Where's NYC's N2N revival?
And other international productions that keep me up at night
Good morning (or afternoon) world!
I’m back from the International Association of Theatre Critics’ Young Critics workshop, wherein 20 participants from 11 countries were selected to view, analyze, and critique Brussels’ first FAME Festival (festival where arts meet empowerment). Let’s dive in what happened in the meantime!
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SPOTLIGHT ON NEXT TO NORMAL
(Updated graphic of recent global productions of N2N from my August 22 newsletter; from top left: Japan, China, Spain, UK, Germany)
“Next to Normal” sets UK premiere at Donmar Warehouse
Natalie Note: Perfect example of a common licensing restriction I discuss with my playwrights: despite numerous licensed productions flourishing around the world, N2N is only just now set to make its UK premiere, fourteen years after its Broadway premiere! Authors and/or other rightsholders (sometimes the original Bway producers) can opt to restrict rights for others to do the work in certain territories (often major English speaking like US, UK, AUS, or even just NYC) for various reasons like rewrites, publicity, or waiting for a major commercial revival.
“Next to Normal” opens in Magdeburg, Germany — Don’t be alarmed by the translated title “Fast Normal” — who knew “fast” in German meant “almost”?
Director Tobias Ribitzki intentionally designed the production as reduced as possible so that the characters and their relationships should always remain visible.
EUROPE
Antonio Banderas & Stephen Schwartz Are Collaborating on New Musical About Pablo Picasso— The musical is being co-produced with Trafalgar Entertainment and Banderas’ Teatro Soho CaixaBank in Málaga.
Dutch National Opera Presents the European Premiere of Jeanine Tesori's “BLUE”
“The Prom” opens in The Netherlands (Producer: De Graaf & Cornelissen)
For some reason, everyone and their mother was in Vienna for Francesca Zambello’s production of “Rebecca” while I was in Brussels. I’m not bitter. But I will be listening to my Korean cast recording tonight. New York, your move.
ASIA-PACIFIC & MIDDLE EAST
“Mean Girls” Japanese premiere releases poster ahead of January 2023 opening
Producers Toho & WOWO bring “Jersey Boys” back to Japan — Opening at Nissay Theater this month after previous Japanese productions in 2016, 2018, and a 2020 concert.
Disney's “Frozen” Will Play Singapore (February 2023)
Natalie Note: Presenters BASE Entertainment, managers of the Sands Theatre at Marina Bay Sands, brag they’re the “only stop in Southeast Asia,” which implies this is part of a larger Asian tour not yet announced. For such an undertaking, Disney Theatrical usually partners with Australia-based former-employee-turned-partner Michael Cassel, currently managing The Lion King intl tour BUT NOT, for reasons unknown to me, the current Australian tour (currently playing Perth following successful seasons in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide). The current Aus engagement does end next month, theoretically allowing this physical production to pick a larger tour up in the coming months.
Repertory Philippines is reopening next month with 2020’s delayed production of “Carousel” — Near and dear to me, this was a licensing deal I brokered back when I worked for Broadway Asia.
Selladoor’s “Footloose” UK tour premiered in Dubai this weekend
Have a show or idea you want to expand abroad? Consider working with Natalie at Broadway DNA, just reply to this email and let’s chat!