Clark Jones, Director in TV's Early Days, Dies at 81
Mr. Jones directed many of television's first large-scale live arts programs, including a 1952 broadcast of "Carmen" from the Metropolitan Opera, "Peter Pan" with Mary Martin in 1955, the Royal Ballet's "Cinderella" in 1957 and nearly 20 years of the Tony Awards from their first television broadcast in 1967.

Roy Huggins, Creator of Hits in TV's First Years, Dies at 87
He may not have written for Broadway, but he was one of America's great dramatists. If you want to read Huggins' insights into what works, and doesn't, in drama, pick up the three books Ed Robertson has written about Huggins' biggest hits (The Fugitive, Maverick and The Rockford Files).

Less Ado About Nothing
'Twelfth Night' only entry in Park fest
By PATRICIA O'HAIRE

Flash-y, Funny Look At the Big Change
By ROBERT DOMINGUEZ

Yahoo/Daily Variety: Hollywood Bowl tunes up season schedule by Phil Gallo
John Mauceri will lead the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra through "The Music Man," with Eric McCormack and Kristin Chenoweth in the leads, on Aug. 4, while the 100th anniversary of the birth of Richard Rodgers will be celebrated Aug. 16-17 with the HBO performing Rodgers & Hammerstein songs while scenes from films such as "Oklahoma!" and "The King and I" are shown on a giant screen.

Archerd: Liza Minnelli Beaming in London by Army Archerd
I spoke with Liza Minnelli after her show Wednesday night at London's Royal Albert Hall. She was bubbling over in her dressing room after a dozen standing ovations.

Archerd: Montel and Mandela Team Up for Wildlife by Army Archerd
Emmy winner Doris Roberts spends her "Everybody Loves Raymond" hiatus in a new production of "Arsenic and Old Lace" at the Strand in London's West End, bowing May 15.

August Wilson's New Gem to Shine at Goodman Theatre in 2003

Lady in Penthouse B Won't Have Room With a View This Spring

Tovah and Co. Celebrate Scot's Tartan Day as Kilt Begins OB April 6; Bway Next?

San Diego Beauty Opens April 6 With Tom Hewitt

PHOTO CALL: Robbins' Cabaret Brings Out The Allergist's Wife

Psst! Wanna Buy a Theatre? NYC's Flatiron Playhouse Goes on Sale

Rebecca Luker and Davis Gaines Star in Hollywood Bowl NYC Concert

Newman, Woodward, Robbins, Sarandon, Broderick Star in April 6 Westport Benefit

John Raitt Sings for Fullerton Civic Light Opera Benefit April 6 and 7

Today In Theatre History: APRIL 6

PHOTO CALL: Here's to You, Mrs. Robinson: The Graduate Bows

PHOTO CALL: Head of the Class: Turner, Silverstone and Biggs Star in The Graduate

PHOTO CALL: Everybody's Talkin': Stokes and Irving at The Graduate

PHOTO CALL: Rosie, "Sopranos" Star Sigler and Opera's Norman Give Graduate an Opening A

PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, March 30-April 5: Below the Belt

Female Genital Mutilation Is Topic of In Search of My Clitoris April 17-19 in NYC

Report: Liza's Back! Minnelli Set to Sing in NYC

Cast Set For Mike Leigh's Smelling A Rat

The Full Monty Tour Cast Announced

Sh-K-Boom Presents Jason Robert Brown Concert

Tunes and Tomes
Charles Wright reviews a new book that takes issue with a popular notion regarding the career of Kurt Weill.

Chicago Sun-Times: Making 'Contact' with 'pure dance' BY HEDY WEISS
Ask the prolific director-choreographer Susan Stroman to name her favorite creation, and you might expect her to point to her first Broadway effort (the exhilarating dances for "Crazy for You") or her work on such high-profile revivals as "Show Boat," "The Music Man" and "Oklahoma!," or, most obviously, her undisputed megahit, "The Producers."

posted at 4/6/2002 10:03:43 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Friday, April 05, 2002

