Velvet Seat Safari

Drama Al Fresco

2011-04-11T14:02:00.003-07:00

Now this looks cool.

Regent's Park Open Air Theatre is doing Lord of the Flies in London next year. Outside.

This is the same theater that produced Into The Woods under the stars last year (their most succesful single show to date--pretty impressive when you realize they have over 1,200 seats.) Into the Woods seemed like a pretty genius, albeit obvious, choice for an outdoor theater, but I bet Lord of the Flies will be all kinds of creepy in the night air.

Dallas Gets Next to Normal!

2011-04-08T07:09:00.003-07:00

Remember when I saw Next to Normal off-Broadway a few years back and declared it one of the most emotionally crushing shows I'd ever seen (in a good way)? A lot of people tended to agree with me when it opened on Broadway and later won the Pulitzer Prize for drama, and now it's gearing up to start the regional performance circuit. And guess who gets it first?

My Dream Wedding

2011-02-25T10:25:00.002-07:00

Damn that Kelsey Grammer for beating me to this...

And the World Will Know

2011-02-17T15:29:00.003-07:00

Wait, what's that I hear? Oh, it's the sound of millions of girls my age screaming in rabid delight:

Paper Mill Season to Include "Newsies"...

Sing Out, Commies!

2011-02-14T08:47:00.004-07:00

Yup, almost any subject is ripe for musicalization.

It's Eye-gor

2011-01-05T09:29:00.001-07:00

C'mon, you know all the jokes. Now learn the songs!

My Faves

2010-12-20T12:12:00.002-07:00

Wherein I tell you what to feel guilty about having not seen.

Getting a Bit Tipsy

2010-12-08T13:23:00.001-07:00

This chaperone is anything but drowsy.

Gint

2010-12-06T10:37:00.002-07:00

Norway, Appalachia—it's all the same right?

Newlyweds

2010-11-16T11:20:00.002-07:00

Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't go barefoot anywhere in New York City.

"The Trinity River Plays"

2010-11-15T16:06:00.001-07:00

As you may have figured out, this is kind of a big deal.

Say It With Puppets

2010-11-08T15:15:00.002-07:00

It's like Avenue Q, only about Greek Gods and not as raunchy.

Art, Truth, and Politics

2010-11-08T12:08:00.002-07:00

Pinter. But good this time.

Puppy!

2010-10-25T14:13:00.002-07:00

What can I say? I'm a sucker for a dog.

"The Breath of Death"

2010-10-18T10:41:00.002-07:00

Why do we always copy Japanese ghost stories? Here's why.

Things That Go "Eh" in the Night

2010-10-11T11:13:00.003-07:00

Want to scare yourself silly for Halloween? Rent something instead.

Watch Out, Another "Our Town"

2010-10-04T14:08:00.002-07:00

How many times have you seen this play? Doesn't matter, go again.

Well

2010-09-13T13:07:00.002-07:00

All's Well and good with Echo Theatre.

Pinter? I Need a Drink

2010-09-13T10:36:00.001-07:00

To betray or not to betray? Duh.

Songs From an Unmade Bed

2010-09-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

There were three in the bed, and the little one said, "hey, this isn't quite working."

Bach to the Future

2010-08-23T11:00:00.001-07:00

Circle Theatre's Bach at Leipzig does not make me do a jig.

Sherlock Holmes, The Badass

2010-08-09T12:58:00.002-07:00

A steampunk Sherlock? Elementary, my dear Watson.

Let It Go!

2010-07-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

You haven't seen your local actors until you've seen them sans shorts.

Class Petting

2010-07-20T01:34:00.001-07:00

While the kids are away, the adults will play—The First Day of School

POW! ZONK!

2010-06-28T11:53:00.000-07:00

If Spiderman can sing, so can Superman.

Who you calling average?

2010-04-12T09:28:00.002-07:00

The final "Beauty Play": reasons to be pretty

Xanadu

2010-04-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Roller skates and demi-gods? Yes, please!

Out of the Loop

2010-03-25T13:56:00.003-07:00

WaterTower Theatre did it's annual Fringe Festival a few weeks ago and I reviewed two shows. One fared better than the other, but you tell me which one sounds like a better time:

I Sing!

My First Time

LaBute #2

2010-03-22T08:14:00.002-07:00

Fat Pig, the second offering in Neil LaBute's "Beauty Plays" at the Dallas Theater Center.

Perfect Harmony

2010-03-12T08:06:00.001-07:00

Did you know that Michael Hollinger's play Opus is right now one of the most regionally produced plays in America? Or that it was originally intended to go to Broadway? Either way, Circle Theatre in Fort Worth staged a pretty great production of it a few weeks ago...

Let's Get Critical

2010-03-06T22:30:00.003-07:00

Hey, guess what? I'm now a theatre critic for D Magazine's new arts blog, Front Row!

It's a great resource for DFW arts news, reviews and interviews, and I've been reviewing for them since February. Here is a link to my first review, with the next four to be posted here soon (don't want to overload you!)

Keep checking back for more theatre reviews...

Who Are You?

2010-02-09T12:39:00.007-07:00

During Sunday's Super Bowl Halftime show performed by The Who, that question probably popped up a few times, from fans singing along with the band's 1978 hit single to youngsters unfamiliar with the seminal English rock band outside of, well, Rock Band.

I was asking that same question, although my version had little to do with Roger Daltrey's raspy voice or Pete Townshend's still awesome shredding skills.

I wondered, "Who are you, designer of that incredible lighted stage?"

The answer is Bruce Rogers, founder of production design company Tribe Inc. Bruce designed the stages for the last three Super Bowl Halftime shows (Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and Prince), and a few other inconsequential events (Barack Obama's Election Night in Grant Park, the CMA Awards, countless musicians' tours.)

As is the case with so many who work primarily behind the scenes, their hard work and creativity gets displayed but their names don't (I couldn't even find a good picture illustrating the amazing stage.) While The Who did put forth an entertaining show, I was more taken by the innovative, exciting, and memorable stage. Congratulations, Bruce Rogers and the team at Tribe Inc. You put on one heck of a show.

Neat link:
5 Questions for Bruce Rogers

(On a side note, for those of you wondering where I've been these past four months (TIM ROGERS), the answer is not nearly as exotic as it should be. I got a job, a great one, and my mind has been focused on settling in there. But don't worry, I'll be checking in here a lot more from now on.)

Curtain Down

2009-10-08T14:08:00.003-07:00

In case you haven't heard, there's something big and artsy happening soon in Dallas. A little thing called the AT&T Performing Arts Center is having its grand opening next weekend, and it promises to be spectacular. And while I plan on being there for all the free festivities on Oct. 18, there's a story that ran in this weekend's New York Times that made me stop and think about some of the Center's more subtle aspects.

Like the curtain at the Winspear Opera House. Yes, the NYT devoted an entire page to describing the specially-commissioned theatre curtain designed by artist Guillermo Kuitca. From Kuitca's agonizing search for inspiration to the curtain's assembly in Long Island City, the article by Dorothy Spears covers the lifespan of an enormous piece of chocolate-brown velvet.

I love this.

Aside from the fire curtains that descend during intermission in London's West End, I can't remember the last time I was so interested in a stage curtain.

Whether I'll ever be able to afford to see something in the Winspear is debatable, but if I manage it, I know I'll give that abstract design more than a cursory glance.

Bedtime

2009-10-04T09:15:00.008-07:00

What the %$*@ was that?!

Oh, sorry. I just thought I heard something. There it is again! No, wait, that's the washing machine. Ok, I'm better now.

Last night, I dragged my arse out to AMC Northpark for the rainy midnight showing of Paranormal Activity. The sold-out midnight showing, I might add. A quick word with the ticket seller, and I learned that every showing had sold-out since the theatre received the film Oct. 1.

So...was it worth it?

The theatre was packed with loud, giggling teens from nearby SMU, alternately texting and showing off for their friends while waiting for the lights to dim. (Fun fact: lead actress Katie Featherston is an SMU grad). On the surface, a nightmare audience for anyone over the age of 22. But as soon as the first "thrill" occurred (sorry, no spoilers here), even the swaggering fellow next to me shouted, "Oh, hell no!"

Turns out it's a brilliant concept, showing this low-budget, high-terror movie in only a handful of college towns (for now), letting the kids scream themselves silly at midnight, and then slowing widening the net and waiting for the breathless word-of-mouth to spread and the money to roll in.

Not only was Paranormal Activity the absolute scariest movie I've seen in years, but the multitude of screams ringing out in the theatre only added to the fear. As the clock neared 2 am, the mass of audience members made their way to their cars, surreptitiously huddling together and unwilling to separate in the gloomy parking lot. I've never heard a crowd so loud and nervous leaving a movie theatre.

For a nice touch, the dates when the couple began to record the phenomenon are all suspiciously familiar. October 2? That was last night! And the "activities" in the movie all occur between the hours of 1 am and 5 am--exactly when we were all heading home to bed.

The movie? Well, the entire genius of the film comes from its suspense and surprises. I won't say anything about the plot other than it does for the bedroom what Jaws did for the beach and Psycho did for showers.

If Paranormal Activity isn't showing in your town, Demand It. If it is, trust me--it's completely worth it to go. Just bring someone to grab onto when things start happening...and I hope you don't sleep alone.

Don't Let the Door Hit You...

2009-09-04T13:48:00.003-07:00

Today John Heilpern resigned his post as The New York Observer's theatre critic. He'd held the position for 17 years, but, as he recently told Michael Reidel, "Nobody asked me to leave. I just felt it was time to move on. Read into that what you will."

How wonderfully vague!

However, Heilpern got less vague when commented on the Observer's young (he's my age!) publisher, Jared Kushner: "I don't want to be too negative about the 12-year-old owner, Jared Kushner, but as my ma and pa from Manchester, England, used to say, 'That boy couldn't run a chip shop.'"

Ouch.

Heilpern still writes the "Out to Lunch" column for Variety, and he's working on a few books. His old post will be divided between two writers: one yet to be named, and Jesse Oxfeld, a former Gawker editor who wrote about theatre and was let go as senior editor at New York magazine last year. Hooray Gawker! Perhaps stay in that vein and fill the other opening with Richard Lawson, my personal favorite former Gawker theatre writer?

On Second Thought

2009-08-25T13:34:00.004-07:00

Remember the hoopla surrounding the decision to translate some of Stephen Sondheim's West Side Story lyrics into Spanish for the current revival? Today the producers said "not so much" to that idea, announcing that the songs "A Boy Like That" and "I Feel Pretty" will now be sung in their original English instead of Lin-Manuel Miranda's Spanish. The Spanish bits in the "Tonight" reprise will stay.

Director and original book writer Arthur Laurents defended the decision, saying that, "from the outset, the Spanish in West Side Story was an experiment. It's been an ongoing process of finding what worked and what didn't, and it still continues."

