Saturday, February 09, 2002 Toronto Star: Here's to you, Mr. Coward by Richard Ouzounian "Extraordinary how potent cheap music is," wrote playwright Noel Coward in Private Lives, and these days the average theatregoer would have to agree with him. The works of Paul Simon, ABBA, Boy George, the Pet Shop Boys, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel are either currently on stage (Mamma Mia! and The Graduate are the local examples) or about to become the basis for new musicals. Star Tribune [Minneapolis]: New Guthrie design focuses on Minneapolis riverfront [Thanks to Leanna for the link!] THEATER REVIEW | 'CARNIVAL' A Girl Innocent Enough to Believe a Puppet Is Alive by BEN BRANTLEY What's a nice girl like Lili doing in the carnival of "Carnival"? The question keeps coming up with good reason in this shiny soap bubble of a musical. Simply Great When "Carnival" opened in 1961, the curtain was already up when the audience entered the theater. Instead of a brassy overture, a man with a concertina played what would be the show's big hit, "Love Makes the World Go Round." All this was radical 40 years ago. 'CARNIVAL' OFFERS NICE RIDE by DONALD LYONS ENCORES is starting up its musicals-in-concert season with "Carnival," a 1961 musical based on the 1953 movie "Lili," which made Leslie Caron a star. My One And Only Begins Previews in London, Feb. 9 Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 9 Redford and Harris Among Honorees at 2002 Pell Awards for Excellence in the Arts New Jersey's Fifth Annual AT&T Family Week at the Theatre: March 2-10 Audra, Lillias, Bernadette, Bebe, Chita Take Turns in 2002 Dame Benefit March 18 The Beat Goes on: Maxwell's Drummer Again Opens Return Engagement PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Feb. 2-8: Hail the Replacement Actors! This Is Our Youth Now Booking in London BECTU to Discuss West End Strike Action Taboo, London's Boy George Musical, Extends DIVA TALK: The Songs of Bernadette Feast of Snails, with David Warner, Begins Previews in UK Bombay Dreams Songs Sung in Indian Restaurant London's Noisy Umoja Closed by Camden Council Randy Graff Joins Cast of Kennedy Center Little Night Music Producers Tour Sets Cincy Dates, Oct. 22-Nov. 10 Martin Sherman Penning Book for Peter Allen Bio Musical, Boy From Oz HBO to Show "Laramie Project" March 9, a Week Earlier Than Announced The Graduate is highly anticipated (nee: well sold) here in New York, but there is trouble on the road... Director Terry Johnson was nowhere near Toronto for that leg of The Graduate's out of town tryout, but after the mixed-to-negative reviews the show received there, he will probably be showing up in Boston where changes are reportedly going to be made. Items that came in for the most criticism included Johnson's overly-broad staging, Hugh Vanstone's overly-dark lighting and the shrill performance of Alicia Silverstone as Elaine. Can Johnson save it before Mr. Simon takes out the carving knifes? We hope so. posted at 2/9/2002 09:41:18 AM by James Marino | Item Link Friday, February 08, 2002 The Man From Gosford Park Robert Altman rediscovers British theater icon Ivor Novello and belatedly introduces him to the American public by Marc Miller Carnival Reviewed by David Finkle Peter Filichia's Diary Twenty-one years ago, a preview audience gave the bird to a horrendous Broadway musical sequel. Tom Hewitt to Star in The Boys From Syracuse Tony nominee Tom Hewitt will star in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of The Boys From Syracuse, a London's Shaftesbury Theater Forced to Close One has to wonder if a man named Doug Mayo (what an asshole) had something to do with this... From the '80s: Too Much, Too Soon? by Ken Mandelbaum A TV Kate? by Ken Mandelbaum posted at 2/8/2002 04:39:04 PM by James Marino | Item Link Brown's New Off-Bway Musical Last Five Years Offers Preview of Wares PHOTO CALL: Last Five Years: Press Peek PHOTO CALL: Last Five Years: Butz Is Back PHOTO CALL: Last Five Years: Not Scott-Free Showcase for Muppets by PETER MARKS Puppets from the Jim Henson Company join Broadway stars in a production of "Carnival," part of the Encores! series at City Center. Anyone know how Stokes is doing? Will he be doing it? Will Norm Lewis step in and save the day? Henry Goodman: A Bialystock Made to Order by WARREN HOGE Henry Goodman, one of England's busiest and most versatile actors but not widely known in New York, will replace Nathan Lane in "The Producers" as Max Bialystock. On Stage and Off: Never Too Early for Next Year Reggie Montgomery, Actor and Director, Dies at 54 What! No Reidel? (None online at least!) Bacon Sizzles In New B'way Play It seems almost axiomatic that a play about religion in our time can't really be about traditional religion. Heather McDonald's "An Almost Holy Picture," a vehicle for the gifted Kevin Bacon to make a welcome return to the New York stage, concerns the spiritual quest of Samuel, a groundskeeper for a church. Waterford's Many-Faceted Actress Sarandon and LaPaglia to Star in The Guys Anne Nelson’s The Guys is coming back for to the Flea again, this time with film stars Susan Sarandon and Anthony LaPaglia, according to a production spokesperson. The new cast will perform in...[Read More] HBO to Tape Leguizamo's Sexaholix Broadway.com has learned that HBO is taping John Leguizamo’s Sexaholix… a love story for future broadcast. The one-man show, r...[Read More] Jerome Records Founder Pleads Not Guilty Jerome Records founder John Jerome, whose legal name is John Loan, pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges of grand larceny, according to The New York Post. As we [Read More] Are B'way Audiences Ready for The Goat? Edward Albee’s The Goat or Who is Sylvia?, which begins previews next week at Broadway’s Golden Theatre, might end up as the...[Read More] West End May Go Dark as Strike Looms Many West End shows could go dark in the month of March if a strike by theater workers goes as planned. Over 2,500 theater employees (including those that handle sound, lighting, wardrobe, wigs and th...[Read More] Gone Too Soon. Michael Hammond, newly appointed chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts dies at age 69. Follow Spot Not previously known as a chanteuse, the brilliant Harriet Harris prepares for her Broadway musical debut. Cabaret Notes Running the gamut of song repertoire and performance style with Steve Tyrell, Chris Calloway, and Natalie Blalock. Sarandon and LaPaglia Become Two of The Guys, Feb. 18-March 14 Morfogen and Pashalinski Round Out Bway's Fortune's Fool Cast Pinchot and Burns Brings Jones' Stones to San Diego, Feb. 8 March 16; Then San Fran, DE, CT PHOTO CALL: Pro Bo: Eason Is MCC's Runt PHOTO CALL: Moss and Easton Bring Football Off-Bway Jan. 31 San Francisco's Magic Premieres Lodato's Eviction Feb. 8-March 3 Death Dances Once More, Downtown at Cocteau, Feb. 8 Rita Gardner Leads The Parker Family Circus Feb. 8-March 3 Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 8 LaPaglia and Sarandon Are New Cast in WTC-Themed The Guys, Feb. 18-March 14 Rappaport Plays NJ's Paper Mill Feb. 20-March 24; Is Bway Next? Fierstein and Winokur to Shpritz Hairspray on Bway Extra Seating Added to Sold-Out Wildhorn Concerts Feb. 25 and March 4 in NYC Report: Jerome Records' Chief Pleads Not Guilty to Embezzlement Charge OOB Nevelson Play Has More Moments to Re-Ember; Extends to March 3 NYC's Ibsen Series Mounts Master Builder, March 5-24 Rupert Holmes Readies Latest, Thumbs; Casting Complete Fertile Syringa Tree May Blossom on Tour; UK Staging Begins Feb. 9 Drama Dept. Presents Hoffman, Nixon, Wong in Limited Runs Duncan Sheik's Spring Awakening Expected to Blossom in NYC Spring 2003 Patsy Cline Will Be Falling Into the Bank Theater Ann Hampton Callaway to Perform at Brooklyn Center March 16 And a reader pointed out something to us from yesterday's piece in the Times by Ben