The first installment of my Broadway couples series, called "The Sky's the Limit". I feature Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler-Hamilton at their wedding, set during Eliza's song "Helpless" from Lin Manuel Miranda's 2015 hit musical Hamilton.
Hamilton follows the life and successes and fall of American founding father, Alexander Hamilton. Written by Lin Manuel Miranda and infused with hip-hop, rap, and modern pop influences, the sung-through musical showcases the life of Alexander Hamilton, but also his rise to fame, his fall to shame, every bit in-between, and his lasting legacy on the United States today.
The second piece in this Broadway Couples Series, called "Blithe Smile, Lithe Limb". Features Elphaba, The Wicked Witch of the West, and Fiyero from the still wildly popular Wicked. Though named for lyrics from "I'm Not That Girl", this is set during "As Long as Your Mine". Note: neither Elphaba nor Fiyero are themed after a certain actress or actor who has portrayed them.
Wicked is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
Third in the Broadway Couples series is Marius Pontmercy and Cosette from the Broadway classic, Les Misérables. Called "For It Isn't A Dream", this takes place in the costumes for their first meeting in the current Broadway revival. However, the name comes from the final lines of "A Heart Full of Love".
Based on the classic novel, Les Misérables, by Victor Hugo, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a prisoner who breaks parole, and the police inspector, Javert, who tries to hunt him down for breaking parole. Valjean tries to help a poor factory worker, Fantine, by saving her child, Cosette, from innkeepers who are holding her captive as a slave. Marius, a war veteran during the battles of post-French Revolution, falls for Cosette, but their lives change forever when the war turns more gruesome than expected.
Fourth in the Broadway Couples Series, called "Sweet Kisses I've Got To Spare", features Angel and Collins from the beloved hit musical RENT.
RENT, set at the dawn of the 1990s, a group of New Yorkers struggle with their careers, love lives and the effects of the AIDS epidemic on their community. Mark, an aspiring filmmaker, and Roger, an HIV-positive musician, scramble for money to pay rent to their landlord and former roommate, Benny. Meanwhile, their friend Tom Collins, a professor, has fallen for Angel, who is slowly dying of AIDS.
Fifth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "Maybe Prom Night? Maybe Dancing?", features Veronica Sawyer and J.D. from the cult hit musical based off of the teen movie of the same name, Heathers. This piece is titled after lyrics from the love duet "Seventeen".
Heathers the Musical is the darkly delicious story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy, beautiful teenage misfit who hustles her way into the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High: the Heathers. But before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Veronica falls in love with the dangerously sexy new kid J.D. When Heather Chandler, the Almighty, kicks her out of the group, Veronica decides to bite the bullet and kiss Heather’s aerobicized ass… but J.D. has another plan for that bullet.
Sixth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "Is That Me Who's Floating Away?", features Celie and Shug Avery from the beloved musical The Color Purple. This piece is titled after lyrics from the love duet "What About Love?".
Based upon Alice Walker’s acclaimed novel of the same name, The Color Purple is the epic tale of 40-years in the life of a family in rural Georgia. At its center is fourteen-year-old Celie. When Celie is forced by her abusive father to marry a cruel farmer, called “Mister,” she is separated from all that she loves. Ultimately, Celie conquers the odds to find her voice and her strength, coming into her own. Featuring a vibrant score, The Color Purple, celebrates the healing power of love and the importance of a zest for life.
Seventh in this Broadway Couples Series, called "For Even A Day", features Katherine Plumber and Jack Kelly from the smash hit musical, Newsies. This piece is titled after lyrics from the Act 2 duet "Something To Believe In".
Newsies, based on the real-life Newsboy Strike of 1899, this new Disney musical tells the story of Jack Kelly, a rebellious newsboy who dreams of a life as an artist away from the big city. After publishing giant Joseph Pulitzer raises newspaper prices at the newsboys' expense, Kelly and his fellow newsies take action.
Eighth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "Forget These Wide Eyed Fears", features Christine Daae and Viscount Raoul de Chagny from the longest running Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera. This piece is titled after "All I Ask of You", their costumes from the Broadway production.
From his hideout beneath a 19th century Paris opera house, the brooding Phantom schemes to get closer to vocalist Christine Daae. The Phantom, wearing a mask to hide a congenital disfigurement, strong-arms management into giving the budding starlet key roles, but Christine instead falls for arts benefactor Raoul. Terrified at the notion of her absence, the Phantom enacts a plan to keep Christine by his side, while Raoul tries to foil the scheme.
Eighth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "Surrender To Your Darkest Dreams", features The Phantom and Christine Daae from the longest running Broadway musical, The Phantom of the Opera. This piece is titled after "Music of the Night".
From his hideout beneath a 19th century Paris opera house, the brooding Phantom schemes to get closer to vocalist Christine Daae. The Phantom, wearing a mask to hide a congenital disfigurement, strong-arms management into giving the budding starlet key roles, but Christine instead falls for arts benefactor Raoul. Terrified at the notion of her absence, the Phantom enacts a plan to keep Christine by his side, while Raoul tries to foil the scheme.
From his hideout beneath a 19th century Paris opera house, the brooding Phantom schemes to get closer to vocalist Christine Daae. The Phantom, wearing a mask to hide a congenital disfigurement, strong-arms management into giving the budding starlet key roles, but Christine instead falls for arts benefactor Raoul. Terrified at the notion of her absence, the Phantom enacts a plan to keep Christine by his side, while Raoul tries to foil the scheme.
