The Return of Broadway
The announcement theatre fans have been waiting for has finally happened. Broadway is indeed coming back and surprisingly, at 100% capacity.
Performers are getting back in shape, dusting off their dance shoes, vocalizing, and preparing for the big day when many shows will throw open their doors. Daily, we hear about the shows that are posting their re-opening announcements. Wicked, The Lion King, and Hamilton are leading the pack, re-opening on Sept. 14, the first day possible. Company, the revival of a Stephen Sondheim musical that was able to eke out just a few previews before last year’s shutdown, has announced their opening night is slated for Jan. 9, 2022.
The diva of all divas, Patti LuPone, released an ebullient and emotional video, inviting theatregoers back to the theatre.
The refreshed Company starring Ms. LuPone and Katrina Lenk begins previews on Dec. 20.
Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market on 106.7 Life-FM, an iHeart station. She has hosted, produced, and created several award-winning nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with stars like Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey among others. Her radio talk show "Bagels and Broadway" highlighted theatre and food personalities. She is an accomplished interviewer and voice artist heard on commercials, narrations, promos and audiobooks, as well as a sought after live announcer.
Most recently, Valerie produced and directed a film, The Thursday Night Club, featuring pop diva Gloria Gaynor in her movie acting debut. She is one of the creators and producers of a docu-series, Divine Renovation, starring Erik Estrada, on streaming networks soon.
