Saturday, January 18, 2003

Features:

[ LAT ]  What 'Friends' is for by Diane Haithman
His TV job as nice-guy Ross allows David Schwimmer the freedom to play a Hollywood sleazeball in 'Turnaround,' a collaboration with some real pals.

[ LAT ]  Facing fear and finding a dream by Mike Boehm
Two former Actors' Gang members took a risk and it paid off. Now they call the shots. Now they have 'Liberty!'

[ BS ]  Creating an Original Role
As a complement to our semi-annual spotlight on acting schools and coaches, Back Stage focuses on the specific challenges of creating an original role from the ground up.
Includes interviews with Brian Murray and Sally Murphy.

News:

[ NJ ]  Visit by critic cancels preview BY PETER FILICHIA
About 200 theatergoers -- and a lone drama critic -- were shut out of the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick on Tuesday when it canceled its first preview of "Double Play."

[ B ]  Hepburn Bio-Play Tea at Five to Play Promenade

[ B ]  Maxwell and Pankow Ready for Barbra's Wedding

[ P ]  Ovid and Out: Metamorphosesto Close on Broadway, Feb. 16

Thanks to American Theater Web for the following Reviews!

[ OCR ]  �Aladdin� offers just a touch of magic by PAUL HODGINS
Part musical, part Vegas show, the musical succeeds in its own limited way but may leave some wanting more.

[ DMN ]  Joel Grey's talent expansive by TOM SIME
Singer's concert adds up to much more than the sum of its parts
posted at 1/18/2003 11:40:06 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ P ]  Sondheim Meets Jazz at 92nd Street Y, Jan. 18

[ P ]  Crosby, Cleale, Molaskey and Wright Sings 50's Tunes at Lyrics & Lyricists

[ P ]  Off-Broadway Hit Hank Williams Extends Again, to Feb. 23

[ P ]  Billy Crystal Raises Funds for La Jolla Playhouse with Feb. 21 and 22 Concerts

[ P ]  Broadway's Master Storyteller Chats with Radio's Joe Franklin Jan. 19

[ P ]  Pankow and Maxwell Are Harried Marrieds in Shadow of Barbra's Wedding, Off-Bway Feb. 11

[ TS ]  Revolving set keeps mind off confusion by Richard Ouzounian

[ TS ]  A gooey, sexy and silly Mambo
Italian parents meet Gay Pride Volume is up in this confessional by Richard Ouzounian

[ TS ]  Canadian playwrights owning Toronto stages by Richard Ouzounian

[ V ]  'Metamorphoses' dries up
The producers of Mary Zimmerman's aquatic drama, based on the myths of Ovid, had wanted to keep their production running, but owners of the Circle in the Square invoked the stop clause. For two weeks in December, the receipts for "Metamorphoses" fell to $138,901 and $131,645, just below the contracted $140,000 limit that allows the theater's owners to invoke the stop clause and force a production to vacate.
posted at 1/18/2003 10:55:13 AM by Susan Heim | Item Link

Friday, January 17, 2003

Someone dropped us some excellent scoop:

We love our readers... :-)
posted at 1/17/2003 05:22:14 PM by James Marino | Item Link

News:

[ B ]  B'way's Metamorphoses to Close February 16

[ B ]  Casting Update for Gypsy Revival

[ B ]  Complete Cast Announced for Albertine

[ B ]  Borle, Buckley & Carmello Set for Looking Up

[ TM ]  American Theatre Wing Offers World Theatre Seminar, January 24

[ TM ]  New York Public Library Hosts Original Cast Recording Exhibit, March 6-June 7

[ P ]  Thornton Wilder's Final Novel, "Theophilus North," Comes Alive on Arena Stage Jan. 17-March 2

Features:

[ B ]  Photo Op: Uncle Vanya Parties in Brooklyn

Reviews:

[ TM ]  Tunes, Tomes, & Videos
Matthew Murray reviews the soundtrack CD of Chicago and comments on the virtues and flaws of previous recordings of the Kander and Ebb score.

[ TB ]  Velvet Songs: The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and Guests Melba Moore and The John Pizzarelli Trio Pittsburgh Review by Ann Miner
posted at 1/17/2003 05:19:56 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ TM ]  Broadway's "Tuesdays at 7" Program a Flop With Restaurateurs

[ TM ]  Listen to His Heart: David Friedman Song Book Now Available

[ P ]  PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Jan. 11-19: Dance of Death

[ P ]  Euan Morton Returns to London Taboo

[ P ]  Stones Roll Further in West End

[ P ]  Sarah Uriarte Berry Sings Sound of Music in San Jose, Jan. 17-Feb. 2

Features:

[ HHW ]  Interview with Melissa Errico
Thanks to Craig on All That Chat for the link!

[ TM ]  Follow Spot: J. Smith-Cameron by: Michael Buckley
One of the stage's most talented and versatile actresses spark's the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Tartuffe.

[ TM ]  The Siegels' Nightlife Notes
Curtis Stigers (at the Oak Room) and Jennifer Pace (at Don't Tell Mama) give the Siegels a warm glow during a cold snap in NYC.
posted at 1/17/2003 03:24:43 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Thanks go to Christine Ehren of Playbill On-Line, who wrote in with this correction on her story from yesterday about the rock musical Notes From MariAnne: "It's going to be a closed, by invitation only reading" and tickets will not be available from Telecharge after all. Darn...

Features:

[ B ]  Next Season's Musicals: The Revivals by Ken Mandelbaum

News:

[ P ]  DIVA TALK: Falsettos and Norma Desmond Revisited

[ P ]  Peters Gypsy Changes On-Sale Date; Box-Office Opening and More Casting Announced

[ P ]  "Chicago" Film Goes Wide Two Weeks Later; Oscar Noms. Due Feb. 11

[ B ]  Euan Morton Returns as Boy George in Taboo

[ TM ]  Bill to Ban Use of Cell Phones in NYC Theaters Vetoed, But Not Dead
posted at 1/17/2003 12:40:39 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ V ]  'Producers' star Bart joins 'Stepford' pic
Thesp to play gay confidant to Kidman character

[ V ]  Lincoln's 'Looking Up' at Finn preem
Daniele directs as Buckley, Carmello, Borle confirm

[ ND ]  Mel Bourne, Oscar-nominated production designer, dies at 79

[ IBDB ]  Mel Bourne's Broadway Credits

[ NYT ]  ON STAGE AND OFF
A Fourth-Grade Break by JESSE MCKINLEY
Heather Tepe, 10, will play Baby June in the revival of "Gypsy" at the Shubert, alongside Bernadette Peters.

