From: ProdNotes@aol.com
Date: Fri, 21 Jul 2000 04:27:02 EDT
Subject: PRODUCTION NOTES THEATER - 00.07.21
To: ProductionNotes@aol.com

PRODUCTION NOTES is a theatrical newsletter that reaches lots of theater, television, and film professionals and enthusiasts. You can subscribe/unsubscribe to PRODUCTION NOTES by replying to this email, or by visiting ProdNotes.com.

Wow.. It's been a while and so much has been happening. Glad to be back.. glad to be alive.. and REALLY glad to be sending out this email. Look for another email before the week is out as we have too much to catch up on.

One last thing: Love me... love my typos! - I'll do my best to get it right though.

New VIProdNotes subscribers: MICHELLE POTTERF (Dance Captain - CHICAGO), JUDY JACKSINA (The Jacksina Company), JOSEPH A. PERROTTA (Barlow-Hartman Public Relations), DEBBIE GRAVITTE (Tony Winner - JEROME ROBBIN'S BROADWAY), GUSTY WINDS, GERALD DOWNEY and JOSHUA BITON (THE CRUMPLE ZONE), EDGAR GODINEAUX (SWING), SARA LEPERE (Radio City dancer), MARIA BLANCO (RUGRATS), LISA GLOVER (RINGLING BROS.), STEPHEN BOGARDUS (LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!, FALSETTOS), JUSTIN BOND and KENNY MELLMAN (KIKI & HERB), QUINN LEMLEY, JULIE BUDD, MICHAEL GANS (MTV - SPY GROOVE), DAVID GALLO (Scenic Designer), JOHN PINCKARD (lighting designer - NEVER SWIM ALONE), DANIEL MacIVOR (author - NEVER SWIM ALONE), CASSANDRA CREECH (AS THE WORLD TURNS), CAROL WOODS, LORNA DALLAS (West End's SHOWBOAT), BRAD BESSEY (ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT - Supervising Producer), MICHAEL R. MOODY (MTC - production manager), JAMES BEEKS and the ultra-amazing diva JULIA MURNEY (MTC - THE WILD PARTY), HAYLEY FINN (resident director - FLEA THEATER), HUNTER FOSTER (GREASE, FOOTLOOSE), SUSAN O'CONNOR (girl in the blue bathing suit - NEVER SWIM ALONE), KARYN WULBRUN (E! - Talent Executive), KAREN SAUNDERS, DAVID RALEIGH, LINDA LAVIN, AMANDA GREEN, DAISY PRINCE, HARRY HAUN, CAROLEE CARMELLO, GREGG EDELMAN

LOTS of PRODUCTION NOTES pics being hosted on the amazing BroadwayStars.com. Here are some of the events the camera made it to:

PICS == MTC - THE WILD PARTY - ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY. Attended the album launch party for MANHATTAN THEATER CLUB's THE WILD PARTY which took place at DAVID GALLO's historic home near SOUTH STREET SEAPORT. The album is amazing.. and JULIA MURNEY has to be one of the most exciting and gifted "out of the blue" talents in New York. Where did she come from?? Everyone involved with this project has given me the impression of feeling honored to have worked on it. More on this album next issue.

PICS == TERRI WHITE's ALBUM LAUNCH PARTY @ CHELSEA LOBSTER
THE LADY'S GOT TO SING by TERRI WHITE

PICS == OPENING NIGHT OF OFF-BROADWAY'S - NEVER SWIM ALONE
The FRINGE FESTIVAL favorite opens off-Broadway to amazing reviews.

