On this day in 1875, the Georges Bizet opera "Carmen" premiered in Paris. Today's birthdays include: Julie Bowen, James Doohan, Alexander Graham Bell and Jean Harlow.

Illness Strikes a 'Rigoletto' Lead
Could you imagine an article in the NYTimes everytime an understudy went on in Broadway? I guess it is just the perception that opera is somehow more important than theatre.

Revival of Into The Woods Planned

Aida at the Ahmanson by Ken Mandelbaum

Love Him, Fear Him: Bat Boy, the Musical, Begins Off-Bway Previews March 3

Feast on This: Trey Parker's Cannibal: The Musical Goes OOB, March 3-April 21

Margulies, Gershon and Sean Leonard Unwrap Dangerous Gift in Feb. 26 Reading

Winkler and Ritter to Party at Supper Club, May 21, as Hosts of League Tour Award

Preem of Larson's tick, tick...BOOM! Will Light Up Off-Bway Sky, May 23

Inside the Upcoming 6-Musical Sondheim Celebration

Is Cathy Rigby the New Cat in the Hat in Broadway's Seussical?
Seussical production officials, however, have not returned phone calls or emails with denying or confirming the rumor that Rigby is going back to Broadway.

How Were the Reviews?: Tom Sawyer in New Haven

Assassins Headed for NY Revival in 2001-02
This production may go into Studio 54 or the Booth. (Ironic, isn't it?)

I'm on My Way to Wilmington! by Peter Filichia

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Love songs fizzle on 'Broadway'

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 'By Jeeves' by CMU: Three graduates of drama program enjoying roles in Public Theater show

Note: My email servers have been rebuilt about 10 days ago by my host (Interland). They neglected to tell me that there was a big problem and most of my outgoing email is intermittently not working and has been either lost or sitting in a queue. Great. Everyone has been yelling at me that I don't respond to email. I have responded, sometimes. They hope to resolve this situation soon. Great. Incoming email is not effected.

posted at 3/3/2001 09:06:46 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Friday, March 02, 2001

On this day in 1904, Theodor Seuss Geisel, who wrote and illustrated the popular 'Dr. Seuss' children's books, was born. Following his death on Sept. 24, 1991, his obituary appeared in The Times. (Go to obit). Today's other birthdays include: Jon Bon Jovi, John Cullum and Kurt Weill.

Studios and Writers Guild Break Off Contract Talks

"Such a strike could effectively shut down the nation's entertainment industry."Uh, I don't think this will affect (effect?) live performance... Some may see this as an opportunity for Broadway and live theatre in general. Aside from having a whole nation with nothing to do except watch re-runs and bad movies, you also will have a pool of actors who may be inclined to visit stage projects in the absence of big ticket jobs.

On Stage and Off: A New Boom for 'Boom' by Jesse McKinley

Kennedy Center Plans Six Sondheim Musicals

Will Cathy Rigby Fly Into Seussical?

New Flaherty-Ahrens-McNally Musical to Get Reading at LCT

Whorehouse Tour Dates in Schenectady Canceled; Ann-Margret's Mother Ill
This has been talked about on Talkin' Broadway for the past few days. And I received many emails asking me to run something about it, but I passed on it.

Webber and Mackintosh Cry Crisis in London Theaterland

Victoria Clark Sings The Ambition Bird in TRU Reading March 6

John Cullum to Star in Off-Broadway Musical Urinetown!, April 1

Jason Robert Brown Sings Last Five Years in NYC April 28

Pete 'n' Keely Call It Quits March 11

Bramble and Coleman Penning New Musical, Nothing But the Truth, With Late, Great Lyricists

It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish by Peter Filichia

After Charo, Pete N' Keely Musical Closes OB, March 11

"South Park" Creator Behind New Off-B'way Cannibal Musical, Bowing Mar. 3

Last Chance To See B'way's Dirty Blonde, Closing Mar. 4

Rocky Horror May Finally Be Recording Cast Album

Tick! Tick! Booms Off-Broadway

Rocky Horror to Record Cast Album March 12

Finally, Rocky Horror Is Recording A CD

Theater nods name co-hosts. Winkler, Ritter to help bow Nat'l Broadway Theatre Awards
I guess Barry Williams was too busy...