In the (short) history of Debbie Does Dallas (the musical), we heard that it was a go for late May, early June. Then we were told by the producers, not so fast. This was followed by the producers saying to Playbill that May - June was a go. Now we hear that Debbie Does Dallas will be a September thing... Hmmm.... who's zoomin who?
posted at 4/5/2002 05:08:26 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Newsday: Broadway Bound? Mos Def-initely by Martin Johnson

Newsday: A Comeback Cut Short
Bancroft is bowing out of return to NY stage
By Patrick Pacheco

Newsday: Mystery, Music, Memorial
Bay Street and Gateway unveil their seasons
By Steve Parks

Deborah Gibson Hopes to Debut New Skirts

McDonald and Mullally Set for Funny Girl Actors' Fund Benefit

Richard Nelson's Franny's Way Extends to April 21

DIVA TALK: A Chat with Polly Bergen

Naked Boys Flooding! Pipe Leak Scuttles Performance

Richard Nelson and Ricky Ian Gordon Musicalize Proust for Playwrights Horizons in 2002-03

PHOTO CALL: Stephen Lang Gets 36 Views of Pai

Rita Moreno Performs One-Woman Concert April 11 in N.J.

Report: Sondheim's Gold Is Golden at Goodman; Musical to Play June 2003

Royal Shakespeare Company Delays Its Opening of Winter's Tale

Playwrights Horizons Announces New Season

Puppetry Moves Downstairs at the Houseman

Broadway Critics Grade The Graduate

Maria Friedman Brings Solo Show Back to West End

CDs: We're Alive by Ken Mandelbaum

Charles Nelson's Casts and Forecasts
Harvey Fierstein tests the Waters, Chase Mishkin hopes to enter a dark horse in the Tony race, and rarely heard Rodgers holds sway at the York.

Cabaret Notes
The Siegels spend a l-o-o-o-ng evening at the 2002 MAC Awards.

posted at 4/5/2002 03:05:19 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Photo Op: Photos: THE GRADUATE opening - Photos by Bruce Glikas

Artistic Director Robert Johanson Leaves Paper Mill
Robert Johanson is leaving his post as Artistic Director of Paper Mill Playhouse after the close of the current season. He will return to the theater next season as a contract director for productions...[Read More]

Brian Kulick to Helm NYSF Twelfth Night
Public Theater Artistic Associate Brian Kulick has been tapped to direct the New York Shakespeare Festival production of Twelfth Night. The play is scheduled to run at the Delacorte Theatre fro...[Read More]

Debbie Does Dallas Eyes the Jane Street Theater
Looks like plans are going ahead to mount Debbie Does Dallas at the Jane Street Theatre. Though a production spokesperson could not confirm any details, Broadway.com has learned that the produc...[Read More]

Damon, Affleck & Phoenix Set for This Is Our Youth
Matt Damon, Casey Affleck and Summer Phoenix will take over for Hayden Christensen, Jake Gyllenhaal and Anna Paquin (respectively) in the West End production of Kenneth Lonergan�s This Is Our Youth...[Read More]

The Pajama Guy by Michael Portantiere
posted at 4/5/2002 09:23:31 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Play it With Music, by Peter Filichia
Musings about The Graduate and its soundtrack album

THEATER REVIEW | 'THE GRADUATE': The Star's Costume? Nature's Eye-Catching Design By BEN BRANTLEY
The Broadway production of "The Graduate" feels barer � and certainly less substantial � than Kathleen Turner in the 20 seconds she spends nude on stage.

Naked Truth: It's Hard To Care, Mrs. Robinson by Howard Kissel
In 1967, the year Mike Nichols' film "The Graduate" came out, Time magazine, unable to name an individual as Man of the Year, gave that honor to the entire generation of Americans under the age of 25.

The Graduate review by Barbara & Scott Siegel

The Graduate review by William Stevenson

THEATER REVIEW | 'THE UNDERPANTS': Knickers in a Twist, or Panties With a Mind of Their Own By BRUCE WEBER
Dying may or may not be easy, as Edmund Kean claimed � who knows? � but comedy is definitely hard. Thankfully we have practitioners like Steve Martin, who is pursuing the intelligent laugh across the narrative arts with ardor and seriousness and a good deal of skill.

'UNDERPANTS' TOPS By DONALD LYONS
STEVE Martin has brought it off this time - he's written a brilliant, hilarious, mad adaptation of an old play.He didn't, in my judgment, succeed a while ago in turning "Cyrano de Bergerac" into the movie "Roxanne."

