Today is America's Martin Luther King, Jr. National Holiday, a day where we take stock of how far we've come as a society, as well as consider what remains to be achieved.
While responding to the horrifying killings in Tucson, President Barack Obama's call for civility last week certainly seemed particularly well-timed given today's observances. Yet, since civility also naturally extends to those who look different from us, let alone think differently than we do, the President's remarks also provide a stark reminder that we have a long way to go before reaching Reverend King's dream.
Since Bono and The Edge have been in the news for their gestating work on Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark -- and since Steve On Broadway (SOB) is ostensibly about theatre -- today, I'm posting U2's seminal 1984 hit, "Pride (In The Name Of Love)."
While the tune references Dr. King's tragic 1968 assassination in Memphis, it also boldly proclaims, "Free at last, they took your life, (but) they could not take your pride."
Let's remember his enduring legacy through civility and love -- proud traits no one can take away unless you let them.
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The musicians discussed how they were initially brought to the work and said they'd do it if Taymor would direct. Taymor also showed visuals for the "pop-up" set design and costumes. And when asked whether the music would sound like U2, Bono said that the "music swerves all over the road."
After viewing the video, I'm much more intrigued. How about you?
Previews begin at Broadway's Foxwoods Theatre on November 14, and the show opens on December 21.
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.
Spider-Man Musical: Is Riedel Spinning Web Of Deceit?
To read only New York Post columnist Michael Riedel, one might assume that the new Julie Taymor-helmed musical Spider-Man - Turn Off The Dark has completely spun out of control and was squashed before it ever had an opportunity to fully develop.
Over the past two weeks, Riedel has devoted three columns to Spider-Man. The first appeared the morning after Variety reported on August 6 that:
Rumors have spread among legiters that the production sked for incoming mega-musical Spider-Man - Turn Off the Dark may be threatened.
The extensive work being done to prep for the technically demanding show ... is said to have stopped this week.
Variety's Gordon Cox went on to state that representatives from the tuner said that the show would go on. Cox also said that despite concerns, Spider-Man was "generally expected to become the sales juggernaut of the 2009-10 season."
When it comes to the greatest supervillain of them all -- The Riedeler -- Spidey has met his match.
The $45 million Spider-Man, directed by Julie Taymor and written by Bono and The Edge, is caught in my net, and I can report today that escape is virtually impossible.
Hello Entertainment, the company run by twisting-in-the-wind Spider-Man producer David Garfinkle, continues to issue press releases insisting that this $45 million fiasco, which has suspended production, will start up again once "cash flow issues have been resolved" and begin previews Feb. 25 at the Hilton Theatre.
Hello Entertainment (which I suspect we'll soon be calling Goodbye Entertainment) might want to tell that to Evan Rachel Wood, who's playing Peter Parker's girlfriend, Mary Jane.
Wood, a charming actress, turned down a couple of movie roles to do the show. This week, her agents have been scrambling to get those offers back on the table.
"As far as they're concerned, it's over," says a source. "She's available for other work."
But hold on a minute.
Lost in all his columns and in the torrent of coverage from reporters too lazy to do their own digging was that tickets remain on sale for a show that isn't even scheduled to begin previews for another six months.
What's more, American Express, which is sponsoring the advance ticket sales, is still advertising the show with videos on major online news sites like The New York Times. I found the video campaign while perusing the Grey Lady's Culture & Arts - ArtsBeat Blog.
Finally, for those reporters worth their salt who have actually done a little digging like New York Daily News' Laura Scheffler, you get a different picture:
Despite cash-flow problems, the Spider-Man musical is on track,with its stars still caught in the Broadway show's web. Evan Rachel Wood is "100% committed - she didn't pull out," says a rep for the actress, who plays Spider-Man's love interest, Mary Jane Watson. Alan Cumming is still on board to play the Green Goblin, and sources say that Spidey himself has finally been cast: relative newcomer Reeve Carney has reportedly accepted the plum role. The actor's management didn't respond to calls for comment.
So is Michael Riedel spinning a Web of deceit? Is Spider-Man really back on track?
Stay tuned. We're bound to see many more stories before we know for certain.
Talk about advance buzz with a capital bee, the upcoming Broadway musical version of Spider-Man, Turn Off The Darkis already firmly in the "on" position as it's selling advance group tickets, even though it won't open for nearly one year.
Spider-Man, Turn Off The Dark is set to begin previews at Rialto's barn-like Hilton Theatre on January 16, 2010, with opening night scheduled for February 18, 2010. Personally, I don't know of too many people who can plan quite that far in advance, especially for large groups, so I guess you have to give them credit for their moxie, especially in this economy.
But I guess since the musical will be directed by Julie Taymor, who made us marvel as she brought a little cartoon lion roaring to life on the Great White Way over a decade ago, you're allowed to think fancifully. Perhaps Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark's real secret weapon is the not so secret pairing of U2's Bono and The Edge in providing their first Broadway score. Taymor and Glen Berger are writing the book.
...spins a new take on the mythic tale of a young man propelled from a modest rowhouse in Queens to the sky-scraping spire of the Chrysler Building, the bustling offices of the Daily Bugle, through the dizzying canyons of Manhattan, to new vistas never before seen. The musical follows the story of teenager Peter Parker, whose unremarkable life is turned upside-down -- literally -- when he's bitten by a genetically altered spider and wakes up the next morning clinging to his bedroom ceiling. This bullied science-geek -- suddenly endowed with astonishing powers -- soon learns, however, that with great power comes great responsibility as villains test not only his physical strength but also his strength of character. Spider-Man's battles will hurtle the audience through an origin story both recognizable and unexpected -- yielding new characters as well as familiar faces -- until a final surprising confrontation casts a startling new light on this hero's journey.
Can Taymor spin her magic once again? Will Bono and The Edge's score make Peter Parker soar? And who will portray that bullied science-geek? For these and other questions, stay tuned. Count me among the intrigued.
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!
