On Sept. 22, 1902, John Houseman, the director, producer and actor of American stage, film and radio, was born. Following his death on Oct. 31, 1988, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit.) Today's other birthdays include: Shari Belafonte, Debby Boone, Joan Jett (40!), Scott Baio and the Dynasty babe: Catherine Oxenberg.

On Stage and Off: What's Playing at Ford Center? by Jesse McKinley
My favorite part of this article:

"In something of a rarity, the cast of "Copenhagen" — with no songs and even less dance — will record its original cast recording on Thursday. The producer is Bruce Kimmel."

Sing A Song of Seuss by Ronni Krasnow
You know that "amateur" website Talkin' Broadway got the best interview with Lynn Ahrens... I guess the amateurs do it for love and the pros for the cash.

Boston Globe: Bad reviews may have helped 'Seussical'

"The Fantasticks" Movie Finally Gets Big-Screen Release Sept. 22

For Pete's Sake: Comic Tuner w/ Mayes Still on the OB Runway

OB Godspell To Close Oct. 7, Transfer Expected

Will Central Park's Broadway Bust Be Cinema Saved?

Equity to Drop Charges As Williams Drops Lead in Non-Union Tour of Sound of Music

Sweet Smell Will Waft in Fall 2001 Toward Bway Debut in Spring 2002

Remembering A Little Night Music by Peter Filichia

DeMornay Gets 'closer' To Stage. Actress to star in two upcoming pix.

Rob Evan going back into Jekyll & Hyde as the Wednesday/ Saturday alternate. Now if he would only finish his CD...

Blind Email Received:

MaryBeth Hurt will be in the new Wendy Wasserstein plat at Lincoln Center.

Today's birthdays include: Stephen King and Larry Hagman.

Daisy Egan on Broadway.com.. is that right??
A few Talkin'Broadway chatters point out that Broadway.com, that "professional theatre website", did a feature story on Daisy where all the promo graphics had her name spelled incorrectly. It has since been corrected. I guess Broadway.com reads Talkin'Broadway too!

Speaking of Broadway.com, did Ken beat us here? Rumor has it that the revival that Kathie Lee Gifford has been discussing is I DO! I DO! (and NOT the role of Phyllis in FOLLIES).

Millburn Memories by Ken Mandelbaum

Barry Williams May Face Equity Trouble

Double Helix Spiral Into OOB's 30th St. Theatre w/ Four Corners Sept. 21-Oct. 8

Pataki Signs Health Care Amendment; Actors' Fund Initiative Aids Uninsured Entertainers

Diana Rigg Declines Visit, Agent Says

Former "Brady Bunch" Barry Williams Backs Out of Sound of Music Tour

Reactions to the Broadway Musical's 50 Most Dynamic Openings by Peter Filichia

Rhythm hits a bump. Undercapped, lost and investor, Chicago in trouble.

Hey Nick, you still reading this? Lets do Falsettos. Drop me a line.

Today's birthdays include: Sophia Loren.

What Happened to the Old Days? by Ken Mandelbaum

"...as the notices were swiftly picked up by professional theatre websites..."

I wonder what Ken meant by the modifier "professional". Hmmm....

Seussical Switcheroo

Karen Mason. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com

Top SAG Talent Meets Commercial Negotiators Face to Face, Sept. 18

Barry Williams Faces Equity Hearing Over Non-Union Work

Internships Available At Playbill On-Line

Plan Afoot To Put a Pedestrian Mall in Times Square
Now that they've used half my plan, lets talk about finishing it with the Broadway Walk of Fame!

En (Avant) Garde! by Peter Filichia

Meet David Hasselhoff in Person Sept. 25

Today's birthdays include: Rosemary Harris, Adam West and Rex Smith.

Adam Pascal Latest Rent-er to Rock Manhattan, Sept. 28

Jack Eldon Named to Old Globe Staff

Anne Duquesnay Leads Musical In-Gathering at OB's New Duke, Sept. 19 -Oct. 1
Inaugural production for New Professional Theatre at The Duke on 42nd Street. I have a feeling that The Duke will house a new breed of great performances.

Harelik's The Immigrant Gets Musicalized in NYC Sept. 19-Oct. 8

Top Creative Team Awaits Suitable "Phyllis" In Roundabout Follies
Much of the email I received from yesterday's Kathie Lee Gifford question pointed to Phyllis in Follies. I have no idea.

Pre-Season Picks by Sean Patrick Flahaven

The 1999-2000 Toby Awards by Peter Filichia
The annual awards given by Allegro Productions.

Taymor Canvessing 'Kahlo'. Hayek starrer to compete with rival prod'n

Thesp, Ad Reps Hopeful Of Settlement In Strike. At 142nd day of protest, negotiators enter fifth day of talks

Free Speech Fight in Indianapolis

The show that could... Just a note that speaks of a tale of two cities, Boston, MA and Arlington, VA. Bothof those cities have an out of town tryout going on, Boston of course has Seussical and Arlington has The Rhythm Club. But Seussical is going through all the drama and public whispering, while Rhythm Club is celebrating its sold out run at The Signature before Broadway. What is the difference? Well, the only major one is that Seussical seem to have more high profile people involved while Rhythm Club has the next generation of Broadway leaders working on it. I wanted to point this out as many naysayers are complaining that a shows cannot have a good tryout out of town now that the internet is all over them. It seems like the people in Virginia are doing just fine. Just an observation.

More Changes at Seussical

Today's birthdays include: Greta Garbo, Robert Blake and Agnes de Mille.