Comedy's a Knicker Picker-Upper by Robert Dominguez
Not since Monica Lewinsky's thong almost toppled a presidency has a pair of panties caused such a national fuss.

The Underpants review by Adam Feldman

Thoroughly Perfect Hair By ROBIN POGREBIN
Hair is central to "Thoroughly Modern Millie," a musical set in the 1920's. To ensure perfect hairdos, Paul Huntley, Broadway's leading hair and wig designer, was hired.

NETHER REGIONS IN SPOTLIGHT
JUST where is the theater getting its themes these days? Both Broadway and off- seem to be hitting below the belt.

AYES ON THE PRIZE By MICHAEL RIEDEL
TIME to start handicapping this year's theater prizes and awards.First up, the Pulitzer, which will be doled out Monday.

Box Office for Callow's Dickens to Open April 8; Phone Sales Start April 7

Moses, Cahoon Head Cast of York's Mufti Concert of By Jupiter, April 5-7
Almost... except Moses got a TV pilot and had to be replaced.

Paper Mill's Robert Johanson Exits, Stage Right, July 31

Meeting of Minds: Guare's Few Stout Individuals Premieres April 23-June 12 Off-Bway

Jeremy McCarter Named Drama Critic of New York Sun; New Paper Dawns April 16

Off-Broadway's MET to Bring in UK Death in Venice in June

Goodspeed's Dames at Sea Has Chamberlain & Carlton as Ruby & Dick, April 5-July 6

Mel in Minnesota! The Producers Plays Minneapolis' Orpheum Nov. 12-Dec. 7

Obie Winners Give La MaMa Kiss Shot in Noir Musical April 4-21

Polly Bergen and Karen Ziemba to Workshop Two-Character Musical

American in Paris Stage Musical Still in Development Following December Reading

PHOTO CALL: MAC Attack: Dexter, McKechnie, Gamsu, Douglas Are Among Cabaret's Best

PHOTO CALL: Fortune's Fool, Take a Bow

PHOTO CALL: Fool and Son: Bates and Bates on Broadway

PHOTO CALL: Langella Plays Fool for King and Randall

PHOTO CALL: Supporting Fools: Enid Graham and Timothy Doyle
posted at 4/5/2002 06:36:38 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Thursday, April 04, 2002

Star-Ledger: Strapped Paper Mill drops its extravagant director
After 17 years, Johanson to become a free-lancer
BY PEGGY McGLONE
Thanks to kafritz at All That Chat for the link.

Star-Ledger: Center stage: 'Hair' loss by Peter Filichia

Yahoo/Hollywood Reporter: 9-11 tale 'Guys' to hit big screen by Jeffrey R. Sipe
NEW YORK --- "The Guys," a film adaptation of the one-act play of the same title by Anne Nelson documenting a fire captain's response to losing his men on Sept. 11, has been greenlighted by ContentFilm.
Sigourney Weaver and Anthony LaPaglia, both of whom have appeared in the stage play, will star in the film. Weaver's husband, Jim Simpson, who commissioned and directed the play, will direct the film.

Damon, Affleck & Phoenix Set for This Is Our Youth

Broadway Grosses: And Then There's Bea

Lynn Redgrave's Mandrake Root Eyes Off-B'way

Full Cast Set for Boys and Girls at Playwrights Horizons

Tonys '02 #5 by Ken Mandelbaum

Photo Op: FORTUNE'S FOOL opening - Photos by Bruce Glikas

PHOTO CALL: Paper Mill's King and I: It Is a Puzzlement

PHOTO CALL: Paper Mill's King and I: Shall We Dance?

PHOTO CALL: Paper Mill's King and I: Hello, Young Lovers

Pascal, Butz and Scott Sing Jason Robert Brown Songs April 15

Lintel Playwright's Wooden Breeks Premieres at Atlanta's Actor's Express April 4-May 5

Sundown Is OK for Doc Holliday Musical, Premiering April 19-May 4 in TX

Three Gypsy Robes to Be Donated to Museum of City of NY April 9

Critic Arthur Friedman Remembered at April 8 Memorial

EST Reveals a Secret Order Off-Broadway, April 4-28

Untimely Ripped Is Killing Jar Jar Off-Broadway April 4-28

Fugitive Producer Garth Drabinsky Emerges By Phone

Hayden Christensen Stars in London This Is Our Youth
But not for long... see above.

