As November moves towards December and Thanksgiving Day beckons, we’ve collected a few bits and bites of Broadway news and observations for you. This is a digest of sorts that you may want to ponder when digesting your turkey tomorrow. (There’s no law that says you can’t read them today!)

The Illusionists

The Illusionists- Witness the Impossible begins its six-week limited Broadway run tonight. This is a “magic” show unlike any other, as seven of the world’s most innovative and accomplished illusionists bring their show to the Marquis Theatre.

The bill includes:

• The Manipulator, Yu Ho-Jin: A rising star in the world of magic, the Academy of Magical

  

  Arts recently named him the 2014 “Magician of the Year.” His array of talents will keep you enthralled

• The Anti-Conjuror, Dan Sperry: He’s said to be a combination of Marilyn Manson and David Copperfield as he brings together the art of magic with the macabre. He’s quite famous for his mesmerizing “America’s Got Talent” appearance.
• The Trickster, Jeff Hobson: A true showman who loves the glamour of the business, the guy looks innocent and harmless enough, but his act will blow your mind while sending you into howls of laughter.
• The Escapologist, Andrew Basso: He will perform Houdini’s famous Water Torture Cell with no concealment. Basso is Italy’s star escape artist. The illusionist he most admires is the great Harry Houdini..
• The Inventor, Kevin James: Comedian, innovator, and master illusionist, Kevin James loves the strange and unusual. He is famous for having created numerous masterful tricked and illusions. Prepare for a unique journey when he takes the stage.
• The Warrior, Aaron Crow: Weaponry and magic go hand-in-hand with Aaron Crow. He doesn’t talk much, as he’s the typical, good looking string and silent types, but his actions are strong and pointed. Get ready for the man who has mastered some of the most dangerous illusions in which one can engage.
• The Futurist, Adam Trent: Technology abounds in the world of magic created by Adam Trent. He’s cutting edge in everyway, and, at the same time, part vaudeville comedian.

See this amazing show. There are great group rates available. Contact All Tickets Inc. at 1-800-922-0716 for more information. The show officially opens on December 4th and close on January 4th.

The Heart of Robin Hood- Limited Engagement

The musical The Heart of Robin Hood, which the Royal Shakespeare Company premiered in 2011 and was produced by the American Repertory Theatre in December 2013, will be on Broadway in 2015. It will play Toronto from December 23, 2014 to March 1, 2015 and then come to Broadway starting March 10, 2015. The Heart of Robin Hood will open March 10, 2015 for a strictly limited run, closing August 23, 2015.

The musical, which includes some amazing stage combat, stunts, and special effects, is a new and innovative telling of the tale of Robin Hood. In this version, he starts out as a bandit who, with his cutthroat gang, steals and selfishly keeps his pilfering, to someone who is turned into an altruist due to the influence of Marion.

Recent Observations- Broadway Trends

This season on Broadway is seeing quite a few limited runs, including those like The Illusionists and The Heart of Robin Hood, which are making NYC one stop in a long tour. That means that groups need to act quickly to get seats to these shows.

At this point, unlike last season, there are no plays by William Shakespeare scheduled. There are three shows, however, about royalty that are coming to Broadway- The King and I, The Audience, and Wolf Hall.

Also, there are three shows scheduled or running this season that start with the word “on.” There is the hit revival of On the Town, which opened about four weeks ago. Also upcoming is the revival of the Cy Coleman, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green musical On the Twentieth Century with Peter Gallagher and Kristen Chenoweth. Finally, there is the new musical based on the life of Gloria and Emilio Estefan entitled On You Feet.

Finally, Comden and Green are represented by two revivals, both of which we just mentioned: On the Town and On the Twentieth Century.