Steve On Broadway (SOB)

Thursday, December 03, 2009

SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #23 - Grey Gardens

SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties: #23 - Grey Gardens (2007, Walter Kerr Theatre, New York, New York)

Introduction: Hard as it is to comprehend that we're already 119 months into this "new" millennium, we are fast approaching the end of its first decade. While we have yet to agree on what exactly we should call the '00s, I'll take a cue from the fine folks at The Times of London and the BBC and henceforth refer to them at the Noughties.

With that small introduction, I'm pleased to present my list of plays and musicals that wowed me the most during that time. Out of the hundreds and hundreds of shows I've seen over the last ten years, I give you my countdown of my 25 personal favorite shows of the Noughties.

As the most sublime show of its year, Grey Gardens easily ranked as my choice for Best Musical. This unconventional yet completely satisfying tuner was a triumph of the first order.

Arguably at the height of her distinguished career, Christine Ebersole's virtuoso performance in Grey Gardens remains one that I can still vividly recall. Ebersole more than masterfully channeled both Edith and Little Edie Bouvier Beales of the funny-if-it-weren’t-so-tragic seventies documentary of the same name.

What could have been played for sheer parody was instead transformed into a poignant, modern tragedy, where pathetic dismissal gave way to empathy. Credit Michael Greif's brilliant direction, Mary Louise Wilson’s powerful Edith and Ebersole’s heartwrenching Little Edie.

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. I paid my own way for this performance.

Labels: Broadway, Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens, Mary Louise Wilson, Michael Greif, Musical, SOB's Favorite Shows Of The Noughties

Sunday, December 30, 2007

SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #2: Christine Ebersole

SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #2: Christine Ebersole

Introduction: While others use the end of the year to provide their lists of the top shows of the past year, here at Steve On Broadway (SOB), I wait until the conclusion of the entire Theatrical Season to provide my official tally.

Instead, I'm once again devoting the waning days of the calendar year to celebrate SOB's Singular Sensations -- those magical live performances that have stayed with me throughout the year. During 2007, I have enjoyed, been wowed and ultimately inspired by a dazzling display of excellent performances from some of the theatre world's best actors, singers and dancers of our time.

Like Spring Awakening, the quirky musical Grey Gardens began its life Off-Broadway in 2006 before transferring to the Great White Way later in the same year. In the case of Grey Gardens, it was a completely transformed show.

But my first opportunity to see this superb little gem of a show finally came in February. Talk about worth the wait -- I was so transfixed by this musical that it ranked as my favorite show during the entire 2006-07 Theatrical Season.

The primary reason I loved this show so much was due to the two excellent performances that would ultimately be rewarded with a richly deserved Tony Award (make that three when you count the marvelous Mary Louise Wilson). Both were offered by the astonishing Christine Ebersole as she portrayed both Edith and Little Edie Bouvier Beale -- the real-life relatives of former First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis -- whose fall from grace to utter squalor made for the most unlikeliest of Broadway musicals.

Here's what I had to say last February about Ebersole's nuanced performances:

Grey Gardens can hardly be called a “feel good” show. So why did I find myself feeling better than "good" after (finally) taking in a performance of this sublime show?

Two words: Christine Ebersole.

The incredibly talented Ebersole has proven she's at the height of her career. Her virtuoso performance in Grey Gardens is one that I'll never forget.

Mind you, I’m not one to voluntarily stand up and cheer reflexively. Personally, I find that the standing O is grossly overused and should be strictly reserved for only the best of the best. Not only did I leap to my feet upon Ebersole’s curtain call, but I found the extremely rare “bravo” freely coming from my heart and passing through my lips.

In Grey Gardens, Ebersole more than masterfully channels both Edith and Little Edie Bouvier Beales of the funny-if-it-weren’t-so-tragic seventies documentary of the same name. She luminously inhabits mother Edith in act one and then incredibly suspends any disbelief that you are watching anyone but the real Little Edie in the second act. Right before your eyes, a radiant and breathtaking Ebersole becomes Little Edie.

I've now had several opportunities to see Ebersole show her stuff on Broadway -- although I may be one of the few who actually remember her, and quite fondly at that, from her brief stint on "Saturday Night Live" back during the 1981-82 season).

The first time I saw her on stage came in her terrific performance in the superb 2000 revival of Gore Vidal's The Best Man, as well as in her Tony-winning turn as Dorothy Brock in the 2001 revival of 42nd Street. She imbues every role with such style, wit and panache, but Grey Gardens proves she truly is at the height of her distinguished career.

Here's a toast to the Tony-winning singular sensation, Christine Ebersole! May you enjoy every bit as much success and more when your show completes its transfer to London.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #3: Amy Morton (December 29, 2007)
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #4: Elena Roger (December 28, 2007)
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #5: Raúl Esparza (December 28, 2007)
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #6: John Gallagher, Jr. (December 28, 2007)
SOB's 7 Singular Sensations Of '07 - #7: Jennifer Holliday (December 27, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Top Ten Of The Year (June 4, 2007)
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Musicals (May 22, 2007)
Grey Gardens (The SOB Review) (February 25, 2007)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #1: Patti LuPone (December 30, 2006)
Honorable Mentions: SOB's Singular Sensations Of '06 (December 30, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #2: Cate Blanchett (December 30, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #3: Chita Rivera (December 29, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #4: Barry Humphries (December 28, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #5: Kitty Carlisle Hart (December 28, 2006)
SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06 - #6: Meryl Streep (December 26, 2006)

Labels: 42nd Street, Broadway, Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens, Musical, SOB's 6 Singular Sensations Of '06, SOB's 7 Singular Sensations of '07, The Best Man

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

Bronx Tale Set To Begin Anew In Manhattan

Bronx Tale Set To Begin Anew In Manhattan

According to Variety, Chazz Palminteri is set to make his Broadway debut this fall when he resurrects his 1989 one-man show A Bronx Tale under the direction of Jerry Zaks. The limited run engagement is set to play the Walter Kerr Theatre (recently vacated by a surprisingly stormy Grey Gardens) for 18 weeks beginning this October.

