Today's birthdays include: Dame Peggy Ashcroft and FEVER twins: Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb.

Jennifer Kalman lets us know that today is also Broadway composer Andrew Lippa's birthday. (Before you email me, I know he has not had a Broadway show yet. Be generous, it is only a matter of time.)

On Stage and Off: Seeking a Nest For 'Sea Gull' by Jesse McKinley

Kathleen Turner's Tallulah Postpones B'way Opening to Fall 2001

Shakespeare Festival May Seek Broadway House for Streep/Kline Seagull in Summer 2001

Lane/ Morehouse If It Was Easy Books OB Playhouse 91 for Feb. 15

Let There Be Children of Eden by Peter Filichia

Blast! Marching to Broadway April 12, 2001
The London revue speeds up the energy and adrenaline of traditional half-time entertainment like marching bands and twirlers. Glimpse a preview on TV Dec. 27

42nd Street Revival Plans April 2, 2001 Previews

Penny Fuller Goes From Park To Party With Neil Simon by Michael Buckley

New Life Off-Broadway

WALKEN FLIES TO 'SEAGULL'
Thesp joins Streep, Kline, Portman in Nichols prod'n

Broadway's Annie Get Your Gun Gets Special Visitors Christmas Eve

PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Dec. 16-22: Home for the Holidays

DIVA TALK: Peters in Gypsy, Linda Eder at Carnegie & More!

Blast! Performs on Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 27

Two-Week International Bidfest Nets Actors’ Fund Over $104K

Alberta Theatre Projects' 2001 Fest Has Four Preems by Canadian Writers, Jan. 26-March 4

Winter-Spring Broadway Season Schedule

Appeals Court Says Cats Make-Up Copyright Case Goes to Civil Trial

The Times-Picayune: Bryan Batt to play Cat on B'way

Denver Post: Plot twist alert
First words about "Kristin"

Locked Doors and Mystery After a Jazz Resignation

A Gilman Foundation Chief

Two nix ‘42nd Street' plum part

Night Music Sings in Arizona by Peter Filichia

Nearly Naked Does Something Wild by Peter Filichia

Andrea McArdle to Take Over Sally Bowles in Cabaret Tour Jan. 23

How Are All the Fall Shows Doing at the Box Office?

Kia Corthron's Force Continuum Reveals Trials of Black NYC Cops Jan. 17, 2001

Give the Gift of Show Music by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Cats Suit

Is Taylor Dayne Aida's Next Princess?

Alice Ripley

Orbach’s Old Hits by Ken Mandelbaum

HILLS ALIVE WITH SOUNDS OF STRIFE
Equity protests non-union 'Music' tour

O'NEILL TAPS VIERTEL CHAIRMAN
Replaces White, legit org's founding exec director

STRANDS: 'DINNER' DATE
'Roll'-ing along for Grandage

B'WAY PREPS FOR HOLIDAYS
Seven- and nine-perf skeds could boost sales

BAM SLATES BERGMAN, 'DEVIL'
Strindberg's 'Sonata' to have U.S. preem in late June

L.A.'S HUDSON COUNTS ON RUFFALO TO DIRECT
Thesp in L.A. working on Woo's 'Windtalkers'

DISH: ABC STARTS 'ANNE FRANK' MINI; MYERS CAMEO

DIXON GOES TO THE GUTHRIE
Appointment is part of legit complex's expansion

Will Reefer Madness Find a Joint in NYC in the Spring?

Seussical' Chamberlin and LaManna Visit Rudetsky's Cabaret Chatterbox, Dec. 21

Greenwood Press Publishes "Thematic Guide" to Shakespeare

Bierko, Ripley, Pascal Croon Holiday Tunes Dec. 21 to Aid Sick Girl

Cat's Paw Has Official Opening at Soho Rep, Dec. 21

Broadway Grosses: December 11-17 - Part 1

Comic Potential Laughs Run Out Jan. 7 at MTC; Bway Eyed But Hopes Died

Andrea McArdle to Play Sally Bowles in Touring Cabaret, Jan. 23

Tabletop To Be Cleared Dec. 31; Workplace Play Drew Solid Notices

ASF Managing Director Kevin Maifeld Heads to Seattle Children's Theatre in 2001

Lippa to Compose Music for Laurents' Venecia at NJ's George Street

Carnegie Hall Gig Nixed Eder’s Involvement in BTN Taping of Jekyll

"Eder originated the role in Broadway’s Jekyll and Hyde, which is generally expected to close Jan. 7."

