In Lieu...Forgive me, dear readers, for not posting a regular item today. Due to a death in my family, I've spent the last 24 hours in Seattle and will be heading home on a red-eye, so a post tomorrow is rather unlikely.
But because I have caught up on a few of my favorite theatre blogs, I'm more than happy to redirect you to some that captured my attention this evening:
SarahB at
Adventures In The Endless Pursuit Of Entertainment manages to make the Great White Way seem, well, substantially less dark or stark. Thanks to her camera in hand, she's providing actual snapshots of the bright lights to come to Broadway.
Then there's Vance at
Tapeworthy, who sums up countless shows he's considering seeing as he traverses the North American continent ... and then some.
Finally, check out
Modern Fabulousity's outstanding compendium of Broadway's coming attractions.
Oh, and since immitation is the most sincere form of flattery, I've been
really digging what Leonard Jacobs has been doing in summarizing the best (and worst?) of theatre blogging over at
The Clyde Fitch Report.
See you soon.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Adventures In The Endless Pursuit Of Entertainment, Blogs, Broadway, Modern Fabulousity, Tapeworthy, The Clyde Fitch Report
Ivanov AfternoonWhile today's
big theatrical event (for me) is reserved for this evening, this afternoon will find me taking in one of London's hottest tickets.
At the behest of
Modern Fabulousity, I snared tickets to see
Kenneth Branagh perform in the title role of a new revival for
Anton Chekhov's
Ivanov. Helmed by
Michael Grandage, this "new version" of the classic play is supplied by none other than the estimable
Tom Stoppard. This
Donmar Warehouse production is also being performed as the launch of the theatre company's year-long residency at Wyndham's Theatre.
While described by many London critics as a "must see," the assessment mattering most to me was from the real arbiters of West End taste: the West End Whingers. I was relieved to
read in their review:
Although Act 1 was distinctly un-gripping, Act 2 was better and good enough to get the Whingers back after the interval. It got grippier and grippier and by Act 4 the Whingers were having a whale of a time.
If not a whale of a time, I'm hoping my decision to reel in some tickets at least proves to be time well spent.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).Labels: Anton Chekov, Donmar Warehouse, Ivanov, Kenneth Branagh, London, Michael Grandage, Modern Fabulousity, Play, Revival, Tom Stoppard, West End Whingers
August: Osage County - Coming To A Movie Theatre Near YouOn Tuesday,
Variety confirmed that Tracy Letts'
August: Osage County will be transformed into a film with the Tony-winner author writing the screenplay. Hallelujah for that!
August: Osage County not only earned the Tony for Best Play, but it also earned Letts a well-deserved Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
You can bet that the all-out campaigning for each of its juicy, fully-realized roles has already begun among Hollywood's biggest stars. Indeed, producer
Jean Doumanian is quoted in the
Variety piece, noting:
So many actors and stars have come to see it on Broadway, and we've gotten inquiries. People are enthusiastic about the film version.
While I personally would love to see every last one of the original cast recreate their indelible character images for the film version, the realist in me fully appreciates that the stakes are so high that few, if any, will be invited to participate.
The
fantasy casting for a bigscreen version of
August: Osage County began in earnest in January as
Chicago Tribune's
Chris Jones shared his early picks.
Yesterday, our dear
Modern Fabulousity offered his own wagers, including his bet that the role of Violet would go to either the 59 year old
Meryl Streep or the 63 year old
Helen Mirren. I do adore Meryl Streep, but given that her facial characteristics may be difficult to match up with supposed members of her family, I'd give it to Mirren by a nose.
Personally, I thought the most inspired comment ModFab received was from ShoNuff of
Fo' Sho', who proffered that
Kathy Bates would be perfect for Mattie Fae -- I'd agree completely, but only if I knew
Rondi Reed wasn't available.
So, dear readers, two questions. First, who would you most like to see in each of the coveted roles, and second, who do you believe is most likely to be cast?
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: August Osage County, Film, Helen Mirren, Kathy Bates, Meryl Streep, Modern Fabulousity, Rondi Reed, Tapeworthy
ModFab Helps Kiss The World Better
Over the weekend, I caught one of the press previews of
Glory Days, and who should I see in the audience (other than critics) but none other than the fabulous Gabriel of
Modern Fabulousity.
OK, truth be told, I was a full-fare paying audience member who just happened to attend along with the media. Also, Gabriel and I knew we'd both be in the same audience ahead of time, but it's fun thinking we would have just happened upon each other.
While I'll wait until Wednesday to provide my SOB Review on the smallest of Broadway musicals to come along in a very, very long time, it was an enormous pleasure meeting this larger than life blogger, who has an immense heart and truly amazing insights into that entertainment form I love so much: live theatre. No wonder he calls his regularly recurring column "
Stage Addiction."
If ModFab tells us something about the stage, you had better believe that I'll never doubt his word about it ever again.
Here's to you, Gabriel. Always a pleasure meeting another face behind the blog!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Blogs, Glory Days, Modern Fabulousity
Early Tony Handi-cappingTwo of Steve On Broadway's favorite "Must Read" blogs --
Full Force Theatre Musings and
ModernFabulousity -- have already begun handicapping the 2008 Tony Awards.
FFTM's CaraJoy, of course, first posted her mid-season musings
in 2007 and
last mentioned her early betting in January.
Last week, ModFab's Gabriel began
his discussion on plays and revivals of plays and
continues it today with the betting on musicals, new and otherwise.
