Steve On Broadway: There's An App For That!Can't get enough of Broadway? Need your fix via your iPhone?
There's an app for that!
This past June,
iBroadway was launched by
Arts Meets Commerce, an Internet marketing/Web design/advertising/video company that counts
many Broadway shows among its impressive roster of clients.
When iBroadway first launched in June, three of my favorite theatre blogs were included with the initial roll-out: Jan Simpson's
Broadway & Me, Aaron Riccio's
‘kül That Sounds Cool and Chris Caggiano's
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals.
Now, I'm pleased to note that Arts Meets Commerce has added two more blogs to their iBroadway app, including Garrett Eisler's venerable
The Playgoer and yours truly. I'm honored to be among the select few and feel I'm in excellent company.
What intrigued me about this iBroaday app is that in addition to providing content from some of my favorite bloggers, it's also a free compendium of all things Broadway, literally at your fingertips.
The iBroadway app features include:
• Details on performance venues, schedules and ticketing information, along with discounts for some of the hottest shows on Broadway;
• Exclusive video content, synopses, reviews and cast information;
• News, reviews and commentary from a host of the top writers in the theatre industry today;
• A simple way for users to share details about their favorite shows via Facebook, Twitter or e-mail.
If you're among those iBroadway subscribers who is finding me for the first time thanks to this app, welcome to
Steve On Broadway (SOB)! I'm happy you've found me. Please note that you can also follow me on
Facebook and
Twitter.
Whether you're a longtime reader or brand new, I invite you to join in the conversation on all things Broadway and live theatre. Now there's an app for that!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
In keeping with the new Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regulations that unfairly discriminate against bloggers, who are now required by law to disclose when they have received anything of value they might write about, please note that I have received nothing of value in exchange for this post. Labels: Arts Meets Commerce, Broadway, Broadway and Me, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, iBroadway, kul That Sounds Cool, The Playgoer, theatre bloggers
Will [show] Be Re[title]d?In case you missed
Chris Caggiano's
excellent interview with
[title of show] co-creator/co-star
Hunter Bell over at
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, seems as though there's a real possibility that the little tuner that could may very well come back in time for the Tonys.
My only question would be whether they'd incorporate the return engagement into the production itself.
Here's to Chris for scooping the rest of the media with his essential theatre blog. Bravo! (If you're not already reading
EIKILFM, you really should!)
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Chris Caggiano, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, Hunter Bell, Interview, title of show
36 Down, 3 To GoLast week, Chris Caggiano over at
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals was musing about how he'd finally get inside Broadway's
Lyceum Theatre now that
[title of show] is headed there this summer. He mentioned how that would leave just three Rialto theatres in which he's never stepped foot.
His post got me to pondering whether I've been in all 39 Broadway theatres that are currently functioning, and like the geek I am, I systematically went through the
Internet Broadway Database's encyclopedic history on each venue and discovered that I've now been in all but three myself. And those three might actually surprise you.
First, the theatre housing Broadway's all-time longest running show is the
Majestic Theatre. Is it heresy for someone purporting to be "Steve On
Broadway" to admit he's never actually seen
The Phantom Of The Opera on the Great White Way? Sure, the show's been running for 20 long years, but since I first caught the London production about the time the Main Stem incarnation was first being performed, I didn't feel compelled to go to see it at the Majestic. Oh sure, I've seen it again -- thanks to freebie tickets 10 years ago in Los Angeles, and then again for kicks and giggles just last year in the truncated
Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular -- but suffice it to say that as long as
The Phantom Of The Opera is playing the Majestic, I won't be going there.
Second is the
Nederlander Theatre, home to the musical
Rent since 1996. I've seen
Jonathan Larson's landmark tuner twice, just never in New York. In fact, the first time I saw it was when the first touring company swung through Boston during the winter of 1996-97, and I saw it again in St. Paul in 2000. Unlike
Phantom, I actually enjoyed this profoundly moving show, and I had even considered (at the last minute) to get tix for the Broadway version when
Adam Pascal and
Anthony Rapp reprised their turns as Roger and Marc, respectively, just last year. But alas, the show was sold out the first time I tried and only had back row seating available the next. With the departure of
Rent from the Nederlander now imminent, coming in September, I suspect that I'll finally get into that theatre sometime in the next year.
Finally, I have never been to the
Neil Simon Theatre, host to current occupant
Hairspray since 2002. Through a little bit of serendipity, I actually saw and loved
Hairspray with its original cast, but it was when I was passing through Seattle during its tryout performances there. And I also enjoyed seeing the first touring production when it passed through Minneapolis. While its current cast is appealing, I am probably not inclined to go see it, saving my theatregoing dollars for other shows.