[ NYP ]  'OUR' BOOMTOWN by MICHAEL RIEDEL
A few months ago, I smugly predicted that the Westport Country Playhouse's revival of "Our Town," starring Paul Newman, would never make a dime on Broadway.

[ NYP ]  LIZ SMITH
On Sunday night, when NBC airs "the party of the year," the opening sequence will show a montage of stars, against a special new version of Kander & Ebb's "Razzle Dazzle." This should blast the event off with high style.
Be warned - the Golden Globes give a song new lyrics for their opening montage every year, and the lyrics are usually really, really lame. "Ooh, there's Mel Gibson/Ooh, there's Ruta Lee..."

[ USA ]  Oscar watchers foresee Globes for 'Chicago', 'Hours' by Andy Seiler

[ LAT ]  Can they see the real Pete? by Phil Sutcliffe
After the initial tabloid trashing of the Who guitarist over a visit to a child porn Web site, Britons seem ready to accept his explanation that it was for research.

[ P ]  Brian F. O'Byrne Is bedbound in American Premiere at Irish Rep Jan. 17-March 2

[ P ]  McGillin, Anderson and Larsen Set for Broadway By the Year: 1925; Complete Season Announced

[ P ]  Houston's Alley Has Albee Fest With Virginia Woolf? and Goat Regional Debut

[ P ]  Disney's "The Music Man" Director Jeff Bleckner Gets to Know the Territory

[ P ]  Finn Revue, Looking Up, to Run March 2-30 at LCT; Borle Added

[ P ]  Hello, Jerry! Herman's Showtune Gets Off-Bway Run Starting Feb. 18

[ P ]  Victoria Clark Cast in New Guettel Musical Light in the Piazza

[ SPI ]  ACT, in the red, delays its season by JOE ADCOCK
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!

[ B ]  Tony Committee Makes Eligibility Decisions

Reviews � "Shanghai Moon":

[ ND ]  Sexual Orient-ation by Gordon Cox
That's no lady - just Busch up to his usual tricks

[ DN ]  2 hours later, you'll be hungry for more by Robert Dominguez
An engaging, often hilarious spoof of early-1930s melodramas set in the mysterious Far East, "Shanghai" has Charles Busch, the writer and star of such cult shows as "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" and "Psycho Beach Party," camping it up in his customary persona.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'SHANGHAI MOON'
Despite the Finery, This Babe's a Brute by BEN BRANTLEY
Charles Busch's happy, cockeyed new melodrama has successfully distilled the essence of the Hollywood broad.

[ NJ ]  'Moon' shines bright as East-West spoof BY MICHAEL SOMMERS

[ YN ]  Off-Broadway's 'Shanghai' Casts Spell by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic
There's nothing like a woman with a past, especially when she's played by Charles Busch, the theater's reigning diva of drag.

[ B ]  Shanghai Moon Review by Adam Feldman

[ TM ]  Shanghai Moon Reviewed By: David Finkle

Other Reviews:

[ LAT ]  THEATER BEAT
Here's an idea that, depending on your perspective, may seem inspired, redundant or just plain mean. It's "Call Us Crazy," in which 14 actresses perform comically overheated readings from the Anne Heche autobiography "Call Me Crazy."
Last item.

[ NYP ]  'PRODUCERS' IS BACK IN BLOOM by CLIVE BARNES
BINGO! Apparently it's just a matter of the right chemistry.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'PANIC! (HOW TO BE HAPPY!)'
In This Mind's D�cor, Sex Is No Love Seat by BEN BRANTLEY
Richard Foreman delivers a potent brand of theatrical witchcraft loaded with bewildered and hopeful characters at the Ontological Theater.

[ CU ]  Tartuffe Reviewed by Elyse Sommer

[ NYT ]  MOVIE REVIEW | 'P.S. YOUR CAT IS DEAD'
Losing Job and Girlfriend but Gaining Burglar Buddy by DAVE KEHR
James Kirkwood Jr., who died in 1989, will probably be best remembered for the book of "A Chorus Line," but he also wrote several other novels and plays about the agonies of a show business life � a subject he knew from childhood on, being the son of the silent film stars James Kirkwood and Lila Lee.

Features:

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
Students are educated in theater thanks to the cast of Chicago and an organization called Students Live.

[ NJ ]  What's in a name? A play on a racy word BY PETER FILICHIA
Actress Elizabeth Wilson says she only has herself to blame for winding up in a play with such a salacious title.
It's "The Vibrator" by Arthur Laurents.
I hear this show has a great buzz... :-)

[ B ]  Fresh Face: Corey Reynolds by Katie Riegel

[ B ]  Photo Op: Opening Night of Off-B'way's Comedians

[ BS ]  Bringing to Life a Noted Teacher
Portraying the real-life sociologist Morrie Schwartz in "Tuesdays with Morrie" poses a number of potential stumbling blocks for actor Alvin Epstein. "It's a great responsibility playing someone who lived."

[ CST ]  Bending the 'Rules' by Mary Houlihan
John Irving's vastly popular novel The Cider House Rules seems an unlikely candidate for a stage adaptation.

