Saturday, November 01, 2003

[ ND ]  'Taboo' May Delay Its Opening by Gordon Cox
No one's talking, but Boy George, whose real name is George O'Dowd, was called into an emergency meeting Friday afternoon with other major players involved in producing the show.

"Bounce" - Reviews:

[ WP ]  Simply Sondheim by Peter Marks
The Musical Master's First in Nine Years Just Doesn't Have the Old 'Bounce'

[ BSUN ]  'Bounce': fun but not quite a ball by J. Wynn Rousuck
Thematically and musically rich as Bounce may be, it is hampered by a framing device that feels too pat, even for a musical that is deliberately, and often delightfully, old-fashioned.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'BOUNCE'
Sondheim Guides Two Brothers on a Tour of Life by BEN BRANTLEY
Life unfolds like a road map in "Bounce," the singing itinerary of a show from Stephen Sondheim that opened on Thursday at the Kennedy Center.

[ YN ]  'Bounce' Falls Flat by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic

[ RTD ]  Sondheim's 'Bounce' falls flat BY ROY PROCTOR
Script, trite songs make Kennedy Center musical a disaster
Thanks to JF on All That Chat for the link.

Other Reviews:

[ NYP ]  BORDELLO MUSICAL FLAT & FLIMSY by DONALD LYONS
This trashy and confused tale, directed with vulgar emphasis and lots of climbing in and out of windows by Lisa Portes, is an automatic candidate for the Worst Musical of All Time sweepstakes.
"Wilder."

[ BH ]  Go 'West' for a riveting musical by Robert Nesti
"West Side Story," with Roxane Carrasco as Anita.

[ TM ]  Tunes, Tomes, & Videos
Charles Wright leafs through Robert Nott's biography of John Garfield, belatedly released by Limelight Editions.

News:

[ B ]  Flockhart in Final Talks to Headline Anna Christie

[ BH ]  A sneak peek at NSMT's 2004 season

[ NYP ]  FRIGHT-NIGHT FEVER by HEATHER GILMORE, ADAM MILLER and RITA DELFINER
A man-eating plant hungry for attention led thousands of costumed revelers through Greenwich Village last night in a spooktacular salute to Halloween.

[ YN ]  London Play About Death of Kelly Opens by JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press Writer
The Hutton Inquiry into the death of David Kelly — the weapons expert caught in a storm over the British government's case for invading Iraq — focused on the work of British spies, the machinery of government, the pressures of journalism and the tragedy of a mild-mannered scientist who died alone on a rural hillside.

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: NOVEMBER 1

[ P ]  Cook, Goulet, Grammer, Peters, Reynolds and More Featured in Wildlife Foundation Benefit Concert

[ P ]  Musical Holmes! Gets Florida Workshop Nov. 1-4 in Orlando PlayFest

Features:

[ P ]  THE LEADING MEN: World Wide Wicked by Wayman Wong
Howdy, Pilgrims! November brings Thanksgiving, but you won't find any turkeys among this month's "Leading Men": Norbert Leo Butz (Wicked), Michael Hunsaker (Listen to My Heart) and Tom Andersen ("Who Knows?").

[ P ]  A Boy Named George
Charles Busch and Rosie O'Donnell have joined forces with Boy George to bring the pop star's story to Broadway in their new musical, Taboo

[ P ]  Ted Chapin Tells Secrets Behind the Making of Stephen Sondheim's Follies in New Book

[ LAT ]  The terrible threes by Irene Lacher
A new musical gives voice to the Shaggs, a '60s sister act that is renowned in rock 'n' roll annals -- for all the wrong reasons.

[ MST ]  Jeune Lune's 'Hamlet' makes New York debut by Claude Peck
With a link to a photo gallery.
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link.
posted at 11/1/2003 12:05:06 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Friday, October 31, 2003

Features:

[ ND ]  The Family 'Cat' by Blake Green
Ashley Judd takes on the role of Maggie in a revival of 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,' a drama about a dysfunctional Southern Clan.