Brantley: "Hammerstein's score is still gorgeous. But what made the show topical in 1949 is what makes it stale today: the wartime melodrama and the social polemics." Shall we tell Ben that Oscar wrote the words and Dick the music? Naaah. posted at 2/8/2002 09:16:36 AM by James Marino | Item Link Thursday, February 07, 2002 The New Yorker: ROB THE RICH DEPT. THE KING OF CABARET Regarding John Jerome / John Loan. [Thanks to Hal @ TalkinBroadway for pointing out the link.] SELFLESS ‘ROBBER' REJECTS A PLEA Regarding John Jerome / John Loan. [Thanks to JWest @ TalkinBroadway for pointing out the link.] posted at 2/7/2002 03:28:31 PM by James Marino | Item Link London's Preening in a Rearview Mirror By BEN BRANTLEY Squinting backward at the 20th century is all the rage in the British theater these days. Theater Review | 'Finder's Fee': Making a Killing in Real Estate Is One Thing, Murder Is Another Theater Review | 'Peter and Wendy': Gliding Above Chimneys to Revisit Neverland New Twist on Physicist's Role in Nazi Bomb The historical story in relation to the play, "Copenhagen". [Thanks to Jere for the link!] Healthy B'way delivers  Seven shows to return monies from 'Spend Your Regards' program The New York City coffers will receive back approximately $472,000 from the second cycle (Jan. 7-27) of its "Spend Your Regards to Broadway" ticket-buying subsidy program. Thanks to some very warm weather, Broadway's January 2002 box office did not suffer as greatly as anticipated in this post-Sept. 11 climate. Yes, He's My Dad "Following my father's footsteps wasn't easy," Amy Redford was saying as she sipped a cup of decaf cappuccino in a Village coffeehouse. "It's really asking for a very particular kind of scrutiny." Steven Weber Confirmed As B'way's New Leo Bloom Stars and Dates Set for Hairspray's B'way Bow Dates have been set for the Broadway production of Hairspray. The new musical will begin previews at the Neil Simon on July 18 in preparation for an August 15 opening, a production spokesperson...[Read More] Will Jerry Lewis Return to the Great White Way? Will Jerry Lewis return to Broadway? According to a Daily News report, the famed comedian is planning to bring his Vegas show to Gotham at the beginning of next year. Bernadette Peters in Gypsy Aims for B'way in 2003 The long-awaited revival of Gypsy, starring Broadway favorite Bernadette Peters, will debut on Broadway, not in London as [Read More] Fresh Face: Anil Kumar by Cara Joy David Photo Op: In rehearsal with MILLIE - Photos by Bruce Glikas Peter Filichia's Diary All actors have “special skills,” but some are more special than others. Rumor has it that Peter Filichia did some voiceover work for XM Radio's upcoming shows, "Those Fabulous Flops". They should be airing in the next two weeks. Weber Will Bloom on Broadway as New Producers Producer How to You Revive a Play Like Maria Arndt? Steppenwolf Unearths Bernstein, Feb. 7 Kate as Kate: Mulgrew Plays Hepburn in Hartford, Beginning Feb. 7 Stokes, Sills, Gravitte Star in Encores! Carnival, Feb. 7-10 Broadway Takes An Almost Holy Picture of Bacon; Play Opens Feb. 7 PHOTO CALL: "The Shuberts Present:" Wallach, Holiday, Naughton PHOTO CALL: "The Shuberts Present:" White, Lee, Roberts and Holm TV's Schallert Stars in NJ Prisoner Premiere Based on Jim Lehrer Novel, Feb. 7-24 Behind the Counter With Mussolini Returns to L.A. Feb. 7-March 30 Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 7 Modern Millie is Modern 'Oz' Tale for Musical's Creators Noll and Braxton Are Kept by Side Show Team's New Musical, April 10 May 5 William Atherton to Stay in The Castle Thru March 3 Elaine Stritch to Entertain at Drama League Benefit, Feb. 25 London Inspector Books Through June 2002 Callow and Garland's Hampstead Fundraiser Pacino, Loren to Celebrate Strasberg's 100th Birthday with Street Naming Samuel West Issues Broadside on Noble's RSC Plans Bernadette Peters Gypsy Will Play Broadway First Report: Bway-Bound