Kennedy slates Sondheim. Event includes six full-scale productions in 15-week run

posted at 3/2/2001 08:38:15 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Thursday, March 01, 2001

Barrington baffled by mystery scribe. 'Ciao!' scribe submitted comedy anonymously

'Courage' leads Steppenwolf. Other revivals include 'Glengarry Glen Ross' and 'The Royal Family'

Shakin' in Seattle, live Crowe, 'Gershwin' at Hayes

SFX allies with Teuton promo firm. Move expands firm's Euro footprint
I can't believe it. SFX is getting bigger... Who would have imagined?

Cathy Rigby is Seussical's New Cat

Tonys #1 by Ken Mandelbaum
posted at 3/1/2001 02:44:49 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Today's birthdays include: Harry Belafonte, Robert Conrad, Roger Daltrey, Dirk Benedict, Alan Thicke, Catherine Bach, Ron Howard and Glenn Miller.

Neil Simon's Next Play Has a Coffee Shop's Regulars Abuzz
The customers of the venerable Broadway hangout known as the Polish Tea Room all want to know who's being featured in "45 Seconds From Broadway," Neil Simon's new play.
How many Broadway shows were brought to life at the Edison Cafe? One may never know, except to say "many".

New Blood Brings Boom Times to a Boston Theater

Pete 'n' Keely to Retire March 11

Urbanites Sing a Song of Suburb, Opening March 1 in NYC

Stoppard's Invention of Love Begins Previews on Bway, March 1

Chicago's Center Theater Ensemble Shuts Its Doors March 1

Franz Liebkind Wins an Oscar as Orbach's Knee Caps Producers Cast Change

Report: Louise Pitre to Star in Mamma Mia! on Broadway

Revamped London Secret Garden May Grow on Broadway

Bosco and Chenoweth Will Visit Vidal's Small Planet in Private Reading, March 5
Isn't it odd that Kristin is doing a reading when she should be getting in gear to promote her mid-season replacement sitcom? Or maybe it won't be a mid-season replacement...

Public Theater Holds Closed Workshop for Keith Haring Musical Radiant Baby, March 2

March into March with a March by Peter Filichia

MacIvor, Jones and O'Connor Score Again with See Bob Run by Forrest Mallard

The Beat Goes On for Liz Callaway by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Giving Birth to Billion Dollar Baby by Sean Patrick Flahaven

Janine Lamanna: A Childhood Fantasy Life Comes True in Seussical

posted at 3/1/2001 11:32:27 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Wednesday, February 28, 2001

Today's birthdays include: Bernadette Peters, Tommy Tune, Charles Durning, Gavin MacLeod, Mercedes Ruehl, Ben Hecht, Vincente Minnelli and Zero Mostel.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: 'By Jeeves' to serve on Broadway

There's excitement at the Public Theater: "By Jeeves" is going to Broadway -- but first, to video. Public Theater artistic director Ted Pappas confirmed yesterday that shortly after the Alan Ayckbourn-Andrew Lloyd Webber musical closes Sunday, the entire production will move to a studio in Toronto to be filmed for video. The video is intended for retail sale, but Pappas is confident it will also be broadcast, probably on PBS. Director/playwright/lyricist Ayckbourn will return from England to oversee what will be billed as the Pittsburgh Public Theater production.That's an interesting experiment to record the video before the Broadway production. Hmmm...

Injury leads 'Producers' to drop Orbach. Thesp calls move 'sock to the belly'; understudy Oscar to take over
We mentioned this on Feb. 5. This gives the term "Oscar Watch" a whole new meaning...

