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Theatre Gossip #571 Sherie Rene Went Green Edition

Sherie Rene IS Audrey!

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by Anonymousreply 600October 5, 2024 2:04 PM

Well there is a ticket I WON’T be buying!

by Anonymousreply 1September 19, 2024 5:43 PM

Shark, jump!

by Anonymousreply 2September 19, 2024 6:44 PM

Will Swept Away get swept away?

by Anonymousreply 3September 19, 2024 6:45 PM

Swept Away is yet another show that I have no clue who the audience will be.

by Anonymousreply 4September 19, 2024 8:19 PM

Any word on "The Big Gay Jamboree"? The premise certainly sounds interesting.

by Anonymousreply 5September 19, 2024 9:26 PM

Nicholas Christopher is an Orin, not a Seymour.

by Anonymousreply 6September 19, 2024 9:26 PM

A travesty of a leading lady.

by Anonymousreply 7September 19, 2024 9:35 PM

Mia is back tonite

by Anonymousreply 8September 19, 2024 11:29 PM

Why is Stereophonic closing when it's bringing in so much money? Has it recouped? If it hasn't, why shut it down when there theatergoers who still haven't seen it?

by Anonymousreply 9September 20, 2024 1:24 AM

It just announced another extension

by Anonymousreply 10September 20, 2024 2:05 AM

Get your tickets!

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by Anonymousreply 11September 20, 2024 2:22 AM

Watch Adam Lambert and Auli'i Cravalho Make First Entrances in Cabaret:

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by Anonymousreply 12September 20, 2024 2:27 AM

I predict Cabaret closes in January .

by Anonymousreply 13September 20, 2024 2:34 AM

Barring any upcoming extension or closure announcements, the theaters that will need tenants for the winter or spring of '25 are the Booth, Circle, Golden, Jones and Lyceum.

by Anonymousreply 14September 20, 2024 2:51 AM

CABARET ain't goin' nowhere, r13. Check out our grosses.

by Anonymousreply 15September 20, 2024 3:47 AM

Is that George Clooney play really happening this season? Do they have a theater?

by Anonymousreply 16September 20, 2024 3:47 AM

I was a background actor on Glee in the Sardi’s scene with Patti LuPone. I got to overhear a delicious conversation she was having with Ryan Murphy. He gushed “Oh my god, David and I just loved you so much in Gypsy. We’re so sorry we never got the chance to ser you in Women on the Verge!” Patti replied “Yeah, well, we suffered a lousy leading lady on that one.” Murphy looked confused and said “I don’t know who that was” and Patti responded “EXACTLY.” Pause. And then Patti said “ And she wasn’t even a latina.” And I thought to myself “Gee, Patti, you’re not a latina and you won a fucking Tony Award for playing Eva Peron.”

by Anonymousreply 17September 20, 2024 3:49 AM

More gossip like r17, please!!!

by Anonymousreply 18September 20, 2024 3:52 AM

[quote]CABARET ain't goin' nowhere, [R13]. Check out our grosses.

That's too bad , if true, because this piece of theatrical garbage should have been confined to landfill shortly after opening. Or better, of course, should never have seen the light of day to begin with.

by Anonymousreply 19September 20, 2024 12:11 PM

[quote]Patti replied “Yeah, well, we suffered a lousy leading lady on that one.” Murphy looked confused and said “I don’t know who that was” and Patti responded “EXACTLY.” Pause. And then Patti said “ And she wasn’t even a latina.” And I thought to myself “Gee, Patti, you’re not a latina and you won a fucking Tony Award for playing Eva Peron.”

Yes, and of course, Patti was ALSO in WOMEN ON THE VERGE....as a non-Latina. Did she even realize what she was saying to Ryan Murphy? I'm sure not.

Typical of a narcissist like Patti. She only sees things from her own selfish perspective, and rules that apply to others DO NOT apply to her.

by Anonymousreply 20September 20, 2024 12:18 PM

Grosses don’t mean a lot with high expenses and a high capitalization to repay. Especially if those grosses aren’t that amazing even before your marquee star leaves the show Watch for the pre-show cast to disappear, which would be an act of mercy for all parties.

by Anonymousreply 21September 20, 2024 12:35 PM

Interesting thought, R21, that they would try to cut costs at CABARET by cutting the pre-show. I wonder how the public would react to that? Don't get me wrong, I thought the pre-show was bullshit, but the producers have been marketing it as some sort of stunning, creative element of this production.

by Anonymousreply 22September 20, 2024 12:51 PM

R17 have you read Here’s to the Ladies? It’s the follow up book to Nothing Like a Dame. Sherie goes on record (as does Mary Beth Peil) about LuPone being mean to her during that show.

by Anonymousreply 23September 20, 2024 12:56 PM

[quote]the producers have been marketing it as some sort of stunning, creative element of this production

An extremely expensive stunning, creative element of this production.

by Anonymousreply 24September 20, 2024 12:58 PM

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 2001, "Urinetown" opened at the Henry Miller's Theatre.

by Anonymousreply 25September 20, 2024 1:46 PM

Take that look off your face, r15. We'll keep an eye on [italic] your [/italic] grosses with the new leads. Not wishing you ill, but replacements can change a show's forecast pretty quick

by Anonymousreply 26September 20, 2024 2:41 PM

R25, that is crazy to remember that Urinetown started its Broadway run just before 9/11. Even more crazy that it became a hit. The original production was one of the funniest, weirdest shows I’ve ever seen.

by Anonymousreply 27September 20, 2024 2:44 PM

R27. I was lucky to see it twice on Broadway. It was heaven and that original cast. One of the funniest musicals I have ever seen.

by Anonymousreply 28September 20, 2024 8:32 PM

Mary Beth Piel, in HERE’S TO THE LADIES: -- Danny Burstein was outside. I could hear Patti singing some of Sherie René Scott's music. I said, “What happened?” Danny looked at me and said, “Patti had some ideas.” -- I remember just sort of watching how both Yazbek and Bart — it's not that she was dictating things or telling them what to do, but they were checking with her, sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in more passive-aggressive ways. -- [Sherie] never felt listened to or heard from early on. -- And then, little by little, we all start to feel not heard. -- Bart knows that I do hold him accountable. For the mood in the room , for allowing that rift between Patti and Sherie to happen . . . He saw it happen, he watched it happen, and Sherie was the most vulnerable one. -- I learned to love Sherie. I tried to love Patti. I would watch her sit with some of the kids in the wings when Sherie was onstage and she would be saying not good things about Sherie’s performance . . . It was like she was enlisting the kids to agree with her. I didn’t ever get to know Patti and kind of stayed out of her way. -- The production would always have been in trouble, but with Patti’s support, and had Sherie been supported by the director, she would have soared, I have no doubt.

by Anonymousreply 29September 20, 2024 10:27 PM

Mary Beth Piel, in HERE’S TO THE LADIES: [reposted, hopefully with better formatting]

-- Danny Burstein was outside. I could hear Patti singing some of Sherie René Scott's music. I said, “What happened?” Danny looked at me and said, “Patti had some ideas.”

-- I remember just sort of watching how both Yazbek and Bart — it's not that she was dictating things or telling them what to do, but they were checking with her, sometimes in obvious ways, sometimes in more passive-aggressive ways.

-- [Sherie] never felt listened to or heard from early on.

-- And then, little by little, we all start to feel not heard.

-- Bart knows that I do hold him accountable. For the mood in the room, for allowing that rift between Patti and Sherie to happen . . . He saw it happen, he watched it happen, and Sherie was the most vulnerable one.

-- I learned to love Sherie. I tried to love Patti. I would watch her sit with some of the kids in the wings when Sherie was onstage and she would be saying not good things about Sherie’s performance . . . It was like she was enlisting the kids to agree with her. I didn’t ever get to know Patti and kind of stayed out of her way.

-- The production would always have been in trouble, but with Patti’s support, and had Sherie been supported by the director, she would have soared, I have no doubt.

by Anonymousreply 30September 20, 2024 10:28 PM

R30 what is so strange is by all accounts, Patti got along with everyone in Sweeney Todd, Gypsy, Company, War Paint and even Sunset (except ALW). She famously feuded with casts of Anything Goes and Noises Off.

I guess it depends on which way she wakes up that day

by Anonymousreply 31September 20, 2024 11:30 PM

I thought Patti loved her Anything Goes experience... what were the feuds?

by Anonymousreply 32September 20, 2024 11:36 PM

Don't forget Evita.

by Anonymousreply 33September 20, 2024 11:46 PM

R32, I think Patti had an issue with Linda Hart.

by Anonymousreply 34September 21, 2024 12:15 AM

For those considering seeing SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED at BAM, I regret to inform you that the title should be ENTERTAINMENT NOT GUARANTEED.

Not a disaster. Just MEH. Way too long, with too many songs, and no real thought on how to convert the film story into a stage play. It was a show with the occasional charming bit, so the audience wanted to like it but kept getting let down.

And why is this at BAM? Anyone know?

by Anonymousreply 35September 21, 2024 12:26 AM

I’d love to be backstage for a n̶i̶g̶h̶t̶m̶a̶r̶e̶ show starring Patti, Betty Buckley, and Linda Lavin.

Maybe “Mornings at Seven”? Though a musical would of course be better!

by Anonymousreply 36September 21, 2024 12:33 AM

Add some songs to "Waiting in the Wings," R36.

by Anonymousreply 37September 21, 2024 12:48 AM

R34, I have a friend who was in the ensemble of Anything Goes.

He was standing backstage with Patti while Linda Hart (who was Patti’s understudy) was doing her big number “Buddy, Beware”.

Patti’s eyes started glowing and she growled, “Somebody get me a machete…”

Shades of Terri Klausner.

by Anonymousreply 38September 21, 2024 1:29 AM

LuPone has also been very vocal about her loathing for both Topol and Paul Sorvino during THE BAKER'S WIFE and of course her detestation of Bill Smitrovich during LIFE GOES ON.

by Anonymousreply 39September 21, 2024 2:24 AM

....and, in her own memoir, she was very clear of her loathing of a great many people she worked with in her career, not to mention her disrespect for Hal Prince.

by Anonymousreply 40September 21, 2024 2:54 AM

The list of people Patti didn’t hate is shorter:

Joe Locke Aubrey Plaza Laura Benanti Boyd Gaines Howard McGillen Christine Ebersole Mandy Patinkin Rosalie Craig Katrina Lenk

Is that it?

by Anonymousreply 41September 21, 2024 3:01 AM

Is the story about the Anything Goes dancers taking a step back and leaving Patti to do the dance break alone true or apocryphal?

by Anonymousreply 42September 21, 2024 3:05 AM

Her ex-lover Kevin Kline? “Umm, we’re not enemies!" - Patti, 2018

by Anonymousreply 43September 21, 2024 3:08 AM

[quote]r41 The list of people Patti didn’t hate is shorter: Joe Locke, Aubrey Plaza, Laura Benanti, Boyd Gaines, Howard McGillen, Christine Ebersole, Mandy Patinkin, Rosalie Craig, Katrina Lenk… Is that it?

You know what? Fuck you, Marsha. Just [italic]fuck you.[/italic]

You did that deliberately. And I’m under a lot of stress right now. As you know.

by Anonymousreply 44September 21, 2024 3:33 AM

Within the next year, we're going to hear ALL about the horror stories from Agatha All Along and/or The Roommate.

by Anonymousreply 45September 21, 2024 3:50 AM

Lots of seats left for Cabaret tonight. So far, the new cast isn’t setting the box office on fire. The $699 top ticket also seems to have disappeared.

Producers still seem deeply committed to this model. Charge ridiculous prices for good seats, offload the unsold tickets as rush, and then wonder why sales are down 20 percent.

by Anonymousreply 46September 21, 2024 11:06 AM

Cabaret is one of my favorite musicals and I saw the Roundabout revival and revival revival about 15 times. It was a great production and they kept it going with mostly excellent replacements. I have zero interest in this production. It looks and sounds like it would give me a headache. Even the original casting of Redmayne and Rankin was meh.

by Anonymousreply 47September 21, 2024 12:53 PM

R47, I agree about the Mendes version. I saw the final preview and remember how surprising and fresh it felt. It upended that season, when Ragtime was expected to be the runaway hit.

My motto is that hating a show is easier than actually liking one, but is a cheap negative high. So I tried to question how deeply I hated the current revival. Neuwirth may be the best Schneider I’ve seen, even though they literally levitate her in the middle of her big song. Rankin would have been a great Sally if she didn’t substitute screaming for acting. The theater is disorienting in an interesting way, but I left just wanting the cast to throw out the costumes and staging and do the Mendes or Prince version on that stage.

The depth of frustration I felt had a lot to do with the true greatness of the Mendes version. It’s a shame that people mimicked that version and just tried to go farther with depracity and violence. Maybe this version will at least loosen up directors for different interpretations.

by Anonymousreply 48September 21, 2024 1:33 PM

[quote]I agree about the Mendes version. I saw the final preview and remember how surprising and fresh it felt. I

Obviously, a lot of people agree(d) with you, but to me, that production was the first BIG step down the road to ridiculously exaggerated weirdness and depravity that has led to the current debacle. Beginning with the first image of Cumming as the Emcee in a leather coat, which was done merely for shock value even though it makes no sense at all for that character to be wearing something like that as a costume, and rolling downhill from there.

[quote]Rankin would have been a great Sally if she didn’t substitute screaming for acting.

I agree with you there, and I guess we'll never know how much of that "interpretation" was her decision and/or the director's.

by Anonymousreply 49September 21, 2024 2:00 PM

R41 And Mia Farrow.....

***hisses***

For now......

by Anonymousreply 50September 21, 2024 2:07 PM

R49, I’m curious if there is an interpretation of Cabaret that you like? I saw the Prince revival and, while I think the sets and staging are perfect, the show felt very flat. This happens a lot with Fiddler as well.