Ninth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "The Room Had No Ceiling Or Floor", features Ella and Prince Topher from the beautiful 2013 reimagined Broadway musical, Cinderella. This piece is titled after "Ten Minutes Ago". Ella herself is inspired by her first actress in the 2013 production, Laura Osnes.
The smart and beautiful young Ella lives in the care of her wicked, self-absorbed stepmother Madame and Madame’s two daughters, Charlotte and Gabrielle. Ella’s only friends in the world are the animals in the woods, “Crazy Marie” and the revolutionary student Jean-Michel. Meanwhile in another part of the kingdom, Prince Topher is trying to find himself and learn his place in the kingdom. When his scheming advisor Sebastian suggests throwing a ball so the Prince could meet potential brides, Ella and Topher’s different worlds come together. Expect the unexpected in this clever retelling of the beloved fairytale.
Tenth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "Keep Kissing Til We Come To", features Jenna and Dr. Jim Pottamer from the new Broadway musical, Waitress. This piece is titled after "Bad Idea".
Based on the 2007 film by the late Adrienne Shelly, Waitress follows Jenna, a pregnant waitress in the south trapped in an abusive marriage and looking for a happy ending. She finds relief—and potentially that happy ending—by making creatively titled pies and forming a romance with an unlikely newcomer.
Eleventh in this Broadway Couples Series, called "How Do You Say Hold Me?", features Nina Rosario and Benny from Lin Manuel Miranda's first Broadway musical, In the Heights. This piece is titled after "Sunrise".
In the Heights centers on a variety of characters living in the neighborhood of Washington Heights, on the northern tip of Manhattan. At the center of the show is Usnavi, a bodega owner who looks after the aging Cuban lady next door, pines for the gorgeous girl working in the neighboring beauty salon and dreams of winning the lottery and escaping to the shores of his native Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, Nina, a childhood friend of Usnavi’s, has returned to the neighborhood from her first year at college with surprising news for her parents, who have spent their life savings on building a better life for their daughter. Ultimately, Usnavi and the residents of the close-knit neighborhood get a dose of what it means to be home.
Twelfth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "What It Is To Be In Love", features Aida and Radames from Elton John and Tim Rice's musical, Aida. This piece is titled after "Written In The Stars".
At the Nile’s edge, the enslaved Nubian princess, Aida becomes romantically entangled with the Egyptian captain, Radames, who is betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter, Amneris. As their forbidden love grows deeper, Aida is forced to find balance between her heart’s yearning for Radames, and her responsibility to lead her people.
Thirteenth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "The Power You're Supplying", features Sandy and Danny from the classic movie and stage musical, Grease. This piece is titled after "You're The One That I Want".
It’s 1959, and Rydell High School’s senior class is in rare form. The too-cool-for-school “T-Birds” are stealing hub-caps and acting tough and their gum-snapping, chain-smoking “Pink Ladies” are looking hot in bobby sox and pedal pushers. The 1950s high school dream is about to explode in this rollicking musical that is both an homage to the idealism of the fifties and a satire of high schoolers’ age-old desire to be rebellious, provocative and rebellious. At the heart of the story is the romance between hot-rodding gangster Danny Zuko and the sweet new girl in town, Sandy Dumbrowski. They had a secret romance in summer, but now back in the context of school, peer-pressure and cliques make their love a bit more complicated. Can Danny maintain his cool dude status and still get make demure Sandy his girl? The whole gang sings and dances around Danny and Sandy’s romance.
Fourteenth in this Broadway Couples Series, called "I Will Shower You In Flowers", features Sandra and Edward from the stage adaptation of the movie, Big Fish. This piece is titled after "Daffodils".
Edward Bloom has lived a full and fantastical life, populated by witches, giants, and mermaids, marked by true love that stops time in its tracks, and framed by heroics that push the limits of believability. His adult son, Will, is no longer amused by his father’s fantastical tales, insisting on a rational rather than a fantastical account of one’s life. When Edward’s health declines, and Will learns that he and his wife, Josephine, will have a son of their own, Will decides to find out his father’s “true” life story, once and for all. Big Fish is a heartfelt, powerful, and truly magical musical about fathers, sons, and the stories that we use to define our identities. With spine-tinglingly beautiful music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa, and a funny, heartwarming book by John August, Big Fish is a magnificent “big fish” of a tale, itself -- spectacular, fantastical, and overflowing with love.
The fifteenth and final installment in this Broadway Couples Series, called "You're Blossoming in the Woods", features The Baker and The Baker's Wife from the Sondheim classic musical, Into the Woods. This piece is titled after "It Takes Two" and is modeled after the Original Broadway Cast.
“Be careful what you wish for” seems to be the ongoing theme in Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Brothers Grimm inspired musical, Into the Woods. The story follows The Baker and his wife who wish to have a child, Cinderella who wishes to go the King’s Festival, and Jack who wishes his cow would give some milk. When the Baker and his wife are visited by the neighborhood witch, who reveals to them that she placed a curse on their family, the two set off on a journey into the woods to reverse the curse. Also in the woods, we meet Little Red, who is trying to visit her grandmother, the Wolf who loves tasty little girls, the Witch’s daughter Rapunzel, and the Princes chasing after their loves. By the end of Act I, everyone has gotten their wish and will seemingly live happily ever after. But in Act II, when Jack’s beanstalk brings them a visit from an angry Giant, we see how the consequences of their actions haunt them in disastrous ways. The community must come together to save each other and their kingdom, but sacrifices must be made.