Musical Hairspray w/ Fierstein Hits Seattle May 30-June 23 Video Enhances ATL's Three-Actor Macbeth in KY, Feb 7-March 2 More Weight: Hot Seats for The Crucible Can Be Had for $240 Newsday: Sondheim: Out of Court And 'Into the Woods' by Patrick Pacheco posted at 2/7/2002 09:25:59 AM by James Marino | Item Link From a blind submission: You heard it here first.. Kerry Butler has just been signed to play Penny Pingleton in the upcomming musical, "Hairspray". posted at 2/7/2002 12:25:27 AM by James Marino | Item Link Wednesday, February 06, 2002 American Theater Web: Bringing the 'Fringe' into Your Living Room; An Interview with StageDirect Founder and CEO, Gary Cole "A Broadway Valentine" -- Robert Evan In Concert posted at 2/6/2002 12:56:20 PM by James Marino | Item Link New 'Producers' pair  Goodman, Weber to replace Lane, Broderick Confirming rumors that had been circulating for several weeks, the producers of "The Producers" announced that Brit actor Henry Goodman will take over from Nathan Lane as Max Bialystock in the hit musical beginning March 19. I wonder who will star in the London production... Disney makes inroads in Oz  New Sydney office preps 'Lion King,' 'Aida' stagings Coward's 'Lives' to open on B'way  Revival still subject to American Equity's final approval Noises Off  Two New Leads Are on the Way to 'The Producers' by JESSE McKINLEY The producers of the blockbuster musical confirmed on Tuesday that the matinee on March 17 would be the last performance for Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick. Ferreting Out the Loopholes in Oscar Rules by RICK LYMAN The guidelines for Oscar campaigns cover 13 points. The ways around them are many. Theater Review | 'Further Than the Furthest Thing': Where Citizens Are Guilty, but Always With an Explanation A Brit Of A Surprise In an unusual move, an awardwinning but relatively unknown English actor will replace Nathan Lane when he leaves "The Producers" on March 17. Henry Goodman, who has had a distinguished career in London, will assume the role of Max Bialystok on March 19. Best headline this morning. Going to the Ends of the Earth — But It's Still Not Remotely Interesting Cyber Show Henry Goodman Confirmed for The Producers As Ken Mandelbaum first mentioned on January 17, British actor Henry Goodman will replace Tony winner Nathan Lane in...[Read More] Charles Dickens Returns to the West End Peter Ackroyd’s The Mystery of Charles Dickens is returning to the West End. The one-person piece, starring Simon Callow, is scheduled to play a repeat engagement at the Albery Theatre from Mar...[Read More] Broadway Grosses: Couch Potatoes Last week Broadway was down over $500,000 as compared to the previous week, and many shows lost over $50,000 from their previous gross. Perhaps the Broadway slide can be blamed on the couch potato men...[Read More] BIALYSTOCK AND WHOM? by MICHAEL RIEDEL HENRY Goodman, a superb British actor completely unknown over here, will take over the role of Max Bialystock in "The Producers" when Nathan Lane checks out of the hit show March 17, its producers confirmed yesterday. MAKING 'CONTACT' by MEGAN TURNER SUSAN Stroman will make her screen directorial debut when she gets behind the camera to film her Broadway musical "Contact." CROSS ‘BRIDGE' OFF LIST by DONALD LYONS EVEN in plays, families have to make some sort of sense. The one in "The Bridge in Scarsdale," a new play by Robert Remington Wood, doesn't. Follow Spot A proposed musical about Dan Rather, featuring the songs of R.E.M., wins our "Compilation Musicals From Hell" contest. Charles Nelson's Casts and Forecasts Edward Albee basks in his resurgence, Nathan Lane yields to Henry Goodman (?!), and Susan Gordon returns. Simon Callow's One-Man Dickens Show Returns York Realist Transfers to Strand Theatre, March 8 New Patsy Cline Musical Reaches Off-Bway's Bank Street, April 4-28 Stritch Is Lady Liberty of Broadway Beginning Feb. 6 PHOTO CALL: Who Needs