Philippine Flooding

Sept 26, 2009, Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name: Ketsana) unleashed it's fury in the Philippines dumping a month's worth of rain in only 6 hours. Hurricane Katrina dumped 250 mm of rain, Tropical Storm Ondoy......425 mm of rain, submerging 80 % of Manila underwater. As of Sept 29, there were 149 confirmed deaths and 246,000 displaced according to Unicef. Casualties continue to rise. Thankfully, here at Stage-notes, our families and friends are all safe but help is still badly needed. We're appealing to anyone out there reading this blog that if you can help out and donate, please check out information below:

• UNICEF USA has an anonymous donor that will match all donations (up to $100,000) before October 6. I’m challenging you to donate at least $50. https://secure.unicefusa.org/site/Donation2?df_id=5960&5960.donation=form1
• The total sum donated to the Thomson Reuters Foundation by October 16 will be matched by the company: http://www.trust.org/trust.org/page/files/philippinestyphoon2009.html
• Ayala Foundation: http://go2.wordpress.com/?id=725X1342&site=moongirl.wordpress.com&url=http%3A%2F%2Faf-usa.org%2Fdonate_now_form.asp (select AFI-Typhoon Relief Fund in drop down menu)
• ABS-CBN Foundation: http://www.abs-cbnfoundation.com/donate.php
• World Food Programme: https://www.wfp.org/donate/ondoy
• more information about donating can be found in this blog

Philippine Indie Musicians to the Rescue

This is for all Filipino music lovers who would like to help in the relief operations for typhoon Ondoy (international code name: Ketsana). Information obtained from this blog.

A Steady Rain

Thanks to my sister Cecile's friend Malyn for these first two photos of Mr. Jackman!



Hugh the Man!
crowd waiting at the stage door
We watched the last preview of A Steady Rain on an initially rainy Sunday. But the weather didn't dampen our spirits one bit. The two-man play by Keith Huff is the story of two childhood friends, Denny (Mr. Jackman) and Joey (Mr. Craig in his Broadway debut) who became Chicago policemen. It is a narrative of events in their personal lives and careers that will irreversibly alter their relationship.

Mr. Jackman's Denny is decidedly the flashier character; he talks tough, struts around the stage and for all his talk about logic, makes seemingly illogical decisions. And yet he remains a sympathetic character. Mr. Craig is his nebbish partner, with his moustache, sensible shoes and suspenders. There is absolute no trace of James Bond in his posture, his accent, his body language. It is always a treat to watch performers transform and reinvent themselves, especially actors who are known for larger-than-life characters.

The play opened today. Its limited run ends on 06 December 2009. Watch these two gentlemen square off live on stage. And please...come on time and turn off that darn cellphone! Don't let Hugh go all Wolverine on you!

First You Dream

Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA


Pinky and I drove to Washington D.C. this past Friday to catch the last weekend of First You Dream: The Music of Kander and Ebb. Our friend Ariel welcomed us into his beautiful home and joined us for the show. The amazing cast compelled me to take a road trip on a workday: Heidi Blickenstaff, James Clow, Eleasha Gamble, Norm Lewis, Julia Murney and Matthew Scott, with a 19-piece orchestra to accompany them. With a song list that included Sara Lee, Sing Happy, Blue Crystal/Marry Me, Cabaret/I Miss the Music, Ring Them Bells, The Cell Block Tango, Maybe This Time/The Money Tree, I was on an emotional roller-coaster. One minute laughing heartily, the next minute heartbroken and misty-eyed. To intensify the experience, the theatre is small and cozy. We were seated five rows away from the stage, eye to eye with all the singers, so it almost felt like they were singing directly to ME.

We got to talk to Norm, Julia and Heidi in the lobby of the theatre after the show. All of them kept saying that the show might have a life after it ended its limited Virginia run. Let's keep our eyes and ears open for news that it is coming to a place near you. Definitely a must-see.

The Wizards and I

Terry Pratchett fans have reason to rejoice. The new Discworld book Unseen Academicals is coming out 06 October. It features the wizards of Ankh Morpork's Unseen University. For a sneak peek, click here.

Interview with Julia Murney

Here's a great indepth interview with Julia Murney in which she talks about the "perfect show", song struggles, working with music directors, her website and the current issues about youtube. Read about it in this blog.

Edit (9/22 11:40 pm): Here's another great interview from 2 of the cast members of First You Dream, Norm Lewis and Julia Murney. The Kander & Ebb revue is currently playing at the Signature Theatre in Arlington VA.