Kathy Burke To Direct Play at London's Vaudeville

West End Pays Tribute To Queen Mother April 9

Tovah All Ovah! by Brian Scott Lipton
Tovah Feldshuh juggles two Off-Broadway shows while garnering great reviews for her supporting role in a new hit movie.

Bea Arthur Show to Close
Wow, the Times is on top of all the latest breaking news, aren't they?

Yahoo/Backstage: Casting Your Talent on the Waters

Yahoo/Backstage: B'way Org. Returns 44% of City-Funded Ticket Subsidy

Yahoo/Backstage: Equity Talks NEAT Pact

posted at 4/4/2002 01:09:13 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Broadway Bares: The Graduate, with Turner, Biggs and Silverstone, Opens April 4

Public Theater to Present One-Show Summer Season with Twelfth Night

Araca Group Does Debbie; Eyeing OB's Jane Street Theatre in May

Musical Menopause Opens at OB's Theatre Four, April 4

They See Paris, They See France: CSC Opens Martin's Underpants April 4

Sullivan and Foote Featured in April LCT Platform Talks

Salt Theater�s Elemental Cherry Orchard Roams NYC Thru April 21

'Topdog' Moves, & Angels Rush In By CELIA McGEE
posted at 4/4/2002 09:55:14 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Wednesday, April 03, 2002

Late Show with David Letterman: Dave Sings the Showtunes
A video clip of last night's OKLAHOMA! appearance is on the Late Show website. If you missed the show, click the "Wahoo Gazette" link to read a summary. Both links will be gone by Thursday, so hurry...

GLAAD Honors Glenn Close, Nathan Lane & The Invention of Love

Angels in America Takes Wing on HBO

Sills, Pendleton, Horses Take Home L.A. Drama Critics Awards

Playbill Readers' Circle for April: Lincoln, Booth, and Big Bad Wolves

1933 And All That Opens at UK's Arcola Theatre April 2

London's My Fair Lady Announces April Cast Changes

Frank McGuinness Play Makes West End Debut April 5

Did Fortune's Fool Get Lucky With Critics?

John Stamos to Star as Cabaret's New Emcee

Musicals 2002-2003 by Ken Mandelbaum

Peter Filichia's Diary
A chat with Carolee Carmello, the radiant co-star of the Paper Mill Playhouse production of The King and I.

Yahoo/Backstage: What Children's Agents Are Saying

Yahoo/Backstage: Child Actors and Union Protections

Yahoo/Backstage: Fringe Festival Growing

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bad rap aside, couple revive another gem

posted at 4/3/2002 12:59:47 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

'Debbie' does Off B'way
Drabinsky preps comeback
"Debbie Does Dallas" is going legit, Steve Martin is showing his "Underpants," the Public Theater has more "Nights" but fewer productions, Lynn Redgrave may be taking "Root" Off Broadway -- and Garth Drabinsky is getting ready for a comeback.
No, this is not the April Fool edition... Garth really is coming back... his actual line to a friend: "I guess I'll have to accept my fucking Tony for Best Revival on Fucking closed circuit television."

'Horses' rides to 7 wins
L.A. Drama Critics also laud 'River,' 'Shadow'

'Urinetown' gets 8 Lortel nominations
Special awards to be given to Dee, Stritch, Albee, Linney, Second Stage.

GLAAD hands out kudos to media
Thesp Close saluted with Excellence in Media Award

Theater Review | 'Humpty Dumpty': Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?

Newman, Woodward, Robbins, Sarandon, Broderick Star in April 6 Westport Benefit

Zora Neale Hurston Comes Alive in Premiere of Polk County, April 5 in DC

Gaines, Luft & Carter Headline Tomlin-Hosted Benefit May 5 in L.A.

