THEATRE GOSSIP #561 The George Clooney & David Cromer Sharing a Can of Beer Anticipation Thread

Or....hold my beer can!!

Paulson is going to be very disappointed if she doesn’t win.

Didn’t she and Lange used to be best buddies and then had some sort of falling out? I remember reading that here years ago.

I don’t remember anything about them having a falling out.

I came to like Paulson just a little bit more after that CBS Sunday Morning segment. She didn't seem to take herself too seriously in the interview portion and it was interesting hearing about her childhood, moving to NYC with her single mom and getting enrolled in the Fame Performing Arts High School. She didn't even seem very serious when talking about Holland Taylor.

I assume this is why OP made reference to Clooney:

DL fave Frank DiLella buys an apartment:

Lindsay Mendez Reflects on Performing in Merrily We Roll Along While Pregnant: ‘I Like a Challenge’:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1973, "Cyrano" opened at the Palace Theatre.

I had the record, r8, and I don't think I ever listened to it.

I saw that CYRANO musical and it was quite a beautiful production, probably far too tastefully done for audiences in 1973. Or maybe ever. Tovah Feldshuh played an orange girl and a nun.

[quote]Lindsay Mendez Reflects on Performing in Merrily We Roll Along While Pregnant: ‘I Like a Challenge’:

Like showing up for work?

To Lindsay, a challenge is making it to the theater four times a week.

What does it say about George Clooney's control issues that he can't trust David Cromer to direct that play and has to co-direct with him?

R5: Those theater queens hate when movie stars come to Broadway.

The View today.

[quote]To Lindsay, a challenge is making it to the theater four times a week.

Isn't that sufficient?

[quote]Tovah Feldshuh played an orange girl and a nun.

What color was the nun?

Blue, of course.

There's one beautiful song in Cyrano, "You Have Made Me Love"

[quote]George Clooney to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’

Christ, that was a boring movie. The only interesting thing about it was the jazz singer. Half the movie was tv clips you could watch on YouTube.

Do his Lake Como twinks get to come to Broadway or they are regulated to Italy only?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

Sorry. Here's another link.

Sorry. Here's a different link.

Sorry. Here's a different link.

Sorry. Here's a different link.

Five posts for the same stupid story from 2012?

You'd have to be over 70 to know or care who Edward R. Murrow was. Nevertheless, tickets for Clooney's show will be sky high.

[quote]George Clooney to Make Broadway Debut in ‘Good Night, and Good Luck’

It would be better if he brought “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

[quote]You'd have to be over 70 to know or care who Edward R. Murrow was.

The story deals with the McCarthy hearings and Republicans doing a witch hunt. I wonder if Clooney thinks Trump is going to win the election and that zeitgeist will sell tickets.

Is Good Night, and Good Luck even that fondly remembered? It went zero for six at the Oscars.

WHET George Clooney's expose/documentary about Gym Jordan?

Is it because the case is in NY that we're seeing so little of Joyce Vance and Barb McQuade?

And why do they confine luscious Danny Cevallos to just the morning hours?

[Quote] You'd have to be over 70 to know or care who Edward R. Murrow was.

If it happened before 2022, it’s nostalgia. If it happened before 2019, who cares? Who cares? Who cares! So what?.

Ooops, that was meant for the MSNBC thread ^^^^^

Danny can fuck my hole anytime, especially in front of Merchan!

I was shocked to see Frank DiLella in such a hovel. I would have thought Daddy would buy him a palatial show home.

[Quote] What does it say about George Clooney's control issues that he can't trust David Cromer to direct that play and has to co-direct with him?

Nope. He’s co-writing with his writing partner from the movie. Cromer is directing solo.

Lange and Paulson were the item du jour for a few hot months back then. They were seen all over the city together. I sat behind them at a show one night and they seemed very intimate.

Maya Rudolph does. Bacall coffee

And she's as unfunny as she's always been.

Oh, I thought she nailed it.

I’m sorry but Jim Parsons face is starting to look like a dirty pillow.

R43: I never thought he was remotely attractive. Now he's just plain old looking.

Samm-Art Williams Dies: Tony-Nominated ‘Home’ Playwright, Actor & ‘Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air’ Producer Was 78:

R15 give a guy some warning......I had to restart all the clocks in my house.

‘Stereophonic’, ‘Dead Outlaw’ Take Top New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards:

Parsons has gotten a refresh. What he should get is a refund.

I'll have ya know I spent hours... hours at the spa getting botox and a wax. I take my self very seriously

A famous tweet about Jim Parsons that he read on the air: Jim Parsons looks like a ventriloquist dummy that came to life to become a sex offender

Jim needs to stop dyeing his hair that color.

He looks hideous.

[quote]The story deals with the McCarthy hearings and Republicans doing a witch hunt. I wonder if Clooney thinks Trump is going to win the election and that zeitgeist will sell tickets.

That's why they revived CABARET on Broadway this spring.

If Trump wins, it won’t matter what the zeitgeist is. Project 2025 will be in full swing.

Your life will change. I promise you.

It will be too late to get out. As it always is.

Fuck! I just Googled "Project 2025" after seeing R54's reference to it.

Theatre gossip is not the place for doom and gloom.

What good's permitting some prophet of doom

To wipe every smile away?

Life is a cabaret, old chum.

Only a cabaret, old chum.

And I love a cabaret!

[quote]That's why they revived CABARET on Broadway this spring.

They made a mistake there. It’s not the right wingers who are persecuting the Jews this time around.

Illinoise just isn't happening. It's the only new musical of the season whose gross went [italic] down [/italic] last week, and average price under $99. Big jumps everywhere else. Vanya and Patriots also dropping.

Dolls! I’m so excited to see Ragtime at City Center!

Smart move -- cast Criss as a robot and the needed AutoTune will sound in character.

R61: Again with this talentless, queer baiting hack.

How ironic is it that Darren's Emmy win did nothing for his Hollywood career but is doing absolutely wonders for him on Broadway.

Illinoise is down by only $4600. Harry Potter is down by $35,000. Vanya is down by $83,000. Hamilton is down by $8900. Patriots by $12,000.

Vanya and Patriots are closing next month so who cares about their grosses. Suffs went up substantially to $800K. Ugh this talentless, useless Hillary is one step closer to EGOT. Now that it's closing Lempicka went up but not by much. I saw Lempicka over the weekend and there was this incredibly annoying group of people in the first row singing along and applauding like crazy anytime Eden or Amber stepped on stage. For those who've seen Lempicka, did you encounter this rowdy group of fans?

How is Darren in concert?

Friends are going to see him this summer and I declined. I could still change my mind…

Gay-baiting, indeed. Criss is performing in Provincetown in July. One night only! Get your Glee/Warblers CDs signed!

Remember ILLINOISE canceled at least one performance last week because of the death of their stage manager so it was inevitable that the grosses would go down.

That said, I don't think it's ever going to really catch on with the ticket buying public.

Illnoise won't be a million dollar hit like Hell's Kitchen.

Betty Buckley announced she is not doing the hits at Joes Pub this weekend but is doing all new songs. Why does she always do this?!?!

People WANT to hear Memory!

I doubt she can sing Memory anymore, r70.

A second NYTimes dance critic pans the choreography of Illinoise.

I trust Justin Peck over the NYTimes dance critics.

[quote]Betty Buckley announced she is not doing the hits

Betty had a hit? Who knew?

[quote]Betty had a hit? Who knew?

The only hits Betty ever had were of the nose candy type.

I happen to agree with the NY Times dance critic. Have you seen ILLINOISE, r73?

She hit it and quit it with all of us!

Oh Jesse

[quote]Performing in eight shows a week can be grueling for any Broadway star, what with the physical demands, psychological discipline and total lifestyle commitment needed to get through a play or musical each night. Now imagine doing it while pregnant. That's what Lindsay Mendez is currently experiencing.

Except, NO, she is NOT currently experiencing that. She hasn't been doing "eight shows a week" of MERRILY since who the hell knows when, probably not since the Off-Broadway run or maybe the very beginning of the run on Broadway. For PEOPLE to publish an article focusing on Mendez and the show without even mentioning her continued, extremely frequent absences -- and the fact that the production has kept so quiet about them -- is bullshit.

[quote]I was shocked to see Frank DiLella in such a hovel. I would have thought Daddy would buy him a palatial show home.

You mean, the way he bought him his job at NY-1 to begin with?

[quote]I was shocked to see Frank DiLella in such a hovel. I would have thought Daddy would buy him a palatial show home.

Bitch, please! Some talent is necessary.

The Times' Tony feature was better when he did it with Brantley for a compare/contrast pov.

I saw Merrilly twice and both times Mendez showed up. I guess it was lucky.

To be honest, I just wanted to see Radcliffe and Geoff so I didn’t really care whether she was there or not.

Lord the typos ^ sorry, you know what I mean.

Jonathan Geoff has potential as an intentional DL malapropism.

R79 sounds like 'woke' propaganda, trying to portray her as an idealized superwoman who can have it all (career, marriage, children) except she's had 3 husbands in ten years and has been MIA during most of the Broadway run of MERRILY.

It's very disingenuous.

Lindsey hired a publicist. Sounds like Bebe better catch up.

Nobody is going to catch up to the PR machine that is Alicia Keys r561. They had THREE songs on the Today show yesterday plus two interviews.

The segment below is cute but the most honest part is when Lindsey claims she’s the best dancer of the group and Groff looks at her like “seriously?”

Paulson opens up about another actor:

[quote]Sarah Paulson is officially successful enough to slam other actors who slighted her in the past. The Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner appeared on this week’s episode of the “Smartless” podcast, where, prompted by a discussion about celebrities visiting actors backstage after a play, she recalled what she described as an “outrageous” experience from 2013. “I did a play called ‘Talley’s Folly’ at the Roundabout [in New York]... and the actress — and I’m going to say this, and I’m not going to ask you to cut this out, because I don’t fucking care — this actress came to the play,” Paulson said Monday. “Her name’s Trish Hawkins. Hi Trish!”

[quote]Paulson said Hawkins had emailed her six pages of notes on her performance, as well as a detailed rundown of how she herself had tackled the role in her day. Paulson said Hawkins’ actions were “really outrageous.” “Trish Hawkins, I have not forgotten it,” Paulson said Monday, “and I hope to see you never.”

I was surprised that in the NY Times Jesse Green predicted a Tony win for Corey Stoll rather than one of the three actors nominated for “Stereophonic” ( though Tom Pecinka was one of his ‘Should Win’ picks).

I guess he thinks they’ll cancel each other out, but I’m not sure that ‘s true. There are relatively few Tony voters and they could easily coalesce over one choice, and it could be Pecinka.

Haven’t seen “Appropriate,” I like Stoll generally but was he that good? Paulson is all you hear or read about from that show.

Fuck you, Sarai Pollson.

I can understand Paulson being pissed over notes from the person who originated the role but naming her in an interview was a shitty thing to do especially since Hawkins career went nowhere. A little humility goes a long way, Sarah.