[ USA ]  Broderick's 'Music Man' had a baby on his mind by Robert Bianco

[ CST ]  Speaking with Jermey Piven

[ NJ ]  And then there's Bea, on 'Intimate Portrait' BY STEVE HEDGPETH

[ PPG ]  Celebrated South African playwright Athol Fugard ponders the precious things by Christopher Rawson
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!
posted at 1/17/2003 09:33:45 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Thursday, January 16, 2003

[ TM ]  Tony Administration Committee Classifies Movin' Out, La Boh�me, Etc.
Now that Movin' Out has been considered a musical for Tony nomination purposes, does that mean that no one will ever complain about Contact's nomination in 2000 again? Also, how will this affect the chances of previous Tony favorite Hairspray? This is an interesting decision which will, without doubt, have impact on Broadway down the road.
posted at 1/16/2003 09:14:08 PM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

[ P ]  Encores! Offers Kristin Chenoweth the Moon

[ P ]  Chenoweth and Bierko to Workshop New Musical Little Mary Sunshine

[ P ]  Tartuffe Extends Run on Broadway to Feb. 23

[ P ]  Laramie Project Comes to London's Cochrane Theatre

[ P ]  Al Murray Stars in Who Dares Wins? at London's Lyric

[ B ]  Tartuffe Extends Through February 23

[ B ]  David Eigenberg Joins the Cast of Take Me Out

[ B ]  Brooklyn Heads for Stamford

[ TM ]  Representatives of Theatre League and Musicians Union Discuss Contract Issues

[ BS ]  Equity, CORST Agree

[ BS ]  Blackburn Noms to 12 Plays
Twelve plays have reached final nomination for the 25th Susan Smith Blackburn Awards, given annually to women who deserve recognition for having written works of outstanding quality for the English-speaking theatre.
posted at 1/16/2003 05:28:30 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ P ]  "Sex and the City" Actor Eigenberg Completes Take Me Out Casting; Previews Begin Feb. 4

[ P ]  Saving Anne, Musical About Time Travel and Anne Frank, Gets U.S. Premiere in MI

[ P ]  Mazzie and Danieley Sing Lotsa Cole Porter Jan. 17 at Carnegie Hall

Features:

[ P ]  Greek Revival
Fiona Shaw plays the quintessential woman scorned in the Abbey Theatre of Ireland's production of Medea.

Reviews:

[ TB ]  Runaway Home Washington Review by Tracy Lyon
posted at 1/16/2003 03:28:52 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ B ]  CDs: A Jerry Jamboree by Ken Mandelbaum
Christopher Sieber will take on the role of Trevor Graydon in the Broadway Thoroughly Modern Millie, filling in when Marc Kudisch departs for City Opera's A Little Night Music.

[ P ]  Uncle Vanya Joins Donmar Repertory at BAM, Jan. 16

[ P ]  Is Liza Ready for Her Close-Up?: Minnelli Rumored for Screen Sunset

[ P ]  Benanti, Creel Star in Reading of Rock Musical MariAnne Feb. 3 at Joe's Pub

[ P ]  Romeo and Juliet Ends London Run

[ P ]  Stritch & Stroman Among Olivier Award Nominees; Complete List Announced

[ B ]  2003 Olivier Award Nominations Announced

Reviews:

[ TB ]  Little Shop Of Horrors Chicago Review by Charles Eichler

[ TB ]  Joe Goode�s Body Familiar An Interesting Experiment San Francisco Review by Richard Connema
posted at 1/16/2003 11:57:29 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ V ]  N.J. THEATER CANCELS PERF TO FOIL TIMES CRITIC
Genzlinger's premature reviews cause play delay
The George Street Playhouse is not afraid of the New York Times.

[ HC ]  Jean Stapleton Departs Hartford Stage's `Bountiful' by Frank Rizzo
Hartford Stage's season received a casting blow with the news that Jean Stapleton, who had been promoted as starring in Horton Foote's "The Trip to Bountiful," won't star in the show after all.
Plus news on John McDaniel's musical "Brooklyn," coming to Stamford this spring.

[ HC ]  Wendy Beaton, Stage Manager, Dies At 46

[ R ]  Paltrow Nominated for British Theater Award
In the awards race, she could face stiff competition from home-grown star Emily Watson, praised for her performance in "Uncle Vanya."

[ YN ]  Mel Brooks to Publish Memoirs in '04
"I have always been a huge admirer of my own work. I'm one of the funniest and most entertaining writers I know," Brooks said in a statement Wednesday from HarperEntertainment, an imprint of HarperCollins that will publish the book next year.

[ YN ]  Dramatized Version of Wilder Book Opens by CARL HARTMAN, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON - Best remembered for plays like "Our Town" and "The Skin of our Teeth," Thornton Wilder was also a prize-winning novelist. His last big work, a partly autobiographical novel, has waited 30 years to reach the stage.

[ NYP ]  GLOBE SPOTTING by LOU LUMENICK
LOOK for "Chicago" to razzle-dazzle the Golden Globes Sunday night - quite possibly the last time the Hollywood Foreign Press Association enjoys its status as the leading harbinger of the Oscars.

[ NYP ]  LIZ SMITH
Items on Tovah Feldshuh and "Dinner at Eight."

[ ND ]  A Boost for Broadway's Workers and Theaters by GORDON COX

[ NYP ]  'VAMPIRES' LAST DANCE by BARBARA HOFFMAN
THE ads said it sucked, the critics agreed - and the box office quickly bled dry.

[ P ]  Pittsburgh City Theatre Has Two World Premieres and Topdog/Underdog in 2003-04

[ P ]  Together Again: Burnett and Andrews Honored by Museum of TV and Radio

[ P ]  Off-Bway Troupe, The Civilians, Offers Latest Work at HERE, Jan. 17-26

[ P ]  Busch's Latest Tough Tootsie Falls Under Orient's Spell in Shanghai Moon, Opening Jan. 16

[ P ]  Fallout of Love and War Explored in Fifth of July, Starting Jan. 16 at NYC's Signature

[ P ]  On Her Way: Tesori & Crawley Musical, Violet, Gets NYC Reunion Concert Jan. 16-19

[ P ]  The Shape of Things Film Premieres at Sundance Fest, Jan. 16-26

Reviews:

[ NYT ]  CRITIC'S NOTEBOOK
Enchanted Across a Crowded (and Compact) Room by BRUCE WEBER
If the production of "South Pacific" by the Arena Stage in Washington has any influence � and it should � the musical in miniature could well become a theatrical trend.

[ NYT ]  IN PERFORMANCE
Recent Plays and Concerts
Reviews of "Vincent" at the Wings Theater, "The Last Virgin" at the Triad Theater and David Murray at the Knitting Factory.

[ WP ]  The Bonds Of Those Freed From Death Row by Peter Marks
Restored to life. Now there's an experience truly justifying journalism's eternal query, "How did you feel?" Judging from the testimony of six souls in "The Exonerated," who lived undeservedly for years in the shadow of the electric chair, one gets the sense you'd feel, well, everything.