Fynsworth Alley Set to Release Wall to Wall Richard Rodgers CD

Musical Memphis, Mistress, My Antonia Sing at CA's TheatreWorks May 1-5

Orlandersmith's Yellowman Plays CT's Long Wharf April 3-May 5

Today In Theatre History: APRIL 3

Carmello and Gray Open in Paper Mill's The King and I

Radio Playbill Visits Cy Coleman at Home, April 2-6

Boy George Rumored to Star in West End Taboo
posted at 4/3/2002 07:26:39 AM by James Marino | Item Link

THEATER REVIEW | 'FORTUNE'S FOOL': Listening to a Life Drain Out of a Bottle By BEN BRANTLEY
Alan Bates plays a fellow whom liquor turns into a logorrheic, napkin-slinging nightmare in an Ivan Turgenev play some 150 years old that is only now receiving its Broadway premiere.

'FORTUNE'S' PRICELESS By CLIVE BARNES
WHERE has Ivan Turgenev's "Fortune's Fool" been all our lives?Turgenev, celebrated for his short stories, novels and delineation of what he called the "superfluous man" - the idle aristocrat in Czarist Russia - wrote quite a few plays, but only "A Month in the Country" seems to have survived outside of Russia.

Turgenev Close, But No Czigar By HOWARD KISSEL
Isn't it enough that we have four Chekhov plays that are set on forlorn country estates and are constantly revived and, invariably, weakly done?

Fortune's Fool review by Charles Isherwood
"I want you all to myself," purrs Frank Langella toward the end of the first act of "Fortune's Fool," and for a startling moment you wonder whether a character is addressing his companions or an actor is overtly seducing his audience....

Fortune's Fool review by Thomas Burke
There is a sublime and almost euphoric pleasure only felt when watching genuinely talented people plying their craft. Pay a visit to Fortune�s Fool, which opened tonight at the Music Box theatre, to experience it for yourself.

Fortune's Fool review by Adam Feldman

GRADUATE SEES GREEN By MICHAEL RIEDEL
'THE Graduate" is the closest thing to a critic-proof show as you are likely to find this season.

Pulitzer Prize in Drama to Be Awarded April 8

Leguizamo's Sexaholix... a love story To Tour U.S.

Broadway Grosses: March 25-31
posted at 4/3/2002 06:28:57 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Tuesday, April 02, 2002

Tonys '02 #4 by Ken Mandelbaum

Ask A Star: Patrick Wilson

The King and Carolee Carmello (video)

Break It Up! Sparring John Lithgow and Brian d'Arcy James Fool Success Cast April 1

Galati Gives Smith the Royal Treatment at Steppenwolf, April 18

Stalwart Lintel Extends Yet Again Off-Broadway to June 30

Kathleen Marshall Will Choreograph TV Musical, 'The Music Man'

He Hunts Tony Nominee Pettiford, Replacing Mullally at L.A.'s Geffen

Talk Back to The Goat on Tuesdays Starting April 9

DIVA TALK SPECIAL: Sassy LuPone Sizzles As Anything Goes' Singin' Sweeney

TV's John Stamos Joins the Cabaret April 29

Karen Mason, Craig Rubano, Sam Harris Among 2002 MAC Award Winners

Documentary of Final Fantasticks Performance Looking for Home

PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with Eric Bogosian

Broadway-on-Thames by Mark Shenton
American talent floods the West End even as bunches of Brits continue to hit Broadway.

Yahoo/Hollywood Reporter: 'Shadow,' 'Tree' on Fox TV Pics' slate by Nellie Andreeva
Also at NBC, Fox TV Pictures is developing in association with Merv Griffin Entertainment a TV adaptation of the musical "Hello, Dolly!" to be executive produced by Ernest Chambers ("Dream Girl, U.S.A.").
Let the online casting fantasies begin!

posted at 4/2/2002 03:18:43 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Heard from Araca that I was way off base with the dates for Debbie Does Dallas that I ran yesterday. They are still making decisions.
posted at 4/2/2002 12:01:33 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Beverly Sills Gives Board Her Exit Date
By RALPH BLUMENTHAL
Beverly Sills, the chairman of Lincoln Center since 1994, told board members on Monday that she intended to step down on May 1.

