The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil Opens in Vegas TonightFor anyone who's ever been to Las Vegas, it's clear that the one sure-fire way to enjoy box office gold is to involve the renowned Cirque du Soleil. So with solid shows like
O,
Mystère,
Ka and even the very risqué
Zumanity still commanding Sin City's entertainment scene, Cirque du Soleil is about to unveil what promises to be its biggest spectacle yet:
The Beatles LOVE. This highly-anticipated production opens tonight at The Mirage.
Marking the first time the Beatles' music has ever been officially sanctioned for a stage show -- unless you count Yoko Ono's ill-fated
Lennon on Broadway earlier this year --
The Beatles LOVE "celebrates the musical legacy of The Beatles through their timeless, original recordings. Drawn from the poetry of the lyrics, the show explores the content of the songs as interpreted by innovative performances from a cast of 60 international artists....A unique soundscape of The Beatles music has been created for
LOVE using the master tapes at Abbey Road Studios. The panoramic visual and surround sound in the custom-built theatre at The Mirage will envelop the audience who will experience The Beatles as never before."
Tonight's opening itself will be a spectacle, too. Surviving Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr will be on hand, as will the widows of John Lennon and George Harrison. With the unbeatable combination of the Beatles and Cirque du Soleil, we'll see whether the critics engage in a
LOVE-fest in their reviews.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Las Vegas, Love, Opening Night, The Beatles
Public Theater's 2006 Shakespeare in the Park Officially StartsThis week marked the official start to the 2006 "Shakespeare in the Park" performances staged by New York's acclaimed Public Theater. Joseph Papp began the tradition for millions of New Yorkers back in 1962 at Central Park's Delacorte Theater.
Macbeth is the season's first production and will be followed by
Mother Courage and Her Children.
Despite some critical misgivings over Moisés Kaufman's direction of The Bard's
Macbeth, there's little surprise that Liev Schreiber has been lauded for his portrayal of the title role.
Macbeth will continue through July 9 with all performances scheduled for 8:30 pm.
The next production to play at the Delacorte Theater will be the "world premiere" of playwright Tony Kushner's adaptation of
Mother Courage and Her Children, a seminal work by Bertolt Brecht. Running from August 8 through September 3, this George C. Wolfe-helmed production will feature one of the year's most dazzling array of actors, starting with Meryl Streep and Christopher Walken, and featuring such standouts as Austin Pendleton and Jack Noseworthy. The survival tale follows Mother Courage (Streep) during the course of a devastating war that is claiming the lives of her children.
Free Tickets for both shows may be obtained
on the day of the performance starting at 1 pm at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park or from 1 to 3 pm at The Public Theater's box office located at 425 Lafayette Street.
Finally, in related news, the Public Theater has announced that Kevin Kline will assume the titular role of
King Lear slated for this fall.
Click here for more ticket information.Labels: Meryl Streep, Off-Broadway, Public Theater
Nunn Better: Porgy and Bess Set for London RevivalNearly 71 years ago, George and Ira Gershwin's greatest masterpiece
Porgy and Bess made its debut on the Broadway stage with Todd Duncan and Anne Wiggins Brown in the titular roles. Now, one of the theatrical world's greatest impresarios and directors, Trevor Nunn, is moving forward with a West End revival, transforming what is typically presented as a 4-hour opera into a 2-and-a-half hour musical. Nunn's
Porgy and Bess will premiere at London's Savoy Theatre on November 9.
The estate of the Gershwins has provided its blessing to the transformation, which uses the 1925 source novel for the newly revised book. But the grandeur of this $5 million piece will be readily apparent with a company of 60, including 40 cast members and a 20-piece orchestra. In 1993, Nunn previously directed a full-length
Porgy and Bess for Glyndebourne Opera; that version was captured on DVD (picture includes link).
Before the latest revival is even cast, producers are already talking about a Broadway version sometime during the 2007-08 theatrical season. The last time
Porgy and Bess played on the Great White Way, it garnered 6 Tony nominations and was awarded the 1977 Tony for Most Innovative Production of a Revival.
As much as I've adored the music from
Porgy and Bess, I've never had the opportunity to see it live on stage. I'm excited by the prospect of finally seeing what was -- in its time -- one of theatre's most revolutionary productions, in this case for its groundbreaking portrayal of African-Americans.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: First Word On New Show, London, Musical, Porgy And Bess, Revival
The Dame as a Lady: Maggie Smith to Return to the Stage?Despite its two 1980 Tony nominations for featured actors Earle Hyman and Maureen Andermann, Edward Albee's
The Lady from Dubuque certainly can't be considered among the celebrated playwright's most renowned works. In fact, its only Broadway run closed after just 12 regular performances. Yet one of the world's most admired actresses, Dame Maggie Smith, is rumored to be negotiating for the lead role in a West End revival.
According to
Baz Bamigboye of The Daily Mail, the great dame "...wants to do the play in between her Harry Potter filming commitments....She and producer Robert Fox want Anthony Page to direct the drama, but it's all a question of coordinating their respective diaries." Page directed last year's outstanding Broadway revival of another Edward Albee classic,
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which transferred to the West End earlier this year.
According to Bamigboye, hopes are high that the play will begin performances sometime in early 2007.
Last time Dame Smith trod the boards was with Dame Judi Dench in the excellent 2002 London production of David Hare's
The Breath of Life. Seeing these two legendary actresses perform opposite each other in the two-handed play remains one of my personal favorite and most memorable theatrical experiences ever.
While I'm unable to get to London in time to see Dame Dench in the revival of Noël Coward's
Hay Fever, one friend who made the journey -- and met her afterward -- proclaimed her performance as "electric," noting that "She was incredibly nice and down-to-earth." I'm kicking myself for missing her, but I'll do my level best to get to London should Dame Smith return to the stage.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: First Word On New Show, London, Maggie Smith, Play, Revival
Annie's New Deal for Christmas at Madison Square GardenWith the 30th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of
Annie coming up in early 2007, there was some speculation that the current touring production would land back on the Great White Way. Instead, when the revival finally hits New York later this year, it will be mounted at Madison Square Garden just in time for the Holidays (December 6-30, 2006).
The beloved Charles Strouse/Martin Charnin tuner originally played the Alvin Theatre (now the Neil Simon Theatre) back in April, 1977 and was nominated for a whopping ten Tony Awards, winning six. Not only did the American Theatre Wing declare it the Best Musical,
Annie also won for Best Original Score (Strouse and Charnin), Best Book (Thomas Meehan, who would not strike gold on Broadway again until
The Producers 24 years later), Best Actress (Dorothy Loudon), Best Choreography (Peter Gennaro), Best Scenic Design (David Mitchell) and Best Costume Design (Theoni V. Aldredge). The production would last for 2,377 performances in four different Broadway venues.
As my Steve On Broadway (SOB) profile notes,
Annie was
the very first Broadway production I ever saw, albeit in London during the spring of 1979; I credit
Annie with spurring my lasting love for live theatre. That production was breathtakingly wonderful, particularly with the stellar Sheila Hancock as Miss Hannigan and inspirational Stratford Johns as Daddy Warbucks -- both actors, along with the musical itself, were nominated for Olivier Awards. But alas, the
Evita juggernaut precluded
Annie from receiving that year's top musical award.
So, having said all that, I have to confess that when I saw the current touring production of
Annie earlier this year, I was severely disappointed. Maybe it's because I remember the outstanding performances, the spot-on American accents from the British stage, the incredibly intricate and moving set design and amazing choreography. While I truly admired the gumption displayed by young Marissa O'Donnell in the title role and Alene Robertson's deliciously inspired, wicked take on Miss Hannigan, the overall show felt flat and stale right down to the dancing and scenery.