Chorus Girls: Hef Brings Playmates to Producers NFL's Riggins is Running Back to OOB in Gillette, Feb. 6-March 2 My Hard Drive's So Full of You! Frankloesser.com Is Launched Online Tuneful Comedy Blessing in Disguise Likely for Off-Bway in May Jackee Lady Day Won't Play Off-Broadway Play What I Wrote to Finish in May Conor McPherson's St. Nicholas to Play at Soho Theatre Theatreshare Begins New Approach to Investment Criss Angel to Be Off-Bway Mindfreak Thru Jan. 2003 Yee Haw! Wild West Cymbeline Extends Through March 3 at TFANA PHOTO CALL: Bea-utiful Bow: Arthur Throws a Preview Party Jan. 29 PHOTO CALL: Just Between Co-Stars: Golden Girls Are Back PHOTO CALL: Bravo, Bea!: Stiller, Stapleton, Shaffer and Seldes Toast Arthur's Bway Return posted at 2/6/2002 08:52:36 AM by James Marino | Item Link Tuesday, February 05, 2002 To the Max: UK's Henry Goodman to Be Next Producers Producer Gwyneth Paltrow Confirmed For London Proof posted at 2/5/2002 02:13:00 PM by Susan Heim | Item Link THEATER REVIEW | 'SORROWS AND REJOICINGS' A Dead Man's Failed Muse and Lost Women by BEN BRANTLEY Athol Fugard's "Sorrows and Rejoicings" is a play about irrevocably divided selves. Theater Review | 'Runt of the Litter': Sibling Rivalry Magnified When It's on the Gridiron A Mysterious World Reveals Itself in MTC's Further, Opening Feb. 5 Anne Bancroft as Nevelson Is the Occupant at OB's Signature, Feb. 5-April 7 Mark Brokaw to Direct Feb. 5 Reading of Rewritten Musical Marty Tony-Winner Manahan Returns to NYC in Irish Two-Hander, Matchmaker, Feb. 5-March 31 Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 5 Testa, Runolfsson and More Sing in NYC's Broadway Musicals of 1933, March 18 tick, tick...BOOM! Hopes to Tour in Fall Broadway Grosses: January 28 - February 3 WET Presents Its SCAB Feb. 23-March 16 at The Greenwich Galt MacDermot, composer of Hair, Plays Joe's Pub, Feb. 10-25 Widdoes Stars in Preem of Richard Nelson's Franny's Way, March 6 April 14 LaGravenese Working on New Musical of Film Ball of Fire Bernadette Peters to Begin Rehearsals of London Gypsy in Jan. 2003 Will Mack & Mabel Tap Into Houston's Hobby Center in 2003? Bowl empties B'way  B.O. falls 5.6%, promo eases total tally slide Broadway took its usual Super Bowl hit as receipts fell $568,499, down 5.6% from the previous week. Twenty-one shows brought in $9,505,841, which is off a mere $50,000 from a year ago when 23 productions were on the boards. Riggins Now an MVP Onstage John Riggins was a wild man on and off the football field as a running back for the Jets and the Washington Redskins in the '70s and '80s. Now he has traded the gridiron for the stage. The Hall of Famer makes his New York debut in a new play, "Gillette," opening tomorrow Off-Off-Broadway — at the Storm Theater, two stories up in a church at 145 W. 46th St. Fugard's Body Politic Just Lies There HBO MOVES SHEPARD MOVIE by MICHAEL STARR HBO has moved the date of its Matthew Shepard movie - about the gay murder victim - forward to March 9. 'SORROWS' IS BEST OF FUGARD by DONALD LYONS IN "Sorrows and Rejoicings," Athol Fugard, 69, has written his most magical, heart-breaking study of South Africa yet. Hugh Jackman Set for Carousel at Carnegie Hall As Ken Mandelbaum mentioned on November 23, Hugh Jackman is set to star in the upcoming Carousel concert at...[Read More] Will Millie Be This Season's 'It' Girl? Last year at this time, a new musical based on a 1960s film comedy was starting up its pre-Broadway Chicago engagement and the buzz on Broadway was clear: [Read More] Richard Nelson Debuts Franny's Way Off-Broadway Kathleen Widdoes, Elisabeth Moss, Domenica Cameron-Scorsese, Jesse Pennington and Yvonne Woodswill will star in Play...