Saturday, April 25, 2009

RIP Bea Arthur (1922-2009)

RIP Bea Arthur (1922-2009)

So sorry to learn of the death of Tony Award-winning actress Beatrice Arthur today. Arthur lost her battle with cancer early this morning.

Long before she forever changed television as a Golden Girl or as the paradigm-shifting Maude, Arthur was a Broadway star. The actress was featured in the original 1964 Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. as the memorable Yente. She topped that performance with her 1966 award-winning turn as Vera Charles alongside Angela Lansbury as the eponymous Mame. Vera Charles epitomized Mame Dennis' mantra of "live, live, live." So I have little doubt that I'm not alone in mourning the loss of Ms. Arthur.

What better way to remember her stage talent than to revisit a reprise of "Bosom Buddies" from the great Bea Arthur and legendary Angela Lansbury once more. Rest in peace, Bea Arthur.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB)

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Saturday, April 25, 2009 4 comments

Friday, March 23, 2007

London Porgy And Bess Soon To Be Gone, Gone, Gone

London Porgy And Bess Soon To Be Gone, Gone, Gone

Trevor Nunn's critically-acclaimed West End revival of Porgy And Bess will shutter at London's Savoy Theatre on May 5. The title roles of the dramatically overhauled George and Ira Gershwin musical have been portrayed by Clarke Peters and Nicola Hughes, respectively.

So extraordinary was the reworking of Porgy And Bess that the show was Olivier-nominated for Best New Musical earlier this year; the production would lose to Caroline, Or Change. Peters and Hughes were also nominated for their performances.

Porgy And Bess is reportedly still being readied for a Spring 2008 transfer to Broadway. And speaking of transfers, the show's early departure from the Savoy provides a West End opening for the transfer of another musical revival, this time from Northern England's Sheffield Crucible Theatre.

Fiddler On The Roof with Olivier Award-winning actor Henry Goodman as Tevye will begin a limited run at the Savoy on May 19; opening night is slated for May 29. Other cast members include Beverley Klein (Jerry Springer The Opera), Julie Legrand (See How They Run) and Victor McGuire (Chicago).

Lindsay Posner directs the production, which received positive notices while in Sheffield, a community that's roughly 170 miles north/northeast of London. (It should be noted that this is not the same revival that appeared on Broadway just a couple years ago; that production was helmed by David Leveaux.)

Personally, as a huge fan of Porgy And Bess' classic score, I'm looking forward to seeing it once it makes the journey "home" to America.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Fiddler On The Roof tickets.
Click here for Porgy And Bess tickets.

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posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Friday, March 23, 2007 0 comments

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