[ ND ]  Time as an Unkind Stranger by Linda Winer
It has been 20 years since Tennessee Williams choked to death, apparently by accident, in his regular suite at a faded, charming Manhattan hotel in a city he had recently damned as "a rock from which ... no roses spring."

[ BS ]  Celebrating the Life Force
Responding to an observation that she is one of the few actresses who appears to be having fun on stage, the 75-year-old Marian Seldes almost whispers, "Fun is an odd word."

[ BS ]  Theatre as a Dark Place: Plays That Look at Theatre
At one time, it was all rather simple. Theatre was, for the most part, a place--literal and metaphorical--where kids put on a show.

[ B ]  Fresh Face: Mitchel David Federan by Katie Riegel

[ B ]  Photo Op: Little Shop Stars Sign CDs for Hungry Fans

[ TM ]  Photo File by: Joseph Marzullo and Michael Portantiere
The stars shine brightly at opening night parties, charity events, and awards ceremonies galore.

[ P-I ]  Career of 'Syringa Tree' creator thrives as it branches out by JOE ADCOCK
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!

News:

[ B ]  Mariah Carey Eyes The Sleeping Prince in London

[ P ]  Al Hirschfeld's "Harlem" to Be Reissued February 2004

[ P ]  Wicked Box Office Takes Flight After Opening

[ P ]  Broadway's Sly Fox Richard Dreyfuss Set for Exonerated and Trumbo

Reviews:

[ CU ]  The Retreat From Moscow

[ CU ]  Tatjana in Color: The Trial of Egon Schiele
posted at 10/31/2003 05:25:26 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Reviews:

[ TB ]  Bounce
Review by Tracy Lyon

Features:

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Which is Witch? Menzel and Chenoweth at the Opening Night Party of Wicked

News:

[ P ]  It's De-Vided: Cole Porter Birthplace Sold to Two Separate Buyers

[ P ]  PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Oct. 18-24: Menaced Musicals

[ P ]  The Syringa Tree Revisits Roots at Seattle's ACT Theatre, Oct. 31-Nov. 23

[ P ]  Romance, Music, Martial Arts and Chinese History Merge in U.S. Premiere, Terracotta Warriors, in 2004
posted at 10/31/2003 03:30:38 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Features:

[ B ]  Random Notes on This and That: 10/31/03 by Ken Mandelbaum

[ P ]  DIVA TALK: Buckley's Extraordinary Journey Plus d'Amboise Chats About Chicago and Carrie

[ TM ]  The Siegel Column
Barbara & Scott interview Betty Buckley, review Steve Ross' My Manhattan, and catch up with Rona Munro's plays at the 29th Street Rep and MTC.

[ CP ]  Right Here, Right Now by Sam Adams
Eddie Izzard is a man of many moments.

News:

[ P ]  Report: Tarzan Workshop Set for January 2004

[ P ]  Broadway's Dreamgirl Subs for Holiday Performances in New Musical Like Jazz
Tony Award-winning actress Jennifer Holliday (Dreamgirls) will fill in for songstress Patti Austin in the upcoming world premiere musical Like Jazz for five performances, Dec. 28-31.

[ P ]  Denver Center Has Movin' Out, Hairspray and Gracie; Will La Mancha Tour?

[ P ]  Full Seasons Ordered of TV's "Whoopi!" and "It's All Relative"

[ P ]  Akers and Mazzie to Host Timeless Divas Concert Dec. 7

[ P ]  Stars From Oz and Taboo Visit TV's "The View"
posted at 10/31/2003 12:27:27 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ NYP ]  FIX IS IN AT 'TABOO' by MICHAEL RIEDEL
IN the old days, they used to fix Broadway shows out of town.
Nowadays, they do it at Angus McIndoe's.

[ NYT ]  ON STAGE AND OFF
Glory for an Understudy by JASON ZINOMAN
Robin Miles has replaced Jasmine Guy in "The Violet Hour."

