High 5 Tickets to the Arts to Receive NYC's D.R.E.A.M. Award July 19

Wilde Developments at NYPL: Changes for Performing Arts Collection

Move Over Tonys - Here Come the Buckleys!

Marty, Long in Development, Gets New Reading in NYC, Aug. 1

Report: McDonald Interested in A Star is Born Stage Musical

Again Listening to MTC Wild Party by Peter Filichia

Vive La France! by Peter Filichia

New Musicals Aborning by Sean Patrick Flahaven

A Harry Potter Musical in the Works?
I see that Theatre.com writers must visit here. If only they asked, they would get the information correct! We may know just a little bit more than what they heard.

Speaking of Harry Potter, I read over at Talkin Broadway that when Harry Potter grows up, he becomes Bryan d'Arcy James. That is classic.

Jordan Roth
Interview on Broadway.com.

Speaking of Rocky Horror, I heard an advertisement for the Broadway.com/Rocky Horror audition contest on 1010 WINS (AM news radio station in NYC). All I could think to myself was, "There is the right audience for Rocky Horror auditions: young Wall Street professionals listening to the radio in the morning are going to spend their afternoon self producing a video tape audition."

Also, the ad suggested that all roles are open and available for casting... when we all know that this is unlikely, if not blatantly untrue.

The true test of Jordan's producing skills will be in seeing if he learned from the major mistake in The Donkey Show -- being in the wrong space. As much fun as The Donkey Show is and Club El Flamingo is nice, being over on 21st and 11th hurts the show more than anything else. It is remote, hard to get to and forget foot traffic. During inclement weather, the BO has to take a hit, especially when most of their business in walkup/ night of sales. Location, location, location! After all, he is no stranger to the real estate market.

Broadway.com has undergone a redesign. Although the young website has yet another pretty look, the download times are still deadly and flash requirement on the front page deters traffic. But most of all, hopefully they will realize soon that -- it's about content.

And yes, we will get captions for yesterday's Wild Party photos. If you want to write any yourself, submit them to us. We just may print them! [Update: the captions are up]

Blind Item Received: The narrator in the ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW? It may be Dick Cavett.
[Update: I have received a few email's confirming this. Lets see how long it takes this news to make it to the other sites.]

Everyone should thank Olli for the hard work that he has done on the "Bios" section. I guess we ought to make him honorary staff for keeping this section up to date. If you know a person, yourself or otherwise with a Broadway credit that you would like to add to our growing bio list, click here and fill out the form. Remember, you don't have to be an actor to be listed on BroadwayStars.com. Actors are only the last step in completing the Broadway process. Thanks!

[Late update] Yes, I finally missed an update. The T was down and I tried to improvise and nearly destroyed the website. Damn dialup. It was like my audition for CATS back in '92. But that's a whole other story.

'Playbull' Beefs Up Bryant Park Contingent in Cow Parade New York 2000
There has to be something really wrong with me. I really can't resist these "Cow" stories. I have biked all over NYC to find them. I guess it is a better hobby than buying domain names.

Bells Aren't Ringing in Pasadena, But Broadway Beckons in Spring 2001

Brooks and Meehan's Producers Still Developing

SAG In Economy. Thesp strike costing county $2.5 mil daily.

New Livent Lawsuit. Unsecured creditors sue CIBC.
Interesting sentence in this article, "...the controversial Drabinsky is apparently now working for the National Post as an adviser for marketing, public relations and promotion."

Bells Ringing Elsewhere by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Kleban Gets His Due, Honors Others by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Producer Roth & Director Ashley Predict Rocky Horror Bow Will Be Bway's Top Halloween Party

WMA Fired Up Over Ebay Script Sales. Masalcas fired over incident.
Can you believe this assistant? It seems that after the sale was complete, he would go to the William Morris mailroom and FedEx the script to the buyer. Hello, tracking number. Cheap people always get caught. I understand from this article that ICM does not have this problem because their offices electroncially block access to eBay's IP addresses because agents were spending time searching it for cheap concert tickets and antiques.

Hey, I just remembered. I submitted my script to William Morris about 15 years ago. It was a musical about a bunch of fish that meet once a year to pick one fish who would bite the bait and be taken to heaven on a string with a hook. At least they thought it was heaven...

Funny Girl Diana Ross by Peter Filichia

Keepers of The Flame by Peter Filichia

Two New Musicals To Be Recorded by Sean Patrick Flahaven
Rhythm Club and Seussical set up recording arrangements. Even though they have arrangements it does not guarantee a CD. Remember that Parade also had a deal that fell through after reviews. It took a huge effort by all involved to get Parade made.

Rent Anniversary Party. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com.

Even The Orchestra Is Beautiful by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Another Award For Sondheim by Sean Patrick Flahaven

The Visit Cancels Boston Tryout and Postpones B'way Opening

EVERYTHING'S DUCKY- graphic from St. Louis
The interesting part of this is that the poster of this information is asking for logo opinions and that Everything Ducky is going to tour. I have not seen this show, but am anxious to hear what Russell and Kreiger have come up with for this concept.