R93, it seems that many celebrities now are loving the attention & press from revealing their shitty experiences with other actors. Publicly naming this woman was not cool. I think Sarah's riding her high horse and might be for awhile if she wins. Ultimately, it will hurt when she tumbles.

Orfeh and Andy Karl are divorcing after 23 years together!

Go get him, boys!

Thanks for the votes now coming my way, Sarah.

Lots in this thread.

Firstly, that is sad about Andy and Orfeh. 23 years is a long time and they were so cute together.

Second, I’m excited for Ragtime at Encores and Betty Lynn at Joe’s Pub.

Third…they set the dates and the theatre for Death Becomes Her on Broadway. I think it’s obvious this show is going to go to smithereens so why even bother?

Fourth…Sarah Paulson DOES think she is in a cool club…but she’s not there yet. Once she gets the Oscar nomination she will…but she’s still “cable”

Fifth…I’ve seen Merrily twice. Once at NYTWorkshop and she was in and once on Broadway and she was out. She was really good the first time, but the understudy was fine too. I agree that Groff is the draw.

[quote]Jonathan Geoff has potential as an intentional DL malapropism.

Meh. It's no "Lens Dunham."

Of course the one actress Paulson names is a no one. Typical punching down.

LOL at R97 calling Sarah Paulson "cable."

Wicked and delicious.

Why would Sarah Paulson come out so th this story during voting? Very stupid move. No one likes whatever she’s doing in that article. She comes off incredibly petty and, as someone said earlier, very much “punching down.”

I would also bet money that there was something in those six pages of notes that she ended up integrating into her performance too.

*come out with this

Gen Z on Reddit were all congratulating Paulson, calling her a goddess and saying it’s time that actresses start calling out abusive behavior from other actors.

Paulson’s fans are rabid and she knows it.

And now the story is being run everywhere with this no name older actress Tricia Hawkins and Paulson calling her out for some bullshit from 10 years ago.

Regardless of what this elderly actress did, it’s mean girl behavior to go on some “cool podcast” in 2024 and gleefully tell this stupid story - knowing full well that the woman’s career went nowhere, she’s a nobody, and now you are putting her name out there for no reason so everyone will google her and shit on her.

Jonathan Groff, in an OUT magazine interview, says he's rekindled the first relationship he had after moving to NYC. Says they lived as roommates and he was a dancer, and they were together 3 1/2 years and have picked it up again. Quinto isn't a dancer, or was he? Who else could Jonny be talking about? Who's fucking Groff and tasting his sauce?

I'm not defending 6-pages of notes, but when Trish Hawkins did Tally's Folly, she had the benefit of having the playwright, Landford Wilson, present and just maybe she thought she was honoring him by imparting things Wilson may have felt about the play.

Definitely a cunt move to talk about this and NAME the actress, she could have still told the story and left it vague.

[quote]Gen Z on Reddit were all congratulating Paulson, calling her a goddess and saying it’s time that actresses start calling out abusive behavior from other actors.

[quote]Paulson’s fans are rabid and she knows it.

She's like the new Patti LuPone.

Exactly, R86. That ridiculous puff piece People article also neglected to even mention one of the three husbands that Mendez has had so far in her life, and that she's already been divorced TWICE within 10 years' time.

She’s had three husbands with that face? Damn.

I wouldn't have a problem If I was playing Amanda Wingfield and Zombie Laurette Taylor gave me six pages of notes.

Sarah Paulson should engage her brain. Her *mother* brought Trish Hawkins to the performance.

It’s not a stretch of the imagination to think that the next day, Mrs. Paulson called Trish and said, “Trish, my daughter gave a dreadful performance and she needs your help. Would you be a dear and send her some notes about how you played the role?”

Think about it. Her mother brought the original actress to see her daughter’s performance. Sarah fell victim to her mother’s bitch move and she’s still trying to exorcise the experience from her mind. Blaming Trish isn’t the way to do it.

at this point just publish the 6 page email of notes.....

The Wicked trailer looks like a trailer for Harry Potter and The Wicked Witch of the West.

I think it looks wonderful.

R113 Doesn't really fly.

It's all CGI all the time!

How many performances has Lindsay Mendez missed? 65?? WTF????

Mendez has missed so many performances (at least 60), but never seems to miss a TV appearance.

In addition, watch: she won’t miss a single performance during Tony voting season (“a miracle!”) — but will start to miss immediately once it’s over.

She’s dreadful.

Actors have no right to give actors note--particularly 6 pages of notes. That's some kind of bullshit, if true.

*to give other actors notes

[quote]It's all CGI all the time!

Well, r115, if any movie called for it...

I hated WICKED onstage, but I kinda want to see the movie.

It looks enjoyably escapist.

It's also possible that Sarah's mom invited Trish because she was proud of her daughter and thought Trish might enjoy seeing a new production. I don't think it was part of an evil plan to fuck up Sarah. I'm thinking Meryl and Glenn would have been appalled but kind to an older actor in that situation. They're pros.

[quote]I don't think it was part of an evil plan to fuck up Sarah.

Sarah's a lesbian shacked up with an old actress. Mama ain't getting no grandchildren. Of course it was an evil plan to fuck up Sarah.

[quote]Sarah's a lesbian shacked up with an old actress

No she isn't.

r125

Did Sarah and Holland break up?

No, r126, but they aren't shacking up.

They live on opposite coasts. She made a point of saying in the CBS Sunday morning piece that they don’t live together and mostly FaceTime.

They, ClitTime, R128.

Well, r129...you try.

Sarah Paulson may be favored to win the Tony, but Jessica Lange has already snuck by with two wins: one from the Outer Critics Circle, the other from the New York Critics Circle. Momentum could be building in Miss Lange's favor.

Was Sarah competing against her in both those races, R131?

Who do we have to pay off to make sure Trish Hawkins presents the Best Actress in a Play award at the Tony Awards?

That would be so amazing R133.

I always had LOTS of notes for Trish Hawkins when she was briefly on MY show.

Defying Gravity is down a half a step in the trailer, and we can already see how Ariana is going to pop up Popular. Uhoh.

R132, I take that back. I could've sworn I read the results of the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards this morning, but when I searched, only Best Play (Stereophonic) and Best Musical (Dead Outlaw) were announced. Other winners will be announced in a private ceremony on May 21.

For the Outer Critics Circle Awards, Lange bested Paulson.

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play [bold]Jessica Lange – Mother Play[/bold] Rachel McAdams – Mary Jane Sarah Paulson – Appropriate Jeremy Strong – An Enemy of the People Michael Stuhlbarg – Patriots

^^ reformatted

Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play:

[bold]Jessica Lange – Mother Play[/bold]

Rachel McAdams – Mary Jane

Sarah Paulson – Appropriate

Jeremy Strong – An Enemy of the People

Michael Stuhlbarg – Patriots

Lange was very strong in Mother Play. There must be Tony voting or voting adjacent DLers on these theater threads. What do you all predict?

I predict that Trish Hawkins is going to feel really good on Tony night…

[quote] There's one beautiful song in Cyrano, "You Have Made Me Love"

Actually, it’s a beautiful score, the whole thing. Christopher Plummer recorded the OBC which is available.

[quote] Mendez has missed so many performances (at least 60), but never seems to miss a TV appearance.

Or a meal.

She’s fat. And mediocre. But so is Geoff. They’re perfectly mediocre aging “theater kids.”

Erivo in green makeup looks even older. She looks like she could have a daughter in college. At least Grande could sort of pass for a college student.

At least Stockard Channing will no longer be the oldest looking student to ever grace the movie screen.

Actually, I'm surprised how young Erivo looks in the trailer but that's due to all the CGI everywhere. She looks like a Pixar cartoon.

You think this looks young?

[quote]Defying Gravity is down a half a step in the trailer,

It's very common for musical theater songs to have their keys lowered for the film versions, because the performers don't have to project in the same way, and really full-out loud singing in a high register can come across as overbearing in a movie, depending on the song and the way it's shot.

Groff and Mendez are not the same category. He’s still quite handsome, has a beautiful voice and seems like a hard worker. He was great in Merrily. You could have subbed in an understudy for Mendez and I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.

[quote] You could have subbed in an understudy for Mendez and I wouldn’t have noticed the difference.

Well, that's good, cause I'm home right now with my feet up.

Thank you, R147. Exactly right. Also, "Defying Gravity" was originally written in an even higher key than the one in which Idina Menzel "sang" it. As a rule, the keys of musical theater songs reflect the ranges of their originators rather than some larger musical plan.

No, it’s not R147, especially in the case of a song and score so well known as Wicked, and someone who is supposed to be able to sing the score. And the song is a battle cry. They’re not worried about it being overbearing. That’s not a thing. The women that are hired on Broadway have to sing the original keys. There will be discussion that she can’t really sing the role.

It’s on film, not on stage. Apples and oranges. Get it?

[Quote] There will be discussion that she can’t really sing the role.

During your mah jongg brunches?

No, R151. If you don't think it's common for even very famous musical theater songs to have their keys lowered at least slightly for the film versions, then you can't have seen very many movie musicals.

[quote]It's very common for musical theater songs to have their keys lowered for the film versions, because the performers don't have to project in the same way, and really full-out loud singing in a high register can come across as overbearing in a movie, depending on the song and the way it's shot.

NOW you tell me.

Sarah doesn't deserve anything for that screaming, one note performance in Appropriate. She is just tiresome and the only actor allowed to emote directly to the patrons. All the other actors play with their backs to the audience in all of Sarah's scenes with them. FUCK SARAH. AND FUCK LILA HAMBURGLAR.

[quote]No, it’s not [R147], especially in the case of a song and score so well known as Wicked, and someone who is supposed to be able to sing the score. And the song is a battle cry. They’re not worried about it being overbearing. That’s not a thing. The women that are hired on Broadway have to sing the original keys. There will be discussion that she can’t really sing the role.

Exactly. Just like when Madonna received a lot of hate (and still does) from purists when the score of EVITA was lowered to accommodate her in the 1996 film version. It's inevitable.

Will Lindsay turn up for the Tony Awards?

R158, if there is food there.

When they don't lower keys, you get Hugh Jackman in Les Miserables

Mendez gave an interview to People magazine all about working while pregnant. “I love a challenge!”, she said.

Apparently Ms. Mendez is unaware that millions of pregnant women are working.

Where’s the challenge, Lins, in working while pregnant when millions of women do it every day?

And if THOSE women miss a few shifts (let alone SEVENTY, as Mendez has) shifts, they’d be fired.

She missed Saturday’s matinee and yesterday’s, too.

In the case of Madonna and Hugh Jackman, there was the larger problem that neither performer could sing those roles properly regardless of the keys. But, for example, I don't think there was much or any negative reaction to the keys of WEST SIDE STORY being lowered considerably for either film version, regardless of who actually sang the songs.

