Saturday, October 02, 2004

[ NYT ]  Yet More Mr. Nice Guy by JESSE GREEN
Before a recent rehearsal of "The Foreigner," Matthew Broderick spent an hour talking about his charismatic co-stars (onstage and in life) and the professional dangers of being nice.

[ NYT ]  Still Mad at the Method and Its Gurus by ADA CALHOUN
Are the villains in Arthur Miller's latest play, "Finishing the Picture," Lee Strasberg and his first wife, Paula, or just exactly like them?

[ NYT ]  Ed Harris Will Direct on Broadway
The veteran Hollywood tough guy known for movies like "A Beautiful Mind" will be at the helm of Sam Shepard's drama "Fool for Love" early next year.

[ NYP ]  TALK IS CHEAP - FREE, ACTUALLY by BARBARA HOFFMAN
Maybe no one told them not to talk to strangers. For the last two years, Liz Barry and Bill Wetzel have sat on the city's streets next to a sign that reads "TALK TO ME."

[ NYP ]  MEET THE DEEDLES by BILLY HELLER and MARY HUHN
Kids' music has never been hotter - especially in this city. Grown-up nightspots like Joe's Pub are playing host to a crowd that's years younger than the drinking age. CD bins around town are overflowing with eclectic selections for young ears.

[ B ]  Amanda Peet Tapped for Barefoot in the Park

[ B ]  People & Committed to Play Arts Theatre

[ B ]  Miller's Finishing the Picture Extends in Chicago

[ B ]  Ed Harris to Helm Fool for Love on Broadway

[ B ]  Bierko Tapped for Off-B'way's Modern Orthodox

[ B ]  Baby Born to B'way Dancers Parkinson & Wise

[ V ]  'Rent' rolls from WB to Revolution
Movie of musical finds a funder
Revolution Studios will now pay the tab for "Rent," a screen adaptation of Jonathan Larson's Tony-winning musical. The film will be directed by Chris Columbus, who has been writing the script for the past several months.

[ V ]  'Variations' benefits troupe
Kaufman offers his take on music master

[ V ]  Hare's 'Stuff' to hit Hartford Stage
Prod'n currently playing at London's National Theater

[ V ]  Legit pair spritzing 'Hairspray' pic
B'way team heads to bigscreen
posted at 10/2/2004 10:50:36 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Thursday, September 30, 2004

Features:

[ P ]  THE LEADING MEN: Hot and 'Cole' by Wayman Wong
Halloween is coming, so here are three "Leading Men" who are so talented that it�s scary: John Barrowman ("John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter"), Dmitry Chepovetsky (Top Gun! The Musical) and Jeremy Davenport (The Algonquin).

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Broadway Puppets Get in the Debate Spirit with Special "Avenue Q and A" in Times Square

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Iraqi Women Show Strength and Resiliance in MET's 9 Parts of Desire

News:

[ B ]  Bare's Off-Broadway Bow Indefinitely Delayed
"Some financial backing has fallen out and replacement capital could not be confirmed in time to keep to the current schedule," a production spokesperson told Broadway.com.

[ TM ]  Off-Broadway Opening of Bare Postponed Indefinitely

[ P ]  Bare Postpones Dodger Stages Engagement

[ P ]  Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, an Old Globe Hit, Gets Final Extension in San Diego Prior to Broadway

[ B ]  Pre-B'way Scoundrels Extends Again at Old Globe

[ B ]  Journey and Life on the Move in the West End

[ B ]  West End's Bombshells to Close October 16

[ TM ]  Rudetsky to Host Queer Songbook Benefit Concert at LGBT Community Center

[ P ]  New Comedy When Aunt Daphne Went Nude Opens Off-Broadway Oct. 13

[ P ]  Melvin Van Peebles to Appear on WBAI Oct. 2

[ P ]  Rattigan's Rare WWII Drama, Flare Path, Gets Concert Revival by TACT in NYC Oct. 16-18

[ P ]  Hairspray's Hoffman to Kvetch for Broadway Cares

[ P ]  Musical Theatre Festival to Present Chess, Tommy and Kiss Me, Kate

[ P ]  Robert Whitehead Award to Be Presented to Raisin's Binder

[ P ]  Betty Buckley to Play Cinegrill in December

[ P ]  PBS' "Theater Talk" Begins New Season Oct. 8

[ P ]  Lynn Redgrave to Perform Nightingale Oct. 7

[ P ]  Martin Charnin's The Next-to-the-Last Revue Begins Open-Ended Run Sept. 30

[ P ]  O'Brien and Mitchell Expected to Co-Direct Motion Picture "Hairspray"
posted at 9/30/2004 03:43:52 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ Y ]  'Hairspray' legit team onboard pic
Director Jack O'Brien and choreographer Jerry Mitchell will make their feature helming bows on the project, joining screenwriters Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan and lyricists Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman.

