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Thursday, July 24, 2008

    [ P ]  LAST CHANCE: Playbill.com's Reminder of NYC Shows Closing July 27

    [ NYT ]  Looking for Equity in Arts Financing By FELICIA R. LEE

    A coalition of arts organizations has asked the city for $15 million that would go to so-called culturally specific organizations, serving blacks, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and American Indians.

    [ V ]  Director Norman Cohen dies at 77

    Career included stage, television productions

    [ V ]  Producer Marilyn Shapiro dies

    Manager was Bonnie Franklin's business partner

    [ DN ]  Ethan Hawke welcomes baby girl By AMY EISINGER

    [ NYP ]  LIZ SMITH

    Mike Nichols; Meryl Streep; Jennifer Westfeldt.

    [ DN ]  YouTube ranter Tricia Walsh-Smith can't stop talking BY SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM

    [ NYP ]  A BROADWAY 'HIT' By LORENA MONGELLI and DAREH GREGORIAN
    YOUTUBE LOON: EX IS OUT TO GET ME

    [ NYP ]  DAFFY SORE LOSER IN BANISHING ACT By ANDREA PEYSER

    SORRY to disappoint, but I've been kicked out of finer places.

    Features:

    [ NYT ]  She Says It's True, Her Memoir of Forging By JULIE BOSMAN

    Lee Israel forged more than 400 letters from Noël Coward, Dorothy Parker and other literary celebrities, a criminal career she recounts in her book, "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

    [ TS ]  Avenue Q gets down and dirty by Richard Ouzounian

    The hit show finally arrives in Toronto. Interview about its creation with Jeff Marx and Kevin McCollum.

    [ TS ]  Hamlet, the musical returns to the stage by Richard Ouzounian

    Hamlet may have said, "The rest is silence," but Cliff Jones has another idea.

    [ NYP ]  'TRAIN'ED ACTORS By V.A. MUSETTO
    ROMEO & JULIET PAIR ARE A RAIL INSPIRATION

    [ NJ ]  Stage director turns creative tension into high drama by Peter Filichia

    [ P ]  ASK PLAYBILL.COM: Dance Captains

    [ P ]  Have Chair, Will Travel

    Canadian actor Jonathan Crombie is touring as the salty narrator in The Drowsy Chaperone.

    [ P ]  A Wicked Good Storyteller

    Susan Hilferty employs the artistry of costume design to illuminate the unknown yet somehow familiar world of Wicked.

    [ B ]  FRESH FACE: Marissa Perry's Broadway Dreams Come True in Hairspray

    [ AMNY ]  Interview with Kyle Riabko on Spring Awakening by Matt Windman

    [ DN ]  Howard Kissel: The Cultural Tourist
    Put On a Happy Face

    [ TM ]  Video Feature
    Heaven and Elle By: Brian Scott Lipton, Edward Highfield, and Jordan Neuren

    Legally Blonde's new Elle Woods, Bailey Hanks, talks to TheaterMania about keeping secrets, her favorite costumes, her new male co-stars, and her favorite Broadway shows.

    [ B ]  PHOTO OP: Blonde's Bailey Hanks Gets Comfy at Broadway's Palace Theatre

    [ DN ]  The new Elle Woods in 'Legally Blonde'

    [ B ]  PHOTO OP: Cristian de la Fuente Flies in for a Visit at Boeing-Boeing

    [ B ]  PHOTO OP: New Stars Derek Keeling and Ashley Spencer Bow in Grease

    [ DN ]  Rush & Molloy: 'Hair' gets growin', but not showin' much skin

    Gold Derby by Tom O'Neil:

    [ LAT ]  'Mamma Mia!' - Could Meryl Streep make Golden Globe history?

    [ LAT ]  'Mamma Mia!' was snubbed five times at the Tonys, but - oh, sweet revenge! - it's still running on Broadway

    Beckett at the Lincoln Center Festival:

    [ NYP ]  FIENNES FINE IN BECKETT CALL By FRANK SCHECK (*** 1/2)

    [ V ]  First Love
    Review By MARILYN STASIO

    In his virtuoso solo performance, Fiennes meticulously explores every level of his spiraling descent into despair, finding an expression, a tone of voice, even a special laugh for every phase of his disintegration. Prepare to be mesmerized.