PICS == JIM CARUSO & BILLY STRITCH @ ARCI'S PLACE
JIM CARUSO opened his new cabaret show on July 10th at ARCI'S PLACE, where it is running for the four Monday's in July. JIM has pooled the musical gifts his friends have bestowed upon him over the years to make a show that is incredibly personal, and it sounds like a revelation of archived musical gems. With his friend BILLY STRITCH on the piano, there will be unearthed treasures from friends ANN HAMPTON CALLOWAY, ANDREW LIPPA, and FRED EBB. Having some of the most notable names in the world to call your "friends" will provide you with lots of material when one of your talents happens to be brilliant patter at the mike. Jim is again delivering some incredibly fun inside stories regarding his dealings with his star buddies and will, of coarse have a musical tie-in to each humorus saga that will fit in perfectly. Consider the material he must have from his time as the Associate Producer on THE JIM JAY & TAMMY FAYE SHOW. Music tie-in: He had hired ANN HAMPTON CALLOWAY to write and BILLY STRITCH to produce the theme song for the show.One of the night's most exciting moments for JIM though will be his opportunity to premier an original jazz arrangement of HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN by KAY THOMPSON. Jim told me that it was no secret how protective this musical legend was of her artistic property, and the fact that she gave him an original arrangement after he commented to her how much he loved it, still amazes him.BILLY also put together an "insane" JOHNNY MERCER medley that reminds Jim of the old CAROL BURNETT SHOW arrangements, where one song would just crash into the next.JIM booked his current show for Monday nights so that his theater chums can come and catch his act. Also remember that he always seems to attract quite a few celebs to his performances, so if you're in the mood to stargaze, ARCI'S on Monday's will be the place to go.JIM CARUSO with BILLY STRITCH at the piano:

ARCI'S PLACE
450 Park Avenue South, New York
July 10, 17, 24 & 31 @ 8 pm
RSVP: 212-523-4370

Speaking of KAY THOMPSON, I can't wait to hear more about the one-woman show in the works that is based on Kay, and stars RUTH WILLIAMSON.

FROM THE PITS TO THE WIGS - FROM CAT GUT TO BLAIR HAIR
We all know someone with multiple skills, or even someone we could call "Jack of All Trades." For example: BLAIR LAWHEAD's violin skills have not only drawn the response of "I was transported by his playing." from composer LUCY SIMON (THE SECRET GARDEN), it has also landed him lead violin positions in many Broadway orchestras. Working in the pit at THE SECRET GARDEN also gave him the opportunity to meet Tony Award winning orchestrator BILL BROHN and has since worked on many of BILL's projects (including CAROUSEL, SHOWBOAT, RAGTIME and the film THE MIRROR HAS TWO FACES). Since RAGTIME has closed though, BLAIR has been focusing on one of his other gifts.. Providing hair replacement services to the follicle-challanged men of New York. In the Friday issue (00.07.21) of New York's NEXT MAGAZINE, BLAIR is launching an over-the-top ad campaign (which he designed) and he is expecting this 5 week series to create quite a stir. I've seen the ads, and I have to admit, they are clever and quite sexy. I would assume that hair replacement ads will never be the same after this little campaign. WOW!!BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE... BLAIR LAWHEAD has also just told me that he will be making his first "cross-over" album. Partially funded by HORMEL and produced by his brother, this new album will have a complete orchestra backing up BLAIR's lone violin. LUCY SIMON and BILL BROHN will soon be spending several evenings with MR. LAWHEAD to pour over old and original music to be featured on the recording. The punch line to this whole story... It has been discussed that the first public performance for this album will be at the opening of the worlds first SPAM MUSEUM.If you know BLAIR, or you have heard his thunderous laughter in a quiet restaurant, you know that the inaugaural celebration of this kitsch monument is quite an amazing opportunity for him. States BLAIR, "If I can play for the opening of the SPAM MUSEUM, I can die a happy man... Where am I going to go from there?"

FYI - THE SECRET GARDEN will be opening in London's West End for the first time, around Christmas this year. This new production will be a re-written and re-directed version of the Broadway production. Will yet another production follow somewhere else?? Hmmm...

Graphic and website designer to many a cabaret performer and show, BRUCE STEVENS has just attained an AMAZING LOFT in the garment district. His new space, though trashed at one point by a famous hip-hop performer, was originaly designed by CHARLES ARD, a set designer who has worked on sets for plays such as PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. Ornate or too busy? ...you decide.