So which theatre have I been to the most? That distinction goes to what is arguably Broadway's worst venue: the
Booth Theatre. Always one for prestige productions, I've been going there since 1992 when the acclaimed revival of
The Most Happy Fella enjoyed a 229 performance run. Almost in spite of how lousy this theatre itself is, including some of the least desirable seating
(read: tightly crammed), some of my best Broadway memories came from this house, where visions of
Paul Newman,
Dame Edna,
Vanessa Redgrave and others still dance in my mind. And I'm absolutely looking forward to returning next month to see
Laurence Fishburne in
Thurgood. I'm just not looking forward to being uncomfortable.
Finally, my very first Broadway theatre
ever was none other than the
Winter Garden where I caught
Cats near the beginning of its 18 year run. Fortunately, as much as I disliked that show, it has not deterred me from coming back to the Great White Way for performance after performance.
I just wonder how many more years it will take for me to check the Majestic off my list....
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Broadway Venues, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, Hairspray, Musical, Rent, The Phantom Of The Opera, title of show
Blonde Not Quite Ready To Jump SharkImagine my surprise when one of my dear, regular readers sent me the following from
Us Magazine:
A source says Britney Spears’ ex, 30, may be heading to NYC in September to make his Broadway debut in Legally Blonde, the Tony-nominated musical adaptation of the hit film, Us Weekly reports in its latest issue, on newsstands now.
“He’s so excited!” a Federline source tells Us.
The former backup dancer and aspiring hip-hop artist — who is hitting the gym after packing on “daddy weight,” ex Shar Jackson says — will test his song-and-dance chops in a trio of roles — including the UPS guy who inspires the “bend and snap.”
“This is his chance to show the world what he can do,” says a pal.
And now that he has physical custody, sons Sean, 2, and Jayden, 18 months, might join him in the Big Apple.
“This is his dream and he wants to bring the kids,” says the insider. “Jamie and Lynne [Spears] promised to help him make it work.”
(A rep for the show says he is not scheduled “as of this time.”)
Federline may not be the only star hitting Broadway: New mom Nicole Richie has been approached to star in Chicago.
Then, imagine my even
bigger surprise when reading Chris Caggiano's post yesterday at
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals:
Another sign of the impending apocalypse: US magazine reports that Kevin Federline may be joining the cast of Broadway's Legally Blonde. Presumably as Warner, the part originated by Richard Blake? Or perhaps as the UPS guy that Paulette falls for? Or maybe even the "Is he gay or European?" dude at the trial? Certainly not as Emmet, the good guy who gets the girl, a part originated by the talented Christian Borle?
My surprise wasn't necessarily that
Legally Blonde would actually jump the shark with stunt casting. No. It was that either of these fine people would read
Us Magazine!
So I clicked onto
Us this morning to see what's up. And guess what? Kevin Federline
will not be appearing in
Legally Blonde. Or at least, so they say now.
Impending apocalypse avoided? Well, not if the
Us rumor on Nicole Richie going
Chicago proves true. But let's just say, I'll believe it when I read it somewhere else.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Blogs, Britney Spears, Broadway, Chicago The Musical, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, Jump The Shark, Kevin Federline, Legally Blonde, Nicole Richie, Stunt Casting, Us Magazine
A Chorus Line: From Priscilla To Mario LopezOh, how the mighty have fallen.
Once a
cutting-edge show originally starring
Priscilla Lopez (pictured, left),
A Chorus Line is now a revival caught
jumping the shark with
Mario Lopez (pictured, right).
I'll leave the choicest comments to my friend Chris Caggiano over at
Everything I Know I Learned In Musicals.
P.S. I can't wait to see the
real deal later this month when I see
In The Heights at the
Richard Rodgers Theatre.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for A Chorus Line tickets.Click here for In The Heights tickets.Labels: A Chorus Line, Blogs, Broadway, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, In The Heights, Jump The Shark, Mario Lopez, Musical, Priscilla Lopez, Stunt Casting
Tag, I'm It!Thanks to that bubbly effervescent Sarah at
Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment, who came up with a fun
little meme for me this week in which she tagged all her blogbuddies. Since I consider myself one of them (hope I'm not too presumptuous, Sarah), it's saving me on a full-blown entry on a very hectic day.
Naturally, I'll wonder what friends like Esther at
Gratuitous Violins, Chris at
Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals and Jan at
Broadway & Me have to say.
So here goes:
1. The first musical I ever saw on Broadway was (or if you haven’t seen a musical on Broadway):
Cats. And I still came back to Broadway anyway!