I'm all for experiments in theatre. Heck, theatre itself is always an experiment! But you have to remember who's buying the tickets to this show. When a timeless juggernaut like West Side Story comes back to Broadway, white tourists from Middle America see it as a safe choice, a known quantity that will not disappoint or frighten them. But when the actors start singing entire songs in Spanish (with no subtitles), suddenly the audience is lost and not happy about it.

If this revival had been mounted at, say, Lincoln Center instead of in the exact center of Times Square, perhaps the Spanish could have succeeded. But as it is now, Broadway still has to play it relatively safe.

My Spidey Senses are Tingling...

2009-08-13T08:04:00.003-07:00

...and it ain't good. The rumors have been swirling, and now Michael Reidel has confirmed that Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark, will not be swinging into the Hilton Theatre this winter.

Shocked? Didn't think so.

This $45 million extravaganza (with music by U2's Bono and The Edge and direction by The Lion King's Julie Taymor) has always seemed a little kooky. Taymor wanted it to be something akin to Cirque du Soleil. Cirque du Soleil would not succeed on Broadway, even if its weekly running costs were much, much lower than those of Spider-Man.

So, as of now, all production has been put on hiatus and the actors have been released from their contracts. I'm just surprised it got this far.

Behind the Scenes

2009-08-07T11:04:00.003-07:00

My dear friend Carolyn has started a blog that gives readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the new Broadway musical Memphis.

She is an associate working for the lead producer, and therefore has access to every aspect of this show, which has been in development since 2007. The banners and art went up at the Shubert Theatre yesterday, and Carolyn was there to capture it.

I know I'll be following her blog, which will feature guest posts written by others involved with the show. Will you?

Please Silence Mobiles and Zip Your Pants

2009-08-04T13:09:00.004-07:00

Doesn't this sound more like something more likely to happen in America?

Several West End theatres will now start employing "bouncers" to keep unruly--and most oftentimes drunk--audience members in check.

The report mentions the Garrick and Lyric theatres (both owned by the same people) as specifically looking to beef up security, but the Aldwych and Prince of Wales theatres are also cited as having loud and abusive patrons.

Nica Burns, partial owner of the Garrick and Lyric, said, "It can get quite hectic and very boisterous. I am looking at introducing security front of house to keep the right balance of fun and order."

What happens if someone shows up soused for the show? Or if a whole party was out slinging back drinks prior to curtain and puts up a huge fuss when denied entry? There's no comment about the specific...

Reportedly, one audience member for A Little Night Music, which played the Garrick recently, almost hit one of the performers when he decided to urinate in the auditorium.

So much for the rest of the world thinking of the British as reserved.

Broadway.com: Brought to You By Broadway

2009-07-24T16:04:00.003-07:00

So, Broadway.com has a new look. Perhaps they saw that Playbill recently redesigned its site and decided to follow suit. Or maybe someone just looked at Broadway.com, cocked their head to the side and said, "Hmm. Not nearly enough advertising!"

That's my guess.

All editorial content has been shoved to the bottom, making room for a full page of ticket sale buttons, Visa ads and hotel packages. Don't get me wrong; I know that all businesses, Broadway included, depend upon advertising revenue to even exist. But now Broadway.com, a site I've enjoyed visiting for years for its news and features, looks like a total sell-out. What do you think of the new design?

Don't Worry, You'll Still Get a Gift Bag

2009-07-15T14:19:00.005-07:00

There's been a shake-up at the Tony Awards.

A letter went out yesterday to members of the First Night Press List (those who see Broadway shows on or before opening night) informing them that they will no longer be allowed to cast votes in the Tonys.

Here's the catch: in past seasons, ONLY press on the First Night list were eligible to vote. Now, under the new rules, it appears that no one in the press will have a say about who shows up on the first Sunday in June.

According to Playbill.com, this affects approximately 100 Tony voters, bringing the tally down from 800 to 700

Votes can now only be cast by governing members of organizations such as the American Theatre Wing, The Broadway League, Actor's Equity Association, etc.

My favorite part about this letter was this: "Please note that this change in no way affects your inclusion on the First Night Press List." It was lovely of them to reassure us insecure journalists that, although we have no say in Broadway's biggest awards anymore, we still get to walk the red carpet on opening night. Whew!

And you thought the expansion of Academy Award's Best Picture category from five to ten was big news! (It probably is, but not on this blog.)

Peace Now! Justice Now! Equality Forever!

2009-07-13T20:17:00.004-07:00

How's this for cool? Hair is cancelling its Oct. 11 performance so that "the entire cast can join the National Equality March in Washington, D.C."

Producer Oskar Eustis explained in a statement that Hair has always been a political show, and what better way to walk the walk than by participating in the march for equality for both gay and straight couples.

This announcement didn't really surprise me; what did make me pause was the date. Hair is running into October? Well, even better for them!

Live Blogging the Tony's

2009-06-07T21:35:00.006-07:00

A few weeks ago I was quite taken by EW's PopWatch live blogging of the first clip from the upcoming movie musical Nine. So spontaneous, so off the cuff, so unpredictable. In that spirit, I now present to you my unplanned, come-as-they-are reactions to this year's Tony Awards.

Opening number:

Hey, it's Elton John! Those Billy Elliot boys can dance ballet and do gymnastics? And fly?! Not fair. What's up with the sound? Did someone leave a mike on by accident, or is the coughing part of the new West Side Story rewrite? Whoa, someone just screamed during the Guys and Dolls bit. Is it just me, or are these songs really not meshing well? Ok, I'm kind of loving that Bret Michaels and Poison are singing at the Tony's. Those girls are so trashy and sprayed up and, well, perfect. Is Rock of Ages really this much fun? Oh dear, Stockard Channing--you look fabulous but sound a little mannish. Did you hear that thunderous reaction to Aaron Tveit from Next to Normal? Perhaps Tveit should have played Joey...that's some serious chemistry between the two of them. The cast of Shrek looks oddly out of place, and the sound is still pretty wonky. Was that John Tartaglia? Can't even recognize him in that hideous costume. Hello, Dolly! And Liza! Sing it, Liza! Watch out for the hippies, they're right behind you. Oh no, they've got Elton. Now this looks like a party onstage. Whoooooooo!

Neil Patrick Harris' Opening Monologue:

Fully applaud this choice of host. Why didn't anyone build a Tony's set that looks like the outside of a theatre before? It's a brilliant move! Please acknowledge your shiny pants, NPH. Has nobody thought to fix the sound yet? Kudos to Constantine Maroulis for going along with that joke. Ooh, that Angela Lansbury joke did not go over well at all.

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play:

The adorable Roger Robinson (Joe Turner's Come and Gone). My Tony scorecard is off to a roaring start: 0-1

Shrek Performance:

Oh wow. And not in a good way. But thankfully Christopher Seiber is here to interrupt this shrill wooden doll chattering. However...I can't help but have flashbacks to Gary Beach from The Producers.

Best Featured Actress in a Play

She even admitted it wasn't fair to her other nominees. Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit) makes history as only the second actress in Tony's history to win five times. Now my scorecard is even.

Touring Performance

I totally cannot begrudge them for throwing Mamma Mia! into this telecast. I do begrudge them for the little encore, though.

Excerpt from 33 Variations

Thank goodness we get filmed clips and not the roundtable reading from YEAR. But, does only two sentences count as a clip?

Best Score of a Musical

Will Ferrill! No, really it was Tom Kitt and Brian Yorky for Next to Normal, and for my money, they totally deserve it. Scorecard: 2-3

West Side Story Performance

I do love me some Lin-Manuel Miranda. Gorgeous choice to showcase some of the high energy dancing, but Matt Cavanaugh still doesn't do it for me as Tony. Josefina Scaglione, however, was indeed bred in a lab to play Maria.

Best Direction of a Play

The second Matthew Warchus for God of Carnage. That sure tripped Susan Sarandon up, didn't it? Scorecard 2-4

Best Direction of a Musical

Stephen Daldry (Billy Elliot) of course, although Michael Greif (Next to Normal) and Diane Paulus (Hair) gave him a run for his money. Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages)? Who are you and why are you so orange? Scorecard: 3-5

Hair Performance

And commence with the Constantine Maroulis jokes. Glowsticks. Of course. Can we just give an award to their guitarists? And...end with a crotch shot!

Best Special Theatrical Event

Liza vs. Will, a fight to the death. And the winner is...Liza! To be honest, she completely deserved it, and since Will Ferril was such a hit, I bet he'll be back on the boards at some point. Was anyone even listening to the guy who accepted the award at first, or were they watching Liza make happy faces at the audience, like I was? Scorecard: 4-6

God of Carnage Excerpt

At least that was longer than 33 Variations.

Guys and Dolls Performance

Holy cow, that sound! Thank you, person, for bringing on a hand-held mike. Now, I followed all the Twitter feeds during the rehearsals, so how can it be that the sound is so badly messed up during the telecast? It does not compute. Also not making sense are the strange computerized images in the background of this number. Why are we flying over buildings? Are we underwater...now? Did they think that Tituss Bergess was still in The Little Mermaid?

Recap of the Creative Arts Awards

A tie! Really, that actually happens? Billy Elliot AND Next to Normal win Best Orchestrations. Best Book goes to Lee Hall (Billy Elliot). Sad face for Hunter Bell ([title of show]). Peter Darling predictably wins Best Choreography for--you guessed it--Billy Elliot. Here I am at 7-9--hooray!

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical

Gregory Jbara (Billy Elliot) brings his wife onstage with him to accept his award, and then tears up. This is a beautiful moment. Scorecard: 8-10

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical

Hadyn--whaaaa? Karen Olivo (West Side Story)! FIRST REAL UPSET OF THE NIGHT! She obviously didn't expect to win, and this makes for an exciting, honest speech, complete with real tears. 8-11

Next to Normal Performance

So they got Carrie Fisher to introduce the musical about mental illness. Uh-huh. At least she hasthe grace to laugh about it, especially when she misreads the Teleprompter. Anyway, thrilled that they chose to perform one of my favorite songs (You Don't Know/I Am the One), and clearly the audience is just as thrilled with Aaron Tveit. I'm so happy that this won a well-deserved Tony for Best Score. Could this upset Billy Elliot for Best Musical?

Best Performance by a Lead Actor in a Play

Even though the crowd went bonkers for long-suffering Raul Esparza, Geoffrey Rush (Exit the King) gets the award. Shoot, now I'm 8-12

Dividing the Estate Excerpt

Why was Hallie Foot so scared during the intro? Perhaps she knew how difficult her thick Southern accent would be to understand during the ridiculously short clip. Seriously, we can have a retread performance from Mamma Mia! but we can't show more than three sentences from a play?

In Memorium

Classy, and thank goodness someone seemed to be making sure we could read the names most of the time. Like Bebe, I'm getting a little weepy.