A silver screen version of "A Bronx Tale" was brought to life by Robert DeNiro in 1993.

Despite his well-deserved Academy Award nomination thirteen years ago for "Bullets Over Broadway" and fine work in other films like "The Usual Suspects," audiences have seen precious little of Palminteri recently. In fact, it's been five years since I caught him in The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui -- staged by the late Tony Randall's National Actors Theater -- his last stage appearance in New York.

So I'll be interested in seeing whether this new version of Palminteri's old tale can put him back on the map. I'm hoping it does.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: A Bronx Tale, Chazz Palminteri, Film, First Word On New Show, Grey Gardens, Jerry Zaks, One Man Show, Play, Revival, Robert DeNiro, The Resistible Rise Of Arturo Ui, Tony Randall

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Go East, Young Musical, Go East

Go East, Young Musical, Go East

Despite the incredibly shrinking dollar -- and in spite of the premature closing of the big American hit musical The Drowsy Chaperone, which reached its 500th performance milestone on Broadway, yet is closing in London after a mere two months -- nothing spells theatrical success quite like having your show play to audiences on both sides of the Atlantic, as Variety's Gordon Cox examines.

On the heels of the extraordinary success of the new film version of the Broadway stage musical that was based on John Waters' original 1988 flick, Hairspray will finally open in the London this October 11 at the Shaftesbury Theatre with U.K. stage fave Michael Ball as Edna Turnblad. The Great White Way incarnation that premiered five years ago, won the 2003 Tony for Best Musical.

After that, expect the 2006 Tony-winning Best Musical Jersey Boys to confound those anticipating a show about young boys and their cows on the pastoral isle of The Bailiwick of Jersey when it replaces Mary Poppins at London's Prince Edward Theatre on February 28.

This year's Tony-winning Best Musical Spring Awakening will most certainly be mounted on the West End, but details have yet to be announced. And although Grey Gardens may be vacating Rialto's Walter Kerr Theatre this Sunday, it's expected to find its new West End digs sometime during the current theatre season.

While the plummeting U.S. dollar may make mounting each of these shows more expensive, at least ticket prices remain somewhat reasonable in London. For example, you can expect to pay £61.50 (or approximately $123 US) for Jersey Boys' top ticket vs. $351.50 on Broadway. Thankfully, the whole concept of "premium seating" has not caught on, although -- quite inexplicably -- you'll still have to pony up to $8 for their version of a Playbill.

If you're a theatre lover, but have never had the opportunity to see a show on the West End, I would highly recommend it. Just don't go with the expectation that every musical or play ends in a standing ovation -- the British tend to reserve those for truly remarkable and stunning performances. Here! Here!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Hairspray UK tickets.
Click here for Jersey Boys UK tickets.

Labels: Broadway, Grey Gardens, Hairspray, Jersey Boys, London, Mary Poppins, Spring Awakening, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ticket Prices, Transfer

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Seeing Red At Grey Gardens

Seeing Red At Grey Gardens

This morning's Michael Riedel column in the New York Post offers up some contentious behind the scenes loathing for the producers of Grey Gardens, which will close later this month.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: Broadway, Grey Gardens, Michael Riedel, Musical

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

What's That Saying About Imitation And Flattery?

What's That Saying About Imitation And Flattery?

Yes, I'm almost certain that Barbara Hoffman and her headline writers at the New York Post did not see my headline about Grey Gardens closing yesterday. I'm just venturing a guess.

But to quote Jeffrey Cufaude, who commented on my post regarding entrance applause, "Could be but we don't really know that do we."

It's fun just to speculate that they may have.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Related Stories:
Grey Gardens Fades To Black Later This Month (July 2, 2007)
From Now On, I'll Just Sit On My Hands (July 1, 2007)

Labels: Barbara Hoffman, Blogs, Broadway, Closing Notices, Entrance Applause, Grey Gardens, Jeffrey Cafaude, Musical, New York Post, Theatre Etiquette

Monday, July 02, 2007

Grey Gardens Fades To Black Later This Month

Grey Gardens Fades To Black Later This Month

Call me blue.

I just learned that Grey Gardens will shutter on July 29 after its 307th performance. This was by far my favorite show from the 2006-07 Theatrical Season.

The brilliant musical depiction of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter "Little" Edie earned ten Tony nominations and took home three awards, including for the breathtaking performances offered by both Christine Ebersole and Mary Louise Wilson. Just last Thursday, it was announced that Wilson would be leaving the production when her contract expires -- also on July 29.

The box office hasn't been too shabby since the Tonys. While last week's capacity of 85.9% was down slightly, it's still a respectable number. In fact, its gross was actually up week over week to $465,615.

The looming question now is whether Grey Gardens can find greener pastures on the other side of the pond when the production transfers to London with Ebersole in tow sometime during the course of the new theatrical season.

If you haven't already had the opportunity to see Grey Gardens on Broadway, make sure you get there this month!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.

SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Musicals (May 22, 2007)

West End To Open New Gardens Of The Grey Variety (May 16, 2007)

Box Office: Theatregoers Don't Passover Broadway (April 9, 2007)

A Matter Of Taste (March 16, 2007)

Grey Gardens (The SOB Review) (February 25, 2007)

Grey Gardens Proves Fertile For Most Critics (November 3, 2006)
Time To Meet The Reaper: Grey Gardens Opens On Broadway (November 2, 2006)
Mary Poppins, Grey Gardens Tops Among SOB Readers (October 27, 2006)
Survey Says.... (October 23, 2006)
Which Broadway Musical Will Depart Next? (August 21, 2006)
Grey Gardens Moving to Broadway, Lest There Was Any Doubt (May 15, 2006)

Labels: Broadway, Christine Ebersole, Closing Notices, Grey Gardens, Mary Louise Wilson, Musical

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Ratings Down, Box Office Up

Ratings Down, Box Office Up

Despite the fact that the Tony Awards broadcast attracted its lowest ratings ever -- only 6.24 million viewers tuned in, apparently getting whacked by the final episode of "The Sopranos" and elbowed by NBA finals between the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers -- reports abound that Broadway shows featured during the Tonys have enjoyed a box office bounce.

Since the Tonys effectively serve as one giant commercial advert for Rialto offerings, particularly the showcased musicals, it should come as no surprise that Spring Awakening enjoyed an enormous box office surge of $1.25 million in tickets from the time the Tony telecast began through the end of yesterday. According to Playbill, that is up sharply from its typical $150,000 per day in box office sales. Additionally, the Tony-winning Best Musical had one of its best weeks just last week when it enjoyed a 92.4% capacity with a gross of $644,716.

Don't be surprised to see Spring Awakening's average ticket price -- last week at a respectable $80.06 -- soar. When I first saw the 8-time Tony winner earlier this year, I snagged a front-row seat for the relative bargain price of $110, but the show now offers premium seating going for $176.50 per ticket for most performances, although that price escalates to $201.50 for Friday and Saturday evenings.

At least two other shows featured during the Tonys -- Curtains and Grey Gardens, both of which copped major acting awards -- reported "higher than usual" box office figures yesterday, according to the same Playbill story.

Still no word yet on whether the Tonys provided any of the desperately needed lift to Best Revival of a Musical Company, which has been languishing below 50% in capacity since the week of April 16-22, even though its capacity increased last week to 47.9%.

Surely, one would think if Raúl Esparza's performance of "Being Alive" was well-received by the television audience, his Tony snub wouldn't deter anyone from seeking out a ticket to this worthy show, especially given its major win in the revival category. However, I've heard from some of you that you don't think his performance translated well on television. If Company's box office doesn't enjoy some sort of boost from the Tonys, the show will likely post closing notices sooner than later. What a shame that would be.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Company tickets.

Click here for Curtains ticket information.

Click here for Grey Gardens ticket information.

Click here for Spring Awakening tickets.

C'est Sheik! (June 10, 2007)

In The Company Of Underperforming Shows (March 27, 2007)

Labels: Box Office, Broadway, Company, Curtains, Grey Gardens, Musical, Spring Awakening, Tony Awards

Monday, June 11, 2007

TONYS: SPRING HAS SPRUNG WHILE COAST REALIZES UTOPIA

TONYS: SPRING HAS SPRUNG WHILE COAST REALIZES UTOPIA

Perhaps the biggest surprise in this year's Tonys was the lack of surprises. As expected, Spring Awakening fully blossomed by nabbing 8 Tonys, including for Best Musical, while The Coast Of Utopia easily coasted to nirvana with a record seven major awards for a play, including for Best Play.

I'm beyond euphoric that the lovely Christine Ebersole won for Grey Gardens, and I'm pretty thrilled that her co-star Mary Louise Wilson won the award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. But I'm also ecstatic that the young John Gallagher, Jr. received an honor for his amazing performance in Spring Awakening.

While I pooh-poohed the idea that Julie White from The Little Dog Laughed would win the Tony for Best Performance by an Actress in a Play, she did turn in a stellar, star-making performance worthy of recognition. And while I personally was rooting for Raúl Esparza to be honored for his virtuoso performance in Company, I can't think of a better alternative this year than the graceful David Hyde Pierce in Curtains.

The 2006-07 Tony nominees and winners include:

Best Play
The Coast of Utopia (Tom Stoppard, author)
Frost/Nixon (Peter Morgan)
The Little Dog Laughed (Douglas Carter Beane, author)
Radio Golf (August Wilson, author)

Best Musical
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Best Book of a Musical
Curtains - Rupert Holmes & Peter Stone
Grey Gardens - Doug Wright
Legally Blonde The Musical - Heather Hach
Spring Awakening - Steven Sater

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Curtains - Music: John Kander; Lyrics: Fred Ebb, John Kander & Rupert Holmes
Grey Gardens - Music: Scott Frankel; Lyrics: Michael Korie
Legally Blonde The Musical - Music & Lyrics: Laurence O'Keefe and Nell Benjamin
Spring Awakening - Music: Duncan Sheik; Lyrics: Steven Sater

Best Revival of a Play
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
Talk Radio
Translations

Best Revival of a Musical
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade

Best Special Theatrical Event
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!
Kiki & Herb Alive on Broadway

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Boyd Gaines, Journey's End
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brían F. O'Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Swoosie Kurtz, Heartbreak House
Angela Lansbury, Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical Thinking
Julie White, The Little Dog Laughed