While the children in my audience were none the wiser -- luxuriating and loving the story -- it's not nearly as much fun for the grown-ups. Not even Conrad John Schuck as Daddy Warbucks or Mackenzie Phillips as Lily St. Regis could infuse vitality in this show ostensibly about optimism and the American dream. If you're going to see
Annie simply for a nostalgic trip down a musical memory lane, be forewarned.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets for the Annie touring production.Labels: Annie, Musical, Off-Broadway, Revival
London's Avenue Q Reviews: Everyone's a Little Bit Low RoadWith the much-anticipated West End opening of
Avenue Q at London's Noël Coward Theatre now history, the critics have paved their mediocre to middling reviews with a general lack of enthusiasm, if not outright condescension toward this Broadway export. A common critical theme was that this decidedly American (
read: New York-centric) musical has not lived up to its highly subversive advance billing.
Perhaps the most scathing reviews came from
Alistair Macaulay of the Financial Times and
Dominic Cavendish of the Telegraph. In his seriously sarcastic review, Macaulay leads with, "To clinical addicts of industrial cuteness, and to those who like American musicals that tell us How To Lead Our Lives Better, and to those who crave another musical devoid of any musical interest whatsoever, let me heartily commend Avenue Q;" Macaulay closes his review by calling
Avenue Q a "tiresome little blancmange."
Cavendish is considerably less charitable, sniping, "Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx's tame beast of a show lumbers up a cul-de-sac of one-note satire before hitting a brick wall of anodyne schmaltz. By the second half I found myself mentally rechristening it Avenue ZZZ."
Michael Billington of the The Guardian and
Benedict Nightingale of The Times each bestowed 3 out of 5 stars to the show, which for the record
is better than average. Yet each found sufficient fault with the tuner. Billington's beef: "Underneath the show's glancing satire there is the inevitable feelgood ending in which we're reassured that 'everyone's a little bit unfulfilled.' Having started from the premise that 'life sucks,' the show ends with the hint of false cheer that goes with musical territory."
Nightingale sums up his review channeling how
Avenue Q's theatre namesake Noël Coward would have viewed the show: "He'd have regretted the relative lack of sophistication. He'd have deplored the jokey teddy bears and the cloying tribute to altruism that closes proceedings. Just like me last night."
The kindest review I found came from
Paul Taylor of The Independent, who still manages to find fault by noting, "What's less attractive is the lack of real bite. Compared to
Jerry Springer: The Opera, another satiric spin-off from television,
Avenue Q is about as genuinely subversive as 'Friends.'"
Will British audiences have a different take than most critics, or will this production go away as fast as the Las Vegas version? I'd put money on the latter.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets to Avenue Q.Related Stories:Avenue Q Settles Into West End Neighborhood Tonight (June 28, 2006)
Broadway's Gamble on Vegas No Sure Bet (June 6, 2006)
Ann Harada to Reprise Avenue Q Role in London (May 8, 2006)
Labels: Avenue Q, Critics' Capsule, London, Musical
Avenue Q Settles Into West End Neighborhood TonightThe Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 2004,
Avenue Q, opens this evening in London's Noël Coward Theatre.
Anyone disappointed by the significant editing done to the Las Vegas production will be happy to know that London audiences will see a version more closely resembling its New York sibling. However, the only original cast member to make the trek across the Atlantic to the West End is Ann Harada as the hilarious Christmas Eve.
While I mostly enjoyed the Broadway production back in the first year of its run at the Golden Theatre, I never thought it was deserving of its Tony win -- I just don't believe it's ultimately going to be that enduring of a show. I also have to admit to walking away perplexed by how mean-spirited I found it. I'm not necessarily a fan of pint-sized Gary Coleman, but I was taken aback by the wicked humor cast in his direction. But apparently, British audiences will only see a character named "Gary."
Will British audiences be queuing up on the avenues of London to see this production after tomorrow's reviews come out? I'll be reporting on what the critics have to say tomorrow.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets to Avenue Q London.Click here for tickets to Avenue Q New York.Related Stories:Broadway's Gamble on Vegas No Sure Bet (June 6, 2006)
Ann Harada to Reprise Avenue Q Role in London (May 8, 2006)
Labels: Avenue Q, London, Musical, Opening Night
Evita to New York: I'd Be Surprisingly Good for YouWith the extraordinary buzz of Michael Grandage's latest West End revival triumph,
Evita, already resonating on this side of the Atlantic, could it be that the greatest collaboration by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice will once again return to Broadway?
According to Michael Riedel of the New York Post, "Plans are in the works for this production to come to New York in the fall of 2007."
As reported here last week, the British critics are raving about this production, with particular emphasis on the talents of Argentinian star Elena Roger in the title role. There's no word yet on whether Actors' Equity would approve her for a Great White Way turn. But given all the talent already crossing the pond this past year to enormous success -- and arguably helping to lift most Broadway shows -- I have to believe that the actors' union will grasp that Roger's shining star would ultimately prove to be good for all the other American actors and stage crew that this production would likely require.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:High Flying Adored: Evita Conquers the West End Critics (June 23, 2006)
Hello, Buenos Aires! New London Revival of Evita Opens Tonight (June 21, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Evita, London, Musical, Revival, Transfer
Sweeney Todd's Close Shave: LuPone and Cerveris to Stay Put Through ThanksgivingDespite the predictions by many -- including me -- that
Sweeney Todd would win the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, the show lost by a, well, hair to
The Pajama Game. That loss has most likely contributed to its further decline at the box office, where the show was off 16.3% from two weeks ago with only 42.5% of the seats filled. That resulted in
Sweeney Todd placing second to last among all current Broadway shows in overall capacity (only the widely-panned
Hot Feet fared worse).
Despite the box office slide, it's been announced that the celebrated duo of Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris will soldier on through Thanksgiving in the roles that earned each of them Tony nominations. Although LuPone will be absent in mid-August (August 11-13) for her turn as Rose in Illinois-based Ravinia Festival's
Gypsy, her continued presence in
Sweeney Todd underscores her commitment to this outstanding, dark Sondheim tuner that frankly deserved the Tony and continues to deserve a larger audience.
Fortunately, the producers are making it easier (
read: less expensive) to get tickets for
Sweeney Todd -- theatregoers can receive up to $50 off the regular ticket pricing on performances through August 27. The pricing schedule includes:
- $60 for Tuesdays at 7 pm, Wednesdays at 2 pm and 8 pm, and Thursdays at 8 pm
- $70 for Fridays at 8 pm, Saturdays at 2 pm and Sundays at 2 pm.
Be sure to use Code Number ST83PBX when ordering tickets.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
O-Kaye Given to Temporary LuPone Replacement (May 18, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #10 - Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York, NY) (May 15, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Musical, Patti LuPone, Revival, Stephen Sondheim, Sweeney Todd
Baranski's Mame Won't Open a New Window on BroadwayFor the last several weeks, much of the entertainment buzz in the busy DC-New York corridor centered on whether the Eric Schaeffer-helmed Kennedy Center revival of
Mame starring Christine Baranski would transfer to Broadway's Palace Theatre. The official word appears to be that it won't,
according to a Playbill.com story published earlier this morning.
The production's costs apparently are much too prohibitive to justify a brief 20-week engagement. The Kennedy Center itself spent more than $5 million to produce the show, and it's visibly apparent to anyone who has had a chance to see the eye candy-filled tuner this summer in Washington. This has to be particularly disappointing for Baranski, who has enthusiastically talked at length about how she'd enjoy the opportunity to take this to New York.
But lest her New York fans lament not having a chance to see her anytime soon on the stage, Baranski is in talks with the Manhattan Theatre Club to perform in a Paul Rudnick play. Keep your fingers crossed for that one coming to fruition.
For anyone who has tickets for the current sold-out engagement of
Mame in our nation's capital, count yourself as truly fortunate to be among a select group of theatregoers able to see this outstanding musical before it becomes history on July 2.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Mame (The SOB Review) - The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Eisenhower Theatre, Washington, DC (June 18, 2006)
Mame Slightly Bruised, Not Maimed, by Critics (June 2, 2006)
Assassins Loose in Washington for Another Week (May 31, 2006)
Mame with Christine Baranski Begins Saturday at Kennedy Center (May 26, 2006)
Labels: Christine Baranski, Kennedy Center, Mame, Musical, Revival, Washington DC
Star Rising: Nicole Van GiesenIf you've never heard of Nicole Van Giesen, you're probably not alone. But she's quite the delectable discovery when you've seen her act and sing.