[ B ]  Larsen and Reinders to Star in Good Vibrations

Reviews:

[ B ]  Bristol Gets First Look at New Mary Poppins

[ NYT ]  LONDON NOTEBOOK
A Little Problem With Authority in the West End By BEN BRANTLEY
From David Hare's hotly discussed "Stuff Happens" to the creepy "Festen," the most exciting productions in London vibrate with a tightly strung distrust of people in charge.

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'THE TEN COMMANDMENTS'
He Sings, He Dances, He Parts the Red Sea By CHARLES ISHERWOOD
"The Ten Commandments," a big, fat biblical boondoggle starring Val Kilmer, all but submerges the story of Moses in an oily sea of pleasant but unremarkable pop music.

[ OCR ]  'Commandments' nowhere near a 10 By PAUL HODGINS
Val Kilmer's Xanax Moses is only one of many strange elements in an uneven, if heartfelt, new musical.
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link!

[ ND ]  Playing with reality BY GORDON COX
Our tour guide through "Nobody's Lunch" is an interstellar Entity who speaks in a singsong Indian accent about the Annanuki, a race of energy-beings that harvests human fear.

[ ATW ]  Nobody's Lunch: Dissecting Fear and Truth in Contemporary America
Review by Andy Propst

[ B ]  The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Review by Kevin Manganaro

[ Y ]  Review: The Solid Gold Cadillac by Matt Wolf, Variety
The machinations of big business amount to so much small beer in "The Solid Gold Cadillac," the George S. Kaufman-Howard Teichmann comedy from 1953 that has creaked on to the West End like some rusty old Lada or Yugo.

News:

[ Y ]  Presidential debates delay theater opening By Army Archerd, Variety
This date for tonight's gala bow of the Kirk Douglas Theater in Culver City had long been set when along came the same date for the initial presidential debate.

[ HC ]  Vidal, Kushner works at Hartford Stage's 'Brand' by Frank Rizzo
Plus news of "The Flight of the Lawnchair Man."

[ BS ]  Equity Eyeing Business Theatre
Union Wants Feedback on LORT Contract

[ BS ]  Foundations Vet Arts for Terror By Leonard Jacobs
Philanthropies must now comply with laws designed to prevent terrorists from using not-for-profits to finance their activities. The question is how aware arts groups are of the practice.

[ ATW-XM ]  Broadway and Beyond: News from Around CA

[ P ]  Today In Theatre History: SEPTEMBER 30

[ P ]  Sondheim's Life Explored in Opening Doors Revue Beginning Sept. 30

[ P ]  Martin Charnin's The Next-to-the-Last Revue Begins Open-Ended Run Sept. 30

[ P ]  Screenwriter Finds Himself in a Whodunnit in Spatter Pattern at Playwrights Horizons, Sept. 30-Oct. 24

[ P ]  Antony Sher�s One-Man Turn, Primo, Opens at National Sept. 30

[ P ]  Extra Innings: Take Me Out Extends in Los Angeles Through Oct. 31

[ P ]  What's New, Buenos Aires? Kathy Voytko Is Evita in New National Tour

Features:

[ DN ]  Robert Dominguez's Que Pasa?: Star quality in a former Miss Universe
A former Miss Universe from Puerto Rico is now working as a cigar roller - on a New York stage. Denise Quinones, who won the Miss Universe title in 2001, is co-starring in an Off-Broadway revival of "Anna in the Tropics."

[ BG ]  Silly, sexy, and serious collide at 'Edge' fest By Gina Perille
posted at 9/30/2004 07:50:59 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Wednesday, September 29, 2004

Features:

[ P ]  A Night to Remember
Maureen McGovern will at last have the elusive Broadway opening night she deserves with the upcoming new musical Little Women, which begins out-of-town tryouts mid-October

[ B ]  Photo Op: Brooke Shields Steps into Wonderful Town

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Testa Gets a String of Pearls at Primary Stages

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Robert Klein Celebrates Feinstein's Opening with Friends

News:

[ B ]  Mandy Patinkin In Concert Extends to 10/28

[ P ]  Mandy Patinkin Extends Solo Gig Through Oct. 28

[ P ]  John Lahr Talks With Richard Eyre at Directors Guild, Oct. 2
posted at 9/29/2004 04:02:18 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Features:

[ B ]  Looking Back: '83-'84 by Ken Mandelbaum

Reviews:

[ CNN ]  No awards for new director Spacey
Oscar-winning film actor Kevin Spacey received some hostile reviews as he launched his first season at the helm of London's famous Old Vic theater with "Cloaca," a play about four men in the throes of a mid-life crisis.