[ TB ]  Comedians Review by Matthew Murray

[ CU ]  Comedians Reviewed by Elyse Sommer

Features:

[ CST ]  Another shot of Smirnoff BY MIKE THOMAS
It was lunchtime when Yakov Smirnoff broke into a jig on East Adams.

[ ND ]  Good Exposure by Blake Green
Rosie and Joey: It's not too much to bare

[ B ]  First Person: Analyze This by Lisa Levy

Last night's episode of "The West Wing" had a script by Jon Robin Baitz. It was an excellent episode with a very different style, and with a lot more emotional resonance, than is usual for that series. I hope he writes for TV more.
posted at 1/16/2003 08:51:30 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'COMEDIANS': O.K., Take 2 Jokes and Call Me in the Morning By BEN BRANTLEY
The intense and earnest revival of Trevor Griffiths's 1975 play insists that you repeatedly experience the pain of a stand-up comic who can't get a laugh.

[ V ]  Comedians review by Charles Isherwood
The agonizing experience of watching standup comics die the death onstage is meticulously re-created in Trevor Griffiths' "Comedians."

[ TM ]  Comedians review by Philip Hopkins

[ B ]  Comedians review by Adam Feldman

[ NYT ]  'Dance of the Vampires,' a Broadway Failure, Is Closing By JESSE McKINLEY
In one of the costliest failures in Broadway history, the producers of "Dance of the Vampires," a $12 million camp musical, will close the show on Jan. 25.

[ DN ]  'Vampires' bites the dust By PATRICIA O'HAIRE
posted at 1/16/2003 07:19:39 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Wednesday, January 15, 2003

Received this comment through the "Blind Item" link:

posted at 1/15/2003 09:38:59 PM by James Marino | Item Link

[ YN ]  Off-Broadway Suffers Through Lean Season by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Writer

[ BBC ]  Theatres welcome London ticket offer
Theatres have largely welcomed a �350,000 scheme to provide cut-price tickets at their venues, but they said it will not solve all of their financial problems.

[ BS ]  'Aida' Star Headley to Wed

[ YN ]  Latifah's Drunken-Driving Charges Dropped
LOS ANGELES - A plea of no contest to reckless driving was entered on behalf of actress and Grammy-winning rapper Queen Latifah, and in exchange, prosecutors dropped two misdemeanor drunken-driving counts.

[ P ]  Strathairn, Garrick Tell CSC's Winter's Tale Jan. 15-Feb. 23

[ P ]  "Soap" Spouses Helmond and Mandan Reunite in Falcon Theatre's Romance, Feb. 8

[ NY1 ]  Affordable Space For Not-For-Profit Theater Companies Opens In Midtown
On the third floor of a building on Eighth Avenue and 36th Street, a new breed of theater is growing; the affordable, accessible and often awesome kind. In the following story, NY1 Manhattan Reporter Rebecca Spitz has more on the performance place called The Spaces at 520.
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!
posted at 1/15/2003 05:45:13 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ P ]  New Frankie and Johnny Get More Time Before Critics Review; Reopening Now Jan. 30

[ P ]  "Playing Lear" Tome Available in U.K. Bookstores

[ P ]  Get Into London Theatre Program Launched

[ P ]  London's Barbican BITES Year-Round

[ P ]  Duncan, Tirrell, Lehman and Crosby Headline Grass Harp Concert, Jan. 17-19

[ TM ]  Danieley, Graff, Mazzie, and Naughton Headline MTC Winter Benefit, January 27

[ TM ]  They're Still Here: Andrews and Burnett to be Honored at Museum of Television and Radio Gala

[ B ]  Jonathan Pryce Returns to the London Stage

[ B ]  Will Liza Star in a Film of Sunset Boulevard?

[ B ]  Romeo and Juliet Musical to Shutter in London

Features:

[ B ]  Video: Tartuffe Born Again on Broadway
posted at 1/15/2003 04:18:53 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ B ]  DVDs: Van the Exterminator by Ken Mandelbaum
This week, the Weisslers held a Pal Joey reading, with Donna Murphy as Vera and John Stamos as Joey. (Murphy played Vera in a 1992 production at Boston's Huntington Theatre Company.) Also in the reading were Laura Benanti as Linda and Faith Prince as Gladys, along with Katie Finneran, David Elder, Jessica Stone, Amanda Watkins, Diedre Goodwin, Elizabeth Mills, Caitlin Carter, Christopher Evans Welch, Peter Bartlett, Ken Barnett, Joe Farrell, and Charlie Marcus.

[ PJ ]  Al Pacino, Marisa Tomei come to Bardavon stage by John W. Barry
Readings set for Feb. 5-9
Thanks to jimnysf on All That Chat for the link!

[ P ]  Showtime to Film Our Town for TV Airing in Summer

[ P ]  "Shush!": New York City Mayor Bloomberg Vetoes Cell Phone Bill

[ P ]  Sunset Boulevard's Elaine Paige to Return to Stage in 2003

[ P ]  Holmes' Remember WENN Postpones Helen Hayes Premiere; Satch Replaces

Reviews:

[ TB ]  The Exonerated Washington Review by Tracy Lyon

[ TB ]  Waiting for Godot Boston Review by Suzanne Bixby
posted at 1/15/2003 12:45:40 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ NYP ]  'DRUM' ROLL, PLEASE by MICHAEL RIEDEL
THERE'S more intrigue surrounding the fate of "Flower Drum Song" than you're likely to find in the back alleys of Shanghai.

[ NYP ]  CINDY ADAMS
Interview with Rosie Perez.

[ NYP ]  LIZ SMITH
I continue to hear rumblings and whisperings that Liza Minnelli will star in the movie musical version of "Sunset Boulevard," Andrew Lloyd Webber's work based on the 1950 movie that brought Gloria Swanson back from Hollywood obscurity.
If she can't sell out the Beacon Theatre, how is she going to sell tickets to hundreds of movie houses?
Plus a correction on the Meryl Streep/Glenn Close mixup.

[ NYP ]  THE STARR REPORT by MICHAEL STARR
Chad Lowe is down in Philadelphia, shooting an episode for the CBS drama "Hack" (starring David Morse). In the episode, Lowe will play a man named Jimmy Scanlon, who's on death row. This is convenient for Lowe, since he's also starring in the D.C. production of "The Exonerated," which focuses on . . . people on death row (who were found to be not guilty).

