June 30, 2007
No day but Today
0
comments
My sister Cecile is my "Rent" viewing companion. (Although when these pictures were taken I was with my sister Lynn.)She's seen the show more times than I have. So when I heard that Anthony Rapp (the original Mark) and her favorite Adam Pascal (the original Roger) were coming back to the show from July 30 to September 9, 2007, I knew I wouldn't have a hard time convincing her to go. I got the tickets in the mail today :)
June 29, 2007
Happy Birthday Princess Diana!
0
comments
When I was younger, I shared the world's fascination with Princess Diana, cutting out newspaper and magazine photos of her and keeping a scrapbook. I copied photos and drew her outfits in a sketchbook(most unflatteringly I might add). My penpal from England even sent me books about the royal family. I was deeply saddened when she passed away. I remember exactly where I was when I heard about her untimely demise. Although this article from news.com.au states that there are problems with the event , I am happy that Prince William and Prince Harry are hosting the "Concert for Diana". It will be on 01 July 2007 at Wembley Stadium to celebrate what would have been her 46th birthday. They are raising money for some of Diana's charities as well as two of their own charities, Prince William's Centrepoint and Prince Harry's Sentebale. The performer line-up includes Duran Duran, Elton John, Joss Stone, and Natasha Bedingfield. Andrew Lloyd Webber is putting together a musicals medley that will feature three Josephs from "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat": Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, "Any Dream will Do" competition winner Lee Mead, plus Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. Check the website to find out how to watch the concert in your area. NBC and VH1 are airing it in the U. S.
When I was younger, I shared the world's fascination with Princess Diana, cutting out newspaper and magazine photos of her and keeping a scrapbook. I copied photos and drew her outfits in a sketchbook(most unflatteringly I might add). My penpal from England even sent me books about the royal family. I was deeply saddened when she passed away. I remember exactly where I was when I heard about her untimely demise. Although this article from news.com.au states that there are problems with the event , I am happy that Prince William and Prince Harry are hosting the "Concert for Diana". It will be on 01 July 2007 at Wembley Stadium to celebrate what would have been her 46th birthday. They are raising money for some of Diana's charities as well as two of their own charities, Prince William's Centrepoint and Prince Harry's Sentebale. The performer line-up includes Duran Duran, Elton John, Joss Stone, and Natasha Bedingfield. Andrew Lloyd Webber is putting together a musicals medley that will feature three Josephs from "Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat": Jason Donovan, Donny Osmond, "Any Dream will Do" competition winner Lee Mead, plus Josh Groban, Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli. Check the website to find out how to watch the concert in your area. NBC and VH1 are airing it in the U. S.
June 28, 2007
June 27, 2007
My Five
1 comments
The Mark Twain House in Connecticut exhibits his quotes about other authors. In a visit there two years ago, my sisters and I found this one especially amusing. Despite his harsh words, it appears he read Jane Austen, and not just once. I'd love to have Jane and Mark over for dinner. Throw in Wilde, Allende and Hemingway. (Ayn Rand and Gabriel Garcia Marquez could be understudies.) Can you imagine how the conversations would go? Do you folks realize how much spare time I have to be thinking about such things?
The Mark Twain House in Connecticut exhibits his quotes about other authors. In a visit there two years ago, my sisters and I found this one especially amusing. Despite his harsh words, it appears he read Jane Austen, and not just once. I'd love to have Jane and Mark over for dinner. Throw in Wilde, Allende and Hemingway. (Ayn Rand and Gabriel Garcia Marquez could be understudies.) Can you imagine how the conversations would go? Do you folks realize how much spare time I have to be thinking about such things?June 26, 2007
The One Musical
1 comments
From The One Ring: The Lord of the Rings musical opened June 19,2007 at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane at the West End. The $24.9 million stage adaptation is supposedly the most expensive production ever. Being a LOTR fan, I almost made a trip to Toronto when the show opened there last year. It closed early due to bad reviews. The show has been rewritten and shortened for the London run. The reviews are still mixed, with only Michael Therriault consistently getting praise for his performance as Gollum. I'm sure the hobbits would have loved the show.