The Mendes version certainly had some anomalies that could bother people who are bothered by that sort of thing, but it felt fresh from beginning to end. The revival (of that revival) still had a lot of life in it.

by Anonymousreply 51September 21, 2024 2:11 PM

^r48!

by Anonymousreply 52September 21, 2024 2:11 PM

Saw The Hills of California. Everything you heard about the accents is true. It's not a sound design issue, at least not where we sat (Mezz row E). I was really struggling to catch every word and feel like I got around 80%.

by Anonymousreply 53September 21, 2024 2:19 PM

R51, Iove the original Broadway interpretation of CABARET (based on what I can tell from the cast album and some TV clips), and also the movie, even though it was a somewhat different animal. I agree that the Prince revival was very flat. That production proved that the show definitely needed some sort of new approach to make it seem fresh again, I just think the Mendes/Marshall version went way too far in terms of vulgarity.

by Anonymousreply 54September 21, 2024 2:35 PM

If I chose to go back to The Hills Of California, I'd get the headphones. But The play isn't that good that it needs to be seen twice.

by Anonymousreply 55September 21, 2024 2:47 PM

All of the "teenaged" daughters in the 1950s scenes of Hills of California look to be the same age and they all look too old. The mother must have been very busy around 1939.

by Anonymousreply 56September 21, 2024 3:14 PM

R54, I think we might agree for the most part. In my book, the acting choices in the Roundabout (over many casts) were stronger than the staging (which I also liked but didn’t see as the selling point).

However, I’ve seen productions that make Mendes’ version seem tame. Literal concentration camps, beatings, and edgier sexuality and drug use. The current one does that in spades. And somehow decides that the Emcee is an Aryan puppeteer, Sally is a raging victim, and a black Cliff charms Ernst the Nazi.

by Anonymousreply 57September 21, 2024 3:15 PM

Bebe Neuwirth really is the only one to come out of this current production unscathed. She’s the best I’ve seen in the role.

I was shocked though how non-existent her ass is!

by Anonymousreply 58September 21, 2024 4:57 PM

[quote]r58 = I was shocked though how non-existent her ass is!

You're shocked that Bebe danced her ass off?

by Anonymousreply 59September 21, 2024 5:08 PM

Patti Lupone is unfortunately unmedicated. A high dosage of Lexapro would do her wonders. Though will still won’t understand what she’s singing.

by Anonymousreply 60September 21, 2024 5:41 PM

Bernie's clearly had work done

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by Anonymousreply 61September 21, 2024 5:43 PM

What the heck is going on with Romeo & Juliet? Hasn't even premiered and they are already offering massive discounts their tickets. Is it not expected to do well?

And why would you extend a show's run if tickets aren't selling well?

by Anonymousreply 62September 21, 2024 6:02 PM

Every show is offering discounts until the election...Broadway is always down in a presidential election year. Always.

by Anonymousreply 63September 21, 2024 6:32 PM

So McNeal is doing only 7 shows a week? I love how the Hollywood stars have the power to make reasonable performance schedules.

by Anonymousreply 64September 21, 2024 8:39 PM

What was Madeline Kahn like in On The Twentieth Century? I saw Judy Kaye in LA and although she was good and sang well, she had no star presence. The audio recordings of Kahn are pretty bad but were her performances really that bad? Was she on cocaine? The gossip was the crew also hated her but John Callum defended her against Prince.

by Anonymousreply 65September 21, 2024 9:53 PM

Who are these people?

by Anonymousreply 66September 21, 2024 10:16 PM

Carole Shelley was the best Schneider

by Anonymousreply 67September 21, 2024 11:53 PM

Fuck you.

by Anonymousreply 68September 22, 2024 12:35 AM

R45 have we heard all the Mattress stories yet?

by Anonymousreply 69September 22, 2024 1:09 AM

Speaking of mattress, I have a ticket I can no longer use. I’m going that day to see Sherie Rene instead.

by Anonymousreply 70September 22, 2024 1:26 AM

[quote]And somehow decides that the Emcee is an Aryan puppeteer, Sally is a raging victim, and a black Cliff charms Ernst the Nazi.

The casting of Cliff with a black actor in this role may have been the single moment when "color-blind casting" inarguably jumped the shark and reached the absolute nadir of nonsense. Or maybe it was the casting of THE NOTEBOOK. Probably a tie.

by Anonymousreply 71September 22, 2024 2:36 AM

[Quote] I guess we'll never know how much of that "interpretation" was her decision and/or the director's.

Early clips from London had a different actress and the same screaming

by Anonymousreply 72September 22, 2024 2:42 AM
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by Anonymousreply 73September 22, 2024 2:47 AM

A little attention for the under-appreciated and intact Chris Stack.

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by Anonymousreply 74September 22, 2024 7:43 AM

Chris Stack is the most beautiful actor currently appearing on Broadway, cut or uncut.

by Anonymousreply 75September 22, 2024 7:57 AM

How do you know he's uncut?

Those pictures just show his butt.

by Anonymousreply 76September 22, 2024 8:31 AM

Maybe his butt is uncut?

by Anonymousreply 77September 22, 2024 8:42 AM

Chris Stack is from the Midwest (i.e. Illinois) which has the highest circumcision rates in the country.

The lowest are in the ultra-liberal West Coast.

by Anonymousreply 78September 22, 2024 8:47 AM

So Sherie Rene makes her long-awaited return to Little Shop? What's that about...I thought she did well in the divorce because of the recording company...

by Anonymousreply 79September 22, 2024 11:29 AM

Larry Luckinbill and Tony Roberts tie for the worst Herr Schultz.

by Anonymousreply 80September 22, 2024 11:37 AM

Anybody here going to attend the Broadway Flea Market today?

by Anonymousreply 81September 22, 2024 11:47 AM

I thought the reference to the "intact Chris Stack" might have meant that he will be continuing in STEREOPHONIC, whereas some of the other actors are leaving. If so, poor phrasing.

by Anonymousreply 82September 22, 2024 12:08 PM

r76/r78/r82, it was mentioned in that link that he's uncut because he did a frontal nude scene in a play, if you had read it. I also saw the play referred to, and he is indeed uncut.

by Anonymousreply 83September 22, 2024 2:18 PM

Stack is the hottest actor in Stereophonic and is a lot more appealing than his oversexed castmate Eli Gelb.

by Anonymousreply 84September 22, 2024 2:38 PM

I don't need any more fleas.

by Anonymousreply 85September 22, 2024 3:17 PM

I think Sherie has a close relationship with Michael Mayer. He directed her in Everyday Rapture so he probably reached out to her.

There was a rumor that she was approached to replace Block in Into the Woods, had it kept going.

by Anonymousreply 86September 22, 2024 3:18 PM

Saw Bryan Batt at the Broadway Flea Market today. I’m digging his grey hair.

by Anonymousreply 87September 22, 2024 7:26 PM

[Quote] So Sherie Rene makes her long-awaited return to Little Shop? What's that about...I thought she did well in the divorce because of the recording company...

Name some other roles in recent years she’d could have done.

by Anonymousreply 88September 22, 2024 8:14 PM

R88 Bobbie in Company

Replacement Witch or Wife in Into the Woods

Jagged Little Pill (she loves singing rock music)

Replacement Jenna in Waitress

The mom in the Tommy revival (full circle moment as Tommy was her Broadway debut)

Chess (any recent production)

by Anonymousreply 89September 22, 2024 8:22 PM

[quote]r89 = Bobbie in Company

A 50 year old Bobbie???

by Anonymousreply 90September 22, 2024 9:07 PM

R90 well there is a 57 year old Audrey now…so…

by Anonymousreply 91September 22, 2024 9:11 PM

Two completely different roles/shows, r91. If Bobbie still isn't married by 50...well...

by Anonymousreply 92September 22, 2024 9:30 PM

Antonio Banderas played Bobby at 61. He got good reviews and sounds great on the recording. They framed it as a flashback.

by Anonymousreply 93September 22, 2024 9:45 PM

R93 you mean the whole time I could have played Bobbie as a flashback?!??

by Anonymousreply 94September 22, 2024 9:52 PM

[quote]Antonio Banderas played Bobby at 61. He got good reviews and sounds great on the recording. They framed it as a flashback.

They wouldn't have done such with Sherie Rene, r93.

by Anonymousreply 95September 22, 2024 9:54 PM

Alyssa Milano is missing performances of Chicago already? Geez. She just took over last Monday.

by Anonymousreply 96September 22, 2024 9:59 PM

She would have been a brilliant Galinda, better than Cheno...

by Anonymousreply 97September 22, 2024 10:00 PM

[quote]She would have been a brilliant Galinda, better than Cheno...

Kristin put the Billie Burke in Glinda, it's her role.

by Anonymousreply 98September 22, 2024 10:03 PM

R96 I know a good standby!

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by Anonymousreply 99September 22, 2024 10:17 PM

Gypsy will return with music unheard since the Merman original. The Overture sounds wonderful but doesn't slay during the burlesque music, which is how I judge the overtures.

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by Anonymousreply 100September 22, 2024 11:11 PM

Maybe the actual show orchestra will learn to slay during the rehearsal period, which hasn’t started yet.

by Anonymousreply 101September 22, 2024 11:18 PM

Tony Roberts is a terrible actor and about as exciting as week-old white rice.

by Anonymousreply 102September 22, 2024 11:22 PM

R101 I think Jule Styne said it depends on the chops of the trumpet player. You either got it or you don't.

by Anonymousreply 103September 22, 2024 11:29 PM

Sure, R102, Tony Roberts has never been good in the 50+years he's been acting. Fuck outta here.

by Anonymousreply 104September 22, 2024 11:30 PM

Do we know this is the actual player for the show? The cast hasn’t even been announced and rehearsals haven’t started.

by Anonymousreply 105September 22, 2024 11:35 PM

The orchestra sounds fantastic.

by Anonymousreply 106September 22, 2024 11:38 PM

He hasn’t, R104. He’s as dull as dishwater.

by Anonymousreply 107September 22, 2024 11:39 PM

Joy Woods is out of Ragtime at City Center, supposedly because she’s going to be Audra’s Louise. Joaquina Kalukango is replacing her in Ragtime.

by Anonymousreply 108September 23, 2024 12:02 AM

Not at all, R107.

by Anonymousreply 109September 23, 2024 12:08 AM

The trumpet bit in the overture for Patti’s production was great although it did sound like it was having a nervous breakdown.

by Anonymousreply 110September 23, 2024 4:14 AM

R110 if you played nightly for LuPone, wouldn’t you?

by Anonymousreply 111September 23, 2024 10:39 AM

Broadway To Dim Lights For James Earl Jones:

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by Anonymousreply 112September 23, 2024 3:16 PM

Miss Mazeppa doesn't even show up until act 2 - couldn't she sit it for the trumpet part?

by Anonymousreply 113September 23, 2024 3:26 PM

Just got a huge discount email for "Elephants...." What's taking the Imperial in the spring?

by Anonymousreply 114September 23, 2024 3:48 PM

Lin-Manuel Miranda To Lead Second Company Of Broadway’s ‘All In: Comedy About Love’ With Appearances By Aidy Bryant, Jimmy Fallon, David Cross & Others:

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by Anonymousreply 115September 23, 2024 4:16 PM

Tony Awards Returning To Radio City Music Hall, Sets 2025 Date:

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by Anonymousreply 116September 23, 2024 4:18 PM

Since I won’t be nominated…I really don’t care

by Anonymousreply 117September 23, 2024 4:54 PM

R64: Don't forget he still gets paid as if it were 8 shows a week.

by Anonymousreply 118September 23, 2024 6:52 PM

Matt Koplik said the best recorded Gypsy overture on record is the Tyne Daly version.

by Anonymousreply 119September 23, 2024 9:04 PM

So they're restoring Gypsy's original score -- are they putting Momma's Talkin' Soft back in? (No need for Nice She Ain't; Tomorrow's Mother's Day; Who Needs Him?; or the awful Smile, Girls, and although I do like Three Wishes for Christmas it's a long damn show.)

by Anonymousreply 120September 23, 2024 9:10 PM

R120, per the article, they're restoring the orchestrations and underscoring etc. so the show will "create a Gypsy that hasn't been heard since 1959." So I doubt any cut songs will be reinstated.

What I find more interesting is whether or not this means Audra will be singing the score in Ethel Merman's original keys.

by Anonymousreply 121September 23, 2024 9:56 PM

What is with those actors at r115 that they can't commit to at least 6 months? Are they really so in demand?

Mary and Ethel would be horrified.

by Anonymousreply 122September 23, 2024 9:59 PM

Neither Mary nor Ethel was beating off film and television offers with a stick, R122. But you knew that.

by Anonymousreply 123September 23, 2024 10:55 PM

Isn’t this the most anti-climatic casting ever?

Remember Paul Giamatti and Keke Palmer?

Now it’s Danny Burstein and Joy Woods

They really are banking on Audra…who doesn’t sell tickets.

Yet, she will probably win Tony #7

Zzzzzzzz

by Anonymousreply 124September 23, 2024 11:18 PM

What’s left to be “big revealed”? The three strippers, Tulsa, Baby June and Baby Louise? Will Audra have a name standby? Or will one of the strippers understudy her?

by Anonymousreply 125September 23, 2024 11:48 PM

Yeah, who will be Audra's standby because you know she'll be going on ALOT.

by Anonymousreply 126September 23, 2024 11:53 PM

Contemporary actors are now either doing extremely limited engagements or refusing to do 8 shows a week. Ironic because James Earl Jones NEVER missed a show.

by Anonymousreply 127September 23, 2024 11:54 PM

I love Audra, but there's no way she's doing GYPSY 8 shows a week after they open...Didn't she end up going down to 5 for PORGY?

by Anonymousreply 128September 23, 2024 11:55 PM

R128 4 in some cases

by Anonymousreply 129September 24, 2024 12:20 AM

Leslie Uggams IS Thursday night Rose!

by Anonymousreply 130September 24, 2024 12:26 AM

Beanie is available, as is Billy Porter

by Anonymousreply 131September 24, 2024 12:28 AM

Billy Porter is an Electra, not Rose.

by Anonymousreply 132September 24, 2024 12:41 AM

R132

Once I was a Shleppa

Now I’m Non binary Mazzepa

With a golden penis intact!

by Anonymousreply 133September 24, 2024 12:51 AM

[quote]Isn’t this the most anti-climatic casting ever?

