Now Playing at the Broadway Theatre

Wow, what a production! And King Kong!!! Just Wow. Talk about an awesome puppet…

The King Kong puppet used in the production is the fourth rendition, perfected after three previous versions. It stands more than 20 feet high, weighs 4000 lbs and requires more than 30,000 pounds of steel reinforcement in the rafters to support its weight. 13 operators are responsible for his movements, including one puppeteer strictly dedicated to Kong’s facial expressions that sits INSIDE of his face! Each of his limbs are manipulated by an individual puppeteer. The physical demands on the operators are great, involving running, lifting, pulling, climbing and rope repelling. The cost of the puppet was kept confidential, but hinted to be in the millions.

So how much fine tuning does a production like take? The cast and crew rehearse 4 hours per week in between shows and have a full crew of stand-ins at every show, in case one of the members takes ill or is injured. The show runs six days per week and 8 performances are run per week.

Above notes Courtesy of Wayne Griffin who attended the show talk-back with the cast.

Now I know you want to check it out! Here is a little more info;

The new musical King Kong is now playing at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) where it opened on Thursday, November 8 (previews began October 5, 2018).
The all-star cast is led by Christiani Pitts, (A Bronx Tale) as Ann Darrow, Eric William Morris (Mamma
Mia!) as Carl Denham, and Erik Lochtefeld (Misery, Metamorphoses) as Lumpy.

Written by Jack Thorne (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) with a score by Marius de Vries (La La Land and Moulin Rouge!) and songs by Eddie Perfect (Beetlejuice), King Kong is directed and
choreographed by Drew McOnie (Strictly Ballroom The Musical).
King Kong is produced by Carmen Pavlovic (Global Creatures) and Roy Furman.

King Kong comes alive through an innovative mix of robotics, puppetry and stagecraft.
Based on the 1932 novel, the stage production of King Kong is a contemporary take on the classic
tale of beauty and the beast. The story follows a young actress, Ann Darrow, and a maverick filmmaker, Carl Denham, as they voyage from the bustling streets of 1930s New York to an uncharted island to capture the world’s greatest wonder.

At the center of this 21st Composer and music producer Marius de Vries (the films La La Land, Moulin Rouge, and Romeo + Juliet) is a four-time Grammy nominee. Eddie Perfect (songs) is a Helpmann Award winner and
composer and lyricist of the Broadway-bound Beetlejuice and Shane Warne The Musical.
Pioneering creature designer Sonny Tilders developed Kong for the show, bringing together the worlds of animatronics and puppetry to a degree never seen on stage before. Tilders was honored with the Helpmann Award, Australia’s highest theatrical honor, for Outstanding Theatrical Achievement.

King Kong’s design team for Broadway also includes Peter England (Scenic and Projection Design), Roger Kirk (Costume Design), Peter Mumford (Lighting Design), Peter Hylenski (Sound
Design), Gavin Robins (Aerial and King Kong Movement Director) and Tom Watson (Hair Design).

David Caddick is Music Supervisor and Eldad Guetta is Associate Music Arranger.

Casting by Tara Rubin Casting. Johanna McKeon is Associate Director. Ellenore Scott is Associate Choreographer.
King Kong is authorized by the Merian C. Cooper Estate.

Tickets to King Kong are now on sale through Telecharge.com, by phone at 212-239-6200 and online at http://www.Telecharge.com. Tickets for groups of ten or more are available by calling 866-302-0995 or by email at info@broadwayinbound.com.

Discount code for my readers, save up to $55 off of regular priced seats:

Sales/perf period 2/8/19 – 9/1/19

KKPVM129

For more information check out the following;

–       Twitter:  https://twitter.com/kingkongbway

–       Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/KingKongBway

–       Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingkongbway

–       YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ezw6CfVX_TIyqrGiO-yCg

King Kong | Now in Previews on Broadway

Source: King Kong

Disclosure: This post is made possible by support from King Kong Broadway. All opinions are my own.