More Creative Arts Awards

Best Lighting goes to Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Billy Elliot gets Lighting for a Musical. Shrek wins Costumes, 33 Variations for Scenic Play Design, Billy Elliot for Scenic Design Musical. Hey, Equus won something! Best Sound Design of a Play. And then there's Billy Elliot. Again (Sound Design of a Musical). Let's see, that makes my tally... 9-19. Ouch. Curse you, Creative Arts Awards.

Best Lead Actress in a Play

Gosh but Frank Langella is cute. And, for me anyway, here is the second real upset of the night. My money was on one of the two ladies from Mary Stuart, yet here is Marcia Gay Harden (God of Carnage). And that takes some grace to use of some of her precious speech time to clear up the televised mislabeling of Harriet Walter and Janet McTeer. 9-20

reasons to be pretty Excerpt

Jarring. Just...jarring.

Billy Elliot Performance

How do they choose which Billy performs? That's what I really want to know. And I hate to be picky, but could they have done more of a medley? Just askin'...

Legally Blonde performance

Is this a mea culpa for them not getting to perform a few years ago? Even if it is, this just seems out of place and a little forced.

Best Revival of a Play

Really? Is it really pronounced Gaw-dough? All of my theatre professors were terribly wrong. And then the entire family for The Norman Conquests troops onto the stage, and arranging them takes up all the speech time. The good news is that I'm now 10-20.

Best Play

God of Carnage, of course. Did you think it would be anything else by this point? Boy, does Yasmina Reza look smug.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Well thought-out introduction to Jerry Herman's catalog of work. Now, I've got a tie-breaker resting on how long Herman's speech is (I guessed 45 seconds), but really, by now, we all know I'm not winning the Tony pool. I hope he talks for at least 5 minutes just to make me feel better.

Hair Performance

They already sang "Let the Sunshine In," so is it "Age of Aquarius" we'll be treated to? Oh, but of course, the title song. And hippies are on the loose again! Who is Will Swenson climbing on?

Best Revival of a Musical

Did you know I read Kristin Chenoweth's memoir in about four hours? It was that entertaining. I learned from her book that she relies on hair extensions to build up her super-fine hair, so I was chuckling inwardly when Hair won. I was also loving that actor standing behind Oskar Eustis who was trying not to cry. It's ok, Actor Man, your show just won a Tony. You cry all you want.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

THUNDEROUS applause when Alice Ripley's name was listed in the nominees, and I cheered quite a bit when she won for Next to Normal. If you read this blog, you know I was blown away by her performance when I saw her last year. Well-deserved. However, I don't think I was the only one who thought she was channeling Diana when she started shouting about art. 13-23

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

Oh dear, that Audra intro went horribly wrong. Luckily we get the three cuties from Billy Elliot to rescue it. Hurrah for some more Tony Awards history, and hurrah for them seriously not knowing who should start the thank you's. 14-24

Jersey Boys Performance

It had to be something spectacular to follow the Billy Elliot boys, and five Frankie Valli's is a pretty good choice. But the bit of "Oh! What a Night" actually brought the energy down a tad.

Best Musical

It's.......Billy Elliot, of course. But having Liza cry, "Yay, Elton! Yay! Yay!" was a nice touch, as were all of the squealing ballet girls.

But we're not done yet. Marc Shaiman and Tom Wittman impressively provided an 11 o'clock number for Neil Patrick Harris, recapping the evening and I bet Angela Lansbury did indeed get a few smooches from the boys of Poison.

My official tally: 15-25. Yay, Elton! Yay!

Curtain Up...

2009-06-07T13:37:00.005-07:00

Here it is, the day we've been preparing for all year: "our SuperBowl."

Since I'm now located in the Pacific time zone, I'm useless as far as up to the minute news tonight (the final award will have been handed out before my broadcast even begins.) To keep you in the loop, here's three excellent ways to follow the action:

Red Carpet Coverage and "Creative Awards" Webcast

The Tony Awards on Twitter

Playbill's Behind the Scenes Blog

And if you happen to be anywhere near Times Square tonight, pull up a lawn chair and watch the telecast from the newly granted "pedestrian only" section. Hard to be Duffy Square on a night like this.

Of course there will be much analyzing, kvetching and celebrating here tomorrow, but for now, put on that Pirate Queen T-shirt and enjoy the show!

Write On

2009-06-04T14:47:00.003-07:00

Rumors are flying that the award for Best Book of a Musical will not be presented during the prime time telecast of this year's Tony Awards.

According to Playbill, the Dramatists Guild issued a statement on June 2, which began: "The Guild objects in the strongest possible terms to the exclusion of this award from the live broadcast."

No formal announcements have been made yet as to which awards will be presented during the hour before the live broadcast, known as "The Creative Awards." Costumes, set design, sound and orchestrations have filled the bill in years past, but apparently Best Book may soon be joining the party.

I, for one, agree with DG president Stephen Schwartz: "We strongly urge that the Best Book Award be put back where it belongs. Live, on the air."

Red Bra Straps

2009-05-28T16:23:00.006-07:00

Hey, long time no see, eh? During this absence, I've been treating myself to a different kind of theatre, a type I haven't seen in, oh, about seven years.

I went to a rock concert!

Not just one, but two in four days. Crazy, right?

For someone whose musical tastes run to, well musicals, it's pretty rare for me to fork over precious money to see a band. My opinion has usually been that listening to a CD is more or less the same experience as seeing a band in concert, especially if that concert is a cavernous arena filled with people who paid out the wazoo to watch little specks strut around the stage and lip sync.

However, when Cowboy Mouth came to Martini Ranch in Scottsdale last week, I decided it was worth the risk and $20. The New Orleans band fronted by sweaty, crazy drummer Fred LeBlanc didn't not disappoint, and their concert was every bit as energetic, bouncy and irreverent as I'd been promised. Even though LeBlanc ran the stage (even playfully scolding a girl by the stage for touching his drums: "You wanna play with drums? Then start your own fuckin' band!"), I was intrigued by bassist Regina Zernay. She owned the "rocker chick" aura without ever overdoing it. In addition to her pink miniskirt and Nirvana T-shirt, she had a pesky red bra strap that kept peeking out of her sleeve.

Cue to: two nights ago I took a $12 chance on The Thermals, a delightfully quirky band out of Portland that recorded their first LP out of the lead singer's kitchen. Perhaps because of the wonky lighting that spotlighted her, or perhaps just because she rocked so hard, most of my attention was again focused on a female bassist, Kathy Foster. All bouncy curls and punk striped T-shirt, Foster stole the show, not an easy thing to do when the lead singer has been known to strip naked during shows just for the fun of it. And guess what? Sliding down her arm from time to time was a red bra strap.

So there you have it, girls. Red bra = rock star.

Your Name In Lights--For Now

2009-05-07T17:42:00.044-07:00

Welcome back! Let's start off part two of Those Who Were Ignored by the Tony's with the largest category:

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play

*Richard Griffiths and Daniel Radcliffe, Equus

On the surface, there are not many inherently likeable things about this play, and without two terrific lead actors, it can easily seem like a creepy, horny nightmare. Both Griffiths and Radcliffe garnered nothing but raves in London, and their performances seemed intact when the show moved to NYC. That said, this was a pretty full category to begin with, and these two might have only just missed the cut-off.

*Peter Sarsgaard, The Seagull

Sarsgaard is a great actor, and there are few who will tell you differently. But Trigorin is a sneaky character who lacks likeability, and perhaps the nominators knew that winning a Tony for Trigorin is a long shot.

*Frank Langella, A Man For All Seasons

Frank, you won last year for Frost/Nixon. Well deserved, but not being nominated this year surely wasn't a surprise. Committee's like to spread it around from time to time.

*John Lithgow, All My Sons

Although he's a fine dramatic actor, popular opinion of Lithgow has veered more toward musical comedy than tortured actor. A nomination for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and a win for Sweet Smell of Success confirms that we like him wry and smarmy.

*Jeremy Piven, Speed-the-Plow

Forgive me. I had to.

*Michael Cerveris, Hedda Gabler

Michael, are you starting to go the way of Raul Esparza? First Cymbeline, now Hedda...We know from his mesmerizing musical performances that Cerveris is an extremely talented actor, but this production was so ghastly that it didn't receive any nominations. I know you'll have better luck next time, Michael, if you choose wisely.

*Rupert Everett, Blithe Spirit

He's charming, he's handsome and he's got that Noel Coward aura that should have been perfect for this revival. Fact is, Everett fell flat when placed next to stage legends such as Angela Lansbury and Christine Ebersole. And that snide profile in the New York Times didn't help his appeal much, either.

*Jeremy Irons, Impressionism

Hey, Jeremy Irons was on Broadway this season? How about that!

*Matthew Broderick, The Philanthropist

If we ever get to see Broderick play a character with a smidgen of charm again, perhaps then.

*Pablo Schreiber, Desire Under The Elms

This is only the second Broadway outing for Liev's little brother, but just as with Awake and Sing! (Tony nom), he proves he's really good. Oh, and he's pretty to look at. Aren't the sponsors trying to get people to tune into the telecast? I'm telling you, stage something where Pablo Schreiber and Patrick Wilson are shirtless and you're golden.

*David Hyde Pierce, Accent on Youth

If we ever get to see Hyde Pierce play a character that is not Niles Crane, perhaps then.

*Nathan Lane and Bill Irwin, Waiting for Godot

Two first-rate clowns playing, essentially, clowns. Unless they made horrible onstage choices, then something doesn't add up here.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play

*Kristin Scott Thomas, The Seagull

An actress practically born to play period roles with a melodramatic flair and an arched eyebrow, Scott Thomas seemed like a shoe-in. In the end, it probably doesn't matter since either Jane Fonda or one of the ladies from Mary Stuart will take the award.

*Dianne Wiest, All My Sons

General consensus named Wiest as the best part of this show, but in the end, well...see above.

*Tovah Feldshuh, Irena's Vow

The woman is nearing 60 and convinced audiences that in the beginning of the show she was a teenage girl. Always worth a nomination.

*Christine Ebersole, Blithe Spirit

Sorry, but practically anything she did to follow up Grey Gardens would seem like a let-down.

*Joan Allen, Impressionism

Hey, Joan Allen was on Broadway this year? How about that!

*Carla Gugino, Desire Under the Elms

Gugino has slowly been building her theatrical credibility, and her sizzling portrayal of Abbie Cabot (the ultimate MILF) completely deserved recognition.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical

*Hunter Bell, [title of show]

Granted he got a nod for writing the show's book, and he was basically playing an exaggerated version of himself, but... he was so darn adorable!

*James Barbour, A Tale of Two Cities

Barbour was considered a shoe-in even when the show was playing in Florida, but perhaps the committee kept his name off the list because they wanted to avoid the media bringing up his sexual molestation of a minor conviction...just like I'm doing now.

*Stephen Bogardus and Jeffry Denman, Irving Berlin's White Christmas

I'm still sticking with the belief that this will be such a regional juggernaut that Tonys' wouldn't matter one way or the other, but Jeffry Denman, who has been with the show since its inception and is such a talented song-and-dance man, has clawed his way up from the chorus to true leading man status. Surely they could have squeezed him in there?