The WB should stand for "The Women of Broadway"!
Spoke to Irene Molloy (The Civil War, R+J at The Ordway) last night. She is doing a television show for WB this fall called Grosse Pointe, which takes a satirical look at the making of a teen soap, a la 90210. Grosse Point will be on Fridays, from 8:30-9:00 p.m. following Sabrina.

Also on the WB this fall is Susan Egan, who is currently in production on the new series Nikki, starring Nikki Cox. Nikki Cox ("Unhappily Ever After," "Norm," "The Drew Carey Show") in this unique take on young newlyweds living the American Dream set against the bright lights and unlimited optimism of the Las Vegas strip. It premieres Sunday, October 8th at 9:30pm.

Perhaps Kristin should have went to WB rather than NBC. I hear her show is on the rocks before it began. Hindsight is always 20/20.

Footloose loadout was yesterday morning at the Richard Rogers. Those yellow and blue lockers... gone! And rumour has it that Victoria supermarket on 44th & 9th will be getting it's mini carts back by this weekend! [Thanks KD]

Due to popular demand of one of my favorite disco divas, there will be hockey updates.

Blind Item received: Heard that theatre.com will soon have an editorial shake up.
Although I have not heard anything, this would not suprise me as the chips settle in of the Broadway Online purchase of Theatre.com from this past spring.

A Harry Potter reading will be held next Tuesday.

There was an interesting lineup of responses to the addition to our BroadwayStars crew next week. People it is not: Dame Edna, Barry Weissler, The Crazy Syncopated Clapping Man, Michael David, Kelsey Grammar, Garth Drabinsky, Michael Parker, James Carpinello and Patrick Stewart.

Cattle Are Standin' Like Statues
Article and slide show of the Cow Parade.

Closes Drop B'way B.O. Loss of 'Edna,' 'Footloose,' 'Moon' hurts

The Visit Is Bypassing Beantown to Allow Lansbury Family Time

Rocky Casting by Ken Mandelbaum
Hot breaking news: Ken says that Lea DeLaria and Sandra Bernhard are gonna do the time warp. (We told you that over a week ago.) Now lets go out on a limb here... How about Alan Cumming for Frank? Or if they want to go a whole other direction, how about Kudisch as Frank?

Footlight Shines On
Footlight is not FOOTLOOSE. FOOTLOOSE closed last week. Footlight is doing fine. This was an unfortunate and ugly rumor. If everyone conducted business like Ron Saja does at Footlight, all of Broadway would be a hit. I don't know why anyone would say anything bad about this mecca of show music.

A New Victory for 42nd Street. Cora Cahan, President of the New 42nd Street, Inc., is a woman with a mission.

Welcome to the Theater
This is a really good insight into the Roundabout Theater Company’s brand new home, The American Airlines Theater. Bravo Broadway.com. Lets see more stuff like this.

London Oklahoma! Cancels Broadway Opening
Again? Oh, it's just in Theatre.com-time.

Report: Archaologists Find Site of Colonial American Theatre
Personally, I prefer the European spelling "archaeologist". Rumor has it that they were digging to find a melody in LaChiusa's Wild Party when they found this. Speaking of Wild Party's, tonight is the launch party for the Lippa CD of a similar title. It should be a good one...

Lippa's Wild Party Raises Roof on CD, July 11

Tell Liz: Dirty Blonde Is Open
We did. You would think that Broadway.com might mention this story since they employ Liz... wouldn't you?

New plays saved the season
(Philadelphia)

The Scourge of Broadway
Washington Post writer Jennifer Frey visits Frank Wildhorn at home in Westchester County, NY.

Well, I have not seen anything about the upcoming reading of Harry Potter that is happening this weekend. Maybe I will just keep it to myself. Kind of strange though -- how many readings does Ken Billington light?

One Night Only: Ross Says Producers Canceled Her Supremes Tour
We could have told you that this was coming. Ticket prices too high, bad promotion, and a diva who resembles Norma Desmond rather than Brittany Spears. (Britiany is denying the engagement to 'N Sync vocalist Justin Timberlake. Whew!)

"I think of laughter as a rare gift from God, to help us through our brief, baffling, sometimes terrible time here on this small Earth." -- Author HERMAN WOUK in The Washington Post.

Mark Messier is coming back to the New York Rangers! I know, that has nothing to do with Broadway... but the Rangers are owned by MSG, who produces PIMPERNEL and owns RCMH... it's a stretch. I know.

We're growing, again! BroadwayStars will gain another staffer next week. (We're up to 5 now!) We won't tell you who, but you can guess. Suffice to say that one site's loss is another's gain!