[ TM ]  Erv Raible Announces Cabaret Conference at Yale

[ B ]  Steppenwolf's Gennaro Joins Paper Mill Team

[ B ]  Remember WENN Musical Delayed A Year

[ P ]  Video of Acclaimed Orson Welles Play Arrives on DVD Jan. 28

[ P ]  The Blacks, Landmark Off-Broadway Show, Gets 42nd Anniversary Staging, Jan. 31

[ P ]  Esparza, Dale Are New Group's Comedians, Opening Jan. 15

[ P ]  John McDaniel Comes to Joe's Pub Feb. 15-16; Brooklyn Aims for Bway

[ P ]  Here Tomorrow: The Grand Tour Gets Concert Revival Jan. 23, 26 and 27

[ P ]  Hey, There: New Musical, A Dash of Rosemary!, Celebrates the Life of Clooney

[ P ]  Dance of the Vampires To Close on Broadway, Jan. 25

Features:

[ TIME ]  Strokes of Luck by HAL PRINCE
The Broadway director-producer's life was shaped by good fortune � and bad.
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
Filichia sings the praises of Providence's Trinity Rep and its current production of Copenhagen.

[ P ]  PLAYBILL ON-LINE'S BRIEF ENCOUNTER with David Hare
With "The Hours" and Breath of Life, 2003 looks like another banner year for British playwright David Hare.

[ B ]  Photo Op: Celebs Headline Broadway Festival 2003

Reviews:

[ DMN ]  Review: Jennifer Holliday renders each song with intensity, experience by TOM SIME
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!

[ YN ]  Mesmerizing Acting Helps 'Attraction' by JUSTIN GLANVILLE, Associated Press Writer
How do you keep audiences engaged in a play that features two entirely reprehensible lead characters?
Cast good actors. Riveting performances are riveting performances, regardless of the material's likability.
posted at 1/15/2003 07:43:20 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Tuesday, January 14, 2003

[ V ]  'Vampires' takes its last bite on B'way
Prod'n is one of the most expensive casualties in recent memory
By CHARLES ISHERWOOD

The Broadway musical "Dance of the Vampires" will close at the Minskoff Theater on Jan. 25. Credit some of the harshest reviews in years for putting a stake through the ill-starred tuner's heart. The show inspired epithets along the lines of "Count Dreckula," "Bloody Bad Show" and "Dead on Arrival" -- and those were just the headlines.On a different note, at Lauren Kennedy's concert at Ars Nova tonight, she revealed that Georgia Stitt and Jason Robert Brown are engaged. I could say something corny about them making beautiful music, but I won't.... Congrats to both of them.
posted at 1/14/2003 10:42:19 PM by James Marino | Item Link

[ B ]  Last Dance for B'way Vampires January 25
Hmmm...

[ TT ]  All Natural Cherry Jones
The High Priestess of American Theater Plays an Imaginary Friend
by Ellis Nassour
posted at 1/14/2003 06:22:30 PM by James Marino | Item Link

News:

[ P ]  Paper Mill Names Steppenwolf's Gennaro as President Elect and CEO

[ P ]  Kristin Huxhold Will "Soon" Be Anne in City Opera's Little Night Music

Features:

[ TM ]  Photo File
Joseph Marzullo snaps away at Ren�e Zellweger, Edie Falco, Ron Howard and other notables.

Reviews:

[ VV ]  LIVES IN PLAY by Michael Feingold
Tartuffe by Moli�re; Art, Life & Show-Biz by Ain Gordon

[ CU ]  Art, Life, & Show-Biz Review by Brad Bradley
posted at 1/14/2003 06:00:02 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

News:

[ P ]  Broadway Grosses: January 6-12

[ P ]  Julia Sweeney Is in The Family Way Off-Broadway, Jan. 22-Feb. 22

[ P ]  Disney TV Film of Menken-Schwartz "Hunchback" Begins Production in 2004

[ B ]  Broadway Grosses: Foul Weather and Friends

[ B ]  Ragtime May Find Life in the West End

[ B ]  Julie Andrews Directs The Boy Friend at Bay Street

Features:

[ B ]  Photo Op: Lauren Kennedy in the Spotlight

Reviews:

[ TM ]  In the Blood Philadelphia Review By: J. Cooper Robb
posted at 1/14/2003 04:07:11 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ * ]  Paper Mill: The State Theatre of New Jersey announces President Elect and CEO

(January 14, 2003) Millburn, NJ - Paper Mill Playhouse, The State Theatre of New Jersey announced today that Michael Gennaro will join the theatre as President Elect and as CEO, a new position created by the Paper Mill Playhouse Board of Trustees in its continuing effort to secure the organization's fiscal and artistic future.
posted at 1/14/2003 03:32:18 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Reviews:

[ B ]  CDs: Bohemian Rhapsody by Ken Mandelbaum
WE WILL ROCK YOU (Parlophone)

News:

[ P ]  Alan Davies' Auntie Opens in West End Jan. 14

[ P ]  Dick Barton Extends U.K. Engagement

[ P ]  London Arts Gets a Kick From Triple Espresso

[ P ]  Report: Julie Andrews Revisits The Boy Friend in Sag Harbor

[ P ]  For Your Consideration: Theatre Names Being Campaigned for Film Awards

[ P ]  Everett Quinton Is Twisted Olivia at ZACH!, Jan. 30-March 2

[ P ]  George Street Playhouse Offers Double Play with Aldredge and Wilson

[ TM ]  At What Price Peace? The Lysistrata Project Encourages Anti-War Sentiment

[ P ]  Showtime to Preserve Paul Newman in Our Town
posted at 1/14/2003 12:20:57 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ CU ]  The Mystery of Attraction
A CurtainUp Review by Elyse Sommer

[ E ]  On with the show
Good news for the grand circle

AROUND the world a building boom is under way in new theatres, concert halls, opera houses and multi-purpose buildings for live shows. At their annual conference in New York last month, members of the International Society for the Performing Arts, many of whom build or manage theatres, were cheerful about today�though worried about tomorrow.
posted at 1/14/2003 10:10:02 AM by James Marino | Item Link

News:

[ YN ]  Archerd: Julie Andrews takes on theater directing by Army Archerd
Paul Newman winds his last stand on Broadway, "Our Town," on his birthday, Jan. 26, and on the 28th they start taping the production for Showtime and Masterpiece Theater -- "so it can also be shown on its educational outreach program," he tells me. Newman says, "It's not easy, but I didn't want to croak without doing it." And yes, it is his last outing on Broadway.

