in New York and on tour. Velma Kelly, Roxie's cohort in clawing for show-biz celebrity, will be portrayed by Brenda Braxton, another "Chicago" veteran. Roxie's hapless husband, Amos, will be Kevin Chamberlin, who has appeared on Broadway in such shows as "Seussical," "Dirty Blonde" and "Triumph of Love." And as Matron "Mama" Morton, "the keeper of the keys" and "the countess of the clink" at the Cook County Jail, there will be Tony winner Lillias White. Usher, who will play conniving lawyer Billy Flynn, is expected to be in the show through Oct. 1, and already there are rumors of a possible four-week extension beyond that. For tickets to "Chicago," call Telecharge, 212-239-6200, or visit the Web site ___ Broadway ticket availability and capsule reviews of shows as of July 24. Unless otherwise noted, tickets are available at the theaters' box offices for the shows listed. Details about how to obtain tickets appear at the end. _"Avenue Q." Love blossoms among the 20-something set _ a group that includes puppets _ in this very funny, adult musical comedy. Golden. Telecharge. _"Beauty and the Beast." For those who want a lavish, literal, live-action version of the delightful Disney animated feature, this is the ticket. Others may be content to rent the film. Lunt-Fontanne. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. _"Bridge & Tunnel." Sarah Jones brings her acclaimed one-woman show about America's newest immigrants to Broadway. Helen Hayes. Telecharge. Closes Aug. 6. _"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Keith Carradine and Brian d'Arcy James star in a musical about a couple of con men fleecing gullible women on the French Riviera. Based on the 1988 film. Imperial. Telecharge. _"Faith Healer." Ralph Fiennes, Cherry Jones and Ian McDiarmid star in a revival of Brian Friel's play about a charismatic charlatan. Booth. Telecharge. Closes Aug. 13. _"Hairspray." The cult John Waters movie set in 1960s Baltimore has been turned into a hilarious, tuneful musical. Neil Simon. Ticketmaster. _"Jersey Boys." The musical story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Winner of four 2006 Tony Awards including best musical. August Wilson. Telecharge. Difficult. _"Mamma Mia!" The London musical sensation featuring the pop songs of ABBA makes it to Broadway. Die-hard ABBA fans will like it best; others may be puzzled. Telecharge. _"Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me." The ever-energetic comedian explores celebrity in this musical revue. Now in previews. Opens Aug. 17. Bernard B. Jacobs. Telecharge. _"Monty Python's Spamalot." A musical inspired by that demented film comedy, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail." Shubert. Telecharge. Difficult. _"Rent." Jonathan Larson's touching and now nostalgic look at struggling artists in New York's East Village. Loosely based on Puccini's opera "La Boheme." Nederlander. Ticketmaster. _"Sweeney Todd." An intimate revival of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical starring Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris. Eugene O'Neill. Telecharge. _"Tarzan." A Disney musical about Edgar Rice Burroughs' vine-swinging hero. The score is by Phil Collins. Richard Rodgers. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. _"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee." A sweet-tempered, often hilarious new musical by William Finn and Rachel Sheinkin about youngsters competing in a local spelling bee. Circle in the Square. Telecharge. _"The Color Purple." LaChanze stars in a musical version of Alice Walker's novel about one woman's triumph over adversity. Broadway. Telecharge. _"The Drowsy Chaperone." A big fan remembers his favorite musical from 1928 _ and it joyously comes to life. Marquis. Ticketmaster. _"The History Boys." Alan Bennett's London success about a group of young men trying to get into college. Winner of six 2006 Tony Awards including best play. Broadhurst. Telecharge. Closes Oct. 1. _"The Lieutenant of Inishmore." Martin McDonagh's bloody black comedy about an Irish terrorist and his cat. Lyceum. Telecharge. _"The Lion King." Director Julie Taymor is a modern-day Merlin, creating a stage version of the Disney animated hit that makes you truly believe in the magic of theater. Minskoff. Ticketmaster, a special Disney hot line, 212-307-4747. Difficult on weekends. _"The Phantom of the Opera." The one with the chandelier. The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a deformed composer who haunts the Paris Opera House is the prime, Grade A example of big Brit musical excess. But all the lavishness does have a purpose in Harold Prince's intelligent production, now the longest running show in Broadway history. Majestic. Telecharge. _"The Producers." A riotous stage version of the 1968 Mel Brooks movie. The musical is even better than the film, which is saying something. St. James. A special "Producers" Telecharge number 212-239-5800. _"The Wedding Singer." A musical based on the Adam Sandler movie about a young man who sings in a wedding band and who has been jilted by his fiancee. Al Hirschfeld. Telecharge. _"Wicked." An ambitious if problematic musical about the witches in "The Wizard of Oz." Based on the novel by Gregory Maguire. Gershwin. Ticketmaster. Difficult. ___ The Telecharge number is 212-239-6200 unless otherwise indicated. There is a $6 service charge per ticket, plus a $2.50 handling fee per order. Ticketmaster is 212-307-4100. There is a $6 service charge per ticket, plus a $3 handling fee per order. All theaters owned by Jujamcyn _ the St. James, Martin Beck, Virginia, Eugene O'Neill and the Walter Kerr _ have a $1 surcharge per ticket for theater restoration. Shows that opened in Shubert theaters after Jan. 1, 2001, have a "facilities" surcharge for theater restoration: $1.25 per ticket. Both Telecharge and Ticketmaster will provide information on specific seat locations. They also have toll-free numbers for theater ticket calls outside New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. For Telecharge call 800-432-7250; for Ticketmaster call 800-755-4000. The League of American Theaters and Producers has a special telephone line called the Broadway Line for information on most Broadway shows (except "The Lion King" and "Beauty and the Beast") and how to purchase tickets. Calls must be made on a touch-tone phone. The number is 1-888-BROADWAY. The line also will provide information on Broadway touring productions. Consumers in the New York tri-state area may call 212-302-4111. The TKTS booth in Times Square is currently in a temporary location just outside the New York Marriott Marquis hotel on West 46th St., between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. It sells same-day discount tickets to Broadway, off-Broadway, music and dance productions. There is a $3 service charge per ticket. Cash or travelers checks only. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday evening performances, 3 p.m.-8 p.m.; matinees Wednesday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-7 p.m. The downtown TKTS booth is in the South Street Seaport at the corner of Front and John Streets. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Matinee tickets must be purchased at South Street Seaport the day before, meaning Wednesday matinee tickets are available Tuesday, Saturday matinee tickets are available Friday and Sunday matinee tickets are available Saturday. Full-price tickets and information on Broadway and off-Broadway shows are available at the Broadway Ticket Center, located on the east side of Broadway between 46th Street and 47th Street. There is a $4.50 service charge per ticket.