All Aboard the Potter Express

The Visit Ditches Boston; Will Open on Broadway

Oklahoma! Will Not Open on Broadway in the Fall

TDF Adds Producers Lion, Williams and Press Rep Tighe to Girls Scout Panel

SFX Buyer Clear Channel Pays $46.3 Million for Fargo Radio Stations

Clear Channel Pays $6.5 Million for Apex Radio Stations in Texas

Witches On Video by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Stewart Todd? by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Two Chita Stories by Peter Filichia

More Life for The Dead by Ken Mandelbaum

Today's Birthdays: Tom Hanks, Ed Ames, Richard Roundtree, Kelly McGillis and Fred Savage is 24. 24!

To Run Away and Create a Circus

Before and After History Changed

Harry Potter Magic Halts Bedtime for Youngsters
Aren't you all wondering why I keep coming back to Harry Potter, a seemingly non-Broadway story? Hmmmm....

Toning Up 'The Full Monty' for Broadway. Song swaps and other changes make the show leaner and stronger.

Boston Globe: Videos bring back Broadway on TV

In today's column, Liz Smith announces that Claudia Shear's show, Dirty Blonde, is closed. This may annoy the producers and general press rep's breakfast this morning. Lets hope someone fixes this faux pas soon. (Kevin Chamberlin left the show the other day. The show did not close.) It's a Miner Miracle that I got this. Thanks.

In the mailbag are two items. One is a blind rant from a reader that the British are not qualified to do Oklahoma! on Broadway. The statement that the writer makes,

"Oklahoma has nothing to do with xenophobia!!! It is a below par production ... just like many a british try at american musicals. Why should there be a brit playing a part that could easily be played by an American?"

just supports my argument of xenophobia. When you group a whole class of people together, based on a political boundary such as the country of Great Britain, you are being xenophobic. If you had made the argument that a certain actor that was in the UK might not have been the best choice for the Broadway production, I could not argue with you, because everyone has their own opinions. But to blanket a statement that Brits cannot do Oklahoma as well as Americans is just foolish, and xenophobic.

The second item of interest is a blind item I received yesterday. It reads:

"What beloved star of Broadway's WEST SIDE STORY is getting sick, throwing tantrums and not being very nice to all involved in her current musical set on Beekman place?"

I have no idea. Anybody out there want to take a stab at it?

[Updated 1PM] We have not had such a response to a question since ENTER THE GUARDSMAN... due to popular vote (50 in the last hour, please stop now!), this blind item must be Carol Lawrence in Mame at the Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center in Nyack, NY.

You cannot face the emptiness
that you live with everyday,
You try to fill it up with anything,
That will make it go away,
Put your guitar in its case
Leave your one room hiding place
And go downtown...

First Online Broadway Auditions
Yes, this had to happen eventually. Although, we all know that Bernie Telsey's office never resorts to making a mockery of the audition process just to garner some buzz for a show. That never happened for RENT auditions. And with this form of audition, do the actors fall under AFTRA or AEA jurisdiction?

Sorry, But It's Not OK. Producer Cameron Mackintosh yesterday scrapped plans to bring his acclaimed London revival of "Oklahoma!" to Broadway in the fall. [added 6:30PM]

It's a Scandal!  It's a Outrage! by Ken Mandelbaum
I heard that if Trevor Nunn did not get the cast that he wanted, Oklahoma would be canceled. I had not heard that the Oklahoma plans had been moved back. Can you imagine if SFX has an empty theatre? We quite possibly end up with rock concerts in the Ford, as SFX has done this to other legit venues. (Thanks to the anonymous person who point out my earlier mistake!)

UPDATE: I received an email telling me that the problem with Oklahoma! was not a casting one. In fact, it was going along quite well. The problem it turns out was a creative team time-frame, with commitments to other productions, and Mr. Nunn's work at NT. Lets all remember that Equity (in America) screwed this one up. If they had let the production transfer from London, the cast would have been replaced by now by Americans. Xenophobes. [Look it up.]

Broadway's Copenhagen Recoups Investment

Copenhagen Reaches a Milestone
Why is this such a big deal? This is show business; for a $1.5M show to recoup is not exactly the news of the century, especially with James M. Nederlander, Roger Berlind, Scott Rudin, Elizabeth I. McCann, Ray Larsen, Jon B. Platt, Byron Goldman and Scott Nederlander producing. (Yes, that is eight producers for a $1.5M budget with three actors.) Of course this is good news, but with a whole lot of hoopla in the theatrical press, it sounds like this "news" came in the form of a press release from a rep, rather than a report to investors.

Little Women's Broadway Previews Pushed Back to Spring 2001
Perhaps Randall and Dani should look to the Copenhagen producers for excess cash.

Little Women A Little Later by Sean Patrick Flahaven

An "Ordinary" Performance of Chicago by Peter Filichia

Runt Stunt by Peter Filichia

Harry Potter Frenzy Begins in England

Lost on Bleecker Street....