"Wicked":

[ B ]  Photo Op: Something Wicked This Way Opens

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
Filichia runs through a wicked list of the wicked traits of Wicked, Broadway's wicked new musical.

[ B ]  Did New York Critics Fall Under Wicked's Spell?

[ WP ]  Kristen Chenoweth, Good Luck Charm by Peter Marks
If ever oh ever a whiz there was! With her knockout star turn in "Wicked," Kristin Chenoweth establishes herself as the most bewitching musical-comedy actress of her generation.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'WICKED'
There's Trouble in Emerald City by BEN BRANTLEY
Kristin Chenoweth upstages the lead actress Idina Menzel in her skillful send-up of Glinda the Good Witch in this revisionist look at "The Wizard of Oz."
Includes a link to a video clip.

[ USA ]  Something 'Wicked' comes to Broadway by Elysa Gardner
This is the most complete, and completely satisfying, new musical I've come across in a long time.

[ ND ]  Bewitched and Bothered, Too by Linda Winer
Bewildering 'Wicked' tries to be both dark and cute; so witch is it?

[ R ]  Review: Wicked by Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter
It's hard to imagine exactly whom the audience will be for this new Broadway musical depicting the back story behind "The Wizard of Oz."

[ DN ]  It's such a 'Wicked' waste of talent by Howard Kissel
"Wicked," the "prequel" to "The Wizard of Oz," is an interminable show with no dramatic logic or emotional center.

[ NJ ]  Bewitching duo: Clever script and magical score make a hot ticket BY MICHAEL SOMMERS
Truly an enchanting musical, "Wicked" is a fabulous new Oz fable for the 21st century.

[ HC ]  Much Good Is Wasted In `Wicked' by MALCOLM JOHNSON
Stellar Stars, Direction, Production Values Undone By Songs' Sameness, Anemic Dramatic Drive

[ BH ]  Oz-based musical is spellbinding and 'Wicked' fun by Terry Byrne

[ NYP ]  BROOM SHTICK by CLIVE BARNES
This is basically a kid's show with aspirations - but, as the circus folk say, children of all ages should warm at least somewhat to the technological fun and games.

[ YN ]  'Wicked' Musical Shows Another Side of Oz by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic

[ B ]  The Girls from Oz by Ken Mandelbaum

[ ATW ]  Wicked: Punning, and Drama, and Camp - Oh My
Review by Andy Propst

[ TM ]  Wicked
Reviewed By: David Finkle

Other Reviews:

[ BG ]  Master class by Ed Siegel
Nathan Lane makes professor's failings funny in superb 'Butley'

[ BH ]  Lack of passion spells bad news for 'Butley' by Terry Byrne

[ TM ]  Butley
Reviewed By: Sandy MacDonald

[ HC ]  'Fran's Bed' Full Of Lumps by MALCOLM JOHNSON

[ ATW ]  Handsomely Directed, Well Performed 'Tatjana' Explores Sisterly Bonds
Review by Andy Propst

[ ATW ]  Cabin in the Sky Comes to Life for Today's Audience
Review by Andy Propst

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'WILDER'
A Prostitute Downstairs, A Rich Fantasy Life Upstairs by BRUCE WEBER
For all its attempts to be tonally original and earthily acrid, the tale of a man's sexual awakening at Playwrights Horizons is a lost cause.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'NOBODY DON'T LIKE YOGI'
A Metaphysician for Whom Baseball Is Life and Vice Versa by BRUCE WEBER
The one-man show portrays Yogi Berra as a warm and fuzzy guy devoted to his family and baseball and an aphoristic philosopher of common sense.

[ NYT ]  Theater in Review
Reviews of 'Listen to My Heart' at Upstairs at Studio 54; 'Beyond Recognition' at the Abingdon Theater Company; 'Closet Chronicles' at the Ground Floor Theater; 'U.S.S. Frankenstein' at the Axis Company.