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raúl Esparza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde The Musical
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk, Curtains
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Anthony Chisholm, Radio Golf
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia
Ethan Hawke, The Coast of Utopia
John Earl Jelks, Radio Golf
Stark Sands, Journey's End

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of Utopia
Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Dana Ivey, Butley
Jan Maxwell, Coram Boy
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle, Legally Blonde The Musical
John Cullum, 110 in the Shade
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
David Pittu, LoveMusik

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Charlotte d'Amboise, A Chorus Line
Rebecca Luker, Mary Poppins
Orfeh, Legally Blonde The Musical
Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Bob Crowley & Scott Pask, The Coast of Utopia
Jonathan Fensom, Journey's End
David Gallo, Radio Golf
Ti Green and Melly Still, Coram Boy

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Christine Jones, Spring Awakening
Anna Louizos, High Fidelity
Allen Moyer, Grey Gardens

Best Costume Design of a Play
Ti Green and Melly Still, Coram Boy
Jane Greenwood, Heartbreak House
Santo Loquasto, Inherit the Wind
Catherine Zuber, The Coast of Utopia

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Legally Blonde The Musical
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Susan Hilferty, Spring Awakening
William Ivey Long, Grey Gardens

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable, Coram Boy
Brian MacDevitt, Inherit the Wind
Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner and Natasha Katz, The Coast of Utopia
Jason Taylor, Journey's End

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Spring Awakening
Christopher Akerlind, 110 in the Shade
Howard Harrison, Mary Poppins
Peter Kaczorowski, Grey Gardens

Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
David Grindley, Journey's End
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
Melly Still, Coram Boy

Best Direction of a Musical
John Doyle, Company
Scott Ellis, Curtains
Michael Greif, Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Curtains
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones, Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde The Musical

Best Orchestrations
Bruce Coughlin, Grey Gardens
Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening
Jonathan Tunick, LoveMusik
Jonathan Tunick, 110 in the Shade

Regional Theatre Tony Award
Alliance Theatre (Atlanta, GA)

Since I was quite literally in the air during the entirety of the Tony Awards (I flew from Beijing to Tokyo, where I'm currently writing this story), I have no idea how well the performances of highlighted shows were received (thankfully, one good friend and reader from Providence promised she'd Tivo the proceedings for me!), but here's hoping that many first-time Tony viewers were inspired enough to make their first pilgrimage to Broadway to see why this art form is so enduring.

Congratulations to all the winners!

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: Broadway, Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens, Musical, Play, Revival, Spring Awakening, The Coast Of Utopia, Tony Awards, Tony Nominations

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

The Tonys: If I Could Vote

The Tonys: If I Could Vote

In what is arguably the most anticipated Tony Award category each year, I had the pleasure of seeing all four Best Musical nominees: Curtains, Grey Gardens, Mary Poppins and Spring Awakening.

While Curtains and Mary Poppins failed to register the same caliber of critical response offered to Grey Gardens and Spring Awakening, I actually enjoyed all four productions and believe that they underscore what a great year this has been for the resurgent art form known as musical theatre.

While I realize that the heavy favorite to win remains Spring Awakening, regular readers will know that my personal favorite of the past year bar none is Grey Gardens, which was just one Tony nod short of Spring Awakening’s headline-grabbing 11 nominations. Yes, I appreciate the bold, new artistic direction Spring Awakening has taken the Great White Way, but in my estimation, the truly revolutionary musical breakthrough came via Grey Gardens.

Just as Christine Ebersole took Little Edie’s revolutionary apparel for a breathtaking ride -- and will win a Tony for doing so -- Michael Greif’s brilliant direction took this audience member on one of the best journeys ever enjoyed in musical theatre. Even more astounding for me was that I was rather repulsed by the original documentary of “Grey Gardens” that first appeared in the mid-70s and was initially shocked that anyone would dare make a musical out of the piece. Instead, Greif and his excellent cast completely mesmerized me in a way that no other Broadway musical this past year could match.

What should win: Grey Gardens. What will win: Spring Awakening. According to your votes in my recent SOB Poll, a bare majority of you (51.9%) believe Spring Awakening will win; Grey Gardens came in second with a respectable 34.6%.

In the Best Play category, I have only seen three of the four nominated productions: Frost/Nixon, Radio Golf and The Little Dog Laughed. I completely missed Tom Stoppard’s monumental The Coast Of Utopia, which will undoubtedly prove victorious on Sunday night.

For all the richly deserved acclaim that was heaped on Julie White’s breakthrough performance in The Little Dog Laughed, I just don’t consider it worthy of the Tony, although she could very well earn one for herself. And while Frost/Nixon had most critics’ tongues wagging, I thought its best parts were the recreated interviews between the two title characters (I believe Frank Langella will -- and should -- win a Tony for his stunning performance as the disgraced president). Of the shows I’ve seen, I think Radio Golf was by far the most moving, even if most agree that it pales when compared to August Wilson’s other works.

Being a fan of Stoppard’s intoxicating writing, I truly regret not having seen The Coast Of Utopia. Yet, I want to be honest here. A major factor in my not having seen it was that I didn’t want to see each of the three long installments separately. However, quite paradoxically, the thought of sitting through nine straight hours of a show scared me away – I admit that I get itchy sitting in just about any theatre seat at the three-hour mark. This long slog was so daunting that I stayed away. Shame on me. From all that I understand, I missed the best production of the year.

What should win: The Coast Of Utopia. What will win: The Coast Of Utopia. According to your votes in my recent SOB Poll, an overwhelming majority (64.3%) of you agree that The Coast Of Utopia will win; a distant second with 23.8% is Frost/Nixon. Only 2.4% of you think Radio Golf -- my favorite among the shows I have seen -- will win.