"...generally expected to close..."? That is a strange sentence. Does it allow for a reversal? For whom does the Bells toll?

On this day in 1946, the Frank Capra film ''It's A Wonderful Life,'' starring James Stewart and Donna Reed, had a preview showing for charity at New York City's Globe Theatre, a day before its ''official'' world premiere.

Ohnesorg to Leave Carnegie Hall for Berlin Philharmonic
After months of change and turmoil at Carnegie Hall, the institution's executive director, Franz Xaver Ohnesorg, suddenly announced his resignation on Tuesday.

Theatre.com Introduces 21st Century Broadway "Seat Locator"

London Leads To Recreate Stones in His Pockets on B'way in March

OB Musical Satire Updates Fiddler on the Roof, Jan. 4

Lillias White, Brian d'Arcy James, Sherie Rene Scott Perform in MTC Winter Benefit, Jan. 8

Bway's Nuremberg Nearly Cast; Previews Due at Longacre Feb. 15

PHOTO CALL: Bear-Able Producer Roth Receives First Century Center Award

MI's Purple Rose Has Three World Premieres in 2001, Including Lanford Wilson Work

Roundabout’s Follies Extended to Sept. 30 at the Belasco Theatre

BTN Cameras Arrive at Plymouth In Prep for Taping of Jekyll

Albee's Lorca Play Eyes Off-Broadway in December 2001

Over at RATM:

BLAST adding two casts

Idina Menzel Gets a TV Show

On this day in 1843, Charles Dickens' classic Yuletide tale, ''A Christmas Carol,'' was first published in England. Also, in 1957, the musical play ''The Music Man,'' starring Robert Preston, with book and songs by Meredith Willson, opened on Broadway.

What Keeps a Man Alive by Ken Mandelbaum

'FLOWER' WON'T BLOOM AT AHMANSON AFTER ALL
Scheduling commitments cited as reason

Theatrical Greatness Strikes in Phoenix by Peter Filichia

Broadway's Jekyll & Hyde To Be Taped for Pay-Per-View Broadcast

The Wiz that Was... and Yet May Be by Forrest Mallard

A Special Evening with Margaret Whiting by Forrest Mallard

Forrest has also made the return to the email updates that he is famous for. To subscribe to his email updates, send him an email @ [email protected]

Flowers for Flower Drum Song by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Harris, Headley, Knight to Star in Radio Production of Hellman'sGarden

New Anthology, 'Reading Lyrics,' Has Theatre Lyrics From Cohan to Kleban

Controversial Valerie Solanas Play Makes NYC Premiere Feb. 7-25

Bierko, Ripley, Pascal Croon Holiday Tunes Dec. 21 to Aid Sick Girl

Peters to Do London Gypsy at the National; NYC Run Likely

BTN Tapes Wildhorn’s Jekyll and Hyde, Dec. 23

No Flower Drum Song: L.A. Revival Cancels Due to Lack of Funding

Blind Email Received:

Pity the creditors of Jane Eyre. With very little left in the bank, some insiders are wondering how the show will even afford to load out of the theatre.

Even creative types like Larry Hochman (the show's ochestrator) are still waiting for their payment.

What is happening at RICHARDS/CLIMAN,INC.? The general managers have recently lost DINNER WITH FRIENDS and BELLS ARE RINGING and now with JANE EYRE breathing her last breath, they will be left with no shows.

As far as I know, "Bells" is still a go. And "Jane Eyre" played 93% last week, and is well financed... "Dinner With Friends" played for about a year, I think, at the Variety Arts, a nice run so far. Although Richards/Climan don't seem to have enough business sense to return phone calls, they are otherwise pretty smart people.

Today's birthdays include: Ossie Davis.

DOLLARS AND CENTS Hurley to pay SAG $100,000 for perfume ad

3 MUSICALS ON MUSICALS HIT GOTHAM 'Tallulah,' 'Game Show' close off Broadway Dec. 31

Commedia Tonight! by Peter Filichia

City of L.A. Schedules Numerous Theatre Events Over the Winter

Wildhorn and Eder Shuffle Release Schedule to Maximize Buzz on Singer’s Holiday CD

Fynsworth CD Has the Sounds of Skinner, Including M.I.A. Monty Tune

Cary and Gallo Ask What If We Did This? at OB's Soho Playhouse Dec. 18-Jan. 22

Sokol and Bway Singers Share “A Chanukah Cabaret” in Queens, NY, Dec. 23

Today's birthdays include: William Safire.