*Matthew Risch, Pal Joey

Remember him? He replaced Christian Hoff and his broken foot during previews, therefore starring in a real-life 42nd Street. However, his performance was dwarfed by those of Stockard Channing and Martha Plimpton, and everyone quickly forgot about him.

*Malcolm Gets and Will Chase, The Story of My Life

Gets, an immensely talented musical theatre performer, is doomed to be remembered only as "that guy from 'Caroline in the City.'" Chase has originated lead roles in Lennon, High Fidelity, and now this. Cursed.

*Craig Bierko and Oliver Platt, Guys and Dolls

Yes, Bierko had loads of energy when he did The Music Man nine years ago. Sadly it sounds like that energy has worn thin, and his Sky Masterson lacked the natural charisma and charm that, frankly, the whole show is built around. People are still scratching their heads as to why Platt--a non-musical actor--was chosen to play Nathan Detroit.

*Matt Cavenaugh, West Side Story

I, for one, find his absence totally reasonable. My earliest encounter with Cavenaugh's "acting skills" came when he dropped his towel in the regional premiere of Dorian, a musicalization of "The Portrait of Dorian Gray" set in New Orleans. Since then the hype has mainly centered around his pecs, not his talent. Yes, the boy can sing, but with such a Broadway heavyweight as West Side Story, we expect a little bit more than that.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical

*Kerry O'Malley and Meredith Patterson, Irving Berlin's White Christmas

Look. You're all tired of hearing me say it. I'm tired of writing it. This show doesn't need a Tony. Moving on...

*Lauren Graham and Kate Jennings Grant, Guys and Dolls

On paper, it looked perfect: sassy, fast-talking TV actress with a great period look. Word is that Graham is a decent singer and even better dancer, but somehow her portrayal of the long-suffering Miss Adelaide just lacked oomph. Seems like she forgot to sell it to the back row. And Kate Jennings Grant? Who is she again?

*Amy Spanger, Rock of Ages
If Constantine Maroulis can get a nod, then surely Spanger--the definition of musical comedy gold--should get one, too. Just saying...

*Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty, 9 to 5

Block plays the least flashy the three women, but surely her insanely strong high belt counts for something? Hilty, on the other hand, is by far the flashiest, and if she can pull off such a bouncy performance with the original Doralee Rhodes writing the songs and waiting in the wings, then she deserves to be noticed for her complete, utter lack of intimidation.

Your Box Offices Will Not Benefit

2009-05-06T16:34:00.033-07:00

As promised, it's more talk about the Tony noms today, but instead of reacting to the winners--we'll hear enough about them in the next month--let's explore the notable exceptions to this year's list in a two-part post. Here's what didn't get nominated:

Best Play

*To Be Or Not To Be by Nick Whitby

This stage adaptation of Ernst Lubitsch's 1942 clunker of a film puzzled those who saw it. Mel Brooks already made Nazis funny--and he made them sing. Needless to say, this play was quickly forgotten.

*The American Plan by Richard Greenberg

Perhaps the committee didn't think it was fresh enough? The Manhattan Theatre Club staged the play's debut Off-Broadway in the '90s (and produces it again here), and it could be that exact reason that kept this tight, engaging Greenberg offering off the list.

*Irena's Vow by Dan Gordon

Really the only amazing thing I heard about this one was Tovah Feldshuh. She didn't get nominated. That's the outrage.

*Impressionism by Michael Jacobs

Joan Allen, Jeremy Irons, Andre De Shields, Aaron Lazar and Marsha Mason. Did anyone really care what the play was about?

Best Musical

*[title of show]

This one angered MANY people, myself included. It was the little musical that could, a sweet and original show that charmed audiences all the way from the 2004 New York Musical Theatre Festival to the Lyceum Theatre in 2008. Musicals don't often get much more original than this.

*A Tale of Two Cities

Ahhh, musical Dickens. You were big, you were loud, you were oftentimes laughable, but you sure sang your little pop opera heart out. Still, if Shrek and Rock of Ages made it....

*13

You can say this for Jason Robert Brown: he never takes the easy way out. Write a musical about a Jewish man getting lynched in deep south? Sure! Put your failed marriage on display in a two-person time-bender? Ok! Write a show about teenagers, starring teenagers, and accompanied by teenagers? Sounds good! And it even had a song titled "The Lamest Place in the World."

*Irving Berlin's White Christmas

It's going to be so popular in regional theatres that a Tony would almost weight it down.

*The Story of My Life

"Basically a classic chick flick translated to the stage with a different set of chromosomes," said Ben Brantley. No wonder it closed two days after it opened. I blame the Will Chase curse.

*9 to 5

Honestly, I bet it's more fun to watch three women sing about how they're going to bring down their boss than wondering how Brian d'Arcy James can breathe under all that Shrek makeup. Even though she was nominated for her score, this is still an insult to Dolly Parton.

Best Revival of a Play

*Equus

Richard Griffiths was reportedly phenomenal (as usual). Harry Potter got naked. Made tons of money. Isn't this exactly what Broadway wants nowadays?

*The Seagull

This was a full-on snub. Critics couldn't lavish enough attention on this limited engagement starring Kristin Scott Thomas and Peter Sarsgaard. Audiences seemed to like it, too.

*A Man For All Seasons

A play set during the time of Henry VIII that doesn't rely on sex or gluttony. Tough sell.

*All My Sons

Katie! John! Dianne! Patrick! (With his shirt off!) Arthur Miller's punch-in-the-gut examination of guilt relied more on its marquee power that any actual tension. I actually commend the Tony committee on its decision not to reward a production for that.

*Speed-the-Plow

Did anyone buy a ticket for reasons other than to see the outcome of Jeremy Piven v. sushi? It's a shame if they didn't, because this was quite a good representation of Mamet. Too bad the mercury circus got in the way.

*American Buffalo

Yikes. Can we all go back to forgetting about this one again? Thanks.

*Hedda Gabler

Let's forget about this one, too. Mary Louise Parker, we forgive you and still think you're fabulous. Come back to Broadway again real soon, ok?

*Blithe Spirit

Noel Coward's tricky like this. Sometimes his plays come off all debonair and witty and sometimes they fall flat on their face. This one was just an excuse to get Angela Lansbury back on the stage.

*Exit the King

Geoffrey Rush just. Won't. Die. But you will, and apparently that didn't sit well with most audiences.

*The Philanthropist

Stuffy '70s play about stuffy English professors starring stuffy Matthew Broderick. Really, is he even trying anymore?

*Desire Under the Elms

"Gutsy," "urgent," and "ferocious" are just a few of the adjectives used to describe this transplant from The Goodman Theatre in Chicago. Tony or not, can somebody buy me a ticket to go see it right now?

*Accent on Youth

Just opened. Don't think anyone has seen it. Has Niles from "Frasier" in it. That's about it.

Best Revival of a Musical

The surefire way to get a Tony nomination has been revealed. Revive a musical, and even if it's Pal Joey, they'll still toss you a nom!

Tomorrow: Actors, actresses, directors and Tovah!

No, I Did Not...

2009-05-05T17:16:00.007-07:00

...wake up at the crack of dawn (Pacific time, remember?) this morning to hear the Tony nominations, but I am quite pleased with most of the results. Tomorrow I'll do a full deconstruction, but for right now let me just say:

--Congratulations to Jennifer Damiano (Best Featured Actress in a Musical, Next to Normal)--she's only 17!

--Rock of Ages (Best Musical)? Ok.

--[title of show]'s Hunter Bell (Best Book of a Musical) but no Jeff Bowen (Best Original Score)? Don't you know they're a package deal?

--Billy Elliot ties The Producers for most nominations ever. Awesome.

--Raul Esparza, this just might be your year.

More tomorrow!

Jobs You Find on 4/20

2009-04-21T09:49:00.003-07:00

While combing the job listings yesterday, I found this ad on Craigslist:

Stoner Writers

Hello. I'm seeking stoners who like to write for a "Stoniest Blog" contest. I just started the site and I'm hosting a contest for t-shirts and hemp lip balm to the bloggers who get the most votes. This is a humor site so it helps to have a good sense of humor. If you're a stoner, I'm sure you do. Please let me know if you have interest in some stoner blogging. I'm trying to grow the site grass roots, pun intended, and need help from all stoners. Toke care and dank you very much. Zippy.

You see, media isn't dying--it's just dozing on the couch, surrounded by empty bags of Cheetos.

Susan Boyle Is My--And Everybody's--New Hero

2009-04-15T20:56:00.001-07:00

Last Saturday a woman from West Lothian, Scotland, started a near riot at the televised auditions for the popular show Britain's Got Talent. With her bushy eyebrows and frumpy fashions, 47-year-old Susan Boyle elicited snickers from the audience and an eye roll or two from famously harsh judge Simon Cowell when she confessed she wanted to be a singer on par with Elaine Paige. Thirty seconds later she had the audience on its feet and jaws dropping at the judges' table when she sang a near-perfect rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables.

After the first line, co-host Ant McPartlin exclaimed backstage,"You didn't expect that, did you? Did you? No!" Nobody did. But in the four days since Boyle's debut, the uplifting video of her performance has become an internet sensation, notching close to 10 million views on YouTube and showing up on sites such as Facebook and Twitter, always accompanied with captions like "you have to watch THE WHOLE THING!!!!!

And for once, it is worth it to watch the entire video. Boyle's simple charm and utter euphoria when she earns vociferous praise and a perfect score from the judges, as well as the avalanche of cheers and applause from the audience, is uplifting to say the least. That an unemployed, middle-aged woman who claims that she's "never even been kissed" can finally live out her dream of singing for a large audience--and capture the cynical attention of the world to boot--is the ultimate feel-good tale.

Boyle is expected to be a front-runner to win the competition, and there have been rumors of Cowell already approaching her with a possible record deal. A fan site, www.susan-boyle.com, has sprung up, and Demi Moore admitted on Twitter that watching Boyle sing made her teary-eyed. Me too, Demi, me too.

The Perfect Candidate

2009-04-03T09:45:00.008-07:00

Anyone who is unemployed or under-employed, I have found you a job!

Gawker posted this job listing from MediaBistro yesterday and helpfully pointed out some of its more, um, strategic requirements. After carefully restructuring my resume and gathering my references, I would like to officially apply. Best Events Magazine, please consider this my cover letter:

Dear Red 7 Media, Inc.:

I would like to apply for the Associate Editor position at Best Events magazine. I received my masters degree in journalism last summer, therefore I fall perfectly within your 1-3 years experience range. My past work includes print, magazine, web and marketing, and I am extremely comfortable with writing and reporting. Oh, and the phone. I can definitely talk on one of those. I can also multi-task--for example, right now I am typing, breathing and blinking. I am the "glue" you're looking for!