I was first introduced to this gorgeous actress when I caught her in
The Last Five Years three years back in Philadelphia. Portraying Cathy, Van Giesen gave such an enormously touching and believable performance that I decided that I'd continue to scan cast lists so that I could see her again.
It's taken nearly three years, but alas, her name is now included among those in the touring company of
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, which begins performances in Seattle just a little more than a month away. Although I don't know for certain which role she'll portray, something tells me that she's likely to serve as the understudy for the Christine Colgate role originated on Broadway by Sherie René Scott. After all, Van Giesen -- who was last seen on Broadway back in 2000 in
The Wild Party (as an understudy) and
Cabaret (as a replacement player in the role of Frenchie) -- was Scott's understudy in the Off-Broadway production of
The Last Five Years and then went on to take the lead once the show hit Philly. Rest assured, this talented actress can hit all the right notes.
When
The Last Five Years ran in Philadelphia,
Inquirer Theatre Critic Douglas J. Keating raved about this charming actress, glowing "Van Giesen is superb. She makes the songs for Cathy appear so natural to her character that she seems to have written them herself." Amen. Hopefully, audiences for
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels will have an opportunity to see her in the spotlight where she belongs.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for ticket information for the touring production of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.Related Stories:Great Scott...She's Back! Sherie René Scott Returns to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (June 21, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2004-05 (May 26, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2002-03 (May 24, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Musical, The Last Five Years, Touring Production
American Theatre Icon Kitty Carlisle Hart to Perform in North HollywoodVery few living theatrical legends can even come close to mirroring the sophisticated class imbued by Kitty Carlisle Hart throughout 20th Century theatre, movies and television. Now, Los Angeles audiences will have their opportunity to be entertained by this American entertainment icon August 4-6 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
Carlisle Hart may best be remembered by the vast majority of Americans for her expert quizzing of contestants on television's various versions of "To Tell the Truth." But the 95 year old entertainer is still regaling audiences with her tales of her marriage to renowned playwright Moss Hart of
You Can't Take It With You and
Once In A Lifetime fame, as well as her accounts of long-since departed friends like Irving Berlin and George Gershwin.
A native of New Orleans, Kitty Carlisle Hart began her Broadway career an astonishing 73 years ago this fall in
Champagne, Sec (based on the operetta
Die Fledermaus) and went on to perform in six more Great White Way productions through 1983's
On Your Toes. Additionally, Carlisle Hart's movie career spans 59 years beginning with 1934's "Murder At The Vanities," and includes such notable films as "A Night At The Opera" (1935) with the Marx Brothers, Woody Allen's "Radio Days" (1987) and "Six Degrees of Separation" (1993).
A 1991 recipient of the National Endowment of the Arts' American National Medal of the Arts, Carlisle Hart is perhaps one of our last surviving treasures from Broadway's Golden Age. It's no wonder her acclaimed show has become so iconic for anyone who wants a moment to bask in the glory of a bygone era. You can bet I'll be making the trip to North Hollywood so I can stand up and cheer this priceless American Icon.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets (note that the premium seats also admit ticketholders to a post-performance reception with Kitty Carlisle Hart).Labels: Broadway, First Word On New Show, Kitty Carlisle Hart, Los Angeles
Bill Maher (The SOB Review) - Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN** (out of ****)Friday nights have become a television ritual for me as I enthusiastically tune into HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" each week. Even when I don't agree with him, I find myself laughing or at least amused by what he's had to say.
So going into last Friday night with a live opportunity to see him on stage -- as part of his current national tour -- I perhaps went in with some unrealistic expectations. I'm not sure whether it was the recycled material from his television show, the hecklers, the audience members who seemed to forget that they
weren't in their own living rooms, or that Maher continually referenced where he was in his act vis-à-vis a metal lecturn that disappointed me most. Sure he was funny some of the time, but I laugh much more consistently during his one hour TV program than I did during this 95 minute live performance. And surprisingly, most of the truly funny bits had nothing to do with politics at all.
Coming out onto the stage, he began with a slip of the tongue, "It's great to be black, er back, in a blue state." He never seemed to really recover. Yes, he hit all the regular targets that you'd expect: George W. Bush, Haliburton, pharmaceutical companies, big business, George W. Bush, the Christian right, Katrina, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney, America's puritanical streak, drug use, Patrick Kennedy, George W. Buch, violence, viagra, blogs, George W. Bush... well, you get the picture. Rather than a linear performance, it was literally loopy, if not a bit sloppy and stale.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Bill Maher, Concert, Minneapolis/St. Paul, The SOB Review
Minnesota's Guthrie Theater Sets Stage for Its Second ActJust over 43 years after its debut as one of America's most prestigious theatres, Minnesota's Guthrie Theater -- named for the legendary British actor and director Tyrone Guthrie -- is about to get its second act in a dazzling new performance space along the Mississippi River in Minneapolis.
The new house contains three theatres, including its trademark thrust mainstage. The grand opening for the spectacular facility is set for this weekend and includes plenty of performances, stylish fetes, fireworks and free tours.
Festivities on Sunday, June 25 that are open to the public include:
Noon Doors Open
Noon - 6 pm Guthrie Learning Center, Family Activities – Free
Noon - 6 pm Dowling Studio, A Guthrie Experience for Actors in Training – Free
Noon - 5 pm Outdoor Public Plaza, In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre with The Brass Messengers – Free
Noon – 5 pm Level 5 Lobby, Hornheads – Free
1 pm Wurtele Thrust Stage, Joe Dowling dedication address – Free (ticket required – call for reservations)
2 – 3:30 pm Wurtele Thrust Stage, VocalEssence under the direction of Philip Brunelle – Free
7 pm Wurtele Thrust Stage, Peter Himmelman – $10 ticketed event
8 pm McGuire Proscenium Stage, Heiruspecs – $10 ticketed event
9 pm Wurtele Thrust Stage, The Steeles – $10 ticketed event
9:30 pm McGuire Proscenium Stage, P.O.S. – $10 ticketed event
10:30 pm Riverfront Stone Arch Bridge, Public Fireworks – Free
10:30 pm Dowling Studio, Dance Party – Free
2 am Conclusion
Click here for information on ticketed events.According to the Guthrie's historical guide, it:
...opened on May 7,1963 with a production of Hamlet directed by Sir Tyrone Guthrie, the theater's founder. The idea of the theater began in 1959 during a series of conversations among Guthrie and two colleagues -- Oliver Rea and Peter Zeisler -- who were disenchanted with Broadway. They wanted to create a theater with a resident acting company that would perform the classics in rotating repertory with the highest professional standards.
The rest, as they might say, is
theatre history. The next season begins in earnest with a production of
DruidSynge – created by Druid Theatre Company of Galway, Ireland -- on the McGuire Proscenium Stage June 27. The first production on the Wurtele Thrust Stage will be F. Scott Fitzgerald's
The Great Gatsby, beginning July 15.
I've seen many wonderful productions at the Guthrie's former home, and I was pleased to be in the audience for its last production of
Hamlet that brought the famed theatre full circle to its origins with Tyrone Guthrie. You can bet that I'll be a regular patron of this exciting new facility.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.
Labels: Guthrie, Minneapolis/St. Paul
High Flying Adored: Evita Conquers the West End CriticsMichael Grandage's revival of
Evita is officially a major hit in London. The show opened to widespread critical praise on Wednesday evening at the West End's Adelphi Theatre.
With such raves as, "Make no doubt about it: Argentine performer Elena Roger is a star" (
Matt Wolf, Theatre.com), "Whether she’s shimmering in triumph or preparing for a poignant death, it’s Roger who commands the stately marble and elegant iron fretwork of Christopher Oram’s set" (
Benedict Nightingale of The London Times), "Roger is simply sensational" (
Paul Taylor of The Independent), it's no wonder that headlines around the world are trumpeting what the
Associated Press' Jill Lawless has reported: British critics simply love the new
Evita star.
