42nd Street Previews: April 4th 2001 Opening Date: May 2nd 2001
Ford Center, 213 West 42nd Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue; 212-307-4100. $25-$90. Mon-Sat 8 pm; Wed, Sat 2 pm; Sun 3pm; Not all Mondays, not all Sundays; Please call in advance as with all Broadway Shows. A new production of the 1980 musical comedy (1981 TONY Best Musical). Taking place in 1933, it contains a superb show chorus and remarkable tap dancing. Based on a novel by Branford Ropes.  Lyrics, Al Dubin; Music, Harry Warren; Book: Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble; Director: Mark Bramble; Choreographer: Randy Skinner; Dance: Gower Champion; Starring Michael Cumpsty, Christine Ebersole, Kate Levering, Mary Testa, David Elder and Jonathan Freeman. "42nd Street" originally opened at the Winter Garden on August 25th, 1980; it ran over 8 years. Gower Champion had choreographed and directed the cast including Jerry Orbach, Wanda Richert, Lee Roy Reams and Tammy Grimes at that time.

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Previews: March 27 2001 Open: 4/26
Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street 212-239-6200. $35-$85. Tue-Sat 8 pm; Wed, Sat 2 pm; Sun 3pm; A new musical based on the novel by Mark Twain. Music and Lyrics, Don Schlitz; Book by Ken Ludwig; Director: Scott Ellis; Choreographer: David Marques; Joshua Park is Tom Sawyer, Jim Poulos is Huck Finn, Kristen Bell is Becky Thatcher, Linda Purl is Aunt Polly, John Dossett is Judge Thatcher, Jane Connell is Widow Douglas, Tom Aldredge is Muff Potter, Kevin Durand is Injun Joe, John Christopher Jones is Dobbins, Tommy Hollis is Sprague, Richard Poe is Lanyard Bellamy and Marshall Pailet is Sid Sawyer. 32 member cast.

Aida
Palace Theater, 1554 Broadway at 47th Street 212-307-4747. $25-$80. Tue-Sat 8 pm; Wed, Sat 2 pm; Sun 3pm; Music by Elton John and lyrics by Tim Rice. Directed by Robert Falls; Sets & Costumes: Bob Crowley; Choreographer: Wayne Cilento; Heather Headley as Aida, Adam Pascal as Radames, Taylor Dayne as Amneris.  Story of a love triangle between Aida, an enslaved Nubian Princess, and Amneris, an Egyptian Princess who both love the same soldier, Radames.
Winner of 4 2000 Tony Awards including Best Original Score.

Annie Get Your Gun
Marquis Theatre, 1535 Broadway between 45th & 46th St. 212-307-4100 $35 - $80 Tue - Sat 8 pm; Wed, Sat 2 pm; Sun 3 pm. 2 hours 30 min. Music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Reba McEntire is filling in for Bernadette Peters as the star sharp shooter Annie Oakley. A singing fun shoot-em-up with Brent Barrett as the love & rival Frank  Butler. Directed by Graciela Daniele.

Beauty and the Beast
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 West 46th St., Between Broadway and 8th Ave. (212-307-4747).  $80, $60, $22.50 Wed-Sat 8pm; Wed, Sat 2pm; Sun 1 and 6:30 PM. A children's must see. Music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Tim Rice and songs of the late Howard Ashman, choreographed by Matt West, directed by Robert Jess Roth.  The Beast is Steve Blanchard and The Beauty is Andrea McArdle.

Bells Are Ringing
Plymouth Theatre, 236 West 46th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. (212-239-6200) $50-$85. Tue - Sat 8 pm; Wed, Sat 2 pm; Sun 3 pm. Faith Prince (Guys and Dolls), stars in the role made famous by Judy Holliday at the Shubert Theatre in 1956, as Ella Peterson, the telephone operator in 1950's New York. Also with David Garrison (Married...With Children), Bob Ari, Jeffrey Bean, Beth Fowler and Marty Moran.  This musical comedy was written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.  Directed by Tina Landau. Costumes: David C. Woolard. Choreographer: Jeff Calhoun; Musical Director: David Evans;  Acme Sound Partners.

Blast!
Broadway Theatre, Broadway at 53rd Street. (212-239-6200) $20-$80. Previews begin Thursday, April 5th 2001; Opening on Tuesday, April 17th, 2001.  Closing Sunday, June 10th 2001.  Limited Engagement.  Triumphant debuts in London, Boston, Milwaukee, Detroit and Chicago land this one on Broadway New York.  "Blast!" is a musical by Cook Group Incorporated and Star of Indiana, with Dodger Theatricals. Artistic Director: James Mason. "Blast!" has appeared on the BBC television show "Royal Variety Performance". "Blast!" consists of 60 members, mostly in their early 20's, a variety of musical instruments including percussion and brass, and is about the art of outdoor pageantry. This musical is perfectly synchronized with visual ensembles as well. A must see!

Cabaret
Studio 54, 524 W. 54th St. between Broadway and 8th Ave. (212-239-6200) $45-$90. Tue-Sat 8:00 PM; Wed, Sat, Sun 2 PM, Sun 7PM; 2 hrs. 30 min. One intermission. Stars Gina Gershon as Sally Bowles, the singer; Mathew Greer as Clifford Bradshaw; Peter Benson as Ernst Ludwig; Matt McGrath as Emcee; Dick Latessa as Herr Schultz; Carole Shelley as Fraulein Schneider and Candy Buckley as Fraulein Kost.  '30s Berlin decadence. This musical classic is one of the longest running revivals in Broadway history.

Chicago
Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St. Between Broadway & 8th Ave. (239-6200). $20-$80. Tue-Sat 8 PM; Wed & Sat 2 PM; Sun 3 PM. 2 hrs 15  min. One intermission. Six 1997 Tony Awards includes Best Revival of a Musical. A Fred Ebb, John Kander, Bob Fosse Production stars Vicki Lewis, Charlotte d'Amboise, PJ Benjamin, Brent Barrett. A chorus girl murders her lover.

A Class Act
Ambassador Theatre, 219 West 49th Street between Broadway and 8th Ave. (212-239-6200). $25-$75. Tue-Sat 8 PM; Wed & Sat 2 PM; Sun 3 PM. The musical is about making musicals. It tells the story of Ed Kleban, the lyricist for "A Chorus Line" who died of cancer in 1997.  Never before heard music of Kleban, an orchestra and new choreography. Produced by Marty Bell.