[ B ]  Did L.A. Critics Have Faith in Commandments?

[ SUN ]  The Essential Kaufman by JEREMY McCARTER
Having long ago attained immortality, George S. Kaufman now achieves respectability.

[ CU ]  Broadway Unplugged

[ TB ]  Sweeney Todd
Chicago Review by John Olson

News:

[ B ]  Additions Announced for New Mamma Mia! Cast

[ P ]  Broadway's Mamma Mia! to Welcome Carmello, McCartney, McLane, Kramer, McDonald, Staton, Beach, Montgomery and Gettinger

[ P ]  Jan Maxwell Set for Broadway's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

[ P ]  Famous Widow and Muse Mahler is Center of Alma Unique Staging in Los Angeles

[ P ]  Brian d'Arcy James Will Appear With Harmony Pals in Barry Manilow's East Coast Concerts Starting Sept. 30

[ P ]  Art Opens Meadow Brook Theatre Season Oct. 13

[ P ]  Pearl Mounts Moliere's Imaginary Invalid, Oct. 1-Dec. 12

[ P ]  Tony-Winner Pawk Tries on If the Shoe Fits, a New Musical, Sept. 30 & Oct. 1 in NYC

[ P ]  "Working in the Theatre" Seminars to Feature Avenue Q, Fierstein, Albee, Vogel and More

[ P ]  Voices for Change III Concert to Feature Molina, Sieber, Huffman, Callaway, Mason and More

[ P ]  Esparza and Luker to Take Part in Workshop of Kind Hearts and Coronets Musical

[ P ]  Song List Announced for Sondheim's Opening Doors Revue

[ P ]  Chris Noth Appears in Hartford Stage's "Red, White & New" With Works by Kushner, Vidal, Taylor

[ P ]  Producers Film to Shoot in Brooklyn, Not Canada
posted at 9/29/2004 01:24:59 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ NYP ]  SNEAK ATTACK By MICHAEL RIEDEL
HERE'S a question that should give Broadway producers who are reading this column agita: What do the critics really think of the roster of new shows headed their way this fall?

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
The "theater dork" controversy continues with feedback from readers and musical theater savants.

"The Ten Commandments":

[ NYP ]  PAGE SIX
VAL Kilmer's new play, "The 10 Commandments," which opened at the Kodak Theater in L.A. on Monday, is a riot � but not intentionally.

[ LADN ]  Moses just one of the fellas in 'Ten Commandments' By Evan Henerson
Here's the peculiar thing about the effects-laden, Vegas-y spectacle that opened at the Kodak Monday en route to a tour and Radio City Music Hall: Moses ... doesn't ... matter. He carries a mean staff and leads the Israelites out of Egypt; he does not lead this musical. Nobody does.

[ LAT ]  Fire, plague and much wandering By Mark Swed
Despite aspects of staging ineptitude and disappointing special effects, "The Ten Commandments" has a slick polish and just enough punch and too few laughs to keep it from being one of those historical disasters that you just have to see.

[ R ]  Review: 'The Ten Commandments' By Jay Reiner (Hollywood Reporter)
As visually exciting and wonderfully staged as this show is, the music is a disappointment.

"String of Pearls" - Reviews:

[ ND ]  Women's lives, strung along a necklace BY GORDON COX
"String of Pearls" may be slight and sentimental, but it works. Even as you acknowledge how contrived it is, you may get a little misty-eyed anyway.

[ NJ ]  Lives are strung together in 'String of Pearls' BY MICHAEL SOMMERS
Neatly crafted by Lowe, the play marks a considerable improvement over her amusing but insubstantial "The Smell of the Kill."

[ ATW ]  String of Pearls: A Piece of Jewelry Magically Links Disconnected Women
Review by Andy Propst

[ Y ]  'Pearls' Luster Muted by String By PETER SANTILLI, Associated Press Writer

[ CU ]  String of Pearls

[ TM ]  String of Pearls
Reviewed By: David Finkle

Other Reviews:

[ DN ]  B'way forsakes mikes, but generates electricity by Howard Kissel

[ ATW ]  Broadway Unplugged: Freeing Broadway Melody of Some Excess Baggage
Review by Andy Propst

[ LAT ]  Duffers grapple with links, life
A quartet of wily acting pros make the most of the death-obsessed prose in 'Golf With Alan Shepard' at the Falcon Theatre. By Lynne Heffley
As they insult and chaff each other from hole to hole, death and loss are on the minds of these old-timers, played by some terrific veterans: octogenarians Jack Klugman and Charles Durning, septuagenarian Paul Dooley and junior member Granville Van Dusen, age 60.

