Six men. One group. And a whole lot of a cappella! Harmony: A New Musical begins performances at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on October 18th. Directed by Tony Award-winning choreographer Warren Carlyle, the musical will follow the unbelievable story behind the international German-Jewish sensation Comedian Harmonists. After selling millions of records and starring in major films, the young men were never heard from again. Find out what really happened to the all-male group in this outstanding true story and sing along to show tunes like “Home,” “We’re Going Loco,” and “Hungarian Rhapsody #20”. With a stellar cast, it’s as if the original members were here themselves! It’s no wonder why The New York Times labeled the show as a Critic’s Pick, praising it as “impossible to forget.” The Ethel Barrymore Theatre will truly be awakened with Barry Manilow’s rich music that echoes through the venue’s luxurious halls. Act fast, book your trips to New York, and get your tickets today!
“IT’S TIME FOR HARMONY!” – NY Daily News
“Barry Manilow Musical Tells Sensational True Story With Pop Prowess.” – Variety
20 years later: Harmony – A New Musical
Almost twenty years since its last run, Harmony: A New Musical lands at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, and New Yorkers have never been more ecstatic! Throughout the decades, Harmony has had two original productions, which include a regional showing in 1997 and 2003. The show’s first-ever Broadway run is scheduled to officially open on November 3rd this year.
Last year, the Off-Broadway production won a Drama Desk Award for the category of Outstanding Book of a Musical as well as Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical from the League Awards. Additionally, it was nominated for two prestigious Lucille Lortel Awards. With the initial production being three hours in length, Harmony instantly gained mixed reviews due to its non-traditional length. Now, two hours and thirty minutes is all this show needs to impress an audience with its true story and truly exceptional music. There will also be one fifteen-minute intermission.
Presented by the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene, the essence of this production lies in its unique genre: a biomusical, distinct from a traditional jukebox musical. Drawing inspiration from a true story, the plot revolves around the unbelievable journey of entertainment’s most underrated group of male singers. The Comedian Harmonists are a German vocal group best known for their singles “Marie, Marie,” “Musketiermarsch,” and “Creole Love Call.”
From the early 1920s and well into the 30s, their heavenly music mixed with comedic antics propelled them from singing in the subways of Berlin to gracing the grandest stages across the globe. However, the situation of Nazi Germany and World War II added a thick layer of tension and conflict to their story, with The Comedian Harmonists facing several threats as the political climate in Germany became increasingly oppressive.
“A memory musical about a time we must never forget.” – Time Out
“With Manilow’s fine music and this extraordinary company of actors, it’s worth the extra mileage.” – NY Post
“CRACKLING GOOD.” – NY Stage Review
Moreover, this timely “rags-to-riches” tale, hidden in the annals of history, bursts with an award-winning ensemble of beloved Broadway stars. While the show was written in the late 1990s, Manilow reveals that the extensive journey to Broadway, with detours through off-Broadway venues in New York City and La Jolla Playhouse in California, was less about completing the show and more about discovering the right people to bring this tale to life. Check out the complete list of actors and their corresponding roles here below:
MAIN CAST – HARMONY: A NEW MUSICAL
- Sierra Boggess as Mary
- Julie Benko as Ruth
- Chip Zein as Rabbi
- Allison Semmes as Joesphine Baker
- Andrew O’Shanick as Standartenuhrer
- Sean Bell as Bobby
- Danny Kornfeld as Young Rabbi
- Zal Owen as Harry
- Eric Peters as Erich
- Blake Roman as Chopin
- Steven Telsey as Lesh
Completing the ensemble are Matthew Mucha, Constantine Pappas, Kayleen Seidl, Zak Edwards, Dan Hoy, Bruce Landry, RhonniRose Mantilla, Daniel Z. Miller, Benjamin H. Moore, Kyla Stone, Bronwyn Tarboton, Kate Welser, Stuart Zagnit, and Lee Garrett.
CREATIVE TEAM – HARMONY: A NEW MUSICAL
- Music by Barry Manilow
- Book and Lyrics by Bruce Sussman
- Direction and Choreography by Warren Carlyle
- Set Design by Beowulf Boritt
- Costume Design by Linda Cho and Ricky Lurie
- Lighting Design by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer
- Sound Design by Dan Moses Schreier
- Media Design by Batwin and Robin Productions
- Hair and Wig Design by Tom Watson
- Orchestrations by Doug Walter
- Music Direction and Co-Vocal Arrangement by John O’Neill
- Casting Direction by Jamibeth Margolis
Producers include Ken Davenport, Sandi Moran, Garry Kief, and Hunter Arnold with Scott Abrams, Jonathan & Rae Corr, Adam Riemer, Marco Santarelli, Tom D’Angora, Michael D’Angora, Marco Santarelli, Nick Padgett, Neil Gooding Productions, Christine Petti, Rob Kolson
Entertainment Weekly shares how Sussman’s encounter with the story’s inspiration came through a review in The New York Times, highlighting a 70s German documentary titled “The Comedian Harmonists,” which was being screened at the Public Theatre. “The review was really compelling, and it featured a photograph of six young guys with their hair brill-creamed,” Sussman mentions. “I was gobsmacked and went to a phone booth on Lafayette Street and called Barry [Manilow] and said, ‘I think I found it. I think I found the story.'”
“Historic HARMONY In Turbulent Times.” – Theatrely
“Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s musical chronicles the story of the Comedian Harmonists, a sextet of Jews and gentiles in Weimar-era Germany.” – The New York Times
For almost a millennium, the Ethel Barrymore Theatre has continued to deliver exceptional service and an even more exceptional ambiance for its viewers. Located at 241 West 47th Street in the Theater District of Midtown, locals have recognized the venue as superior when it comes to showing on-the-rise Broadway spectacles! Purchase your tickets to Harmony: A New Musical today!
Review for Variety by A.D. Amorosi
“Every element of “Harmony” clicks in place like a gorgeous puzzle. A creative team of theater veterans, including director-choreographer Warren Carlyle and lighting designers Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, navigate the Museum’s small space with dynamism and dexterity. Using back wall mirrors and video imagery to expand the scope of the stage, “Harmony” feels like a mega-watt Broadway musical, but in Battery Park.”
“…digs deep to lift the show from biography to heart-tugging drama.” – Queerty
