Today's birthdays include: Constantin Sergeyevich Stanislavsky, Ted Lange and Alvin Ailey Jr.

If It Were Easy Now to Play OB's Fairbanks, Feb. 15

NYTW's Presents Preem of Crisp Story, Resident Alien, Jan. 5

Pre-Broadway The Gathering Moves Into L.A.'s Wadsworth, Feb. 3-28

Jared Harris, Liz Mackay Tell More Lies About Jerzy Jan. 5-Feb. 11

Heavy Si: Time and Again Is Sold Out at Manhattan Theatre Club

Arthur Miller Receives National Endowment for the Humanities' Top Honor

Cuccioli Will Direct Jekyll & Hyde at Westchester Broadway in Fall 2001

3hree for L.A.? by Ken Mandelbaum

Act Two for a "Dreamgirl" by Sandy Kenyon
Sandy talks about Jennifer Holliday, The MTC Benefit on Monday, and BTN's success... He refers to the NYPost article below, which was lost in the Grammy shuffle yesterday. My apologies to Mr. Riedel...

Can Plays Pay On TV? by Michael Riedel

BTN Airs January 2001 Repeat of PPV Special, Smokey Joe’s Cafe
This story is about a month old, but in the context of the two stories above, it shows once again the great job that Murdock McBride is doing over at Playbill Online.

Let There Be Light Off-Broadway, Jan. 5

Robert Cuccioli Moves Up to Directing Chair in Jekyll & Hyde, Aug. 2

New Minsky Musical Will Recreate the Burlesque Environment

Report: August Wilson's B'way King Hedley II Seeks Dutton to Star

Here's That List of 50 Final Curtains by Peter FIlichia

Elaine Stritch: A "Broadway Baby" Who Remains Top-Notch Company by Michael Buckley

Music Man Sets House Record at Neil Simon Theatre

Any former In-Theatre subscribers get a letter from Playbill?
I've also noticed in passing that former InTheater publisher, Michael Parker, is no longer producing "Z"... Wonder what happened there...

The Tom Sawyer sampler CD is making its way into mailboxes and packets. Generally people are underwhelmed.

Finally figured out what is happening with this weather: Hell froze over. John Simon showed compassion and wrote a nice review for Pete 'n' Keely. Congrats to the multi-talented Jim Hindman.

And I love cleverly written blind items like this:

Look for the Old Globe to get "Christmas In The Summer," and then for Broadway to get "Summer" around Christmas.

Today's birthdays include: Jane Wyman, Barbara Rush and Dyan Cannon.

All Stars Project Says NYC’s $10M Bond Could Secure Large Midtown Performance Space

New Play Gemini Premieres at NYC's 78th St. Lab, Jan. 4-Feb. 3

Broadway Grosses: December 25-31 - Part 1

Strindberg's Death May Dance on Bway; Mathias to Direct

Producer Registers April Bway Opening in Hope of Mack and Mabel

Music Man, Kiss Me, Kate Are Among Show Album Grammy Nominees

Season's Remaining Musicals by Ken Mandelbaum

Kristin Looks Toward March Premiere

Broadway Grosses: 2000 Out With A Bang

Playing It Again, Sam by Peter Filichia

Where's That List of 50 Dynamic Final Curtains? by Peter Filichia

A Jenifer Kruskamp Chronology by Forrest Mallard

Broadway Turns to Star Power to Battle Winter Blues
Long-running shows are bringing in Ben Vereen, Reba McEntire, Bebe Neuwirth, Rosie O'Donnell and others to keep the BO's humming

Grammys Announce Best Cast Album Nominations

Richard Foreman Stages Now That Communism is Dead, My Life Feels Empty, Jan. 4

LaChiusa vs. Alessandrini Debate: Has the American Musical Entered a New Golden Age?

CUCCIOLI to direct JEKYLL & HYDE production

Front of house employees...
Incredible job of customer service is the tradition in the Broadway box offices. Slightly ahead of a NYC Brownie in pleasure to deal with, it is amazing that the theatres pay box office staff enough money to be able to afford houses in the suburbs and Range Rovers...

Today's birthdays include: Mel Gibson. (Yeah, whatever.)