I’m well aware what happens in movie musicals R154, and this score is not like other shows and it’s very uncommon in modern movie musicals to lower keys, and especially with someone like Erivo who got a Tony for a difficult singing role in A Color Purple performing a famously difficult high belt role that she was expected to pull off just like Adele Dazeem. There will be discussion that she couldn’t pull it off and had to lower the key for the climactic scene that literally ends act one and will also literally end the first movie. The ending cry will probably go to blackout and credits. Everyone who has seen the show (and that’s A LOT of people and will be 99% of the audience in the opening week) will notice that’s it’s lowered. It’s immediately clear in the trailer.

It’s going to be said “well, she can’t sing the role… so.”

One of the worst things about the Mendez situation is that you can just picture her conferring with the producers, the marketing and PR teams, the box office, etc. to keep the fact that she's so frequently absent as quiet as possible and try to pretend that it's not an issue at all. That pathetic PEOPLE article is a perfect example, but it's a bit shocking that PEOPLE was complicit in the scam by not mentioning the absences. Is it possible that the writer was unaware of them, or was the failure to mention them just part of the cover-up?

r164 If you're looking to "People" for hard-hitting journalism, you're delusional.

Did they lower or change keys on those R&H musical movies OKLAHOMA, CAROUSEL and THE KING & I?

Did they lower or change keys when they brought in real singers to dub for the stars (Marni Nixon, Giorgio Tozzi, Muriel Smith, et. al)?

[quote]It’s going to be said “well, she can’t sing the role… so.”

That will only be said by people with no knowledge of the differences between film and stage musicals. And for what it's worth, I did not immediately notice the downward transposition (of half a step, according to you) in the trailer, because as long as the ending of the song still sounds exciting and like the performer is singing at or near the top of the range, that's all that's required.

I think Bebe will beat Lindsey at the end of the day so Lindsey can 1,000 puff pieces along the way for all I care. Bebe is the best Fraulein Schneider I’ve seen (and the second best was the British woman who was in the London production I saw last December).

The NYT headline about Lindsay’s latest wedding is hilarious. “Broadway Star Gets Married On HerDay Off”!

Which one? She’s had SEVENTY!!!

Yes, R166, not all but many of the keys were lowered for the film versions of the R&H musicals. And to once again use the original WEST SIDE STORY film as an example, almost all of the keys for Tony and Maria's songs were lowered considerably, even though I'm almost certain that Jim Bryant and absolutely certain that Marni Nixon could have sung them very well in the keys of the stage version. In this case, the keys were brought down to better suit the intimacy of the motion picture cameras.

Bebe is stunning in Cabaret.

Bebe is stunning in Cabaret and I was totally impressed with her performance…but Kecia will win. I’m not the Kecia troll but it’s obvious this will happen.

Yes, R166. R&H rekeyed their shows on screen as appropriate for the talent they had, and for the intimacy of the camera, which absolves performers of the need to blast. Mitzi Gaynor's screen test for South Pacific is in a different key than the higher key she used in the film. Younger than Springtime (dubbed) is noticeably lower. These are just two examples. A more stark contrast is apparent in the booming soprano of stage Tuptims vs. the sultry, almost crooned come-hither King and I soundtrack renditions in lower keys with a voice that is much less full-bodied. Julie Andrews on screen in The Sound of Music is keyed somewhat higher than Mary Martin on the OCR, because that was the nature of their individual vocal qualities at the time they performed those roles.

Even on the stage, Merman had a set of lower keys when she settled into Gypsy, and Verdon would stay in her lower set of keys and not infrequently cut numbers during Redhead unless she heard someone important was out front.

This "it's a step down" as some kind of diss is relatively recent, a by product of the screlting Olympics that is also related to the opera world, where original keys are law, in part because the work is through-sung.

The only place it's a real issue is when the register of the character changes: when a soprano role ends up an alto belt role, it can change how the character comes across. What did they do when Chita Rivera did Lois in Kiss Me, Kate in stock? I've always wondered.

I consider myself a fan of Branden Jacobs Jenkins as I think An Octoroon is a masterpiece, and is easily one of the best American plays of the current century.

But I keep attending his more recent work hoping for something that is as half as playful and bold and incisive as An Octoroon was. But with Appropriate and The Comeuppance, I come away thoroughly underwhelmed.

[quote]What did they do when Chita Rivera did Lois in Kiss Me, Kate in stock? I've always wondered.

R173, do you mean that Chita played Lois, an alto belt role, or Lili, a soprano role? (I wasn't aware that she played either.) Though Lisa Kirk had a rep for having a very low alto voice, the keys of Lois's songs in the original Broadway production were not set all that low for her, and if Chita played that role, I'm sure she could have handled the songs as written.

Anyway, thanks for your very insightful, thorough, well-written post. I think you have explained the subject very clearly for those who seem to have trouble understanding it.

Although I found "Appropriate" very enjoyable, I think the quality of the writing was somewhat overrated. As I've mentioned in previous threads, many people -- even critics! -- love to watch characters in conflict on stage, yelling and sniping at and insulting each other. Especially family members. But that doesn't necessarily equal great playwriting. Look at how AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY was a big hit when it was on the boards but does not now seem to be regarded as any kind of a classic.

The reason keys are usually not changed for Broadway performers is because it’s expensive. It involves recopying and sometimes reorchestration.

[quote]Gen Z on Reddit were all congratulating Paulson, calling her a goddess and saying it’s time that actresses start calling out abusive behavior from other actors.

Telling that Paulson, who is enjoying as close to an unqualified success on stage as she will ever get has found a way to make herself a victim. Sadly, it's not surprising because the "Yas queen" internet mob is waiting to devour tales that portray victimization triumphantly eats this shit up. She's playing to the Tony VOTERS (a wildly and shockingly manipulatable bunch) and it probably will work in her favour. The nominating committee generally gets it right and is composed of professional theatre practitioners. The voters, in stark contrast are often the"Aunt Tillie" type whose connections got them free tickets to everything on Broadway and who view performances the way viewers watch "TOP CHEF" with "I like her and want her to win" without regard to how the food tastes. Having said al that, Actors shading each other happens and generally, you bitch to your friends about it, make a joke out of it and it always reflects badly on the person doing the shading. Tis just bad etiquette. But consider thisL How do we know Paulson didn't, while fishing for a compliment, ask Trish Hawkins for feedback in some way? How do we know what the interaction that precipitated the 6 pages of notes? Did Paulson say "im struggling with this moment or that moment, what can you tell me" Who knows? I don't be we haven't heard from Trish Hawkins. There was a gossip theatre thread a while ago that reported Sir Ian , while on Broadway ,telling the actor playing opposite him to watch his understudy for assist. Posters found this outrageous but in the UK and Ireland, where company mentality is strong, actors will reach out to someone in the company who is struggling and if is handled the right way, it is appreciated and not considered sabotaging. Maybe it was in that spirit the notes were sent and we don't know they weren't asked for directly or indirectly. All we know is Paulson found them offensive

Thanks for that thoughtful post, R178.

We also don’t know if Sarah took any of the notes and ended up integrating them into her performance henceforth (which seems like something she would do).

Taking notes from another actor is something she would do, R180? Apparently not, from her response. And again: it's never the place of an actor to give notes to another actor.

Without even worrying about the key, the thing I notice everywhere, from the red carpet at the Met Gala to both trailers, is that Grande is swamping Erivo. Does anyone else see that? It may be because for some unknown reason they have kept as much music out of the trailers as they could, and perhaps when we see Erivo do a couple of big numbers she might be able to redress the balance, but she really will need to. At the moment she's looking kinda lumpen beside Grande. I'm not into pop music at all so I had no views about either of them before.

The stories about Paulson getting notes from the original made me think about the time she was cast as the character based on Cheno in Studio 60, in which she was predictably awful. Had it existed, I'm sure Cheno's note would have read simply, "Bless your heart!"

[Quote] The reason keys are usually not changed for Broadway performers is because it’s expensive.

Not to disagree with this, but the expense is less of an issue that it used to be since musicians started using iPads and scores can be quickly and automatically transposed using composition software. (This is true at least in contemporary classical music - I’m unsure how it plays out in Broadway pits.)

Hi, Sarah at R181!

You have no idea if she took any of the notes or even what they were.

Did anyone see Tina Benko when she went on for Sarah in Appropriate?

Does anyone really believe George Clooney will be a box office draw?

The world knows Ariana Grande; New York knows Cynthia Erivo, R182.

And neither do you, asshole R184. The point is: ACTORS DO NOT GIVE EACH OTHER NOTES.

Got it?

Except…when they do as had happened in this situation.

You know that, R189?

Umm, sweetie, because that’s what Sarah said happened in an interview and what we’re all now talking about.

Umm, sweetie, go fuck yourself.

Trish Hawkins, the actor Paulson said she never wanted to see or speak to again?

Thanks r178 - liked reading that.

I knew a Tony voter last season and everything you wrote tracks with her personality and behavior. She was telling everyone and their mother she was a Tony voter and most people had no idea what she was talking about. I’m a theater fan and knew, but it was funny watching people look blankly at her and respond “what’s that?”

You've got mail!

I'm willing to bet that if ELSBETH gets renewed this Paulson thing will be the center of the season opener plot!

Elsbeth was already renewed.

Are the songs in the key of life?

Jessica Lange has the Best Actress in a Play Tony Award in the bag.

[quote]Did they lower or change keys when they brought in real singers to dub for the stars (Marni Nixon, Giorgio Tozzi, Muriel Smith, et. al)?

Muriel Smith dubbed the singing for Juanita Hall in the movie of "South Pacific." Juanita Hall was a "real singer" who originated the role of Bloody Mary on Broadway and sang it every night. But Richard Rodgers preferred Muriel Smith's voice. Muriel Smith played Bloody Mary in London. So Richard Rodgers humiliated Juanita Hall; by letting her play the role she created in the movie but with someone else dubbing her songs. Richard Rodgers was not a nice man.

[quote]Jessica Lange has the Best Actress in a Play Tony Award in the bag.

Then I hope she remembers to bring it to the award ceremony.

Eddie Redmayne on CABARET:

[quote]I've got an amazing book in my dressing room on the culture of these clubs and sex at the time in Weimar Germany. It was an extraordinary moment. A bacchanalian, beautifully hedonistic time. I don't know if it is more shocking now. In fact, the world is so open now, that element of shock isn't necessarily something we're really looking for in the production.

Oh??? If you're not trying to shock people by having chorus girls spread their legs and bend over to show off their butts while they're costumed as little babies, or by having chorus people pull loaves of bread out of the Emcee's ass onstage, and so on and so on, then, ummm, what kind of effect ARE you trying to have on the audience?

When it's said upthread that transposing keys is an expensive proposition, what kind of expense is specifically meant? Like how many thousands of dollars to transpose one song, for example?

And once it's done, does the new version automatically become available for anyone to purchase? Is it like buying the rights to a song?

