Producer's Perspective Is Sneak PeekThere's a relatively new entrant among theatre blogs out there, and it's from Off-Broadway producer extraordinaire
Ken Davenport, the mastermind behind such hits as the blissfully funny
Altar Boyz.
Called
The Producer's Perspective, it contains the impresario's musings on "everything related to Broadway and beyond." He's been blogging since October.
How did I find him?
While perusing through the
Chicago Sun-Times Web site, I spotted
a story on my favorite Broadway show of the season,
August: Osage County. The item, written by Davenport, focused on the inspiration behind the play's title. Turns out, the second city's second newspaper lifted the post directly from Davenport's blog.
The producer-cum-blogger (a progger? a blucer??) indicated that he had been provided a sneak peek at the script, which included playwright
Tracy Letts' dedication of what Davenport describes as "arguably one of the worst titles since
Flahooley for one of the best plays of the last decade."
Welcome to the blogosphere, Ken. I'm looking forward to more of your personal insights!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Altar Boyz, August Osage County, Blogs, Broadway, Off-Broadway, Producer's Perspective, Tracy Letts
Starring Roles Whether Or Not They're The Ones You WantThe second Broadway revival of
Grease may be opening this Sunday, yet suddenly the spotlight is falling on several "
You're The One That I Want" reality show contestants who coveted the roles of Danny and Sandy, but didn't quite make it.
The reason? They've been cast elsewhere.
First among them,
as I noted two days ago, is
Ashley Spencer. While she may have lost to Laura Osnes in the NBC television show, she ultimately
technically beat Osnes to the Great White Way with the plum role of Amber von Tussle in
Hairspray. On the very night Osnes began previews in
Grease, Spencer began performing in the long-running Tony Award-winning musical.
Then yesterday came word via
Playbill that
Derek Keeling has been cast as Charles Darnay in Jill Santoriello's musical version of
Charles Dickens' classic
A Tale Of Two Cities -- a $12 million show with an eye toward a 2008 Broadway berth that will premiere this October at Sarasota's Asolo Repertory Theatre.
Then today,
Playbill carried the announcement that
Chad Doreck would replace Matthew Buckner in the long-running Off-Broadway favorite
Altar Boyz beginning September 3. Up til now, Doreck's major claim to fame has been the voice of "Crackle" for
Rice Krispies. Hopefully, his voice won't summarily follow in the role of Matthew.
Finally, apart from
participating in the weekly "
After Party" at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in May,
Austin Miller -- the actor/singer most likely to succeed, although he failed to garner more votes than
Max Crumm -- has yet to announce any major theatrical gig. But he was pretty awesome as Link in the
original touring production of
Hairspray alongside
Carly Jibson and
Bruce Vilanch; while Jibson and Vilanch eventually appeared in the Broadway version, Miller never had the opportunity and quite frankly, I never understood why.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for Altar Boyz ticket information.Click here for A Tale Of Two Cities tickets.Click here for Grease tickets.Click here for Hairspray tickets.Related Stories:Hairspray's Stunt Casting Sticks (August 14, 2007)
Broadway Grosses: Greasing The Skids (August 7, 2007)
Which Upcoming Broadway Musicals Will You See? (June 15, 2007)
Max And Laura Go Together (March 26, 2007)
Behind The Grease Paint (March 24, 2007)
Grease: The Ones That I Want (March 22, 2007)
Apparently Grease Is The Word At Ticketmaster (January 9, 2007)
Sandy And Danny: Who Are The Ones You Want? (January 6, 2007)
The Sound Of Praise (November 16, 2006)
It's A Reality: The Sound Of Music Revival Comes Alive In London Tonight (November 15, 2006)
I've Got Chills, They're Multiplying: NBC Reality Show to Cast Grease (August 8, 2006)
Labels: A Tale Of Two Cities, Altar Boyz, First Word On New Show, Florida, Grease, Hairspray, Musical, Off-Broadway, Television
Altar Boyz (The SOB Review) - Civic Theatre, San Diego, CA*** (out of ****)Ultimately, all resistance was futile. I’m now a confirmed believer.
You see, I’ve studiously avoided seeing
Altar Boyz -- one of Off-Broadway’s biggest musical hits in years -- only to find myself finally taking in the touring production while in San Diego. I have seen the error of my ways and am now ready to sing its praise: Hallelujah for this harmonious, heaven-sent hit!
Altar Boyz is a musical that plays like a genuine boy band concert (not that I have any
firsthand knowledge of such things). Only, this downright divine singing group is all Christian, with the exception of their lone Jewish member.
Between catchy yet treacly tunes by
Gary Adler and
Michael Patrick Walker that sound like they’re ripped from the set list of any number of circa 1999 boy bands like the
Backstreet Boys,
*NSync or
98 Degrees (or
Boyzone and
Take That for my European guests),
Altar Boyz tells the story of how Matthew (
Matthew Buckner), Mark (
Ryan J. Ratliff), Luke (
Jesse JP Johnson), Juan (
Jay Garcia) and Abraham (
Ryan Strand) came together in the name of G.O.D.
The entire cast in this touring production is nothing short of excellent. These five not only have the acting chops, but they sing angelically all while dancing like the devil (thanks to the exhilarating choreography by
Christopher Gattelli).
Buckner’s Matthew is the group’s driving force and leading, yet virginal heartthrob. Ratliff’s Mark is the boy who not only wistfully swoons over Matthew, but dares to come out of the closet…as Catholic. Johnson’s boisterous Luke has just emerged from rehab for…exhaustion. Garcia’s Juan provides some spice and the show’s most poignant moment when his search for his long lost parents comes to an end.
But it’s the delicious irony in Strand’s Abraham, the group’s sole Judeo member, who really galvanizes this show. Not only is Abraham the most divinely inspired when it comes to crafting the group’s trusty tunes, but he’s unwittingly the glue that keeps this quintet together. And incredibly enough, Strand has just recently been added to this amazing cast. You’d think he was part of this group from day one (or is that "The First Day"?).
Altar Boyz provides mostly witty, sometimes subtle and often hilarious observations on faith without resorting to heavy-handed, self-loathing mockeries of what many hold sacred. While it may not rank among the best musicals ever -- and it certainly doesn’t 'spire to be one --
Altar Boyz is one entertaining joy to behold. Thank God!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Altar Boyz, California, Musical, Off-Broadway, San Diego, The SOB Review, Touring Production