[ NYP ]  BETTER GIVE 'GASES' A PASS By FRANK SCHECK
"Finer Noble Gases" is just so much hot air.

[ TM ]  NYMF Roundup 2
Reviewed By: Dan Bacalzo

[ ATW ]  A Modern 'Hedda' Full of Frustration and Anger
Review by Andy Propst

[ R ]  Review: 'Stuff Happens' By Ray Bennett (Hollywood Reporter)

[ NYT ]  TV REVIEW | 'KEVIN HILL'
A Lothario Lawyer Meets His Match By VIRGINIA HEFFERNAN
Taye Diggs is flawless in his role as lawyer who gives up his misogynistic ways for the sake of his inherited baby in UPN's profoundly pleasing show.

[ DN ]  On 'Hill,' a baby boon by David Bianculli
Touching moment elevates series

Features:

[ DN ]  Van Peebles' 'Die' gets new life By ROBERT DOMINGUEZ
He's best-known as the maverick filmmaker who ushered in the blaxploitation genre, but Melvin Van Peebles was once a baadasssss on Broadway, too.

[ LAT ]  From a well of grief, his play shines light By Mike Boehm
Playwright William Nicholson's diary from his youth gave him the impetus for "The Retreat From Moscow," having its West Coast premiere at South Coast Repertory.

[ BS ]  Amid a Growing Feast of Festivals, Is There Too Much Theatrical Food?
In a time when it costs outrageous sums to create one work, the festival idea has almost an irresistible selling point: There is strength in numbers,

[ BS ]  The Stuff of Fairy Tales
By the time Anne Bancroft decided to produce Ann Randolph's multiple-character solo show, "Squeeze Box," Randolph had been performing it at her own expense over a year.

News:

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: SEPTEMBER 29

[ P ]  West Side Story Staging in China Inspires Solo Show, The Soup Comes Last, Making NYC Premiere Sept. 29

[ P ]  Death Lives as Harlem Revival of Van Peebles Work Begins Sept. 29

[ P ]  Sigourney Weaver Is Mrs. Farnsworth Again as Gurney Comedy Returns, Sept. 29

[ P ]  Onstage Band Starts "Rockin' the Boat" as Guys and Dolls Plays Long Wharf Theatre

[ P ]  "Ladies of PS Classics" To Appear at Oct. 5 CD Signing, With a Song or Two to Spare; Expect Luker, Carmello, Molaskey & More

[ P ]  Robin Hood, the New Musical by Martin Charnin, Thomas Meehan and Peter Sipos, Premieres in Seattle Area Dec. 10

[ P ]  Kaye, Rubin-Vega, Jones and Stanek Embrace Innovators in Taking a Chance Revue at Museum of the City of NY Oct. 2-3

[ ATW-XM ]  Broadway and Beyond: Goodspeed's Casting for the End of '04 - Early Plans for '05
posted at 9/29/2004 08:13:23 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Tuesday, September 28, 2004

Features:

[ NYT ]  From Disneyland to Brooklyn, via Broadway By ROBIN POGREBIN
Eden Espinosa, who is starring in "Brooklyn, the Musical," makes no apologies for her Mickey Mouse past.

News:

[ B ]  Ra�l Esparza in Talks for B'way's Chitty Chitty
He would appear alongside previously reported cast members Erin Dilly, Marc Kudisch and Jan Maxwell in the musical.

[ B ]  Erin Hill Joins People Are Wrong! at the Vineyard

[ P ]  Cuban-American Drama Sonia Flew Set to Inaugurate New Boston Theatre for Huntington

Reviews:

[ TB ]  String of Pearls
Review by Matthew Murray

[ B ]  String of Pearls
Review by William Stevenson

[ B ]  Top Gun! The Musical
Review by Kevin Manganaro

[ TB ]  Like You Like It
Review by Matthew Murray

[ TB ]  The Big Voice: God or Merman?
Review by Warren Hoffman

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | 'THE CLEAN HOUSE'
A Rich Vision of Life Filled With Love and Housework By CHARLES ISHERWOOD
"The Clean House," a fresh, funny new play by a talented young playwright, Sarah Ruhl, breathes a little life into the term "romantic comedy."
posted at 9/28/2004 08:14:47 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Features:

[ B ]  Q&A: Kelli O'Hara by Beth Stevens

[ TM ]  Looking Forward
Jim Caruso asks a host of theater notables what shows they're really excited about seeing in 2004-2005.