As for Best Revivals of a Musical, I only caught two of the four nominated productions: Company and The Apple Tree. The sentimental side of me kept me away from A Chorus Line. Since all accounts note how the current revival completely apes the original, I chose to skip the new incarnation and remember the original as it was -- the same thinking was behind my decision to pass over revisiting Les Misérables. The other production I missed -- and I’m sad that I did given how much I adore Audra McDonald -- was 110 In The Shade.

Because A Chorus Line is so faithful to the original staging, I don’t believe Tony voters will reward it with their Best Revival honor. Of the two shows I did see, The Apple Tree was a great vehicle to highlight the talents of Kristin Chenoweth and Brian d’Arcy James, but the production itself was uneven. I much preferred John Doyle’s unique retelling of Company. Where else could you see a superb, spellbinding and star-making performance by Raúl Esparza, whom I believe will win the Tony for Best Actor in a Musical, as well he should.

That would leave my choices between Company and 110 In The Shade. Since I didn’t see the latter and believe that its mixed critical response will likely preclude it from winning, my vote would go to Company.

What should win: Company. What will win: Company. According to your votes in my recent SOB Poll, exactly half of you (50%) believe Company will win the Tony for Best Revival of a Musical, while 23.9% of you think 110 In The Shade will take home the Tony.

Finally, in the all-important category of Best Revival of a Play, I have absolutely no qualifications on which to base my vote. This is the first year in many when I haven’t seen a single one of the nominated works, which include Inherit The Wind, Journey’s End, Talk Radio and Translations.

Given that I found the snubbed A Moon For The Misbegotten to be among the best works of the past year, I can only surmise that the other four were so incredible that they would have landed on my top ten list if only I had seen them. Alas, any vote on my part here would be based solely on what I’ve heard about the nominated shows, and while there are probably some actual Tony voters who fail to see some of the nominees, I’ll abstain (yes, I realize some of you may think I should abstain in the two other categories in which I didn't see every production, but this is my blog, so there!).

What should win: Abstain. What will win: Journey’s End. According to your votes in my recent SOB Poll, Journey’s End narrowly wins with a plurality of 45.7% to Inherit The Wind’s 40%.

Over this next year, as difficult as it may be, I must resolve to see even more Broadway. Here’s wishing all the nominees nothing but the best on Sunday.

This Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: Broadway, Company, Grey Gardens, Journey's End, Musical, Play, Revival, The Coast Of Utopia, Tony Awards, Tony Nominations

Monday, June 04, 2007

SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Top Ten Of The Year

SOB’s Best Of 2006-07: Top Ten Of The Year

You've endured my "Best Of" lists of everything from the year's best New Musicals and Plays to best Revivals of Musicals and Plays to best Theatrical Events. Now, before I launch into which Broadway shows would get my Tony vote if I could actually vote, here’s how the best of the best rank in my personal countdown of the “10 Best” theatrical productions I saw over the course of the 2006-07 Theatrical Season:

10 - A Moon For The Misbegotten (Brooks Atkinson Theatre, New York, NY) – Eve Best and Kevin Spacey are as symbiotic as any two actors I’ve witnessed and provide one of the most astonishing and affecting hours I’ve experienced from live theatre all year.

9 - The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie (Acorn Theatre, New York, NY) – A hauntingly beautiful revival of Jay Presson Allen’s pre-World War II drama that had me spellbound.

8 - The Unmentionables (Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago, IL) - Playwright Bruce Norris' compelling brilliance was woven throughout his riveting tale that stands good intentions on its head.

7 - Barry Humphries & Friends: Back With A Vengeance! (Arts Centre, State Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia) – Three hours worth of ingenious wit and wisdom from one of Australia's true treasures, Barry Humphries.

6 - Curtains (Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center, Los Angeles, CA) – An exceedingly smart, exceptionally funny and a thrilling theatrical finale for the legendary songwriting team of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb.

5 - Sonia Flew (Downstairs Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago, IL) – A splendid, soaring play that left me positively chilled.

4 - The Real Thing (McGuire Proscenium Stage, Guthrie, Minneapolis, MN) – An eminently smart and deliciously acccessible revival that was a joy to behold.

3 - Gypsy (Ravinia Festival, Highland Park, IL) –A mesmerizing, show-stopping Patti LuPone soared to new heights with an unforgettable, heart-wrenched rendering of Mama Rose.

2 - Evita (Adelphi Theatre, London, United Kingdom) – The best revival of a musical from the past year that was dazzling.

1 - Grey Gardens (Walter Kerr Theatre, New York, NY) – A completely satisfying triumph of the first order – bravo to Christine Ebersole, who should win the Tony.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: A Moon For The Misbegotten, Barry Humphries, Curtains, Evita, Grey Gardens, Gypsy, SOB's Best of 2006-07, Sonia Flew, The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie, The Real Thing, The Unmentionables

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Musicals

SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Musicals

During the 2006-07 Theatrical Season, I've enjoyed the opportunity to see 16 new musicals.

While some were decidedly cutting-edge, others took a more traditional approach. Still others sought to transform beloved films into equally adored stage versions, usually (but not always) with limited success.

Overall, there are more than a handful of tuners that I enjoyed enough that they've made my personal "5 Best" list of musicals covering the past twelve months:

1 - Grey Gardens (Walter Kerr Theatre, New York, NY)

If I were a Tony voter, Grey Gardens would easily be my choice for Best Musical, if not the most sublime show of the year. This unconventional yet completely satisfying tuner is a triumph of the first order.