[Read More] Sondheim and Rudin Settle Gold! Suit Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman have settled their lawsuit against mega-producer Scott Rudin. The settlement will allow Gold! to be produced in the future. posted at 2/5/2002 08:54:28 AM by James Marino | Item Link Monday, February 04, 2002 Peter Filichia's Diary Readers respond to Filichia’s list of the best musical stage performances reprised for Hollywood. Yahoo News/Variety: Billy Joel musical sets June world premiere in Chicago The interesting part of this is the mention of the Elvis project. Someone sent me this link through the "blind" submission, thanks whoever you are! posted at 2/4/2002 09:56:22 AM by James Marino | Item Link THEATER REVIEW | 'ONE MAN' An Actor Portraying an Actor, Acting by BRUCE WEBER "Actor," a monologue at the center of Steven Berkoff's solo show at 45 Bleecker, is an awfully sly portrait of the artist. Sondheim, Rudin resolve tuner suit  'Gold' case settled out of court Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman announced late Friday that their dispute with Scott Rudin regarding the rights to their long-gestating musical "Gold!" had been settled out of court. 'TARTUFFE' GOOF by DONALD LYONS THE Worth Street Theater, located close to the World Trade Center site, is presenting Moliere's "Tartuffe" as its first offering after Sept. 11. Except that director and translator Jeff Cohen has not been content simply to translate; he has felt the need to modernize. NOT JUST ONE OF 'THE GUYS' by DONALD LYONS THERE'S a small theater called The Flea a few blocks north of Ground Zero. On the week ending Sept. 10, it had 17 performances from a variety of companies. It was closed for a month after the Sept. 11 attacks and then reopened to a trickle of customers. Kate Blumberg, of Syringa Tree, Appears on "New York Central," Feb. 4 Sexy New Musical, Beach Radio, Is Part of CAP21 Series, Feb. 11-March 25 HBO's 'Oz' Goes The Full Monty — as in Musical, Episode Airs Feb. 10 Linda Eder Sings 10 Wildhorn Songs on New CD, "Gold," In Stores Feb. 12 Musical Menopause Strikes OB's Theatre Four, March 5 Glover, Light and Woodard Experience Fugard's Sorrows and Rejoicings OB, Feb. 4 29th Street Rep Revives Shepard's Fool for Love Feb. 4-March 30 Today In Theatre History: FEBRUARY 4 posted at 2/4/2002 09:01:01 AM by James Marino | Item Link Sunday, February 03, 2002 A Troublesome Farce About an Irish Terrorist When the audience first glimpses the title character in Martin McDonagh's new play, "The Lieutenant of Inishmore," he is torturing a man he has trussed and dangled upside down from a ceiling. SDCF's "Dance Break" Attract Top Producers and Directors Alton Fitzgerald White Is Mufasa in First U.S. Tour of Lion King We told you this on Oct 2. (Broadway.com mentioned it on Nov. 23). PHOTO CALL: Weisslers Honored by UJA With Falsettos Concert PHOTO CALL: James Earl Jones Talks Weissler at UJA Gala Eric Grode's STAGE TO SCREEN: Oscar Noms and the Scottish Film Sondheim-Rudin Lawsuit Over Gold Is Settled Out of Court Hildegard Knef, Ninotchka in Porter's Silk Stockings, Dead at 76 posted at 2/3/2002 11:12:24 AM by James Marino | Item Link Kevin Bacon: Touched by the Poetry of Fatherhood By ROBIN POGREBIN In "An Almost Holy Picture," a one-man play, Kevin Bacon draws on his own experiences of fatherhood and spiritual questioning. A Secret Weapon, She's Armed With Both Warmth and Wit By PETER MARKS A Playwright Entranced by a Tale of Life on a Lonely Rock By MATT WOLF BIO PLAYS FAIL TO KEEP THINGS REAL By CLIVE BARNES We are a society obsessed with biography. So it's not surprising that the theater, following in the wake of television and the movies, is providing us with a few choice biographies of its own. After Extension, Brutal Imagination Shutters Feb. 3 Christopher Plummer Awarded First Robards Award, c/o NYC's Roundabout, April 22 Meine Mutter!: Mamma Mia! Goes German in Hamburg Production November 2002 Alton Fitzgerald White Is Mufasa in First U.S. Tour of Lion King posted at 2/3/2002 10:35:07 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link BroadwayStars is powered by Blogger Pro! [Past News]
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