You specified you were looking for "rock stars, baby." I myself happen to be quite adept at Guitar Hero and have been known to rock 'n' roll all night AND party every day. As befitting a rock star, I would also expect to have my income supplemented with crack, booze, and women. I do not work well before 2 pm.

Don't worry, I don't live in Seattle or Iowa. I live in Arizona, but I hear the drive from LaGuardia or JFK to Norwalk is less than two hours. As such, I would be requiring a private jet (see: "rock star") and car service every day. This would give me ample time to summon the high energy you require for the office.

As it appears I would be doing the work of approximately 12 staffers, my ballpark salary would be in the $500,000 range. I am also. Not. Kidding.

I would be excited to work for your fabulous company, and am begging you to contact me for an interview. BEGGING.

Thanks!

Lindsey Wilson

If this doesn't work out (and why wouldn't it?), I also came across this posting on Craigslist:

Attention Film Critics:

We just finished a film and need to buy a one sentence quote from someone who calls himself a film critic. Thanks.

That's comforting.

Calm Yourselves

2009-03-24T17:04:00.004-07:00

The latest subject of Playbill's popular Cue & A series has caused a mini-outrage (and an overblown one, in my opinion.) Will Swenson, one of the stars of the Broadway revival of Hair, answered the Web site's "questionnaire with random facts, backstage trivia and pop culture tidbits" with the obligatory cheeky attitude favored by many of its past stars, and this well-intentioned humor inadvertently angered a few posters on the All That Chat message board.

Apparently, stating "works well with gays" as his special skill turns Swenson into an inconsiderate and disrespectful monster, according to the original poster. I thought it was deft and clever. And then, instead of a handful of replies urging people to lighten up and take a joke, the post generated roughly 50 comments (pretty hefty for ATC).

The majority of the responses are in Swenson's defence, citing his bio, resume, and Web site as proof that the straight actor has no ill-will towards the gay community and especially supports same-sex marriages. One poster even points out that Swenson is from Salt Lake City and that if perhaps he's "one of those Mormons," then this a huge step forward.

Sheesh, people. He also says "douche" in the interview and no one got on him for that.

Getting Crafty

2009-03-22T21:04:00.009-07:00

Whew! There is nothing like being bedridden with a nasty cold to make a person feel like they've been cut off from civilization. But while I was busy building a Kleenex mountain, this year's WHERE Arizona Guestbook came out, and look what's inside:
If you want to actually read my story "The Art of Craft", you'll have to click on the link above and then page through. But trust me, there's lots of great other articles along the way!

Watch Out For the Rhino

2009-03-11T10:32:00.004-07:00

A week ago this story appeared on NYTimes.com, and I had to read it a few times to fully digest it.

A reporter was placed backstage at a performance of The Lion King to observe and comment on the quick changes and behind-the-curtains antics of the performers. I've read a few articles like this before, but I'm actually a little shocked that the quotes captured and bawdy behaviour described made it through to publication.

Why?

Because it's Disney. I've dealt with Disney Theatricals before, and my experiences with them have always (frustratingly) produced a carefully crafted, extremely controlled veneer of perfection. Quaint family values. Airbrushed, glittery, kid-friendly experience.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the juxtaposition of "Hakuna Matata" being sung on one side of the curtain while actors strut naked and discuss raunchy subjects on the other. It's funny. But I'm still wondering who Alan Feuer paid off in order to publish this article without being locked up in the Disney prison.

How Far We've Come

2009-03-10T12:06:00.005-07:00

I'm feeling a bit nostalgic this morning.

It was around this time last year when I started work on my master's thesis, and in tribute I thought I would post the audio slideshow I produced back then to go with it.

http://cmr.syr.edu/goldring/lindsey_wilson/

This is a four minute video featuring Broadway actors such as Lauren Kennedy (still with Vanities), Nick Adams (currently in Guys and Dolls), and Francis Jue (now playing Father in MCC's Coraline) talking about the first show they saw on Broadway.

Hooray for multimedia baby steps!

Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

2009-03-02T14:14:00.012-07:00

Ok, so I realize the post "Read My Lips" that ran a month ago might have contained a theater joke that some of you may have deemed too insider-ey. It mentioned a very lovely lady named Marni Nixon, and for those of you who aren't familiar with her work, here she is:

This is Marni Nixon.

This is also Marni Nixon.

No really, this is Marni Nixon:

and she was the unofficial "voice" for all the movie musical starlets who couldn't really sing, like Audrey Hepburn, Deborah Kerr, and Natalie Wood. Now a new production company called The Brakefield Company is producing a film called Uncredited--The Marni Nixon Story, based on her autobiography I Could Have Sung All Night.

It only took 77 years, but Marni Nixon is finally getting some credit.

Almost 150 Years...Gone

2009-02-27T15:00:00.006-07:00

A moment of silence: The Rocky Mountain News folded today.

After losing something in the range of $16 million last year, the News couldn't find a buyer and E.W. Scripps Co. was unable to justify keeping it running. The Rocky was a paper I grew up reading, a paper I always looked forward to spreading out on my parents' kitchen table when home for the holidays. On its Web site, there is a slide show of photos from yesterday's announcement in the newsroom that really tug at the heartstrings. Some have tears in their eyes, some are clutching their children, some just stare in disbelief. Most have a look of quiet panic.

My thoughts at this news turned to Lisa Bornstein, the paper's theater critic since 1999. She has been balancing out The Denver Post's John Moore since 2001, and even though she was not my favorite of the two, I'm still sympathetic to any arts journalist losing a job right now. While some of the Rocky's columnists and staff members will be absorbed into the Post, Bornstein's name is not included.

Two months ago, in a post on the blog IWantMyRocky.com (a last-ditch effort by the paper's employees to save Denver's first newspaper), Bornstein wrote "Is the possibility of losing the Rocky any more awful than others who lose their jobs? Probably not. But the fear that an entire career, not just a job, could be gone, is the part that really chills."

Bornstein is referring to something that has been terrifying all arts journalists recently: if print media is dying and bloggers (hi!) are gaining momentum as a cheap and quick substitute, will there even be such a thing as a theater critic or an arts reporter in a few years? I'm scared, Sarge.

Farewell, Rocky Mountain News. Hopefully not farewell to legitimate arts coverage.

A Message From The People

2009-02-20T17:51:00.008-07:00

In yesterday's ArtsBeat blog, Erik Piepenburg announced that Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik, authors of Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time, will be answering readers' questions left in the blog's comments box over the weekend.

A quick perusal of the questions submitted confirmed two things for me: 1. Broadway costs too much! 2. Readers of NYTimes.com are, predictably, astute and intelligent people with well-thought-out, evocotive questions.

My favorite of the bunch comes from "maggie," who asks if "the sudden influx of limited-run, star-studded shows constitutes a ’stimulus package’ for Broadway? And if so–since it will not generate any long-term gains—how will it benefit the theatre industry overall?"

This one got me thinking. What will audiences expect once the recession is over? Once Broadway is back on its feet (as much as it can be, anyway), will audiences be bewildered and a little ticked that movie and television stars are no longer treading the boards with such regularity? Theater circles constantly bemoan the lack of funding (and an audience) available for new or avant-garde works, and even if a show isn't a revival, adaptation of a movie, or compilation of a famous song catalogue, a "name" is absolutely necessary to grant even a glimmer of hope for a run.

Right now, with the economy in such dire straits and arts always precariously close to the chopping block, I'm all for the stars. Bring on Harry Potter! Make way for Lorelei Gilmore! Heck, anything to get butts in the seats. But when the pennies aren't so pinched, will there be an angry mob waiting beneath the ("nameless") marquees?

Broadway Behind the Lense

2009-02-17T15:47:00.009-07:00

So it was announced today that Faith Prince will be taking over the role of Ursula in Disney's The Little Mermaid when Heidi Blickenstaff leaves the show in April. The message boards seem divided on this casting choice, but I personally think it's fabulous.

But before Heidi leaves, I wanted to share these photos I found recently on Broadway.com. Photographer Jenny Anderson took 33 snaps while Heidi was being transformed into the flashy sea-witch, and a couple of them are exquisite. Anderson appears to have a whole series of these "transformation photos," from Wicked to Shrek to Phantom. Since Broadway.com doesn't let you save images from its site (paranoid!), I had to scrounge around for a few precious examples of her artistic work:

From the open auditions for the national tour of Dreamgirls!

New Pal Joey star Matthew Risch approaching the stage door before his first lead performance.

The iconic mask and hat from The Phantom of the Opera in Howard McGillin's dressing room.

2009-02-13T08:00:00.002-07:00

The winners of the In The Heights freestyle rap contest have been announced, and neither the grand prize winner nor the runner-up were ones that made my list of notable entrants a few days earlier.

Coming in second and winning a pair of tickets to the show is "CNitya," whose video I thought was competant but not especially memorable.

And winning the contest is "Freestylin' Shane," a little boy not more than seven years old who I dismissed as a bit. In fact, his video was so pushy and over-the-top that I was more than a little annoyed while viewing it and didn't care to watch it all the way through.

Even though my list singled out some contestants for their entertaining foibles, there were a few who truly impressed me with their freestyling skills and heartfelt intentions (Michael Sazonov, I'm looking at you.) Picking "Freestylin' Shane" as the winner just feels cheap to me.

And in case you were wondering, I doubt FreeStyle Love Supreme had much to do with the judging after all. YouTube recorded 1,448 views for "Freestylin' Shane's" video and 1,020 for "CNitya's," the most of any of the contestants.

Call Me a Cock-Eyed Optimist...

2009-02-12T15:35:00.006-07:00

...But I think Laura Osnes will make a lovely Nellie Forbush.

As was recently announced on Playbill.com, Osnes is set to take over for Kellie O'Hara in the highly acclaimed Lincoln Center production of South Pacific starting March 10, when O'Hara begins her maternity leave. Osnes will continue to play Forbush until O'Hara returns on October 6.

Rumors had been flying that Erin Davie (Grey Gardens) might get the role, but Davie is, in fact, replacing Osnes in the White Plains Performing Arts Center's A Little Night Music.

I'll admit I rooted for (and occasionally voted for) Osnes when she was a contestant on the dreadfully enjoyable reality casting show You're The One That I Want. Her poise, vocals, and sunny personality established her as a viable contender for ingenue roles in upcoming seasons, and I think South Pacific will be a good fit for her.

Besides that, I just love a feel-good story. Congratulations, Laura!

I Heart You

2009-02-10T11:52:00.004-07:00

In The Heights, recent Grammy winner and the Broadway musical that can do no wrong (seriously, it's awesome, go), recently sponsored a contest celebrating two things: love and the fame-hungry culture that is America.

Romantic fans were asked last month to record themselve freestyling about the one they love and post it on YouTube. The winner, judged by Lin-Manuel Miranda and his Wesleyan buddies FreeStyle Love Supreme, wins dinner for two at Tony's DiNapoli and tickets to see In The Heights on V-Day.