Oh, dear.

by Anonymousreply 134September 24, 2024 12:56 AM

r133, as they say, don’t quit your day job.

by Anonymousreply 135September 24, 2024 1:24 AM

The relevant comparison would be Lady Day. Did she miss any performances for that? My guess is that they will have to cancel any shows she misses, since this production is marketed solely around her.

Incidentally, Sondheim was extremely critical of Merman’s insistence to go on when she was sick. She damaged her voice and they had to lower the keys for the remainder of the run.

by Anonymousreply 136September 24, 2024 1:33 AM

I’m sorry but Sondheim was wrong r136. If I drove all the way to New York or took a train in 1959/1960 to see Ethel Merman in Gypsy, I would rather hear the key a bit lower than see a no name because she was out.

by Anonymousreply 137September 24, 2024 2:04 AM

[quote]What I find more interesting is whether or not this means Audra will be singing the score in Ethel Merman's original keys.

I think that's an entirely separate issue, but we shall see.

by Anonymousreply 138September 24, 2024 2:20 AM

[quote]The relevant comparison would be Lady Day. Did she miss any performances for that? My guess is that they will have to cancel any shows she misses, since this production is marketed solely around her.

Actually, that's not the relevant comparison, because in LADY DAY, Audra sang in a completely different voice that apparently was less taxing for her than her natural voice. Because she has been unable or unwilling to keep to a schedule of eight performances a week when singing any show in her normal voice, whether it be RAGTIME or PORGY AND BESS or whatever.

Of course, at this point, I'm sure the producers are not focusing on what exactly is going to happen when Audra starts to miss performances, which according to her history should begin to happen not long after the opening.

by Anonymousreply 139September 24, 2024 2:24 AM

[quote]They really are banking on Audra…who doesn’t sell tickets.

I'm not her biggest fan, but I have to disagree with you there. She definitely does sell tickets, at least in a musical. That's why it wreaks such havoc when she starts missing performance. PORGY AND BESS turned into a real debacle because of that, though of course that production was cursed from the beginning.

by Anonymousreply 140September 24, 2024 2:27 AM

[quote]R127 Contemporary actors are now either doing extremely limited engagements or refusing to do 8 shows a week. [bold]Ironic because James Earl Jones NEVER missed a show.[/bold]

And then he died.

by Anonymousreply 141September 24, 2024 2:27 AM

Who would be an Audra standby that wouldn't have everyone asking for a refund?

by Anonymousreply 142September 24, 2024 2:37 AM

Marsha, script-in-hand.

by Anonymousreply 143September 24, 2024 2:44 AM

Won't it have to be a woman of color?

by Anonymousreply 144September 24, 2024 2:47 AM

[quote]R143 Marsha, script-in-hand.

a new 1-woman show.

by Anonymousreply 145September 24, 2024 3:13 AM

R142. LaChanze.

by Anonymousreply 146September 24, 2024 3:34 AM

Fantasia. I'm serious.

by Anonymousreply 147September 24, 2024 3:52 AM

[quote]Won't it have to be a woman of color?

Lea Salonga?

by Anonymousreply 148September 24, 2024 8:37 AM

[quote] PORGY AND BESS turned into a real debacle because of that, though of course that production was cursed from the beginning.

I assume you mean “THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY AND BESS,” which omitted my name. So yes, I cursed that production. Along with my good pal, Steve Sondheim.

by Anonymousreply 149September 24, 2024 8:54 AM

Joy Woods is officially Louise.

What a a mess.

by Anonymousreply 150September 24, 2024 1:21 PM

Was Keke Palmer always an internet pipe dream, or were the producers actually pursuing her?

by Anonymousreply 151September 24, 2024 1:33 PM

I thought Joy Woods was stiff and gawky in The Notebook, but that will work for Louise. Unless you really hate the interracial casting, this cast is solid so far.

by Anonymousreply 152September 24, 2024 2:30 PM

Audra was out from CAROUSEL when I saw it.

by Anonymousreply 153September 24, 2024 2:42 PM

Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy and Lindsay Mendez need to do a show together ASAP!

by Anonymousreply 154September 24, 2024 2:51 PM

Broadway Veteran Adrian Bailey Passes Away at 67:

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by Anonymousreply 155September 24, 2024 2:54 PM

I find it a little weird that BWW posted Bailey's obituary, as there has been no official announcement yet. I have heard through private channels that he did die (on his birthday, no less), but for BWW to post it before his family did is a little fucked up.

I'm not talking about you, r155. I was actually coming here to post the same thing. BWW ought not to have posted this without citing a source, imo.

by Anonymousreply 156September 24, 2024 4:20 PM

Linda Lavin could standby for Audra.

by Anonymousreply 157September 24, 2024 4:31 PM

[quote]Won't it have to be a woman of color?

J-Lo?

by Anonymousreply 158September 24, 2024 5:07 PM

BWW does a lot of things poorly, but yes, an obit -- even a perfunctory, very short one like theirs for Bailey -- should not be posted without SOME source being acknowledged.

by Anonymousreply 159September 24, 2024 5:09 PM

J-Hud?

J-Hol?

by Anonymousreply 160September 24, 2024 5:15 PM

Brutal box office week last week. Election years blow. Looks like Back to the Future and Elephants may be gone in January.

by Anonymousreply 161September 24, 2024 5:57 PM

& Juliet is probably nearing the end of its line, too.

by Anonymousreply 162September 24, 2024 6:11 PM

Hadestown and Suffs will probably be taken off life support as well.

by Anonymousreply 163September 24, 2024 6:22 PM

Cabaret down 600K. Yikes

by Anonymousreply 164September 24, 2024 7:24 PM

Broadway Box Office:

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by Anonymousreply 165September 24, 2024 7:35 PM

Which critic would you revive via AI, DL?

[quote]He was one of the most feared and revered British art critics of his generation — and now, nearly a decade after his death, Brian Sewell could be about to wield his pen once more.

[quote]Deadline understands that London’s historic Evening Standard newspaper has been making plans to revive its former writer using artificial intelligence.

[quote]Two sources said AI Sewell has been assigned to review The National Gallery’s new Vincent van Gogh exhibition, titled Van Gogh: Poets and Lovers.

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by Anonymousreply 166September 24, 2024 7:39 PM

[quote]Adam Lambert and Auli’I Cravalho began their star turns in Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club, taking over from original cast members Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin. A $640,719 drop in grosses (to $1,033,318) can be at least partially attributed to significant press tickets and other comps for the week.

Is this accurate? Has the production been giving press comps for reviews of the new leads? I haven't read any reviews of them yet. And at any rate, press comps would account for only a very tiny fraction of the grosses.

by Anonymousreply 167September 24, 2024 7:42 PM

Speaking of AI (and mirror images) gone wrong, have we all seen Apartment 7A's take on mid '60s George Abbott Way?

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by Anonymousreply 168September 24, 2024 8:03 PM

Here We Are will have its UK premiere next spring at the National Theatee. Tracie Bennett and Denis O’Hare will repeat their roles and Rory Kinnear will also be in the cast.

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by Anonymousreply 169September 24, 2024 8:58 PM

Gypsy‘s “You Gotta Get A Gimmick” strippers Tessie Tura, Miss Mazeppa and Miss Electra will be played by Lesli Margherita, Lili Thomas and Mylinda Hull, respectively.

How dreary.

by Anonymousreply 170September 24, 2024 11:12 PM

R170 the whole cast sucks. I blame George C Wolfe.

by Anonymousreply 171September 24, 2024 11:14 PM

At a $1 million gross, CABARET lost money last week.

by Anonymousreply 172September 24, 2024 11:19 PM

[quote][R170] the whole cast sucks. I blame George C Wolfe.

Absolutely no one ( except families and friends) will buy a ticket to see anyone not named Audra, so it doesn't matter.

by Anonymousreply 173September 24, 2024 11:32 PM

Audra doesn't always sell tickets

by Anonymousreply 174September 25, 2024 12:10 AM

Nobody wanted to see her naked.

by Anonymousreply 175September 25, 2024 12:16 AM

Have they announced Tulsa yet?

by Anonymousreply 176September 25, 2024 12:18 AM

Has anyone checked ticket availability? I just looked at a random Tuesday in December, and the orchestra looks to be about 2/3 sold. They want $371 for row S in the Orchestra and $176 for side mezzanine. They can eat my ass.

by Anonymousreply 177September 25, 2024 12:21 AM

R176 no and the suspense is killing me.

by Anonymousreply 178September 25, 2024 12:30 AM

With none of the strippers being cast with a Black actress, I’m guessing Audra will have a standby who doesn’t have an ensemble track - like Bernadette did.

I’m more interested to see who that is than who gets cast as Tulsa.

by Anonymousreply 179September 25, 2024 1:27 AM

Nene Leakes IS Standby Rose

by Anonymousreply 180September 25, 2024 1:43 AM

Luann de Lesseps IS vacation cover Mazeppa!

by Anonymousreply 181September 25, 2024 1:52 AM

Who do you think turned them down before they ended up with Adam Lambert

by Anonymousreply 182September 25, 2024 2:02 AM

R182. At least one Jonas brother

by Anonymousreply 183September 25, 2024 2:19 AM

[quote]Audra doesn't always sell tickets

She does sell tickets when she is starring in musicals. The problem is her attendance record is quite poor, although, for whatever reasons, that hasn't prevented her from winning SIX Tony Awards.

by Anonymousreply 184September 25, 2024 2:29 AM

If she misses performances, they’re going to have a problem. People are paying a premium to see her.

If you got great seats and paid $350 each, an understudy or standby is not a fair substitution. A refund isn’t really either. When Patti called out of Company for norovirus, we got our money back but had to pay more for equivalent seats because of dynamic pricing. If Gypsy is a hit, those $350 tickets will be a bargain.

Who am I kidding? I’m going to see her in this no matter what.

by Anonymousreply 185September 25, 2024 2:59 AM

Did Audra really sell out SHUFFLE ALONG and MARIE CHRISTINE? Other than PORGY & BESS I'm kinda blanking on what her big hit musicals were since CAROUSEL.

by Anonymousreply 186September 25, 2024 3:09 AM

No one's posting about the announcement of the new Guys & Dolls movie directed by Rob Marshall??

Let the casting begin!

by Anonymousreply 187September 25, 2024 3:18 AM

Never mind. Just saw the thread.

by Anonymousreply 188September 25, 2024 3:22 AM

‘Ghost Of John McCain’ Off Broadway Review:

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by Anonymousreply 189September 25, 2024 4:14 AM

R156, no worries as I totally understood the point of what you were saying. According to THR, Adrian's brother verified his passing, saying he died on the day before his birthday:

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by Anonymousreply 190September 25, 2024 4:55 AM

Thanks for that link, r190. It's the first official announcement that I've seen.

I did several shows with Adrian, going back to the early 80s. We reconnected after his horrific accident.

Such a very sweet man. I'm glad that he is no longer suffering.

by Anonymousreply 191September 25, 2024 8:59 AM

I know the role and I'm always available

by Anonymousreply 192September 25, 2024 11:11 AM

And cheap

by Anonymousreply 193September 25, 2024 11:33 AM

And easy.

by Anonymousreply 194September 25, 2024 12:08 PM

Lots of G&D casting ideas over at ATC.

by Anonymousreply 195September 25, 2024 12:22 PM

Lindsay Mendez Welcomes Second Baby:

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by Anonymousreply 196September 25, 2024 2:16 PM

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1979, "Evita" opened at the Broadway Theatre.

by Anonymousreply 197September 25, 2024 2:24 PM

Actually Lindsay's understudy gave birth...

by Anonymousreply 198September 25, 2024 4:07 PM

Christopher Ashley Named Artistic Director Of Roundabout Theatre Company:

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by Anonymousreply 199September 25, 2024 6:07 PM

Tori Spelling REVEALS she would do Broadway!

"Spelling said that she will keep dancing and that, even though she has said no to Broadway "so many times," she is open to the idea moving forward thinks she would say "yes" if asked. Watch the video at ET!"

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by Anonymousreply 200September 25, 2024 8:11 PM

Matinee Rose Matinee Mia Matinee Audrey Matinee Norma Matinee Sally Matinee Mattress Matinee Morrible Matinee Boop Matinee Marilyn

by Anonymousreply 201September 25, 2024 8:14 PM

I see Roxie Hart in Tori's future.

by Anonymousreply 202September 25, 2024 8:17 PM

That photo of Chris ("Crashley") Ashley is actually quite flattering.

Unsurprisingly, I've seen no excitement about this announcement anywhere on social media or the theatre boards. Look out for lots of crappy Joe di Pietro adaptations in the future.

by Anonymousreply 203September 25, 2024 8:40 PM

R202, I was going to say that.

by Anonymousreply 204September 25, 2024 8:40 PM

[quote] That photo of Chris ("Crashley") Ashley is actually quite flattering.

That's putting it mildly, considering what be really looks like.

by Anonymousreply 205September 25, 2024 8:44 PM

r192 Noooo, take scary daddy instead

by Anonymousreply 206September 25, 2024 9:36 PM

Ghost of John McCain sounds utterly lame. The Princeton-educated composer/lyricist should aim higher.

by Anonymousreply 207September 26, 2024 12:16 AM

I'd see Ghost of John McCain just for Jason Tam, r207.

by Anonymousreply 208September 26, 2024 1:32 AM

You want theatre gossip? I'm shocked I'm not reading anything here (or at ATC) about the new scandal concerning David Adjmi possibly stealing scenes from an old memoir by the sound engineer who Eli Gelb plays in Stereophonic, who was the original sound engineer for Fleetwood Mac. Apparently, he recently went to see Stereophonic with his lawyers.

