Today's birthdays include: Scott Joplin and Dale Carnegie.

On Stage and Off: Odd Characters on Grand Stages by Jesse McKinley

John Keats, a Writer Who Noted American Foibles and Obsessions, Dies at 79

Shubert Charges Ahead
The Shubert Organization - Broadway's largest and most powerful landlord - will add a $1.25 "facilities charge" to the price of tickets for shows opening in its theaters after Jan. 1, Shubert chairman Gerald Schoenfeld told The Post this week.

"The Shuberts, he notes, spent $5 million fixing up the Music Box and will shell out more than $10 million on the Winter Garden."

Okay, and how much does the weekly rental for the Music Box take out of a show's budget? Is Gerry saying that the cost of doing business and capital improvements are impoverishing Shubert? This is ridiculous. And he knows quite well that money was put in escrow before CATS opened to improve the theatre. That, along with the high rise that is being discussed on the spot of the Wintergarden, would well pay for the "fixing up".

Laramie Project, About Wyoming Gay Murder, Begins National Tour in Laramie, Nov. 24

Lange & Rudd London Long Day's Considering Journey to Broadway

Tickets Go on Sale for 2001 Broadway Tom Sawyer
Just in case you missed the four page, full color ads, in The New York Times. ($240,000?)

The Broadway Musical's 50 Most Dynamic 11 O'Clock Numbers -- Part Four by Peter Filichia

Patrick Wilson, John Ellison Conlee, Henry Winkler, John Ritter To Drop by "Seth's Broadway Chatterbox"

Concert Promoter Sid Bernstein Presents Stevie Holland at Merkin Hall, Nov. 29

Florida Musicians from AFM Local 655 Plan to Strike SFX Tours, Nov. 24

Rainmaker on Radio: Bway Cast Minus Harrelson Records in L.A. Nov. 29-Dec. 3

Frank Langella to Be MSG Scrooge in New York City, Nov. 24-Dec. 31

Runyonland by Ken Mandelbaum

Barry & Fran Weissler

Flaherty & Ahrens: The Smarts of Making Art
Raven Snook talks with the composer-lyricist team about their careers in general and Seussical in particular.

Blind Email Received:

Add Andrea McArdle to the shortlist of actresses being considered for the Broadway transfer of MACK AND MABLE

Rumor has it that Richard Sabellico is no longer Associate Artistic Director for Jewish Repertory Theatre because of the fiasco surrounding the recent production of Arthur Laurents' Big Potato.

The Hotel Milton, formerly housing for recently troubled Rockewell Productions was shut down when theatre shut down. Suddenly -- with no one living there -- there is a fire! Hmmmm....

Hey, where is Kristin's TV show?

And I hear Paige Price has got a Fever again. Feel better soon!

On this day in 1959, the musical ''Fiorello!,'' with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, opened on Broadway. Today's birthdays include: Jerry Bock, Maxwell Caulfield and Billy The Kid.

'Mother Lolita': An Efficient Laugh Machine Chews Up Many Targets

A Theatregoer's Thanksgiving by Peter Filichia

Thanksgiving Parade Will Highlight Broadway Shows

Jewish Theater Stages Prison Diary of Nazi Criminal Adolf Eichmann, Nov. 22

Fantasticks Author Working on Harold and Maude Musical

Eighth Avenue To Become "Memory Lane" With New Joe Franklin Eatery

2000 Governor's Arts Awards by Forrest Mallard

To Winter by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Casper the Musical Will Have American Premiere in Pittsburgh, June 2001

Broadway Joins the March Down Broadway at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Nov. 23

Equity Reports Success w/ Informational Picket at Sound of Music in Pittsburgh

MTC and Partners Will Renovate and Relight Broadway's Biltmore Theatre

Marthe Keller and Mrs. Randall Going to Nuremberg on Bway

Metro New Yorkers Get a Free Park & Ride Wednesdays During Holidays

Mack and Mabel Update
Jon Wilner has reserved an April 23 opening date with the League of American Producers.

OFF: Just when you thought that apartments in NYC could not get more ridiculous:
9 1/2 Feet Wide, $1.6 Million

On this day in 1943, Lyricist Lorenz Hart died in New York at age 48. In 1965, The musical ''Man of La Mancha'' opened in New York. Today's birthdays include: Geraldine Page and Hoagy Carmichael.