Harris links with Donmar. Companies specialize in film, theatrical prod'n

Reminiscing about Robards. Gelb, Connell, Anderson, Spacey reflect on legit, H'w'd thesp

Agents rip SAG on tactics. No meeting planned on long-stalled issue

Richardson to play 'Melville' Off B'w'y. 'Patriot' thesp to make Gotham stage debut

Rue McClanahan to Star in Twigs on Broadway

Donny Osmond Looks to Jekyll & Hyde in London
Well, at least no one saw that coming...

Love, Janis to Begin Preview at Village Theater, April 2

Gossip Maven Liz Smith Raises Money for TX's Zach Scott March 10
I talked about the great work at the Zachary Scott Theatre Center back on Nov 6, 2000. Now I can finally say that Liz Smith and I are in agreement on one thing...

25th Humana Fest of New Plays Opens in Louisville, Feb. 27-April 7

Schlitz-Ludwig Musical, Tom Sawyer Starts Previews in New Haven, Feb. 27

Producers to Stand Pat w/ NYC Television Special, April 22

The Music of Stephen Schwartz Will Premiere Song From New Musical. The performance to benefit The Storefront will feature Wild Party star Julia Murney

Report: Lord Lloyd Webber and Sir Cameron Mackintosh Voice Fears Over State of West End
I wonder how recently Cameron or Andrew last rode the tube? Now they are experts in urban socio-economic issues regarding crime and infrastucture?

The 50 Best Tony-Losing Musicals by Peter Filichia

Alton Fitzgerald White: From Audio Books to New Literary Musicals by Forrest Mallard

Who Finances Broadway Shows? by Jessica Browner

Brian Stokes Mitchell Stars in B'way-bound King Hedley II Feb. 28

RSC Stratford Production of The Secret Garden To Transfer to the West End's Aldwych Theatre, Feb. 27

Billy Stritch

Toronto Star: Next she takes Manhattan: Louise Pitre does Broadway by Richard Ouzounian

Makin' Time With 'Monty'. Unflappable pit boss Kimberly Grigsby sees all & never skips a beat
We repeat: 'We love Grigsby'.

Kin Reveals Truth Behind Lyricist's Tragic Final Days by Michael Riedel

posted at 2/28/2001 06:59:05 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

Broadway Grosses: February 19-25 - Part 1

2001 Obie Awards to be Held May 21 at NYC's Webster Hall

Young Playwrights NYC Public School Playwriting Competition Open; Deadline: April 1

Stratford Cast Returns for West End Secret Garden, Feb. 27

Taylor Dayne Replaces Sherie Rene Scott in Disney's Aida, Feb. 27
Hyperion Theatricals has just signed the late-1980s icon in the Elton John-Tim Rice spectacular.

Upcoming Offbeat Off-Off-Broadway For The Twisted: Part Two -- The Florida Project by Forrest Mallard

Reactions To My Tony-Rankings by Peter Filichia

Our equivalent of "If a tree fell in the woods..." happened today. Theatremania went down. Did anyone miss it?

Normally I do not do a mid-afternoon update. I bet Kevin is happy! But *someone* blew me off for lunch giving me an extra hour to surf around. :-)

posted at 2/27/2001 01:41:53 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Today's birthdays include: Chelsea Clinton, Joanne Woodward, Elizabeth Taylor, Ralph Nader, Debra Monk, Marino Marini, John Steinbeck and Irwin Shaw.

The Tricky Business of Cross-Cultural Theater
"4 Guys Named Jos� . . . and una Mujer Named Mar�a!", a high-energy revue of Spanish songs, has succeeded in tapping a cross-cultural market of Anglo and Latino theatergoers. But it has been a challenge.

Fellow Actors Honor Jason Robards

Broadway B.O. posts a hike over holiday
'Music' hums loudest with $81K jump

Next Season's Musicals by Ken Mandelbaum

Broadway Grosses: A Strong Suit

Connecticut Critics Hear Bells

Retired! Pete 'n' Keely Announces "Last Weeks"
Although both Playbill and Broadway.com have mentioned the "Last Weeks", the producer has denied an impending closing.

