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1/12/01		On Stage and Off: Long Live the New King by Jesse McKinley Geffen taps Onagan Ent. Prexy/owner to assume publicity duties at Westwood theater Mitchell kisses lead role in 'Hedley' 'Kate' thesp joins ensemble for B'Way bow of Wilson play Two Beeb vets ankle Hall to head Royal Opera, Young creating new co. Wild about Harry's pals Execs snap up magical, mystical tomes Readings Get Dirty by Ken Mandelbaum Stokes is King, Not Dutton A Little Women Workshop at Duke Carousel Cast Set at Paper Mill Patrick Cassidy to Star in 2001 Aida National Tour March 27 Inside the Rehearsals for The Producers Summer of '42 Musical Aiming for Broadway in 2001-02 B'way-bound Hedda Gabler Revival May Postpone to Fall 2001 BroadwayOnline Launches "On the Aisle," A New Electronic Magazine Hearn to Star in Ovations!' Promises Jan. 31 - Feb. 4 Eileen Atkins Gets Candid by Peter Filichia Tale of Two Generations: The Link Between Death of a Salesman and Copenhagen THE PRODUCERS Press Rehearsal Note: Can't get to Playbill.com this morning. Will try again this afternoon.

1/11/01		'Lord of the Rings' Taps the Net to Build Excitement for Film Although hobbit-obsessed fans must wait until Dec. 19 to see the first "Lord of the Rings" film, anticipation has already been fervid for official Web site's relaunch and for the trailer that is to be shown in theaters for the first time on Friday. Oscar Ballots Mailed Out With Care Pic stars go legit Ambassadors seals deals with Natural Nylon, Parfitt NEA rewards Sundance, Taper with grants The L.A. Philhaharmonic will also receive $100K from the arts org PHOTO CALL: The Last Moment: Hasselhoff and Cast Take Last Jekyll Bow Jan. 7 Jason Robards Remembered on "Theater Talk," Jan. 11 Watch West End's Mystery of Charles Dickens on the Web Jan. 11 Ricky Ian Gordon's Only Heaven Celebrates Langston Hughes, Jan. 11 Here's a Cause for Celebration by Peter FIlichia TV Guy is gone! Toyota campaign seemingly over for Kudisch. da Butz. da Kennedy. da Brown. da bio-musical. Sherri leaves the pyramid behind while Adam looks for the power in them. Why is Stokes Burn-ing next week? And when is his CD going to be done? Will it be a double-CD with Rob Evan? Follies hype leads to further blocks of tickets being sold... in turn making this production, which has not even gone into rehearsals yet, somewhat of a hit this season. Lets hope that it lives up to its hype. Meanwhile, the final cast list has been released and it is good to see the Dead girl from Poughkeepsie is back on stage... she has been very, very busy over the past few months.

1/10/01		On this day in 1947, the musical fantasy ''Finian's Rainbow,'' with music by Burton Lane and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, opened on Broadway. Today's birthdays include: Rod Stewart, Pat Benatar and Ray Bolger. An Innovative Director From Alaska Transforms Arena Stage in Washington Molly D. Smith, formerly artistic director of a small theater in Alaska, was chosen to head the Arena Stage in Washington three years ago. She has turned around the theater's stale image and subscription renewals are at a high. Carnegie Announces a Season With Several Farewells In his waning tenure as Carnegie Hall's chief executive, Franz Xaver Ohnesorg announced the hall's coming 111th season with a schedule that bears his distinct stamp for the first and last time. Rockefeller Foundation Awards $2 Million in Cultural Grants And 5, 6, 7, 8: Classes Give Directions to Broadway O'Neill taps Viertel chairman Trustee's productions have won the Pulitzer, Tony, Obie, and other kudos Bleak houses Blizzard blights a record week Broadway braces for storm's fallout STRANDS Cheers for tears By Jeeves Has Scherer and Jarvis in Pittsburgh Feb. 1-March 4; Is NYC in Future? World Premiere Third Army Marches Into CT's Long Wharf Jan. 10-Feb. 11 Theatre Luminaries Salute Mary-Louise Parker and Gerald Schoenfeld, Feb. 5 Burton Hedda Still Hoping for Spring, But Looking at Fall UN Diplomat Carne Ross Premieres The Fox at HERE in NYC, Jan. 19-28 Bells Are Ringing Cast Complete; Bway Previews Start March 13 Testa & Freeman Are Jones & Barry in 42nd Street; Previews Start April 4, Opening May 2 Report: Lloyd Webber To Perform at Bush Inaugural Gala 3hree Records Cast Album, Seeks Broadway Theatre Testa, Freeman Take Roles in B'way 42nd Street It's a Sign! It's a Sign! And It's Theirs! by Peter Filichia Once again, Peter is brilliant. Lessons of the Season #1 by Ken Mandelbaum Two Mimis on Broadway? by Ken Mandelbaum Mystery on the Web Complete Cast of Follies Announced Napoleon Dies