ModFab picked up on
a comment I made last week in posting the news (
now confirmed) that
Glory Days would be heading to Broadway from the DC Area's
Signature Theatre (not to be confused with the Off-Broadway
Signature on West 42nd Street). I said that given the Main Stem's "disappointing big musicals" (
read: critical drubbing of both
Young Frankenstein and
The Little Mermaid), "this is quickly becoming the year of the little musical with oversized hearts." ModFab was quick -- and right -- to point out that two "big" tuners,
Cry-Baby and
A Catered Affair, have yet to open.
While I would never want to count either one out, let's just say that how ever fair or unfair, the initial buzz I've been hearing on
Cry-Baby is not terribly favorable, and
A Catered Affair is further challenged both by the
stinging tryout review by
The Los Angeles Times 's Charles McNulty and the subsequent
kerfuffle, as well as the initial capitalization necessary for the Broadway incarnation.
Personally, I have high hopes for both.
As a big fan of
John Waters, I'm champing at the bit to see if
Cry-Baby can replicate some modicum of
Hairspray's universal success. I'm also rooting for
Harvey Fierstein and know that
he's pouring every last ounce of energy into making
A Catered Affair a complete delight. I hope both succeed.
While I agree wholeheartedly with ModFab that inevitably, the Tony focus turns to what shows can sell tickets on tour, if either of these shows is torpedoed by bad reviews, the Tony race just may become one big Cinderella story for this year's little shows. But I'm prepared to withhold my glass slipper fitting until
Cry-Baby and
A Catered Affair have had the opportunity to open.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Related Stories:Glory Days Yet To Come This Broadway Season? (March 19, 2008)
Heights Opens: Did Critics Offer High Marks? (March 10, 2008)
Did Critics Provide Passing Grades To Passing Strange? (February 29, 2008)
Did Little Mermaid Find Its Legs Among Critics? (January 11, 2008)
Did Critics Think Young Frankenstein Was Putzin' On The Shtick? (November 8, 2007)
Did Critics Offer Xana-Dos Or Don'ts? (July 11, 2007)
Labels: A Catered Affair, Blogs, Broadway, Cry-Baby, Full Force Theatre Musings, Glory Days, Modern Fabulousity, Musical, The Little Mermaid, Tony Awards, Tony Nominations, Young Frankenstein
Imitation Is The Sincerest Form...
Imitation Is The Sincerest Form...In part because
Modern Fabulousity so generously links to my site on a regular basis, but also because I found his post "
ABC's Meme" so interesting, I'm providing a link back and playing copycat with my own version.
I give you the SOB ABC's:
A - Age: Older than I look, but younger than I feel.
B - Band listening to right now: Does the cast of
Spring Awakening count as a "band"?
C - Career future: I hope to know more in the next few days.
D - Dad’s name: he goes by Dean, but his real name is Donald.
E - Easiest person to talk to:
Esther.
F - Favorite type of shoe:
Manolo Blahniks, simply because I like saying the name (and it gets bonus points for being a "
Sex And The City" staple).
G – Grapes or Grapefruit: Grapes, preferably red and seedless.
H – Hometown: Depends on how hometown is defined. I grew up in
Mequon, Wisconsin. It will always be home to me.
I – Instrumental talent: I used to play the piano.
J – Juice of choice: Pineapple.
K – Koala Bear or Panda Bear: Koala Bear, because I've been able to hold one (you can't hold a panda).
L - Longest car ride ever: Milwaukee to Houston to Washington DC. I never take the obvious route.
M – Middle name: Dean.
N - Number of jobs you’ve had: 19. They included: dishwasher, shopping mall Santa (age 16, seriously), discount department store clerk, high-end retail sales associate, computer draftsman, college student body president, encyclopedia sales, Capitol Hill intern, project assistant to U.S. Senator, regional representative to same U.S. Senator, legislative assistant to same U.S. Senator, lobbyist, state legislator, public relations firm account supervisor, trade association director of public relations, director of communications for same trade association, director of public relations for travel company, senior vice president of big public relations firm and senior director of public relations for same travel company as before. Best: current job. Worst: last job.
O - OCD traits: being able to tell you which U.S. President corresponds with each number (for example, 26 = my personal
favorite president in history).
P - Phobias: Claustrophobia, but I've really only experienced it once inside
these.
Q - Quote: "If you can't say something good about someone, sit right here by me." (
Alice Longworth, daughter of my favorite president in history)
R - Reason to smile: Live theatre.
S - Song you sang last: "The Song of Purple Summer" by cast of
Spring Awakening.
T - Time you wake up: 7 a.m. whether I want to or not.
U - Unknown fact about me: There's an actual face attached to my eyes.
V - Vegetable you hate: Lima beans.
W - Worst habit: I've been putting off in answering this, but it's procrastinating.
X - X-rays you’ve had: Teeth.
Y - Yummiest food my belly likes: sushi and chocolate, although rarely together.
Z - Zodiac sign: Virgo.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: Blogs, Gratuitous Violins, Meme, Modern Fabulousity, Sex And The City, Special Messages, Spring Awakening
ModFab: The Jury Is InGabriel at
Modern Fabulousity tallies up the
top ten theatrical productions of the past year, along with
television and
heroes, with more to come.
For the top theatrical picks of 2007, Gabriel assembled a jury comprised of Aaron Riccio (
That Sounds Cool/
Show Showdown), David Bell (
Show Showdown), Ludlow Lad (
Off-Off Blogway), Patrick Lee (
Just Shows To Go You/
Show Showdown), himself and yours truly. Even though I usually wait until the end of the theatrical season to provide my top ten lists, I was honored to be asked to share my favorites for this calendar year.
You'll note that my personal top pick,
August: Osage County comes in at number two overall, but even Gabriel singles it out as his own number one show.
Thanks Gabriel. Looking forward to seeing the rest of the ModFab Best!
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: August Osage County, Best Of Lists, Blogs, Broadway, Modern Fabulousity, Off-Broadway