Joely Richardson Looks Set For Melville

Matthew Warchus

Bright Lights, Big City Recording

Clear Channel's Year-End and Fourth Quarter Results Stand Out

Grammy Winner John McDaniels Shares Broadway CD Profits with BC/EFA
Murdoch didn't even mention that yesterday was John's Birthday! The CD can be purchased only at www.johnmcdaniel.com

Tom Sawyer Musical Begins New Haven Tryout Feb. 27

2001 Humana Festival To Highlight Comedy About Elian Gonzalez Mess

Starry Cast Toplines Newyorkers Revue at MTC Feb. 27

Ranking the Tony-winning Musicals by Peter Filichia

Upcoming Offbeat Off-Off-Broadway For The Twisted: Part One -- Cannibal: The Musical by Forrest Mallard

A.P.: Gibson: Beef With Tiffany Fabricated
Oh thank God we cleared this up.

posted at 2/27/2001 12:00:40 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Monday, February 26, 2001

On this day in On Feb. 26, 1993, a bomb exploded in the garage of New York's World Trade Center, killing six people and injuring more than 1,000 others. (I hate when my building is blown up.) Today's birthdays include: Tony Randall, Betty Hutton, Fats Domino, Michael Bolton, John McDaniel and John Harvey Kellogg (American physician who developed dry cereal)!

The Return of the Pimpernel
The role revived Douglas Sills' interest in acting. Now he returns to his roots in Shakespeare.

Pete 'n' Keely in 'Last Weeks'; Splitsville Expected March 4

Bells Are Ringing Troupe Heads Back to Rehearsal; Previews Begin March 12

No Turn Unstoned: Bond's Saved Opens Feb. 25 at OB's American Place

PHOTO CALL: A Wild Party With Menzel and Murney at Joe's Pub

Jones' Stones Leaves Toronto Feb. 25; Broadway Next

New Musical, Leaving Queens, Debuts Off-Broadway, Feb. 25

It's Time To Revive Silk Stockings by Peter Filichia

Broadway Pays Tribute to O'Neill Master Jason Robards, Feb. 26

San Diego Union-Tribune: A seat on the aisle: Theaters in the making and remaking

Oliviers on a 'Roll'. Sondheim, Miller shows top Brit legit awards

'Monty' money. Show topper predicts over 90% capacity in March

Siegried & Roy ink life pact. Pair cuts back on workload; raises ticket price

DGA honors Poitier. Thesp received kudos for helming

Strike pessimism lifting as talks enter sixth week. Extended talks, exchanged info point to progress made

Three toss hat in 'Cat' ring. Sitcom vets take on Geisel classic

In a seven-figure deal, Imagine and Universal have hired the team of Alec Berg, Jeff Schaeffer and Dave Mandel to adapt what the studio and producer hope will be its next Dr. Seuss hit, "The Cat in the Hat."Hmmm...

Goodspeed goes Gershwin. Season opens with Ganakas-helmed piece

Stage in shrink cycle. On B'way and Off, plays get shorter

SAG will not extend pact by 4 months. Move would have delayed talks until late summer

Corrections
Ohmigoodnessgracious! A news organization that runs a correction. Isn't that novel?

posted at 2/26/2001 08:27:24 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Sunday, February 25, 2001

Today's birthdays include: Larry Gelbart and George Harrison.

How Karaoke Conquered Broadway by Ben Brantley
Go ahead. Pick up the microphone. You know you want to. What difference does it make if you can't sing? Or dance? Or act? We're all friends here. Everybody loves you. Anyway, it's only Broadway.

The Challenge of Reimagining the Holocaust on Stage
Anyone who writes about the Holocaust, or seeks to recreate aspects of it artistically, quickly becomes in awe of the scale of the murder, and feels a responsibility for a near-perfect moral tone.