June 25, 2007
June 24, 2007
June 23, 2007
Shakespeare in the Park(ing lot)
0
comments
If you can't snag a ticket to the star-studded Shakespeare in Central Park, how about Shakespeare in the Parking Lot? You can get your Bard fix at the Municipal Parking Lot across the street from 85 Ludlow (cross streets Broome and Delancey). This has become a summer lower East Side tradition. The shows always start at 8 pm Thursdays to Saturdays and are always free. Arrive early as seats are limited or bring your own.
June 22, 2007
Muny Muny
2
comments
New York City subways and train stations have always played host to singers, dancers and musicians trying to earn a buck or two. For years the police and the MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) tried to get rid of the performers by arresting them or ticketing them. Finally in 1985 they founded the MTA Arts for Transit Music Under New York (MUNY) program so that commuters and tourists can continue to experience New York's music culture underground. MUNY holds auditions every spring in Grand Central Station. Now there are more than 150 performances at 25 locations, including Times Square Station, Penn Station, and Union Square.
June 21, 2007
Dog Day Afternoon
1 comments
ve
Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore host this year's Broadway Barks on July 14 at the Shubert Alley (rain date July 28) at 330 pm. It is an annual event that promotes adoption of homeless pets. This year's adopt-a-thon is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and sponsored by the ASPCA. Celebrities such as Angela Lansbury, David Hyde Pierce, Michael Cerveris, Kendra Kassebaum, John Glover, Harry Hamlin, Lisa Rinna, Stephanie Block, Priscilla Lopez will present pets from various New York animal shelters starting at 530 pm.
(photo from the Humane Society of New York)
June 20, 2007
June 19, 2007
June 17, 2007
Avenida Q
0
comments
Avenue Q, the 2004 Tony winner for Best Musical, will begin its U.S. national tour in August. I found out from my sister that the show will also be staged in Manila from September 7 to the 23rd. Rachel Alejandro is playing Kate Monster/Lucy the slut (Is she taking a crash course in puppetry?) and Aiza Sequerra will be Gary Coleman (Inspired casting!) It would be interesting to see how Filipino audiences will respond to the show and what changes, if any, would be made.
(photos from Atlantis productions and Inquirer)
Avenue Q, the 2004 Tony winner for Best Musical, will begin its U.S. national tour in August. I found out from my sister that the show will also be staged in Manila from September 7 to the 23rd. Rachel Alejandro is playing Kate Monster/Lucy the slut (Is she taking a crash course in puppetry?) and Aiza Sequerra will be Gary Coleman (Inspired casting!) It would be interesting to see how Filipino audiences will respond to the show and what changes, if any, would be made.(photos from Atlantis productions and Inquirer)
June 16, 2007
High Fidelity CD
1 comments
Broadway is dark on Monday nights. What to do to satisfy your theatre craving? Head over to W. 44th st. between 8th and 9th Avenues for Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland followed by Cast Party. Last October, Julia Murney had a concert there to launch her CD "I'm Not Waiting". It was a fun night despite our bad seats. Lots of celebrity sightings, including Euan Morton, Manoel Felciano, Kelli O'Donnell. See my awful pictures? (Pinky has better photos...thanks for the idea for this post too! )That's composer Tom Kitt on the right. This Monday June 18 at 7 pm he will be performing with lyricist Amanda Green and special guests, Ms. Murney included. They are celebrating the release of the original Broadway cast recording of High Fidelity. Alas, the musical is no longer with us. It had a very short-lived run. Perhaps it will find a whole new audience with this CD.
June 14, 2007
Broadway Bares
0
comments
It is that time of the year again. Since 1992, Broadway's best and brightest performers have been taking it off (or most of it anyway) to support a good cause. Broadway Bares is an annual benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Scheduled to appear this Sunday June 17 are Chicago's Bebe Neuwirth, Curtains' David Hyde Pierce, Legally Blonde's Laura Bell Bundy, Mary Poppins' Ashley Brown, Spamalot's Christopher Sieber. Not a bad way to usher in the hot summer.
