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Friday, April 13, 2001 ![]() ![]() Today is also Liz Callaway's birthday. ![]() ![]() A recent rush of Giuseppe Verdi productions has been a reminder that for all their popularity, these operas remain difficult to cast and even more difficult to stage. ![]() ![]() Faith Prince, who plays a telephone answering service operator in the revival of "Bells Are Ringing," is sincerely, unconditionally there. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick, Mel Brooks and company on The Producers, the most wildly anticipated new musical of the season. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() LOCAL 802 - which represents Broadway musicians - is threatening to unionize the cast of "Blast!" - setting the stage for a possible showdown between the union, one of the most powerful in the theater, and the producers of the acclaimed stage show. ![]() ![]() THE Hollywood legend Ann Miller calls her "that hateful woman" who "gave me one of the biggest heartbreaks I've ever had in show business." I had an idea. Maybe we can combine a few shows to make one show profitable. How about The Jane Seuss Horror Class in Nuremberg? I still don't think it would fill the Gershwin... posted at 4/13/2001 08:45:21 AM by James Marino | Item Link Thursday, April 12, 2001 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Duo will share oversight of division Stuart Oken and Alan Levey have been promoted to the positions of executive vice president and senior vice president, respectively, of Disney Theatrical Prods. The announcement was made by Peter Schneider, chairman of Walt Disney Studios, and Thomas Schumacher, prexy of DTP.... ![]() ![]() 14 houses impose a surcharge for upkeep ![]() ![]() After more than six decades of wisecracks and comebacks, Betty Comden and Adolph Green are still tossing around opinions and finishing each other's thoughts. ![]() ![]() What the National Gallery of Art in Washington is to the works of Vermeer and van Gogh, the Newseum is to the profession of Joseph Pulitzer and Tim Russert. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() While Dee heads out, David Keeley, currently playing Sam in Mamma Mia/Toronto has been signed to do the same role in Mamma Mia on Bway. [Toronto Star] ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Peter Filichia hits 500, columns at Theatre.com that is... If he is a long run, I would call him The Fantasticks -- cause that is what he is on and off, the page. ![]() ![]() Austin American-Statesman: Composer aims for the stars This is in reference to a new musical, Joulet! being presented at the Zach Scott in Texas. I have spoken about the Zach Scott before as a new leader in regional theatre and development of new musicals. Love, Janis, the new off-Broadway musical is also one of the Zach Scott development productions. Monday, April 16th New York City Theatrical Events presents Zoot Suit Strut -- Opening Ceremony for New York City Festival of Dance Benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS & Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. Symphony Space (2537 Broadway @ 95th) @ 7:30. Directed & Choreographed by Joe Lanteri with Michael-Demby Cain, Felicia Finley, Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Marva Hicks, April Nixon, Stephanie Pope, Paige Price, Mary Stout, Virginia Woodruff and a Fabulous Cast of Dancers. For tickets call: 212-864-5400. Joan Jett: Equity Member? You know how I hate to beat a dead horse, but... I got an interesting email asking me if Joan Jett extends her stay in Rocky will she in fact sign an Equity contract this time? I don't know. I don't really know if she is under Equity contract right now. The situation is this: under Production contract (the so-called Broadway contract) 100% of the cast must be members of Equity. LORT is/was used by producers of non-profits such as Lincoln Center, Roundabout and Circle in the Square. I believe that productions in Circle, but commercial ventures such as Rocky, used a Letter of Agreement that referenced parts of LORT and Production. Hence, this MAY open the door for a performer to not sign an Equity contract as LORT does allow for a percentage of non-union members to perform in an otherwise Equity cast. Will Adam Pascal and Daphne Rubin-Vega take time off from their current shows to reunite in Rent for one week only, in mid-August, to re-create their roles of Mimi and Roger? Half the proceeds from that week are earmarked to benefit a charity. Orfeh is more than likely going to be joining the ensemble of the new tour of The Civil War. Good to see she is (will be) working again... A Chorus Line getting frequent flier miles? Directed by Baayork Lee will be a tour this summer to Atlanta (Theater of the Stars), Pittsburgh (Civic Light Opera), Kansas City (Starlight), Memphis (Orpheum Theater) then a short layoff followed by being the opening show of the new season at THE PAPER MILL PLAYHOUSE 2001-2 Season. Fran Liebergal (Marvin Hamlisch's original assistant) will be the MD. John W. Calder III the PSM. Michael Gorman the Dance Captain. And lastly, I had some good response to yesterday's comment about expanding the columnist list to include a wider point of view. I wanted to share this one with all the readers though:
However -- I expect this will change. The various Broadway bulletin boards show that you don't have to be a "white man" to make valid and interesting points. Some of today's posters will become tomorrow's theatre journalists; all you need is a distinctive (hopefully) writing style, some luck, and some contacts. Since some of today's posters will become tomorrow's theatre editors, this will hopefully make it easier to cross the line. -- Steven Suskin posted at 4/12/2001 08:36:48 PM by James Marino | Item Link Wednesday, April 11, 2001 Update @ 5PM:
posted at 4/11/2001 05:25:28 PM by James Marino | Item Link ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() I had mentioned much of what Murdoch McBride says in his article back on 11/25/00 (You read it here first!) It is the very last thing on the page. And just to be fair, a rebuttal... ![]() ![]() Hollywood Media Corp., the parent company of Broadway.com, announced that it generated positive EBITDA (EBITDA stands for Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization) for the month of February, representing the company's first month of positive EBITDA. Hollywood Media Corp. just reported fourth quarter and year-end 2000 financial results, and the company expects to report positive EBITDA for the year 2001. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() And finally, Anthony Rapp weighed in on the AIDA rumor, and here is what he said:
posted at 4/11/2001 12:55:08 PM by James Marino | Item Link ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() "How long will they mourn me?" Tupac Shakur asked in the song of the same name. By the looks of it, a long, long time. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]()
I have not seen Judgement but I can tell you one thing... the switch of 25 or so actor's contracts (and Stage Managers, everybody seems to forget the Stage Managers...) from LORT to Production will change production costs about $15000 per week. If this show closes, it is not about Equity not giving in to a producer. The producers of Judgement (National Actor's Theatre) must get butts in the seats. 36.19% occupancy is the problem, not the $600/week (approx) additional the actors will make. If producers of non-profits, such as Roundabout, Lincoln Center and shows at Circle in the Square want to participate at the Broadway level, they need to operate on the same playing field as Roger Berlind, Fran and Barry, Dodgers, et al. Giving the actors a reduced rate of pay is not the answer. ![]() ![]() Is this really a good idea? The Fairbanks is such a great space. To tie it up with Forbidden Broadway which has outlived its artistic and commercial life (It is sooo 80s, isn't it?) just prevents new works from moving into a prime 42nd Street space. It is not as if the theatre would go empty if FB did not go in there. ![]() ![]() This is great news. Now I have a reason to go see Mamma Mia! Of course, I was going to go all along, but I would have denied it. (I saw it in London last year just as it opened.) ![]() ![]() Clever writing PW... :-) ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() There was a discussion over at Talkin'Broadway regarding the redesign of Theatre.com. Wouldn't it be great if Tarantula took over the design of Theatre.com and let the Theatre.com people continue to market the site as well as provide content? I received a blind message saying that Theatre.com will move to a new domain BroadwayOnLine.com when the redesign is complete. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Keeping track of Paul Rudd, James Ludwig, Erin Dilly, and other actor types as spring fever hits the theater community. ![]() ![]() Jones has a 'Ball,' Martha meets Dr. Niles It isn't the starry Central Park "Seagull" with Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline, but "Pilgrims" has Mike Nichols' imprimatur nonetheless.... ![]() ![]() Legiter doesn't have a theater yet, '3hree' may see White Way ![]() ![]() The road had a net loss of four shows during Week 44 (March 26-April 1), bringing total receipts to $13,537,402, a 13.8% decline. The number of shows reporting was 21. Other things... Yesterday's item on AIDA generated a lot of email telling me I was crazy. I got it through a blind email and called a few people to confirm it. Although no one would say it would come to fruition, no one would deny it. One last thing. I am looking to you for guidance. As I look at the list (to your right) of columnists listed on my website, I see a lot of white men. At least I think they are all, if not mostly, white men. I like to think of the Broadway community, and the larger theatre community, as inclusive. It is distressing to me that I do not have a cross section of all people included on my website. If there is a regular column writer out there for a website or newpaper (with a website) let me know about them. I would like to include them in the columnist links. As always, I am always looking for comments regarding this website (or actually anything.) Thanks. posted at 4/11/2001 10:04:14 AM by James Marino | Item Link Tuesday, April 10, 2001 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Star Ledger: Livingston's Leslie is a fantastic 'Funny Girl' by Peter Filichia, Star-Ledger Staff Alison Franck, casting director extraordinaire, has been talking up Leslie Kritzer for the longest time. Once again Alison has put the spotlight on new talent and shared it with the rest of us. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Also Kudisch gets praise (well deserved) for his work in Bells. ![]() ![]() Members claim two of their own were fired because of affliliation. There's no love lost between the musicians' union and the producers of the new Off Broadway show "Love, Janis."... ![]() ![]() Only 5 show up, 'Lion King' sole sold-out show Random notes and other meaningless comments: Kevin Cahoon (of Hedwig, Lion King, Rocky Horror Show fame) will play Woof in the City Center Encores! production of HAIR. Jesse Tyler Fergusen (On the Town, Fabulous, Newyorkers), Paul Castree (Fever, Footloose), and Sean Dooley (Leaving Queens, Footloose) are in talks for a new show "Love, Carrottop", a spoof of the new musical "Love, Janis" (poor taste to parody a musical before it's open?), with prop-comic Carrottop as the focal point. If all three stars can make their scheduals work, readings may begin as early as next year. An original castmember of Rent is Rapp-ing with the producers of Aida to possibly replace Adam Pascal as Radames in Aida next year. Today's breakdowns included casting notices for La Jolla's production of "DRACULA". Being directed by Des McAnuff and casting by Dave Clemmons... also in the breakdowns is a search for an older female cover for FOLLIES...someone to cover 4 roles, 60's-70's... A star burns brightest just before it goes out. Some men just can't dance. What a storm that was last night. I thought I was in the middle of The Secret Garden... posted at 4/10/2001 12:40:16 PM by James Marino | Item Link Monday, April 09, 2001 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Producers see investor woes ahead -- 4/9/2001 Running bears make for nervous producers. As the stock market continues to plummet, legit insiders are anxiously wondering what impact the economic downturn will have on financial investments in the 2001-02 theater season.... Wow, that looks like something I wrote months ago... ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Robert J. Harth, the newly appointed executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, is not showing up with a pre-formed vision or an agenda for change. ![]() ![]() Chicago-based Steppenwolf Theater Company's "Cuckoo's Nest," despite full-throttle acting from Gary Sinise and top-rate production values, mostly feels cute instead of confrontational. Toronto Star: Even Gary Sinise can't make aging Cuckoo soar Tale of rebel in mental institution seems dated by Richard Ouzounian Remarkably, Ouzounian says the same thing as Brantley, in half the amount of words... ![]() ![]() John McDaniel leads the band on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show." He is also the right-hand music man for the theater producers Barry and Fran Weissler. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() posted at 4/9/2001 11:02:39 AM by James Marino | Item Link Sunday, April 08, 2001 ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() John Ortiz and Rosie Perez, both Brooklyn natives in their 30's who have family roots in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico, star in "References to Salvador Dali Make Me Hot." ![]() ![]() Two British actors who will appear in different productions at the Brooklyn Academy of Music talk about what is arguably the English-speaking theater's most celebrated role. ![]() ![]() The first Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim's musical since 1971 gets you thinking about the souring effects of time and of roads not taken. In addition to the review of "Follies," listen to audio clips and read reviews of all of Mr. Sondheim's plays. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Readers comment on NYTimes coverage of Follies. ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Note: The dateline on this article isn't until tomorrow, so don't read it till then... ![]() ![]() Doesn't Gary Sinise look like Richard Simmons in the picture with this article? Keep forgetting to mention, I saw the redesign of Theatre.com, good organization of information, but not much better on the pleasing to the eye design. A combination of RGB on varying hues does not make for easy reading. Also, hopefully they are working on new logos for the major and sub sites. ![]() ![]() posted at 4/8/2001 08:53:17 AM by James Marino | Item Link BroadwayStars is powered by Blogger Pro! [Past News] |
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