(photo from Miyazaki Cabaret Update; and thanks to Vicky for the link)

And the Emmy went to...

So the 61st Primetime Emmys are over. 30 Rock and Madmen won as expected. I am so happy for Toni Collette, Brendan Gleeson, Ellen Burstyn, Michael J. Fox, Justin Timberlake, Cherry Jones and the amazing Michael Emerson (Lynn and I actually saw him and his wife Carrie Preston last year in New York City. We were waiting at a restaurant for Mike before watching [title of show]. Very cool celebrity sighting!)

Congratulations to all! Here's the full list of winners.

(Michael Emerson's photo courtesy of this site.)

Emmy update

Joss Whedon finally won an Emmy for Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog! The category was short format live action entertainment program. The Creative Arts Emmy Awards were handed out last week. Oh and Intervention won instead of Kathy Griffin's My Life on the D-List :(

The 61st Primetime Emmy Awards are still going on. Neil Patrick Harris is doing a terrific job as usual(Kudos Marc Shaiman on NPH's opening song!) Jeff Probst was right: this is the way to host the Emmys. Hurray for Kristin Chenoweth (Tony/Emmy winner Cheno was genuinely touched and surprised by her win. Great funny speech.) The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Grey Gardens, The Amazing Race (although Phil didn't win), Hugh Jackman's opening number for the Academy Awards.

More later...

Edit (from Pinky, 11:09 pm CT): Paramedics were called for Kristin Chenoweth backstage at the Emmys. To read about it click here.

(photo from here)

Rude Audience Part Deux

Most people have heard about rude audience behaviours specially the Patti Lupone incident where she broke character. Well, it has happened again! This time at A Steady Rain. Hugh Jackman who co-stars in the play with Daniel Craig handled it with finesse, I think. Read about it in this article from Broadwayworld.com.

In relation to that incident, I just received this email from Telecharge as I am seeing the play with the stagenotes crew in a week:

Dear Telecharge.com Patron:

You are receiving this email because you have ordered tickets for A STEADY RAIN at the Schoenfeld Theatre.
Please be advised that the curtain rises promptly at the time printed on your tickets.
Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of management.

Take note: there is no intermission in this play! But thank goodness they are at least doing something about this. We'll soon see if it's going to be effective.

(photo from Wordpress.com)

More Goodbyes

I loved watching the silliness of Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. I was sad to hear that we lost Henry Gibson at the age of 73 this past Monday.

The music world also lost a legend: Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary passed away yesterday from complications of chemotherapy for leukemia. She was 72.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to their fans and loved ones.

(photos from Hollywood.com and MaryTravers.com)

Karen Walker: The Musical?

Could it be true? Megan Mullaly who played Karen Walker in Will & Grace hints about it in this interview with Metrosource Magazine:

"So I have some people I’ve been collaborating with and I can’t really — I have a great composer and I think we’re going to get a great director and a great book writer and the idea for it is HILARIOUS. It’s basically Karen decides for a variety of hilarious reasons to do a Broadway show called “Karen: The Musical.” That’s the general premise of it right now. It could change, but the general premise is not going to change that much. It will probably involve the Beverly Leslie character too. Leslie Jordan, who played Beverly Leslie, has quite a bit of stage experience. He’s done one-man shows forever and he’s hilarious and great on stage. We’re just trying to work on it right now and I think it’s going to be really exciting."

"The creators always secretly thought that Karen was an ex-showgirl, but she was also a bat who, at night, folds up her wings and sleeps upside-down hanging from the rafters and that she was, like, 250 years old

The full article can be found here.

(photo from Metrosource Magazine)

Postcards from Chicago Part Deux

Chicago at dusk
The Windy City skyline from the Adler Planetarium
The Crown Fountain in Millennium Park
Chicago Tribune Tower which incorporates stones from historical sites around the world.
Riverwalk

James R.Thompson Center
Centennial Fountain which shoots water across the Chicago River hourly to symbolically connect the two riverbanks.
Museum of Science and Industry's Harry Potter the Exhibition. The famous flying Ford Anglia. No pictures were allowed in the exhibit itself. The exhibition ends 27 September 2009.
Twin Anchors Restaurant-Tavern as seen in the film "Return to Me"
Willis/Sears Tower with its frightening glass bottom skydecks called The Ledge
zooming along Wacker Drive like Bruce Wayne/Batman
Lyric Opera of Chicago
beautiful Cook County Hospital, on which the TV series ER's County General Hospital was loosely based on.
untitled Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza. AKA, The Chicago Picasso or The Picasso
Gene Siskel Film Center

You Can't Stop The Buick?