Submissions were due Sunday night by 11:59 pm. Twenty-nine videos were submitted. I watched them all for you. You're welcome.

The dominant themes seemed to be "I've never done this before," "This show is my valentine," and "I'm single, but I'd like to take my mom to dinner." Here are some of the highlights:

Baby-faced Adam Werlein from Milwaukee , WI: He loves his girl like a pothead loves a joint. Aw, sweet.

John from Indianapolis: "Sorry the video is small and crappy, but the love is big and sappy!" And if the economy didn't suck, he'd buy her a ring.

"Gaarayuki9" aka The Two Teddy Bears: "But you would love to get the chance to know me. You know, be more than homies? And along the way probably be able to knock knees." This isn't a contest for Avenue Q, man.

"Dancindiva11921": Putting the moves on Lin-Manuel Miranda while riding a tractor. Watch out, Vanessa.

Big Dave: Rapping about chicken, turkey, and worky in front of a wall covered with Frankie Avalon portraits.

"Trishpip": A "very white girl laying down some rap" about her prom date, her first date, her husband. Adorable. Extra points for use of the term "social stinkbomb."

Fifteen-year-old Amber and her green screen. GREEN SCREEN.

"Drew Gasparini (with the help of his rather untalented beatbox friend)": Is having "romantic problems" at the moment and would like to spend Valentine's Day at In The Heights so his cold, sad heart could find some warmth and happiness. Loved the hat.

Jay Cooper: Loves his wife and kids enough to do a white-boy rap for them. Heartfelt.

And finally, Travis, who looks all of 14: He knows she's the one because she reminds him of his mother. Um.... ALSO: "Her skin is like milk and her lips are like rubies, her hair is like silk and I like her PERSONALITY." AND: The suprise ending. Watch this one for yourself.

Hi-yaaaaaaaaaah!

2009-02-09T16:00:00.005-07:00

ATTENTION:

Do you have simian-like qualities? Do you know martial arts? Can you sing? Tara Rubin wants you!

Actually, she doesn't. Not yet, anyway. Right now she wants someone to play Bruce Lee next year in the new musical spectacular Bruce Lee: Journey to the West. And according to the casting notice, the other big character in the show is The Monkey King, and I bet it's only a matter of time before casting begins for that role. Former cast members of Tarzan, are you excited yet?

Here's a description of this sure-fire hit:

"Bruce Lee: Journey to the West follows the martial arts legend's difficult road to success, as he's guided by a powerful ally: The Monkey King, a beloved and playful warrior god from Chinese mythology. In a show fusing sources as diverse as martial arts, Chinese Opera, modern dance, and pop music from the 1950's to the present day, Bruce and Monkey struggle to master their skills and purify their spirits, on their quest to unite East and West."

I love that it sounds like Bruce and Monkey are just pals out on a crazy whirlwind tour of the world to the smooth tunes of The Platters. Watch their shenanigans for only $150 a ticket!

Hey, at least somebody will have a job right now.

Read My Lips

2009-02-05T17:50:00.009-07:00

First it was Yo-Yo Ma, now it's Jennifer Hudson.

When did pre-recording a performance become such an outrage? It's been happening at high-profile events for years, from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade to, yes, even Super Bowls of the past (cough, Whitney Houston, cough).

Every year the Broadway musicals that sing and dance on the Macy's star do so to pre-recorded music and vocals. It's practical and at times even obvious, but there has never been an uproar about it. Perhaps this is because viewers just don't care about Broadway the way they do about their pop stars, or maybe because those performances happen right around the time the potatoes need to be mashed or the relatives start appearing. Whatever. I have never heard a peep of protest about Broadway lip-syncing.

I asked a classical music guru friend of mine if he could explain to me what the big deal was about "outing" the quartet of classical geniuses that played to a tape at the Presidential Inauguration. He couldn't. Especially because the musicians involved never made a secret of their pre-recording, and readily explained that D.C.'s frigid temperatures made playing live impossible.

Rickey Minor, the producer of this year's Super Bowl, has been quoted numerous times saying that he asked Hudson and "America the Beautiful" singer Faith Hill to pre-record their tracks as a matter of standard procedure. He maintains that the possibility of things going wrong during a live performance are just too great to chance it, and that those singing the National Anthem at the Super Bowl have been doing this ever since Garth Brooks threw a hissy fit in 1993 and threatened to leave before singing.

It's not news anymore, and I wonder if this ever was. Those performing are still doing so to their own vocals and/or instruments, so it's not really as devious as the media's trying to make it.

Now, if Marni Nixon had been brought in, I might feel differently.

Hooray!

2009-02-04T14:08:00.003-07:00

Ghostlight Records is going to record Next to Normal, the musical that combines mental illness, familial struggles and Alice Ripley's insanely high belt.

I saw this show last year Off-Broadway at Second Stage, and was instantly impressed (you can read my blog post about it here). I also had the song "I'm Alive" flitting 'round my head for the next four days. Now, it's not specifically mentioned, but I'm assuming that since this recording will feature J. Robert Spencer and not Brian d'Arcy James, this will be the revised score that played Virginia's Arena Stage late last year.

If I remember correctly, an extensive overhaul of the score and book was done for the Arena Stage production, and many songs were cut, added, or changed. Not sure if "I'm Alive" is still on the list, but for my poor brain's sake, I hope so.

This IS the Life!

2009-01-28T14:37:00.000-07:00

If I still lived in NYC, I would be front row center tonight at 6:00 to hear Norm Lewis sing from his new CD This is the Life! at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle.

Norm has been steadily climbing the Broadway ladder for years in shows such as Side Show, Amour, Les Miserables, The Wild Party, and currently, The Little Mermaid (it's worth seeing for his abs alone).

Norm has one of the those velvety voices that is infused with so much character, I don't think anyone could copy him successfully. The songs he chose for his debut solo CD are eclectic--there's even some gorgeous opera. And I love it when a dude makes female showstopper songs, like "Before the Parade Passes By" and "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," his own!

If you live in the city and get out of work fairly early (I know, who does anymore?), drop by this free concert. If nothing else, you'll get to meet one of the sweetest men in show business (and one of the sexiest!)

You can buy Norm's CD here or download it on iTunes.

Darkness Falls Across the Land

2009-01-26T10:28:00.006-07:00

Are composers/lyricists/librettists really this hard-up for ideas?

Nederlander Organization to Produce Musical Based on Jackson's Thriller

I don't think they are--I think there are thousands of extremely talented people who all have ideas MUCH better than this one, but because those ideas are original and lacking "name power," we will probably never see them produced as shows. I know it's financially safer to green-light something based on a recognizable commodity, such as a movie or a song catalogue or, in this case, a music video, but come on! If this keeps up, I wonder if the In the Heightses and [title of show]s will keep getting fewer and fewer until the original musical is nothing but a wistful memory.

So instead we get this. Or, as James L. Nederlander offers up while explaining his horrific choice: "I love the idea of making a Thriller musical. Girl meets boy, they fall in love, boy has big secret, now what..."

Yeah, James L. Nederlander. Now what?

Here's a link to the original music video. Save yourself a couple of bucks by just watching it instead, ok?

Colonel Mustard, On the Stage, With the Knife-Gun

2009-01-22T11:43:00.013-07:00

Ok, who's been pissing off the props people?

First, German actor Daniel Hoevels accidentally slits his throat during a Viennese production of Mary Stuart in December, and now 81-year-old Fred Kellerman takes a bullet to the head duringa the final run-through of Of Mice and Men in Florida yesterday.

Hoevels, whose character Mortimer is supposed to commit suicide with a knife blunted for stage use, was extremely lucky to have not sliced an artery. "Just a little deeper, and he would have been drowning in his own blood," says Wolfgang Lenz, one of the doctors who treated the actor. It took the audience a few moments to realize they weren't just witnessing some really stellar acting before the show was stopped and Hoevels received medical treatment.

Kellerman, who was playing Lenny, was shot by fellow actor Bill Bordy, who was playing George and also directing. The production of John Steinbeck's classic play by the Sarasota Senior Theatre went on as scheduled two hours later with a different actor playing Kellerman's part. The bullet exited Kellerman's skull and tore off part of his ear, which doctors later stitched back on. As for the gun, a 32-caliber Smith & Wesson revolver: "It was my fault...I should have checked it," says Bordy. "Luckily I was a lousy shot."

I'LL SAY.

Personally, I get nervous popping champagne corks around people and always pass sharp blades out handle first, so I'm finding it a little hard to understand how you don't check the potentially fatal props before the show.

Reports say that the respective police have been investigating the cases, but I for one find it impossible to believe anyone had it out for these actors. Definitely not Hoevels, because he's quite dreamy, and certainly not Kellerman, because I'm sure he is adorable.

Dungeons and Phantoms

2009-01-16T15:50:00.005-07:00

Andrew Lloyd Webber wants to make video games. Why the hell not? According to the press release, the man responsible for the upcoming Coney Island-set Phantom:Love Never Dies wants his Really Useful Group to branch out into the video game market. The general aim is something in the karaoke vein, a sort of Rock Band: Sunset Boulevard Edition, if you will.

"The first Lloyd-Webber titles will let players sing along as characters in the composer’s shows and could involve elements of 'audition,' just like in his BBC shows I'd Do Anything and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and last year’s Lloyd-Webber-themed episode of American Idol," writes PaidContent.org

But I have a problem with this, specifically the artistic direction. I'm all for Sir Lloyd Webber making a few more bucks (I'm sure that recreation of the Cyclone is going to be pretty costly) and I personally enjoy video games. However, I already know I can't sing "Think of Me," let alone play the many crescendoes, so there's no need to subject my family and my neighbors to my glass-cracking attempts at soprano. However, give me the opportunity to battle Madame Giry against Macavity on Evita's balcony, and I'm sold.

Photo courtesy of Joystiq.com

I Can't Fight This Feeling...

2008-12-09T19:58:00.008-07:00

Blogs are known for being a catch-all for rants, and tonight I will not disappoint. If you leaf through previous posts, you'll find here and there a post about something that has either raised my hackles or stirred my disbelief, but this post--I fear--is pure, unadulterated loathing.

Rock of Ages, the half-assed Off-Broadway "musical" stitched together from recycled '80s hits and a recycled American Idol loser (Constantine Maroulis), might become a film. New Line won (?) the screen rights to the show about "big chords, big dreams, and big hair!" currently playing at New World Stages, and a certain Tobey Maguire is listed as one of the producers. Yes, THAT Tobey Maguire. I fervently hope he made this investment in error, perhaps thinking it was a caveman documentary instead.

And if this initial announcement wasn't frightening enough, it's also been disclosed that Rock of Ages librettist Chris D'Arienzo will pen the script and direct the movie. This sounds like a capital idea! Don't worry, though. D'Arienzo has directed one movie before, and he is also developing a one hour HBO pilot with Tobey Maguire. Oh, it's who you know...

