Neil Berg's 100 Years Of Broadway is "a Bruce Springsteen concert for the Broadway set"
But did The Boss ever sing "Surrey With A Fringe On Top"?
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Welcome to Cheap Seats, where every Thursday we’ll talk to folks behind the scenes of the stage events opening around town, in order to give you a flavor of the productions that won’t be found in any of the promo materials.
Neil Berg's 100 Years Of Broadway, Overture Center, March 13
Promo pull-quote: “100 Years Of Broadway revives the greatest show-stoppers of the last century. Stars who lit up the Great White Way in shows like The Phantom Of The Opera, Les Miserables, Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Jekyll & Hyde will shine again on the Capitol Theater stage. Revel in well-worn favorites by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Frank Loesser and Frankie Valli. This isn't just a taste of Broadway—it’s a full sampling of the century.”
What it’s really about: If you go into Neil Berg’s 100 Years Of Broadway expecting a heavy dose of plot, you’ll leave disappointed—it’s essentially a musical revue. But that’s not to say it’s lacking in story. In fact, 100 Years is as much about stories as it is songs. “The show explores the evolution of the Broadway musical from the point of view of the performers,” says producer Adam Friedson. “The five singers tell the stories of how they became who they are. It’s personal, intimate, and warm.”
Fun fact: In order to reach younger audiences, Friedson and co-producer Neil Berg decided to steal a page from American Idol’s playbill. In each of the cities where the show tours, a contest is held weeks beforehand to choose three lucky folks to join the cast in singing onstage during the encore. For Saturday’s show, the winners are 15, 19, and 28 years old. “There are Broadway stars all over the country,” says Friedson. “We’re trying to reach out, nurture, and draw them in.”
Best reason to try it: 100 Years was designed to cater to those who know every word of “Seasons Of Love,” while at the same time welcoming people who don’t know Grizzabella from a bag of kitty litter. “The show provides background history, while also presenting the most familiar songs from the greatest shows in history,” says Friedson. “It’s a Bruce Springsteen concert for the Broadway set.”
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