[ TM ]  Tossing Away Their Microphones By: Joseph Marzullo and Michael Portantiere
Some of the musical theater's best voices are heard in Broadway Unplugged

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: Legendary Lyricist Betty Comden Honored at Theatre Museum Awards

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: London Gets Buried in the Backwoods as Shepard's Child Begins at the National

[ P ]  PHOTO CALL: The Color Purple Shines Down South, Aiming for NYC

News:

[ P ]  Passion Concert to Feature Murphy, Mazzie and Cerveris

[ TM ]  Murphy, Cerveris, and Mazzie Will Star in Passion Concert to Benefit Friends in Deed

[ B ]  Mazzie and Murphy Reunite for Passion Concert

[ B ]  Broadway Grosses: Season Starters

[ P ]  Good Body Up For Grabs as Booth Theatre Box Office Opens Oct. 4

[ P ]  Peter Allen Musical The Boy From Oz Heading for London, Japan and Back Down Under

[ P ]  Archbishop Desmond Tutu Adds Appearance in Off-Broadway's Guantánamo

[ P ]  A Biddle Meets His Match: Trying � with Tony Winner Weaver � Begins Sept. 28 at NYC's Promenade

[ P ]  Unproduced Works Get Readings Staged By and For Broadway Folk at Tribeca Theater Fest

[ P ]  Cast Set for Stephen Spinella-Starring Svejk at Off-Broadway's Theatre for a New Audience

[ P ]  Irish Rep Opens 2004-05 Season with Triptych, Starring Margaret Colin and Ally Sheedy

[ P ]  All Shook Up Tix On Sale Via Exclusive AmEx Offer, to Nov. 9

Reviews:

[ VV ]  Grounding Ibsen
Ivo van Hove's blunt, stripped-down staging takes a wild Hedda into unknown territory by Michael Feingold
Hedda Gabler

[ VV ]  Old Professionals
Vogel's view of sexual commodification: Whores' concourse by Michael Feingold
The Oldest Profession

[ VV ]  Inert Bodies
Adam Rapp's East Village slackers wait around for Godot by David Ng
Finer Noble Gases

[ VV ]  Educating Rita
School board stripper swings between evolution and God by Charles McNulty
People Be Heard
posted at 9/28/2004 05:27:56 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ CNY ]  Film, TV shows get breaks from NYC
...Steiner Studios announced that The Producers will be the first major movie to be shot at the soon-to-open Brooklyn facility...
posted at 9/28/2004 01:12:43 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Features:

[ ATW ]  Download Karen Finley's George and Martha
The text of the play online.

[ NYT ]  After a Decade, Disney Chief Sees New 'Flair' on 42nd St. By DAVID W. DUNLAP
Michael D. Eisner, the chief executive of the Walt Disney Company, took a stroll down 42nd street with a reporter.

[ OCR ]  A familiar face, an unfamiliar name By PAUL HODGINS
Arye Gross in "Brooklyn Boy."
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link.

[ BS ]  No Superfluous Notes
Tom Hulce's career follows a harmonious path.

[ WP ]  Backstage: A Serious Playwright Pulls Out His Hare With 'Bunnicula' By Jane Horwitz
Jon Klein; Lisa Loomer.

News:

[ B ]  Sanders Steps into Q During Harada's Leave

[ B ]  Roberts Replaces Sarsgaard in A Number

[ Y ]  Preeming duo help B'way bounce back
After seeing overall grosses decrease for seven straight weeks -- a period plagued by the Republican National Convention and the closing of seven shows -- Broadway saw a 2.29% rebound during week 17 (Sept. 20-26), pulling in $10,663,779. Attendance jumped 4.11% to 165,111.

[ P ]  Broadway Grosses: September 20-26

[ Y ]  Tribeca theater taps six
The Tribeca Theater Festival announced six plays selected to be read in the fest's Tribeca All Access Open Stage program for playwrights of color Oct. 25-26.

[ P ]  Jones Is Uggams' "Knight in Shining Armor" in On Golden Pond at the Kennedy Center Sept. 28-Oct. 17

[ P ]  Judy Kaye to Star in York Theatre's Souvenir Beginning Nov. 23

[ P ]  Will The Musical of Musicals�The Musical! Have Life After York Run?