Ray Walston, Broadway Star and TV Martian, Dies at 86

Begging for Percy
Ron Bohmer, a Former Scarlet Pimpernel, Was Ready to Ride When Show Came Calling

NPR: [Real Audio] Broadway and the Internet
Barry Weissler says that ticket sales for Seussical are equal to those over the phone. Barry also says that he does not own a computer....

B'Way sets records; snow hangover snag
Storm to stuff future sales after New Year's week hits high note

Hostage to history
Best Man' subject may attract laughs, but it detracts auds

Tuners tune up for B'way
Holiday season alive with staged readings, workshops

'Flower' won't bloom at Ahmanson
Money, time constraints cause prod'n to stop before it started

Theaters tap directors
Harris, Mitchell chosed to lead legit outfits

42nd Street Update by Ken Mandelbaum

Tour Casting by Ken Mandelbaum

Casting A Class Act

The Battle Over Playhouse 91

BTW, the redesign of Broadway.com that launched a few weeks ago is pretty darn good. There are minor problems with Netscape 4.7 (Macintosh), but it works perfectly with Internet Explorer. And who doesn't have some sort of problem with browser compatibility? Great job.

Bebe Neuwirth Returning to B'way Chicago

92nd Street Y Pays Tribute to "The Songs of Lerner & Loewe, and Lane & Strouse," Jan. 6-8, 2001

Lost Tribe Presents World Premiere of Kelleher’s Blood Sport 2: Tales of Love, Jan. 10-21

First Lady Mary Lincoln Sings in New Musical, Getting NYC Reading Jan. 3-6

Judd Hirsch’s Debut as Actor-Director Featured in Paper Mill’s Art, Jan. 3

Bway-Bound Gershwin Alone Opens in Florida, Jan. 3

Bat Boy, the Musical, Wings to March Off-Bway Staging at Union Square

Jennifer Holliday Stars as Bessie Smith Off-Broadway, Jan. 12-28
You don't often get a chance to see Jennifer live. Do, if you can.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: On Stage: These exits darken world of theater

Orange County Register: A fine and dandy Pimpernel
STAGE: Once you're through laughing at his clothes, there's a serious side to literature's most famous dandy, according to actor Ron Bohmer.

Seattle Times: Anonymous monolith brings a landmark movie to mind

On this day in 1983 The musical play ''Annie,'' based on the ''Little Orphan Annie'' comic strip, closed on Broadway after a run of 2,377 performances. Today's birthdays include: Taye Diggs.

How Did the Stars Do It? Go to the Videotape

Miami Herald: Theater owner follows hard act in rebirth drama

RATM: No BELLS ARE RINGING?

Jerry Herman/Mack & Mabel mention in LA Times
LA Times Real Estate section says that Mack & Mabel is coming to Broadway...

Garth Drabinsky's Toronto presentation of THE ISLAND
It is especially fun reading Garth's bio on THE ISLAND's website. I wonder if it was vetted by many lawyers before it went live... Did we mention lately how much we love Talkin' Broadway? Well, we do. And in their every expansive mission to provide the theatre community with a warm fuzzy place, Jan 1, 2001 marked the launch of their newest chat: All That Chat - Australia. Congrats to all over at TB!

EQUITY HITS 'MUSIC' TOUR
Thesp Williams caught in middle of union fight

Memorable Fever Moments by Forrest Mallard

Ya Gotta Start the Year with a Song by Peter Filichia

A Critic Does Something Extraordinary by Peter Filichia

Broadway Plans a Dramatic Spring

Musical Summer of `42 Weighing Options for Next Step

'Food for Thought' Play Series Continues with Robertson, Murphy, Brown, Jan. 22-March 29

Christopher Fitzgerald Is Fully Committed Off-Bway Jan. 2

Howard Sherman to Be New Exec Dir. at CT's O'Neill Center, Jan. 1

On this day in 1863 President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that slaves in rebel states were free. (Hey, that would make a heck of a musical... Nevermind.) Today's birthdays include: J.D. Salinger, Frank Langella, Rocky Graziano and Grandmaster Flash.

There will probably not be an update today, unless of course, Times Square burns in ruins. So please have a safe and healthy new year. Lets all start 2001 as friends. If you are up at the ungodly hour of 10AM (EDT) on New Year's Day, please tune your internet browser over to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Channel One. There you can listen to 1 hour of music and interviews with the stars and creative team of Toronto's world premier of Larry's Party.
Radio One - Real Audio
Radio One - Quicktime
Radio One - Windows Media

2000 has been a great year. I want to thank each and every one of our 3,000,000+ unique visitors that we had this year (since May). They can't all be my mother, can they? The key phrase for 2001 is "load balance". Enough geek-speak. Have a great one.