[ NYT ]  CABARET REVIEW | BETTY BUCKLEY
Pushing Limits of Both Voice and Category by STEPHEN HOLDEN
Her new show at Feinstein's at the Regency is a tour de force that stretches her many-faceted voice from a fluttery murmur to a whooping blues shout.

[ NYT ]  CABARET REVIEW | PAULA WEST
Adding Notes of Mischief to the Music by STEPHEN HOLDEN
Paula West's new cabaret show at the Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel is as persuasive an illustration as I've seen that an inspired collaboration between a singer and her musicians can charge up a career and send it hurtling in the right direction.

[ DN ]  A 'Mommie' lode of camp by Jami Bernard
'Die Mommie Die!" is a brilliantly pitch-perfect sendup of a particular type of cheesy movie.

Features:

[ CST ]  'Tarzan' puts Phil Collins in the swing of writing for stage BY ANGELA DAWSON

[ TVG ]  Classic Panelists: Joanne Worley
Now 66 and still performing in musical theatre across America, Worley returns to the game show circuit the week of Nov. 3 as one of the Classic Game Show Week celebrities on Hollywood Squares, a show she played in its original version on NBC. TVgameshows.net caught up with Worley during a busy day of interviews in San Jose, where she is in rehearsals for a stage musical.

[ BG ]  New-look 'Chicago' struts to town by Catherine Foster
"This is probably the most fun leading male role in Broadway musical theater history," says Gregory Harrison, who plays the shady lawyer Billy Flynn in the national tour of "Chicago," which opens its Boston run at the Wang on Tuesday.

[ P ]  PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Paula Vogel
Paula Vogel, the author of How I Learned to Drive, has sent an American family on another fateful car trip in her latest play The Long Christmas Ride Home.

[ NJ ]  Actor studies Tyson's touch BY PETER FILICHIA
Raphael Nash Thompson, 6-foot-5, 250 pounds, certainly has the size to be playing Othello, Shakespeare's Moor of Venice, at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey in Madison.

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Alfieri and Bergen share a Dance at Sardi's

News:

[ NYP ]  PAGE SIX
BILL Clinton's old girlfriend Gennifer Flowers could be coming to town soon to star in "Boobs! The World According to Ruth Wallis," the off-Broadway musical that boasts a love song titled, "Bill."

[ NYT ]  O'Donnell and Publisher Spar Over Magazine's End by JONATHAN D. GLATER

[ NYP ]  CINDY ADAMS
HUGH RAISES $$ FOR B'WAY CARES

[ HC ]  Houghton Exits O'Neill Over Consolidation Issues by FRANK RIZZO

[ NYT ]  Bill Sargent, 76, a Pioneer in Closed-Circuit and Pay TV, Dies by WOLFGANG SAXON
Bill Sargent's highly promoted videotaped events were among the first closed-circuit theatrical specials and pay-per-view television showings.

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: OCTOBER 31

[ P ]  De La Guarda Offer Tricks and Treats for Halloween Audiences, Oct. 31

[ P ]  Children of Kennedy and Togliatti Meet in NYC Premiere of Our Fathers Oct. 31-Dec. 7

[ P ]  Dorothy Fields' Son, David Lahm, Opens NYC Cabaret Show With Judy Kreston Oct. 31

[ P ]  Musical Inn-Trigue: Bogardus, Sutherland, Vlastnik, Wolpe in Mufti Load of Mischief Oct. 31-Nov. 2

[ P ]  Burstyn Is Civil War Child Bride in Broadway's Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All, Oct. 31

[ P ]  Bard or Beard?: Tim Blake Nelson Plays The Beard of Avon at NYTW, Oct. 31

[ P ]  Ahrens-Flaherty's Emperor's New Clothes Plays at South Coast Rep, Oct. 31-Nov. 16

[ P ]  Bewitched, Weisslers Explore Rodgers and Hart's Pal Joey With Director Robert Altman

[ P ]  Macbeth and Glenn Close Visit Broadway St. James-for a Day

[ P ]  Urinetown Recoups Investment, But Is Future asGrim as the Show's Namesake?