Theater Review | 'The Godfadduh Workout': One Busy Guy Makes a Whole Mob Scene

Theater Review | 'Portia Coughlan': She's Haunted by Secrets and in Need of Another Drink

Sills draws curtain on Lincoln Center tenure
Former opera star resigns as chair
Beverly Sills has resigned as chair of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, effective May 1.

B'way tuners put on Easter bonnets
Musicals score, plays see lower revs

Broadway helps out
City gives $1 mil in subsidy rebates to small orgs

Walden, UA set to play in Denver
Love to serve as artistic director

'Saint' preem blesses Westport, Berkshire

Fest revels in revivals

Adaptation of 'Shop' is tops at Molieres

'Tru' story

Road grosses

Broadway grosses

Oscar upstages Tony

Queen tuner to rock London

SCR unveils new venues

Bates Is Playing The 'Fool'
Alan Bates says it himself. "Actors talking about acting can be so terribly pretentious. Sometimes I read an article about myself and I think, 'Oh, no! Not again. Please don't say all that again.'"

Urinetown and Metamorphoses Top 2002 Lortel Noms
Urinetown and Metamorphoses, which both transf...[Read More]

Marshall to Choreograph Music Man Movie
Kathleen Marshall will choreograph the upcoming television movie of Meredith Willson�s The Music Man, according to a production representative. As we [Read More]

SILLS BOWS OUT AS LINCOLN CENTER HONCHO
By BARBARA HOFFMAN
BUBBLES has finally popped.After years of threatening - or promising - to do so, Beverly Sills, Lincoln Center's indefatigable, unpaid chairwoman for the last eight years, is stepping down.

Documentary of Final Fantasticks Performance Looking for Home

Murray, Vidnovic, Mastro, Bradley Join York's Musical in Mufti

Orson Bean Stars in L.A. Uncle Vanya April 21-May 21

Kurtz and Robbins are the New Guys at NYC's Flea, April 2-19

Elaine Stritch at Liberty Cast Album Due April 9

Party of Many: "Five"'s Goorjian Stars in CA J.B. April 18-June 2

Jerry Herman's Miss Spectacular Gets All-Star Studio Cast Recording June 11

Alan Bates Is Fortune's Fool, as Russian Play Opens on Bway, April 2

Liza's Back! Minnelli Tours Europe with New Show, April 2-23

Urinetown, Metamorphoses Lead 2002 Lortel Awards Noms

Gets, Sella, Dajani & Preston Are Donaghy's Boys & Girls, May 3-June 9

Seattle Rep Reads Musical Beowulf, Dietz's Van Gogh May 1-5

Broadway's Burke Moses Lands TV Pilot

Peil, Charles, Berry and Panaro Added to D.C. Sondheim Fest

Atlanta's Alliance Has Noise/Funk with Glover, Pacific Overtures in 2002-03

Maltby and Shire's Evening in Nyack Includes Crosby, Groenendaal and Take Flight April 11

Toronto Star: Buffalo Gal helps celebrate the city
But even with Betty Buckley, it's not good enough for Broadway by Richard Ouzounian

Toronto Star: One career not enough for Betty Buckley
Versatile diva opens new A.R. Gurney play in Buffalo by Richard Ouzounian
On a different note, congratulations go out to Richard, who is now the Regional stringer for Variety (Toronto, Buffalo, Stratford, Shaw, etc.)

Peter Filichia's Diary
The York Theatre Company presents a concert version of Rodgers & Hart�s longest-running show�and you�ll never guess what show that is.

Follow Spot
CAP21 lauds James Naughton and Julian Schlossberg in a benefit gala on April 8.
posted at 4/2/2002 07:06:07 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Monday, April 01, 2002

DEBBIE DOES DALLAS:
Rehearsal starts 4/29.
Tentative preview 5/23, opening mid-June at the JANE STREET.
posted at 4/1/2002 03:34:22 PM by James Marino | Item Link

The Lucille Lortel Foundation will unveil its new websites:

www.iobdb.com, the Internet Off-Broadway Database, the first comprehensive information database devoted to Off-Broadway

www.LortelAwards.com, a comprehensive history of the Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway, as well as the current nominations (when they are announced)

www.LucilleLortelTheatre.com, an overview and history of the preeminent off-Broadway theatre as well as information about current attractions

www.lortel.org, the official website for the Lucille Lortel Foundation, established by "the Queen of Off-Broadway," to promote and support Off-Broadway theatre

Designed by Marketorial.com, these sites are surely the most comprehensive sites of their kind. IOBDB.com includes information about Off-Broadway shows, from the 1950s to the present, cross-referenced by title, cast, producers, designers, staff and theaters; this is the first site created to give the on-line theater community quick and complete access to each facet of every off-Broadway production, from the stage managers to the stars. IOBDB is an on-going project, constantly being expanded to preserve the history and legacy of Off-Broadway theater.

