Saturday, December 7, 2024

Broadway Legend Hal Prince, 87, Will Not Direct “The Band’s Visit” After All

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It seemed a little overambitious, even for a Broadway legend. Hal Prince, 87, was going to direct a new musical, based on the movie “The Band’s Visit,” off Broadway this fall.

Now comes word that Prince can’t do it for “scheduling conflict” reasons. David Cromer is taking over when the musical comes to the Atlantic Theater Company on West 20th St.

Prince did just direct a “greatest hits” show of his career highlights in Japan this past November and December. “The Prince of Broadway” was a huge hit, and may come to the real Broadway this year. It featured choreography by the great Susan Stroman, who re-created Jerome Robbins’ great works that accompanied Prince musicals. Featured players were Josh Grisetti, Shuler Hensley, Ramin Karimloo, Nancy Opel, Emily Skinner, and Tony Yazbeck.

Prince can do whatever he likes. He has a record 21 Tony Awards and a resume that no one will ever equal. He’s a double threat producer-director whose name is on everything from the original West Side Story to Fiddler on the Roof to Cabaret, Sweeney Todd, Phantom of the Opera– you name it. Maybe he needs a rest!

Roger Friedman
Roger Friedmanhttps://www.showbiz411.com
Roger Friedman began his Showbiz411 column in April 2009 after 10 years with Fox News, where he created the Fox411 column. His movie reviews are carried by Rotten Tomatoes, and he is a member of both the movie and TV branches of the Critics Choice Awards. His articles have appeared in dozens of publications over the years including New York Magazine, where he wrote the Intelligencer column in the mid 90s and covered the OJ Simpson trial, and Fox News (when it wasn't so crazy) where he covered Michael Jackson. He is also the writer and co-producer of "Only the Strong Survive," a selection of the Cannes, Sundance, and Telluride Film festivals, directed by DA Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus.

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