Does anyone remember Trish's first scene in "Another World"?

To Vince Frame at the Honey Bee Diner, "Our special today is goulash." No notes required!

She is almost 80 now.

As someone above pointed out, I believe it's no longer expensive for musicians to transpose keys, because I'm pretty sure there is software nowadays that does so automatically.

ding! Ding! DING!

What key are you dinging in, r206?

Alicia’s key. Duh

R163, I’m skeptical that even the most fervent fans of Wicked are going to notice a half-step key transposition in the movie.

Transposition is expensive partially because anything larger than a whole step often requires a song to be reorchestrated. In particular the woodwinds may need to play at a different dynamic to hit the right notes, it really can throw off the balance and the texture.

Notation softwares are also notoriously awful and many people still prefer doing notation by hand.

Oh, please…it’s a $500 million two picture production…your post is fairly ridiculous at this point.

Trish Hawkins may be unknown to the general public, but she comes from the now defunct Circle Repertory Company, which was a close knit group of actors, playwrights, and directors, many of whom are renown and wield power in the theater community. Coming after one of their own and publicly shaming her might not have been a wise move on Paulson's part.

That's really overstating it, R212.

[quote] many of whom are renown

Oh dear, R213.

[quote]Notation softwares are also notoriously awful and many people still prefer doing notation by hand.

Not on Broadway.

Sarah had every right to tell the story… but why name the culprit?

I mean, going after an old lady isnt

[quote]I'm willing to bet that if ELSBETH gets renewed this Paulson thing will be the center of the season opener plot!

Ripped from the headlines!

Yes, saying the following to impress 3 men on a podcast is arguably more obnoxious than the outrageous 6 pages of notes.

“I'm going to say this, and I'm not going to ask you to cut this out, because I don't fucking care -- this actress came to the play. Her name is Trish Hawkins. Hi, Trish! Hi, Trisha! ... am I going to get sued? I don't care, because I think this is outrageous. She came to the play, proceeded to say -- she looked at me up and down and then she went, 'Your dress is yellow. Mine was pink.' And I thought, 'What?' Cut to two days later, I got an email that was six pages long of notes and a communication to me about what she had done when she had done the play, what she recommended I do. It was outrageous. It was really outrageous. Trish Hawkins, I have not forgotten it, and I hope to see you never.”

I can’t even remember what work adjacent jerks did to me 1 year ago, let alone 11 years ago.

I am sick and have the time to go down a Trish Hawkins rabbit hole. Did any DLers catch her with Ted Knight and Bob Balaban on Broadway in "Some of My Best Friends" before it closed after 7 performances in 1978? Hal Prince directed, apparently to no avail...

Where's the asshat who said that Paulson took Hawkins' notes?

Never fucking heard of Trish Hawkins.

Trish is Sadie Hawkins baby sister

Hilarious how the Lange loons are trying to suggest there will be blowback for Paulson over this Hawkins nonsense and will adversely affect her Tony chances. Oh, my sides!

Lindsey missed almost her entire run as Elphaba in Wicked but showed up for the 10th Anniversary Performance. This is the norm for her and yet she continues to get cast in things and will probably win another Tony Award.

R223 No one cares about that overeager creature’s sophomoric scandals. The Tony was Lange’s as soon as her show opened. Paulson should be grateful for the nod. As someone else astutely note in the previous thread, “Better luck next lisp!”

Such a conundrum. Two actresses I can't stand up for the same award. I suppose Lange is the lesser of two evils. Plus she already has one, so it won't mean as much. And for Paulson to be denied would be fun.

Paulson will win.

"Trish Hawkins may be unknown to the general public, but she comes from the now defunct Circle Repertory Company, which was a close knit group of actors, playwrights, and directors, many of whom are....." NOW DEAD.

If "Hell's Kitchen" wins Best Musical, I will be pissed. It was a paint by numbers ego trip jukebox musical, complete with white savior and bad dad. Hated it.

I think it is going to win r229

MUFFS!

Unless I missed it, who was the white savior in Hell's Kitchen?

TOSSED!

Those girls look like they eat everything but tossed salads.

Am I allowed to say that?

[Quote] Never fucking heard of Trish Hawkins.

Why do bitches here think that citing whom they’ve never heard of is anything but a reflection of their own ignorance? I don’t care if you’ve heard of her or not, but it certainly is not a measure of her worth.

Ouch, Galileo.

This may be a more accurate measure of Trish's worth.

Well, I hope the bad Galileo reviews will close the show in Berkeley for good and allow poor Raul to move onto a better theater project.

Why does he keep choosing these horrible new musicals like Leap of Faith, Taboo, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and this one that have flop written all over them and are so clearly unsuitable to his talents, He would have done far better for his career to replace Josh Groban as Sweeney and at least get to sing that glorious score on Broadway.

Why has Michael Greif never won a Tony. He directed Rent and Dear Evan Hansen, two of the biggest hits of the last several decades. I knew him in college and thought him bright and pleasant. I’ve heard he’s become less nice over the years. Any stories?

Lanford Wilson wrote Talley's Folly for Trish Hawkins. She knew what she was talking about.

[quote]Lindsey missed almost her entire run as Elphaba in Wicked but showed up for the 10th Anniversary Performance. This is the norm for her and yet she continues to get cast in things and will probably win another Tony Award.

Thanks for that info, assuming it's accurate. I had no idea that she had a big problem with attendance before MERRILY. To me, it's a complete mystery why people would put up with this sort of behavior from her, as she's not that talented and not that famous. And certainly not a looker, so part of the reason can't even be that people are in lust with her as they are with other minimally talented but gorgeous actors like Darren Criss.

[quote]Why has Michael Greif never won a Tony?

Because he's a man of extremely limited talent who has gotten incredibly lucky by becoming involved with projects that turned out to be winners in spite of, rather than because of, his involvement.

I saw Paulson in Talley’s Folley. All I remember a decade later is that she was homely, played a spinster and had a strange lisp.

Beyond that - it’s a blank.

Maybe she should have listened to Trish.

[quote]

I met him last fall, and he was easy going and pleasant to interact with

[quote]“She came to the play, proceeded to say... ‘Your dress is yellow. Mine was pink.’ And I thought, What?”

Team Trish!

Sarah Paulson looks like a knee.

Mendez is pregnant. Sickness is understandable, people.

Millions of pregnant women show up to work everyday, R247.

In addition, these absences began well before she was pregnant. Almost from the very beginning.

R241: Darren Criss is not that talented or cute.

That was 44 years ago, R237. It's hardly ignorance if one hasn't heard of a stage actress whose prime was nearly a half-century previous.

He has one cute part............

Sutton is a busy gal!

R252, Isn’t she directing A Little Night Music in Ogunquit this summer?

Trish with notes >>> Elaine Joyce with letter

[quote]That was 44 years ago, [R237]. It's hardly ignorance if one hasn't heard of a stage actress whose prime was nearly a half-century previous.

If you’ve been reading here for any length of time, you are aware this s a community frequently and energetically obsesses, discusses and draws blood over people and events the public at large has never even heard of. In the amount of time it took to post "never fucking heard of Trish Hawkins", you could have googled Trish Hawkins and seconds later have the equivalent of a doctoral thesis about the woman. Instead, you invested the time in insinuating the discussion was not relevant enough for you because you've "never fucking hear of" Her. You obviously wanted that to be known and wanted some kind of response. That is why you got cunted at. Trish Hawkins has probably never heard of you either, but she has some notes.

R253. No but Hunter Foster is

The beauty of the DL theatre threads is that you best believe our bitches WILL have heard of Trish Hawkins.

Please speculate on where/how Trish Hawkins will appear to the public addressing her new found relevance.

Seek professional help, R255.

I AM professional help, 4255. This one was on the house!

The Here We Are cast recording is lovely. I think there's too much dialogue, but I suppose there was no way around that.

So far I'm finding the recording as annoying as the show.

[quote]I AM professional help, 4255. This one was on the house!

The psych ward attendants pinned a badge on you and declared you sheriff? That's nice.

R256 is correct.

R260, I love you :-)

The thing that surprises me most is that Trish Hawkins had an email account......it was probably AOL.....

When Chits played Lilli/Katherine in Kiss Me Kate with Hal Linden and Bonnie Franklin at North Shore. She also did Flower Drum Song and Zorba.

Agreeing with above posters, that large interval transpositions often require revoicing to keep within the range of the instruments involved and to be sure the orchestration does not sound odd. And new keys, even in the computerized music copying era, are expensive because even when it's just "push a button" to do the transpo, it gets invoiced to the production by the bar or by the page, and when you multiply that by the cost of generating a new part for each instrument and a new conductor's score chart...it adds up. You can hear the pre-computer version of economizing on this on the various Hello, Dolly recordings when only the star vocal has been transposed (as few bars as possible) in something like "Before the Parade Passes By" then there will be an awkward 2-4 bar transposition to allow the re-use of the choral arrangement or dance music in the same key as always, so it doesn't have to be redone and paid for, then back to the star's key for the ending or there's some sort of option up or down.

I bet there's a great big box or computer file of parts at Chicago, though, with the numbers for the four star-billing roles (Roxie, Velma, Mama, Billy) in a whole bunch of keys.

Thanks for all those details about transpositions, R267, but I would say whatever cost is still involved is extremely minimal relative to a show's overall budget. And "Before the Parade Passes By" is not a good example, since the main reason why the choral section would be kept in the same key is because that key had been judged deal for a mixed chorus, whereas Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman, et al. were obviously not going to see Dolly's songs in Carol Channing's keys.

[quote]Please speculate on where/how Trish Hawkins will appear to the public addressing her new found relevance

If only the Sally Jessy Raphael Show were still around to give Trish the platform she needs. “Yes, Sally, let’s send Sarah to boot camp!”

Has anyone heard anything about breaking the story at 2st

[quote]The psych ward attendants pinned a badge on you and declared you sheriff? That's nice.

All these references to mental health and being institutionalized! Well, they always say: Write what you know!

Best, r255, 260

[quote] In the amount of time it took to post "never fucking heard of Trish Hawkins", you could have googled Trish Hawkins

Oh, yes, R255, I'm going to spend my time googling some actor from a half-century ago to keep up with the pointless back-and-forth exchange here. You really are nuts.

Might be faster than stirring up shut on Datalounge.

Isn't that what Datalounge is here for, R273?

Meanwhile back at the point, nobody under the age of 85 gives a flying fuck about Trish Hawkins.

Except R255, R275--she cares very much!

It’s such typical Trish to be causing a ruckus - even in 2024.

Who?

[Quote] I'm going to spend my time googling some actor from a half-century ago to keep up with the pointless back-and-forth exchange here

But why spend any time telling us whom you’ve never heard of?

Why not, R279? A quick sentence saying that is the issue?

And can we get out of the 1980s and get back to the thread?

This thread isn't in the 1980s?

The thread isn't, R282, but some people here are--some of the same people who think members of the decades-defunct Circle Rep still maintain a grip on power in the theatre community.