One of the more intriguing aspects of the Lortel Theatre site is the inclusion of the "Window Card Gallery," an all inclusive poster history of the Lortel Theatre, from Threepenny Opera (1957) to today, featuring rare and unique poster art, presented in chronological order, offering a special insight into the history of off-Broadway through its artwork. Another interesting aspect is the interactive "Playwrights Sidewalk," giving biographical and bibliographical information on each of the playwrights inducted onto the Playwrights Sidewalk in front of the Lucille Lortel Theatre, the only permanent tribute to Off-Broadway playwrights.
posted at 4/1/2002 01:39:16 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Diva Kristin Chenoweth Sings at London's Donmar Series

Eric Grode's STAGE TO SCREEN: Yiddish Theatre and April Debuts

Maltby and Shire's Evening in Nyack Includes Crosby, Groenendaal and Take Flight April 11

Sweet Smell Team Pulls Out of April 7 NY Times Discussion

Harry Groener Tangos Into TV's "Watching Ellie" April 2

Chi's Victory Gardens Has New Works, Including a Musical Antigone in 2002-03

Jason Danieley Sings on Boston Pops Richard Rodgers CD, In Stores April 23

Producer Schlossberg and Actor Naughton Feted at CAP21 Benefit April 8

Abner Update by Ken Mandelbaum

Field Trip: The Smell of the Kill Opening (video)

Check out this year's April Fool headlines on Broadway.com's home page...

Peter Filichia's Diary
The York Theatre Company presents a concert version of Rodgers & Hart�s longest-running show�and you�ll never guess what show that is.

Yahoo/Backstage: Recent LuPone Flap Illuminates the Outer Limits of Altruism

Graduating To Broadway by Blake Green
Mrs. Robinson of 'The Graduate' is back, but Kathleen Turner aims to seduce the young man in her own way.

Los Angeles Times: Where the Stage Is King by DON SHIRLEY
Small Ashland, Ore., is devoted to repertory theater on a scale unseen elsewhere in the country. Shakespeare is only part of the story.

posted at 4/1/2002 12:39:10 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

'Sweet' talk turns sour
TimesTalks symposium cancelled
The New York Times announced last week that its TimesTalks symposium with the creative team of "Sweet Smell of Success" has been cancelled. Times reporter Jesse McKinley was to have moderated the panel, originally scheduled for Sunday at Lighthouse Intl.

THEATER REVIEW | 'WHAT THE HELL'S YOUR PROBLEM?'
Thanks for Sharing, Stranger.
By BRUCE WEBER
Tom Noonan shrinks the conventional distance between character and theatergoer in his new play that recreates a New Age-style therapy meeting.

Talk Show Watch: Oklahoma! on 'Letterman', Lithgow on 'Conan'

Off-Broadway Tourette's Play Syndrome to Reach London

New York Times Articles Become Musical Revue Fodder in Fishwrap!

The Golem, with Robert Prosky, Animates Off Broadway April 1

MAC Awards Honor Best in NYC Cabaret Performance April 1

Atlantic Theater Presents Series of One-Acts in April

Draper and Giamatti Are This Side of Parodies for MTC April 1

Laguna Playhouse Takes LaBute's Shape of Things West June 1-30

Perfect Blendship: Anything Goes Concert Reunites LuPone & McGillin, April 1

Before They Don His Underpants, CSC Honors Steve Martin April 1

Today In Theatre History: APRIL 1
posted at 4/1/2002 06:46:12 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Sunday, March 31, 2002