1/9/01		Today's birthdays include: Gypsy Rose Lee. New York Times Company's Internet Unit Plans Layoffs 'Howie the Rookie': Warrior Heroes Wielding the Power of Words By Ben Brantley "Howie the Rookie," the thrilling new play by the young Irish dramatist Mark O'Rowe, which was first seen at the Bush Theater in London, is receiving its New York premiere at Performance Space 122. Sonata for Humans, Birds and Humpback Whales Thanks for this link Ginger! Positive Proof: The Math Geek as Romantic Lead Copeland Can Cope by Peter Filichia Summer of '42 is Headed to Broadway by Forrest Mallard Broadway grosses tumble in New Year First week of year sees decline of 36.6% over previous week Public taps Hurst Mng. Dir. Former general manager replaces Litvin Sold-Out Musical, Time and Again, Begins Previews at MTC Jan. 9 Philly Cast of 3hree Steps Into Studio Jan. 9 & 11; Cast Album Due in March PHOTO CALL: You Gave Me Fever: Saturday Nights Ended Dec. 30 Broadway Grosses: January 1-7 - Part 1 IMDB: New Crisis for Liza Thanks Bruce for the link! The Standard: What Would Lawrence Welk Do? "When Len Wark bought tickets last month to the traveling Broadway production of Annie, he expected the entire show to be live, from the actors to the musicians in the orchestra pit. Instead, Wark walked into Seattle's Paramount Theater to find the orchestra conductor stationed in front of two keyboards and a computer screen. Rather than 20 musicians, this tour of Annie needs only eight humans to accompany the computerized score." [continue reading article] Is it true that Jonathan Larson's "Tick Tick Boom!" will be on Broadway by 2002? I don't know... As we all start to get "Reba-fever", this little ditty from The Smoking Gun reminds us of the world that she is used to playing in... [thanks to Catherine for the link!]

1/8/01		Today's birthdays include: Stephen Hawking, Charles Osgood, Elvis Presley and José Ferrer. 'The Wax': Across a Crowded Room, Alienation and Boredom by Ben Brantley Lillias White, Brian d'Arcy James, Sherie Rene Scott Perform in MTC Winter Benefit, Jan. 8 How Were the Reviews?: The Wax Off-Broadway B'way-Bound Stones in His Pockets Plays Toronto Tryout Jan. 9 A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood by Peter Filichia Why Julia Murney Gave Up Her Broadway Debut by Forrest Mallard What's the Score on Lloyd Webber's Beautiful Game CD? by Sean Patrick Flahaven Apple, Compaq to bow recordable DVD Spring Firming Up by Ken Mandelbaum Roxie or Mabel? by Ken Mandelbaum Grosses 2001: A New Millennium Ann-Margret In Rehearsals for Whorehouse; Box Office Big In MO Mask, Onetime Cher Film, Now Stage Musical by Mann & Weil; NYC Reading in March Post-Holiday Discounts Organized by Time Square BID in “Discover Times Square” Roundabout Extends HIPTIX Offer to Jan. 31 to Meet Demand Brent Carver 'Hosts' Larry's Party, New Musical, Jan. 8-Feb. 3 in Toronto The Price Gets Star-Studded Concert Reading in L.A., Jan. 11, 2001