From the moment they walk on the stage, KIKI & HERB are over the top. Usually that would be a bad thing. Not for KIKI & HERB. Also, when a show is usually giving you the 11 o'clock number, KIKI is passed out on the ground. Yet the audience is screaming with glee? Name the last show you saw with a character like HERB (played by KENNY MELLMAN), a self-professed retarded piano player sidekick? Who thought up this formula? I had to find out, so I stalked them after the show to get some answers.KIKI (played by JUSTIN BOND) spilled her guts in response to my endless questions.. and she even tolerated a few photographs.I found out that KIKI & HERB have been doing various incarnations of their show for the past six years and recently it occurred to them that they probably had over 80 songs in their repertoire. Starting in San Francisco way back when, their little freak-fest developed a cult following and they decided to see what the professional freak connoisseurs of New York had to think of their shenanigans. Their first Manhattan booking took place at the now closed EIGHTY EIGHTS and then they got a regular gig at COWGIRL HALL OF FAME. Justin was the first to make a permanent move to the big apple and was soon joined by his sidekick. Their current revue, PLAYING FOR TIME combines the true-life story of the duo's trip to Germany with a not-so-true story of a whirlwind weekend with one of KIKI's best friends... PRINCES GRACE. But really, it's hard to tell fact from fiction when the tales are told through the eyes of KIKI. The persona of KIKI is actually modeled after Justin's college roommate's mother who was kind of a crazy, sharp, intellectual, alcoholic, and curious lady. This real-life KIKI had all these characteristics and she really was a showgirl in the 50's, but died a few years back from cancer. The current productions of KIKI & HERB are kind of like a "what if" this lady had lived to a much older age, and had actually taken her eccentric personality back to the stage.Here is a quote direct from KIKI that might help you realize the tragic brilliance taking place at FEZ: "The wonderful thing about addiction... is that it focuses you." While I'm not sure if that is a true quote taken from the real-life KIKI, she is represented throughout the show with many other similar pearls of wisdom.

PLAYING FOR TIME will run through the end of July, and then in August, KIKI & HERB will dig through their 6 years worth of material to create a "BEST OF KIKI & HERB" show.Go see the show which BRUCE VILANCH could only describe to me as "It was like... beyond..."

KIKI AND HERB - PLAYING FOR TIME
FEZ (inside TIME CAFÉ)
380 Lafeyette Street, New York
Friday, Saturday & Sunday @ 7:30pm
$15
RSVP: 212-462-9077

Monday, July 31 @ 9pm, KAREN ZIEMBA will use her one night off from starring in the hit musical CONTACT to conduct a live online chat with students in the arts. AOL members can join the chat by going to keyword: EXTREME CULTURE.

During the workshop for the upcoming Broadway production of THE VISIT, there were several characters that suffered from identity crises'. Two eunuchs in the story always appear together and thus the script deals with them as one entity. This did not help when direction was being given, so names were sought for these high-pitched, male divas. Somehow, they got labeled ALICE & EMILY and that seemed to work for a while. Then a minor eunuch civil war occurred as eunuchs began to fight over who was EMILY and who was ALICE, so they finally got dubbed PING & PONG in reference to the game with the paddles and the light balls.

Just reported at 11pm Thursday night (00.07.20) that ANGELA LANSBURY will be leaving THE VISIT project, at least temporarily, due to her husband's health problems. The project will most likely be canceled for this season.