Leonard Bernstein: This Maestro Defies Convention Even in Death
Ten years have passed since the death of Leonard Bernstein, as the New York Philharmonic has repeatedly reminded listeners this fall, yet his name retains much of its cachet. Such durability cannot be taken for granted.

Celebrating Nelson Rodrigues, a Giant of Brazilian Theater

Reserving a Stage for Tomorrow's Choreographers

A Glimmer of Satire Amid Freedom's Obscurities

Ah, Paris! by Ken Mandelbaum

A Memorable Improvement by Peter Filichia

Full Cast Announced for OB Time and Again Musical Jan. 9

Sing-a-long Sound of Music On NBC Dec. 17; Moves to Loews State in NYC Dec. 22

It is the middle of December, right? We are having a fall-like rain storm right now in NYC. It is such the perfect Sunday morning noise. Just the rain patter with the occasional rumble of thunder... it really makes you want to grab a blanket and stay on the couch all day and watch movies. But alas, there is shopping to do and places to be.

National Music Theater Network continues to impress me with their work in the development of new musicals and the ability to follow thru with what so many other similar groups promise, but never deliver on. Check out their website here.

The Decca Broadway website has some really good features. One feature of note is "David Merrick: The Abominable Showman". This short piece is about the two Merrick shows (Carnival and Mack and Mabel) which Decca recorded. This piece is not related to Howard Kissel's unauthorized biography, which bares the same title.

Tams-Witmark website. Signs that the apocalypse is approaching: Tams finally put up a website. It really must be the 21st Century. (In a few days...)

On this date in 1916, Gregory Rasputin, the monk who had wielded powerful influence over the Russian court, was murdered by a group of noblemen. Today's birthdays include: Steven Bochco, Benny Andersson, Sir Noel Coward and Ludwig van Beethoven.

"Flower Drum" Sayonara: The revised version of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "Flower Drum Song," which had been scheduled to open April 29 at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown L.A., has been canceled. Center Theatre Group producing director Gordon Davidson said Friday that not enough money was raised to mount the production on time. No immediate replacement was announced.

Producer of "Bells are Ringing" says plans are going forward to the presentation of the musical.

From Rifleman to Radames? by Ken Mandelbaum

Bernadette Peters in "Gypsy" by Sandy Kenyon

Report: Bernadette To Play Mama Rose in London
I notice that no one on the American side is jumping up and down demanding that actors in the UK will lose work because Bernadette is there... I still miss Oklahoma... And by the way, we talked about this Gypsy production in August.

Dominic West Joins Ehle and Cumming in B'way Design For Living, Feb. 16, 2001

Full Monty Tour To Launch in Toronto May 2001

How Were the Reviews?: Pete 'n' Keely

Casting Complete for Donald Sutherland's OB Ten Unknowns. He'll star with Julianna Margulies in a new play by Jon Robin Baitz, previewing Feb. 8.

Joy (Franz) to the (Theatre) World by Peter FIlichia

Happy Birthday CHATTERBOX by Forrest Mallard

Mousetrap Celebrates 20,000 Performances in UK, Dec. 16

SFX Names Exec Charged With Integrating SFX/Clear Channel Operations

Thomas Babe, Playwright and Director, Is Dead at 59

Spooky Dog Will Bark at NYC's Kraine Through Feb. 24

Ricky Jay to Stack the Deck on Bway?
(I saw this headline and thought to myself Ricky Martin and Richard Jay-Alexander were FINALLY doing their two person show on Broadway!)

DIVA TALK: Stocking Stuffers: Divas on Disc and MORE!

They're Ba-ack: Little Women to Workshop at NC's Duke, Feb. 2001

The Producers' website: Once again, we are impressed by the work of Tarantula and their work on the look of the preview page for The Producers. Check it out for yourself here.

Suddenly Seussical? With Rosie coming into the Fran and Barry co-adventure into the magical world of troubled Seuss, could other stars be encouraged to take over after Rosie if Mr. Shiner extends his vacation? Was that Brooke seen leaving 165 W. 46th the other day? Of course, we don't know...

I have been meaning to mention this for a week, but it never made it to the update. Tiger Woods was fined $100,000 for shooting a Buick ad during the SAG/AFTRA strike on commercial advertising. This was an appropriate fine in my opinion. Lets hope the $50,000 goes toward helping out actors who suffered during the strike. (The other $50,000 was suspended.)

Jekyll & Hyde will be taped for PPV Dec 18. Rumor has it that Hasselhoff is Exec Producer of the taping...