All stories by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

REFLECTIONS ON OLIVER!, REVIVALS, AND BROADWAY ECONOMICS by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Oliver! is darker than most so-called family musicals—mixing elation and heartbreak as casually as life itself does—but it touches us more than most family musicals. And Encores’ prod…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:53PM
Sunday, May 14, 2023

On The Town with Chip Deffaa: At “New York, New York,” “Some Like It Hot,” and Seth Sikes & Nicholas King’s Nightclub Act by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

In the last few weeks I feel like I’ve been stepping back in time—in a nice way.   I’ve enjoyed seeing the new Broadway musicals "New York, New York" (set in 1946-47) and (with some …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 06:41PM
Tuesday, May 9, 2023

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: “As You Like It” On Stage and “Banded Together” In the Movies by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Each was an individual; I liked hearing all of the different voices and accents and inflections. Each one brought his or her own personality to the work.   But—and this is a compliment--…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 10:43PM
Monday, April 24, 2023

R.I.P. Robert Patrick, Playwright by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

He was perhaps best-known for his play "Kennedy's Children"--produced successfully on Broadway and on the West End, and in many cities, internationally.  He also gave  us some 60 other pu…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:18AM
Friday, April 21, 2023

An Appreciation of Todd Haimes, Producing Artistic Director of Roundabout Theatre Company by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Roundabout, under Haimes' leadership, was noted both for new works and for revivals of older shows with strikingly new elements (like this season's gender-bending revival of "1776.")  He w…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:10AM
Saturday, February 11, 2023

On the Town with Chip Deffaa at Anthony Rapp’s “Without You” by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Rapp’s show—directed by Steve Maler, with musical direction/orchestrations by Daniel A. Weiss (who was the associate conductor/second keyboards player of the original Broadway production…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:40PM
Sunday, January 1, 2023

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: From Anatevka to Wales by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

"Fiddler"--brilliantly directed by Joel Grey—is an unusually impactful production. It’s emotionally rich, moving, and timeless. And wholly believable.  They had me from the first words …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 10:34PM
Tuesday, December 13, 2022

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: At the Museum of Broadway by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Everyone who loves theater owes a debt of gratitude to Julie Boardman and Diane Nicoletti.  About five years ago, they got the idea of creating a museum in the theater district, dedicated t…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:25PM
Monday, December 5, 2022

The Sound of Music (Paper Mill Playhouse) by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

The new production of "The Sound of Music" at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse is such an utter delight, you shouldn’t be wasting time reading this review, you  should be ordering tick…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 05:18PM

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: “Hoagy Carmichael’s Stardust Road”… Carmichael deserves better by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Boy! This is going to be a tough review to write.  The York Theatre Company, which has such a strong track record when it comes to honoring important songwriters, is currently presenting a …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:12AM
Sunday, November 27, 2022

Remembering Robert Clary: From the Concentration Camps to Broadway and Hollywood by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Clary scored a great success on Broadway in "Leonard Sillman’s New Faces of 1952."  My father, who enjoyed that show, recalled Eartha Kitt and Robert Clary as the standouts in the cast of…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:47PM
Wednesday, November 23, 2022

An Appreciation of Michael Feingold (1945-2022) by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

He saw seemingly everything, and championed plays and productions he found meaningful, even if they were at the smallest of theaters.  He chose what he wished to cover, and would sometimes …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 02:26PM
Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Anthony Rapp’s Solo Show, “Without You,” To Get Off-Broadway Run by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

I think this is great news. I’m happy the show will finally be getting a full theatrical production in New York.  I saw the original festival-production tryout of "Without You" about a do…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:58PM
Monday, November 14, 2022

On the Passing of Aaron Carter by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

He had his first album out by age nine, the same year he began opening for the Backstreet Boys. (His older brother, Nick Carter, was of course one of the Backstreet Boys.)  And he enjoyed a…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:00AM
Saturday, November 12, 2022

Jay Rogers: A Remembrance by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Jay Rogers, who's lost his battle with cancer, was a wonderfully impish cabaret star, with impeccable comic timing. Totally likeable fellow, on stage and off stage. I was so happy to be able…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 09:58PM

In Memory of Playwright/Director/Actor Douglas McGrath by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