[quote]Why not, [R279]? A quick sentence saying that is the issue?

OK, so what is the "issue" you experience when you come across a name you don't recognize? What happens to you when you don't know something?

R283, I don't think anyone is claiming the Circle Rep people "still maintain a grip on power in the theatre community," only that the company was a major force back in the day, so the people who worked there and are still around may be entitled to some respect.

When it's important or has relevance, R284, I look it up. Trish Hawkins does not qualify. Okay--are we done?

R285, the mention of Circle Rep people is that some of them have the power to react negatively against Paulson, not that they do or don't deserve respect.

[quote]When it's important or has relevance, [R284], I look it up. Trish Hawkins does not qualify. Okay--are we done?

Not done. How do you determine something or someone has relevance if you don't look it up.

You saw enough relevance in the discussion to comment on it, so you had something you wanted to communicate. Reasonable to assume your comment was an expression of some kind of reaction to the age of the subject, deeming the subject irrelevant because of her age and the fact her professional work is decades in the past.

Lots of people here, young old and middle age do find the past relevant to discuss.

You could have just scrolled by, but you had a message to communicate, the message was received and responded to. You didn't like the reaction. That's the drama free recap of what transpired.

NOW we are done.

Hey what about ME????

Trish Hawkins is irrelevant. I look things up based on my consideration of what/who is important.

NOW I'm done with you, R287.

Thanks for stopping by, Wayne

The queen of thread #561

Judd Hirsch is the queen of this thread?

How dare you r292. You’ll be getting some NOTES forthwith.

HAHAHAHAHAHA, R293!

Did TH gives notes to JH?

R220, are you an idiot or do you just have reading comprehension issues? I said that we’ll never know whether or not Sarah actually took one of Trish’s notes and then incorporated it into her performance post-note giving. All we know (from Sarah) is that she got six pages of notes and was offended.

So Wayne Brady only did the role to get a Tony nomination that he didn’t get…so then he bolts.

Has anyone seen Betty Buckley at Joe’s Pub last night? I have tickets for Saturday. Does she sing any showtunes? What I’ve seen on social media is it’s mostly classic rocks stuff

R296, you stupid cunt, we KNOW Paulson didn't take any notes from some yenta actor. Now piss off.

Oh, interesting. How do you know that, R299? Are you her?

You seem unbalanced and unwell.

You also just gave yourself away as vaguely anti-Semitic.

Gee, R300, it seems that Paulson, deeply offended, would not take any notes from such a person. My guess. And I would say it's the mark of being unwell when you keep up bringing up a pointless argument.

R301, I'm Jewish, and yenta is a great word for someone who is a gossip or a busybody. Fits the bill for anyone giving, unasked for, 6 pages of acting notes to another actor.

R291 he's got to bet back to Let's Make A Dill.

Of course I meant R207.....

JFC I meant R297......no wonder the only job I could get is pointing to doors.

There’s nothing wrong with using the word yenta. It means a busybody or neighborhood gossip. Someone who always wants to get into other people’s business.

So -- who had Wayne Brady while he was in town?

Am I wrong to start worrying that Trish Hawkins will factor into the next Theatre Gossip thread title?

Only in the dreams of some tired old queens here, R308, who insist on trying to bring her up in every post.

I hope so.....and maybe even Talley's Follies!

[quote]So -- who had Wayne Brady while he was in town?

He's pansexual! It could have been anybody or anything!

Those “girls” have never eaten anything in their nonexistent lives

It's Sally's Follies, r310.

[quote] When it's important or has relevance, [R284], I look it up. Trish Hawkins does not qualify. Okay--are we done?

Not quite. You're an asshole.

Now we're done.

Aw, poor Miss R314, you just can't stand being told what you don't want to hear.

Go fuck yourself!

NOW we're done.

Can we just move on?

I have already said as much, R316. I've said can we move this thread out of the 1980s and back into today?

Possible titles for the next thread:

The "Trish You Were Here" Edition

The "When You Trish Upon a Star" Edition

The "Trish and Sarah, Sittin' in a Tree" Edition

“Trish and Tell: Notes from Sarah’s Underground”

Sarah Paulson's big number from Talley's Follies was the quartet 'Trish Me/Actors in their Sensitivities'

[quote] Aw, poor Miss [R314], you just can't stand being told what you don't want to hear.

I wasn't the one you were arguing with. Just a bystander who thinks you're garbage.

Wow, a lot of posts I can skip in this thread.

Nothing about Sutton Foster in the reimagining of Once Upon a Mattress?

Will she again be playing herself?

The role is well within her range, r323.

I saw Talley's Folly, yes I'm old, and I remember being moved by the two of them. But I did not enjoy it as much as I liked Lanford Wilson's follow up, Fifth of July.

I think Hawkins may have gotten first billing over Judd Hirsch because it was alphabetical order, but I don't know that as fact. She did not have a larger role than him. It was a two-hander.

And fuck you Beanie!

I definitely have six pages of note for Sutton Foster.

I saw Sarah Paulson in TALLEY'S FOLLY and have no memory whatsoever of her performance. And I have a good memory.

That said, I saw APPROPRIATE two days ago and thought she was outstanding. Contrary to what you might read on some of these posts or see in short TV clips, she doesn't scream the entire play, and when she does, it's merited. And Paulson has a devastating monologue at play's end where her voice is never even raised. The audience was spellbound.

APPROPRIATE actually plays better on Broadway than it did OB. That was surprising. I think it's BJJ's best play, and by a WIDE margin. It's not really acceptable to say this in many circles because APPROPRIATE is BJJ's play with an all-white cast. But there it is. I found AN OCTOROON to be a bit jejune and rather overrated, though I will concede it was a great play to make a splash with. And I think BJJ is so much more talented and worthy of attention than Ms. SLAVE PLAY.

I haven't seen MOTHER PLAY yet, so can't compare Lange to Paulson in the Tony race, but I'm guessing that Lange is amazing in her play as well. It'll likely be close between the two, but it wouldn't surprise me if Lange wins in her category and APPROPRIATE takes Best Revival. If the love for APPROPRIATE is really, really in abundance, than Paulson will grab that trophy while Trish Hawkins readies her Bic pen to prep notes on Paulson's acceptance speech.

[quote] I definitely have six pages of note for Sutton Foster.

So do we!

R327, because I'm a cunt to the heart, I'm glad Jane is contributing to the destruction of Beanie's ego. May that little pig never come crawling back to Broadway.

Sarah Paulson has now won the 2024 Distinguished Performer Award from the Drama League for her performance in “Appropriate.”

Jessica Lange was also nominated (the list is long).

Sarah is in full Eve Harrington killer dyke mode in that pic.

Sarah Paulson and Jessica Lange are both terrific in their respective plays. I'm not totally sold on APPROPRIATE as a play, but compared with MOTHER PLAY it's THE CHERRY ORCHARD. (I saw a very early preview of MOTHER PLAY, and my heart sank when I realized [almost immediately] that it's a Memory Play -- only without the nuance or poetry or insight of, say, THE GLASS MENAGERIE or THREE TALL WOMEN or, in its way, THE MARRIAGE OF BETTE AND BOO.)

Were I a Tony voter, I'd vote for Paulson. Lange already won a Tony (for a spectacular performance in, um, a better play), and fun as she is in her current role, she's scarcely showing anything in it that she hasn't shown us before. Paulson (whom I really like at her best but have sometimes hated) is excellent in her much better play.

It's an interesting race, for sure, made only more so by l'affaire Trish. What on Earth could have possessed Paulson to share this at exactly this moment? If she loses, I'd call this a major reason why.

[quote] Just a bystander who thinks you're garbage.

Thank you and fuck you, R321.

R321 Turning!

I suppose they mean the white mom r232?

Now that I have everybody's attention, please join me as we discuss the art of "Luminous Listening: Speaking with Ease in Public and Private Life."

Thank you.

r239 he actually has become MORE kind over the years. He hasn't won a Tony but will get an honorary Tony someday I think. I was surprised though he wasn't included in The NY Times article about Jewish theatre makers. There were a TON of people in that article and he wasn't one of them.

He won't win the Tony this year though r239. It is him and 4 women nominated. Maria Friedman will get it for sure.

There's nothing kind about Greif. If, R338, he's become decent over the years, fine. But he's mostly been a dick and a hack who scored in the same way Mantello did, but Mantello had talent.

[quote]Nothing about Sutton Foster in the reimagining of Once Upon a Mattress?

Got an email today advising me that Miss Foster will be Winnifredding in L.A. as well (Ahmanson.)

I’m hungry.

Has anyone seen Patriots? My husband & I are acquainted with Michael Stuhlbarg and know that he is the nicest person, and a wonderful actor, but the play seems overlong and dismal. We are on the West Coast, so it would involve jet lag and effort to go to NYC.

I would appreciate any info or insights from the famous DataLounge theatre aficionados.

Many thanks, in advance.

The audience at Sarah's play were "spellbound"?

Are you sure you don't mean "shell shocked"?

Hey gays!

I’ve just been cast as Godot in a production of “Waiting For Godot”! And by then, gays, I’ll have divorced my third husband and will be in and in the market! Send me your str8 bros, gays!!! I’ll let you hold my Tony Award!! And one of my babies. Speaking of, I need some Sugar Babies and Megan Coke and sardines! #cravings

Well, r345...you try.

I’m as tired as that GIF, R346! She should take a tip from me and take a rest!

"Waiting for Godot" will turn into "Waiting for Mendez."

I saw Patriots. It’s an ok night in the theatre but the play is nothing special. However MS does give a very good performance. I thought the play moved fairly quickly if that helps.

R343, how do you feel about Stoppard or Kushner? If you like them, you will probably like Patriots. I absolutely loved it but I love three hour+ long talky plays. Stuhlbarg is fantastic but IMHO, it's Will Keen (who won the Olivier) who steals the show with his terrifying Putin. I can't believe he wasn't nominated.

I saw Patriots in London too and preferred Tom Hollander's Berezovsky. Stuhlbarg was much more manic, giving everything an overly comic layer that wasn't present from Hollander. Stuhlbarg's exaggerated teeth-gnashing stripped away tension and pushed the audience to laugh at his hapless victimhood. This was the opposite effect of Hollander, whose more subdued frustration came not from a victim but a power broker who made a critical mistake. The stakes felt higher and Berezovsky's descent more chilling under Hollander.

[quote]Sarah Paulson has now won the 2024 Distinguished Performer Award from the Drama League for her performance in “Appropriate.” Jessica Lange was also nominated (the list is long.

The list is so incredibly long, especially for ONE SINGLE performance award, that it's ridiculous they even bothered to name "nominees." They could have just given Paulson the award and said her performance was voted their favorite one that was given by every actor who was eligible this season.