Four Playwrights Talk Shop (Which Takes In the World)
Kia Corthron, Rebecca Gilman, Suzan-Lori Parks, and Kenneth Lonergan, four playwrights whose work is being seen in Off Broadway theaters this year, talk about their plays and, as it turned out, other subjects.

Two Theater Works That Scream, 'Pay Attention'

Two Bright Actresses in Problematic Shows
Janine LaManna is not living in fantasy land. Marla Schaffel is not in denial. They may not have read the reviews, but these actresses are well aware of reality: both are blessed with the breakout roles of their careers in Broadway musicals that have taken a beating, critically and commercially � Ms. LaManna as the bird Gertrude McFuzz in "Seussical" and Ms. Schaffel as the title character in "Jane Eyre."

The Timeless Dance of Art and Money Takes Center Stage

Shakespeare in Michigan � Big Time

'Life? Or Theater? A Play With Music': Affirmations of Life in the Shadow of Death

Theater: The Harvard Godfather Who Lives to Provoke

Gordon Davidson: He's 'Mr. L.A. Theater' to Friend and Foe Alike

Brian Flemming, co-writer of BAT BOY: THE MUSICAL, penned (?) the first edition of their "newsletter" that hit email boxes yesterday. In this message, he explained the facts of life that as his show takes wing, he will have to focus on the production rather than the newsletter. It was kind of funny. Check out the Bat Boy website for more info.Bat Boy: The Website

Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Seeks Summer Interns and Company Manager
Hey! I know where they can get a company manager!

posted at 2/25/2001 12:00:07 AM by James Marino | Item Link

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[Past News]

BROADWAYSTAR'S FIVE DAY FORECAST

2007-08
Broadway Season

June 28 - Old Acquaintance (AA)

July 10 - Xanadu (Hayes) [Robert Ahrens, Dan Vickery, Tara Smith/B. Swibel and Sarah Murchison/Dale Smith]

Aug 19 - Grease (Atkinson)

Oct 4 - Mauritius (Biltmore) [MTC]

Oct 11 - The Ritz (54)

Oct 18 - Pygmalion (AA)

Oct 25 - A Bronx Tale (Kerr)

Nov 1 - Cyrano de Bergerac (Rodgers)

Nov 4 - Rock 'N' Roll (Jacobs)

Nov 8 - Young Frankenstein (Hilton)

Nov 9 - Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (St. James)

Nov 10: Local One Strike Begins

Nov 28: Local One Strike Ends

Dec 2 - Cymbeline (Beaumont)

Dec 3 - The Farnsworth Invention (Music Box) [Dodger Properties with Steven Spielberg, Dan Cap Productions, Fred Zollo, Latitude Link and the Pelican Group]

Dec 4 - August: Osage County (Imperial) [Jeffrey Richards, Jean Doumanian, Steve Traxler, Jerry Frankel, Steppenwolf]

Dec 6 - The Seafarer (Booth)

Dec 9 - Is He Dead? (Lyceum)

Dec 16 - The Homecoming (Cort) [Richards, Frankel]

Jan 10 - The Little Mermaid (Lunt)

Jan 15 - The 39 Steps (AA)

Jan 17 - November (Barrymore)

Jan 24 - Come Back, Little Sheba (Biltmore)

Feb 21 - Sunday In The Park With George (54)

Feb 28 - Passing Strange (Belasco)

Mar 6 - Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Broadhurst) [Stephen C. Byrd]

Mar 9 - In The Heights (Rodgers)

Mar 27 - Gypsy (St. James)

Mar 29 - Macbeth (Lyceum)

Apr 3 - South Pacific (Beaumont)

Apr 17 - A Catered Affair (Kerr) [Jujamcyn Theaters, Jordan Roth, Harvey Entertainment / Ron Fierstein, Richie Jackson and Daryl Roth]

Apr 24 - Cry Baby (Marquis)

Apr 27 - The Country Girl (Jacobs)

Apr 30 - Thurgood (Booth)