With much love,
James.

On this day in 1897 Brooklyn, N.Y., spent its last day as a separate entity before becoming part of New York City. Today's birthdays include: Sir Anthony Hopkins, Tim Matheson, Bebe Neuwirth, Henri Matisse and Jules Styne.

Theater in Review: Searching for Chorus Girls, Finding Plays
The year 2000 was a sad one for the theater, most notable for losses that signaled the ends of creatively fertile eras. But, if you looked hard, there were heartening signs of new life stirring and a couple of spectacular acts of resurrection.

Dude, Where's My Script Doctor?

'The West Wing': The Lovable Liberal Behind Bush's Victory

Intrepid Theatregoers Brave Ice Storm on Broadway

Lea Salonga Returns to B'way Miss Saigon Dec. 31

Broadway's Follies Revival Extends to Sept. 12

What's Ahead for Theatre in 2001

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Peter Filichia

2000 Shows: Part Three by Ken Mandelbaum

Disney's Musical Hoopz Gets New Creative Team

Bway's Miss Saigon Turns Up the Heat Dec. 31 When Salonga Joins Cast for Final Weeks

On this day in 1865 Author Rudyard Kipling was born in Bombay, India. Today's birthdays include: Tiger Woods (SAG Scab actor), Michael Nesmith, Davy Jones and Tracey Ullman.

Harvard Expert on Shakespeare Branches Out

Toronto Star: Blend of blood and bile fuelled Jason Robards' art. Actor dredged up deep well of darkness on the live stage by Richard Ouzounian

"I can only do it four ways: happy, sad, fast or slow. Which one do you want?" -- Jason Robards

The Oregonian: Open casting opens doors, possibilities
"Rent" stays fresh by choosing real people with raw instincts instead of seasoned actors
Oh isn't that cute! They really believe that!

The San Francisco Examiner: Dissing the dogs, hailing the near misses

Houston Chronicle: Ex-Houstonian to head Ensemble
Marsha Jackson-Randolph, artistic director of Atlanta's Jomandi Productions, has been selected as the new producing artistic director of the Ensemble Theatre.

The Hartford Courant: When The Radio Won't Play It, Let The Billboard Say It

Dealing with the Busiest Week of the Year by Peter Filichia

Reminder: B'way Saturday Night Fever Closing Dec. 30

Divine Meat Pies? by Ken Mandelbaum

If You Ever Leave Me... At The Booth

"...an unlikely union between a volatile young Italian-American writer and his deceptively understated ‘blond Jewish goddess.’ "

Umm... that would NEVER happen... (I can't believe that I don't get sued more often.)

Bway-Bound 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T Flexing in Pre-Production

PHOTO CALL: Divine Miss M Visits Dahling at Tallulah Hallelujah!

Today In Theatre History: DECEMBER 30
1926 Chicago opens [play], 1948 Kiss Me Kate opens

Something to do because it is snowing:
Click on over to RATM where you can play in "New Year's Musical Champagne Quiz". Another fun thing for regular RATMers to do is check out former roommate Matthew Murray's "RATM End-of-the-year Quote Quiz!"

Just in case you were under the illusion that individuals can compete against large organizations, you may want to take a look at The Columbia Journalism Review's Media Ownership Index. For example, here is Disney. And here is Clear Channel (owner of SFX). And here is Time-Warner (owner of Warner Bros. BATMAN coming to Broadway.) These are the new players that have entered the Broadway market in the past few years, and now control a good percentage of the box office. These are companies that make Broadway's largest organizations, Shubert, Jujamcyn and Nederlander, look like startups. We are in a dangerous time for the future of Broadway. This irrational exhuberance that we feel (Broadway theatres with shows on waiting lists three deep) has been shown to burst in other industries, like the dot coms which have lost easy access to funding. This in turn is causing many dot coms to die. As everyone on Broadway grabs for a bigger piece of the pie without a solution to increasing the revenue stream, (other than increasing ticket prices) we are raising the stakes and providing fertile ground for artistic and financial failure.

"We have so much time and so little to do! Strike that and reverse it."