I hate the expression "white savior" when it's used in almost any context, but regardless, there is no way the character of the mom in HELL'S KITCHEN could be interpreted as a "white savior" by any stretch of the imagination. I imagine that is the character being referred to above, as she's the only major character in the show who's white. In fact, I believe she's the only character in the entire show who's white, maybe even including the ensemble.

R351, I didn't see Hollander in PATRIOTS, but Judging Stuhlbarg's performance with nothing to compare it to, I thought he was overacting egregiously.

[quote]Sarah Paulson has now won the 2024 Distinguished Performer Award from the Drama League for her performance in "Appropriate."

And Miss Lange was given the Contribution to the Theater Award. Was that like a "Thanks for Playing" consolation prize?

Lange is going to be on The View next week. Will Watch What Happens Live be next?

Has anyone else here on DL seen the abortion that is JORDANS at The Public?

The Public has a heavily reduced season, but its resources when to THIS?

DAMN

[quote] he actually has become MORE kind over the years. He hasn't won a Tony but will get an honorary Tony someday I think.

Not if they keep giving it to people who have already won competitive Tonys.

Rex Smith

He’s now 68, but there’s still that huge cock.

Oops!

Two gay male couples I know have seen Mother Play in the last week. All four of them loved it.

Well, then, r361. It must be great.

I just saw Stereophonic and really loved it. But I don’t see that it is a lock for Best Play. There were some of the earliest walkouts I have ever seen - like 15 minutes in. People are really polarized on this one.

No, R363, people aren't really polarized on it. If people walk out 15 minutes in after paying that kind of money, they're idiots.

And it will win the Tony.

Posting again…has anyone seen Betty Buckley at Joe’s Pub? What show songs does she sing? I just want to temper my expectations

R363: Any and every play will have people that don’t like it, don’t get it, are bored by it, especially a play that has gotten the reviews this one has, which will bring many people in that have no business at any straight play. That hardly makes it “polarizing,” not when 98% of the audience feels they’ve had a terrific theatrical experience and tell their friends to see it.

My TV guide tells me the cast of Merrily are performing a number on Colbert's show this week. I bet Mendez shows up for that, but it'll be interesting to note whether she shows up for her own show earlier in the evening.

Stuhlbarg always overacts in everything he's ever been in. I've worked with him and find him a pompous self-absorbed ass.

Well, R368, I have also worked with him, and he was wonderful and couldn't have been nicer, so it must have been another Michael Stuhlbarg you worked with. And for the record, I have never seen him overact in anything.

R367, Mendez NEVER misses a TV appearance.

R365, she’s singing original stuff and songs no one knows. There’s nothing many of would recognize, essentially. Go. You’ll have a good time.

Mother Play was quite moving. You could hear people sniffling in the audience toward the end (myself included). I don’t generally like Celia KB, but thought she did a fantastic job in this. Lange was incredible. Parsons was fine.

I was moved by how much the Paula Vogel character loved her brother. That aspect made me the most emotional. How he looked out for her as a kid, told her what books to read, really influenced her entire personality and encouraged her to become the success that she became.

All these years after he died, the clarity with which she writes about him is beautiful.

I also loved Stereophonic.

[quote] Mendez NEVER misses a TV appearance.

Or a meal!

R352 - agree that it's ridiculous. It's just a way of getting all these stars to show up to a fundraising event. It's the least important award - Drama League is a group of old ladies who want to meet stars so they nominate everyone under the sun. There is no rubric for nominating people at all. I have no idea how the NY Theater community has allowed this to become a must-attend event.

[quote] I have no idea how the NY Theater community has allowed this to become a must-attend event.

Oh, my sides, R374! Allow???

R355 The Drama League announced they would be awarding Lange the Contribution to the Theater Award back in February—nearly three months before ‘Mother Play’ opened and nominations were announced—which could’ve persuaded voters to vote for Paulson since Lange was already being honored.

Lange won the Outer Critics Circle Award earlier this month, which, to me, seems more telling. In either case, this is still a true race to the finish, one I believe Lange will win, especially if ‘The Great Lillian Hall,’ premiering on 5/31–a theater-based drama—is a critical and ratings hit. Not to mention the impact the film adaptation of ‘Long Day’s Journey Into Night,’ which Lange noted would be released in theaters, presumably this year, might have.

Trish Van De Vere! One of Ira Levin's little burns in the original Deathtrap is when they talk about the play within the play being filmed with George C. Scott and Liv Ullman, Myra the wife says "And Trish Van De Vere" as if anything GCS was in had to have a part for TVDV. Then Sidney the writer says "There's a part in it for her too." The reference was changed in later versions of the script.

Van De Vere hasn't worked since the mid-1990s.

Are these Trishes (Hawkins and Van De Vere) retired? Or did show business "retire" them because they couldn't do the work any more?

Seeing Patti perform in Hartford tomorrow. Those who have seen this show loved it.

Perform is the right word.

Ben Platt opens his Palace gig in 10 days. It’s fun to go to the ticket site and see how wildly unsold the shows are. He’s gonna have to cut a few performances, no? In some cases, it looks like only 20% of seats are sold.

Earlier this week, there were a lot of seats available in the orchestra for opening night. Looks like those have …mysteriously been removed from the site. Good move, as it makes it look like opening is selling better than it is. But those seats will be back — unless they’re papering opening night?

R380-Yes, with all 6 of Ben's friends.

Ben Platt doesn’t have 6 friends.

He has a Beanie

R373, Again? (R142)

R372, she wrote an entire play about him, and her grief for him, back in 1992 called The Baltimore Waltz.

Poor Ben . . . My partner and I saw Liza at the Beacon theater 20 years ago when she was married to David Gest. We were given great Saturday night orchestra tickets by a friend who was a NYC public schoolteacher. Apparently, someone was giving away seats in the public school system to literally anyone.

Liza was great by the way but the orchestra was still 25% empty. The crowd was full of LI housewives and male hairdressers from Brooklyn in fur coats and big jewelry.

Michael Stuhlbarg was the best part of Call Me By Your Name and should have gotten an Oscar nomination for his lovely monologue near the end of the film.

[quote]I bet Mendez shows up for that, but it'll be interesting to note whether she shows up for her own show earlier in the evening.

It doesn't work that way, r367.

Mendez is out for the matinee today.

R389 the biggest problem is I saw her at New York Theatre workshop and she was really good. But it’s not fair of ticket buyers to be billed above title and miss this much. It sucks because her winning would have been a slam dunk and the role is a rare female Sondheim role that hasn’t won a Tony yet.

Rose. Gypsy

Joanne. Company

Phyllis. Follies

Desiree. A Little Night Music

Countess. A Little Night Music

Mrs. Lovett. Sweeney Todd

The Baker’s Wife. Into the Woods

Fosca. Passion

The only shows where the female hasn’t won is Sunday In the Park and Merrily, and Lindsay is going to fuck it up.

[quote]The only shows where the female hasn’t won is Sunday In the Park and Merrily

Did Lee Remick win for Anyone Can Whistle and no one told me?

R391 that show only received one nomination, for its choreography, which it lost to HELLO, DOLLY!

R391 the show ran mere weeks and hasn’t been revived on Broadway since. One could also argue Assassins but there is no real female lead in that. I’m talking major Sondheim shows with strong female parts that have had major productions/revivals

[quote] [R373], Again? ([R142])

Nope, that wasn't me the 2nd time.

r390, you forgot me!!!!

So we know why Lindsay has out so often and are they legitimate reasons? Her pregnancy? Issues with her ex? Something else?

Paulson is posting about Ella Beatty almost daily on Instagram. If she was a nobody 23 year old, I wonder if she would hold the same interest.

Beatty was great in the play, but she didn’t have many scenes with Paulson, she did more with the boyfriend and the little girl (who was quite good).

Paulson was equally enthusiastic about Elle Fanning. Maybe she feels like their mentor or something.

I hope her mentorship extends to sending them 6 pages of notes.

Mentoring as in grooming?

How did Trish Hawkins even get Paulson’s e-mail?

The understudy is actually quite good, better voice than Mendez and prettier. It’s a shame she is locked into Mendez’ choices. And, after watching the interview where she subtly undercut her costars singing and acting, I hope they both win and she gets left in the cold.

Thank you all for the Michael Stuhlbarg comments!!!

He played my husband in the Steve Jobs movie and we met him, and I told him he should cross his legs and tie his shoes, or have his shoes untied most of the time. That is my husband's signature!

I worked with Stuhlbarg one one of his earliest Broadway shows 30+ years ago and he was something of an asshole, very full of himself and not a very nice person. He was beautiful back then, and a burgeoning talent, so it made sense he would have a crazy ego. I think his lack of immediate success probably knocked his ego down a few pegs, and perhaps he's become a little kinder with age.

Breaking the Story at Second Stage was a very long 85 minutes.

See the movie “Civil War” if you want to see something compelling about war journalism.

[Quote] has anyone seen Betty Buckley at Joe’s Pub? What show songs does she sing? I just want to temper my expectations

Dress up like a carpenter and wait backstage and she’ll meet your expectations.

I don’t perform except at dinner.

I...*really* drink.

She did this at Wicked too r396. She just may not be an 8 show a week performer.

In other words, lazy as fuck; no work ethic.

I worked with Stuhlbarg at a Shakespeare festival while he was at Juilliard. A kinder, more naturally gifted actor I have yet to meet.

Elphaba is physically, vocally, and emotionally demanding. She was far from one the better actresses in the part, but it would be hard to pull off with a cold or bad allergies. Mary Flynn is a role that an actor with any degree of professionalism can pull off eight times a week.

Gussie is more demanding than Mary Flynn.

Maybe you're joking, R413, but that's absolutely not true. Not even in the current production, where the role of Gussie has been beefed up beyond all reason and is being overacted shamelessly, to the great detriment of the show.

I agree it’s to the detriment of the show - just felt like I was seeing Gussie nonstop in this production. Would have appreciated more Mary.

[quote]She did this at Wicked too [R396]. She just may not be an 8 show a week performer.

Isn't SIX the norm?

And for all the praise heaped on this production of MERRILY, much of it deserved, very few critics publicly called out the director and the performer for the portrayal of Gussie in the show. For obvious reasons.

No r410 but maybe more suited for film and tv. She is a very good actress.

She will probably win the Tony. Unless Kecia Lewis wins who is also a favorite.

Did anyone here see her in Wicked. Good enough for these absences to be tolerated? Also her drunk in Merrily was amateur hour

[quote] She is a very good actress.

Based on what?

R419 ummmmmmmm

[quote]Would have appreciated more Mary

You're on the right site then

R396, Mendez missed SO MANY performances back in the Fall, well before she was pregnant. Then it was the pregnancy. Now it’s pneumonia, allegedly.

Of course, the producers have done an absolute shit job of managing this. It’s embarrassing how little regard they appear to give their audiences. Announce a schedule, FFS. Greed greed greed.

It’s always something with her. She managed to show up at her most recent wedding. And give interviews about working while pregnant, something millions of women do everyday, as if she were Joan of Arc.