May 1 - Les Liaisons Dangereuses (AA)

May 4 - Boeing-Boeing (Longacre)

May 7 - Top Girls (Biltmore)

TBA - Godspell

2008-09
Broadway Season

Oct 16 - Billy Elliot (Imperial)

Nov 08 - Dividing the Estate (a Shubert theater)

Dec 14 - Shrek: The Musical (Broadway) [DreamWorks]

Talked About
Not Scheduled Yet

TBA - 50 Words

TBA - Addams Family (Elephant Eye)

TBA - American Buffalo

TBA - An American Vaudeville [Farrell, Perloff]

TBA - The Beard of Avon [NYTW]

TBA - Being There [Permut]

TBA - Benny & Joon [MGM]

TBA - Billy Elliot

TBA - Brave New World [Rachunow]

TBA - Breath of Life [Fox]

TBA - Busker Alley [Margot Astrachan, Robert Blume, Kristine Lewis, Jamie Fox, Joanna Kerry & Heather Duke]

TBA - Broomhilda

TBA - Bye Bye Birdie [Niko]

TBA - Camille Claudel [Wildhorn]

TBA - Camelot

TBA - Carmen [Robin DeLevita and The Firm]

TBA - Catch Me If You Can

TBA - Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon [Bob and Harvey Weinstein]

TBA - Cry Baby [Grazer, Gordon, McAllister, Epstein]

TBA - Designing Women [Alexis]

TBA - Don Juan DeMarco [New Line]

TBA - Dreamgirls [Creative Battery]

TBA - Duet

TBA - Equus

TBA - Ever After [Adam Epstein]

TBA - Fallen Angels (Shubert) [Kenwright]

TBA - Farragut North [Richards]

TBA - Father of the Bride

TBA - The Female Of The Species (TBA)

TBA - Fool For Love (AA) [Roundabout]

TBA - Girl Group Time Travelers

TBA - Golden Boy

TBA - Harmony [Guiles, Karslake, Smith, Fishman]

TBA - Hitchcock Blonde

TBA - The Importance Of Being Earnest

TBA - Jerry Springer: The Opera! [Thoday, McKeown]

TBA - Jesus Hopped The 'A' Train (Circle)

TBA - Josephine [Waissman]

TBA - Leap of Faith

TBA - A Little Princess [Ettinger, Dodger]

TBA - Midnight Cowboy [MGM]

TBA - The Minstrel Show - Kander and Ebb and Stroman

TBA - Moonstruck [Pittelman, Azenberg]

TBA - Mourning Becomes Electra [Haber, Boyett]

TBA - Monsoon Wedding

TBA - The Night of the Hunter

TBA - The Opposite of Sex [Namco]

TBA - Orphans

TBA - Pal Joey [Platt]

TBA - Paper Doll

TBA - The Paris Letter

TBA - The Philadelphia Story

TBA - Peter Pan

TBA - Porgy and Bess [Frankel, Viertel, Baruch, Routh, Panter, Tulchin/Bartner]

TBA - The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert

TBA - The Princess Bride

TBA - Princesses [Lane, Comley]

TBA - Poe the Musical

TBA - Rain Man [MGM]

TBA - Robin Hood

TBA - Secondhand Lions

TBA - South Pacific

TBA - Speed-the-Plow

TBA - Stalag 17

TBA - Starry Messenger

TBA - Syncopation

TBA - A Tale Of Two Cities

TBA - Torch Song Trilogy

TBA - Turn of the Century

TBA - West Side Story

TBA - The Wall [Weinstein, Mottola, Waters]

TBA - Will Rogers Follies [Cossette]

TBA - The Wiz [Dodger]

TBA - Zanna [Dalgleish]

This list is compiled from various sources. If you have corrections to the Broadway Season, please contact us.

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2007-08Broadway Season

2008-09Broadway Season

Talked AboutNot Scheduled Yet

2007-08
Broadway Season

2008-09
Broadway Season

Talked About
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