It is that time of the year again. Since 1992, Broadway's best and brightest performers have been taking it off (or most of it anyway) to support a good cause. Broadway Bares is an annual benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids. Scheduled to appear this Sunday June 17 are Chicago's Bebe Neuwirth, Curtains' David Hyde Pierce, Legally Blonde's Laura Bell Bundy, Mary Poppins' Ashley Brown, Spamalot's Christopher Sieber. Not a bad way to usher in the hot summer.(poster image from the Broadway Cares website)
ADDENDUM: an INTERVIEW with JERRY MITCHELL the creator of Broadway Bares on how this Broadway tradition started
June 13, 2007
June 12, 2007
:( Bye-Bye Bobby.....
1 comments
After winning the 2007 TONY for Best Revival in a Musical, COMPANY is set to close on the 1st of July as reported in Broadway World.
Such a pity that great show is closing so soon. I was able to see it with Lani last April and we were surprised that the mezzanine was only 1/4 occupied! As with other Sondheim musicals (except for Sweeney) it has difficulty finding an audience :(
It has a beautiful, beautiful score that is equally as difficult to sing as well as tongue twisting (Getting Married Today anybody???) My favorite though is Another Hundred People which perfectly captures the hussle and bussle of NYC. Raul Esparza was amazing in it.....his Being Alive is very gutted and devastating!!!! The rest of the cast were wonderful as well, considering they were doing double duty as musicians and actors....The set was also a sight to see.....with those transparent cubes doubling as furniture in a NYC apartment - very chic Manhattan.
Bobby will be missed! As for what's next for Raul.....wouldn't he be great as Gomez in THE ADAMS FAMILY musical that is being developed by Andrew Lippa, Marshall Brinkman and Rick Elice? As for Morticia......hmmmm there's only one person in my mind who would be perfect for it and "Raise The Roof"!!!!!!
(note: photo is from Playbill.com)June 12th
0
comments
After the first uprising in Asia against a colonial power, the Philippines proclaimed its independence from Spain on June 12, 1898. But the declaration didn't lead to independence. The United States sent troops to put down the independence movement that would kill between 200,00 to half a million Filipino freedom fighters. Remember the Balangiga Massacre? Mark Twain called the Philippine-American War "a mess, a quagmire from which each fresh step renders the difficulty of extrication immensely greater." The US "granted" the country its independence on July 4, 1946 but with economic strings attached. If you're in the mood for a little light reading, check out Colossus The Rise and Fall of the American Empire.
Cut to 60 years later: Filipinos still not free from poverty, corruption, political violence, election fraud. Happy Independence Day!
Cut to 60 years later: Filipinos still not free from poverty, corruption, political violence, election fraud. Happy Independence Day!
June 11, 2007
June 10, 2007
Oh Hi!
2
comments
After a 2 day continuing education course and a long drive back, I had a terrible headache and promptly fell asleep when I got home. It was funny because I woke up just in time to catch the opening number of the Tony Awards. Thoughts? The favorites won of course. Yey Christine Ebersole! I knew Raul Esparza didn't win as best lead actor in a musical after Harvey Fierstein's audible gasp when he opened the envelope. I love David Hyde Pierce dearly but methinks the Tony voters felt bad for snubbing him in Spamalot. Great thank you speech and he was genuinely touched. By the way it was nice that he mentioned his partner. I don't ever remember him saying anything when he won all those Emmys. Everyone is so comfortable coming out at the Tonys. As far as speeches go, I loved Julie White's and Mary Louise Wilson's best of all. No Brits this year...theirs are always the wittiest and most brilliant speeches at any awards show.
June 7, 2007
June 6, 2007
TONYS abuzz...
