Were you in last evening's television audience for the live edition of "30 Rock"? If so, you saw one of two very different intros. Each one featured a prominent Broadway Baby.
Those of us watching the East Coast version were treated to this opening from Jane Krakowski:
Those on the West Coast saw this rendition from Cheyenne Jackson:
So, dear readers, which one do you prefer? Please tell me by voting in this poll:
If you saw last night's episode, you'll also have heard reference to Irene Ryan "dying" on stage in Pippin. For the record, the late actress most of us know as Granny from "The Beverly Hillbillies" suffered a stroke during a 1972 performance on Pippin, and she died weeks later.
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.
One of the tough things about being away on vacation is that you don't have the opportunity to sit down and write stories the way you'd prefer, especially when important and/or sad news breaks. Such was the case on both counts last week, when I had already pre-written each post here before leaving for a week in London.
During my week away, I learned that 84 year old theatre impresario extraordinaire Gerald Schoenfeld died Tuesday of a massive heart attack. He passed away not long after taking in the premiere of the film "Australia."
A 50 year veteran of the Shubert Organization, including 36 as its leader, Schoenfeld was so beloved within the Broadway community -- after all, he helped save the Great White Way from ruin -- that this Runyonesque figure (as called by The New York Times) became one of those rare figures who had a Main Stem theatre named after him. In 2005, the Plymouth Theatre officially became the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Personally, it has been a sincere privilege seeing both Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life and the current revival of All My Sons, knowing I was seated in a theatre named in his honor.
Affectionately known as "The Chairman," Schoenfeld helped usher in a new era of Rialto theatre after taking over the reins of the Shubert Organization 36 years ago with Bernard B. Jacobs. Together, they produced hundreds of shows, including the three credited with rescuing Broadway: Pippin (1972-1977), Equus (1974-1977) and that singular sensation A Chorus Line (1975-1990). After Jacobs' death in 1995, Schoenfeld ran the Shubert Organization in a solo capacity, using what The New York Times'Bruce Weber characterizes as "combativeness and charm."
Schoenfeld's enormous contributions to Broadway, as well as to his enduring vision for live theatre, will be missed.
Rain: A Tribute To The Beatles Limited run extended through May 31, 2011 (Show will go on hiatus starting January 15 and reopen at Brooks Atkinson Theatre on February 8)
Rock Of Ages - Open-ended run (Show will go on hiatus starting January 9 and reopen at Helen Hayes Theatre in March)
As someone who has been involved in both politics and public relations, it's no wonder I love watching theatre. Good or bad, it's the raw energy of seeing a live performance that gets my adrenaline pumping. From the moment I saw my very first Broadway show ("Annie" in London in 1979), I was hooked. Now I see as many as 70 shows each year ranging from soaring musicals to two-hander plays. And these eyes just may be in an audience near you!