Two Live and Free Performances at LA's Cinegrill by Broadway's Jason Graae, Sept. 18
I'm only going if Lisa Richard will be there. Okay, I guess I am going.

TDF's Sign Interpreted/Open Captioned Performances Start at Fosse, Phantom

SCR Announces Two New Executive Staff Managers
(SCR = South Coast Rep)

Gielgud Night, Sweet Prince: Star-Studded Shakespeare Society Tribute Sept. 18

How Were the Reviews?: Gore Vidal's The Best Man

SCENE AND HEARD: Young Playwrights Stay in the Picture

Broadway for Pets by Peter Filichia

From Zaneeta to Therese by Ken Mandelbaum

Now Where, Napster? Consumers tune out the music industry's dated business model

Talk over at RATM: Kathie Lee Gifford in talks to do a Broadway show.

What show is Kathie Lee Gifford considering starring in on Broadway, and with whom?

Hint: It's not on Broadway now and it is a revival

Any guesses? I guessed South Pacific, but saw that it was wrong.

About yesterday's Oklahoma message -- it was a joke! I have some friends from London, one of which was in Oklahoma there, staying with me this week. I simply put a sort of "Welcome to NYC" message on the website for them, and everyone got up in arms over the mention! Perhaps it was not as clever as I thought. (Everything seems clever and funny at 6AM!) Sorry for the confusion.

Today's birthdays include: Dorothy Loudon, John Ritter, Cassandra Peterson and Kyle Chandler.

A Blessing in St. Ives: New Play Premieres at CA's La Jolla Sept. 17-Oct. 15
La Jolla has its share of new works this season. With Going to St. Ives and Thoroughly Modern Millie you would think that they have done their work. Word comes that Wildhorn's Dracula maybe fast tracked to premier at La Jolla in Summer 2001 before a Broadway opening -- ahead of the other Wildhorn projects Havana and Camille Claudel. With direction by Des MacAnuff, it looks to be a new Dodger possibility. It will be an interesting marriage of production companies.

Speaking of Millie, Marc Kudisch, who did the workshop and is scheduled to be in the La Jolla production has been replaced as the 'face' in the Toyota commercials. I am assuming that this is related to the SAG strike as the replacement for Marc is quite subpar.

Stroman/Connick Raquin Gets September Workshop

In Case You Weren’t Around in 1960 by Peter Filichia

No Holds Bard At BAM

'Cats' Fans Scratching For Stage Leftovers

Cy Coleman, the 71-year-old composer/producer who married for the first time three years ago, has just adopted a baby.

OT, kind of: Nicole Hudson, former Wasserworld person, was the subject of the interactive theatrical experience, Lifegame, this weekend. Too bad they did not go into the aspect that Nicole is registered at Target for her upcoming wedding this November 18, in St. Louis, MO. Luckily, there were some other registries to choose from! I can't wait. I love St. Louis.

Actors Equity tried to prevent it, but I brought over NT's Oklahoma. I will be working on it all this week. (I couldn't wait for Cameron anymore.)

On this day in 1966, The Metropolitan Opera opened its new opera house at New York's Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. Today's birthdays include: Lauren Bacall, Susan Ruttan, Mickey Rourke, David Copperfield, Marc Anthony and Earl Carroll.

Psst.. Wanna Buy a Tire? Bway's Winter Garden Holds Cats Sale and Auction, Sept. 16

SAG Plans Rally, March and "Silent Demonstration," to Tie In w/ Sept. 18 Contract Talks

Kevin Spacey Donates $100,000 to the Screen Actor's Guild Strike Fund

Try To Envision: A Reconceived Fantasticks on Film

Broadway Gets Presidential: Best Man Opens Sept. 17

Wildhorn and Knighton Working on Camille Claudel Musical. Frank Wildhorn and Nan Knighton are collaborating on a new musical biography of the French sculptor Camille Claudel.
Because, hey, what are the chances that we could have two musicals back to back that lose over $20 million each?

Composed via Internet, Immigrant Opens Musical Chapter, Sept. 19

Broadway U. Entrance Exam

Just a reminder to the general public. Rocky Horror tickets ARE on sale. I know that you did not realize it. So as a public service announcement, here is the schedule of performances:

Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri	Sat	Sun
8PM	8PM	8PM	8PM	5PM	2PM
				9:45PM	7PM

Previews start 10/20
Opens 11/15 (6:45PM)

Added Performance: Monday 11/20 @8PM, Friday 11/24 @2PM, Monday 12/18 @8PM, Friday 12/22 @2PM

No Performance: Thursday 11/23, Sunday 11/26 @7PM, Sunday 12/24 @2PM & 7PM

I mention the above because rumor has it that the hot new logo (not) and advertising campaign are not resulting in much yet. Lots of editorial space, yes. Ticket sales, not yet. Perhaps it will be like The Donkey Show, where tickets are usually bought the day of the performance. Maybe.

Jordan Roth's first Broadway venture is with advice from producer, who happens to be his mother, Daryl Roth. The production team includes:

Christopher Ashley - Director
Jerry Mitchell - Choreographer
Richard Frankel Productions / David Caldwell - GM
Eric Muraralla - Company Manager
David Rockwell - Set Design
David Woolard - Costume Design
Paul Gallo - Lighting Design
Serino Coyne - Advertising
Judy Jacksina - Press Rep

With all these Broadway vets, there is a large amount of resources to draw from, but it is still toplined by Jordan, who is 24 years old. There seems to be no one else sharing producting credit. That's a lot of pressure for one guy with one non-Equity off-Broadway credit. I hope he surprises everyone.