There have been very recent articles (which I haven't yet read) about this in The New Yorker and Vulture (sorry not to link).

by Anonymousreply 209September 26, 2024 3:03 AM

From the New Yorker article:

[quote]In Act I, the Christine McVie character asks Grover for feedback on a take; he suggests that she have a listen in the booth, and she snaps, “You start paying attention to the tempo and the key and the instruments and give us a little fucking help.” “Straight outta the book,” Caillat grunted. (Page 76: “We want you guys to start paying attention to tempos and keys and tuning and other important things and help us out here.”) Later in the play, the Buckingham character tells Grover to tape over a take, because he thinks he can redo it better; when he suddenly decides he wants the earlier take and realizes it’s been erased, he yells, “Are you a fucking idiot?”—then lunges at Grover and chokes him. Caillat recounts the same thing in his book, when Buckingham was recording the guitar solo for “You Make Loving Fun.” (Page 264: “ ‘You’re an idiot!’ Lindsey screamed at me, his hands tightening around my throat.”) Then there were odd details that repeated odd details in “Making Rumours.” Grover has a crush on the studio’s front-office girl, as Caillat did. The John McVie character gives a boozy monologue about Sausalito’s “houseboat wars,” which Caillat describes in the book. A character mentions seeing Tony Orlando out drinking in L.A., as Caillat did—not exactly a name you’d pluck from the air. Before some takes, Grover says, “Wheels up,” which was Caillat’s studio catchphrase. (“We had airline seats in the control room,” he explained.) “I do believe in coincidence, but not that much,” Shapiro said at intermission. Presented, last week, with Caillat’s reactions to the show, Adjmi, the playwright, responded, “When writing Stereophonic I drew from multiple sources—including autobiographical details from my own life—to create a deeply personal work of fiction. Any similarities to Ken Caillat’s excellent book are unintentional.” Caillat said that he had watched the play in a daze. “I feel like kind of a numbnuts,” he said. “But, yeah, now I feel ripped off!”

by Anonymousreply 210September 26, 2024 3:20 AM

[quote]I'm shocked I'm not reading anything here (or at ATC) about the new scandal concerning David Adjmi possibly stealing scenes from an old memoir by the sound engineer who Eli Gelb plays in Stereophonic, who was the original sound engineer for Fleetwood Mac.

Just wanted to point out that, about 10 years ago, Adjmi was sued (unsuccessfully) for copyright infringement by the producers of THREE'S COMPANY for his play 3C. So some people might say, based on these two incidents, that the originality of his plays is questionable.

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by Anonymousreply 211September 26, 2024 3:30 AM

[quote]You want theatre gossip? I'm shocked I'm not reading anything here (or at ATC) about the new scandal concerning David Adjmi possibly stealing scenes from an old memoir by the sound engineer who Eli Gelb plays in Stereophonic, who was the original sound engineer for Fleetwood Mac. Apparently, he recently went to see Stereophonic with his lawyers. There have been very recent articles (which I haven't yet read) about this in The New Yorker and Vulture (sorry not to link).

I haven't read the articles you mention, r209, but there is much talk behind the scenes on Broadway.

by Anonymousreply 212September 26, 2024 3:35 AM

While 3C was firmly grounded in parody, STEREOPHONIC seems to contain out-and-out instances of plagiarism.

I loved 3C and liked STEREOPHONIC, so I'm no hater. But i think DA is in a bit of trouble.

by Anonymousreply 213September 26, 2024 11:34 AM

If this is true, wouldn't Adjmi know he'd be found out? And ... has the Tony committee ever rescinded an award?

by Anonymousreply 214September 26, 2024 12:02 PM

R214 they fucking should and FINALLY award my Anything Goes performance!

by Anonymousreply 215September 26, 2024 1:08 PM

The things that Adjmi stole from the memoir are impossible to say were just a coincidence, but they also aren't even key to what made the play so good. What in the world was he thinking?

Adding to the whole tapestry is his public accusation last year that Doug Wright and Sean Hayes basically stole his Oscar Levant play.

by Anonymousreply 216September 26, 2024 2:29 PM

[quote]Adding to the whole tapestry is his public accusation last year that Doug Wright and Sean Hayes basically stole his Oscar Levant play.

I don't believe he accused them of stealing his play. He called them out for commissioning him to write a play about Oscar Wilde, then rejecting the one he came up with and going to someone else to write another version, which they ultimately deemed acceptable and produced.

by Anonymousreply 217September 26, 2024 2:47 PM

My mistake, R217. I should have refreshed myself on the details. Apologies.

by Anonymousreply 218September 26, 2024 2:53 PM

Oscar Wilde? Oscar Levant, dear r217.

by Anonymousreply 219September 26, 2024 2:55 PM

Sorry, 219. I was obviously not paying close attention while typing. I know that play was about Oscar Levant, not Oscar Wilde -- two VERY different people.

by Anonymousreply 220September 26, 2024 5:49 PM

In his Carnegie Hall debut last night Oscar Wilde left his contemporaries and his conductor far behind.

by Anonymousreply 221September 26, 2024 5:52 PM

Both Oscars were great raconteurs. Can't say that about many men today.

by Anonymousreply 222September 26, 2024 6:15 PM

What am I? Chopped liver?

by Anonymousreply 223September 26, 2024 10:19 PM

Isn't it time for a revival of Moose Murders? Tori Spelling would knock that out of the park.

by Anonymousreply 224September 26, 2024 10:20 PM

R224. The author of The Moose Murders lives in my town and helped start a community theatre. He supposed to be a very nice person—I enjoyed his book about The Moose Murders.

by Anonymousreply 225September 26, 2024 11:05 PM

[quote]He is supposed to be a very nice person—I enjoyed his book about The Moose Murders.

The same is true of Robes Kossez, the guy who wrote ME JACK, YOU JILL. Everyone said he was a sweetheart. After the show flopped, he returned to his day job as a salesman for Altman's.

by Anonymousreply 226September 26, 2024 11:43 PM

Doug Wright was entirely blameless and Adjmi was a sleaze suggesting otherwise. Karma, David?

by Anonymousreply 227September 26, 2024 11:50 PM

The Adjmi issue regarding the Oscar Levant play wasn't just that they rejected his play, but that they held the rights and wouldn't give it back to Adjmi.

And at the time Doug Wright was heading The Dramatists Guild. (maybe he still is?)

by Anonymousreply 228September 27, 2024 12:32 AM

Doug Wright also took over and wrote an underwhelming play starring the underwhelming Sean Hayes.

by Anonymousreply 229September 27, 2024 12:58 AM

[quote]Doug Wright was entirely blameless and Adjmi was a sleaze suggesting otherwise. Karma, David?

Hi Doug Wright's agent!

by Anonymousreply 230September 27, 2024 2:12 AM

I hope we someday get to see David Adjmi's Levant play with Brandon Uranowitz as Oscar. He'd be perfect (unlike like others I could name even if they were given an undeserved Tony).

by Anonymousreply 231September 27, 2024 2:51 AM

How many Dataloungers were cast in this "Senior Guys and Dolls" production?

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by Anonymousreply 232September 27, 2024 2:55 AM

R232. They're doing RENT next.

by Anonymousreply 233September 27, 2024 2:57 AM

I saw their "Senior Follies," and, my dear, I'm still here.

by Anonymousreply 234September 27, 2024 3:11 AM

Hey!

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by Anonymousreply 235September 27, 2024 5:13 AM

God this thread is dead.

by Anonymousreply 236September 27, 2024 11:33 AM

What do you expect with a TRAVESTY of a leading lady in the OP?

by Anonymousreply 237September 27, 2024 11:34 AM

Any Casey Likes gossip? Who's had him?

by Anonymousreply 238September 27, 2024 12:26 PM

That doesn’t appear to be plagiarism. It’s using factual events in a fictional story, which is done every day / everywhere. It might not be “fair” to the person who lived those scenes, but that doesn’t necessarily rise to a legal cause of action.

by Anonymousreply 239September 27, 2024 12:30 PM

If that engineer has a claim, then so does every member of Fleetwood Mac (or their estate). Nothing doing …

by Anonymousreply 240September 27, 2024 1:58 PM

Andrew Scott Heading To Off Broadway With West End Solo Hit ‘Vanya’:

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by Anonymousreply 241September 27, 2024 2:19 PM

I saw the National Theatre recording of this show. It was tiring. It will sell, because he's a star, but it didn't move me at all. One man shows with multiple characters... bleh.

by Anonymousreply 242September 27, 2024 3:12 PM

Are any of you at Sunset Boulevard tomorrow? Anticipating a backlash. Can't wait!

by Anonymousreply 243September 27, 2024 3:13 PM

So, Patti LuPone will be performing her "A Life in Notes" show at the Lyric Opera of Chicago on Friday, October 4.

Hmm. Most people who are cast in starring or major roles in Broadway shows do not have other, pre-scheduled performance commitments that will cause them to take a Friday night off from the Broadway show three weeks after it opens. But then there's Patti, who apparently always tries to have it all. (P.S. I checked the schedule, and they are not adding a performance on another day that week, so there will only be seven that week.)

by Anonymousreply 244September 27, 2024 4:04 PM

I suspect that Broadway will just have to shoulder through that Friday night, r244.

by Anonymousreply 245September 27, 2024 4:09 PM

Or perhaps she had a prior commitment that she chose to honor at a likely struggling nonprofit . and that the Broadway producers were aware of.

by Anonymousreply 246September 27, 2024 4:18 PM

Do you need a hankie, r244?

by Anonymousreply 247September 27, 2024 4:22 PM

Why don't they just put ol' Marsha on in her place?

by Anonymousreply 248September 27, 2024 4:36 PM

Got my catalog for the upcoming season at La Mirada. In addition to the already discussed Jason-Alexander-IS-Tevye, we have:

- Frozen

- Waitress

- The Play Goes Wrong

- Legally Blonde

- The Rocky Horror Picture Show (yes, the movie) featuring Barry Bostwick. ("In person!")

- Tribute shows for Elvis, Abba, ELO, Michael Jackson, Lenny Bruce, Disco, The Police

- Grease and Moana sing-alongs

- "A Toast to Steve & Eydie" featuring their son and Debbie Gravitte

- John Rubinstein as Eisenhower in "This Piece of Ground"

"The Journals of Adam and Eve" with Hal Linden and DL fave Sally Struthers

- Concerts f rom Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Tesh, and Steve Tyrell

by Anonymousreply 249September 27, 2024 5:30 PM

I, too, watched Vanya on National Theatre at Home. Some lovely moments, and just as many puzzling ones. (Why is there a swing on the set? Or that short staircase to nowhere?) I wish Scott had found ways to vocally differentiate the characters (there are physical ones -- playing with a ball, fiddling with a necklace or a dish towel). More than a few times I was unsure who was talking. An interesting experiment -- and inexpensive: one actor, minimal set -- but largely pointless in the end, except as an actor's exercise.

by Anonymousreply 250September 27, 2024 5:34 PM

John Rubinstein as Eisenhower in "This Piece of Ground"

by Anonymousreply 251September 27, 2024 5:46 PM

Have to agree with the two upthread posters on Andrew Scott's VANYA and I saw him live in London.

As I'm a fan it was thrilling fun to see him onstage. He's sexy and vivacious and in the moment in a relatively intimate setting (or maybe I had a really good seat) but - his performance? He doesn't differentiate much as each character (well, he does use a questionable Irish accent for the old nanny Marina) and ultimately, it's not exactly the bravura evening one might expect of this sort of one man show. And I think if you don't know the play well, you'd be utterly lost.

by Anonymousreply 252September 27, 2024 8:34 PM

R244. The Roommate also canceled the evening performance on the 3rd and it looks like Patti will be back in time for the matinee on the 5th. Whatever. At least they cancelled the performances and aren't throwing in an understudy or Marsha with the script.

by Anonymousreply 253September 27, 2024 10:22 PM

Audra standby could be someone in similar age range who works a lot in NY, like Nikki Renee Daniels, Amber Iman (previous Audra understudy) , or LaChanze. Fantasia would really surprise me given her mainly non-theater career.

Hills of California: The American audience seems to be having problems hearing the accents. I read the play and think it is only interesting in the 2nd and 3rd acts. Lots of "my kids are gonna be stars" talk

r250, your description of the one-man Vanya as an acting exercise with barely distinguishable characters was what I was afraid of.

by Anonymousreply 254September 27, 2024 10:24 PM

[quote]Audra standby could be someone in similar age range who works a lot in NY, like Nikki Renee Daniels, Amber Iman (previous Audra understudy) , or LaChanze.

Or Billy Porter.

by Anonymousreply 255September 27, 2024 10:27 PM

Any early word on Our Town?

by Anonymousreply 256September 27, 2024 10:27 PM

R256 I saw it preview night. I've never seen it before so was really curious. I knew next to nothing, but I had enjoyed Skin of Our Teeth at LCT.

We all got a small reprint of the Playbill cover since a few photos were slightly misaligned. We also got a paperback of the actual play. Director Kenny Leon was looking over the crowd outside and then walking the aisles, chatting with people.

The actual play started with the cast saying/singing prayers, I caught some Yiddish, English, and other languages. I liked it overall, especially the young couple. Some audience members were on stage in something similar to jury boxes on the side but I forgot all about them and there didn't seem to be any participation or acknowledgement. Weirdest thing was a mix of modern clothes and mainly early 20th century clothes.

I like the story and how it handled the passage of time. It moved quickly and there was some tears in the audience towards the end. It was funnier than I thought it would be.

I tend to get bored with most dramas since so many revolve around people gathering to argue about a dying/dead parent. It was a relief to see something pleasant, relatable, and I would recommend it, especially if you want a quicker paced drama with no intermission. Whole cast worked well together and there is some brief modern songs throughout. It didn't bug me too much, but could bother someone who wants a traditional treatment. Which is valid, too.

If you enjoyed any version of Skin of Our Teeth, you may like this.

by Anonymousreply 257September 27, 2024 10:53 PM

R256

Emily dies, and stays dead! What a concept.

by Anonymousreply 258September 27, 2024 11:35 PM

Richard Thomas should be the Stage Manager. I can't stand Jim Parsons and would never see anything he's in. And I love Our Town.

by Anonymousreply 259September 28, 2024 1:43 AM

SOOT and OT are utterly different. Please.

by Anonymousreply 260September 28, 2024 1:52 AM

It's hard to ruin OUR TOWN.