The incredibly talented Christine Ebersole has more than proven she's at the height of her career. Her virtuoso performance in Grey Gardens is one that I'll never forget. Ebersole more than masterfully channels both Edith and Little Edie Bouvier Beales of the funny-if-it-weren’t-so-tragic seventies documentary of the same name. She luminously inhabits mother Edith in act one and then incredibly suspends any disbelief that you are watching anyone but the real Little Edie in the second act. Right before your eyes, a radiant and breathtaking Ebersole becomes Little Edie.

Thanks to a potent mix of intriguing fact and supposition by Doug Wright, the musical telling of their story provides plausible answers to the question of how the once mighty could have fallen so far. What makes this theatre of the absurd so intoxicating is not just the flawless execution of replicating key passages of the original film, but also the way Little Edie is continually haunted by the specter of the life she could have had. This musical transforms into a poignant, modern tragedy, where pathetic dismissal gives way to empathy. Credit Michael Greif's brilliant direction, Mary Louise Wilson’s powerful Edith and Ebersole’s heartwrenching Little Edie.

Click here for The SOB Review of Grey Gardens.

2 - Curtains (Ahmanson Theatre at the Music Center, Los Angeles, CA)

Thank goodness for a real honest-to-goodness old-fashioned backstage musical! Complete with stirring overture, Curtains possesses one show-stopping number after another, invigorating choreography, sharp dialogue, intelligent book and genuinely marvelous cast. This show is exceedingly smart, exceptionally funny and a thrilling theatrical finale for the legendary songwriting team of John Kander and the late Fred Ebb. In a word, it’s fun.

Rob Ashford’s brilliant choreography has once again enabled a leading man not typically known for his dancing prowess to shine (see my notes on Guys and Dolls and Ewan McGregor), particularly on the lovely dream sequence of “A Tough Act to Follow” that pairs David Hyde Pierce (playing Lieutenant Frank Cioffi with gusto and comic precision) and the exquisite Jill Paice. For the rest of Curtains’ troupe -- including the wonderful Debra Monk, who consumes the stage with her portrayal of the brash, yet cunning producer/stage mother Carmen Bernstein -- it becomes a breathtaking ride through the unusually large number of rousing and memorable numbers.

This valentine to Broadway certainly is a fitting way to send off two of the Great White Way’s most proficient songwriting duos during the last forty-five years. It all adds up: murder + mayhem + music = must-see!

Click here for The SOB Review of Curtains.

3 - The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Drury Lane Theatre Water Tower Place, Chicago, IL)

OK, by the time I finally took in this wonderful little musical early last summer, it probably could have been called the "26th Annual." No matter, since I completely fell for its charms, even if I spelled 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 delights with a little tale of one of those uniquely American displays of educational prowess: the lowly spelling bee.

In The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, director James Lapine finds surprising depth and heart in each of his spelling bee contestants. With an exquisitely written book by Rachel Sheinkin (she won a Tony Award in 2005 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 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 a 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.

Click here for The SOB Review of The 25th Putnam County Spelling Bee.

4 - Spring Awakening (Eugene O'Neill Theatre, New York, NY)

You didn't really think I was not going to mention this electrifying musical based on a 116 year old German play by Frank Wedekind, did you? While Spring Awakening is not exactly your grandfather’s musical, credit Michael Mayer’s expert direction for enabling this show that grapples with 19th Century German teen angst to motor on at a brisk, riveting pace.

Steven Sater's collaboration with tunesmith Duncan Sheik on the score is anything but predictable. The songs are about as fresh, smart and downright infectious as anything I’ve seen on Broadway over the past five years (even if the words don't always quite rhyme). The music effectively amplifies every scene and revs up each actor. Chief among them is the sensational Jonathan Groff as the bad boy with brains Melchior. He holds what the show’s “adults” (Christine Esterbrook and Stephen Spinella, both excellent) view as an indecent corrupting influence over mediocre student Moritz played by the breathtaking John Gallagher, Jr. in a sharp, stunning departure that I believe will earn him a richly deserved Tony.
While the show is anachronistic and a little too self aware of how cool it's striving to be (not to mention that much of Steven Sater’s storyline on the sexual maturation is telegraphed throughout), ultimately this astounding, astonishing musical is highly entertaining.

Click here for The SOB Review of Spring Awakening.

5 - [title of show] (Vineyard Theatre, New York, NY)

Perhaps it wasn't my absolute favorite musical from the past year, but it should matter that it wasn't my ninth favorite! With nothing derivative about the wonderful little musical [title of show], I can honestly say that not since The Musical Of Musicals-The Musical have I so thoroughly enjoyed such a delightful, decidedly small tuner with an enormous heart (a key element lacking in Spring Awakening).

The engaging and endearing Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen essentially play themselves -- and true to its premise, they wrote the actual book, music and lyrics, too -- as two friends who embark on writing a musical to enter into the New York Musical Theatre Fest. They succeed in bringing it to life exactly as they wrote it against all odds. Along the way, they invite two female friends -- the effervescent Heidi Blickenstaff and the "handsome" Susan Blackwell -- to help shape the show.

Clever dialogue and a terrific score -- along with Michael Berresse's lovingly precise direction -- kept the 90+ minute show moving at a quick pace that was never dull and largely entertaining, particularly when they dished on some of Broadway's most renowned guilty pleasures or were interrupted via voicemail by some of the Great White Way's most acclaimed female stars (including Christine Ebersole). Best of all, they remained true to themselves and their vision.