[ P ]  Martin Moran's Confessional Play Tricky Part Planning Off-Broadway Bow

[ P ]  Harper Heaven Tour to Include Helen Hayes Theater Center

[ P ]  Lynn Redgrave and Avery Brooks Continue The Exonerated National Tour

[ P ]  Fiddler on the Roof Box Office Opens Nov. 17; Design Team Announced

[ P ]  Bridewell's Trans-Atlantic Showcase Features New Musicals
posted at 10/31/2003 07:50:09 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Thursday, October 30, 2003

Reviews:

[ TB ]  Wicked
Review by Matthew Murray
Wicked is the ultimate whitewashed example of how a musical written to pander can even fail at that when it has no centralized guiding force.

[ ND ]  An Adolescent Study From Life by Gordon Cox
'Tatjana in Color" is the third play by Julia Jordan to open in New York this season, and it's also the most ambitious.

[ TB ]  What's New on the Rialto: Colored Lights
Book Review by Alan Gomberg

[ ATW ]  Filtering Headlines from 'Oz'
Review by Andy Propst

[ ATW ]  Evita, Pieter and Bambi Anything But a Drag in Foreign AIDS
Review by Andy Propst

[ CU ]  Wilder
Review

Features:

[ YN ]  AP Interview: Julie Andrews Authors Books by SAMANTHA CRITCHELL, Associated Press Writer

[ B ]  Photo Op: Scarespray Offers Up Halloween Treats

News:

[ YN ]  Rosie O'Donnell, Publisher Square Off by SAMUEL MAULL, Associated Press Writer

[ B ]  Rat Pack Confidential to Shutter in London

[ B ]  Stars to Perform for Only Make Believe Benefit

[ TM ]  Pig Out at Applebee's -- For Charity!

[ B ]  Loggia, Rees, Durning & Lloyd Ready for Trumbo

[ P ]  New Stars Join Upcoming Off-Broadway Casts of Trumbo

[ P ]  Fiddler on the Roof Inspiration Personified Off-Broadway, Dec. 3

[ P ]  Princess Grace Awards Presented to Theatre Artists in New York City

[ P ]  Bounce to Be Recorded by Nonesuch Nov. 10 in Washington, DC

[ P ]  Goetz Is Scrooge in Guthrie's 29th Annual A Christmas Carol

[ P ]  James Houghton Resigns as Artistic Director of O'Neill Playwrights Conference

[ P ]  Charles Busch Is Auntie Mame at Nov. 24 All-Star Benefit Reading

[ P ]  Golden Girls Host Benefit Concert for MAC Nov. 6

[ P ]  "Theater Talk" Features Little Shop of Horrors' Menken Oct. 31
posted at 10/30/2003 06:53:27 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ CNY ]  Hollywood union moves downtown
The Motion Picture Editors Guild is relocating its East Coast operations to a newly purchased downtown condo from Times Square. When rent at MPEG's 165 West 46th St. offices tripled to $38 a square foot, the union decided to buy a commercial condo at 145 Hudson St.
165 W 46 is the Actor's Equity building that houses AEA and many Broadway production, GM and press offices among others. Will Broadway get priced out of Broadway offices?
posted at 10/30/2003 03:08:34 PM by James Marino | Item Link

[ P ]  O'Hare, Dilly, Lewis Join Nov. 16-17 Encores! Bash

[ B ]  Were Critics in Step With Six Dance Lessons?
posted at 10/30/2003 12:32:58 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ V ]  Thesps stage B'way rally
Jackman, Arnaz, Chalfant show support
Several hundred thesps, stage managers and supporters rallied Wednesday at Duffy Square in the Broadway district of Gotham to protest the proliferation of non-Equity touring shows.

[ V ]  Inside Move: 'Urinetown' flush with profit
Prod'n recoups $3.7 mil investment
The big news on West 43rd Street isn't that the Henry Miller Theater will be torn down, that the Durst organization is putting up a 57-story skyscraper in its place or even that "Urinetown" will have to vacate the Miller premises Feb. 15.