Looks like the only crying that will commence for Roger's Argentina is for pure joy during the revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's best work.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:Hello, Buenos Aires! New London Revival of Evita Opens Tonight (June 21, 2006)
Labels: Evita, London, Musical, Revival
Freedom of Speech Wins with Scheduled New York Performances for My Name Is Rachel CorrieStriking a blow for the First Amendment, the highly controversial, critically-acclaimed British production of
My Name Is Rachel Corrie will get a berth at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre this October. Without even playing here, the production has already generated considerable debate due to its explosive subject matter, as well as from the perception that censorship was preventing it from being presented in New York.
The story is based on the writings of Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American sympathetic to Palestinians who was killed by an Israeli bulldozer in 2003.
The limited engagement will be directed by actor Alan Rickman, who is perhaps best known to American audiences for his role as Severus Snape in the Harry Potter movies. The play was first produced at London's Royal Court Theatre and then at the Playhouse Theatre earlier this year; it was subsequently nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement.
I'm pleased to see that
My Name Is Rachel Corrie has found a New York home. I firmly believe that this play deserves an audience. Regardless of whether you are pro-Israel, pro-Palestinian or simply pro-peace, the performance can only spur enlightened dialogue from all sides.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Alan Rickman, First Word On New Show, Freedom Of Speech, Harry Potter, My Name Is Rachel Corrie, Off-Broadway, Play, Transfer
The Last 5 Years Announced for LondonOne of my absolute favorite shows of the last five years was, in fact,
The Last 5 Years. The exquisite two-handed tuner, expertly told backwards and forwards over the course of a five year romantic relationship, will have its British premiere at London's Menier Chocolate Factory on July 25. The same theatre company also spawned the successful, lauded production of
Sunday In The Park With George that recently transferred to the West End. Indeed
Sunday's acclaimed set designer David Farley will handle the same responsibilities for
The Last 5 Years.
Jason Robert Brown's beautifully written
The Last 5 Years was
my second favorite theatrical experience during the 2002-03 season. The musical was originally staged in Chicago in 2001 with Norbert Leo Butz. He moved with the show to Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre where his womanizing literary-minded Jamie was paired with Sherie René Scott's heartwrenching portrayal of fledgling actress Cathy. Butz and Scott, of course, went on to create the hysterically funny Broadway roles of Freddy Benson and Christine Colgate in
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.
Matthew White will helm the London production of
The Last 5 Years. The production will star Damian Humbley (formerly of
The Woman In White)
and Laura Pulver (who played Frenchie in the West End production of
Grease) as the couple falling in and out of love. I just hope that this team will light the necessary sparks to make
The Last 5 Years as moving of an experience for British audiences as it was for Americans lucky to have seen this little gem.
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:Great Scott...She's Back! Sherie René Scott Returns to Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (June 21, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2002-03 (May 24, 2006)
Labels: First Word On New Show, Jason Robert Brown, London, Musical, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott, SOB's Best of 2002-03, Sunday In The Park With George, The Last Five Years
TheaterMania.com Poll Gives The Wedding Singer Edge Among Tony Production NumbersSo now that the dust has settled on the 2006 Tony Awards, which production number from the show was the
true audience favorite?
If a current nonscientific
poll currently available on TheaterMania.com is any indication, "It's Your Wedding Day" from the only musical
not to win any awards --
The Wedding Singer -- is tops among those who matter most: the ticket and CD-buying public.
I'm not surprised. The undeservingly unsung, underappreciated tuner has been increasing in audience each week over the past three weeks, now filling the Al Hirschfeld Theatre to over 80% of capacity. Additionally, its infectious, intoxicating original cast CD debuted on Billboard's cast album list at #3 -- ahead of
The Drowsy Chaperone! I have to confess that it's been constantly playing in my car since arriving in my mailbox last week.
What's more, as part of a
"Magnificent 7" promotion -- alongside
Bridge And Tunnel,
Hairspray,
Phantom of the Opera,
The Producers,
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and
Sweeney Todd -- theatregoers can take in each
The Wedding Singer for 50% off on performances from June 30 through July 7.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for the "Magnificent 7" ticket offer.Related Stories:The Wedding Singer Pumps Up the Box Office Volume (June 13, 2006)
The Wedding Singer Original Cast Recording Now Available (June 6, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
The Wedding Singer (The SOB Review) - Al Hirschfeld Theatre, New York, NY (May 8, 2006)
Critics Not Completely Engaged by The Wedding Singer (April 28, 2006)
The Wedding Singer's Secret Weapon: Kevin Cahoon? (April 27, 2006)
The Wedding Singer Opens on Broadway Tonight (April 27, 2006)
Labels: Broadway, Musical, The Wedding Singer
Hello, Buenos Aires! New London Revival of Evita Opens TonightWill Argentinian actress Elena Roger demonstrate more than
just a little touch of star quality when she takes to the West End's Adelphi stage this evening for the hotly-anticipated London revival of
Evita?
There's certainly plenty of production quality among the team for this remounting of the classic Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical, starting with director Michael Grandage, who turned last year's
Guys And Dolls into an unmitigated success. Rob Ashford, fresh from Broadway's
The Wedding Singer, has reteamed with Grandage to provide fresh choreography.
It also probably goes without saying that the original Hal Prince-helmed
Evita helped turn actresses Elaine Paige and Patti LuPone into first ladies of the London and Broadway stage, respectively. But can it do the same for Rogers? We'll know tomorrow whether the critics exult in a
rainbow high.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Andrew Lloyd Webber, Elena Roger, Evita, London, Michael Grandage, Musical, Opening Night, Revival, Rob Ashford
Great Scott...She's Back! Sherie René Scott Returns to Dirty Rotten ScoundrelsAfter four months away from Broadway's funniest comedy today, Sherie René Scott returned to
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels last evening in the role of Christine Colgate. Scott had been temporarily replaced by the sensational Rachel York while she took a brief sojourn to Signature Theatre Company's critically-acclaimed production of John Guare's
Landscape of the Body Off-Broadway.
Scott will enjoy a few more weeks with original castmates Norbert Leo Butz and Gregory Jbara, as well as the more recent addition of Jonathan Pryce, before each of them bids the production a fond farewell. Scott is one of my personal favorite musical stage performers today. I first caught Scott as Amneris in the recent Broadway production of
Aida. Scott nearly stole the show with her proudly flamboyant strut in the number "My Strongest Suit." She subsequently soared in the two-handed musical
The Last Five Years (also with Butz) and was Tony nominated for the role to which she now returns.
If there was ever a time to see
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, with the final
Broadway performances by Tony winner Butz -- who heads out on the road soon -- and key original cast members intact, this would be it.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:The Butz of Dirty Jokes Around the Nation (June 9, 2006)
Butz and Pryce Flee the Scene on July 16 (June 5, 2006)
Wicked Becomes Broadway's 8th Overall Cumulative Grosser Among Current Hits (June 2, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2004-05 (May 26, 2006)
Lucie Arnaz Plays Omaha Chic in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (May 23, 2006)
Labels: Aida, Broadway, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Musica, Norbert Leo Butz, Sherie Rene Scott, The Last Five Years
Love-Lies-Bleeding Meets Washington Post Critic at Kennedy CenterNoted author Don DeLillo's
Love-Lies-Bleeding -- an examination of euthanasia -- has met the critics after opening Sunday evening at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater. Yet, the only review I could find was that by
Washington Post critic Peter Marks (a
second Post story by Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts notes how veteran stage actor Sam Waterston was in the audience Sunday).
Taking issue with the literary delivery of the play's dialogue,
Marks states "That (the) contemplative springboard gives way to a thoughtful if rather clinical evening in the Kennedy Center Terrace Theater." While calling the play's present-day scenes "laborious," and deeming Louis Cancelmi's portrayal of Sean, son of stricken artist Alex (John Heard), "oddly robotic," Marks praises the portion of the production that provides the compelling back story on the relationship between Alex and his second wife Toinette (Martha Lavey), as well as Heard's performance and the excellent lighting design by J.R. Lederle.