Click here for The SOB Review of [title of show].

Honorable Mentions:

Two musicals I saw over the past year are deserving of special nods. The first is a show that actually opened on Broadway last season (but I finally saw it in September), while the other is perhaps the best musical based on a film that I saw all year. Here are those honorable mentions:

The Drowsy Chaperone (Marquis Theatre, New York, NY) -- By no means is The Drowsy Chaperone a perfect musical. Bad puns abounded. But thankfully, more often than not, our narrator "Man In Chair" -- deliciously played as the ultimate theatre queen by Bob Martin, who also co-wrote the libretto with Don McKellar, offers up disarming and downright hysterical comments suggesting many of the show's elements are labored or nonsensical. You can't help but think you've been played all along and that the joke is actually on you. (Click here for The SOB Review of The Drowsy Chaperone)

Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - The Musical (Lyric Theatre, Sydney, NSW, Australia) -- Based on the 1994 film, Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - The Musical is a sexy, silly, sometimes incoherent, über-campy, often tasteless and crude, completely over-the-top musical if there ever was one. Yet it's ultimately irresistible. And with many of the key motion picture elements roundly being eagerly anticipated and cheered upon delivery -- including the infamous ping pong scene -- the musical itself is, well, a ball. Just when you think that the book (by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott) is teetering dangerously close to the brink of excess, you're either suddenly lurching back to some semblance of reality or finding yourself cheerfully going along for the ride wondering just how far into fantasia this tuner will dare to go. (Click here for The SOB Review of Priscilla Queen Of The Desert - The Musical)

What were the best new musicals you saw over the past year? I invite you to join the conversation by sharing your theatre experiences with me.

Also, don't forget to vote for the shows you believe will win in each of the four major Tony Award categories: Best Musical, Best Play, Best Revival of a Musical and Best Revival of a Play. You'll find all four polls on the right-hand side of Steve On Broadway.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Curtains tickets.
Click here for Grey Gardens ticket information.
Click here for Spring Awakening tickets.
Click here for The Drowsy Chaperone tickets on Broadway; here for London.
Click here for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee ticket information on Broadway, Chicago, Los Angeles and the North American tour.
Related Stories:
SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best New Plays (May 21, 2007)

SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best Revivals Of Musicals (May 18, 2007)

SOB's Best Of 2006-07: Best Revivals Of Plays (May 16, 2007)
The SOB Five "Worst" Of 2006-07 (May 14, 2007)
SOB's Best & Worst Of 2006-07 Theatre Season (May 14, 2007)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #1 - Theater Of The New Ear (May 30, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #2 – Guys And Dolls (May 26, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #3 – Hedda Gabler (May 25, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #4 – A Blameless Life (May 24, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #5 – Reeling (May 23, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #6 – “MASTER HAROLD”…And The Boys (May 21, 2006)
SOB’s Best of 2005-06: #7 – Love Song (May 19, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #8 - Billy Elliot The Musical (May 18, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #9 - The Well-Appointed Room (May 17, 2006)
SOB's Best of 2005-06: #10 - Sweeney Todd (May 15, 2006)
SOB's Best and Worst of 2005-06 Theatre Season (May 12, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2004-05 (May 26, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2003-04 (May 25, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2002-03 (May 25, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2001-02 (May 24, 2006)
Flashback: Best of 2000-01 (May 23, 2006)

Labels: Best New Musicals, Broadway, Curtains, Grey Gardens, SOB's Best of 2006-07, Spring Awakening, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, title of show

Monday, May 21, 2007

Tony Box Office Bumps

Tony Box Office Bumps

With the exception of only four productions, every show on Broadway saw an increase (or held steady with SRO pacing) in box office totals last week.

The biggest gains were reserved for the two top Tony nominated musicals, Spring Awakening and Grey Gardens, that saw capacity increases of 21.2% and 15.1%, respectively.

No surprise that the week's biggest loser was The Pirate Queen, which saw a drop in capacity of 9.2%. That tuner was completely snubbed by the Tony nominating committee last week. Its average ticket price is now under $65.

Despite its nod for Best Musical, Curtains experienced a slight decline of 0.8%. Two other musicals that had been considered potential nominees for Tony's top prize were the other two shows with a drop in capacity: LoveMusik (-5.7%) and Legally Blonde (-3.9%). The first may have had more to do with uncertainties over Donna Murphy's well-publicized absences, which are further threatening her reputation.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Labels: Box Office, Broadway, Grey Gardens, Spring Awakening, The Pirate Queen, Tony Nominations

Thursday, May 17, 2007

Backlash Awakening?

Backlash Awakening?

After the Tony nominations were announced on Tuesday, the prevailing conventional wisdom among most pundits seemed to be that Spring Awakening had a solid lock on winning the honor for Best Musical.

Even the pundit of all Broadway pundits, Michael Reidel of the New York Post, dutifully painted a picture of backroom drama at the Tony nominating committee meeting that sought to ensure a win for Spring Awakening by locking out Legally Blonde:

Some of them, who were very much in the thrall of Spring Awakening, got wind of the Pinkies' plan (to get the road vote) and, it appears, blocked it by giving the fourth slot for Best Musical to Mary Poppins instead of Legally Blonde. The path to Tony Award glory is now clear for Spring Awakening.

"Not so fast," cry a number of vital voices like Rob Kendt (Broadway.com and The Wicked Stage) and Peter Filichia of TheaterMania. There's even a backhanded compliment thrown its way by Chris Caggiano at Everything I Know I Learned From Musicals who quite accurately points out that Grey Gardens could have tied Spring Awakening's impressive 11 nominations had it not been for its lack of choreography.