In October, he opened in an autobiographical Off-Broadway play that he wrote, 'Everything's Fine"—a good-natured remembrance of his youth, and of a school teacher who fell for him.  He pe…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 09:38PM
Monday, June 6, 2022

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: On Fanny Brice and “Funny Girl” by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

I’ve often told friends what an impact "Funny Girl" had on me.  That was the show that made me fall completely, utterly, and permanently in love with Broadway. I was a teenager when I saw…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 10:58PM
Friday, April 22, 2022

Robert Morse: An Appreciation by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

He won a Tony Award starring in the Broadway masterwork "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."  And fortunately his performance was captured well in the film adaptation of that…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:36PM
Thursday, April 7, 2022

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: “Rent” at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts: An Appreciation by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

This production was an ensemble success—which is what Jonathan Larson was hoping to achieve—so I’d like to mention every member of the company.   Not just the leads, whom I very much…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:08AM
Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Irving Berlin and Me (And a Brush with Death Along the Way) by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

In the past 20 years, I’ve produced a total of 34 different albums; 16 of them have dealt with Irving Berlin (1888-1989). The newest album in this ongoing Berlin series, "Chip Deffaa’s …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:02PM
Monday, February 21, 2022

A Few Thoughts on Those Needless Changes to “The Music Man” by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

I want to be clear.  "The Music Man" is such a masterfully written musical that making some changes here and there can’t really ruin it; but changes are not needed in this show and they c…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 08:59PM
Tuesday, February 15, 2022

Why Robert De Niro’s New Film Studio Matters by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

De Niro’s goal is to lure more film and television production from Hollywood to New York, and that can only be a plus for New York-based actors. A brand new studio, created for the needs o…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 10:08PM
Friday, January 7, 2022

Broadway’s “Mrs. Doubtfire” Takes a Nine-Week Hiatus Due to Covid-19 by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

The show's pre-Broadway, out-of-town tryout was very successful financially, suggesting that there's an audience for the show. (The show broke box-office records in Seattle, during its tryou…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 07:22PM
Friday, October 29, 2021

Broadway Box-Office Grosses Look Encouraging by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

So how is Broadway doing right now, in terms of ticket sales and attendance?  Not bad at all, all things considered....  There are currently 24 shows running on Broadway.  Last week, over…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:27AM
Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Remembering George Wein by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

George Wein, who died peacefully at his New York apartment at the age of 95, was the founder of the modern music festival.  His contributions to pop culture were enormous.   I liked him v…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 03:06PM
Thursday, August 5, 2021

Remembering Don Schaffer by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Don long worked as a publicist for one singer he greatly admired; when age and ill health prevented her from working much anymore and her finances grew precarious, she told him she could no …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:33AM
Tuesday, July 20, 2021

On the Town with Chip Deffaa: As Nightclubs Begin Coming Back by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Gianni Valenti, who runs one of the city’s best-known and most important nightspots, Birdland Jazz Club on 44th Street, deserves a lot of credit for leading the way.  He was one of the fi…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 02:15PM
Friday, July 16, 2021

When Broadway Shows Will Be Opening (or Re-Opening) by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

More than 30 Broadway productions are expected to open or re-open before year's end. Producers are gambling that by the fall, audiences will be ready to return. I'll list below the shows and…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:56AM
Wednesday, October 21, 2020

EDITH O’HARA—A PERSONAL REMEMBRANCE by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

There were few women in positions of authority when she started in theater.  But as she once told me, “If I wanted to do something, I just went ahead and did it.”  She blazed a trail f…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:57PM
Tuesday, May 5, 2020

BROADWAY’S JAKE RYAN FLYNN releases “GOOD MORNING QUARANTINE” by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Rather than sit around and mope, Flynn wrote “Good Morning, Quarantine”—setting his own new lyrics to the familiar melody of “Good Morning, Baltimore,” composed by Marc Shaiman (wi…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 09:01PM
Monday, April 27, 2020

ON THE TOWN WTH CHIP DEFFAA: THE CORONAVIRUS VERSUS THE THEATER.… by Chip Deffaa, Editor-At-Large

Will people--especially people who are older or have pre-existing health issues (and many theatergoers are older and have such heath issues)--be willing to gather in packed theaters or conce…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 08:30PM

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