According to production notes, “American Idiot follows working-class characters from the suburbs to the city to the Middle East, as they seek redemption in a world filled with frustration — an exhilarating journey borne along by Green Day’s electrifying songs. This high-octane show includes every song from the album, as well as several new songs from ’21st Century Breakdown.’”
…
Based on the Reprise Records Grammy Award-winning album of the same name, American Idiot features the music of Green Day and the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong. The show is directed by Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), who also collaborated with Armstrong on the book. The choreographer is Olivier Award-winning Steven Hoggett (Blackwatch). The Tony-winning composer Tom Kitt (Next to Normal) is the music supervisor, orchestrator and music arranger. (In addition, Kitt also provided string arrangements for Green Day’s latest album “21st Century Breakdown,” parts of which are incorporated into American Idiot.) [Playbill.com]

American Idiot will begin previews at the St. James Theatre on March 24, 2010 with a scheduled opening date of April 20, 2010. Tickets are currently on sale to Amex presale, general on sale will commence February 14, 2010.

This really isn’t much of a surprise to anyone, but Alan Cumming, who is one of the stars of the upcoming Bono/Edge penned musical, Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, confirmed at a recent Times Talks event that the production would be significantly delayed.

Previews were scheduled to begin next month, but speaking at a TimesTalk event, Mr. Cumming said: “No one’s going to be there that day. We’re just waiting.” He said the show had hit “an iceberg of financial ruin” last year when producers could not raise enough money for the show, which is expected to cost upwards of $50 million. He said the producers should have taken down posters in the theater district that suggest the show is opening soon… [NYTimes.com]

Up until recently, the show’s website said that previews were to begin on Feb 25, 2010, but it now just reads “Coming To Broadway”. Advance tickets are still available on Ticketmaster.com for the Feb 25 start date, but the American Express early on sale has been extended to Mar 31, 2010.

In other Spidey news, Sony decided that it will reboot the movie franchise after director Sam Raimi and actor Tobey Maguire announced that they would not be returning for Spider-Man 4. (Surely, there were all sort of politics at play at play here and you can find some of that information in Nikki Finke’s article for Deadline Hollywood Daily.)

The 34-year-old actor and “Spider-Man” director Sam Raimi will not be returning to the superhero franchise next year. Instead, Sony Pictures and Marvel Studios announced Monday that a new “Spider-Man” film based on a script by James Vanderbilt that focuses on Peter Parker in high school would debut in the summer of 2012 with a new cast and filmmaking team. [Yahoo! Movies]

The Costello Show – Live at Hollywood High

Elvis Costello and The Attractions’ legendary 1978 show at Hollywood High will surface on CD next month, marking the first time the performance has been available in its entirety.

Titled “Live at Hollywood High,” the 20-song set is scheduled for a Jan. 12 release, and will include 11 previously unreleased recordings, according to Universal Music Enterprises. [LiveDaily.com]

In addition to this “new” live album, Elvis is busy promoting Season 2 of Spectacle (Wednesdays at 10PM on Sundance), gearing up for his upcoming Spring tour (still waiting on the NYC date), and last but not least, preparing for his role in a new Broadway musical entitled Ghost Brothers of Darkland County. The Stephen King penned show will also feature fellow thespians Neko Case, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, Rosanne Cash and Kris Kristofferson.

The play will debut in Atlanta next September at Alliance Theater, but for those not in Atlanta there will be a three-disc soundtrack to be produced by T-Bone Burnett and a book package that Mellencamp hopes to have out before the premiere. According to Mellencamp, who said the project is like listening to an old radio program from the 1930’s, the music is “down-home” with the vibe of acoustic folk-blues-country of the era. Whatever it sounds like, we’re there. [Spinner.com]

More Elvis Costello tour dates and Live at Hollywood High track listing after the jump.

“New Elvis Costello Tour Dates, “New” Live at Hollywood High Album Out Now + Broadway Musical News!” continued after the jump

Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark

OK, so this post is really more or less an excuse to use the phrase “Jazz Hands” in a title, but it’s also an update on the troubled production of the Bono & The Edge scored musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark.

The other big new musical of the season, should it happen — and that’s an “if” the size of the Empire State Building — is the star-crossed Spider-man, Turn Off the Dark. Suffering from a mountain of bad word-of-mouth and backstage gossip about its future, the latest word from the Julie Taymor-directed, Bono-The Edge-scored mega-musical is that it would open in “2010″ (the previous start date was more specific, Feb. 25) and that Reeve Carney would star in the title role. Also announced was Michael Cohl. Cohl’s not an actor, he’s the new lead producer of the show. It’s highly unusual for a production to switch producers mid-stream and the move is indicative of the stress the high-budgeted show has undergone over the last year. Stay tuned. [Playbill.com]

Sahr Ngaujah as Fela Kuti and the Broadway cast of FELA!