[ V ]  'Out's' Sunjata coming to 'Rescue'
Thesp ankles stage for small screen

[ V ]  Tonys tap seven for nom panel
Two journalists, thesp, scribe, agent among additions
posted at 10/30/2003 12:02:13 PM by James Marino | Item Link

News:

[ NYT ]  Artistic Director of Playwrights Conference Resigns Post by ROBIN POGREBIN
James Houghton has left the O'Neill Playwrights Conference, which nurtures the careers of aspiring writers, in a pique over reorganization.

[ NYT ]  Actors Rally to Protest Non-Equity Road Shows by JASON ZINOMAN
The use of non-Equity touring companies is shaping up as the most contentious issue between the union and producers.

[ NJ ]  Center stage by Peter Filichia
Theatergoers may not recognize the name, but they know Lenny Wolpe's face -- he's appeared on "Six Feet Under," "The King of Queens" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," among dozens of other TV shows.

[ HC ]  Late-night 'Holiday Ham' Drag Show At Hartford Stage by Frank Rizzo

[ P ]  The Witches of Oz: Stephen Schwartz's Wicked Opens Oct. 30

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: OCTOBER 30

[ P ]  Neil LaBute’s Mercy Seat Has Its UK Premiere, Oct. 30

[ P ]  Tim Robbins Directs His War Drama Embedded at The Actors' Gang Theatre, Oct. 30-Dec. 21

[ P ]  Hot Flashes Go Hollywood as Menopause The Musical Heads to Los Angeles, Oct. 30

[ P ]  Amy Coady Sings Theatre Music and Standards at Mama Rose's Oct. 30-Nov. 16

[ P ]  Sondheim's Bounce Opens at Kennedy Center Oct. 30

[ P ]  Mullets Over Off-Off-Bway: Road House, Once a Swayze Film, Hits NYC Stage, Oct. 30-Nov. 22

[ P ]  New Musical, The Girl in the Frame, Gets Premiere in Boston, Oct. 30-Nov. 9

"Six Dance Lessons In Six Weeks":

[ NYP ]  HAMILL, BERGEN GIVE 'LESSONS' IN HOW TO ACT by CLIVE BARNES
Undoubtably the best thing about the evening are the awesomely professional and very pleasing performances by Bergen and Hamill.

[ DN ]  'Dance Lessons' a misstep by Howard Kissel

[ NJ ]  Fleeting 'Dance Lessons' treads on its own toes BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

[ TM ]  Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Reviewed By: David Finkle

[ B ]  Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Review by William Stevenson

[ B ]  Photo Op: A Swingin' Sardi's Soiree for Six Dance Lessons

Features:

[ NYT ]  Musical, a Lawsuit and a Lot of Pressure by JESSE McKINLEY
Rosie O'Donnell has two openings this month: one on Broadway, where the musical she's producing is in previews, and the other in a downtown courtroom.

[ NYT ]  HOUSE PROUD
In a Greek Revival, Wit and Stagecraft by JOHN LELAND
Like his shows, the home of Tom Viertel, part of the Broadway team that produced "The Producers" and "Little Shop of Horrors," is an exercise in memory.

[ CSM ]  A new twist on the Land of Oz by Iris fanger
"Wicked."
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!
posted at 10/30/2003 07:42:22 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

"Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks" - Reviews:

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW
Happiness So Unlikely It's Probably Inevitable by BRUCE WEBER
"Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks" is the most dismissible entry on Broadway of the last few seasons.

[ YN ]  'Six Dance Lessons' Has Two Left Feet by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic
This innocuous play by Richard Alfieri recalls wan Broadway comedies of years gone by, shows that inexplicably got to New York and then disappeared quickly.

[ ND ]  'Dance Lessons': Step-by-Step Formula by Linda Winer
It may be better to skip these classes and head onto the dance floor

[ TB ]  Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks
Review by Matthew Murray
This is a play that desperately wants you to like it, and even dares you not to.