Theater Club Has Plans for Broadway House

Manhattan Theatre Club in Deal to Renovate and Occupy Broadway's Biltmore

Listening to Jane Eyre by Peter Filichia

Spooky - Spooky Dooooog!! by Forrest Mallard

Decca Gets Topical by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Young Playwrights National Playwriting Competition Dec. 1 Deadline Nears

Nunn Has No Plans to Renew Royal National Contract

Taper, A.S.K. and Spielberg Present NY Fest at Actors' Gang in Hollywood, To Dec. 16

She's the Greatest Star by Ken Mandelbaum

South Pacific Heads North

Cat Arrives With Hat In Hand

Hark The Christmas CDs Sing!

Today's birthdays include: Marlo Thomas, Juliet Mills, Goldie Hawn, Lorna Luft (sorry Karl) and Ken Griffey Jr.

Theatrical Composers' Generational Challenge

Memorial for Canby

My One and Only Goes to College by Peter Filichia

Off-Broadway Rhapsody by Forrest Mallard

New Sounds At The Pops by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Jitney and Bubbly Black Girl Top 2000 Audelco Awards

Morehouse/Lane If It Was Easy Looking for a New York Production in Spring 2001

NYC Visitors Can Ride Public Transportation Free Wednesdays, Starting Nov. 22

Jane Eyre Postpones B'way Opening to Dec. 10

Broadway Grosses: November 13-19 - Part 1

Broadway Booster Rosie O'Donnell Says Her TV Show Will End in 2002

Jane Eyre CD in Stores Nov. 21; Opening Night is Delayed to Dec. 10

Brian Stokes Mitchell Website Reports a London Kate in His Future

Great White Way Adds 4 New Shows

Tours de Force by Ken Mandelbaum

Mack and Mabel on Broadway?

Emily Skinner (new CD from Fynsworth)

Today's birthdays include: Kaye Ballard, Estelle Parsons, Richard Dawson and Robert F. Kennedy.

'Queer as Folk': Cable TV Shatters Another Taboo

'Kit Marlowe': Heretic, Homosexual, Playwright, Spy

This Week: For Art's Sake

Gordon Rich Is Dead at 43; Built Vast Corporate Mergers
We lost a good one here. Please go home and hug your friends and family and tell them how much you love them. And dammit, leave the office at a reasonable time. Work should not be your whole life.

Craig Lucas to Direct Harry Kondoleon's Saved or Destroyed, Nov. 20

Arena Stage's Guys and Dolls Revival to Tour the U.S. in the Summer 2001

Hoffman Returns to OB Jesus Hopped on the A Train, Nov. 21

Horton Foote Directs Adams, Parsons, Pitoniak in Last of the Thorntons, Nov. 21

Audelco Awards to Salute Black Theatre in NYC, Nov. 20

Moran's Spiritual Journey, Book of the Dead Opens Nov. 20 at The Public

After 40 Years, Group Sales Box Office VP Robinson Resigns to Be a Producer

Wing’s Annual Grants and Scholarships of $123K Help Non-Profit Theatre Companies

Blind Email Received:

The producers of TALLULAH (the Kathleen Turner version) have brought in playwright Paul Selig as a ghostwriter to "punch up" the script.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FOR SEUSSICAL FANS:
There are a very limited number of tickets available for the OPENING NIGHT of Seussical on Broadway to the public for November 30th at 6:45 PM. To purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster on-line at www.ticketmaster.com, call (212) 307-4100 or 800-755-4000 outside NY/NJ/CT, or visit the Richard Rodgers box office at 226 West 46th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue.
Don't miss out on what promises to be an exciting evening!
For more information, visit our web site at www.seussical.com.

Today's birthdays include: Indira Gandhi, Dick Cavett, Allison Janney, Jodie Foster, Savion Glover and Tommy Dorsey.

Innovative? For Sure. But What Is It?

Homage to a Theatrical Comet of the 80's

Meet Janie Dee (It Rhymes With Three)

A Study Guide for 'South Park'

Let's Rebuild the Sound, Too, Please

Rocky Horror Opening

Light on My Feet by Ken Mandelbaum

Broadway's Newest Composer Salutes His Heros

Remembering Golden Boy by Peter Filichia

Everybody's Ruby, Jar the Floor, Old Settler Top Nominations for Nov. 20 AUDELCO Awards. AUDELCO is an acronym for Audience Development Committee, a nonprofit group that aims to raise awareness for black theatre.