Photo: Monique Carboni

In early November, chief bumpershine theatre critic Robert Jaimes and I attended a preview on FELA! on Broadway, here’s his review:

FELA! A Review by Robert Jaimes

In celebrating the music of Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, FELA! is, at times, downright hypnotic. With its driving beats, raw and often-politically-infused lyrics, FELA! immediately promises the audience something different in the way of a Broadway theatrical experience. Different it delivers. FELA! falls somewhat short, however, when the story drifts away from the unique concert experience that FELA! originally promises.

Upon entering the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, the audience is transported to “The Shrine,” which, according to the program note, “is in one of the most dangerous parts of the city, and between the thousands trying to get in and the Army trying to keep you away, it’s no easy task. Best to show up before 11 PM.” (The good news is, thanks to advance ticket sales and assigned seating in this Times Square Disneyfication era, I experienced neither dodgy Black Friday-like mobs clamoring to get in, nor NYPD’s finest militia barricading my entrance into the theatre. I do recommend, however, arriving a tad earlier than the program note recommends— no later than 8 PM for evening shows— so as not to avoid missing the show altogether.)

Almost immediately, we are treated to “B.I.D. (Breaking It Down),” a series of songs designed to provide a lively and interactive education in the music of Fela Kuti and the genre of Afrobeat. For those unfamiliar with this musical style, Afrobeat can be described as a symphony of raw, tribal rhythms, infused with jazz. Fela’s caustic lyrics tell it like it is in corrupt 1970s Nigeria, they are often urgent, often playful, and never apologetic. Combined, the music and lyrics can accuse, inspire, compel and amuse.

Led by the remarkable Sahr Ngaujah in the title role [Kevin Mambo also plays the lead twice a week], the FELA! cast embraces Afrobeat with every ounce of their immensely talented beings. With the help of Brooklyn’s Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra, their mastery and expression of Fela’s music is mesmerizing. Standout performances include “Everything Scatter,” “Teacher Don’t Teach Me Nonsense,” “Expensive Shit” and “Zombie.”

Neither the choreography of Bill T. Jones nor of his talented dancers ever misstep. In some of the more uplifting moments in FELA!, traditional tribal-like dances are brought alive with such joy, spontaneity, child-like abandonment and down-and-dirty sexuality. The dancers’ spirits are infectious. Jones has infused into heart-pounding, primitive African dance such eclectic dance styles as Bollywood, jitterbug, swing, latin beat, as well as military and tap, making FELA! ethnocentric and universal, foreign and recognizable, all at once.

Those not familiar with Afrobeat or Nigerian accents, fear not, at least for part of the show. Director/Choreographer Bill T. Jones has adeptly employed multi-media elements— supertitles and vintage footage— to assist the untrained ear and tell Fela’s story.

Despite its excellent music and dancing, I had some difficulties with the story in FELA!. The narrative interrupts; it transported me away from The Shrine that Bill T. Jones and the rest of his design staff and cast and crew so successfully created at the top of the show. Although the real-life history of Fela Kuti can pack an emotional wallop, particularly the brutal military raid on Fela’s compound depicted in Act Two, I often felt imposed upon and at times confused. A dream sequence between Fela and his mother, Funmilayo Kuti, also particularly missed the mark, with the set evoking a white netherworld, a Roosevelt Island tram and an aluminum Christmas tree. Enough said? As terrific as Broadway veteran Lillias White is as Funmilayo, I wanted Fela to wake up right away. – RJ

While I basically agree with Robert’s assessment, (though I might have added that FELA’s lighting was also excellent), I really think that fans of Fela Kuti, fans of Afrobeat, and music fans in general will find this show tremendously entertaining. Sahr Nguajah was truly a tour de force in the lead role— he dances, acts, conducts, and plays sax, all with exceptional prowess and seemingly boundless energy. Aside from Mr. Nguajah, the Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra delivers a finely honed performance and the chorus of dancers are as talented as they are magnetic. In short, there is really nothing like Fela! on Broadway right now and I really hope it finds the audience it deserves— hopefully the addition of Jay-Z, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith as executive producers will help out in that respect. To those of you who usually prefer the dark confines of a Lower East Side club over the blinding lights of Times Square, I encourage you to head on up to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre for a change of pace, I think you’ll be glad you did.