As previously noted, I've now seen this play both at its original Chicago Steppenwolf Theatre home and then again on Sunday at the Kennedy Center. The only discernable difference I found was Heard's portrayal of Alex after he had suffered a stroke. In Chicago, Heard's Alex had the slurred speech of a paralyzed stroke victim, while at the Kennedy Center, he spoke plainly. I was later told by someone associated with Steppenwolf that Heard's portrayal changes with every performance.
Time is ticking before time runs out on this play's DC run. Performances run through June 25 only.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:Love-Lies-Bleeding Blooms at Kennedy Center Tonight (June 18, 2006)
DeLillo's Love-Lies-Bleeding Transfers to Kennedy Center (May 25, 2006)
Assassins Loose in Washington for Another Week (May 31, 2006)
Love-Lies-Bleeding (The SOB Review) - Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, IL (May 8, 2006)
Cautious Recommendations for Love-Lies-Bleeding (May 8, 2006)
Love-Lies-Bleeding Opens Tonight in Chicago (May 7, 2006)
Labels: Critics' Capsule, Don DeLillo, John Heard, Kennedy Center, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Martha Lavey, Play, Steppenwolf, Washington DC
Love-Lies-Bleeding Blooms at Kennedy Center TonightTonight marks the opening for Chicago-based Steppenwolf Theatre's
Love-Lies-Bleeding at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts' Terrace Theater. On the surface, the play -- produced with the assistance of the Kennedy Center Fund for New American Plays -- is an examination of euthanasia, but at its heart is the question of when life begins and ends.
I've had the opportunity to take in the production, both in Chicago and Washington, and will be reporting on the critical reviews of Don DeLillo's play in the next couple days. In the meantime, no matter which side of the issue you may fall, I'd encourage anyone living in DC to see this important drama. But you'd better hurry. Performances only run through June 25.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:DeLillo's Love-Lies-Bleeding Transfers to Kennedy Center (May 25, 2006)
Assassins Loose in Washington for Another Week (May 31, 2006)
Love-Lies-Bleeding (The SOB Review) - Steppenwolf Theatre, Chicago, IL (May 8, 2006)
Cautious Recommendations for Love-Lies-Bleeding (May 8, 2006)
Love-Lies-Bleeding Opens Tonight in Chicago (May 7, 2006)
Labels: Don DeLillo, Kennedy Center, Love-Lies-Bleeding, Opening Night, Play, Washington DC
Mame (The SOB Review) - The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Eisenhower Theatre, Washington, DC***1/2 (out of ****)Although I've previously enjoyed repeated viewings of Auntie Mame with Rosalind Russell, I had never before seen the glorious musical adaptation of Patrick Dennis' novel about his beloved aunt. I had no idea what I was missing. The Kennedy Center revival of
Mame has an exuberant brilliance that shines throughout.
While critics unfortunately converged on the show during the third day of previews -- giving only tepid reviews to Christine Baranski's portrayal of the title character -- it's clear that had they waited, they would have seen the Mame they thirsted for. In a bravura performance, Baranski more than commands the stage and captures Mame's "live, live, live" essence with gusto. The queen of perfect timing, Baranski asserts herself, whether in delivering a comic line or deadpan look. Coupled with a gorgeous singing voice -- if not always enough to overpower the formidible orchestra -- this multi-talented actress possesses the charm, wit and poise to make hers a most triumphant and confident Mame, one who lives life to the fullest and persuasively encourages everyone around her to do the same.
Despite the show's lengthy running time, director Eric Schaeffer expertly moves this musical's story along almost as quickly as Baranski's costume changes (elaborately designed by Gregg Barnes channeling his inner Bob Mackie) and evolving glorious set designs by Walt Spangler (with one notable exception: the pastoral Connecticut setting looks like it was swiped directly off a Microsoft screen saver). The story envelopes us from the earliest moments, taking us from Mame's unusual introduction to her orphaned nephew Patrick (played by a precocious Harrison Chad) to the stock market crash, to her disastrous attempts to make ends meet during the Depression, to her romance with Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside (Jeff McCarthy lends a gentile warmth as this southern gentleman), to Patrick's ill-fated romance with an intolerant, smug girl who stands for everything Mame rails against.
Through it all, Mame is supported by her long-suffering friends Vera Charles (the brilliant Harriet Harris) and M. Lindsay Woolsey (the charming Ed Dixon), along with her trusted aides Ito (Alan Muraoka) and Agnes Gooch (the delightful Emily Skinner), who takes Mame's advice on living life to its fullest to a fault by letting her hair down along with her guard.
The heart and soul of this show come from Jerry Herman's beguiling score and book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee (the same duo responsible for writing the play
Auntie Mame). Warren Carlyle's intricate choreography from one of the show's earliest moments on "It's Today" lets you know that this is going to be one heck of a ride -- Baranski, by the way, can hoof it with the best of them, and that in itself is pretty spectacular. The music and dance crescendos with the breathtaking title tune centerpiece "Mame." If the second act isn't nearly as electrifying as the first, it's because the plot turns decidedly darker with the death of Beauregard, Agnes' unplanned pregnancy and Patrick's unfortunate choice of fiance.
Yet ultimately,
Mame proves a feast for the senses and anyone who wants to relive the glory of old-fashioned musical genius. More importantly,
Mame is a celebration of tolerance and the most American of ideals: the pursuit of happiness. The only thing that could make me any happier is a well-deserved transfer to the Great White Way.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for ticket information (most performances are already sold-out).Related Stories:Mame Slightly Bruised, Not Maimed, by Critics (June 2, 2006)
Assassins Loose in Washington for Another Week (May 31, 2006)
Mame with Christine Baranski Begins Saturday at Kennedy Center (May 26, 2006)
Labels: Christine Baranski, Harriet Harris, Jerry Herman, Kennedy Center, Mame, Musical, Revival, The SOB Review, Washington DC
Rejoicify and Festivate! Chicago's Wicked Celebrates First AnniversaryAs noted a few weeks ago, Chicago's very "Popular" sit-down production of
Wicked is about to celebrate its first anniversary and still continues to sell out each performance. To date, over 1 million people have seen this production at the city's glorious Ford Center for the Performing Arts - Oriental Theatre.
The anniversary party will be done in style, albeit across the river and down Chicago's Magnificent Mile from
Wicked's Windy City home. The celebration commences this Tuesday, June 20 at 12:30 pm at Chicago's bustling Water Tower Square Park (Michigan Avenue and Pearson Street).
The centerpiece of the festivities will be Chicago's largest
Wicked sing-a-long, complete with cast members including Kristy Cates (Chicago's Elphaba), who will lead a group sing-a-long of "Defying Gravity" to demonstrate that "everyone deserves a chance to fly."
Free sets of two
Wicked tickets will be awarded to the first 365 fully greenified, wickedly-dressed Wicked Witches of the West. Sounds like an event worth flying in for.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Wicked anniversary celebration information.Click here for Wicked tickets (Chicago).Related Stories:Wicked Becomes Broadway's 8th Overall Cumulative Grosser Among Current Hits (June 2, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2003-04 (May 25, 2006)
Approaching One Year, Chicago's Wicked Continues to Captivate (May 23, 2006)
Wicked's West End Witches Update (May 17, 2006)
Worldwide Wicked Casting News (May 5, 2006)
Encore: Spotlight Week Ending April 30, 2006 (April 30, 2006)
The History Boys Extends, Along with Special Summer Ticket OfferOn the heels of its historic 6 Tony wins -- capturing more awards than any Broadway production this year, including musicals -- Alan Bennett's
The History Boys will now extend until October 1. Additionally, special reduced pricing on tickets for summer performances is currently available.
The celebrated British import, which has perhaps received the most critical acclaim of any recent production on either side of the Atlantic, won Tonys for Best Play,Best Director (Nicholas Hytner), Best Actor (Richard Griffiths), Best Featured Actress (Frances de la Tour, who graciously thanked the
backstage team), Best Scenic Design (Bob Crowley, who famously suggested he should have won for his direction of
Tarzan instead) and Best Lighting Design (Mark Henderson). Ticket sales for the production have reportedly soared since its win last Sunday, thus the much-anticipated extension until October.