[ YN ]  Pete Townshend free after child porn arrest by BETH GARDINER, Associated Press Writer
LONDON - Rock guitarist Pete Townshend was released from police custody Tuesday, resting at home after his arrest on suspicion of possessing indecent images of children, his lawyer said.

[ V ]  PLAYS THE B.O. THING
Tuners tumble, but total take still a record
Coming off Christmas week, Broadway managed a smaller B.O. decrease (17.83%) than usual, but coming off New Year's week, it took a deeper dip than normal.

[ V ]  LABUTE SELLS STORY COLLECTION
Book to include new, already published short fiction
Director and playwright Neil LaBute has sold his first book of fiction, an as-yet untitled short story collection, to Grove/Atlantic.

[ V ]  SERINO COYNE SOLD
Omnicom Group buys B'way's biggest ad firm
Broadway's biggest marketing and ad firm has joined the Omnicom Group worldwide media conglom.

[ NYP ]  WATERLOGGED MUTT SAVED BY A 'SOPRANO' by LORENA MONGELLI and BRIDGET HARRISON
January 11, 2003 -- One lucky mutt narrowly avoided sleeping with the fishes yesterday when it tumbled into the Hudson River while being walked in TriBeCa by "Sopranos" star Edie Falco.

[ TM ]  Laguna Playhouse to Honor Julie Harris at April 12 Gala

[ TM ]  Deadline Extended for Submissions for the 2003 Midtown International Theatre Festival

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Shanghai Moon Brightens Off-Broadway

[ P ]  Heeeeeere's Edna!: The Dame Set to Chat with "Tonight Show" Host Jay Leno

[ P ]  Heather Headley To Sing National Anthem on CBS-TV Jan. 19
Tony Award winner Heather Headley will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the upcoming AFC Championship.

[ P ]  Zorba Won't Take to the Road in 2003

[ P ]  2003 Edition of Annual "Plays and Playwrights" Anthology to Arrive Feb. 1

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Singing in Falsettos: Trina and Whizzers

[ P ]  Toronto Premiere of Vinci Exposes Leonardo's History, Starting Jan. 13

[ B ]  Debbie Does Dallas CD Released January 14

[ B ]  Phantom Film Back On Track; RUG Producing

Features:

[ TM ]  Moon Over Barrow Street by: Brian Scott Lipton
Drag legend and Broadway playwright Charles Busch stars in his latest opus, Shanghai Moon, for the Drama Dept.

[ HC ]  Broadway's `Dancing Feet' Tap Their Way To Oakdale Tonight by GREG MORAGO
When "42nd Street" invites audiences to "come and meet those dancing feet," it means what it says.
Interview with Randy Skinner.

[ BG ]  Auditions for 'Stomp' kick into high gear by Catherine Foster

[ BH ]  Auditioners get a bang out of `STOMP' by Aiden Fitzgerald

Thanks to American Theater Web for the following features!

[ OCR ]  It's a whole new world by PAUL HODGINS
A veteran of the nonprofit theater world, Anne Hamburger feels like a kid in a candy store creating shows for Disney.

[ DMN ]  Theater people: Jennifer Holliday, actress and singer
ON 'CHICAGO': "I did audition for the movie. When you see the movie, you'll see why I didn't get it. I'm not going to change. I'm not a big mama anymore, and it's not even worth it going there. I'd put on weight for a role if it was like, Bessie Smith or Mahalia Jackson, or somebody incredible. But not for something in Chicago. I'm a size 8 and I think I'm gonna die this size, so let's leave it alone."

Reviews:

[ NJ ]  Offbeat 'Mystery' entertains BY MICHAEL SOMMERS
A warped little tale regarding dissolute brothers, "The Mystery of Attraction" offers quite a bit of entertainment value for $15.

[ B ]  The Mystery of Attraction Review by Celia Wren

[ USA ]  Listen Up - CD Reviews: 'Chicago' dazzles; 'Failer' flails

[ NJ ]  The boss has more fun in 'Big Boys' BY PETER FILICHIA
At Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey, big business meets the Marx Brothers' "Monkey Business" in Rich Orloff's "Big Boys."
The result is the silliest hit of the season. For those who assumed that theater of the absurd died in the '60s, here it is, alive and thriving in Madison.

[ BH ]  Don't wait to take in New Rep's fine `Godot' by Terry Byrne
Breathing life into Samuel Beckett's ``Waiting for Godot'' requires a graceful tension among the actors and effortless precision from a director. That's an elusive combination, but Rick Lombardo's current production at the New Repertory Theatre accomplishes it with ease.
posted at 1/14/2003 08:23:40 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ NYT ]  Peter Sellars Returns With an Ancient Message By STEPHEN KINZER
Peter Sellars, one of the world's most controversial directors, has infused a 2,500-year-old Greek drama with the plight of today's refugees.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'THE MYSTERY OF ATTRACTION': Her Name Is Sharky? Sounds Like Trouble By BRUCE WEBER

[ V ]  The Mystery of Attraction review by Marilyn Stasio
In real life, when a coupla white guys sit around talking, they talk about sports and sex and who ordered pepperoni on the pizza. In the alternative universe of Marlane Meyer's new play, the guys who sit around talking talk about their feelings.

[ NYP ]  LITTLE 'ATTRACTION' TO 'MYSTERY' By DONALD LYONS
IN Marlane Meyer's dark comedy "The Mystery of Attraction," we're in Tarantino land - among vaguely criminal characters at the end of their rope, offering various funny theories about sex, sardines and whatnot.

[ NYP ]  VARIOUS ARTISTS: "CHICAGO: MUSIC FROM THE MOTION PICTURE" By DAN AQUILANTE
The music from the movie version of Bob Fosse's 1975 Broadway blockbuster, "Chicago," fires the retro rockets all the way back to when jazz was young and flappers flapped.

[ NYP ]  VARIOUS ARTISTS: "DEBBIE DOES DALLAS: ORIGINAL CAST RECORDING" By DAN AQUILANTE
The only reason to buy this cheesy album, gleaned from the equally cheesy off-Broadway production "Debbie Does Dallas," is to hear the cast's comical attempts at faking an orgasm on track #69.