Dropping the snark for a second: congratulations to Brian Munn, currently in the Rock of Ages ensemble. Former co-worker and one heck of a nice guy--but please, please don't get roped into the movie. You're better than that, Brian.

Bug Humbug

2008-12-02T19:22:00.003-07:00

A Denver institution is coming to a end. It's sad--and a little foul-mouthed.

The Bug Theatre first staged David Sedaris's caustic rumination on the holiday season, The SantaLand Diaries, ten years ago. I was there with my friend Kevin. We sat, giddy and giggly, in the front row of the shoebox-like theatre and watched local actor Gary Culig pout, flounce, and smoke his way through Crumpet the Elf's Christmas exploits in Macy's department store. Forbidden and exciting stuff for teenagers, but damn if I didn't go right out and buy Holidays on Ice, Sedaris's collection of holiday essays.

Each year Kevin and I returned to see Gary, and each year the crowds grew as the word spread. Soon, we had to make reservations for SantaLand before we had even booked our plane tickets home from college--and show up 30 minutes early. With each visit the set expanded, collected tinsel and blinking lights, and included multiple moving parts. Additional silent actors were implemented for ambiance, and scenes were never interpreted the same way twice. The Bug never recycled or got lazy.

This will be Gary Culig's last year playing Crumpet.

"His legacy?" writes Denver Post theatre critic John Moore. "Proving that a small theater company can establish an important holiday tradition without a big budget. That, and, 'Now I can do a darn good Billie Holiday impression,' said Culig."

I haven't been able to visit SantaLand these past two years--blame it on schedules or money or whatever sounds best. When I read about the Culig's decision to discontinue his role, I got a little pang in my heart. I don't think I'll be able to see it this year either, his final year, but I suppose that's for the best. I don't think I could snag a ticket anyway.

The SantaLand Diaries runs various nights December 4-21. Check their website or call 303-477-9984 for details.

American Buffalo, We Hardly Knew Ye

2008-11-25T10:46:00.007-07:00

Yup, it closed. And the part that really stings is that the cast and crew didn't find out until Monday that the day before had been their last performance. This made the perennially gloomy Monday morning even harder to stomach, I bet.

On the bright side, the superbly filmed stage version of Rent will be coming to DVD in February,

Christian Hoff's understudy, Matthew Risch, is the new and permanent Pal Joey, and "The Man Who Owned Broadway" Gerald Schoenfeld died this morning. Oh wait, that last one is definitely not a happy thing.

How about Young Frankenstein closing? Yes, that's much cheerier.

No F***ing Way

2008-11-21T10:45:00.009-07:00

It only opened four days ago, but the revival of David Mamet's American Buffalo will most likely close on Sunday. Why? Extremely poor ticket sales--even though it's headlined by three movie "names": John Leguizamo, Cedric the Entertainer, and Haley Joel Osment.

What does this mean for Broadway? Is this a harbinger of dark times to come? A few years ago it seemed like producers could prop any old celebrity up on the boards and then stand back and let the show run for weeks (sometimes even later inserting a lesser star into the role and thus prolonging the run). A marquee-worthy name was surely enough to earn at least a respectable box office showing, if not a mob-fest like Julia Roberts two seasons ago in Three Days of Rain or Katie Holmes in the current production of All My Sons.

But now, three actors familiar to the public (John Leguizamo has such a funny accent! I wonder if that Sixth Sense kid can still act? Cedric the Entertainer? Didn't he die? Oh wait, that was Bernie Mac) in a recognizable and respectable play can't even stay open a week.

If celebrity casting can't even keep American Buffalo open, I'm more than a little worried about the fate of the straight play in seasons to come...

Told You So

2008-11-11T11:21:00.005-07:00

Entertainment Tonight reported that at yesterday's Hot Topic appearance of hearthrob Robert Pattinson in San Francisco, over 3,000 fans showed up.

"The mall was expecting only 200-500 fans but when the crowd grew to thousands, things reportedly got out of hand," writes ET. The event was cancelled for reasons of safety.

"'After I got trampled I got back up there, but it was really scary 'cause I couldn't breathe, because everyone kept pushing,' says fan Erica Martin."

Never, never underestimate the ferocity of teenage girls.

Vampires in Malls

2008-11-10T08:33:00.014-07:00

On the surface this may not look like a theatre topic, but really, you know someone's going to make a musical out of this someday (Frank Wildhorn, I'm looking at you).

The Twilight movie opens in 11 days (who's counting?), and beginning today, the film's PR team is presenting what I think is a genius and extremely bankable publicity event: The Twilight Talent Tour.

At Hot Topic stores across America, giddy teens and their mothers can line up to see the actors embodying the stars of Stephenie Meyer's best-selling saga. Today in San Francisco, for example, the first 500 people who purchase the "Twilight Tour" T-shirt will actually get to meet Robert Pattinson, otherwise known as that sexy vamp Edward Cullen.

The tour only runs for five days but hits 13 different stores, featuring not only appearances by Pattinson, but also Taylor Lautner (Jacob), Edi Gathegi (Laurent), Rachelle Lefevre (Victoria), and Kristen Stewart (Bella).

If teens weren't already whipped into a frenzy about this movie, this might just put them over the edge (I predict a lot of "Bite me, Edward!" signs). Very crafty, and it certainly bodes well for the probable future musical. Jason Robert Brown, now I'm looking at you.

No Me Diga!

2008-11-07T12:30:00.006-07:00

Life just keeps getting better for Lin-Manuel Miranda!

Not only does he have a Tony Award, a hit Broadway show, and a new gig working with someone named Stephen Sondheim (perhaps you've heard of him?) on the upcoming West Side Story revival, but now he's adding "film producer" to his resume.

Universal Pictures has acquired the film rights to In the Heights, and--even better--the movie will be executive produced by Miranda and the same team that backed the stage show! Rumor also has it that Miranda will reprise his leading role as Usnavi, the convenience store owner who dreams of leaving Washington Heights to return to the Dominican Republic. Quiara Alegria Hudes, who wrote the book for the musical, will also write the screenplay.

The reported reasoning behind Universal being so quick to snap up the feel-good musical is the overwhelming financial success of Mamma Mia! Now, I know Mamma Mia! broke ridiculous box office records, but I found it, well...dreadful. Between Pierce Brosnan's hoarse warbling and Phyllida Lloyd's super-cheesy direction, Mamma Mia! made me more than a little embarrassed to be a musical theatre geek.

Much like the movie version of Rent. In a word: awful. I might also add overblown, detached, and emotionally empty, but honestly I couldn't even get all the way through that one. The recorded performance at the Nederlander Theatre that was recently shown in movie theatres through Hot Ticket, though, was exactly the passionate, respectful, and electrifying memory that show deserves.

With Lin-Manuel Miranda behind it, my hopes for the movie version of In the Heights are high. I'm just praying they don't cast Rosario Dawson as Vanessa.

"A Little Upset"

2008-10-28T07:37:00.004-07:00

During a bout of insomnia last night, I finally viewed the classic John Waters film Cry-Baby. Those of you who read this blog will remember that Cry-Baby is one of the Broadway musicals I saw earlier this year and pronounced a truly enjoyable--and wonderfully tasteless--time. Watching the film was a sad reminder that the stage musical's score was never captured on CD, and since so much time has now passed, probably never will be.

I certainly think it says something that while Cry-Baby and Allison were stretched out on a blanket about to have their first kiss, the song playing in my head was not from the film, but "Girl, Can I Kiss You with Tongue" instead.

Perhaps in ten years there might be a reunion recording or a benefit concert. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Polio, perhaps?

Live From Arizona!

2008-10-19T17:00:00.007-07:00

So here we are in the desert! I am now settled in Arizona, but don't worry--my Broadway connections are still tightly, um...connected. So anyway, Will Ferrell on Broadway? Apparently it's happening beginning January 20th:

You're Welcome, America. A Final Night with George W. Bush

This mean The 39 Steps is moving. The show, which recently moved to the Cort Theatre, is to begin its run at the Helen Hayes Theatres January 20.

Ask Playbill.com: Workshops

2008-10-02T09:15:00.005-07:00

What exactly is a workshop, and why can't we just buy a ticket and go to one? I'll tell you!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121939.html

*Ann L. Nathan and Geoffrey Nauffts in the workshop of "The Fisher King" two years ago. Photo by Ben Strothmann

Sing Out, Patrick!

2008-09-23T18:48:00.006-07:00

Plans are afoot to make a musical out of American Psycho, the Bret Easton Ellis novel/disturbing Christian Bale film about a perfectly coifed and perfectly sadistic Wall Street broker/serial killer. Aiming for Broadway (because why wouldn't they?), the producers justify their goal by saying, "Ellis' book contains so many memorable lines and musical references that a live musical production is the perfect fit."

The score will reportedly be a mix of original songs and 80s hits. No creative team has been announced yet.

Oh, and they also say it will be "the equivalent of a spectacular train wreck you have to watch."

That's all I need to hear!

Don't Walk Away--UPDATE

2008-09-23T14:43:00.007-07:00

Xanadu is now closing on September 28, two weeks earlier than previously announced. The producers say they decided to move the closing date up due to the poor economy. If anything, I say what the economy needs right now more than anything is a little roller-skating, ELO-jamming, horrific Aussie accent silliness.

Hey, if you can, book it to the Helen Hayes and see this show before it goes dark. If you can't, the national tour starring Elizabeth Stanley and Max von Essen skates off Nov. 11 at the La Jolla Playhouse. Trust me, it's the funniest 90 minutes out there right now.

Ghost Lights---Oooh, Scary!

2008-09-18T10:54:00.004-07:00

This week a reader wrote in asking about ghost lights. I thought it was a pretty simple question, too, until I started researching:

Ask Playbill.com: The Ghost Light

*Photo from Lucinda.net

Don't Walk Away

2008-09-17T08:16:00.004-07:00

Sad, sad news: Xanadu is closing in a mere three weeks. The loopy, rollerskating wonder that transformed an awful movie into a clever stage musical is set to close on Broadway on October 12.

But fear not!

The national tour begins in November at the La Jolla Playhouse (no word on casting yet), and versions are already playing/set to open in Korea, London, Australia, and the Phillipines. I wonder how they will make fun of Clio/Kira's appalling accent Down Under?

The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later

2008-09-12T12:41:00.003-07:00

I think this is amazing:

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/121276.html

The creators of The Laramie Project (which premiered at the Denver Center Theater Company in 1998--shout out!) will return to Wyoming to interview and collect more information to write an epilogue. According to the Tectonic Theater Project's Web site, they hope to find out if the murder of Matthew Shepard has changed the town of Laramie and what Laramie can tell us about the state of America a decade after the tragedy.

The aim is to publish the epilogue in The New York Times and add it to published editions of the script.

Ask Playbill.com: The Second Coming

2008-09-11T20:27:00.004-07:00

Here is the first column in round two of my stint with Playbill.com, about where actors stay when they do a show outside of New York City:

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/121233.html

Happy Naked Harry Potter Day

2008-09-05T11:50:00.002-07:00

Previews for the Broadway production of Peter Shaffer's Equus begin tonight at the Broadhurst Theatre. You can almost hear the pre-teen squeals from here...