0
comments
The week before the TONYS--excitement for all those who love the theatre. This is our Oscars, Grammys, Stanley Cup, World Series, Fashion Week (Spring and Fall)--well, you get the point. I do have some picks but not in all categories, and here they are:
The week before the TONYS--excitement for all those who love the theatre. This is our Oscars, Grammys, Stanley Cup, World Series, Fashion Week (Spring and Fall)--well, you get the point. I do have some picks but not in all categories, and here they are:
- Best Musical: Grey Gardens (although I think Spring Awakening will win)
- Best Revival of a Musical: Company (although I love A Chorus Line too - One...singular sensation!)
- Best Lead Actor in a Musical: Raul Esparza (just watch his "Being Alive" on the TONY broadcast - that's all I'm saying!)
- Best Lead Actress in a Musical: Christine Ebersole (just STAUNCH!!!!!!!)
- Best Featured Actor in a Musical: John Gallagher Jr. (his Moritz in SA is heartbreaking)
- Best Featured Actress in a Musical: Mary Louise Wilson (who else can sing "Jerry Likes My Corn" BUT her. No one, I tell you, no one!)
- Best Play: Coast of Utopia (3 outstanding plays in one - marathon anyone?)
- Best Actor and Actress, Featured Actor in a play: Oh, I don't know you tell me...
- Best Featured Actress in a Play: Jennifer Ehle (c'mon Lizzy Bennet! Make Mr. Darcy proud!)
- Best Direction in a Musical: Michael Meyer for Spring Awakening (very provocative and pushes theatre into a new direction)
- Best Direction in a Play: Jack O'Brien (Coast of U - 44-actor cast, three 3-hour-long plays that mold into 1 long one that have the raves of critics and audiences--that's a feat. Give him the TONY!)
- Best Replacement: Julia Murney!!! (I know they scrapped this category last year BUT I'm just sayin'...)
So, if you were a nominee, would you prepare a speech? Well, Broadway.com asked the nominees regarding this in this VIDEO POLL.
and here is a poll of the critics choice for the TONYS.
Jerry Likes My Corn.....
0
comments
What a quirky title for a song isn't it? It's from Grey Gardens.......Big Edie sings it in Act 2 and it perfectly paints the Mother-Daughter relationship of Big Edie and Little Edie....love and rivalry...
BUT how did the songs from this outstanding musical come about? Check out this article from the Houston Chronicle
On another note......another musical is walking the plank........The Pirate Queen by the creators of Les Mis and Miss Saigon is set to close on June 17, 2007........I saw it in Chicago in it's pre-broadway try-out but alas could not remember any songs.......
BUT how did the songs from this outstanding musical come about? Check out this article from the Houston Chronicle
On another note......another musical is walking the plank........The Pirate Queen by the creators of Les Mis and Miss Saigon is set to close on June 17, 2007........I saw it in Chicago in it's pre-broadway try-out but alas could not remember any songs.......
June 4, 2007
Good News!!!!!!!!! The Witch of the West is.........
0
comments
Each year Broadway.com polls its readers for their favorite each theatre season. They gave out their awards last May 31, 2007 at Spotlight Live (1604 Broadway) for the winners of the 8th annual Broadway.com Audience Awards
guess who won?????????
Current Elphaba Julia Murney holds up the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Long-Running Broadway Show, Wicked (Broadway.com)
Before heading off to the Palace and the Gershwin Theaters, respectively, winners Orfeh (in pink nails) and Julia Murney (in green) gave us a parting shot (Broadway.com)
guess who won?????????
Current Elphaba Julia Murney holds up the Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Long-Running Broadway Show, Wicked (Broadway.com)
Before heading off to the Palace and the Gershwin Theaters, respectively, winners Orfeh (in pink nails) and Julia Murney (in green) gave us a parting shot (Broadway.com)
^^^^ Fierce !!!!!!!