Let's see what happens.

by Anonymousreply 261September 28, 2024 1:56 AM

R259 he’s been excellent on stage before. The jury’s out for this show.

by Anonymousreply 262September 28, 2024 2:26 AM

Random thought- Sara Porkalob gave a good performance in that 1776. I bet we’d be seeing her in other stuff had she not been so irresponsible and hurtful that she she have disappeared herself. She does deserve it.

by Anonymousreply 263September 28, 2024 1:40 PM

R263. She could have been matinee Rose!

by Anonymousreply 264September 28, 2024 2:02 PM

I am reading a book called Murder at the Adelphi. It's by an actor who was a member of the ensemble in the original London cast of Sunset Boulevard. Little interesting bits and pieces. As a person with no exposure to the world of theatre, he (I think inadvertently) paints a picture of a horrible life. The rehearsal experience sounds like a nightmare of tedium, imprecision, contradiction and change.

Tidbits so far: an actress sat with no bottoms on, plucking her pubic hair while holding a conversation with him. Kevin Anderson didn't like being undressed on stage for the Lady's Paying. Patti was a changeable character, but generally well liked by the cast. There was tension between her and ALW from very early on. Lloyd Webber barely speaks to anybody - some debate about whether he's a jerk or get a therapist level shy. At the opening night party at the Savoy, one room was booked for the VIPs, the rest of the company and everybody got sat in a separate room. John Barrowman, who took over as Joe after the Patti purge cast change, liked to flash his dick, and once jogged around naked past the dressing rooms. The set was a total nightmare... always malfunctioning, a disaster to build, and contributed to the most of the delays that made them push the opening back.

He writes that DL fav Betty Buckley's contract "contains a special clause. It stipulates that the show can't begin until she is "emotionally prepared" and gives the stage manager her permission for us to go ahead." She apparently was often late past the half hour call.

by Anonymousreply 265September 28, 2024 2:12 PM

Why do you suppose the book is called Murder at the Adelphi, r265? Isn't that misleading? Who is the author?

by Anonymousreply 266September 28, 2024 2:28 PM

[quote]Sara Porkalob gave a good performance in that 1776.

But no better than good, I would say. "Adequate" might be a better word to describe her performance, I thought there was nothing special about it over and above the fact that the role itself it so well written.

Of course, in my opinion, the whole concept of performing 1776 with only women (and people who identify as women) was pointless and ruinous. And apparently I wasn't alone in my opinion, because I'm told there were TONS of empty seats throughout the run, despite lots of discounts being available.

by Anonymousreply 267September 28, 2024 2:33 PM

R266, I have no idea and I don't think he says. The cover is an illustration of Joe's body in the pool. The author is Peter Gale.

by Anonymousreply 268September 28, 2024 2:35 PM

I saw Our Town last night and it wasn't as moving as I remembered.

I don't know if it was because the Doctor’s family was anachronistically AA but I guess we'd best get used to it.

I got more choked up at the curtain call, when the two main families took their bows in their family unit, reunited again.

It's a work in progress, but I think they should manipulate/milk the emotions more in act three. We come for a good cry and they better deliver!

by Anonymousreply 269September 28, 2024 3:02 PM

Patti's beef with ALW started when she asked if she could sing the two big songs at a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. He turned her down as he'd promised Streisand she had first dibs. Then, as she was leaving to go to London, he announced that he had hired Glenn to head the LA production. I have to agree that it was a pretty big slap in the face to do that to your star before she had even gone into rehearsals.

by Anonymousreply 270September 28, 2024 5:45 PM

Your time chronicle is all wrong r270. Glenn was announced once she had already opened the show in London to middling notices.

by Anonymousreply 271September 28, 2024 5:55 PM

"The Roommate" cancelled today. Patti has taken ill.

by Anonymousreply 272September 28, 2024 6:00 PM

R265. I had no idea that book existed. Just ordered a copy from Amazon. Thank you!

by Anonymousreply 273September 28, 2024 6:01 PM

No, sorry, r271, I actually knew Patti at the time. It was literally the day she left for London.

by Anonymousreply 274September 28, 2024 6:14 PM

R272. I have a feeling the understudy is there for last minute emergencies like if one of them gets sick during a performance.

by Anonymousreply 275September 28, 2024 6:24 PM

You’re incorrect r274. Glenn was announced for LA after the London production opened. 100%.

by Anonymousreply 276September 28, 2024 6:26 PM

[quote]I actually knew Patti at the time

What did she order?

by Anonymousreply 277September 28, 2024 6:26 PM

For the asshole at r276: The London opening, with Trevor Nunn directing, was set for June 29, 1993, at the Adelphi Theatre (home for eight years to Me and My Girl). John Napier was hired to design the stunning sets, namely Norma Desmond’s rising mansion, where the bulk of the musical would take place, and Anthony Powell would design the costumes. In May 1993 the London cast assembled for the first time, just after an announcement was made that Glenn Close would open the American premiere production in Los Angeles six months after the London opening.

by Anonymousreply 278September 28, 2024 7:08 PM

Glenn was announced for Broadway after London had opened.

by Anonymousreply 279September 28, 2024 7:17 PM

[quote]In May 1993 the London cast assembled for the first time, just after an announcement was made that Glenn Close would open the American premiere production in Los Angeles six months after the London opening.

[quote]Glenn was announced for Broadway after London had opened.

Right, I believe both of the above things are true.

by Anonymousreply 280September 28, 2024 8:07 PM

Then someone needs to write better. The common understanding of “first time” does not = opening night.

by Anonymousreply 281September 28, 2024 8:37 PM

R281, do you still not get it? One person is saying that Glenn Close was announced FOR THE AMERICAN PREMIERE PRODUCTION OF SUNSET BLVD. IN LOS ANGELES just before the London cast assembled for the first time to begin rehearsals, while the other person is saying that Close was not announced FOR BROADWAY until after the London production had opened.

I hope my use of all caps is enough to get through to you.

by Anonymousreply 282September 28, 2024 8:56 PM
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by Anonymousreply 283September 28, 2024 9:07 PM

As we continue to argue this important topic, let us all keep in mind that none of this even happened in this millennium.

by Anonymousreply 284September 28, 2024 9:19 PM

[quote]As we continue to argue this important topic, let us all keep in mind that none of this even happened in this millennium.

So, r284? Is theatrical history limited to this millennium?

by Anonymousreply 285September 28, 2024 9:30 PM

Sophocles was a hack!

by Anonymousreply 286September 28, 2024 9:32 PM

It is odd, r285, what you deem to be "theatrical history."

by Anonymousreply 287September 28, 2024 9:33 PM

Webber and Lupone are Broadway legends whether you like it or not, r287.

by Anonymousreply 288September 28, 2024 9:35 PM

R288 Broadway legends who are unknowns outside New York.

by Anonymousreply 289September 28, 2024 9:37 PM

That might be news to the West End, R289.

by Anonymousreply 290September 28, 2024 9:46 PM

I'm curious R289, what constitutes a Broadway legend known outside New York, in your estimation?

by Anonymousreply 291September 28, 2024 9:53 PM

When you find yourself double-posting, it's time to log off, r290/r291

by Anonymousreply 292September 28, 2024 9:54 PM

Sorry to jump ahead 30 years, but Jeanine Tesori just said on all things considered that the opera she has just opened (which got panned) is probably her last opera. She also described a moment of musical education from her childhood as a real “ring of keys“ moment, as if that’s a real turn of phrase. I’m sorry, but is that an expression – or is she actually quoting her own musical as if it’s in the vernacular?

We now return you to the history channel

by Anonymousreply 293September 28, 2024 9:57 PM

And the whole SUNSET BLVD. affair involving ALW, LuPone, and Close was certainly one of the most juicy, dramatic theater news stories in many years, so I don't see any problem with it still being brought up occasionally.

by Anonymousreply 294September 28, 2024 9:58 PM

Sorry, R292, did I stump you?

by Anonymousreply 295September 28, 2024 9:59 PM

r295 I'm not that poster, but they clearly got to you

by Anonymousreply 296September 28, 2024 10:09 PM

Tammy Blanchard and Joy Woods are both Audreys and Louises.

by Anonymousreply 297September 28, 2024 10:35 PM

Patti writes in her biography hearing the news from Liz Smith's column and trashing her London dressing room AFTER THE SHOW HAD OPENED. If she had been told this information before rehearsals started, she would have turned around and gone home.

by Anonymousreply 298September 28, 2024 10:59 PM

And the dressing room would have been saved!

by Anonymousreply 299September 28, 2024 11:01 PM

R296, I am gotten to not infrequently by the vast number of petty misanthropes who should be in therapy rather than here, such as yourself. Am I'm happy to say it, you waste.

by Anonymousreply 300September 28, 2024 11:08 PM

R291, since you didn't get the signature, the statement was directed to Lupone as said by Stephen Sondheim.

by Anonymousreply 301September 28, 2024 11:34 PM

This lays out the timeline. LuPone opens in London in ’93, finds out about competing LA production. Then, in ‘94 she finds out she will not go to Broadway while still doing the role on the West End. So much drama for a really terribly written, unsatisfying show.

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by Anonymousreply 302September 28, 2024 11:52 PM

Walk away??? She hasn't stopped bitching about it since the day it happened.

by Anonymousreply 303September 29, 2024 12:06 AM

The problem is a couple of people here talk about it more than she does.

by Anonymousreply 304September 29, 2024 12:19 AM

[quote]r294 the whole SUNSET BLVD. affair involving ALW, LuPone, and Close was certainly one of the most juicy, dramatic theater news stories in many years

Another capricious act by a capricious man.

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by Anonymousreply 305September 29, 2024 12:43 AM

Isn't it possible that Patti was told about Glenn starring in the LA production months before it was formally and officially announced?

Was the planning of an LA production of SUNSET such a big secret until the Glenn casting was announced?

Who did Patti think was going to star in it? Loni Zoe Ackerman??

by Anonymousreply 306September 29, 2024 1:12 AM

Was Kevin Anderson offered the role on Broadway opposite Close or did she insist on Alan Blandbell.

by Anonymousreply 307September 29, 2024 2:07 AM

R293 It’s definitely not a part of mainstream vernacular but I don’t see an issue with a composer casually referencing the most well-known song from one of their most-successful and Tony-winning works in an interview. How many people who have no reference point for Fun Home are bothering to listen to a long-form Tesori interview?

There are plenty of composers out there who love sniffing their own farts and she may be one of them, but this complaint feels like a reach.

by Anonymousreply 308September 29, 2024 2:07 AM

We'd never criticize Jerry Herman if he spoke about opening a new window in his life.

by Anonymousreply 309September 29, 2024 2:31 AM

Glenn starring in LA wasn’t a surprise to anyone. It was announced and running. It was Glenn coming to New York and LA closing that were the shockers. I believe it was The New York Times that said the show was better with Glenn.

[Quote] Ms. Close's triumph seems certain to complicate the question of who'll be playing Norma if the $10 million show comes to Broadway next fall. Though Ms. LuPone is under contract to play the role in New York, there's bound to be pressure now to bring in the star of the Los Angeles company.

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by Anonymousreply 310September 29, 2024 2:31 AM

Really? How hard is it to understand. It was announced that Glenn Close would do the LA Production before Patti left to do the London production. It wasn't about it being Glenn Close, it was that Patti was to star in the musical, and never got her moment, because ALW undercut her by announcing another production before the London production had opened. Patti had it in her contract to do the Broadway production but after the London Production opened and the American reviews were not good (the London critics loved her) and then 6 months later, Glenn got great reviews (based on the changes they made with Patti being the guinea pig) ALW offered Broadway to Glenn. Patti sued and now she has an ALW Memorial Pool.

by Anonymousreply 311September 29, 2024 2:33 AM

Sorry., I meant announced for NY.

by Anonymousreply 312September 29, 2024 2:35 AM

[quote]the London critics loved her

Always a red flag

by Anonymousreply 313September 29, 2024 2:35 AM

Now, now, r305... you have to also post this caption with that...

[quote]Faye Dunaway, either before she was fired from Sunset Boulevard or asking for her change back at CVS.

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by Anonymousreply 314September 29, 2024 2:39 AM

That’s Zooey Deschenel

by Anonymousreply 315September 29, 2024 2:42 AM

Where is Dee Hoty?

by Anonymousreply 316September 29, 2024 2:45 AM

Good question.

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by Anonymousreply 317September 29, 2024 2:51 AM

On the extremely popular TV show Gogglebox on Friday night there was a funny duscussion among the civilian participants about John Barrowman. The 56 year okd had claimed he’d been “canceled” because the press had reported he was partial to laying his dick on people’s shoulders. He was then shown as a celebrity contestant on a show called SAS. And it didn’t go well for him,

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by Anonymousreply 318September 29, 2024 4:03 AM

Yikes! Is that Elon (or Leon) Musk at R318?

by Anonymousreply 319September 29, 2024 10:58 AM

Whisperkook.

by Anonymousreply 320September 29, 2024 11:15 AM

^^ Oops. Wrong thread. ^^

by Anonymousreply 321September 29, 2024 11:17 AM

R318 yikes. That whole article was bad. He’s the gay, cancelled version of Jill Zarin

by Anonymousreply 322September 29, 2024 12:27 PM

Sunset Blvd. Last night, first preview (a friend had an extra ticket at the last minute). I was not prepared by how great the whole production is. Spoiler: The credits sequence made me jump out of my seat. NS is phenomenal, truly a fantastic musical performance. They have taken the crazy elements, dialed them up a notch and go from there. But it works. I am sure that there will be many haters but it is one astounding piece of work, re-imagined for the best. It will be an expensive ticket but I might have to splurge. It is very, very good. If you are on the fence (I certainly was), go.

by Anonymousreply 323September 29, 2024 1:31 PM

R323, where did you sit? Where do you recommend sitting?

by Anonymousreply 324September 29, 2024 2:11 PM

Everything is pretty much played front and center. I think the whole theatre should be fine for this. I was front mezz.

by Anonymousreply 325September 29, 2024 2:46 PM

R323 I saw it in London and LOVED it! I was there when RJA was there and he seemed less enchanted by the whole thing. I understand it. If you were a gay man in the 90s and went through Patti, Betty, Glenn and Elaine…this would be a huge shock.