[ P ]  Kimberly Akimbo Begins NYC Premiere Jan. 14; Score by Jason Robert Brown
posted at 1/14/2003 07:35:18 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Monday, January 13, 2003

News:

[ P ]  West End My Fair Lady Announces Cast Changes
The Daily Mail has broken the news that Anthony ("Brideshead") Andrews will take over the role of Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in mid-March. The role is currently being played by Alex Jennings.

[ P ]  Maria Friedman Set to Star in London Ragtime

[ P ]  Jude Law Departs U.K. Theatre Company Natural Nylon

[ P ]  Stephen Gately Is Joseph at New London Theatre

[ B ]  Shanghai Moon Extends Through March 9

Features:

[ B ]  Photo Op: Under a Shanghai Moon with Charles Busch

Reviews:

[ TM ]  love/sad Reviewed By: Philip Hopkins

[ TM ]  The Mystery of Attraction Reviewed By: David Finkle
posted at 1/13/2003 03:27:54 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Features:

[ B ]  Yet Another Column on the Chicago Movie by Ken Mandelbaum
Last week, I had the opportunity to peruse one of the earlier scripts, a 1996 draft by Larry Gelbart.

[ P ]  Queen Latifah Shows 'Class' as Mama Morton in "Chicago" Movie
Born a Jersey girl, Dana Owens � better known by her royal moniker Queen Latifah � wasn't far from the neon lights of old Broadway.

News:

[ B ]  Caroline Rhea to Star in Off-B'way's Mondo Drama

[ P ]  Busch's Shanghai Moon Shines on Through March 9 With Off-Bway's Drama Dept.

[ P ]  Matthew Bourne Withdraws from Stage Little Mermaid

[ P ]  Marcovicci and DeLaria to Co-host First Annual Nightlife Awards, Jan. 27

[ P ]  Jennifer Holliday Offers West Coast Concerts in January

[ P ]  "Chicago" Film Remains a Top 10 Box-Office Draw
posted at 1/13/2003 01:18:30 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ V ]  Lloyd Webber back on 'Phantom' prowl
By MICHAEL FLEMING

posted at 1/13/2003 12:11:55 PM by James Marino | Item Link

News:

[ NYP ] LIZ SMITH
This take on "Chicago" mania includes a classic Liz pronouncement:

Now there's word that there'll be a rash of movies made from musicals. One such might be "Sunset Boulevard." Couldn't Meryl Streep work magic as nutty over-the-top Norma Desmond? Meryl can sing, too. I saw her do it on B'way in "Barnum" and she was also great on film yodeling in" "Postcards from the Edge."
Um... that wasn't Meryl Streep in "Barnum," it was Glenn Close!
Well, when Liz runs a correction on this item, it will confirm AGAIN that she reads BroadwayStars... :-)

[ AU ]  Hugh's phantom role
HE TOOK the Peter Allen part away from Todd McKenney, and now Hugh Jackman could well steal the Phantom of the Opera from the man who made the role his own, Michael Crawford.
Did anyone else see this headline and think it was about Hugh Panaro?
Thanks to ElleWhy on All That Chat for the link!

[ LAT ]  Theater vs. sports: Stat just didn't add up by Diane Haithman
One little statistic that pushed the popularity of Los Angeles theater sparked a convoluted search for the source and the truth.
Fascinating article.

[ NYT ]  Maurice Gibb of the Bee Gees Dies at 53 by JON PARELES
Maurice Gibb wrote songs and sang harmonies in the Bee Gees through decades of hits and more than 120 million albums sold worldwide.

[ R ]  Tonys Tune Up for June 8 by Robert Hofler
NEW YORK (Variety) - The Tony Awards will take place on June 8, with CBS and PBS expected -- but not confirmed -- to telecast the ceremony from Radio City Music Hall.

[ P ]  Hare Pens Permanent Way for Hytner's National

[ P ]  Les Miz Star Enters Broadway Spotlight January 13

[ P ]  Flower Drum Song Star Narrates New Cast Album on "Radio Playbill" Jan. 13-18

[ P ]  Wellman and Mellor Reunited for New Play Bitter Bierce

[ P ]  Special Perf of Movin' Out for Actors' Fund Set for Jan. 19

[ P ]  New York Theatre Workshop Presents Danish-Language Details, Jan. 23-26

Features:

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
In remembrance of the late Claibe Richardson, Filichia thinks back to the first time he saw The Grass Harp.

[ NYT ]  Wife and Husband Compete for British Book Prize by SARAH LYALL
Claire Tomalin and her husband, Michael Frayn, both shortlisted for the Whitbread Book of the Year award, find themselves in a real-life kitchen-sink drama.

[ WP ]  'The Exonerated,' Winning Top Actors on Appeal by Peter Marks
In acting circles, death row has never been hipper.

[ DN ]  A star is shorn as Joey Pants strips for action by LANCE GOULD
Naked truth: Joe Pantoliano and Rosie Perez get under the skin of Frankie and Johnny.

[ TB ]  Interview with Ann Morrison by Charles Eichler

[ B ]  Photo Op: Falsettos Reunion at New Playwrights Digs

Reviews:

[ LAT ]  When scaled down, 'Proof' satisfies by Don Shirley
Last summer's version of the award-winning play at the Wilshire was bigger, not better. At South Coast Rep, the play is more successful on every level.

[ OCR ]  'Proof' of madness and math by PAUL HODGINS
A talented actress banishes the ghost of a Tony-winning performance in the play's Orange County debut.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'INSIDE A BIGGER BOX'
Mom Still Pays Attention (But She May Be Dead) by ANITA GATES
In this meaningful comedy at the 78th Street Theater Lab, a talented cast plays self-absorbed types with names of well-known television characters.

[ ND ]  Off the Wall In a Drab Room by Gordon Cox
Everything is just a little bit askew in "The Mystery of Attraction."

[ DN ]  A whine worth a barrel of laughs by Robert Dominguez
Rarely have a pair of pathetic, degenerate and whiny losers been so much fun to listen to as in "The Mystery of Attraction," a dark, quirky comedy by Marlane Meyer that was originally produced at last year's Humana Festival of New American Plays in Louisville, Ky.