    [ BN ]  Neeson, Fiennes Bring Beckett's Bleak Works to Life: John Simon

    These "plays" are like the grin of a death's head (if it existed). As for us, what with the works' dazzling flashes of gallows humor, we better laugh, for fear of lapsing into something worse.

    [ SUN ]  Nameless, Homeless, Borderline Soulless: Ralph Fiennes Does Beckett By ERIC GRODE

    All three of these productions deserve to be seen, discussed, and remembered. But theater lovers shouldn't have to reach so deep into their wallets three times for the privilege.

    Midtown International Theatre Festival:

    [ BS ]  Exit Cuckoo - Reviewed by TOM PENKETH

    Viewed through the lens of her play, Lisa Ramirez hasn't met any women who are satisfied with their lives.

    Other Reviews:

    [ SUN ]  Candlelight and Conversation: Laurie Anderson's 'Homeland' By JOY GOODWIN

    "Homeland," which opened on Tuesday in its Lincoln Center Festival incarnation, is the work of a consummate artist at the highest level of her craft.

    [ TM ]  Homeland
    Reviewed by: David Finkle

    Laurie Anderson's brilliant new song cycle tackles the topics of insecurity and anxiety.

    [ NYT ]  A Mercurial Narrator, Tackling a Web of Issues By NATE CHINEN

    Laurie Anderson tried on a basketful of murky perspectives like so many pairs of sunglasses in the first of her five Lincoln Center Festival performances.

    [ INQ ]  Musical social commentary lands cool, calm, direct punch By David Patrick Stearns

    Performance-artist Laurie Anderson unveiled her latest show, "Homeland," Tuesday at the Lincoln Center Festival.

    [ BS ]  Stain - Reviewed by ADAM R. PERLMAN

    This is an imperfect production of an imperfect play. And it's a lot better than whatever soap opera you've been watching reruns of.

    [ TM ]  Stain
    Reviewed by: David Finkle

    This second-rate dysfunctional family drama is trite, tired, and too long.

    [ CU ]  Stain

    Many enjoyable moments that even the blatantly unsatisfying ending does not destroy. Too bad it doesn't hold together as either comedy or serious drama.

    [ V ]  The Time of Mendel's Trouble
    Review By SAM THIELMAN

    Between its caricatures of Arabs and Italians and its tinfoil-hat philosophy, "The Time of Mendel's Trouble" is both a worrying reading on the sanity barometer and an embarrassingly problematic musical.

    [ TM ]  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
    Reviewed by: Sandy MacDonald

    Brent Barrett, Perry Ojeda, and Dee Hoty shine in the Cape Playhouse's highly entertaining version of the hit Broadway musical.

    [ TE ]  POLITICAL IDOL at the Triad by OSCAR E MOORE

    What do you get when you cross Forbidden Broadway with American Idol and the participants of this years political eight ring circus?

    [ TNO ]  I AM WOMAN, HEAR ME..? by CLIVE HIRSCHHORN

    The pros and cons of feminism are given a too thorough going over in Joanna Murray-Smith's The Female of the Species. There's a strong whiff of desperation as the play plods along.

    [ BS ]  Broadway Rising Stars - Reviewed by DAVID FINKLE

    The Town Hall stage groaned under the weight of talent last week when Scott Siegel unleashed the second annual "Broadway Rising Stars" show.

    [ NJ ]  They're just wild about Lenny by Zan Stewart

    [ TNO ]  KIND OF A DRAG by MATT WINDMAN

    No use beating a dead horse: Sam Shepard's Kicking a Dead Horse is a dull play.

    [ TNO ]  MY OH MAMMA MIA by MARK BLANKENSHIP

    Mamma Mia! has its brush with brilliance-the fabulous Dancing Queen sequence-which makes the movie worth seeing despite its flaws.