As a younger person, who didn’t see any of those women, I loved this!

by Anonymousreply 326September 29, 2024 2:51 PM

Who is RJA?

I know I'll kick myself when I find out.

by Anonymousreply 327September 29, 2024 2:55 PM

Tell the stage manager I am not emotionally prepared for this thread.

I'll join you at the places call.

by Anonymousreply 328September 29, 2024 3:06 PM

R326, it made me appreciate how top heavy and unwieldy the original version was. Stripped down, with the right talent, it's a terrific show. Not perfect - the NYE is a bit silly - but I'll never forget this revival.

by Anonymousreply 329September 29, 2024 3:12 PM

Richard Jay Alexander?

by Anonymousreply 330September 29, 2024 4:16 PM

Can't they wipe the blood off Norma and Joe before the curtain call. Ew.

by Anonymousreply 331September 29, 2024 5:44 PM

R316, Dee Hoty has been battling cancer. She was quite ill, but is doing well now. 🙏🏻

by Anonymousreply 332September 29, 2024 7:27 PM

Thank you for the update. Wishing her the best

by Anonymousreply 333September 29, 2024 7:31 PM

R330 yes

by Anonymousreply 334September 29, 2024 8:36 PM

Old and out of the loop, but could someone spoil the reason they are covered with blood at the end?

I know he's dead, but I would have thought floating in the pool would clean him up a bit and I have no idea why she is bloody, bloody Norma.

by Anonymousreply 335September 29, 2024 9:35 PM

It was murder, Wilder wrote. Catch a thief, and all the jazz.

by Anonymousreply 336September 29, 2024 10:27 PM

I'm not sure he still winds up in the pool. It's just Lloyd's take on the violence. Staging-wise, the whole thing is a departure from the film and musical.

by Anonymousreply 337September 29, 2024 10:31 PM

I'd say without spoiling the direction to the actors and how they play it makes sense of the graphic violence. I was a bit shocked at the rawness, but it's real.

by Anonymousreply 338September 29, 2024 10:33 PM

I was at the first preview too, and it was PACKED with fans and family members and production people. I thought it was interesting production of a lousy show.

by Anonymousreply 339September 29, 2024 10:47 PM

You thought that the first preview might play to an empty house?!

by Anonymousreply 340September 29, 2024 11:15 PM

Patti Lu....uncut!

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by Anonymousreply 341September 30, 2024 12:52 AM

Cute little red halter top number.

by Anonymousreply 342September 30, 2024 2:57 AM

Deadline reviews ‘The Hills Of California’:

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by Anonymousreply 343September 30, 2024 3:03 AM

NYT:

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by Anonymousreply 344September 30, 2024 3:04 AM

Most NY critics are so blinded by anything from London on Broadway. Read Sara Holdren at Vulture if you want the truth.

by Anonymousreply 345September 30, 2024 3:53 AM

R252 How does Andrew Scott do a "questionable Irish accent"?

He's Irish. Born in Dublin.

by Anonymousreply 346September 30, 2024 4:44 AM

His Danish accent in Hamlet had a bit of Wexford to it.

by Anonymousreply 347September 30, 2024 4:52 AM

Enhh…

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by Anonymousreply 348September 30, 2024 4:55 AM

Hell’s Kitchen cancelled two performances this past week due to cast illness. The grosses should be interesting this week.

by Anonymousreply 349September 30, 2024 10:39 AM

Roommate cancelled performances too.

by Anonymousreply 350September 30, 2024 10:53 AM

How could they tell, R272?

by Anonymousreply 351September 30, 2024 12:12 PM

r346, Scott is playing an old Russian nanny. The choice of accent is questionable.

by Anonymousreply 352September 30, 2024 1:17 PM

Is the COVID causing the cancellations?

by Anonymousreply 353September 30, 2024 1:22 PM

‘Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil’ Musical Announces 2025 Broadway Debut:

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by Anonymousreply 354September 30, 2024 1:23 PM

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1933, "As Thousands Cheer" opened at the Music Box Theatre.

by Anonymousreply 355September 30, 2024 2:18 PM

Why do you always post Deadline reviews, of all the media, Greg Evans is nobody.

by Anonymousreply 356September 30, 2024 2:32 PM

R355, As Thousands Cheer featured one of Irving Berlin's catchiest melodies (and great lyrics), Heat Wave.

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by Anonymousreply 357September 30, 2024 3:28 PM

Don't forget...

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by Anonymousreply 358September 30, 2024 4:43 PM

Do you think Fosse could have done more conventional, family style projects later in his life? The sexual content was so heavy from Pippin on. Could he have brought something to the movie of Mame (without Lucy) or Hello Dolly that had less of an Adults Only edge?

by Anonymousreply 359September 30, 2024 4:47 PM

Seeing that the great Gavin Creel has passed away. I heard he was sick just last week. RIP to one of the greats.

by Anonymousreply 360September 30, 2024 4:48 PM

Just awful news. So young, so talented. Wonderful performer. I'm frankly in shock.

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by Anonymousreply 361September 30, 2024 4:52 PM

OMG, that's so shocking. What a great talent plus he just seemed like a really nice and sweet person. RIP.

by Anonymousreply 362September 30, 2024 5:03 PM

Diagnosed in July, didn’t make it to October. This is crushing. I first saw him in the much troubled Sondheim musical Bounce. He didn’t appear until the second act, when it was clear the show was not delivering. But that voice, on one of the better songs in the show, made you hopeful. What a tragic loss.

by Anonymousreply 363September 30, 2024 5:11 PM

[quote]Diagnosed in July, didn’t make it to October. This is crushing.

If I was diagnosed with cancer, I would want to die as quickly as possible.

by Anonymousreply 364September 30, 2024 5:14 PM

r364 I'll get right on that.

by Anonymousreply 365September 30, 2024 5:22 PM

See that you do.

by Anonymousreply 366September 30, 2024 5:24 PM

Nice obit in the Times:

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by Anonymousreply 367September 30, 2024 5:25 PM

I gasped at this news. So so sad.

by Anonymousreply 368September 30, 2024 5:31 PM

Alex Temple-Ward was his partner; I know he was with Jon Groff many years ago. He mentioned a long-term relationship ended during the pandemic, does anyone know who that was?

by Anonymousreply 369September 30, 2024 5:41 PM

There were many posters here who would not stop discussing Gavin’s bathing habits. Literally every single time he was mentioned. Probably the same people who are now posting their thoughts and prayers.

by Anonymousreply 370September 30, 2024 5:48 PM

I do remember that Gavin had some apparently serious health problems during the run of HELLO, DOLLY! that caused him to miss multiple performance of that show -- back problems, if I recall correctly. I wonder if his death was related to that at all? Whatever, so tragic and such a great loss of a sweet human being and a great talent.

by Anonymousreply 371September 30, 2024 6:00 PM

The only show I saw Gavin in was Hello, Dolly! He was marvelous, such a perfect voice for classic showtunes.

I'm heartbroken at this news, and frau-y as it is I'll say FUCK cancer.

by Anonymousreply 372September 30, 2024 6:06 PM

Years ago John Barrowman got kicked out of Equinox Sports Club for having sex in the jacuzzi.

And he's been showing everyone his big dick for YEARS. Of course he was going to end up canceled.

by Anonymousreply 373September 30, 2024 6:47 PM

The Gavin Creel news is so, so sad.

Such a talented man. Much beloved on and off stage, and rightly so.

48. Damn.

by Anonymousreply 374September 30, 2024 6:49 PM

My FB pages are filled with tributes to Gavin, one after the other, scrolling down, by those that knew and loved him and those that admired him from afar.

Julie Halston posted something to the effect: "I can't, I just can't re Gavin...

After about 40 responses a retired stage manager friend of mine wrote: "What's the news?"

WHY CAN"T PEOPLE READ THREADS?!?!?

by Anonymousreply 375September 30, 2024 8:13 PM

r375 They read, they were just being a cunt.

by Anonymousreply 376September 30, 2024 8:18 PM

Gavin had back surgery during the Bernadette run of Hello Dolly. He had to take a couple of months off, Santino Fontana want into the show to cover his absence.

by Anonymousreply 377September 30, 2024 8:51 PM

I have to imagine this is what eldergays felt in the 80s when beloved gay men were dying in their prime.

Its horrible

by Anonymousreply 378September 30, 2024 10:12 PM

NYT reviews "McNeal":

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by Anonymousreply 379October 1, 2024 1:11 AM

Deadline:

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by Anonymousreply 380October 1, 2024 1:12 AM

Variety:

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by Anonymousreply 381October 1, 2024 1:13 AM

[quote]Why do you always post Deadline reviews, of all the media, Greg Evans is nobody.

No reason other than Deadline's reviews are always the first ones that hit my email inbox.

by Anonymousreply 382October 1, 2024 1:19 AM

“Timely. but turgid.”

Eek.

by Anonymousreply 383October 1, 2024 1:28 AM

How is it that LCT, a company that must have access to the finest new plays in the world, can produce a play that so clearly was unworthy on first read? Has Andre Bishop just given up?

Or if they feel some obligation to the playwright, why not at best, produce this stinker on one of their smaller stages?

Also. does RDJ really have no one in his life to advise him on what play to do?

by Anonymousreply 384October 1, 2024 2:03 AM

The huge downturn in quality at Lincoln Center Theater over the past several years is shocking, to say the least. I suppose there were several contributing factors.

by Anonymousreply 385October 1, 2024 2:24 AM

From the Variety review:

[quote]Running at Lincoln Center’s Vivian Beaumont Theater, set designers Michael Yeargan and Jake Barton, lighting designer Donald Holder, sound engineers Justin Ellington and Beth Lake and the digital effects by AGBO (and projections by Barton) work together to create a genuinely immersive experience

There was a time, not too long ago, when such a grammatically offensive sentence would not have been published in a major media outlet. But, apparently, those days are gone.

by Anonymousreply 386October 1, 2024 2:29 AM

Ayad Akhtar had a strong hit at Lincoln Center with "Disgraced".

Sounds like his sophomore play wasn't that hot.

by Anonymousreply 387October 1, 2024 3:33 AM

Ken Page, dead at 70.

Travesty he was never nominated for a Tony

by Anonymousreply 388October 1, 2024 10:47 AM

Olivier-Winning ‘Operation Mincemeat’ Musical Comedy Arrives On Broadway In February:

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by Anonymousreply 389October 1, 2024 2:18 PM

More love for Ken Page. I remember seeing him in Ain't Misbehavin when I was 17. RIP

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by Anonymousreply 390October 1, 2024 2:28 PM

Aw, Ken. Just saw him in a movie a few weeks ago. He was wonderful. RIP.

by Anonymousreply 391October 1, 2024 2:51 PM

In Dreamgirls the movie, he played the club manager. He sort of name drops Holiday (ostensibly Billie but since it was DG, obviously Jennifer) and then after Glover says "do it for old times", he says sadly "they're gone". But seeing him in the club cheering for Effie was one of those special moments.

by Anonymousreply 392October 1, 2024 4:13 PM

We now just need winter or spring tenants for the Booth, Circle in the Square, the Jones, and the Lyceum. I guess we'll know soon enough about where Good Night, and Good Luck and Glengarry Glen Ross will play, or if Oh, Mary! gets another extension.

by Anonymousreply 393October 1, 2024 4:47 PM

TV Alert: The late, great Marian Seldes in a highly-emotional episode of "The Rifleman" on MeTV today at 3pm EST.

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by Anonymousreply 394October 1, 2024 6:32 PM

How could Ken Page only be 70? That would mean when he did Ain't Misbehavin' he was only 24.

by Anonymousreply 395October 1, 2024 6:53 PM

I prefer her Perry Mason episode.

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by Anonymousreply 396October 1, 2024 6:57 PM

Saw a few things...

SUNSET BLVD:

The score sounds stunning -- no, really -- stunning with a full, beautifully played orchestra, killer vocals from everyone in the cast and a uniquely amplified sound design that feels like you're in a cinema.

The British cast members who joined Nicole are uniformly excellent and justify their import.

The lighting, video effects etc. are visually arresting, though they lose their novelty by the last third.

Nicole sings the HELL out of the score. Her vocal power and character are undeniable. When she has some... stillness to her performance and his allowed to trust the material, she is VERY compelling.

Too often, though, the director has the cast -- especially Nicole -- doing some weird on stage behavior and movements that seem to be deliberately designed to take us out of the story and feel anachronistic to the characters. Like... doing well known dance moves from the 90s (like the Running Man!), knowingly winking right at the camera, oddly preening about the stage as though they're a kid acting out a scene in front of their bedroom mirror and even seeing Norma knee Joe in the crotch.... just a few examples. If they calm that silliness down, they'd have one hell of a production on their hands.

CABARET:

Adam Lambert is great! Didn't know what to expect from him, but he is an appropriately seductive and, then, terrifying Emcee -- sung very well, of course. The new Sally is great. She may be a little younger than what you're used to, but it really doesn't work against the character. Bebe is... I mean... I love the woman... but her voice is completely gone and the accent is iffy and at the end of the day, you never feel like she fully imbues the character. The Cliff is very fine, too. The pre-show is way overhyped by the production. You're fine arriving a few minutes before curtain.

THE HILLS OF CALIFORNIA:

Not as strong a play as The Ferryman, but still VERY good. It's more of a memory play and about the fault lines and ties that bind and divide families. But it's beautifully directed by Sam Mendes and features brilliant performances from the imported British cast. The four female leads playing the adult sisters (and their mother) are fantastic. Darkly funny and quite emotional. Highly recommended. Also... don't know what people are complaining about. If you actually LISTEN, the accents are NOT difficult to pick up on and to understand.

by Anonymousreply 397October 1, 2024 7:39 PM

Cabaret box office in new cast’s second week dipped under a million for the first time. Not looking good.

by Anonymousreply 398October 1, 2024 7:43 PM

[quote] It's more of a memory play and about the fault lines and ties that bind and divide families.