[ NJ ]  Shades of 'Blue' BY PETER FILICHIA
The Paper Mill Playhouse has a red-hot hit with "Blue."

[ DN ]  Uncowed by endless cattle calls by David Bianculli
The first year of Bravo's reality series "The It Factor" took place in New York, following aspiring actors and comics as they tried to break into showbiz.
Now, the setting shifts to Los Angeles, but the ruthless and fascinating cattle-call audition process is the same and just as entertaining.
posted at 1/13/2003 08:44:46 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Sunday, January 12, 2003

News:

[ NYT ]  Maurice Gibb, Bassist for the Bee Gees, Dies at 53
Maurice Gibb played bass and keyboard for the Bee Gees, whose 1977 album, "Saturday Night Fever," sold more than 40 million copies.
And, of course, he was co-composer of Broadway's "Saturday Night Fever."

[ I ]  Lloyd Webber attacks 'Independent' campaign for cheaper theatre seats by David Lister
Andrew Lloyd Webber defends himself and his fellow West End theatre owners and impresarios today over the cost of London theatre tickets. And he warns that ticket prices may have to increase further.
Thanks to Tim Gowen on RATM for the link!

[ YN ]  PBS Offers Cleaned Version of `Gin Game'
On his classic sitcom 40 years ago, Dick Van Dyke kept things squeaky-clean with Mary Tyler Moore.
Now any PBS station who prefers them that way can air a "clean" version of "The Gin Game," D.L. Coburn's 1978 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, in which Van Dyke is reunited with his long-ago co-star for the first time since "The Dick Van Dyke Show" ended in 1966.

[ PP ]  As budget cuts loom, theaters need your help BY DOMINIC P. PAPATOLA
In 2003, more than any other recent year, the Twin Cities theater scene is going to need a whole lotta resolve.
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!

[ P ]  Talk Show Watch: Whoopi Goldberg on "Today", "Chicago" Stars Everywhere

[ P ]  ON THE RECORD: Of Cervantes and Austen

[ P ]  "Broadway Her Way": Linda Eder to Celebrate New CD at Solo Carnegie Hall Concert

[ P ]  TDF Launches "Tuesdays at 2!": Complete TKTS Times Square Hours Listed

[ P ]  Lion King Ends Record-Breaking L.A. Run Jan. 12; Next Stop: Chicago

[ P ]  Atlantic Theatre's Blue/Orange Goes Black Off-Broadway Jan. 12

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Heroes and Hypocrites

Features:

[ ND ]  FAST CHAT: Roger Bart by Blake Green

[ LAT ]  Youth must be served by David Gritten
Two twentysomething producers in the West End target their peers with rotating casts of starry young Americans in 'This Is Our Youth.'

[ NJ ]  Dresses make the part for actor-writer BY MICHAEL SOMMERS
Wearing a dress has never been a drag for author-actor Charles Busch.

[ ND ]  A Satirical Puppetmaster Of Everyday Objects by Peter Goodman
Paul Zaloom got started when he was about 12 and converted a room above the family garage in Garden City into what he calls "a museum of found objects."

[ BSUN ]  A man of many stories and surprising talents by J. Wynn Rousuck
Murray Horwitz embraces comedy, music and life, without limits
Article about Horwitz and the creation of "Ain't Misbehavin'." The story includes some quotes from Andre De Shields.

[ NYT ]  Warrior Girls Aswirl in an Artist's Mind by BARRY SINGER
Like a painting still in progress, "Jennie Richee," the hallucinatory music-theater piece inspired by the work of the outsider artist Henry Darger, continues to receive new artistic touches.

[ NYT ]  A Journeyman Actor Never Far From a House by ROBERT SIMONSON
Daniel Gerroll, for many years a ubiquitous and uncommonly dependable presence on New York stages, has a reason for regularly contracting to do two or three plays a season: he's indolent.

[ NYT ]  3 Lives, in Theater and Now on Stage by ANDREA STEVENS
Excerpts from "Art, Life & Show-Biz," with Valda Setterfield, Lola Pashalinski, and Helen Gallagher.

[ NYT ]  Letters: The Year 2002; Lorin Maazel; La Boh�me; Sondheim

[ B ]  Fresh Face: Max von Essen by Paul Wontorek

[ TB ]  What's New In The West End by Tim Connor

Thanks to American Theater Web for the following features!

[ PPG ]  Veterans kick up heels in 'Chorus Line' by Christopher Rawson

[ PPG ]  'Chorus Line' launched many a career
There were 38 performers in the 1985 Playhouse Theatre Company production of "A Chorus Line," some in high school, some in college, many already professionals. To get the full flavor of what happens to show biz hopefuls over 17 years, we turned to Maura White and Tome Cousin, the two from 1985 who have returned for PMT's current production.
Includes some familiar names.

[ AR ]  The laugh producer by Kyle Lawson
To be or not to be Mel Brooks.
To be, definitely.

Reviews:

[ ND ]  In With the Old, Off With the New by Linda Winer
Remember last year?
I know, it seems like only yesterday and it really was less than two weeks ago. Since theater is organized more like the school year than the calendar year, however, the civilian New Year puts us at the unofficial midpoint of the season.

[ YN ]  Moliere's 'Tartuffe' Strong, Poignant by MICHAEL KUCHWARA, AP Drama Critic
You don't necessarily think of "Tartuffe" � Moliere's scathing indictment of religious hypocrisy � as a particularly poignant play.

[ TS ]  Wilde wannabe suited for cringe festival by RICHARD OUZOUNIAN
If you find the relationship between Sam and Frodo in Lord Of The Rings a little sexually repressed for your taste, or if those smouldering glances between Lex and Clark on Smallville leave you wanting more, then you'll probably love William & James, which opened Thursday at Theatre Passe Muraille.

[ TB ]  The Blue Demon Boston Review by Suzanne Bixby

[ TB ]  The Full Monty Pittsburgh Review by Ann Miner

[ TB ]  love/sad Review by Matthew Murray

[ TB ]  The Metamorphosis from Kafka Review by Matthew Murray

[ TM ]  Art, Life & Show-Biz Reviewed By: David Finkle

[ TM ]  Same Difference Reviewed By: Brooke Pierce
posted at 1/12/2003 10:19:23 AM by Tim Dunleavy | 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
Not Scheduled Yet