Other Reviews:

[ TM ]  Is It Hot In Here...or Is It Me?
Los Angeles Review By: Jonas Schwartz

[ B ]  New Leads Bring Drama Critics Back to Nine

[ ATW ]  Of a Man-Boy and His Women
Review by Andy Propst

[ CU ]  Nine
Review

[ TM ]  Wilder
Reviewed By: David Finkle

Features:

[ B ]  Stage Notes: 10/29/03 by Paul Wontorek
By leaving the Manhattan Theater Club's production of The Violet Hour mid-performance last Thursday night, former sitcom sweetheart Jasmine Guy (who was also a pretty damn good former Velma Kelly a few years back) joined a prestigious list of talents who have become casualties of the 2003-04 Broadway season. By my count, Guy is the 20th star to find herself suddenly not playing a principal Broadway role this fall.

[ TM ]  Nobody Don't Like Ben by: Michael Buckley
Ben Gazzara talks about his role in Nobody Don't Like Yogi and other career highlights.

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: John's Women; Stamos and cast take Nine bow Oct. 28th

[ B ]  Photo Op: New Leads Slink Into Award-Winning Nine
That Paul sure goes to the best parties... :-)

News:

[ ND ]  Minetta Lane Gets That 'Synching' Feeling by Gordon Cox
You're not a real New Yorker until you've seen Lypsinka.
Plus Mary Beth Peil on "Frame 312" (third item).

[ TM ]  Forbidden Acts To Be Celebrated at Drama Book Shop

[ P ]  The Thing About Running Men; Gurwin Kicks Off NYC Marathon in Song, Nov. 2

[ P ]  Jack Temchin, New York Producer Committed to New Works, Dead at 57

[ P ]  Berkeley Rep Adds Ibsen's Ghosts to 2003-2004 Season

[ P ]  Off-Broadway’s Chashama Sees an Apparition, Nov. 7-23

[ P ]  Frank Verlizzo, Famed "Fraver" of Theatrical Poster Fame, Joins Murphy Group

[ B ]  Busch to Play Auntie Mame for BC/EFA Benefit

[ B ]  Urinetown's Future Uncertain as Theater Closes

[ P ]  Boston's Huntington Opens Butley Revival with Lane and Bates, Oct. 29

[ P ]  He's Out: Take Me Out's Daniel Sunjata Will Retire His Empires Uniform Jan. 4, 2004

[ P ]  $25 Front-Row Tickets Available for Wicked Opening Night

[ P ]  David Edgar's Political Epic, Continental Divide, Will Travel to U.K. in 2004 After U.S. Run

[ P ]  Alvin Ailey Announces Bob Fosse-Gwen Verdon Fellowship

[ P ]  Taboo's Leigh Bowery Explored in TV Documentary; Rosie O'Donnell Hosts

[ P ]  Audra McDonald and Josh Groban Featured on PBS Concert Oct. 29

[ P ]  Wicked's Chenoweth to Star in Alice in Wonderland

[ P ]  Urinetown Forced to Vacate Its Broadway Home in February

[ YN ]  Singer Reed Producing Nashville Musical
FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Singer-actor Jerry Reed, best known for his role in the "Smokey and the Bandit" movies, is producing an original musical to be performed at a theater in a Nashville suburb.

[ TM ]  Andreas, Esparza, Frugé et al. Win Barrymore Awards
posted at 10/29/2003 08:30:12 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ CNY ]  SAG and AFTRA ratify new radio/TV contract

[ NYP ]  PIANIST IN GRISLY KIN SLAY
A renowned Manhattan pianist and an expert on Broadway composer Cole Porter has been arrested in the fatal bludgeoning of her brother-in-law, whom she had been visiting in Pennsylvania over the weekend. Conductor Judith Brown, 59, the author of the "Unpublished Cole Porter," a compilation of his songs, was being held without bail yesterday in a county lock-up in the Poconos, awaiting formal charges in the murder of Joseph Bertilacci, 88, on Saturday.
posted at 10/29/2003 03:22:52 PM by James Marino | Item Link

News:

[ NYP ]  CHANGES BY THE 'HOUR' by MICHAEL RIEDEL
WHAT'S going on with "The Violet Hour"?
Richard Greenberg's eagerly awaited new play has been in previews a couple of weeks and already there are so many bodies piling up, the producers might as well park a hearse outside the stage door.
Note the error in the photo caption.