I also vividly recall when another one of my favorite theatre bloggers Rocco at What's Good/What Blows In New York Theatre bluntly stated in January:

I was shocked...to find myself among the ranks with those who kinda hated Spring Awakening. I thought for sure, I was going to love this show. It seemed right up my alley, as a fan of the original play, and an advocate of new musicals on Broadway. But those factors are the main reasons why I was put-off by almost every aspect of this production. For starters, the cast is constantly giving off this attitude that what they're doing up there is so cool and so edgy.

Although I kinda liked this electrifying show -- and could certainly put aside how anachronistic and smugly self-aware I found it -- much of Steven Sater’s book was surprisingly predictable. As "shocking" as the material was clearly intended to be, I found myself easily figuring out where this was all headed. Although it came close, I never thought this show reached the heights of excellence that Grey Gardens or even Curtains mastered.

Although I realize my little SOB Poll may not provide the most accurate barometer of what's to come (even though your votes proved to be largely correct in predicting the outcome of the Tony nominations), I find it interesting that in the current poll where I ask which show will win the Tony for Best Musical, that the numbers for Spring Awakening have been dropping fairly precipitously over the past three days, mostly to the benefit of Grey Gardens. Yes, there's still about a 20% gap between the two shows, but it's much closer than it was even 24 hour ago.

All this leads me to ask: could it be that Spring Awakening is already peaking? Just as a summer breeze begins to blow away the last vestiges of spring, could it be that Tony voters might be considering a show that can reputably blow away Spring Awakening as its Best Musical? We'll know for sure in another 24 days.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for Grey Gardens tickets.
Click here for Spring Awakening tickets.
Related Stories:
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 15, 2007)
New York Posts Picks For Tony Nods (May 11, 2007)
Which Shows Will Be Tony-Nominated For Best Play? (May 8, 2007)
Which Shows Will Be Tony-Nominated For Best Musical? (May 3, 2007)
Theatre For A New Age (April 8, 2007)
Spring Awakening (The SOB Review) (March 3, 2007)
Is It Just Me, Or...(Part II) (February 21, 2007)
Musicals Versus Plays: You Decide (January 5, 2007)
Spring Awakening Rouses Box Office; Cast To Appear At Big Apple Store (December 12, 2006)
Waking Up To Critical Acclaim (December 11, 2006)
Spring Awakening Blossoms On Broadway Tonight (December 10, 2006)
Curtains To Rise At Al Hirschfeld Theatre In March (November 3, 2006)
Mary Poppins, Grey Gardens Tops Among SOB Readers (October 27, 2006)
How Sheik: Spring Awakenings To Receive Broadway Transfer (July 20, 2006)
Tony Award Nominations Announced (May 16, 2006)

Labels: Blogs, Grey Gardens, Legally Blonde, Mary Poppins, Michael Riedel, Musical, SOB Poll, Spring Awakening, Tony Awards, Tony Nominations

Wednesday, May 16, 2007

West End To Open New Gardens Of The Grey Variety

West End To Open New Gardens Of The Grey Variety

Move over Leicester Square and Covent Garden. There's a new property considerably more grey that's about ready to move into your West End neighborhood.

Today, it was announced that the Broadway musical Grey Gardens -- which yesterday received ten Tony Award nominations, including for Best Musical -- will take to the London stage sometime during the 2007-08 Theatrical Season. Even better news is that Christine Ebersole will re-create her roles as both Edith and Little Edie Bouvier Beales (she's currently under contract with the Broadway production until October). As I've previously noted quite enthusiastically, Ebersole deserves the Tony for her stunning, virtuoso performance.

The producers also confirmed plans for a North American tour. Stay tuned for more casting news on both the London and touring productions.

Also, don't forget to vote in the current SOB Poll that asks you to name the shows that you believe will win the Tony for Best Musical, Best Play, Best Revival of a Musical and Best Revival of a Play -- you'll find all four polls on the right-hand column of Steve On Broadway.

This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).

Click here for tickets.

Which Shows Will Be Tony-Nominated For Best Play? (May 8, 2007)

Which Shows Will Be Tony-Nominated For Best Musical? (May 3, 2007)

A Matter Of Taste (March 16, 2007)

Grey Gardens (The SOB Review) (February 25, 2007)

Labels: Broadway, Christine Ebersole, Film, First Word On New Show, Grey Gardens, London, Musical, SOB Poll, Touring Production

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Tony Award Nominations Announced

Tony Awards Nominations Announced

While the 2006-07 Theatre Season technically ended last week, the season's epilogue is currently playing out as the 61st Annual American Theatre Wing's Tony Award nominations were announced this morning by Jane Krakowski and Taye Diggs.

The Tony Awards were named for the legendary actress and director Antoinette Perry who had her hand in 27 Broadway productions over nearly 40 years -- including her career capper directing the celebrated comedy Harvey -- until her death in 1946.

The 2006-07 nominees are:

Best Play
The Coast of Utopia (Tom Stoppard, author)
Frost/Nixon (Peter Morgan)
The Little Dog Laughed (Douglas Carter Beane, author)
Radio Golf (August Wilson, author)

Best Musical
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Best Book of a Musical
Curtains - Rupert Holmes & Peter Stone
Grey Gardens - Doug Wright
Legally Blonde The Musical - Heather Hach
Spring Awakening - Steven Sater

Best Revival of a Play
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
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