    [ TB ]  SOUND ADVICE: STRIKING VOICES by Rob Lester

    [ TB ]  Messiahs of 1933: How American Yiddish Theatre Survived Adversity Through Satire By Joel Schechter
    Book Review by Sarah Boslaugh

    News:

    [ P ]  Bell, Blackwell, Bond, Champlin, Lavin, Pedi, Shindle and More Will Say Something Aug. 15

    [ TM ]  Bell, Blackwell, Champlin, Shindle, et al. Set for Say Something

    [ B ]  Gazillion Bubble Show Robbed; 3.4 Tons of Bubble Solution Missing

    [ P ]  Off-Broadway's Gazillion Bubble Show Victim of Theft

    [ P ]  Works by Martin, Acquisto, Townshend and Inge Set for Gallery Players Season

    [ TM ]  Brooklyn's Gallery Players Announce 2008-2009 Season

    [ P ]  Goodwin, Maxwell and Wilson Join Cast of Home at Williamstown Theatre Festival

    [ TM ]  Easton, Goodwin, Ivey, Maxwell, Wilson Set for WTF's Home

    [ P ]  Adams, Gonzalez, Umphress, Massey and More Join Line-Up for Broadway Loves the 80's

    [ TM ]  Adams, Espinosa, Massey, Newton, Rapp, Rocca, Shindle, Urie, et al. Set Broadway Loves the '80s

    [ P ]  Amaral and Newsome Are The Producers for Westchester Broadway Theatre

    [ TM ]  Amaral, Fols, Newsome, et al. Set for WBT's The Producers

    [ P ]  Tony Winner Peters to Guest on "Grey's Anatomy" Season Premiere

    [ TM ]  Baker, Hartley, Peters to Guest Star on Grey's Anatomy Opener

    [ P ]  Guthrie Extends World-Premiere Run of Little House Musical

    [ TM ]  Cook, Glover, Mazzie, Morris, Sedaris, Wong, et al. Set for McCarter Season

    [ TM ]  Full Cast, Creative Team Set for Grote's Maria/Stuart at Woolly Mammoth

    [ TM ]  Imperioli, Keitel, O'Mara, et al to Star on ABC's Life on Mars

    [ P ]  Feinstein's "The Sinatra Project" Due in Stores in September

    [ P ]  Music and Movement Enliven Panych's Moby Dick at Ontario's Stratford Festival

    [ P ]  O'Neill Conference Enters Final Week With Minnie Willet and Without You

    [ P ]  Dixie's Tupperware Party Will Burp Its Way Across America; Tour Launches in AZ

    [ P ]  Tsoutsouvas and Hall Will Be Part of Red Bull "In the Raw" Readings

    [ P ]  A Singer's Havana Past Is Conjured in october crisis at FringeNYC

    [ P ]  Montalban, Coreia, Danner, Walsh and More Set for Free jenny & me Reading

    [ P ]  Profiles Theatre Plans Tortuga, Thugs, Great Falls, Dissocia and Premiere of Graceland

    [ P ]  Espinosa and Green Join Line-Up for London Benefit Concert The Music of Scott Alan

    [ P ]  Today in Theatre History: JULY 24

    [ TM ]  Full Cast, Creative Team Set for UK Premiere of Shinn's Now or Later

    [ TM ]  Huffman, Mauzey, McCartney, Sikora, et al. Set for All Singin', All Dancin'

    [ P ]  The Time Warp - Again: MTV to Remake "Rocky Horror Picture Show"

    [ B ]  MTV Plans Remake of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

    [ B ]  Hairspray Movie Musical Sequel in the Works

    [ TM ]  Hairspray 2 Film Is In the Works

    [ P ]  Four New Shows Dance Into 2008 New York Musical Theatre Festival

    [ P ]  Fuerzabruta to Hold Open Calls July 28-29

    [ NYT ]  'Robin and the 7 Hoods' Headed to Broadway
    Compiled by JULIE BLOOM

    [ TM ]  Colm Wilkinson to Appear at Broadway Cabaret Festival in October

  • Posted by Tim Dunleavy at 7:10 PM | Item Link


      • This morning's news:

      [ P ]  London Calling: Cavanagh and Rapp Are Some Americans Abroad, Opening Off-Broadway July 24