[ P ]  Kevin Spacey�s Old Vic Regime Starts with Cloaca Sept. 28

[ P ]  Miramax May Delay Release of "Proof" Film

[ P ]  Annual Nightlife Awards Sets 2005 Date

[ P ]  2005 Broadway By the Year Concert Series Announced

[ P ]  Luker and Boston Reunite for Saint Heaven Musical Reading

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: SEPTEMBER 28

[ P ]  Forever Tango to Return to Shubert Sept. 28

[ P ]  Brooke Shields and Jennifer Hope Wills Are New Sisters in Broadway's Wonderful Town, Sept. 28

[ P ]  Michele Lowe's String of Pearls Opens Off-Broadway at Primary Stages, Sept. 28

[ P ]  Matters of the Heart Tour � with Tony Winner Patti LuPone � Launches Sept. 28

[ P ]  Dallas Roberts to Star With Sam Shepard in A Number Off-Broadway, Nov. 16

[ P ]  Scores From Manilow's Harmony and Copacabana to Be Released Sept. 28

[ ATW-XM ]  Broadway and Beyond: Some of Chicago's Current Offerings - Miller's 'Picture'; 'Merry Wives', 'Sunset' and 'Sweeney'

Reviews:

[ TB ]  The Happy Prince
Review by Matthew Murray

[ NYP ]  'HEARD' SHOULD NOT BE SEEN By FRANK SCHECK
IT'S a good thing this "comedy with songs" features several interludes in which a comely young woman performs erotic dances practically in the nude.
It's likely the only thing that will keep audiences awake during Quincy Long's "People Be Heard," in which topics like school-board politics, creationism and female self-empowerment blend into a snooze-inducing melange.

[ OCR ]  These 'Scoundrels' play it for laughs By PAUL HODGINS
New musical from 'The Full Monty' team has rough spots but shows promise.
Thanks to American Theater Web for the link.

[ CST ]  A ringside seat for battles backstage BY HEDY WEISS
In the wake of his remarkable performance in "I Never Sang for My Father," John Mahoney has assumed another monumental role, and in his depiction of a man for whom the stage is everything, you cannot help but sense he has a higher-than-usual stake in the portrayal.

[ CT ]  Steppenwolf's 'The Dresser' goes backstage By Michael Phillips
Tracy Letts may be the most physically imposing Norman in the history of "The Dresser."

[ CST ]  Porchlight shines with superior 'Sweeney Todd' BY HEDY WEISS
Not only is Rebecca Finnegan hands-down the best Mrs. Lovett I've ever seen -- and I'm not excepting Angela Lansbury or Patti LuPone here -- but every aspect of the production is ideal, from the soaring voices of the soloists and ensemble, to the live orchestra and surprisingly grand design.

[ CT ]  'Todd' actor's performance a cut above By Chris Jones

[ BSUN ]  Hwang play well done at Arena Stage By Mary Carole McCauley
Performances lift this 'M. Butterfly'

[ HC ]  Paula Vogel's 'Oldest Profession' Decries America's Tilt To Right By MALCOLM JOHNSON

[ ATW ]  The Oldest Profession: Evoking an Era of Societal Change
Review by Andy Propst

[ CU ]  The Oldest Profession

[ ATW ]  Broadway and Beyond: Paper Mill's Of Thee I Sing Delights

[ TM ]  Farm Boys
Reviewed By: Dan Bacalzo
posted at 9/28/2004 10:00:27 AM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Monday, September 27, 2004

Reviews:

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATER FESTIVAL
Before the Fall Theater Rush, a Festival Full of Song By NEIL GENZLINGER
The New York Musical Theater Festival offers an ambitious three weeks of musicals at theaters in Midtown and other parts of the city.

[ B ]  [title of show]
Review by Kevin Manganaro

[ TM ]  The Siegel Column
Guant�namo prompts its audiences to take a good, hard look at where our country stands in today's world.

Features:

[ B ]  Photo Op: Kevin Bacon Takes a Trip to Brooklyn

News:

[ B ]  Mike Leigh's Latest to Play at the National

[ TM ]  Tribeca Theater Festival Choses Plays and Playwrights for "All Access Open Stage" Program

[ P ]  Foster, Arden, Kimball and More Part of NAMT's Songwriter Showcase; Stephen Schwartz Hosts

[ P ]  Complete Casting Announced for New Off-Broadway Musical Cam Jansen

[ P ]  Reckless' Rosie Perez on "The Daily Show" Sept. 27

[ P ]  Anna in the Tropics to Turn Up the Heat at London�s Hampstead
posted at 9/27/2004 03:42:13 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

Features:

[ B ]  Stage Notes: 09/24/04 by Paul Wontorek

Reviews:

[ B ]  CDs: Senator Claghorn Takes Broadway by Ken Mandelbaum
TEXAS, LI'L DARLIN' (Decca Broadway)

[ TB ]  [title of show]
Review by Warren Hoffman
Hands down, the first hour of [title of show] contains some of the funniest musical theater writing seen on stage in a long time.

[ SUN ]  Sex in Their 60s by JEREMY McCARTER
For sheer bathos, nothing beats old whores.