Yet, that hasn't stopped the production from offering up to 45% off regular pricing of tickets. In an offer valid through August 30, 2006, seats for performances (July 4-August 30) are being offered for just $52.50 at Wednesday matinees and $62.50 for Tuesday and Wednesday evening performances. To receive the special pricing, use code
HB42PBX.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:BOYS' BIG NIGHT OUT: And The Tony Goes To... Complete List of Winners (June 12, 2006)
And The Tony Goes To... Top Categories (June 11, 2006)
And The Tony Goes To... Technical Categories (June 11, 2006)
The SOB Picks for 2006 Tony Awards (June 10, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Play (June 3, 2006)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 16, 2006)
Encore: Spotlight Week Ending April 30 (April 30, 2006)
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (The SOB Review) - Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, Chicago, IL**** (out of ****)
How do you spell success? In the case of the new sit-down production of
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee that opened earlier this spring in Chicago, you'd be easily forgiven for spelling it N-O-N-S-T-O-P L-A-U-G-H-T-E-R. This excellent musical gem, complete with superb ensemble, absolutely charms and delights with a little tale of one of those uniquely American displays of educational prowess: the lowly spelling bee.
While we're introduced to each the types of children you'd expect to see at a bee -- all brilliantly played with dizzying aplomb by some amazingly talented young adults -- director James Lapine finds surprising depth and heart in each of them. With an exquisitely written book by Rachel Sheinkin (she won a Tony Award last year for her effort) and blissfully funny score by William Finn, the audience is treated to an unexpectedly strong set of back stories that set up how each of the kids to made it to the competition.
But there's nothing quite like the contest itself, which is moved along by the adults played by James Earl Jones II, Bill Larkin and Lucia Spina and includes requisite audience participation. Yet, ultimately this is struggle among the kids, fabulously portrayed by Eric Roediger, Cristen Paige, Jen Sese, Derrick Trumbly, Brad Weinstock and Christine Werny. The members of this highly-charged ensemble expertly capture the essence of their characters. The result is a fresh, exuberant musical that moves by almost as fast as a spelling bee lightning round.
Just as Broadway has mined the Chicago cast of
Wicked for the Great White Way's Gershwin Theatre production, don't be surprised to see any of the actors from Chicago's Drury Lane Theater Water Tower transfer directly to the Circle in the Square Theatre (ironically, right downstairs from the Gershwin), where the Broadway mounting of
The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is being spelled out eight times each week. They're truly that W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets for the Chicago production.Click here for tickets for the Broadway production.Labels: Chicago, Musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, The SOB Review
Jersey Boys' Valli Understudy Gets Spotlight Michael Longoria, whom
most Jersey Boys audiences see portraying Joey Pesci (among other characters), will take center stage this coming Monday with his very own concert at New York's Metropolitan Room at Gotham.
On the Friday evening I saw
Jersey Boys, I was greatly disappointed that John Lloyd Young -- who just won the Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical -- was skipping the performance. Little did I know that I'd be wowed by his truly amazing understudy, Longoria, in the role of Frankie Valli. I subsequently purchased the original cast CD, and I can tell you that Longoria's voice is actually much better suited to Valli's full range than Young's. Quite the crowd-pleaser, Longoria was definitely the best thing about the show.
If you'd like to catch this rising talent in the spotlight where he belongs, be sure to visit the Metropolitan Room at Gothan at 8 pm on Monday, June 19. The cabaret is located at 34 West 22nd Street. The cover charge is only $15 (along with a two-drink minimum).
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for ticket information.
Is It Just Me, Or......Are there more theatre afficionados out there now than ever before? Broadway topped the 12 million attendance mark for the first time in its long, storied history. Grosses for the year grew 12% to $861.6 million. CBS estimates that its Tony Awards television audience attracted 7.79 million viewers, up 1.29 million from last year and it's the second consecutive year with an increase. Each of the major winning productions received sizable bumps in box office success as of Monday morning. What's more, even touring productions have enjoyed a successful year overall.
...Were Bruce Vilanch and Allee Willis (pictured above) separated at birth? I've met and love them both. But after seeing Willis -- nominated for a Tony as part of the songwriting team for
The Color Purple -- on the Tony Awards, I was struck by just how much she resembles a beardless Vilanch. Just curious!
...Would you send a note to a performer prior to buying tickets to see if he/she is actually planning to be in his/her role the night you're planning to attend? I'd really like to see
The Drowsy Chaperone but am nervous that Sutton Foster will stiff me for the third time (she was a no-show just a couple weeks after she won her Tony in
Thoroughly Modern Millie and then again last year when I saw
Little Women).
...Isn't Barbra Streisand being just a tad bit greedy asking $350 and $750 for tickets to her tour?
...Don't Tony Awards count for anything? Months after it was announced that John Travolta got Harvey Fierstein's Edna Turnblad role in the new movie version of "Hairspray," I'm still scratching my head, especially since Travolta hasn't had a decent film since his
last comeback in "Pulp Fiction." It's a shame that Hollywood couldn't stick with Fierstein, who made us all but forget Divine from the original movie version and earned a Tony to boot.
...Didn't Sunday's Tony clip of Jennifer Holliday and the commercial for the movie version of "Dreamgirls" get you excited to see this show on the silver screen later this year?
...Isn't it a little insulting to American audiences when London productions get rewritten for the Broadway stage? I saw
Taboo and
Bombay Dreams on the West End and thought they were great, but then saw them desecrated here. Why must producers mess with success? I shudder to think what they'll do to poor
Billy Elliot - The Musical!
Tell me what you think!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Allee Willis, Bruce Vilanch, Dreamgirls, Jennifer Holliday, Sutton Foster, Television, The Color Purple, The Drowsy Chaperone, Tony Awards, Understudy
The Wedding Singer Pumps Up the Box Office VolumeAs regular SOB readers know, I truly enjoyed Broadway's homage to the 80s musical -- The Wedding Singer. And while it was hardly a surprise that Tony overlooked this delicious confection, it's obvious that Tony viewers have not.
Just yesterday, the show reportedly took in three times its normal box office after a boffo rendition of the musical's high-energy, highly enjoyable opening number, "It's Your Wedding Day" was performed during Sunday night's Tony Awards. This news comes on the heels that the show played to 77.6% of capacity last week -- up a dramatic 20.7% from the week before. A good friend of mine even commented after the performance, "Was it my imagination or wasn't The Wedding Singer number the most enthusiastically received number of the evening?" In checking with a friend who was physically present at Radio City Music Hall, I received confirmation that it was indeed a major crowd pleaser.
If all this excitement surrounding Broadway's biggest guilty pleasure since Mamma Mia! isn't enough, the producers have announced plans for a touring company of The Wedding Singer to begin performances at Minneapolis' historic Orpheum Theatre on September 7, 2007.
Personally, having just received my original cast CD in the mail, I'm looking forward to seeing The Wedding Singer again. It's the perfect heart-filled show to sit back, relax and simply enjoy.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.
Related Stories:
The Wedding Singer Original Cast Recording Now Available (June 6, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
The Wedding Singer (The SOB Review) - Al Hirschfeld Theatre, New York, NY (May 8, 2006)
Critics Not Completely Engaged by The Wedding Singer (April 28, 2006)
The Wedding Singer's Secret Weapon: Kevin Cahoon? (April 27, 2006)
The Wedding Singer Opens on Broadway Tonight (April 27, 2006)
Labels: Box Office, Broadway, Mamma Mia, Musical, The Wedding Singer, Touring Production
BOYS' BIG NIGHT OUT: And The Tony Goes To... Complete List of WinnersIt was a huge night for Broadway shows about two distinctly different kind of boys --
The History Boys and
Jersey Boys -- at last evening's 60th Annual Tony Awards.
The History Boys proved the biggest victor throughout the presentation with six coveted awards in play categories including Best Play, while
Jersey Boys scored four awards in musical categories including Best Musical.
The Drowsy Chaperone fans were likely disappointed, despite the fact that the completely original musical was awarded five Tonys including Best Original Score and Best Book. Winning two Tonys each,
The Pajama Game and
Awake and Sing! were the respective choices for Best Revival of a Musical and Best Revival of a Play.