Innovative!

by Anonymousreply 399October 1, 2024 8:14 PM

I saw the last Broadway preview of Ain't Misbehavin', a treasured memory, and Ken Page nearly stole the show several times (hell, the whole cast did, singly and together). Another sad loss of a fantastic performer. And he had one of my favorite lines in the film version of Torch Song Trilogy: "Hello? I'm another person in the world" (it was his delivery).

by Anonymousreply 400October 1, 2024 8:17 PM

In the revival of Misbehavin', Ken gives Nell a little butt fuck around 1:10.

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by Anonymousreply 401October 1, 2024 8:23 PM

R399 - no, it's not particularly innovative. I don't know that I need every night in the theatre to be a revolution, though. It's a very satisfying experience because of Mendes' pretty masterful direction, the rich production values and some pretty sublime performances from the four leads.

by Anonymousreply 402October 1, 2024 8:24 PM

R400, Ken had MANY memorable lines in Torch Song Trilogy. The best scenes were of the three of them (incl Charles Pierce) hanging out together.

by Anonymousreply 403October 1, 2024 8:29 PM

Wow, Hamilton at 90% two weeks in a row.

by Anonymousreply 404October 1, 2024 8:41 PM

I go to NY the last week of October

Here is my show list:

1) Bernadette Peters at Carnegie Hall - Monday evening

2) The Roomate - Tuesday evening

3) Little shop of horrors- SRS fan here. Wednesday Matinee

4) Oh Mary- Wednesday 5pm

5) Hillary Clinton at Carnegie Hall - Wednesday evening

6) Ragtime at City Center - Thursday evening

Yes, I’m aware this is the gayest gay who ever gayed agenda.

by Anonymousreply 405October 1, 2024 8:46 PM

I disliked "Hills of California". It is way too long and not that interesting. All the male characters are disposable. They just add running time. And We all know what will happen once the American producer comes in. I thought it was boring, perfect for a BBC five-episode series but not ideal for theatre. However, Laura Donnelly is perfection as the mother. I am surprised that people complained so much about the smoking on stage. There is not that much and the Broadhurst is very large.

by Anonymousreply 406October 1, 2024 8:47 PM

R405, that sounds like a packed week. I miss doing that. I lived in NYC for many years before moving out to Los Angeles. After I moved, I would make sure to come back to NYC a couple times a year (at least) for a theater extravaganza. I would pack every open slot with a show. Those were the days! I hope you have a terrific time.

by Anonymousreply 407October 1, 2024 8:50 PM

r405 - sounds like a fun week! Be sure to report back on your experiences!

by Anonymousreply 408October 1, 2024 8:52 PM

You might want a back-up plan for Tuesday: they're dropping like flies here.

by Anonymousreply 409October 1, 2024 8:58 PM

Can we PLEASE get a top-drawer revival of Ain't Misbehavin'? It has only been revived in New York once, and that was in '88-'89. It cannot be that hard to put together, although I do wonder where they'd find five performers who can effortlessly do that period style. (Watching the press reel at R401 I didn't see a single gumdrop mic or mic of any sort. So nice to see -- or not see.)

by Anonymousreply 410October 1, 2024 9:01 PM

I saw that revival and it was fantastic. One of the first shows I ever saw on Broadway. A friend of a friend had gotten standing room. It was so great to see the original cast.

by Anonymousreply 411October 1, 2024 9:07 PM

Broadway box office:

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by Anonymousreply 412October 1, 2024 9:49 PM

The Outsiders is the breakout musical hit of the season. Angelina Jolie must be so proud.

Oh, Mary! is the breakout play of the season. Who would have thought that it would be a bigger hit than McNeal?

Wicked continues to be the #1 highest-grossing show this year.

by Anonymousreply 413October 1, 2024 9:53 PM

‘Water For Elephants’ Musical Sets Broadway Closing:

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by Anonymousreply 414October 1, 2024 9:54 PM

In several decades of theater going, there are only a handful of productions I consider perfect. Te original AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' was one of them.

by Anonymousreply 415October 1, 2024 10:52 PM

CABARET is in big trouble. They are now barely breaking even, and they spent $30 million trying to make a Broadway "sleep no more" dinner theater with the production. Too bad the production just sucks, which most of the critics pointed out.

by Anonymousreply 416October 1, 2024 11:03 PM

[quote]Too often, though, the director has the cast -- especially Nicole -- doing some weird on stage behavior and movements that seem to be deliberately designed to take us out of the story and feel anachronistic to the characters.

100%, R397. The New Year's Eve direction does just what you say. His weird, self-indulgent calls are the difference between a 9/10 and a 10/10. The shame of it is, the bad calls were so unnecessary. I also think the diction could be improved on both Scherzinger and Francis. I know, I know but I hate sloppy singing.

by Anonymousreply 417October 1, 2024 11:10 PM

Liza is joining the producing team for "Drag: The Musical." And some DL-ers thought she was living out her sad last days! DL wouldn't let me link the article from Playbill.

by Anonymousreply 418October 2, 2024 12:04 AM

here you go r418

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by Anonymousreply 419October 2, 2024 12:06 AM

If Liza is producing and flying to Paris, what is holding up the Kennedy Center Honors now? What would happen if she's chosen then dies before the ceremony?

by Anonymousreply 420October 2, 2024 12:07 AM

The Roommate is back tonite with Mia and Patti!

by Anonymousreply 421October 2, 2024 12:14 AM

This line gave me pause: "It's so brilliant that I had to join as a producer! Join me at every performance. Yes, EVERY PERFORMANCE!"

by Anonymousreply 422October 2, 2024 12:33 AM

r417 - have you seen it on Broadway? I was at the first preview and I don't recall any diction issues with any of the leads. But perhaps they were worse in London? The sound design was fantastic, too, so I could hear them perfectly whether they were belting to the rafters or quietly whispering.

And, yeah, the New Year's Eve scene was especially egregious with the anachronistic movements, facial expressions and tone. It seems so many British directors love to UNDERLINE everything in a musical. So unnecessary, because, without all that "funny business", Jamie Lloyd has one hell of a production on his hands.

by Anonymousreply 423October 2, 2024 12:34 AM

I would love to see a revival of Smokey Joe's Café

by Anonymousreply 424October 2, 2024 1:02 AM

"Ain't Misbehavin'" - Oct. 18-Nov. 3, Musical Theatre West, Long Beach

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by Anonymousreply 425October 2, 2024 1:46 AM

[quote]And, yeah, the New Year's Eve scene was especially egregious with the anachronistic movements, facial expressions and tone.

I don't understand these criticisms about "anachronistic movements." I haven't seen this production yet, but from what I've seen in clips and photos, it seems clear that there is no attempt at all to be accurate to the period circa 1950 in terms of the production and costume design. So, can those of you who are bothered by "anachronistic movements" please explain why, under the circumstances?

by Anonymousreply 426October 2, 2024 2:55 AM

I can’t stand Scherzinger’s braying.

by Anonymousreply 427October 2, 2024 2:58 AM

R426 - at the end of the day, while I believe there have minor updates to the book (and one song cut from the score), it is still ostensibly about a silent film star trying to make a comeback in the mid 20th C. Yes, there's no scenery. And, yes, the costumes are neutral/modern, but the subject matter / music / lyrics remain the same. So, when you see Norma Desmond doing oh-no-you-didn't finger snaps to the camera, or see her doing Running Man choreography from the early 90s it's still jarring and totally takes you out of the story.

by Anonymousreply 428October 2, 2024 4:45 AM

NYT reviews "Yellow Face":

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by Anonymousreply 429October 2, 2024 5:00 AM

r352 Well, the poster wrote: " (well, he does use a questionable Irish accent for the old nanny Marina)" so, we'll blame them for unclear language.

by Anonymousreply 430October 2, 2024 6:54 AM

I loved "Yellow Face," a great play and a great cast.

by Anonymousreply 431October 2, 2024 8:13 AM

[quote]I would love to see a revival of Smokey Joe's Café

Are you feeling nostalgic for the jukebox musicals of yesteryear?

by Anonymousreply 432October 2, 2024 8:46 AM

r428

what song is cut?

by Anonymousreply 433October 2, 2024 9:11 AM

“The Lady’s Paying”

by Anonymousreply 434October 2, 2024 10:04 AM

Does Gabriel Kahane come from money?

I was told years ago from a good friend who worked with him on FEBRUARY HOUSE that he does, but yet in his shows at Playwrights Horizons right now, he is definitely trying to give starving artist vibes, and I'm wondering now how truly performative that all is.

by Anonymousreply 435October 2, 2024 11:46 AM

Fleetwood Mac producer sues makers of Broadway hit 'Stereophonic'

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by Anonymousreply 436October 2, 2024 12:44 PM

Specifically, R436, the producer is suing Adjmi. It's the second time he's been in legal trouble, accused again of appropriating another intellectual property.

by Anonymousreply 437October 2, 2024 1:10 PM

Thanks, R428, I still don't get it. If the costumes (and, from what I can see in photos, the production design) are "neutral/modern," it seems to me that all of that is already completely incongruous with a story about a silent film star trying to make a comeback circa 1950, and I don't understand why modern-day, "anachronistic" movements would take you any further out of the story. Funny how, when it comes to things like this, certain people are bothered tremendously by some elements of a production but not others.

by Anonymousreply 438October 2, 2024 1:53 PM

Broadway Theaters to Dim Lights in Honor of Adrian Bailey:

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by Anonymousreply 439October 2, 2024 2:14 PM

[quote]His weird, self-indulgent calls are the difference between a 9/10 and a 10/10.

I saw the show last night, and I agree with that assessment entirely. I thought it was a thrilling night of theater, as someone who found "Sunset Boulevard" a huge bore in my one prior exposure to it (Glenn Close 2017 revival).

I didn't find the "anachronistic" movements/moments at all out of place for Scherzinger—they somehow worked for her (and the production's) conception of the character. I did find them cloying and overly cutesy when deployed by the ensemble, however. I hope Jamie Lloyd pulls them back, because they were at times pretty egregious. But if the ensemble was the same way in London, I suppose that won't happen.

Still loved the show and am planning on seeing it again, which I didn't expect to want to do.

by Anonymousreply 440October 2, 2024 2:15 PM

Sarah Snook Sets Spring Broadway Debut With ‘The Picture Of Dorian Gray’:

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by Anonymousreply 441October 2, 2024 2:20 PM

I always kind of liked this show.

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by Anonymousreply 442October 2, 2024 2:20 PM

R440. I saw the show in London twice and I do not think they have touched any of the Movements/Moments of NS. I saw the first preview and it felt a complete repetition of her London performance. Actually, I could not detect any changes at all (except the walk outside that now it is done with most of the company, and the monkey)

by Anonymousreply 443October 2, 2024 2:22 PM

The theatre is in an enormous post-modern phase right now in which audiences are constantly being asked to leave their preconceptions behind and believe, among other things, that BIPOC actors can play traditionally cast white characters and historically set shows can be performed in highly stylized non-period settings and costuming.

I think I'm finally understanding the meaning of the phrase "post-modern" which essentially means: We're doing it this way because we like it this way; don't over-analyze it.

Obviously, you can go with that or not. But I don't see this trend changing anytime soon. Most younger audiences clearly have no problem with it.

by Anonymousreply 444October 2, 2024 2:25 PM

R439-Will Tom Schumacher be honoring his memory while the lights dim?

by Anonymousreply 445October 2, 2024 3:11 PM

I'm surprised Disney did pay off the family to say he isn't dead

by Anonymousreply 446October 2, 2024 4:00 PM

DIDN'T?^

by Anonymousreply 447October 2, 2024 4:18 PM

Spoiler Hills of California's original ending had Joan dumping her baby on the family and backing out. Seems very in character for a flaky wannabe singer. Very curious how a new ending can change things up.

Sunset Blvd preview: It had a lot of weird and distracting choreography and fog effects. I laughed unintentionally and have enjoyed stripped down concert versions of it in the past. But the audience was loving it, including Todrick Hall. We had one standing ovation but I think American critics are going to hate the look of it, stonefaced marching choreography, and Nicole's over the top CHOICES.

The production seemed like a parody of reinventing an old property, at times. John Simon would have a field day ripping it up.

"Should Betty and Joe sing 'Too Much in Love' as if they're realizing their attraction?" "Nah, better have them look sour with weird ensemble choreography in the background!"

by Anonymousreply 448October 2, 2024 6:34 PM

R438 - That's fine if you don't get it. You should see the production and judge for yourself. The anachronism is not just about period-appropriateness but about tone. Just picture, for a moment, Norma Desmond doing the RUNNING MAN and Pop-and-Lock movements, literally KNEEING a man in the groin, at times standing in a weirdly aggressive squatted position and, when she's angry, pounding her chest like an angry gangster might and when feeling sassy doing literal finger snaps as if she's in a mid 2000s girl group. It's not just about the time period, it's about these feeling totally at odds with how Norma Desmond carries herself and sees herself as this glamorous, ultra feminine screen siren. There are three things that make this frustrating: (1). Nicole is given much more of this ridiculous physical business than any of the other actors so it stands out most egregiously for her, (2). It injects this weirdly goofy undercurrent that totally undermines the otherwise boldly dramatic production, (3). It undermines Nicole's very fine performance (when she's allowed to just play Norma without all these add-ons.)

This isn't reason enough not to see the production, because it has so much else going for it, but it's a shame to see such idiocy indulged.

Also, for the record, please don't assosciate me with the Klan Granny at R444. I have ZERO problem with actors of color playing roles that were originally cast with white actors.

by Anonymousreply 449October 2, 2024 6:43 PM

Klan Granny, r449?

I made no judgments on anything. Merely describing what I see as a major trend in current theatre.

by Anonymousreply 450October 2, 2024 7:24 PM

R450 / R444 - if your intent was not to COMPLAIN about greater diversity in casting, then I apologize for reaching that conclusion. DL is so full of reactionary, older white folks complaining about the brown folks encroaching on their cultural sacred cows, that I, perhaps unfairly, assumed you were doing the same. If not, my apologies.

by Anonymousreply 451October 2, 2024 7:41 PM

Apology accepted, r451.

