Anything is possible on BROADWAY

Well, it’s the taint of the year in New York City, when the bells and balls of the holidays are far behind us and spring still seems an eternity away. Luckily, theater lovers have a lot to be excited about – or at least a lot to be potentially excited about, depending on how things go. Maybe I’m still high on the magic of Lea Michele in Funny Girl, but I have optimism in my heart and believe anything’s possible. Maybe all the new shows opening on Broadway will be wonderful.

Maybe Andrew Lloyd Webber will have an eleventh-hour epiphany and make his new musical, Bad Cinderella (Imperial Theatre, previews February 17) more reminiscent of his classics Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar and less like his recent School of Rock or The Woman in White. The reviews in London were positive for Bad Cinderella, so a stateside hit is not far-fetched. And no matter what else goes down on that stage, veteran dynamo Carolee Carmello is playing the Stepmother and sure to deliver some thrills. Is it too much to ask that she sing a little bit of “Buenos Aires” somewhere in there?

On the heels of last year’s acclaimed Company and Into the Woods, Broadway sees another Sondheim revival with Sweeney Todd (Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, previews February 26), starring Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford. Aside from the talented cast, this production can boast being directed by Hamilton‘s Thomas Kail, who knows a thing or two about putting on a good show.

People have long remarked that, in the quest to make musical theater relevant again, country music is an excellent genre to employ, with its sweeping melodies and storytelling lyrics. This has been attempted before, both successfully (Big River) and less so (Hands on a Hardbody) and we’re getting a new example in Shucked (Nederlander Theatre, previews March 8). Hitmaker Jack O’Brien directs an intriguing cast including the truly great Kevin Cahoon (Monarch, Hedwig) and Alex Newell, whose performance in Once on this Island stopped the show more than any I’ve ever seen.

Broadway has seen revivals of the Lerner and Loewe classic Camelot (Vivian Beaumont Theatre, previews March 9) before, but they were always retreads as vehicles for its stars (original King Arthur Richard Burton, film version King Arthur Richard Harris, and even original Lancelot Robert Goulet, bumped up to the lead). This time, it’s a fancy new production directed by Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza) and starring The Inheritance’s Andrew Burnap, Hamilton’s Phillipa Soo and Jordan Donica whose dashing prince in Into the Woods at City Center still has me swooning.

If you prefer talent on display and practically in your lap, New York City’s finest cabaret rooms offer the very best in intimate entertainment:

Joe’s Pub

• John Cameron Mitchell and Amber Martin: Cassette Roulette

January 21 – February 26

One of the world’s most original voices joins forces with one of its most supple ones and not since chocolate and peanut butter have two great tastes gone together so well.

• Ryan Raftery: Mother of the Year – A Musical Fable of Kris Jenner, the House of Kardashian and a Woman’s Right to Choose

March 15 – March 26

The prescient writer-performer who had them lining up to see his take downs of Anna Wintour, Andy Cohen, Martha Stewart, and Ivanka Trump, sets his sights on the reality TV dynasty doyenne.

54 Below

• Pippin: The 50th Anniversary Original Broadway Cast Reunion Concert

February 6 – 7

They’ve got magic to do, just for you.

• Luann de Lesseps: Valentine’s Day Weekend with the Countess

February 16 – 18

Don’t be all, like, uncool.

• Jennifer Holliday

February 21 – 26

This entry in the Diamond Series is worth every penny of whatever they charge.

• Amanda McBroom & Ann Hampton Callaway: Divalicious

March 2 – 4

The singer-songwriter meets the songwriter-singer – or is the other way around?

• Donna McKechnie: Take Me to the World – The Songs of Stephen Sondheim

March 9 – 11

There’s no room for dancing, but she’s still got the shimmering voice you remember and a heart-on-her-sleeve humanity you’ll never forget.

• Storm Large: Love, Storm

March 19 – 22

The genre defying powerhouse blows through town.

The Green Room 42

• Blair St. Clair: Legally Blair 

February 2 – 4

I do declare, Blair St. Clair is gonna slay Broadway like they did on Drag Race.

• Amy Phillips: CabarAMY

February 9

The Sirius XM Radio Andy star picks up where Countess Luann left off and takes it way too far in the best possible way.

• Malan Breton 

February 11

The fashion and reality TV icon returns to his true love, cabaret.

• Christina Bianco: Diva on Demand

February 17

The powerhouse vocalist and mimic savant comes home to NYC after starring in Funny Girl in Paris.

• Paige Turner: Tucking Myself In 

February 17

Hell’s Kitchen’s favorite queen brings home her Ptown hit.

• Natalie Joy Johnson

March 10

The unstoppable flow of rich vocals and poor taste is not to be missed.

Alexander Rodriguez: Unsung Midler

March 18

The incorrigible West Coast radio star rips his heart open like the Divine Miss M.

Chelsea Table + Stage

• Samantha Pauly

February 27 – March 27

The star of Six on Broadway and Evita in London gets up close and personal.

• Amy Spanger

March 13

The acclaimed triple threat does her own thing.

Birdland

• Nicolas King

February 9

He’s like the love child of Tony Bennett and Liza Minnelli – and they’re both dear friends. Terrific!

• Melissa Errico: A Noire Romance

February 10 – 14

The Broadway songbird goes dark.

• Jane Monheit 

February 21 – 25

Pop, jazz, cabaret – Jane can do it all.