A Broadway musical that celebrates New York City in all its glory and grit is based on an iconic song.
Set in 1946 after World War II ends, the musical, titled “New York, New York” in which a struggling musician meets his match in a singer who’s shooting for the stars, is based on the 1977 movie that starred Robert De Niro and Liza Minelli.
According to a CBS report, Colton Ryan and Anna Uzele lead the cast.
“I showed up in the city five years ago with one backpack. I went to an audition for fun to get some experience. Ended up booking it and here I am five years later. So I completely relate to that experience of showing up with your entire life ahead of you,” said Uzele, who plays Francine Evans.
“To be this guy that feels very much, very much in an eerie way, sort of very similar to my life story or my experiences. I’m just pinching myself. It’s wild,” said Ryan, who plays Jimmy Doyle.
The music is by Tony Award-winning composing duo John Kander and the late Fred Ebb.
Lin-Manuel Miranda, who won Tony Awards for “Hamilton” and “In the Heights” wrote the lyrics for a few new songs. Miranda said the song “Cheering for Me Now” started as an experiment.
Sharon Washington and David Thompson are the book’s co-writers.
“There’s hundreds of thousands of stories, and so we’re trying to represent a tapestry that is New York’s,” said Washington.
Performances for “New York, New York” begin March 24 at the St. James Theatre.