The Glow of "The Footlights"

2008-09-03T17:49:00.004-07:00

Sooo, Playbill asked me to keep covering the Ask Playbill.com column for the month of September. Link to the newest article coming next week!

In other theatre blog news, EW.com exapnded its PopWatch blog to include a new bi-weekly stage blog written by Jason Clark called "The Footlights." Good for you, Jason! If print outlets are going to insist on squeezing theatre coverage until it disappears with a tiny "pop," then at least it found somewhere to go online.

My Final Column

2008-08-28T10:17:00.003-07:00

This was my last week covering "Ask Playbill.com," and I went out by interviewing Mandy Gonzalez, Kirsten Wyatt, and Robin De Jesus about how they got their Equity cards:

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/120781.html

"There'll Be Deer Running in the Balcony"

2008-08-24T11:41:00.010-07:00

NOTE: This review was supposed to be posted August 2, but was delayed due to a cross-country move. Many, many apologies.

Full disclosure: I am a huge fan of Brad Little.

It was mainly his casting in Glimmerglass Opera’s Kiss Me, Kate that propelled me to drive the 2 hours to Cooperstown, NY on Friday night. It was also his performance as Fred Graham that made me enjoy the production so thoroughly.

Though he was the highlight, Little was by no means the only gratifying aspect of this mounting. I’ll admit I had my doubts that an opera company—even one as respected as Glimmerglass—could do justice to classic musical theatre, and while there was the occasional letdown, the overall effect was dazzling.

Little, a veteran of The Phantom of the Opera (where I first saw him), brought a lush baritone and impressive comedy chops to the egotistical Graham. Performers are not miked at Glimmerglass, and Little most of all proved he didn’t require a microphone to fill the house. His impressive diaphragm did expose some of the weaker singers (most of them from the Young Artists Program), but thankfully he was ably matched by his Lilli Vanessi, Lisa Vroman.

Courtney Romano was not so lucky with her partner. While Romano embraced Lois Lane’s adorable ditzy charm and contributed some fine singing, her Bill Calhoun (David Larsen) paled with mediocre vocals and bland acting. Damian Norfleet, as Fred’s sassy, devoted dresser, instead stole the supporting male spotlight. His “Too Darn Hot,” though not terribly impressive vocally, was so full of spunk and energy it was hard not to adore him. Michael Mott and Bradley Nacht’s portrayal of the bumbling gangsters was quite possibly the best I’ve seen.

It was a daring choice for Glimmerglass Opera to present Cole Porter’s 1948 backstage musical alongside Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto and Wagner’s Das Liebersverbot, but thanks to Brad Little, the gamble payed off—big time.

*All photos by Cory Weaver for Glimmerglass Opera

Broadway in Your Living Room

2008-08-24T11:33:00.002-07:00

Last week's column:

Broadway on DVD:

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/120643.html

Costumes!

2008-08-19T16:46:00.005-07:00

Think your laundry takes a long time? How about this? (Last week's article):

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/120238.html

Who Dunnit?

2008-08-07T11:15:00.008-07:00

You probably won't admit it, but you kinda like murder mystery parties. Come on, it's ok, I like them too. They're campy, you get to dress up, and copious amounts of wine make it that much easier to become the suspicious showgirl or the shifty mob boss.

Gyda Arber and her mom, Wendy Coyle, must like murder mystery parties a whole lot. They conceived Suspicious Package, a high-tech version in conjunction with the Brick Theater in Brooklyn that is billing itself as theatre (and rightly so, in my opinion, but I'll get to that in a second), and sounds like a heck of a lot of fun.

Here is how Andy Webster, the New York Times reporter who reviewed it, described the experience:

"When making a reservation to attend, you choose to portray one of four roles: the Detective, the Producer, the Showgirl or the Heiress. (That's right, only four people join in at a time.) The 'cast members' assemble at the Brick Theater in Williamsburg...

"And then each is given a Zune, already loaded with a character-specific audiovisual file. You watch the opening credits (in black and white, of course, with appropriately melodramatic music), follow the directions (on a simple map of the neighborhood), see your character's flashbacks (featuring Brick actors), hear voice-overs and scene-setting audio and read the lines you are given."

Along the way (the "set" is only 3 blocks), you meet up with other "characters" and learn more about your own shady past. Everyone meets back up at the end to share their stories.

Why is this theatre? Well, besides the obvious--you're paying money, there are actors involved--it's a new and inventive way to get people interested in theatre. There's no rule that says the audience must be a passive observer, and while some might call this a gimmick, I see it as highly organized playwriting.

And hey, tickets are only $20 and include a post-show beverage. Not only is that theatre, it also sounds like a damn good time.

*Photo by Michael Gardner

Time to Just Say It

2008-08-06T11:57:00.005-07:00

"Virtually every theatre makes a pre-show announcement about turning off cell phones, beepers, and watch alarms. Soon after, the audience delivers the first laugh of the night, after a disembodied voice tells them to unwrap their candies now. But here, at Ohio Light Opera in Wooster, there's an announcement I've never heard, but one that hits the spot: 'And please don't talk during the overture.'"

Amen, Peter Filichia. Amen.

My Last 2 Columns

2008-08-03T18:39:00.007-07:00

Dance Captains:

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/119814.html

Broadway Hangouts:

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/120003.html

Frost/Oksana

2008-07-27T11:58:00.007-07:00

Finally, somebody combined my appreciation of figure skating with my love of bad musical theatre!

Oksana Baiul, the Ukranian waif who both charmed and angered America when she beat Nancy Kerrigan at the 1994 winter Olympics and then did battle with both alcohol addiction and Celebrity Poker Showdown, is appearing in the "skating stage musical" Cold as Ice. It concerns six skaters from Canada who are training for the Olympics while dealing with the pressures of "demanding coaches, stage mothers, and other trials." The show premiered in May at the Gateway Playhouse in Long Island, and is aiming for a 2009 arrival on Broadway.

Bauil plays Maya Propova, one of the six hopeful skaters, as does Stacy Bono, Maya's singing, non-skating alter ego. The show was conceived, written, and composed by Frank D'Agostino, a former skater himself. Apprently the show has 6 skaters and 43 actors, and from the production stills, looks like an iced-over Lifetime movie.

I'm in.

Articles, Slideshows, and Of Course, Blonde

2008-07-20T15:42:00.010-07:00

Yes, there's been a severe lack of posts lately, but I have been maddeningly without internet and will continue to scrape by at Starbucks and Panera until the end of August. Otherwise, you better believe I would have been weighing in on MTV's Legally Blonde: The Search for the Next Elle Woods (my money's on Autumn!).

Since time is limited, here are two links to peruse. One is to an article I wrote that went up on Playbill.com last week about the composers of [title of show] and A Tale of Two Cities:

http://www.playbill.com/features/article/119470.html

And the other is for an audio slideshow I made too go along with it, featuring interviews with Lauren Kennedy, Kimberly Guerrero, and Francis Jue, among others:

http://cmr.syr.edu/goldring/lindsey_wilson/

I'm also going to be writing the Ask Playbill.com column for the next couple of weeks, so look for it on Thursdays!

Cyd Charisse: 1921--2008

2008-06-17T19:34:00.002-07:00

Cyd Charisse died today in Los Angeles of a heart attack. The Hollywood dance legend, famous from such MGM films as Singin' in the Rain and Brigadoon, was 87. She is surivived by her two sons, Nicholas Charisse and Tony Martin, Jr., and Tony Martin, her husband of 60 years.

The Tony Awards: Pick Ten

2008-06-16T18:46:00.017-07:00

The Tony Awards are never a ratings-grabber, but this year's broadcast certainly had its moments. Here is my list of the Top 10 Best and Worst moments of this year's Tony's:

BEST:

1). Mary McCormack's face during her Boeing-Boeing co-star Mark Rylance's acceptance speech (it was prose from Minnesota poet Lewis Jenkins' Back Country...and quite confusing.)

2). Lin-Manuel Miranda's rap-tastic acceptance speech for In The Heights' Best Score win: "Mr. Sondheim, look! I made a hat where there never was a hat--it's a Latin hat at that."

3). Lin-Manuel Miranda's shout-out to his real-life Vanessa: "Vanessa, you still leave me breathless. Thanks for loving me when I was broke and making breakfast."

4). Laura Benanti's tearful acceptance speech for her role as Louise in Gypsy.

5). Rondi Reed dedicating her Tony for August: Osage County to the deceased Dennis Letts, her former castmate and playwright Tracy Letts's father, saying "this goes, part of it, to Dennis Letts. Happy Father's Day."

6). Spencer Liff doing what he does best during the Cry-Baby performance. The. Best. Dancer. On. Broadway. Period.

7). Putting audience members onstage for the Xanadu performance.

8). Cheyenne Jackson's short-shorts.

9). Deanna Dunagan's classy blue gown.

10.) Best Director of a Play winner Anna D. Shapiro (August: Osage County) thanking her nieces and nephews who "think of me as Aunt Anna and don't care about any of this. They just don't. They just wanted tickets to The Little Mermaid. And I got them."

WORST:

1). Stew. Every time he was on camera or opened his mouth.

2). Sunday in the Park With George's set design team not winning the Tony. South Pacific is great and all, but did they recreate a masterpiece dot by dot? Didn't think so.

3). Gabriel Byrne's disinterested, monotone, and frankly bored presentation. What, the Tony's aren't interesting enough for you, Gabe?

4). The three performances from non-nominated musicals: The Little Mermaid, A Catered Affair, and Young Frankenstein. And yes, I left The New Mel Brooks Musical part off on purpose.

5). Douglas Carter Beane not winning for his book of Xanadu. Anyone who can take the drek that was the original film and turn it into something so clever and entertaining deserves a FEW awards, at least. Extra points for his inventive "Cubby Bernstein" marketing campaign.

6). Laura Linney, normally so healthy and beautiful, pulling her best Nicole Kidman impersonation in that washed out gown and forehead scowl.

7.) Raul Esparza losing out for the second year in a row, first for a musical, now for a play (The Homecoming.) Seriously, how many times can he show us he's ridiculously talented before he gets the damn award?!

8). Marisa Tomei's red dress nightmare.

9). De'Adre Aziza's tongue during her introduction for Passing Strange.

10). The A Catered Affair performance again. It was that bad.

Watch all the Tony performances here.

Is It 98 Degrees in 7th Heaven?

2008-06-04T19:00:00.006-07:00

So I didn't post this earlier because, frankly, I was too depressed:

Stephen Collins and Drew Lachey to Join Broadway's Spamalot

At least they both already have some legitimate Broadway credits (I know, I tried to forget Drew did Rent, too), and I suppose I'd rather have the pair of them than Clay Aiken, but sheesh...