Tidbits by Sean Patrick Flahaven
3hree is a confirm for Broadway

OB’s Minetta Lane to Stroll Down Meara’s Garden Paths, Nov. 19-Jan. 28

Eric Grode’s STAGE TO SCREEN: Thrills, Chills, Quills

Kesselring Award Night Features Reading of Auburn's Latecomer Nov. 19

Quite A Different 'Game' Overseas

Blind Item Received:

Which NY theater critic, so parched for details, is inventing information just so producers and cast members contact him with gossip?

Just heard that "Eleanor" is on the list for Grammy nomination consideration -- in the Best Musical Show Album category. Lets cross our fingers for Jonathan Bolt (Book), Thomas Tierney (Music) and John Forster (Lyrics), a nomination for this CD would mean great exposure for this worthy recording.

I just saw a new Toyota commercial with Kudisch. It seems as though he is back to work after the strike. In general, since the strike is over, the commercial talent pool is much better.

On this day in 1928, The first successful sound-synchronized animated cartoon, Walt Disney's ''Steamboat Willie,'' starring Mickey Mouse, premiered in New York. Today's birthdays include: Imogene Coca, Brenda Vaccaro, Kim Wilde and Johnny Mercer.

Bells to Ring at the Plymouth
What? Bells is going to the Plymouth? Broadway.com is really on top of this stuff!

Sh-K-Boom Room Premiere
This looks/sounds like it was a lot of fun. I am sorry I missed it. Next time.

Was Rocky A Horror with Critics?
I hear it is really hot backstage at Rocky. I think they need some Vornado fans... after all, they are the best fans, aren't they? Mr. Brantley thinks so.

Maurice Hines Plans to Bring Hip-Hop "Wonderland" Musical Yo, Alice! to Broadway

I'd Like to See a Donnybrook! by Peter Filichia

Class Act Will Land at Bway's Ambassador Feb. 14, 2001

DIVA TALK: Raves for LuPone & Ripley and More!

PHOTO CALL: Mom Must Be So Proud: Jordan Roth Produces Rocky Horror on Broadway

For Now, Clear Channel Says Howard Stern Talk Is Just Rumor
I know that this does not seem like a Broadway story... but just think about this: Broadway is the last bastion of entertainment that has not been tainted by Stern. If he leaves radio, and gets on the phone with Fran and Barry... what could happen? Just thank God that J&H is closing...

Callaway, Korey, Mason Sing at NYC's 92nd Street Y, Starting Nov. 18

This sounds like a good deal (and a good deal of fun!)

Special Election Offer -- Wait Out The Florida Recount
"Auto-Trains, Fire Ants And Lesbians" by Michael Garin
@ The Flatiron Playhouse
$10 Tickets - if you say "Gore"
119 West 23rd Street (Btwn 6th & 7th).
Performances this week Wednesday - Friday at 8:00 pm and Saturday at 8:00 pm & 10:00 pm. For these special Tix call (212) 279-4200 SAY "GORE" FOR  $10 TICKETS.

I am humbled every now and then -- The New York Pops. Last night I went to The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Jason Danieley, Marin Mazzie and Emily Skinner took off from their respective shows. (Billy Porter took off from whatever it is he is up to these days.) This show, "New Faces on Broadway" included music from George Gershwin, Michael John LaChiusa, Kurt Weill, Ricky Ian Gordon, Irving Berlin, Richard Rodgers, Adam Guettel, Leonard Bernstein and Jason Robert Brown. It really was great. And I actually found a new liking for LaChiusa's work.

Chat with Hasselhoff. There was some sort of AOL chat the other night with Hasselhoff where he mentioned that he, Sebastian (Bach), Rob Evan and Cuch were going to do a concert together called "Jekkies" and make a DVD/Live broadcast. Ummm... Okay.

Okay, they are 2 for 2! Tarantula, the firm who launched the outstanding Seussical.com website has now launched TheaterGifts.com, which is another immediate leader in the theatre webspace for online merchandise purchases. Bravi, bravi, bravissimi...