Now here’s the best part, I’ve got a pair of tickets to give away to FELA! on Broadway valid for a variety of performances in December 2009 and January 2010. In order to win tickets, please fill out the entry form after the jump, US residents (locals only please), must be 18 or older. This contest ends on December 11, 2009. If you’re not the winner, don’t despair though, you can still purchase tickets to FELA! on Broadway via Telecharge, use code FEBBX67 or FEBX817 for substantial savings.

One last thing, this recent interest in Fela has sparked a couple of interesting side projects, nearly four dozen Fela albums are being reissued on Knitting Factory Records in the US starting in 2010 (a 2 CD “Best of the Black President” compilation is out now), Focus Features has announced that they are developing a feature film based on the life of Fela, and finally Brooklyn’s own Antibalas has started a Thursday night residency at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn from now until January 28th, 2010.

UPDATE: Watch for the cast of FELA! on The Colbert Report tonight (Dec 7).

Contest entry form, more information on the Fela Kuti reissues and Antibalas residency after the jump.

PS See Ben Brantley’s rave review over here.

“FELA! on Broadway, Review and Ticket Giveaway” continued after the jump

Win Tickets to Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space on October 3, 2009!

Symphony Space has some excellent concerts and events lined up for their 2009-2010 Family Season including mega kiddie acts like Ralph’s World and Brooklyn favorites such as, Randy Kaplan, Astrograss and Gustafer Yellowgold, just to name a few. The new season kicks off on Saturday, October 3 with the Woodstock based folk-rock singer Elizabeth Mitchell who will charm both children and adults alike with her renditions of songs by artists ranging from Bob Dylan to Bob Marley. In celebration of the new season, (and because I love giveaways), I’m giving away family four-pack of tickets to Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space to one lucky reader who emails me at contests@bumpershine.com and tells me the name of their favorite family/kids album. A random winner will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, September 30. View the entire 2009-2010 Symphony Space season of family programming over here.

It’s officially fall now, and not only does that mean back to school, but it also means that there is a bumper crop of children’s fare available on home video, at the movie theatres and even at the record store (if they still have a record store where you live, that is). This Tuesday (September 22) marked the release of The Fine Friends Are Here, the latest DVD from venerable Brooklyn entertainer Dan Zanes (his first DVD in four years, and his first release for Razor and Tie). The new DVD, recorded live at The Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook, Brooklyn, contains 13 live tracks, 3 new videos and a four-song bonus cd of late-night (read “lullaby”) music. The songs and videos on the new disc draw from Zanes’ fine back catalog, with over half the tunes coming his most recent albums, Catch That Train and Nueva York and the rest being drawn from Family Dance, and a few of his various older releases. The new DVD is a huge step up from his previous wildly successful video release, All Around The Kitchen (which I watched until it was etched in my brain) in terms of production quality. The transitions between songs are seamless and clever, the band is well lit for the entire performance (a real fault of the first video if you ask me), the direction is well thought out, the camerawork is solid (not shaky), and the image you see on your screen just looks about 100 times better than the last DVD, in fact, it looks like the show was captured on film (though I suspect it was probably some form of HD video). Sure it’s a much slicker package this time around, but when all is said and done, it’s really the songs and the performances that make this new video a winner. Though Dan has assembled an almost completely new band since Kitchen was released (long time drummer Colin Brooks remains), the new players can still “bring the party”, and the joy and enthusiasm taken in the rendition of each song is directly reflected on the faces of the audience members at the Jalopy and should carry over to those viewing at home too. On a final note, it was nice to see that they got rid of the cookie cutter Noggin videos that were included in the last DVD and created some cute original videos for this new release. Like you might expect, Dan has a few DVD release shows lined up in the near future, he’ll be playing on Friday, September 25 (tomorrow) at the Housing Works Bookstore and Cafe and then again at the 92Y Tribeca on September 30 at 4PM. View all of Dan Zanes upcoming tour dates and the track list for the The Fine Friends Are Here over here.