      [ P ]  The Plant That Ate Dirty Socks Opens Off-Broadway July 24

      [ P ]  Twelve Ophelias Opens in Brooklyn's McCarren Park Pool July 24

      [ P ]  "Broadway in Bryant Park" Reschedules Hairspray, Vanities, Godspell Performances

      [ P ]  John Waters to Pen Sequel to Hairspray Movie Musical

      [ P ]  Academy Award Winner Thompson to Pen Screenplay for My Fair Lady Remake

      [ P ]  Rent Performance to Hit Screens Nationwide in September

      [ P ]  Barbara Ann Teer, Founder of National Black Theatre, Inc., Dies at 71

      [ P ]  Stritch, Feinstein, Strouse and Vereen to Be Part of Paige's Spotlight On Series

      [ P ]  Grote's Schiller-Inspired Tale of Suburban Family, Maria/Stuart, Premieres Aug. 18 at Woolly Mammoth

      [ P ]  Calvert, Ephraim, Green and Umphress Join Tsakalakos at the Barrington July 24-26

      [ P ]  D'Angeles, Franklin, Storm Join Chicago Cast of Hunchback Musical July 24

      [ P ]  Ragtime, with Molloy, Arrow, Watson and Foster, Begins Cape Rep Run July 24

      [ P ]  Body Politic, with Lear, Reed, Shelton and Maxwell, Begins CA Run July 24

      [ P ]  Balcony Scenes: Casting Announced for Private Lives at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ

      [ P ]  Gleeson, James, Crane and Marsh Will Star in Shinn's Now or Later at London's Royal Court

      [ P ]  Steve Ross to Return to London with Sondheim Cabaret, Good Thing Going

      This morning's features:

      [ TONY ]  Innocently Abroad, by David Cote

      Dazzling newcomer Karla Mosley finds a home in Expatriate.

      [ P ]  Photo Call: Sweeney Todd, with Mark Jacoby, at Sacramento Music Circus

      [ P ]  Photo Call: Van Der Beek Pays a Visit to Avenue Q

      This morning's reviews:

      [ NYT ]  Bernstein as a Fount of Fusion, by Stephen Holden

      Elegance without ostentation: that would describe the overview of Leonard Bernstein songs that the pianist Bill Charlap and the singer Kurt Elling brought to Bernstein's theater music.

      [ NYT ]  The Sheer Inconvenience, Let Alone Intrusiveness, of Life and Love, by Charles Isherwood

      The stage adaptation of this Beckett story is being captivatingly performed by Ralph Fiennes.

      [ NYP ]  Fiennes Fine in Beckett Call, by Frank Scheck

      For the past two weeks, a master class in acting has been offered in the "Gate/Beckett" series at the Lincoln Center Festival. First came Liam Neeson's searing silent performance in Eh Joe, followed by Barry McGovern's intensely florid solo turn in I'll Go On. And now there's Ralph Fiennes, investing his rendition of the playwright's 1965 short story First Love with a quiet precision that's all the more powerful for its restraint.

      [ TONY ]  [title of show], reviewed by David Cote

      The little tuner that thought it could, did, and it hasn't lost a jot of its bighearted, quirky brilliance.

      [ TONY ]  Eh Joe, reviewed by David Cote

      Liam Neeson gets his close-up in Atom Egoyan's superb production of the Samuel Beckett teleplay.

      [ TONY ]  The Strangerer, reviewed by Adam Feldman

      The phoniness of public discourse and its eerie disconnection from the bloody business of power are brought to the fore in Theater Oobleck's droll look at the presidential debates between George Bush and John Kerry.

      [ TONY ]  Expatriate, reviewed by Helen Shaw

      Lenelle Moïse pens and stars in a powerful, overstuffed portrait of a star-crossed singing duo.

      [ TONY ]  Around the World in 80 Days, reviewed by Adam Feldman

      Irish Rep presents a perfectly silly multicharacter comedy, perfect for those who can't afford The 39 Steps.

      [ TONY ]  East 14th, reviewed by Diane Snyder

      The anecdotal material in Don Reed's cookie-cutter show seems better suited for stand-up than a solo play.

    • Posted by Matthew Murray at 10:29 AM | Item Link


    • « July 23, 2008 | Main Index | Archives | July 25, 2008 »

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