[ TB ]  The Happiest Corpse I've Ever Seen: The Last Twenty-Five Years of the Broadway Musical by Ethan Mordden
Review by Jonathan Frank

News:

[ P ]  For Now: Bush and Kerry Debate in Times Square Courtesy of Broadway's Avenue Q

[ P ]  The Solid Gold Cadillac, Starring Routledge and Hudd, Opens in London Sept. 27

[ P ]  Previews of Peter Dinklage Richard III Get Underway

[ P ]  Mitchell and Clarkson Read Kushner's Laura Bush Play at Cooper Union Oct. 17

[ P ]  Sandra Bernhard Sets New Year's Eve Concert Date

[ P ]  Free Reading of Berman's Hunting and Gathering Presented Sept. 27

[ P ]  Feinstein's Introduces "Broadway's Brightest Lights" with Arden, Creel and Reeve

[ P ]  Taboo's Morton Heads to the Chatterbox Sept. 30

[ P ]  Playwright Paula Vogel Married in Massachusetts Sept. 26

[ P ]  Marvel Replaces Plimpton in Allen's Memory Off-Broadway; Fowler Added

[ B ]  Marvel and Fowler Enter Woody Allen's Memory

[ P ]  Woman in White May Head to Broadway; Cast Album Recorded
posted at 9/27/2004 01:47:01 PM by Tim Dunleavy | Item Link

[ NYP ]  ROSIE TRYING RADIO By JOHN MAINELLI
WILL Rosie O'Donnell be the next Rush Limbaugh or Dr. Laura � by going on radio where the really big bucks are?

[ V ]  Thesp loses 'Memory' for Frog net
Martha Plimpton has ankled Woody Allen's Off Broadway play "A Second Hand Memory" and will be replaced by Elizabeth Marvel. Plimpton recently finished shooting a guest appearance on "7th Heaven," and there is buzz that she's leaving the Allen play to pursue a closer affiliation with the WB drama.

[ NYT ]  A West Coast Hothouse for New York Theater By BERNARD WEINRAUB
The South Coast Repertory in Los Angeles, one of the most successful regional theaters in the nation, serves as a springboard to Broadway and Off Broadway.

[ TM ]  Peter Filichia's Diary
Filichia lists the 50 best scores ever written for Off-Broadway musicals.

"The Oldest Profession":

[ JN ]  Don't look By JACQUES LE SOURD
It's hard to review a play when you spent an uninterrupted hour and 50 minutes wanting to look at anything but the stage, where what was going on was mortifying.

[ DN ]  Gray painted ladies leave us blue by Howard Kissel
The big question is: Why has the Signature Theater decided to devote a whole season to so minor a writer?

[ NYT ]  THEATER REVIEW | "THE OLDEST PROFESSION"
Portrait of Working Girls Who Are Girls No More By BEN BRANTLEY
Veterans Joyce Van Patten and Katherine Helmond save this otherwise draggy production of Paula Vogel's play by the Signature Theater Company.

[ Y ]  New Vogel Comedy Impeccably Cast By MICHAEL KUCHWARA
The author clearly has an affection for these ladies that comes through in director David Esbjornson's crisp production.

[ ND ]  When red lights dim, not much shines BY LINDA WINER
The problems are exaggerated by the wrong-headed and miscast production, a rare misstep by David Esbjornson, whose direction ignores the script's significant demand that "all the women are vibrant and sexy."

[ NJ ]  Bordello pathos BY MICHAEL SOMMERS
Play is kind, but time isn't, to these traditional ladies of the night

[ B ]  The Oldest Profession
Review by William Stevenson

[ TB ]  The Oldest Profession
Review by Matthew Murray

[ TM ]  The Oldest Profession
Reviewed By: David Finkle

[ NYT ]  Weddings & Celebrations: Paula Vogel, Anne Fausto-Sterling

Features:

[ P ]  CHANNELING THEATRE: Michael Kantor and PBS' "Broadway: The American Musical"

[ NYP ]  LIZ SMITH
WONDERFUL BROOKE'S IN TOWN

[ HC ]  Sandy Duncan, 'Theater Rat' By JEFF RIVERS
Sandy Duncan says the person who could play her on stage or screen hasn't been born.

[ CT ]  It's Miller's time By Michael Phillips
As Goodman prepares its world premiere of 'Finishing the Picture,' Robert Falls and cast discuss their reverence for ARTHUR MILLER

[ CT ]  'The Misfits': Arthur Miller's Hollywood story By Michael Wilmington

[ CT ]  STACY KEACH: A HAMMER SEEKS A HIT by Christine Badowski

[ WP ]  Ford's Star General By Nelson Pressley
Paul Tetreault, Hoping To Make Happier History On a Famous D.C. Stage

[ NYT ]  HABITATS
She's Made a Life in Her Theater. She's Made a Theater in Her Home. By PENELOPE GREEN
For one woman the meaning of a home office involved incorporating a theater, complete with stage and seating, into her home.