[ NYP ]  PAGE SIX
ALL THE NEWS FIT TO LIFT
Hee hee...

[ V ]  'Out's' Sunjata coming to 'Rescue'
Thesp ankles stage for small screen
Daniel Sunjata will segue from Broadway to the tube in January.

[ P ]  The Mill Is Alive With The Sound of Music, Oct. 29-Dec. 14

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: OCTOBER 29

[ P ]  Cutting a Rug at the Belasco, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks Opens Oct. 29

[ P ]  Goodnight, Moon: Kushner-Tesori Musical Caroline, or Change Begins Previews

[ P ]  James Lapine Drama Fran's Bed with Farrow Opens at Long Wharf, Oct. 29

Features:

[ DN ]  Make broom for a 'Wicked' Idina by ROBERT DOMINGUEZ

[ DN ]  Chenoweth plays Glinda as the not-so-good witch by ROBERT DOMINGUEZ
How fitting – even Kristin's interview is shorter. :-)

[ HC ]  Straight Farrow by FRANK RIZZO
Actress, Between Long Wharf Rehearsals, Takes An Unflinching Look Back

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
Filichia reports on the kind of family reunion that can only happen in the theater.

[ INQ ]  Taking artistic license with the Barnes by Desmond Ryan
Playwright Thomas Gibbons based 'Permanent Collection' on the Barnes controversy, but invented the drama's central conflict.

Reviews:

[ YN ]  Revival of 'Nine' Is Less Than 10 by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic

[ B ]  The Trouble With Contini by Ken Mandelbaum

[ DN ]  'Nine' adds a familiar face by Howard Kissel

[ NYT ]  DANCE REVIEW | 'GOTTA DANCE! A DANCE TRIBUTE TO HOLLYWOOD'
A Gathering of Stars From Many Firmaments Glitter for One Night by JACK ANDERSON
At Career Transition for Dancers' ninth annual gala, outstanding contributions to dance were honored during an evening that radiated good cheer.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'ATTACKS ON THE HEART'
When Worlds Collide, Love Is Imperiled by MARGO JEFFERSON
In Arthur Laurents' newest play, this master of the well-made melodrama keeps grappling with questions that matter.

[ NJ ]  Observe Yogi a lot by watching Gazzara BY MICHAEL SOMMERS
Ben Gazzara is a real winner as Yogi Berra in the amiable one-man show that opened Sunday at the Lamb's Theatre

[ N&O ]  Swit makes magnificent Mame by ROY C. DICKS
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!
posted at 10/29/2003 09:02:15 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Tuesday, October 28, 2003

[ NYT ]  A Theater Is Closing, Leaving a Hit Show in the Cold by BRUCE WEBER
"Urinetown," the unlikely musical hit that has been occupying Henry Miller's Theater on West 43rd Street for more than two years under the threat of eviction, has finally gotten the bad news. The producers were told on Monday that the show would have to leave the theater by Feb. 15 because a 57-story skyscraper was about to be built on the Avenue of the Americas between 42nd and 43rd Streets, a site that includes the theater.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'NINE'
A New Cad and Fresh Fantasy Signorinas by BEN BRANTLEY
posted at 10/28/2003 09:19:46 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Features:

[ B ]  Q&A: Kristin Chenoweth by William Stevenson

[ B ]  Photo Op: Happy Birthday, Movin' Out!

[ B ]  Photo Op: A Swanky Bash for Charles Busch's Die, Mommie, Die

[ B ]  Photo Op: Ricki Lake Visits Little Shop of Horrors

[ B ]  Photo Op: I Love You Celebrates 3,000 Performances

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