Heard on the street:
For the ABC's Movie of the Week presentation of THE MUSIC MAN, they are probably going with JASON ALEXANDER as Mayor Shinn.
posted at 3/31/2002 10:11:00 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Newsday's Linda Winer on "I'd rather see a bad movie than a good play any day" and some other interesting things.

posted at 3/31/2002 08:24:42 PM by the other James | Item Link

Questions for Michael J. Fox: The Next Chapter

Total Theater, Starring Puppets

Ebersole, Turner, Bates and Crudup to Appear on 'Rosie'

Harold Gould Leads Old Wicked Songs In L.A. April 13-May 19, Travels to Santa Fe

So You Wanna Write a Libretto? BMI Accepting Applications to Workshop to May 1

Eric Grode's STAGE TO SCREEN: Yiddish Theatre on Film

Millie Makers Mix with Times Reporter, April 29

Tom Hewitt Rules Hatcher's Beauty in San Diego March 31-April 27

Today In Theatre History: MARCH 31

Scott Wolf and Justin Theroux are Sons of Ulster in Boston, March 30-May 5

A Frog Runs for President in Rare Revival of Rome Musical, April 9-21 in NYC

Stritch Talks with Times' Marks on April 28

March 30 Is V-Day in Harlem with Hayek, LaChanze, Moreno, Perez, Pinkins, Rashad

Today In Theatre History: MARCH 30

Toronto Star: Gotta sing gotta dance
The musical mantra is enjoying renewed popularity on Broadway, TV and at the movies, but this time around, it's being done with by Richard Ouzounian

Toronto Star: Buffalo Gal helps celebrate the city
But even with Betty Buckley, it's not good enough for Broadway by Richard Ouzounian

On Wisconsin: Sept. 11 an odd excuse to vent spleen at critic
[Thanks to Leanna for this... odd... link!]

When it Raines...
Musical theater and soap opera star Ron Raines visits Chicago by Michael Buckley

Peter Filichia's Diary
Readers respond to Filichia�s "Time Machine" column with their own wish lists of historic performances they'd love to have seen.

Follow Spot
Karen Akers, who will be honored at the MAC Awards on Monday, discusses the importance of the cabaret art form in a post-9/11 world.

Charles Nelson's Casts and Forecasts
Al Pacino is among the Angels, The Music Man is on the way, Chris Durang is tuning up a tuner, and an actor�s dream is about to come Tru.

Tunes and Tomes
Performance artist Tim Miller shows off his great Body of work.

Debbie Does Workshop... Buzz around town this weekend is good about the DDD workshop presentation at the Jane Street the past few days. Looks like Araca may have another fringe hit on their hands...
posted at 3/31/2002 11:13:33 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Happy Easter, everyone!

Bye, Bye 'American Pie'; Mrs. Robinson Is Calling By JESSE McKINLEY
Jason Biggs corners the market on young American male sexual angst, from teen-movie losers to "The Graduate" on Broadway.

When a Rapper Acts Out By KELEFA SANNEH
Rapping, like acting, exists in a gray area between charisma and craft. You put on some nice clothes, you deliver your lines and people respond, because they like you, or the character you're playing....

HEY, CRITICS: DON'T YOU BE AFRAID OF THE DARK By CLIVE BARNES
Having lived in the fragile glass house of criticism for as long as I have, I am never particularly disposed to throw stones at fellow inmates.

FRANKLY HILARIOUS By BARBARA HOFFMAN
During a preview performance of "Fortune's Fool," starring Alan Bates and Frank Langella, a door on the set closed with such force that a chandelier fell down.
posted at 3/31/2002 09:38:09 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

BroadwayStars is powered by Blogger Pro!

[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.

(none) | 172.69.7.79

NEW!

TICKETS

CHAT

BROADWAY NEWS

NYC AREA NEWS

WEST END

CHICAGO

LA/SF

COLUMNS

PODCAST

MUSIC

RADIO

TV

AWARDS

DATABASE

ROAD HOUSES

REVIEWS

FESTIVALS

SPECIAL

EDUCATION

UNIONS/TRADE

NYC NON-PROFITS

REGIONAL

KEWL

2007-08Broadway Season

2008-09Broadway Season

Talked AboutNot Scheduled Yet

2007-08
Broadway Season

2008-09
Broadway Season

Talked About
Not Scheduled Yet