[ ND ]  Power plays for Rumsfeld and Ashcroft by BLAKE GREEN
Anyone who hasn't had enough of Donald Rumsfeld and John Ashcroft in the media can head straight Off-Broadway for a fix.

[ TS ]  From Atwood to ABBA, Lloyd an easy fit by RICHARD OUZOUNIAN
Handmaid's Tale her biggest test yet, director says

Thanks to American Theater Web for the following features!

[ OCR ]  Fashioning an epic By PAUL HODGINS
Max Azria had a vision of a musical that could help heal the world's woes. "The Ten Commandments" is the result.

[ MH ]  Cruz control BY CHRISTINE DOLEN
Nilo Cruz directs "Anna in the Tropics."

[ SFC ]  He's not Marianne Faithfull. But 'Black Rider' understudy isn't competing. He's packing them in for matinee madness by Edward Guthmann

[ CCT ]  O'Neill gets a quiet curtain call by PAT CRAIG
On a tiny, quiet slice of land on Front Street, across from the library and near the Village Theatre, people will be able to slowly discover Eugene O'Neill and his historic connection to the East Bay.

Reviews:

[ TB ]  Three Sistahs
Review by Matthew Murray

[ TB ]  Frankenstein... do you dream
Review by Matthew Murray

[ LAT ]  'Peter Pan' still has plenty of pixie dust By Rob Kendt
Sometimes it really is hip to be square.

[ NYP ]  SLAUGHTERHOUSE 3: HENRY VI IN ALL PARTS By FRANK SCHECK
FOOTBALL widows, rejoice. Even your husband may be inclined to experience some Shakespeare, at least in the form of this muscular production imported from the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre.

[ CU ]  A Tale of a Tiger

[ CU ]  George and Martha

[ CU ]  Stuff Happens

[ CU ]  Hedda Gabler

[ CU ]  The Underpants � Philadelphia Review

News:

[ Y ]  West End 'White' hot
Advance strong on first Lloyd Webber tuner in 4 years

[ NYP ]  PAGE SIX
THE muddled minds behind off-Broadway's "The Marijuana-Logues" have come up with a pea-brained promotion that must have been hatched around a bong somewhere.

[ P ]  Today in Theatre History: SEPTEMBER 27

[ P ]  George Gershwin Alone Set to Play at Chicago's Royal George, Sept. 27-Oct. 24

[ P ]  Press Agent Rothenberg Brings Back One-Man Show Namedropping, Sept. 27

[ P ]  Fiddler's Molina and Opel Read from Sholem Aleichem Sept. 27

[ P ]  Betty Comden to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award Sept. 27

[ P ]  Shepherd�s Cybill Disobedience to Play London�s Soho, Sept. 27

[ P ]  "Let My People Go...": Kilmer Is Moses as The Ten Commandments Musical Opens, Sept. 27

[ P ]  Hoffman, Wright, Pinkins, Neuwirth, Theroux Play "Celebrity Charades" for LAByrinth, Sept. 27

[ P ]  Bugle Beads Optional: La Cage Box Office Opens Sept. 26

[ P ]  Comedy White Chocolate Starts World Premiere Off-Broadway, Sept. 26

[ P ]  All Shook Up On Sale By Phone Sept. 26

[ P ]  Sirius Satellite Radio: Dracula's Melissa

[ P ]  Ladies of the Evening Get Their Day Sept. 26, When Paula Vogel's Oldest Profession Opens in NYC

[ P ]  Like You Like It, Musical Set in a 1980s Mall, Gets Premiere in NY Musical Theatre Fest Sept. 26-Oct. 4

[ P ]  Mini-Musicals and Story Songs by BMI Workshop Writers Heard in NY Musical Fest's Shorts; Marx & Lopez Sing

[ P ]  Hirschfeld Drawings to Be Auctioned Off at New York's Swann Galleries Oct. 7

[ P ]  Just One of Those Things: Cole Porter's Jubilee Gets Concert Revival in NYC Oct. 6-17

[ P ]  Frozen Playwright Lavery Accused of Plagiarism

[ G ]  Author 'stole my life', says psychiatrist by Vanessa Thorpe
Thanks to playwright24 on All That Chat for the link.

[ TM ]  Donna Murphy Officially Leaves Wonderful Town
posted at 9/27/2004 08:25:43 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