Dallas born photographer, STEPHEN MOSHER, will offer the first public showing of his work since his arrival in New York in 1993. After working within the entertainment communities of New York, Los Angeles and London, STEPHEN has amassed an impressive collection of celebrity portraits. Faces of interest included in this photo-fest include MAGGIE SMITH, CAROLE SHELLY (CABARET - THE ELEPHANT MAN), JIM BORSTELMANN (CHICAGO), CAROL BURNETT, SUSAN EGAN, ALEC BALDWIN, GLENN CLOSE, ANGELA BASSETT, DOMINICK DUNNE, SARAH JESSICA PARKER, JENNIFER HOLIDAY, NATHAN LANE and WHOOPI GOLDBERG, DAVID ALAN BASCHE, BERNADETTE PETERS, STEPHEN BIENSKIE (CATS), KATIE SELVERSTONE (RIDE DOWN MT. MORGAN) among many others. The exhibit, MR. MOSHER'S NEIGHBOURHOOD, will feature photos from THE SWEATER BOOK, along with other samples from the photographer's twenty years behind the camera. Featured in this show... portraits of award winning actress JUDI DENCH with her family, very fresh pictures of KAREN MASON (about a week old) and never before seen photos of the late cabaret artist, NANCY LAMOTT, taken during her final days.

MR. MOSHER'S NEIGHBOURHOOD
MODERNAGE, Second Floor Gallery
1150 Avenue of the America's, New York
Through August 14
Info: 212-997-1800

You only have until July 22 to catch DAVID DRAKE's feature film of THE NIGHT LARRY KRAMER KISSED ME based on his one man show of the same name.

THE SCREENING ROOM
54 Varick Street (@ Canal in TriBeCa)
July 21 & 22 @ 4, 6, 8, 10 & 11:30pm

ROBERT PRICHARD (proprietor of SURF REALITY) has provided us with a good view of what the actors strike means to everyone. HIS ESSAY.

IRVING BERLIN's film classic WHITE CHRISTMAS is having it's stage debut at the outdoor ST. LOUIS MUNY OPERA. Rehearsals began July 6th with a truly amazing cast. Broadway and concert star KAREN MASON will be stepping into ROSEMARY CLOONEY's role as BETTY, KAREN MORROW (as the inn's nosy housekeeper), LARA TEETER filling the shoes of BING CROSBY as BOB WALLACE, HOWARD KEEL playing the Retired General (DEAN JAGGER in the film), LEE ROY REAMS playing PHIL DAVIS (the DANNY KAYE role) and LAUREN KENNEDY as JUDY. Directed by CHARLES REPOLE and choreographed by THOMMIE WALSH, the musical has a revised book by PAUL BLAKE.

More news regarding KAREN MASON. She'll return to ARCI'S PLACE for a six-week engagement in September, and there are already calls in for reservations. ARCI'S really is one of the best rooms in the city if you want to see stellar performers, with great sound and lights... and the owner, JOHN MILLER, is the best host in this entire city..

ARCI'S PLACE
450 Park Avenue South (30-31st Streets)
September 5 - October 14
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday @ 9pm
Friday & Saturday @ 8:30 & 11pm
$25 (+ $15 minimum)
RSVP: 212-532-4370

They've just had their first full-length theater production produced at the ORDWAY and their coming back to MAMA's. MARCY HEISLER & ZINA GOLDRICH will be bringing more of their original songs to the cabaret stage and leaving with yet more awards for these new ditties, I'm sure.

DON'T TELL MAMA
343 West 46th Street
August 21, 22, 28 & 29 @ 7pm
$12 (+ 2 drink minimum)
RSVP: 212-757-0788

LILLIAS WHITE just celebrated the release of her first album BROOKLYN TO BROADWAY, recorded live at ARCI'S PLACE. Friday night (00.07.21) she will be celebrating her birthday there... ARCI'S PLACE. It has been my observation that LILLIAS can not mention the name "ARCI'S PLACE" without saying something about how good the food is. You can order her album through her website <www.lillias.com>

Next Issue (VERY SOON):

• = More pics from the second performance of JIM CARUSO and BILLY STRITCH and many, many celebs. (This Monday (00.07.24) also has quite a star line-up)
  
  
• More multi-media news -- MOON OVER BROADWAY ON VIDEO and COLUMBIA MASTERWORKS SERIES
  
  
• Pics from SETH'S BROADWAY CHATTERBOX with several of the past guests..
  
  
• Pics from LILLIAS WHITE's album launch. (This Friday is LILLIAS' B-Day.. and you can celebrate with her at ARCI'S PLACE)