1/7/01		On this day in 1873, Adolph Zukor, the American entrepreneur who built the Paramount movie empire, was born. Following his death on June 10, 1976, his obituary appeared in The Times. Today's other birthdays include: Jann Wenner and Erin Gray. In London, a Feast of Reza, O'Neill, Pinter and Pinter After Three Decades, a Double Debut in New York 'The Wax': A Farcical Perspective on Love, Sex and Pain Off the Stage and on the Screen, Stories With Rhythm Perfect/Change Becomes Longest-Running OB Musical Revue Jan. 7 Eric Grode's STAGE TO SCREEN: 2000—Year in Review Tony-Winner Frank Wood Joins Mary Testa, David Greenspan in The Wax, Jan. 7 It Says Here in This Book by Peter Filichia Julia Murney... How Did She Come To This? by Forrest Mallard The Cincinnati Enquirer: 'Songs' hits right note Indianapolis Star: Theater league offers youth free passes to productions Catherine reported in from London that the final performance of Whistle Down The Wind was a bit fraught with technical glitches: "During the closing on sat night, the freeway set broke, ala Titanic-ship-not-sinking, and they had to stop the show for 5min. Whoops. Great audience tho. She also mentioned that the writers were on hand at the closing. Not only did I protest the closing of WDTW loudly, but Tim (Gowen, of RATM fame) and I saw ALW and Ben Elton outside the theatre before the show - ALW turned down my request for a photo, the bastard." Speaking of closings: just as ALW's CATS left us a few months back, so must Wildhorn's J&H today. But don't expect to see these two writers fade into the scrim, we will be hearing from both of them again on Broadway in 2002, if not sooner... On another note, Bill, thanks for your kind, and undeserved words. I'm not a nice person. You can't tell everyone that; it'll ruin my reputation... And last but not least, don't forget that the new postal rates take effect today. It is not the one cent increase from $0.33 to $0.34 that annoys me, it is the Priority and Overnight rates that have gone throught the roof. It makes you reconsider UPS and FedEx... And this just in: please refrain from dating the actors...

1/6/01		Today's birthdays include: E.L. Doctorow. 'The Full Monty': Been Around? Yep, and Goin' by Jesse McKinley From the first moment the character Jeanette Burmeister appears in "The Full Monty," the audience knows this is a woman who has lived a little. On Stage and Off: What Is Where? Depends When by Jesse McKinley 'Contact': Still the Belle of That Swinging Ball Lloyd Webber's Whistle Down the Wind Closes in London, Jan. 6 Catherine is there to strike. This is why she is not updating her site. Jekyll & Hyde's Moment on Broadway Ends Jan. 7 PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Dec. 30, 2000-Jan. 5, 2001: Wishful Thinking Brent Carver 'Hosts' Larry's Party, New Musical, Jan. 8-Feb. 3 in Toronto Speaking of Larry's Party, it is all the buzz in the Canadian press. I wonder who among the major NYC producers are not going up to Canada to see it? Here are some of the articles: The Globe and Mail: Richard's party Richard Ouzounian has been an actor, lyricist, director, programmer and critic during his years navigating the maze of Canadian theatre. Macleans.ca: Richard's Party Turning Carol Shields's acclaimed Larry's Party into a musical is a labour of love for Richard Ouzounian National Post: They're playing Larry's song Shields novel on stage: Lyricist found his 'literary twin' within central character CDs: Long Live God by Ken Mandelbaum Just Go to the Movies Book by Peter Filichia The Saga Behind Jennifer Holliday 's Bessie Smith Show, Starting Jan. 12 by Forrest Mallard Broadway vs. Off-Broadway? by Jessica Browner Down Memory Lane to Broadway Elaine Stritch recalls how a documentary captured the drama of recording the musical 'Company.'

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