A flash mob Buick commercial to the tune of Hairspray's You Can't Stop The Beat. It was performed on Broadway On Broadway last Sunday.

Broadway's Green Theatre

The newly renovated Henry Miller's Theatre is home to this season's Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of the musical Bye Bye Birdie. The show is currently in previews with a 15th of October opening.

This is Broadway's first green theatre. According to Gothamist:

"The owners (The Durst Organization and Bank of America) are applying for an LEED Gold rating for the theater, which was built behind the preserved and restored neo-Georgian façade of the original 1918 theater. The theater's publicist stated that 25 percent of the construction materials was locally sourced (originating within a 500-mile radius), and a minimum 85 percent of construction and demolition debris was diverted from landfill and instead was recycled."

And for the women used to long lines at the restroom, the ladies bathroom has...wait for it...*drumroll*...an astounding 22 stalls! This is 3 times the code requirement! (The men's room sports waterless urinals.) "And 95% of the air is filtered, with carbon dioxide sensors to maximize fresh air supply."

The downside? I want to see a show in this theatre, but not Bye Bye Birdie. Especially not with John Stamos and Gina Gershon. We'll see what the next offering will be.

If you want to stay informed on how the Great White Way is trying to go green, visit The Broadway Green Alliance.

Who Said Hippies Don't Like Beyonce?!

This cracked me up! Gavin Creel and Will Swenson of HAIR doing their version of Beyonce's Single Ladies. LOL!

Here We Go, Here We Go......CHICAGO

A bit late but here's the flash mob on Michigan Ave. that was featured on the Oprah Show of 9/10. 21,000 dancers with the Black Eyed Peas rocking to I Gotta Feeling. It's been said that it's the biggest flash mob so far. Only in Chicago!

Nobody Puts Patrick in a Corner

AP reports that Patrick Swayze has lost his valiant fight against pancreatic cancer at age 57. Like his Ghost character Sam Wheat said, "the love inside, you take it with you." We pray that he did. We've had the time of our lives watching Mr. Swayze. Our condolences to his family, fans and friends.

(photo from Fanpix)

Broadway on Broadway 2009

The traditional kick-off to the Fall Broadway season.

I apologize for my Jumbotron photos. This is the stage.
Fela!

Host Michael McKean
The cast of In the Heights. That's Andrea Burns.
Shrek the Musical's Donkey, Daniel Breaker. Ben Crawford is the new Shrek. I didn't get a good shot of Sutton Foster. They sang "Who I'd Be".
The crowds seemed thinner this year.
A moving song from the new musical Memphis. I might just go see this one.
Beth Leavel singing "The Winner Takes it All" from Mamma Mia!
John Stamos introducing his Bye Bye Birdie fellow cast members.
Jennifer Damiano from Next to Normal singing "Superboy and the Invisible Girl".
a pixilated Alice Ripley
Aaron Tveit's back!
Cheyenne Jackson's back on Broadway in Finian's Rainbow.
Funnyman Seth Rudetsky who led a "Seasons of Love" singalong. Nice to see the spirit of Rent still alive and well.
The "Seasons of Love" soloist who learned one night that Pavarotti was in the audience, and failed to hit her high note. She promised Seth she'll hit it today, and boy did she ever!


I forgot her last name, but her first name's Shayne.
I'm so excited for Ragtime! Previews begin 23 October and opening night is 15 November.
"Wheels of a Dream" made me teary-eyed.

The rest of the cast came out to sing "Ragtime" afterwards.
West Side Story. Matt Cavenaugh and Josefine Scaglione singing "Tonight".

Ms. Scaglione appeared to wipe away a tear after their performance.
The cast of Billy Elliot performing "Shine", led by Haydn Gwynne.
The ballet girls. Tommy Batchelor was Billy.
New cast member Kerry Butler and the company of Rock of Ages.
They sang "Don't Stop Believin'". This was the last performance of the day.
"New York, New York" sing-along as confetti rained down!
Other performances: Wicked, Jersey Boys (except it was the girls who performed), South Pacific, Hair, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, Burn the Floor, Chicago and Irving Berlin's White Christmas.