Here is the full list of winners:
Best Play:
The History Boys by Alan Bennett
Best Musical:
Jersey BoysBest Book of a Musical:
The Drowsy Chaperone - Book by: Bob Martin and Don McKellar
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics):
The Drowsy Chaperone - Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison (music & lyrics)
Best Revival of a Play:
Awake and Sing!Best Revival of a Musical:
The Pajama GameBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play: Richard Griffiths,
The History BoysBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play: Cynthia Nixon,
Rabbit HoleBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical: John Lloyd Young,
Jersey BoysBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical: LaChanze,
The Color PurpleBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play: Ian McDiarmid,
Faith HealerBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play: Frances de la Tour,
The History BoysBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical: Christian Hoff,
Jersey BoysBest Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical: Beth Leavel,
The Drowsy ChaperoneBest Scenic Design of a Play: Bob Crowley,
The History BoysBest Scenic Design of a Musical: David Gallo,
The Drowsy ChaperoneBest Costume Design of a Play: Catherine Zuber,
Awake and Sing!Best Costume Design of a Musical: Gregg Barnes,
The Drowsy ChaperoneBest Lighting Design of a Play: Mark Henderson,
The History Boys Best Lighting Design of a Musical: Howell Binkley,
Jersey BoysBest Direction of a Play: Nicholas Hytner,
The History BoysBest Direction of a Musical: John Doyle,
Sweeney ToddBest Choreography: Kathleen Marshall,
The Pajama GameBest Orchestrations: Sarah Travis,
Sweeney ToddFor those fond of the total count, here it is:
The History Boys -- six awards.
The Drowsy Chaperone -- five awards.
Jersey Boys -- four awards.
The Pajama Game -- two awards.
Awake and Sing! -- two awards.
Sweeney Todd -- two awards.
The Color Purple -- one award.
Faith Healer -- one award.
Rabbit Hole -- one award.
Thus the 2005-06 Theatrical Season is now history. Hearty congratulations to all the winners!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:And The Tony Goes To... Top Categories (June 11, 2006)
And The Tony Goes To... Technical Categories (June 11, 2006)
The SOB Picks for 2006 Tony Awards (June 10, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Play (June 5, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Musical (June 4, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Play (June 3, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 16, 2006)
Labels: Awake And Sing, Jersey Boys, The History Boys, The Pajama Game, Tony Awards
And The Tony Goes To... Top CategoriesHere are the winners in the top musical and play categories of the American Theatre Wing's 60th Annual Tony Awards, highlighted in
red (* denotes my predictions):
Best PlayRabbit HoleShining CityThe History Boys*The Lieutenant of InishmoreBest MusicalJersey BoysThe Color Purple The Drowsy Chaperone*
The Wedding SingerBest Revival of a PlayAwake and Sing!Edward Albee's SeascapeFaith Healer*
The Constant WifeBest Revival of a MusicalSweeney Todd*
The Pajama Game
The Threepenny OperaBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a PlayRalph Fiennes,
Faith HealerRichard Griffiths, The History Boys*Zeljko Ivanek,
The Caine Mutiny Court-MartialOliver Platt,
Shining CityDavid Wilmot,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a PlayKate Burton,
The Constant WifeJudy Kaye,
SouvenirLisa Kron,
WellCynthia Nixon, Rabbit Hole*
Lynn Redgrave,
The Constant WifeBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalMichael Cerveris,
Sweeney ToddHarry Connick, Jr.,
The Pajama Game*Stephen Lynch,
The Wedding SingerBob Martin,
The Drowsy ChaperoneJohn Lloyd Young, Jersey Boys
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a MusicalSutton Foster,
The Drowsy ChaperoneLa Chanze, The Color Purple
Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd*
Kelli O'Hara,
The Pajama GameChita Rivera,
Chita Rivera: The Dancer's LifeBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a PlaySamuel Barnett,
The History BoysDomhnall Gleeson,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreIan McDiarmid, Faith Healer*Mark Ruffalo,
Awake and Sing!Pablo Schreiber,
Awake and Sing!
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a PlayTyne Daly, Rabbit Hole*Frances de la Tour, The History BoysJayne Houdyshell,
WellAlison Pill,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreZoë Wanamaker,
Awake and Sing!
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a MusicalDanny Burstein,
The Drowsy ChaperoneJim Dale,
The Threepenny Opera*Brandon Victor Dixon,
The Color PurpleManoel Felciano,
Sweeney ToddChristian Hoff, Jersey Boys
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a MusicalCarolee Carmello,
LestatFelicia P. Fields, The Color Purple*
Megan Lawrence,
The Pajama GameBeth Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes,
The Color PurpleBest Direction of a PlayNicholas Hytner, The History Boys*Wilson Milam,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreBartlett Sher,
Awake and Sing!Daniel Sullivan,
Rabbit HoleBest Direction of a MusicalJohn Doyle, Sweeney Todd*Kathleen Marshall,
The Pajama GameDes McAnuff,
Jersey BoysCasey Nicholaw,
The Drowsy Chaperone Best ChoreographyRob Ashford,
The Wedding SingerDonald Byrd,
The Color PurpleKathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game
Casey Nicholaw, The Drowsy Chaperone*Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the TheatreThe Color Purple, Music & Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen BrayThe Drowsy Chaperone, Music & Lyrics: Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
The Wedding Singer, Music: Matthew Sklar; Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
The Woman in White, Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: David Zippel
Best Book of a MusicalChad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy,
The Wedding SingerMarshall Brickman and Rick Elice,
Jersey BoysBob Martin and Don McKellar, The Drowsy Chaperone*Marsha Norman,
The Color PurpleI was truly stunned when
The Pajama Game beat
Sweeney Todd. I can only hope that as much of the original cast of
The Pajama Game as possible will remain intact when the open-ended run of the production opens this fall.
Extremely disappointing was John Lloyd Young's victory for
Jersey Boys. At the risk of being whacked, I had a hard time enjoying anything about his victory given that the Friday night I attended, he was not there. I loved his understudy but resent that Young thinks it OK to miss performances so early on. AND, he
did not thank Frankie Valli --
shame!As much I looked forward to Patti LuPone winning, I remarked shortly before LaChanze's victory that I would not cry if she won. She was stunningly wonderful in
The Color Purple, and she competed in what I believe was the singular most competitive category -- and rightly so.
And on the win for
Jersey Boys, see above. This jukebox musical is
the most overrated show of the season.
All in all, I guessed correctly on 12 of the categories. I'll let
you decide how well that means I did.
The 60th Tony Awards were telecast on Sunday, June 11 on CBS.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:And The Tony Goes To... Technical Categories (June 11, 2006)
The SOB Picks for 2006 Tony Awards (June 10, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Play (June 5, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Musical (June 4, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Play (June 3, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 16, 2006)
Labels: Awake And Sing, Jersey Boys, Rabbit Hole, The History Boys, The Pajama Game, Tony Awards
And The Tony Goes To... Technical CategoriesHere are the winners in the technical categories of the American Theatre Wing's 60th Annual Tony Awards, highlighted in
red (* denotes my predictions):
Best OrchestrationsLarry Blank,
The Drowsy ChaperoneDick Lieb and Danny Troob,
The Pajama GameSteve Orich,
Jersey BoysSarah Travis, Sweeney Todd*
Best Scenic Design of a PlayJohn Lee Beatty, Rabbit Hole*Bob Crowley, The History BoysSanto Loquasto,
Three Days of RainMichael Yeargan,
Awake and Sing!Best Scenic Design of a MusicalJohn Lee Beatty,
The Color PurpleDavid Gallo, The Drowsy Chaperone*
Derek McLane,
The Pajama GameKlara Zieglerova,
Jersey Boys
Best Costume Design of a PlayMichael Krass,
The Constant WifeSanto Loquasto,
A Touch of the PoetCatherine Zuber, Awake and Sing!Catherine Zuber, Seascape*Best Costume Design of a MusicalGregg Barnes, The Drowsy Chaperone*Susan Hilferty,
LestatMartin Pakledinaz,
The Pajama GamePaul Tazewell,
The Color PurpleBest Lighting Design of a PlayChristopher Akerlind,
Awake and Sing!Paul Gallo, Three Days of Rain*Mark Henderson,
Faith HealerMark Henderson, The History Boys
Best Lighting Design of a MusicalKen Billington and Brian Monahan,
The Drowsy ChaperoneHowell Binkley, Jersey Boys*Natasha Katz,
TarzanBrian MacDevitt,
The Color PurpleI was right in my predictions for each of the musical categories but failed in nearly all of play categories. I still think it's looking like a big night for
The Drowsy Chaperone,
Sweeney Todd and
The History Boys. Now for the
big awards of the evening, which will come shortly.