Back in my day, Michael Reidel would have torn her apart in the press the way he did Donna Murphy and Bernadette Peters, both of whom were quite ill. But neither of whom missed 68 performances!

What will be Lindsay’s next excuse?

Sorry, r424, you lost us at:

[quote]Back in my day

Really, you seem so personally affronted.

[quote]It’s always something with her. She managed to show up at her most recent wedding. And give interviews about working while pregnant, something millions of women do everyday, as if she were Joan of Arc.

Feminists view pregnancy/motherhood as a big sacrifice, especially if they're in the arts.

Where did this [italic] quantity [/italic] of absences come from?

how many absences did BP and DM have?

[quote] Feminists view pregnancy/motherhood as a big sacrifice, especially if they're in the arts.

Thank you Mr. Butker

Sort of, R425. I flew to NYC, booked a hotel, and booked seats for this cast.. She no-showed.

Then, months later, when in NY on business, o bought another ticket — and she didn’t show then, either.

R430 - you didn’t miss much. I saw it twice, she was there both times and Groff and Radcliffe were the ones to see.

r430 She heard you were coming.

EVERYBODY hears when I’m coming, honey.

Cabaret really got the reviews it deserved. Overwrought, over conceived, and only Bebe Neuhirth and Steven Skybell showed anything resembling human behavior. The Mendes version was a perfectly sordid take on this material, but ratcheting that up doesn’t mend it better. Poor Gayle Rankin actually has good instincts that got covered in makeup, ugly costumes, and aggressively bad direction. The audience laps it up because they pay so much for their tickets.

Does anyone know who will be casting "Goodnight and Good Luck" on Broadway?

George Clooney's couch. ^^

I'm ready, willing and able!

To answer a question upthread, Trish Hawkins got Sarah's email from her mother who took her to see Sarah in the play, knowing that Trish had originated the role (and was the inspiration for the character). The mother and Trish were (are?) good friends. It all sounds far more complicated than Sarah lets on.

[quote]It all sounds far more complicated than Sarah lets on.

Indeed it does, r438.

[quote] It all sounds far more complicated than Sarah lets on.

No, it doesn't, R438/R439. Paulson explained it thoroughly.

Paulson is a panic pretending that most actresses aren't insane!

Huh, R441?

r440, you're the reason the word insufferable was invented.

Why, R443? Because you don't have a response to my post?

Her absences in Wicked were tolerated because she is one of Joe Mantello’s close friends,

She was excellent in that Josh Harmon play. She should stick to straight theatre and tv. Her absences only seem to be in musicals.

R429 what was false about what I said?

Feminists do look down on pregnancy/motherhood.

What do you know about feminists, Miss R446?

I'm always amused by some dumb queen like R446 who professes to know about feminists believe. Do carry on, idiot R446.

[quote] dumb queen

[quote] who professes to know about feminists believe

Mmmhmmm

Mmmhmmm, what, idiot R449? Why don't you actually say something?

[quote] Paulson explained it thoroughly.

No she didn’t. She conveniently left out the fact that Trish Hawkins originated the role, and that it was written for her. It wasn’t just “some actress who did the play once” as Paulson described her.

So tha means Hawkins was entitled to give Paulson notes, R451?

I'm sorry. R451 isn't in the business and doesn't understand that notes come from the director and/or playwright, not from an actor who did the part 15 years before.

And R451 fails to understand that an actor who was merely observing the part she played now as an audience member has no right to give notes.

Any professional understands notes come from the director/playwright working on that same production, not from an audience member who did the parts years ago.

Paulson crossed the line and let her slip show by revealing what Hawkins had done, but I wouldn’t expect any less from her. It’s quite telling, actually.

r452 - r455 Why are you so obsessed by this that you posted four times in a row over 13 minutes, saying the same thing time after time?

Sarah Paulson and Holland Taylor were in the audience the night I saw Lange in Mother Play so I doubt there is a feud.

Were Sarah's mom and Trish Hawkins with them?

Worst theater gossip thread ever?

I think Trish Hawkins used to date Holland Taylor back in the day. Four of those six pages were notes about that.

Trish Hawkins didn’t even get a Drama Desk nomination for Tally’s Follly and only played it on B’way for four months (that was about half of its run). No wonder Paulson was so offended. It was Judd Hirsch’s show.

I saw Talley's Folly with David and Meredith Baxter Birney. He stole the show too. (I'm sure she suffered a lot on it as is her pattern.)

I suffered only because Trish FedExed 6 pages of notes to me after opening night, as is her pattern.

I saw "Opening Night" this week....not as bad as I expected. It is a lot better than most of the musicals I have seen on Broadway lately (which, tbh, is not saying much)

R458, true story: Lange was in the audience the night a pal saw APPROPRIATE.

No feud.

Ladies, we don’t even know if what Trish sent were actually “notes.“ that’s Sarah’s version, no doubt enhanced over time and for storytelling. They may been primarily info on the creation of the play, insights she got from the playwright, experiences doing the show it seems highly unlikely they were six full pages of notes. It may have been six pages. It may have included compliments and stories and how it felt for Trish to watch it after all these years. Young actors are prickly, self-centered and insecure and young Sarah may have taken it all wrong. We’ll never know. But kids doesn’t six pages of [italic] notes [/italic] sound unlikely but fun to tell and to beleuve?

Sarah's Follies! Is she a Sally, or a Phyllis?

A Hattie at best

Wave you little hand and whisper, "So long, Lempicka..."

clever

Anyone here work on any of the shows Jake G has done? Good guy or not?

I saw Sarah Paulson in The Glass Menagerie and I wish Trish Hawkins had sent her 6 pages of notes on that. Or even Amanda Plummer.

R473,

Yes. Anyone, any notes.

Okay dolls, I’m back from the final night at Joe’s Pub with Betty Buckley.

No Memory…but she did do:

Not a Day Goes By

Send In the Clowns

Moon River

Hope

And her encore was And So It Goes…

All in all, a fun evening had by all.

How were her pipes, r475?

Happy beat toe-tappers all, R475!

So, who was it?

I'm guessing Aaron Sorkin.

I mean, did you see his version of CAMELOT last season?

I appreciate that page six gives us the choices…

Chenoweth was formerly engaged to “Unsane” star Marc Kudisch from 1998 to 2001 and had previous relationships with Lane Garrison, Seth Green, Aaron Sorkin and Dana Brunetti. She did not reveal the identity of her alleged abuser.

Kristi was abused while she was reacting to the videos? Seems rather harsh!

The problem with making accusations about an ex without naming the ex is now all of her ex's are suspects and that sucks.

R46

She announced that last year she got seriously sick with RSV and Covid and was convinced she would never sing again.

The voice of 1980s is gone. But she can deliver a song still and got a well deserved standing ovation on send in the clowns.

Really between her, Bernadette and Patti only Patti still has her voice, though God only knows how.

KC was also getting it regularly from Alan Tudyk while she was doing "Epic Proportions" and that was while she was dating MK. As for an abuser, no one fills the bill more than the narcissistic Mr. K.

[quote]Trish Hawkins didn’t even get a Drama Desk nomination for Tally’s Follly and only played it on B’way for four months

Trish Hawkins and Judd Hirsch opened Talley’s Folly at off-Broadway’s Circle in the Square, where it played in May & June 1979. Then it closed, and Hawkins and Hirsch took it to the Mark Taper Forum in La several weeks. Then it was back to NY for the Broadway opening at the Brooks Atkinson. The actors played the show till June when they both left their roles to their replacements.

I don't think that it can be Kudisch. When Chenoweth did THE APPLE TREE on Broadway, Kudisch was 1 of her 2 male leads, and it's hard to believe that she would have OKed him for it if he'd been abusive in the past.

Trish Hawkins apparently sent out several agitated emails when she learned there was a planned stage musical of Talley’s Folly co-starring Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein with a score by Jason Robert Brown. As a result Brown turned his attentions to his other project, The Bridges of Madison County.

Chenoweth’s abuser was Lane Garrison

Well? Wouldn’t you?

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

My post was redacted above because I linked an article showing a video of Lane Garrison (who is Chenowith’s ex) attacking his then gf but ok .

Lane strengthening up.

Matt Gould's speech after Lempicka's final curtain—

Everyone on stage looks slightly embarrassed by that speech.

Sorkin abused Chenoweth by casting Sarah Paulson to play her.

Everything about Lempicka has been embarrassing.

The first time I encountered Sarah Paulson was as deranged, psychotic schoolteacher Miss Isringhausen on DEADWOOD. She was fantastic and quite scary in it.

R493 I actually think it’s a lovely speech

You mean you fucking think it's a fucking lovely speech. Fucking.

Apparently the controversy about Alecia Keyes calling the Tony nominators continues, with several prominent league members demanding there be response. What are the options?

I've not heard that story. Can you elaborate?

She’s calling the Tony nominators, don’t you see.

Hey, Matt— We saw your show. It wasn’t good. We don’t care about representation if the product doesn’t have the requisite quality.

[quote] She’s calling the Tony nominators, don’t you see.

Yes, dear, I understand that. About what, though? They already did their jobs.

A friend told me that Rachel Chavkin's speech was even more whiny.

Calling them and saying what, R500? You can’t just do a drive-by post without providing any details or links to what you’re talking about.

Anyone else watch Audra McDonald at the London Palladium on PBS Friday night? Mostly B'way standards (sing along with Audra doing I Could Have Danced All Night! Watch out for the countertenor in the front row!). She did two Jerry Herman songs and one truncated Sondheim song -- what is even happening? Nice show, though, perfect for PBS.

Speaking of, Purlie Victorious is on PBS this Friday night (check your local listings, of course).

exactly r499. He does that in [italic] every [italic] speech. I guess he thinks that means passion. And if you're not into making money, don't do your show on Broadway. Do it only at nonprofits. It [italic] commercial [/italic] theatre, honey. The fucking market will fucking decide. You entered the ring, and you're mad you got hit?

I don't think he is mad r508 . I think he just doesn't want other artists to be discouraged.

r500 do you mean calling NOMINATORS or VOTERS? Is this because the show got 13 nominations and other producers are disgruntled? Are there actual rules about calling nominators?

Woman Is Not.

DL still gets it right at least some of the time. Everyone was expecting "Lempicka" to bomb, and it did so quite spectacularly.

Having seen LEMPICKA in previews, it was not hard to predict its rapid and deserved demise.

Marc Kudisch was not the one who abused KC, so let's nip that nasty hypothesis in the bud. As someone has already pointed out, MK and KC did THE APPLE TREE in 2006, several years after they'd broken up. There's no way in hell she'd have agreed to do the show with him if he'd beaten her during their time together.

Marc may have many personality defects, but not once have I thought: Oh, I bet he beats his girlfrend/fiancee behind closed doors. That's not the vibe he gives off, ever.

Aaron Sorkin is a prick. I'm surprised no one thinks it's him.

