Flower Drum Song Opened October 17th 2002
Virginia Theatre, Tickets 245 West 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue; $65-$95; Tue - Sat 8 PM; Wed, Sat 2 PM; Sun 3 PM; Lea Salonga stars in this new Broadway musical with a score by Rodgers & Hammerstein. You'll never look at Chinese take out boxes the same way again. The musical love story unfolds as you watch Chinese immigrants assimilate from Communism to capitalism in a nightclub in San Francisco.  Traditional Chinese Opera isn't drawing the crowds in the Chinatown theater until the Americanized son Ta (Jose Llana) proves to his Father (Randall Duk Kim) that scantily costumed Chinese chorus girls will pack the house. The music and costumes are glorious. Lea Salonga's sweetness (Mei-Li) melts your heart, and Sandra Allen (Linda Low), the stripper, turns up the heat with her fan. Flower Drum Song is what great theater is all about; a good story, humor, great music, imaginative costumes and memories that last long after the standing ovation. This is the first major revival of this musical since it originally opened on Broadway on December 1st 1958 at the St. James Theatre. David Henry Hwang ("M. Butterfly") has rewritten the original book. Based on the novel by C Y Lee. Director and Choreographer: Robert Longbottom.

Forbidden Broadway: 20th Anniversary Celebration
Douglas Fairbanks Theatre, Tickets 432 West 42nd Street between Dyer and 10th Avenue. $50-$60; Mon, Tues, Fri, Sat, 8:15 PM; Wed, Sat 2:30 PM; Sun 3:30, 7:30 PM; A hilarious musical comedy that pokes fun of the most notorious Broadway shows and the most famous personalities. A must see! Director: Gerard Alessandrini; Co-Director/Choreographer: Philip George; Producers: FBNY L.P.

Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune Opened Aug. 8th 2002.
Belasco Theatre, Tickets 111 W. 44th St. Between Broadway and 6th Ave. $35 - $75; Tue - Sat 8 PM; Wed, Sat 2 PM; Sun 3 PM;  A romantic drama of two lovers in a NYC apartment. Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune was first produced in 1987 at Manhattan Theatre Club's Stage II starring Kathy Bates and F. Murray Abraham; The movie featured Michelle Pfeiffer, Al Pacino, and Nathan Lane; Frankie and Johnny in the Claire De Lune features Rosie Perez and Joe Pantoliano; Written by Terrence McNally, a prolific American playwright, whose credits include "The Full Monty", "Ragtime", "Master Class" and many more! Directed by award winning Joe Mantello.

The Graduate Opened April 4th 2002
Plymouth Theatre, Tickets 236 West 45th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue; $41.25-$76.25; Tue-Sat 8 PM; Wed, Sat 2 PM; Sun 3 PM; Lorraine Bracco as Mrs. Robinson, John Lavelle is Benjamin Braddock, and Andrea Anders. This new play by Terry Johnson is based on the novel by Charles Webb and the screenplay by Calder Willingham & Buck Henry. Directed by Terry Johnson. "The Graduate" screenplay was released in 1967 by AVCO/Embassy pictures and featured Dustin Hoffman in his first major role, Anne Bancroft and Katherine Ross. The score was crafted by Paul Simon, Art Garfunkel and Dave Grusin.

Gypsy Previews March 31st 2003 Opens May 1st 2003
Shubert Theatre, Tickets 225 W. 44th St. Between Broadway & 8th Ave; Bernadette Peters as "Rose" in "Gypsy" will be brought to you by RJK Productions/Ron Kastner in this revival of the 1959 Musical based upon the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. With Tammy Blanchard as "Gypsy", and Kate Reinders as "Dainty June"; The book, by Arthur Laurents. Music: Jule Styne; Lyrics: Stephen Sondheim; "Gypsy" is directed by Sam Mendes with Jerry Mitchell as the Choreographer (based upon original choreography by Jerome Robbins); Settings and Costumes: Anthony Ward; Lighting: Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer; Sound by Acme Sound Partners. Musical Supervisor: Patrick Vaccariello; Musical Director: Marvin Laird; Featuring the Sid Ramin and Robert Ginzler Orchestra. "Gypsy" originally opened at the Broadway Theatre on May 21st 1959. Ethel Merman headed that cast including Jack Klugman, Sandra Church, Lane Bradbury, and Maria Karnilova under the direction of Jerome Robbins.

Hairspray Opened August 15th 2002
Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52nd Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue; 212-307-4100; $60-$95; Mon-Sat 8 PM; Wed, Sat 2 PM; Hairspray is a new musical based on the New Line Cinema film (1988) written and directed by John Waters. The book is by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan. Music by Marc Shaiman. Lyrics by Scott Whitman and Marc Shaiman.  Marissa Jaret Winokur and Harvey Fierstein star in Hairspray which is choreographed by Jerry Mitchell ("The Full Monty"). It is under the direction of Jack O'Brien ("The Full Monty") and the costumes are by William Ivey Long. Also featuring, Dick Latessa, Laura Bell Bundy, Linda Hart, Mathew Morrison, Clark Thorell, Corey Reynolds, Kerry Butler, Mary Bond Davis, and Danelle Wilson.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change
Westside Theatre, Tickets 407 West 43rd Street between 9th and 10th Avenue. $50-$75; Mon, Tue, Fri, Sat 8 PM; Sun 7:30 PM; Wed, Sat 2:30 PM; Sun 3 PM; A 2 hour musical comedy about male/female relationships including dating, friendship, love, and marriage. Featuring Sean Arbuckle, Marissa Burgoyne, Jordan Leeds, and Janet Metz. Music: Jimmy Roberts; Director: Joel Bishoff; Producer: Jonathan Pollard; Book and Lyrics: Joe DiPietro.

Imaginary Friends Opened December 12th 2002
Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Tickets 243 West 47th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. $55-$90; Tue-Sat 8 PM; Wed, Sat 2 PM; Sun 3 PM;  Cherry Jones and Swoosie Kurtz star in this new play with music about the feud between Lillian Hellman (Kurtz), and Mary McCarthy (Jones). It is a flashback with singing and dancing performed by various actors in character of the times of their lives. Book by Nora Ephron; Music by Marvin Hamlisch ("Sweet Smell of Success"); Lyrics by Craig Carnelia ("Sweet Smell of Success"); Under the direction of Jack O'Brien; Choreographer Jerry Mitchell; With Harry Groener; Settings by Michael Levine; Costumes by Robert Morgan; Kenneth Posner, Lighting; Jon Weston, Sound; Ron Melrose as the Musical Director.