The 60th Tony Awards will be telecast at 8 pm EDT, Sunday, June 11 on CBS.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:The SOB Picks for 2006 Tony Awards (June 10, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Play (June 5, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Musical (June 4, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Play (June 3, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 16, 2006)
Labels: Awake And Sing, Jersey Boys, Sweeney Todd, The Drowsy Chaperone, The History Boys, Tony Awards
The SOB Picks for 2006 Tony AwardsIt's the eve of the American Theatre Wing's 60th Tony Award celebration, during which a dizzying array of Broadway's finest talent will be on hand to share in bestowing the coveted medellion, if not to receive an award.
Many prognosticators and critics have already shared whom they believe will win tomorrow night. I've studiously avoided reading any of those stories so can provide my own unvarnished picks. These aren't necessarily who I think
should win, but whom I believe
will take home the awards.
My choices in each category are below in
red:
Best PlayRabbit HoleShining CityThe History BoysThe Lieutenant of InishmoreBest MusicalJersey BoysThe Color Purple The Drowsy ChaperoneThe Wedding SingerBest Revival of a PlayAwake and Sing!Edward Albee's SeascapeFaith HealerThe Constant WifeBest Revival of a MusicalSweeney ToddThe Pajama GameThe Threepenny OperaBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a PlayRalph Fiennes,
Faith HealerRichard Griffiths, The History BoysZeljko Ivanek,
The Caine Mutiny Court-MartialOliver Platt,
Shining CityDavid Wilmot,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreBest Performance by a Leading Actress in a PlayKate Burton,
The Constant WifeJudy Kaye,
SouvenirLisa Kron,
WellCynthia Nixon, Rabbit Hole
Lynn Redgrave,
The Constant WifeBest Performance by a Leading Actor in a MusicalMichael Cerveris,
Sweeney ToddHarry Connick, Jr., The Pajama GameStephen Lynch,
The Wedding SingerBob Martin,
The Drowsy ChaperoneJohn Lloyd Young,
Jersey Boys
Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a MusicalSutton Foster,
The Drowsy ChaperoneLa Chanze,
The Color PurplePatti LuPone, Sweeney ToddKelli O'Hara,
The Pajama GameChita Rivera,
Chita Rivera: The Dancer's LifeBest Performance by a Featured Actor in a PlaySamuel Barnett,
The History BoysDomhnall Gleeson,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreIan McDiarmid, Faith HealerMark Ruffalo,
Awake and Sing!Pablo Schreiber,
Awake and Sing!
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a PlayTyne Daly, Rabbit HoleFrances de la Tour,
The History BoysJayne Houdyshell,
WellAlison Pill,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreZoë Wanamaker,
Awake and Sing!
Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a MusicalDanny Burstein,
The Drowsy ChaperoneJim Dale, The Threepenny Opera
Brandon Victor Dixon,
The Color PurpleManoel Felciano,
Sweeney ToddChristian Hoff,
Jersey Boys
Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a MusicalCarolee Carmello,
LestatFelicia P. Fields, The Color PurpleMegan Lawrence,
The Pajama GameBeth Leavel,
The Drowsy ChaperoneElisabeth Withers-Mendes,
The Color PurpleBest Direction of a PlayNicholas Hytner, The History BoysWilson Milam,
The Lieutenant of InishmoreBartlett Sher,
Awake and Sing!Daniel Sullivan,
Rabbit HoleBest Direction of a MusicalJohn Doyle, Sweeney ToddKathleen Marshall,
The Pajama GameDes McAnuff,
Jersey BoysCasey Nicholaw,
The Drowsy Chaperone Best ChoreographyRob Ashford,
The Wedding SingerDonald Byrd,
The Color PurpleKathleen Marshall,
The Pajama GameCasey Nicholaw, The Drowsy ChaperoneBest OrchestrationsLarry Blank,
The Drowsy ChaperoneDick Lieb and Danny Troob,
The Pajama GameSteve Orich,
Jersey BoysSarah Travis, Sweeney Todd
Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the TheatreThe Color Purple, Music & Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen BrayThe Drowsy Chaperone, Music & Lyrics: Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
The Wedding Singer, Music: Matthew Sklar; Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
The Woman in White, Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: David Zippel
Best Book of a MusicalChad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy,
The Wedding SingerMarshall Brickman and Rick Elice,
Jersey BoysBob Martin and Don McKellar, The Drowsy ChaperoneMarsha Norman,
The Color PurpleBest Scenic Design of a PlayJohn Lee Beatty, Rabbit HoleBob Crowley,
The History BoysSanto Loquasto,
Three Days of RainMichael Yeargan,
Awake and Sing!Best Scenic Design of a MusicalJohn Lee Beatty,
The Color PurpleDavid Gallo, The Drowsy Chaperone
Derek McLane,
The Pajama GameKlara Zieglerova,
Jersey Boys
Best Costume Design of a PlayMichael Krass,
The Constant WifeSanto Loquasto,
A Touch of the PoetCatherine Zuber,
Awake and Sing!Catherine Zuber, SeascapeBest Costume Design of a MusicalGregg Barnes, The Drowsy ChaperoneSusan Hilferty,
LestatMartin Pakledinaz,
The Pajama GamePaul Tazewell,
The Color PurpleBest Lighting Design of a PlayChristopher Akerlind,
Awake and Sing!Paul Gallo, Three Days of RainMark Henderson,
Faith HealerMark Henderson,
The History BoysBest Lighting Design of a MusicalKen Billington and Brian Monahan,
The Drowsy ChaperoneHowell Binkley, Jersey BoysNatasha Katz,
TarzanBrian MacDevitt,
The Color PurpleAll totaled, I believe
The Drowsy Chaperone will be the night's biggest winner in the musical categories, while
The History Boys and
Rabbit Hole will tie for the most awards in the play categories. But
Sweeney Todd will also make headlines. I expect the award tallies to come down to this:
The Drowsy Chaperone -- Five awards, including Best Musical, Best Choreography, Best Book, Best Scenic Design of a Musical and Best Costume Design of a Musical.
Sweeney Todd -- Four awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Orchestrations.
The History Boys -- Three awards, including Best Play, Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play and Best Direction of a Play.
Rabbit Hole -- Three awards, including Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play, Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play and Best Scenic Design of a Play.
Faith Healer -- Two awards, including Best Revival of a Play and Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play.
The Color Purple -- Two awards, including Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical and Best Original Score (I expect this to be
the upset of the evening).
The Pajama Game -- One award for the first Broadway turn by Harry Connick, Jr. in the Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical category. This is the award Tony will use to illuminate its star power to the broader CBS audience.
The Threepenny Opera -- One award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.
Jersey Boys -- One award. Expect a nearly complete shutout of this overrated hit with a token award in the Best Lighting of a Musical category.
Three Days of Rain -- One award for Best Lighting of a Play.
Edward Albee's Seascape -- One award for Best Costume Design of a Play.
The 60th Tony Awards will be telecast at 8 pm EDT, Sunday, June 11 on CBS.
Click here for tickets.Related Stories:The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Play (June 5, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Revival of a Musical (June 4, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote....for Best Play (June 3, 2006)
The Tonys: If I Could Vote...for Best Musical (May 31, 2006)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 16, 2006)
Labels: Cynthia Nixon, Faith Healer, Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd, The Drowsy Chaperone, The History Boys, Tony Awards, Tony Nominations