In TV soundtrack news, on October 20, 2009 the gang from Yo Gabba Gabba, one of the most indie savvy kids programs on TV, will release a new album full of songs from the show as performed by some of your favorite artists including: Of Montreal, Mark Kozelek, The Shins, The Roots and many more artists you wouldn’t expect to find on the Nickelodeon Channel. In celebration of this release, the YGG stars (DJ Lance Rock, Lance Robertson; Brobee, the little green one; Foofa, the pink flower bubble; Muno, the red Cyclops; Toodee, the blue cat-dragon; and Plex) are headed out on a small three city tour which will make its way to the Beacon Theatre in NYC on November 21, 2009, tickets for that show go on sale on October 9. View the track list for Yo Gabba Gabba! Music is Awesome! over here. One last thing, YGG Live isn’t DJ Lance’s only upcoming local appearance, he’ll be appearing this Saturday, September 26 at Riverside Park as part of the RBC Race For The Kids, and then again on Sunday, October 4 at the New York Times Great Children’s Read at Columbia University.

Last but not least, Spike Jonze’s long delayed, yet much anticipated movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s beloved children’s book Where The Wild Things Are will be released in theaters nationwide on October 16, with the official soundtrack dropping on September 29. The soundtrack features original songs by Karen O and The Kids (“The Kids” includes Tristan Bechet, Tom Biller, Bradford Cox, Brian Chase, Dean Fertita, Aaron Hemphill, Greg Kurstin, Jack Lawrence, Oscar Michel, Imaad Wasif, Nick Zinner and an untrained children’s choir) and to celebrate the new release in style, Karen O and her other band, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs will be performing an intimate show at The Music Hall of Williamsburg on September 29, 2009.

Tons more fall and winter family events from The New York Times, 92Y Tribeca, New Victory Theatre, The Bell House, Brooklyn Center For The Performing Arts, The Jewish Museum, Symphony Space, Kidrockers and other fine NY institutions after the jump.

“Win Tickets to Elizabeth Mitchell at Symphony Space + New Dan Zanes DVD & Live Shows, New Yo Gabba Gabba CD & Live Shows, “Where The Wild Things Are” Movie and Soundtrack and Many More Family Events” continued after the jump

Photo: Lisa Tomasetti

Tickets to A Streetcar Named Desire, featuring Cate Blanchett, and directed by Liv Ullmann, will go on sale to the general public on Sep 21. This limited engagement is sure to sell out, so purchase your tickets early.

Buy Tickets

Mortal Engine

Photo: Andrew Curtis

Just a reminder, single tickets for the BAM Next Wave Festival go on sale to the general public starting today (September 8).

BAM 2009 Next Wave Festival
Next Wave Single Tickets
On sale to the public starting Tue, Sep 8

Many of this year’s Next Wave productions are sure to sell out so buy early. This season’s artists include Juliette Binoche, William Forsythe, Isabelle Huppert, Robert Wilson, the Dessner brothers (of The National), and DJ Spooky. Single tickets go on sale to the general public on September 8. See video previews at BAM.org.

Fela! On Broadway

Fela!, the story of Afrobeat pioneer Fela Anikulapo Kuti, played to packed houses and rave reviews when it debuted Off Broadway in 2008, and since nobody loves a hit like Broadway, they’re bringing the show back on the boards starting this fall. Previews for Fela! begin on October 19, 2009 at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre, in advance of a November 23 opening. Brooklyn’s Antibalas afrobeat ensemble will once again supply the music for Fela!, and Sahr Ngaujah will reprise his role as Fela Kuti.

Here’s how to get discount tickets for Fela! On Broadway:

SAVE NOW WITH CODE FENYT817
Buy Tickets

10/19/09 – 11/21/09
$52 (reg. $97)

12/1/09 – 01/31/10
$67 (reg. $110-$120)

Enter the extravagant, decadent, rebellious world of Afrobeat
legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti.

THREE EASY WAYS TO SAVE!
1) CLICK HERE TO BUY ONLINE NOW
2) CALL (212) 947-8844 AND MENTION CODE FENYT817
3) VISIT THE EUGENE O’NEILL BOX OFFICE AT 230 W 49TH ST
(PREVIEWS BEGIN OCTOBER 19, BOX OFFICE OPENS SEPTEMBER 28)

Check out NY Mag’s “Fall Preview” article on Fela! over here.

Bryce and Aaron Dessner (Composers of The Long Count)

Photo: David Kressler

If you’re a Friend of BAM, starting on Monday, August 17, you can get early access single tickets to In-I featuring Juliette Binoche and Akram Khan. All other Next Wave Festival single tickets go on sale for Friends of BAM starting Monday, August 23. Check out the cheat sheet below:

Important Friends of BAM priority access on-sale dates

Aug 17 – In-I single tickets
Aug 31 – All other Next Wave Festival single tickets (The Long Count, Imaginary City, Songs of Ascension, Terra Nova: Sinfonia Antarctica and more)
Aug 31 – Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD
Sep 14 – A Streetcar Named Desire single tickets

Just a little reminder that the second production of the Public Theater’s 2009 Shakespeare In The Park Season is currently underway. From now until August 30 you can catch The Bacchae by Euripides with original music by Philip Glass at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.