2. The musical I would most like to see again is: the quintessential
Gypsy and
Guys And Dolls (my two all-time favorites)
3. The musical I never want to see again is: Cats and
The Phantom Of The Opera (my two least favorite musicals)
4. The best performance in a Broadway musical by a woman I’ve ever seen is: Chita Rivera in
Nine (2003)
where the legendary actress literally stopped the show with her performance of "Folies Bergeres." I've only seen a standing O delivered mid-performance four other times -- by
Jennifer Holliday in both the 2002 and 2007 Atlanta revivals of
Dreamgirls at the close of "And I'm Telling You I'm Not Going," and twice at the close of
Gypsy's "Rose's Turn," first by
Bernadette Peters in 2003 (Broadway) and then again by
Patti LuPone in 2006 (Ravinia).
5. The best performance in a Broadway musical by a man I’ve ever seen is: Harvey Fierstein in
Hairspray, but
Nathan Lane in
The Producers is not far behind (although it wasn't until my third time seeing the show that I actually saw him...).
6. The person I wish they never cast was: All the stuntcasting that causes shows to
jump the shark.
7. The person they should have cast was: Other Broadway babies.
8. My favorite Broadway choreography was in the show: Rob Ashford's impressive work in just about anything he attempts. But if I have to pick one of his shows, then let it be
Curtains.
9. The lyric/line that always brings a lump to my throat is: "A bird cage I plan to hang/I'll get to that someday/A bird cage for a bird who flew away/Around the world" -- sung by
Christine Ebersole in
Grey Gardens.
10. The stupidest lyric/line I’ve ever heard is: "I'm not wearing underwear today/No I'm not wearing underwear today," from
Avenue Q.
11. The first musical I had to go back and see twice was: The Producers (see my answer in #5)
12. The first musical I ever walked out of was: Are you kidding? It's never happened, even though I may have thought about an early exit.
13. The most under praised and overly deserving show in my opinion is: the 2002 production of
Sweet Smell Of Success. At least
John Lithgow won.
14. The most overly praised and under deserving show in my opinion is: Cats.15. The song show tune I’m most likely to sing while I’m dancing around at home is: Lately, for reasons hinted at in my opening, it would have to be "The Bitch Of Living" from
Spring Awakening. But there's also plenty of times I've sung "Cabaret" from the
eponymous show.
16. If I could recast any role in a current Broadway musical with a performer of the past it would be: Edna Turnblad (
Hairspray) with
Zero Mostel.
17. If I could recast a current actor in a Broadway musical that was before their time it would be: Michael Cerveris as the King of Siam in
The King And I.
18. The show they should never change a word of because it is already perfect is: Gypsy and
Guys And Dolls.
19. The show I'd most like to get my hands on and rewrite is: Who am I to rewrite a show?! Good or bad, they are all someone else's pride and joy, full of hard work. If I knew how to rewrite a show, let alone write one, do you think I'd have this blog?!
20. The role I was born to play on Broadway is: Are you kidding? Me on the stage?! If I really had to pick one, it would either be
Cabaret's emcee or
Guys And Dolls Nathan Detroit. Now
there's a range!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Adventures In The Endless Pursuit Of Entertainment, Blogs, Broadway, Broadway and Me, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, Gratuitous Violins, Meme, Musical
Everything I Know About Frankenstein......I learned from reading this morning's edition of
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals.
Chris Caggiano went, so I don't have to.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Click here for tickets.Labels: Blogs, Chris Caggiano, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, Frankenstein, Musical, Off-Broadway
Bart's Back: Bad Omen?It's never a good sign when one of the key principals in a new show is out with an injury, but that's the case with
Roger Bart in
Young Frankenstein.
Bart has been sidelined, at least temporarily, with a lower back injury. As a result, he's missed some performances since the October 13 matinee.
First I heard of it was via
Chris Caggiano of
Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, who posted his scathing review of the show on Monday. Chris saw understudy
Matthew LaBanca in the role of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, whom he described as "game and energetic, and almost letter-perfect in his knowledge of the role. The audience didn't seem to care that the actor playing the title character was out." A pity about the show itself.
Over at the
New York Post, columnist
Michael Riedel uses the opportunity to joke about the show:
Roger Bart, will be out at least until the weekend due to a bad back. (And he hasn't even read his reviews yet.)
Riedel goes on to say that the dark horse in this year's Tony derby may very well be
Cry-Baby, especially since the buzz he's hearing out the
Hilton Theatre ain't that great about
Mel and his new show.
What's that line from the "
Cell Block Tango"? Something about "He had it coming!"?!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Broadway, Buzz, Chris Caggiano, Cry-Baby, Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals, Mel Brooks, Michael Riedel, Musical, Roger Bart, Young Frankenstein
