The Broadway production had been selling out at the Hudson before the pre-scheduled closing, recently setting a house record of $1,416,344 – a figure reflecting just seven performances, toppling the eight-performance record of Sunday in the Park With George back in April 2017 ($1,278,395).īyrne and the American Utopia musicians will be the musical guests on NBC’s Saturday Night Live February 29. The film, planned for a 2020 release, will be launched in collaboration with the Broadway return. The show has played on Broadway as well as across the world and features Byrne alongside. “We have been blown away by the range of audiences of all ages and backgrounds who have come to see American Utopia.”ĭirector Spike Lee is directing a filmed version of the show, with media company Participant as the lead financier and executive producer for the project, which River Road Entertainment and Warner Music Group will also co-finance. This is the live album recording of David Byrnes American Utopia. “David Byrne is one of our greatest living artists and it’s cause for celebration that he has made his Broadway debut with this brilliant production,” the producers said. Parson moves the dozen performers about deftly, making dynamic use of the bare stage, and Rob Sinclair’s lighting jives with the gentler tone of Byrne’s music, never trying to dazzle or overstimulate.2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming The musicians move as a unit both cohesive and shaggy this dichotomy is exemplified in their costuming, where performers are both barefoot and clad in silvery suits. 5/5 stars.The soundscape is gorgeous, lyrics landing with bell-like clarity.Of course, you expect a concert staging to be an earful. A pair of dancers (Chris Giarmo and Tendayi Kuumba) executes the flicky, unpretentious choreography while the rest of the band-a multinational and immensely talented tensome of guitarists, percussionists, and a keyboardist-bops along. American Utopia flows like an iridescent dream vision. Her musical staging is a lovely and natural extension of Byrne’s feel-good and world beat music. Spike Lee here transforms the production into immersive, dynamic cinema that radiates with astounding performances, inventive contemporary dance and political urgency. Parson’s simple choreography certainly helps in enticing audiences to groove along. Sure, this is indeed a concert, but nonetheless, it is also the most animated I’ve ever seen white people in a Broadway house. And lift they do the night I saw the show, audiences stood to their feet almost every other number and swayed along to Byrne’s classic songs. The show commits itself to this medium, which means the songs are actually given a chance to breathe, accelerate, and uplift. Because of this rushed pacing, I found myself caring less about Tina’s emotional journey-and life.Īmerican Utopia, meanwhile, wholeheartedly knows it’s a concert. What is the running time of David Byrne's American Utopia American Utopia runs 1 hour and 45 minutes. In Tina, and other biomusicals that have mostly plagued instead of electrified Broadway, songs are clipped just as they might start to build, gaining steam just as they have to cut out to make room for the next Billboard-topping tune. Donald J Trump famously invoked the prospect of 'American carnage' in his inauguration speech in 2017, but rock musician (and occasional theatrical composer) David Byrnes reply, in his 7th solo studio album, was to focus on more positive emotions, with the title American Utopia. David Byrne's American Utopia is at the St. Just this month I saw Tina: The Tina Turner Musical Adrienne Warren’s Tony-winning turn as the Queen of Rock ‘n Roll is a tidal wave, but what jukebox musicals often stifle, ironically, is the music itself. In watching American Utopia ’s exuberant execution and enjoyment of its own music, I couldn’t help but think of other Broadway shows-jukebox musicals-where beloved, Grammy-winning songs are similarly the main draw. Triumphant as those performances were, what David Byrne and his American Utopia -with choreography and musical staging by Annie-B Parson-is offering is more unique, at least on Broadway: a near-nonstop concert that’s also an invitation. Of course, Broadway is occasionally blessed with titanic performances from older performers-Glenda Jackson in King Lear and Jane Alexander in Grand Horizons are two recent examples. It’s a rare treat to see a performer of Byrne’s age get to lead and command a Broadway show-at almost 70, he exudes a youthful, idealistic charm takes lead vocals on every song and buzzes around the theater like a bee on the first day of spring. James Theatre, American Utopia is an infectious showcase of Byrne’s decades-long career. David Byrnes sold out international tour in support of his first-ever chart-topping album was the most critically lauded tour of 2018, with fans and.
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