The Bacchae is performed Tuesday-Sunday at 8pm and traditionally ticket distribution begins each performance day at 1pm at the Delacorte Box Office in Central Park. This year, however, there are two other ways to get tickets (without waiting in line):

1) Become a Summer Supporter by making a $170 tax-deductible contribution and receive a reserved seat for a performance of The Bacchae, or

2) Make a request for tickets through the in the “Virtual Line” at vline.publictheater.org. Recipients selected for a pair of tickets through the Virtual Line will receive an email shortly after 1PM on the day of the performance, informing them of their good fortune.

This virtual line option is brand new (and totally awesome I might add) and as far as I know The Public hasn’t been promoting it all. (I got an email from them on August 14 about Shakespeare In Park and oddly there was no mention of it at all.)

Photo: Joan Marcus

A statement on Sunday from the publicists for Hello Entertainment, one of the producers of “Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark,” said work had been suspended on the musical because of “an unexpected cash flow problem.” The statement went on to say: “The plans necessary for this correction are in hand now, and it is expected that activities, including work in the theater, will resume within the immediate future and with no material impact upon the planned production schedule.” No date for resuming production work was given. [NYTimes.com]

“An unexpected cash flow problem” certainly has to be one of the best lines in the history of show business. However, despite the “cash flow problem” tickets for the musical are currently still on American Express presale via Ticketmaster, with a public on sale date set for September 12, 2009. As you may recall, Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark will star Evan Rachel Wood and Alan Cumming and features music and lyrics by Bono and The Edge of U2.

Imaginary City by So Percussion

Subscription tickets for the 2009 BAM Next Wave Festival (which includes The Long Count and Imaginary City among other offerings) go on presale for Friends of BAM and subscribers (2008 Next Wave Festival and 2009 Spring Season) on Monday, June 15 (today). Public Next Wave Festival subscriptions go sale Monday, June 22. Also, tickets for the BAM Special Winter Presentation of a A Streetcar Named Desire starring Cate Blanchett and Liv Ullmann may be added to a 2009 Next Wave Festival subscription (of 4 or more events) starting June 15 as well (8 ticket limit per household).

Video preview of The Long Count after the jump. (It looks pretty cool.)

“BAM Next Wave Festival Early On Sale Starts Today (The Long Count, Imaginary City, Streetcar Named Desire)” continued after the jump

The New Is Land Festival (or is it “Island” or “IsLand”?) will run from Sept. 10 to 13 and Sept. 17 to 20 on Governor’s Island, and will include DJ sets, visual arts, provocative theatre, and site specific performances by over 150 Dutch and New York artists. The festival lineup, though not fully announced yet, will include an unspecified production from director Ivo van Hove and Toneelgroep Amsterdam, an outdoor “spectacle” called “Salto Vitale” and the US premiere of “Silent Disco,” a dance party in which all participants wear headphones. A full listing of free and paid events is expected in the coming weeks.

The New Is Land Festival is part of the NY400, which celebrates the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s voyage from Amsterdam to New York Harbor.

Twelfth Night, the first show of the annual New York tradition, Shakespeare In The Park, begins previews this Wednesday, June 10 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Hollywood actor Anne Hathaway brings the star power to this Daniel Sullivan production, so better start lining up now folks (well, on second thought, I think you’ve still got some time).

TWELFTH NIGHT
JUNE 10 – JULY 12
By WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Directed by DANIEL SULLIVAN

With Charles Borland, Andrew Crowe, Michael Cumpsty, Steve Curtis, Clifton Duncan, Raúl Esparza, Herb Foster, Leslie Harrison, Anne Hathaway, Slate Holmgren, Kevin Kelly, David Kenner, Christopher Layer, Robin LeMon, Hamish Linklater, Dorien Makhloghi, Audra McDonald, David Pittu, Ray Rizzo, Jay O. Sanders, Julie Sharbutt, Stark Sands, Baylen Thomas, Zach Villa, Jon Patrick Walker, Julie White

Performances of Twelfth Night will be Tuesday through Sunday at 8pm

Details of the second show in the 2009 Shakespeare In The Park season after the jump.

“Shakespeare In The Park Starts Next Week” continued after the jump