June 3, 2007
A Revolutionary Performance
0
comments
Critics and audience alike have lauded Ms. Christine Ebersole's performance as Edith Bovier Beale/Little Edie Beale in GREY GARDENS as a "Tour De Force" and a legendary performance that will be talked about in years. As part of my Pre-Tony Broadway Marathon Weekend, I was fortunate enough to witness this. Before the weekend I was more excited about another show........A Chorus Line.......BUT after the marathon......I must say that my favorite show this season is Grey Gardens!
The show is based on the Maysles Brothers 1975 documentary of the same title BUT who knew that the creative team would be able to turn this into a funny, riveting and at the same time heart breaking musical! Ms. Ebersole has a crystal clear pure voice that fills the theatre and gives you goosebumps particularly during the songs Around the World and Another Winter in a Summer Town........that at the end of the musical you hear sobs from the audience.
She is nominated for a Tony this year.....and frankly during intermission Tom, Lani and I looked at each other and said......give her the Tony already!!!!!!
She's not only an amazing actress BUT also an extraordinary woman......as relayed in this NY Times interview.
She also discusses Little Edie Beale's fashion style in this NY TIMES video
ADDENDUM: Here's an interesting article on how Grey Gardens and Spring Awakening are redefining Broadway
Also, check out the sad fate of Little Edie HERE
June 2, 2007
Coram Boy
0
comments
It's a shame this show didn't find an audience here in America. It was a hit when it was at the Royal National Theatre in London. It's a gothic tale about 2 boys from different backgrounds who meet at Coram Hospital for Deserted Children. It's a play with music......and that music is Handel's Messiah.
I wanted to see this but sadly didn't get a chance. The show closed last sunday but from reading posts on message boards and some online videos the staging of this show is so glorious.....check it out on Broadway World
How Did We Come To This????
0
comments
Hugh Jackman (The Boy From Oz)
Ralph Fiennes (Faith Healer)
Cherry Jones (Faith Healer) - pic fr Lani's camera
Richard Griffiths (The History Boys)
Kevin Spacey (The Philadelphia Story)
Jennifer Ehle (The Philadelphia Story)
Julia Murney (Wicked)
What is this new sport called "STAGEDOOR-ing"??? I really don't know but what I know is.....for me it started way back in June 2004 for The Boy from Oz. It wasn't planned actually, I only know that after the show, Dawn and I exited the theatre and there it was......the Stagedoor!!! With tons of people waiting around....we got sucked in the excitement of meeting someone from the show that we just enjoyed seeing. And yes, he was there that night.....posing for photos and signing playbills........to a lot of people he's Wolverine but that night he was Peter Allen.
Hugh Jackman (The Boy From Oz)
Ralph Fiennes (Faith Healer)
Cherry Jones (Faith Healer) - pic fr Lani's camera
Richard Griffiths (The History Boys)
Kevin Spacey (The Philadelphia Story)
Jennifer Ehle (The Philadelphia Story)
Julia Murney (Wicked)
What is this new sport called "STAGEDOOR-ing"??? I really don't know but what I know is.....for me it started way back in June 2004 for The Boy from Oz. It wasn't planned actually, I only know that after the show, Dawn and I exited the theatre and there it was......the Stagedoor!!! With tons of people waiting around....we got sucked in the excitement of meeting someone from the show that we just enjoyed seeing. And yes, he was there that night.....posing for photos and signing playbills........to a lot of people he's Wolverine but that night he was Peter Allen.
Now, I've become a stagedoor veteran with my stagedoor buddy....Lani.....we don't always go everytime we see a play or musical but only when we enjoyed the performer or the show. You meet other people too......and have some funny conversations or at least overhear some funny conversations but regardless.......the actors are usually very gracious and chatty........and it can be very exciting!!!!! A nice way to cap off your theatre experience that night!
June 1, 2007
Broadway week
0
comments
Next week is Broadway week on Live with Regis and Kelly! The cast of Spring Awakening performs Monday, followed by Curtains on Tuesday. Company is on Wednesday, Grey Gardens on Thursday and Mary Poppins on Friday. The Tony Awards will be broadcast on CBS Sunday, June 10th at 8 pm Eastern.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
