From: ProdNotes@aol.com
Date: Tue, 8 Aug 2000 06:41:25 EDT
Subject: PRODUCTION NOTES THEATER - 00.08.08
To: ProductionNotes@aol.com
X-RCPT-TO: <james@car-jam.com>
Status: U

PRODUCTION NOTES is a theatrical newsletter that reaches lots (and 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.

New VIProdNotes subscribers: JUDY KAYE, JEROME VIVONA (barrel guy in KISS ME, KATE.. now in SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL), SARAH KNOWLTON (AVOW, ON THE TOWN), RUSTY UPDEGRAFF (owner - 360 Restaurant - Hollywood, CA), KEN FALLIN (illustrator of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY), STEVEN LEVY (producer DAME EDNA'S ROYAL TOUR, AVOW)

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I'll be interviewed live tonight (Tuesday, August 8) on eYada.com regarding PRODUCTION NOTES. eYada.com boasts quite a worldwide following, so I'm excited and anxious (in a good way). The interview will be live from 7:10pm through 7:40pm (EST), but log onto the site early to make sure that everything is working right for your computer.A direct link to the interview site is: http://eyada.com/show_main.cfm?show=34

==

ALISON FRASER's solo album, MEN IN MY LIFE is going in for another printing.ALISON will also be taking time off from an out of town commitment to return to New York for the NEW MUSICALS FESTIVAL. Neither rain nor snow, nor regional show will stop her from playing LIZZIE BORDEN.

EXCELLENT NEW WEBSITES YOU SHOULD VISIT:

== TheRhythmClub.com official site for the coming Broadway show

== LMLMusic.com a growing collection of cabaret's greatest stars

== Broadway Masterworks Columbia Broadway Masterworks Series is presenting restored editions of the original cast albums of the Tony-winning musicals BYE, BYE BIRDIE, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, KISMET, THE PAJAMA GAME and the 1962 revival of SHOWBOAT. The special twist here... also included on each CD are bonus tracks that include additional songs not on the original album, and radio interviews with the creators and stars. Enjoy the music and get a theater history education at the same time.

== Broadway Theater Archive a chance for you to own copies of some of the masterpieces of modern theater. The last I heard, there were 34 titles available, but keep in mind that new titles are being cleared all the time. For full list of current titles and stars of each of this productions visit the website.

Added note: It will soon be announced that TOBY SIMKIN (the founder of BuyBroadway.com, now Theatre.com) will soon be joining the team at BROADWAY THEATER ARCHIVE.

SHOWS YOU REALLY MUST SEE:

== BOBBY BELFRY will be at ARCI'S PLACE August 12 at 11pm and August 20 at 8pm

== GODSPELL
== Pictures of GODSPELL OPENING NIGHT PARTY
One of the biggest and best surprises I have ever had in theater has been the current production of GODSPELL. Sometimes you have a clue that a show might be special when you recognize a few of the names in the cast as stand out performers. In this current production's original incarnation, you had to take an amazingly tiny elevator to the fifth floor of a commercial office space, walk through a maze of halls, and eventually come to an appropriately tiny block box theater.This type of environment does not prepare you to be introduced to a cast of actors that will knock you out with their amazing talent, and the classic STEPHEN SCHWARTZ songs have never sounded better.The show has rightfully moved to the larger YORK THEATER with an infinitely better sound system and may yet move to an even larger space.... so I hear...There is so much more to say about this show, but I have to approach this on a "deeper" level here. Critics can say that the success of this show lies in the brilliant music. You might also consider that this show succeeds based on its bevy of diva voices. These qualities on an estetic level are how we often judge the success of a musical production.The magic here though is the heart and soul that each individual cast member brings to the stage. Through what must have been an intensively bonding rehearsal period, the cast has become a family, and this is truly visible from every seat in the audience. 30 years ago Mr. SCHWARTZ must have been in a similar environment when he wrote this score.Beyond this "deep" aspect, the completely reworked book is also insanely funny.YOU MUST GO.

== NEVER SWIM ALONE
An achievement in writing, direction, and acting. An original approach and possibly a redefinition of the term ensemble acting. A deep story, intelligently told. This play in 13 rounds will cause you to think, but isn't that what theater is supposed to do?

NEXT ISSUE (BEFORE THE WEEK IS OVER):
= Interview with ANDREW LIPPA
= Interview with DAVID FRIEDMAN
= Interview with CHRISTOPHER KENNY
= Interview with QUINN LEMLEY
= and lots (and lots) of new pics...

PRODUCTION NOTES LINKS:
JAMESBARBOUR.com star of the future Broadway production of JANE EYRE
SEANMcDERMOTT.com Broadway leading man, check out his solo albums
BROADWAYSTARS.com timely site with links to every theater news website
JIM-CARUSO.com a true entertainer.. to put yourself in a great mood, catch his show

PRODUCTION NOTES ARCHIVES:
THEATERMANIA.COM
PRODNOTES.COM