All the Tony nominators got a robo call from Alecia the night before the nominations. That's a clear violation of the rules.

So what happens now then r516? Are the nominations disqualified?

Here's the LEMPICKA dribble....

dribble or drivel?

Your head is going to explodes r516 when Hell's Kitchen sweeps the Tonys. Camille A Brown just won choreography over Justin Peck at the Chita Rivera Awards.

I think Daniel Radcliffe's Tony is also in jeopardy because of Brandon Victor Dixon.

The Camden People's Theatre in London is looking for a new artistic director, and the job posting is exactly what you'd expect from something with "people's theatre" in the name:

---

We welcome and encourage applications from individuals without formal education and/or who identify as:

D/deaf and/or disabled

Neurodiverse

Working-class, benefit class, criminal class and/or underclass

Global majority* and/or migrant

LGBTQ+

*This includes people of Black Caribbean, Black African, South Asian, East Asian, South East Asian, Middle Eastern, Arab, Latinx, Jewish, Romany and Irish Traveller heritage

We are particularly keen to hear from Black and Global Majority people, and candidates who self-identify as disabled.

All candidates who identify as disabled who demonstrate that they meet the essential criteria will be invited for interview. If you feel this applies to you, please include the following sentence in your cover letter: I would like my application to be considered under CPT’s Diversity & Inclusion policy.

---

Maybe Jeremy O Harris can apply!

Jeremy O Harris running the (formerly) esteemed Williamstown Theatre Festival. He doesn't need some little pub theatre in a London suburb!

[quote] Global Majority people, and candidates who self-identify as disabled.

Oh, my sides! I self-identify ass blind. Hire me!

What's "Global Majority" mean?

'Galileo' with Raul Esparza at Berkley Rep isn't getting great reviews—will they still try to bring it to New York?

*as blind

But ass blind is just as good.

r520, my head doesn't give a shit who wins ...

r523 Not white + gypsies (and not the theatre kind)

[quote]*This includes people of Black Caribbean, Black African, South Asian, East Asian, South East Asian, Middle Eastern, Arab, Latinx, Jewish, Romany and Irish Traveller heritage

Life is just a bowl of mashed potatoes...

R520-Alicia Keys

That would be Alecia Keyes r529

Yikes! That GALILEO in Berkeley sounds like a Frank Wildhorn musical from the 1990s. Can this please signal the end of Michael Mayer's career?

That would be Alicia Keys, R530.

I am aware r532 but there is a troll in here who writes her name "Alecia Keyes" every time they post.

Ah, okay, R533. I didn't realize. How odd.

It is super odd r534. Scroll above. They have been corrected too.

[quote] Can this please signal the end of Michael Mayer's career?

Agreed, R531. It's been on fumes for years now. He's been replaced by newer, younger, but equally shit directors like Sam Gold.

Irish Traveller?

The competitive wokeness of today's theater scene is embarrassing.

Q: Hi, I'm a white gay male (with penis), can I have a poorly-paying job at your theater?

A: No.

Sunset Boulevard starring Sarah Brughtman starts performances tonite.

Predicting that Lempicka was going to bomb was sort of like predicting there’d be a bomb in Oppenheimer.

[quote]So what happens now then [R516]? Are the nominations disqualified?

You want a big court fight before the Tonys? The show will sweep.

Let's cast the new Broadway bound production of Leave It To Beaver.

Kristin Chenoweth IS June Cleaver.

Last night on “Colbert”.

Love Groff. He’s adorable. Beautiful voice.

[quote]Let's cast the new Broadway bound production of Leave It To Beaver.

Zendaya as The Beaver.

Danny Burstein as Lumpy Rutherford

Trish Hawkins as Miss Landers

Eddie Redmayne as Eddie Haskell

Billy Porter as Ward.

No R548. You’ve missed the humor, totally. Jayzus.

R520,

You done lost your mind? Daniel Radcliffe in no way, shape or form is going to lose that Tony to Brandon Victor Dixon, fine as he is in HK.

As for the Chita Rivera Awards, that overly small committee that makes the final decisions didn't give the choreography award to Justin Peck the year he made his big splash with CAROUSEL, though there was no question he was going to win the Tony Award soon after. And he did. Just like he will for ILLINOISE this year.

HK will win at least one trophy: Kecia Lewis. (And I'm not the Kecia Lewis Troll. I'm not even sure there is one. But it's fun to say and consider.)

Will HK win Best Musical? Maybe. There's no clear or obvious winner in that category. Not even a clear top two. It's just wide open. The road presenters will vote for HK, as it's the likeliest show to do triumph on tour. But it's not beloved by New York theatre people, not by a long shot. Not hated either -- the show has its merits and is performed well -- but such a stake-less, mid jukebox musical hardly has people excited to hand it the big trophy.

Shuler Hensley as Lumpy's dad.

SUFFS will win Best Musical.

Jack Bailey IS The Beaver.

R552,

I think so too. And it deserves it miles more than HELL'S KITCHEN.

Bebe will beat Kecia and Lindz.

[quote] Camille A Brown just won choreography over Justin Peck at the Chita Rivera Awards.

The choreography for Hell’s Kitchen made me laugh out loud in several places.

Will the Beaver musical cover June's drinking?

Trish Hawkins *IS* Mack the Knife!

Hillary is a producer for " Suffs," so it is a slam dunk.

Because everyone knows that Hillary has all the Tony voters in her pocket, R559.

R555,

You think so?

This revival of CABARET is far, far, far from beloved. And Bebe isn't universally beloved either. I really like her and have only had positive interactions with her, but I've heard bad stories from others. Without question she's a formidable talent. But does she need a third Tony for an unnecessary and much-disliked revival?

Put that against a longtime veteran who's never gotten her flowers and is the one amazing aspect of a much-nominated show? Kecia for the win. Though Lindsay could steal it from both of them if MERRILY steamrolls everything.

I'm voting Outsiders

You have to remember that all the Tony voters will see Lindsay not her understudy. They won't have been inconvenienced or put off by her absence because she'll be there. That's a major point to consider.

Potentially, r563. Unless they were scheduled for a performance she called out of. Her ailments only seem to overwhelm her at matinee time, however.

I'm likely voting for SUFFS. But on certain days, OUTSIDERS seems a better choice.

I don’t have a sense of “Outsiders,” even after reading reviews. You never hear about it, no one I know is going nor has any interest in seeing it. What’s the point? And more importantly, who is the audience for it?

[quote]And more importantly, who is the audience for it?

outsiders

Voting for Hilary's show will be like voting against Trump.

I finally saw Lempicka in its final week. Even though it was a hot muddled mess, I could see why so many people stuck with it for so long. There was something there. Unfortunately, the creatives seemed to have made all the wrong decisions when push came to shove.

Also, I found it offensive that they took the real person of Suzy Solidor and erased the fact that she was a fascist collaborator who was tried and convicted as such after the war. Instead, the musical made her into a girl boss badass. The real story is more complicated and interesting, but I suppose that would have gotten in the way of the queer empowerment angle they were going for—can't have a lesbian be a fascist, it complicates things!

When I saw “Merrily,” Mendez was out and it was the first appearance of her understudy. So I’ll say this about Mendez in the clip above — as brief as her screen time is in that trio, she has a better voice and has more evident warmth and personality than her understudy, who was completely forgettable. Pity Lindsay has no professionalism since she does have talent.

The whole "queer" element to Lempicka was grating.--they were totally jumping on the bandwagon of the current trend of "queering" anything they can. Tamara had more male lovers than female (including husbands) so it's disingenuous to call her a lesbian or, even worse, queer. Bisexual, sure.

THE OUTSIDERS is selling decently well. Who is the audience? Everyone who has read and loved the book, which has been a YA classic before YA even became a commercial term. It speaks to young people and has done so for decades now. I read the book in either late elementary or middle school and was obsessed with it, and I turn 55 next week, so the book has stood the test of time.

Now does that translate into musical success? TBD.

Rosie loved Lempicka and gave it many standing O’s.

Rosie also invested 10 million into Taboo

So…that actually tracks

R563, It’s not like the presence of Tony voters in the audience is made known.

How will Lindsay know when to be in/out?

Question for the group: If a performer leaves a Broadway show and someone new steps in, say every 4-6 months, are the new leads eligible for a Tony nom/win?

What a shitty year for musicals.

R575 No.

on right now...

If Justin Peck doesn’t win best choreography - that’s criminal.

Excuse me, R577?

Larry Kert’s one-off exception does not change the answer to r575’s question

New thread.

Not blatant, r582, does the trick.

They have the new Romeo and Juliet play ( or is it a musical?) coming for a limited time to Broadway in the fall. Not sure about Sam Gold as a director as I am not familiar with anything he has done.

Is it a musical? What has Sam Gold done before?

Is today a holiday? The grosses from last week haven't been posted yet.

[quote]Is it a musical?

There's a freewheeling piazza number, r584.

The "Merrily" creatives seem to think the addition of the over-the-top "Drunk Mary" scene in act one makes it riveting theater. I found it actorly and dopey. People love hammy crap.

R587, what is new? That scene has been in there in every version.

R584, Gold started out as a serviceable director of Annie Baker, to whom he latched onto, and married playwright Amy Herzog. He hit pay dirt with Fun Home. Recently, he's been responsible for two Broadway abominations, The Glass Menagerie with Sally Field, and King Lear with Glenda Jackson. What a way for poor Glenda to go out--at the incompetence of this nothing director.

r540...I am the one who said it will sweep. No I don't want a court fight. I was simply asking r516 what do they expect will be done about it?

And of course Val...

I could be wrong about this but I believe most Broadway general management make only certain performances open to Tony voters, say 3 or 4 performances a week, so they can try to ensure the entire cast will be in. It's not like a Tony voter can choose just any performance to see.

Obviously, Lindsay or anyone else could unexpectedly call out, but if a performer has been nominated, you can be pretty sure they'll make the extra effort to show up, even Lindsay, who may well be over her 1st trimester illnesses and mental/emotional depressions by now.

That’s incorrect. Voters can attend any performance.

Voters can attend any performance r592 but if there are Tony nominees who aren't in that day Tony voters are alerted and can change their tickets if they choose. (They often don't)

R594, Aren’t Tony voters comped or given free tickets?

Also, presumably any number of Tony voters have already seen MERRILY, either Off-B'way or on. Who can say how many of them attended a Mendez-free performance?

Tony voters receive free tickets.

So, J Lo has wrapped her filming for Kiss of the Spider Woman movie - maybe all the rehearsals/prep for that getting in fit shape has been an issue for Big Ben getting bigger btw - and she says John Kander is 100% involved and in studio with her for all the pre-records and album tracks.

DL/Muriel will not allow me to post the Variety interview with J Lo, but since John Kander is quoted as saying J Lo is “best ever” Spider Woman… in respect of Chita: BAJOUR!

Lindsay Mendez has now missed SEVENTY TWO performances.

Though she managed to make the Colbert taping. Huh.