If anything, I'm more in the camp for change.

by Anonymousreply 452October 2, 2024 7:47 PM

Anyone who uses that ridiculous phrase "klan granny" (a stupid DL template term that started with criticism of Meghan Markle on other threads) isn't to be taken seriously. It's used for anyone who weighs in, in any way or form, on cultural trends regarding race and the intent is to shut down conversation. It's so silly.

by Anonymousreply 453October 2, 2024 7:48 PM

[quote]DL is so full of reactionary, older white folks complaining about the brown folks encroaching on their cultural sacred cows

No it isn't, r451. There's only a couple of posters doing that trolling.

by Anonymousreply 454October 2, 2024 7:49 PM

R454 - that would be comforting, but, unfortunately, I feel like it's more than "a few". It may be a loud minority, but I don't think it's just 4 or 5 of them.

by Anonymousreply 455October 2, 2024 9:00 PM

So is Mia pulling shit, or Patti Lu?

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by Anonymousreply 456October 2, 2024 9:08 PM

R456. Patti was sick. It happens. And they're not young so it hits harder. The powers that be choose to cancel instead of putting an understudy on. Hopefully, the show will get back on track and finish out the run.

by Anonymousreply 457October 2, 2024 9:32 PM

r455 Yes, there are plenty and even more who raise no objection to people posting that racist shit. It seems it's only ever when someone calls out the racists that these posters then decide to object, claiming it's 'clogging up the thread' or something similar.

by Anonymousreply 458October 2, 2024 9:38 PM

Saw it this afternoon. They were both great, but the show is nothing special. I liked the first half more than the second. But, boy, Mia's charisma just is astonishing. I felt the same wasy when I saw her 10 years ago in Love Letters.

by Anonymousreply 459October 2, 2024 9:38 PM

[quote] I liked the first half more than the second.

Maybe because the first half is, for the most part, a fun if very light comedy, whereas the second half is nonsensical BS. Especially when the playwright tries to give us some SERIOUS DRAMA.

by Anonymousreply 460October 2, 2024 10:05 PM

[quote]but I don't think it's just 4 or 5 of them.

Trust me, r455, it is.

by Anonymousreply 461October 2, 2024 10:10 PM

[quote]But, boy, Mia's charisma just is astonishing

Some people are luminous, r459..

by Anonymousreply 462October 2, 2024 10:14 PM

R405, are you gay?

by Anonymousreply 463October 2, 2024 10:20 PM

[quote]The theatre is in an enormous post-modern phase right now in which audiences are constantly being asked to leave their preconceptions behind and believe, among other things, that BIPOC actors can play traditionally cast white characters and historically set shows can be performed in highly stylized non-period settings and costuming.

Willing suspension of disbelief, I think they used to call it.

The Elizabethans used to watch Roman history dramas with actors dressed in 17th century clothing in an outdoor theatre with little to no set and they didn't complain.

by Anonymousreply 464October 2, 2024 11:21 PM

THE ROOMMATE is struggling to sell tickets because of the poor reviews, and they've already burned through all the gays who wish to see the Divaslite.

by Anonymousreply 465October 2, 2024 11:45 PM

Patti moaned that doing musicals was exhausting and too much work at her age. Well, it looks like doing plays is too exhausting for her, too.

by Anonymousreply 466October 3, 2024 12:00 AM

[quote]DL is so full of reactionary, older white folks complaining about the brown folks encroaching on their cultural sacred cows

The virtuous are so entertaining.

Accidentally.

by Anonymousreply 467October 3, 2024 12:07 AM

Agreed on The Roommate. Saw it last week. Patti was giving a stronger performance than some of the comments would suggest. She's a more nuanced actress than I think she sometimes gets credit for. And, yes, Mia is utterly charming. Putting the acrimony between her and her former husband aside, if you were charmed by Mia in all those Woody Allen films, I think you'd enjoy The Roommate, too. It's VERY slight, but quite entertaining and probably the perfect length. I think I saw the last performance before they had these additional Covid cancelations. I believe they had to cancel because both Patti and the main understudy tested positive.

by Anonymousreply 468October 3, 2024 12:43 AM

[quote]THE ROOMMATE is struggling to sell tickets because of the poor reviews, and they've already burned through all the gays who wish to see the Divaslite.

PLUS, lots of performances are being canceled for one reason or another, which must certainly be killing whatever momentum the show would have had at the box office.

by Anonymousreply 469October 3, 2024 12:56 AM

[quote]Agreed on The Roommate.

"Agreed" with whom? Obviously not with several people who are posting negatively here.

[quote]Saw it last week. Patti was giving a stronger performance than some of the comments would suggest. She's a more nuanced actress than I think she sometimes gets credit for.

I would say she used to be a nuanced actress, but now she make lots of very obvious choices. I thought much of her work in The Roommate was quite poor.

by Anonymousreply 470October 3, 2024 12:59 AM

All those unpredictable cancellations would certainly discourage long range ticket buyers (also known as tourists).

by Anonymousreply 471October 3, 2024 12:59 AM

This is not looking good. The Roomate apparently cancelled its tomorrow evening and Friday performances.

by Anonymousreply 472October 3, 2024 1:03 AM

Does LuPone have the COVID?

by Anonymousreply 473October 3, 2024 1:05 AM

R472. Patti has a prior commitment so tickets were never on sale for those performances.

by Anonymousreply 474October 3, 2024 1:11 AM

I don't want to be that guy, but seeing a black family at the center of Our Town when the rest of the cast was basically white, did involve a certain suspension of disbelief for New Hampshire circa 1901.

by Anonymousreply 475October 3, 2024 2:26 AM

And yet here you are being that guy,

by Anonymousreply 476October 3, 2024 2:51 AM

R468, for the last fucking time, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow were NEVER married. Soon-Yi Previn was never her biological daughter either. What are you, a gullible millennial sucked in by the Farrow family when they hijacked the #metoo movement - which was about sexual harassment and abuse against grown women in the workplace - to air their grievances over Mia’s unproven, vengeful decades-old allegations against Allen which had been dismissed at the time when experts in child development deemed that her child had been coached. It is actually Mia’s brother, John, who is the convicted paedophile in the family and since paedophilia is usually part of a cycle of abuse, it seems the Farrow family would know more about it than Woody Allen ever would. Maybe her two adopted children who committed suicide in her care knew something about it as well.

But yes, I agree. She is very good in Woody Allen’s films. Just watched Hannah and Her Sisters again last week.

by Anonymousreply 477October 3, 2024 4:19 AM

You're welcome...

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by Anonymousreply 478October 3, 2024 4:30 AM

[quote]r475 seeing a black family at the center of Our Town when the rest of the cast was basically white, did involve a certain suspension of disbelief for New Hampshire circa 1901

It appears you survived the exertion.

by Anonymousreply 479October 3, 2024 4:34 AM

[quote]I don't want to be that guy, but seeing a black family at the center of Our Town when the rest of the cast was basically white, did involve a certain suspension of disbelief for New Hampshire circa 1901.

Or, rather, a complete suspension of disbelief, since just about every other line of dialogue in the play pinpoints the action as taking place very specifically in New Hampshire circa 1901. A time and place where an interracial marriage would be pretty much unheard of. And if by some extremely unusual chance it DID happen, you can bet that it would be the subject of much discussion among all the characters, rather than not mentioned.at all -- which, of course, it isn't, because the playwright didn't write it that way.

by Anonymousreply 480October 3, 2024 12:31 PM

If casting is meant to be color blind, meaning literally that color is not seen or not meant to be seen in a production, and is not making any point regarding race, then a suspension of disbelief is easy. When it's an interracial production where race is meant to be seen, and issues (say, for instance, even obliquely by its presence, interracial marriage in NH in 1901) are underlying and create barriers of plausibility based on, oh, history, I see little point. Our Town is a play that's not about race in 1901 NH but humanity.

by Anonymousreply 481October 3, 2024 12:41 PM

Btw, I should stress I haven't seen it, just going by what I'm reading here. I would never see another play with Jim Parsons.

by Anonymousreply 482October 3, 2024 12:42 PM

I don't care about logical reality or historical accuracy (unless a play specifically bills itself as a historiography) when I go to the theatre, I simply want to feel emotionally moved. A moving play can suspend my disbelief indefinitely. After all, human nature is remarkably consistent regardless of time, space, race, or any other factor: what is playwrighting and directing if it isn't an exploration of human nature?

Obviously anyone is entitled to dislike the current revival of Our Town (which looks quite bad), but this discussion about race is becoming both repetitive and reductive.

by Anonymousreply 483October 3, 2024 12:59 PM

It seems to me that often race is inserted into plays and then people complain that race is mentioned. Either it's not meant to be seen or the production is trying to make a point, in which case it's fair game.

by Anonymousreply 484October 3, 2024 1:08 PM

Time to stop, you two.

by Anonymousreply 485October 3, 2024 1:53 PM

Don't tell anyone what they can comment on, R485. Fuck off.

by Anonymousreply 486October 3, 2024 1:55 PM

[quote] PLUS, lots of performances are being canceled for one reason or another, which must certainly be killing whatever momentum the show would have had at the box office.

SO what the hell is going on here? All these canceled performances and the (from what I hear) very strong actress employed as the standby has never gone on? They are paying her 3k a week just to not go on when needed?

by Anonymousreply 487October 3, 2024 2:01 PM

The latest story going around regarding last week's cancellations is both Patti and the standby tested positive for covid.

by Anonymousreply 488October 3, 2024 3:16 PM

[quote]The latest story going around regarding last week's cancellations is both Patti and the standby tested positive for covid.

Were they fucking?

by Anonymousreply 489October 3, 2024 3:19 PM

Race aside, I wish that the new production of our town had been a bit more manipulative and emotional; I really wanted a catharsis by the end.

by Anonymousreply 490October 3, 2024 4:28 PM

[quote]If casting is meant to be color blind, meaning literally that color is not seen or not meant to be seen in a production, and is not making any point regarding race, then a suspension of disbelief is easy.

But many of use can't quite wrap our minds around casting in which "color is not meant to be seen," and for that matter, some actors of color have stated that they want no part in casting in which their race/color "is not meant to be seen." Also, it seems that some of the people who create these productions are extremely unclear as to whether color "is not meant to be seen" or, conversely, characters traditionally played by white actors are now supposed to be read as Black (or Latino, or Asian, or whatever) because they are now being played by POC.

[quote]When it's an interracial production where race is meant to be seen, and issues (say, for instance, even obliquely by its presence, interracial marriage in NH in 1901) are underlying and create barriers of plausibility based on, oh, history, I see little point. Our Town is a play that's not about race in 1901 NH but humanity.

Our Town is not "about race," but tragically, race can't be separated from the history of our country. Wilder wrote a play which, despite the fact that it was meant to be performed without sets or props, is extremely realistic in its depiction of characters in a very specific time and place. A time and place when an interracial marriage would almost certainly never have happened or, IF it did, everyone would be commenting on it, rather than not mentioning it at all.

by Anonymousreply 491October 3, 2024 4:30 PM

Just be honest, r491, that *you* refuse to suspend belief.

by Anonymousreply 492October 3, 2024 4:44 PM

That's exactly what Thornton Wilder was going for. Manipulative.

by Anonymousreply 493October 3, 2024 4:53 PM

[quote]That's exactly what Thornton Wilder was going for. Manipulative.

All playwrights are manipulative to some extent, r493. It's part of their job.

by Anonymousreply 494October 3, 2024 4:57 PM

Yes, Patti had Covid.

by Anonymousreply 495October 3, 2024 4:59 PM

r491, imagine yourself as a person of color. You were born in America, as were your parents and your grandparents and even your great-grandparents. You've gone to schools where plays like Our Town, and the plays of Noel Coward, Chekhov, Ibsen and Shakespeare have been taught to you and all your classmates. You've attended plays of the classic theater all your adult life.

But some jerk on DL can't seem to see you as a person who has every right to perform in those plays as they do.

How do you answer yourself?

by Anonymousreply 496October 3, 2024 5:24 PM

And worse, r496, these classic plays - especially Our Town - are supposed to be universal and transcend race and gender. People like r491 show that it was just lip service.

by Anonymousreply 497October 3, 2024 5:32 PM

Sure, R492. As if I'm the only person, or even in the vast minority of people, who can't (or don't want to) suspend disbelief in that way.

OF COURSE, it goes without saying that you and other people who use this flawed argument would never for a single moment accept white actors (or Asian actors, or Latino actors) as any of the family members in A RAISIN IN THE SUN. Nor should you be expected to accept that, because it would be ridiculous. But that example alone proves that this argument has NOTHING to do with "willing suspension of disbelief," no matter how much you may insist that it is.

So if you're going to argue for non-traditional or color-blind casting (or whatever else you want to call it), please be honest about the real reasons why you feel it's necessary -- namely, the tragic unfairness of the fact that people of color were largely excluded or severely underrepresented in the theater until fairly recently . Because if you stick to the real reasons, I'm sure many/most people, myself included, would agree with you.

by Anonymousreply 498October 3, 2024 5:43 PM

[quote]So if you're going to argue for non-traditional or color-blind casting (or whatever else you want to call it), please be honest about the real reasons why you feel it's necessary -- namely, the tragic unfairness of the fact that people of color were largely excluded or severely underrepresented in the theater until fairly recently

LoL, r498, nobody has said that *isn't* the reason. It's a valid reason. What other reasoning are you talking about?

by Anonymousreply 499October 3, 2024 6:04 PM

Sean Astin To Make Broadway Debut As Santa In ‘Elf The Musical’ Revival:

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by Anonymousreply 500October 3, 2024 6:07 PM

New York DLers: Hurry and get your tickets for this stupendous event!

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by Anonymousreply 501October 3, 2024 6:18 PM

Sean Astin looks just like his mom, that makes me strangely happy.

by Anonymousreply 502October 3, 2024 6:21 PM

[quote]Sean Astin looks just like his mom

Then he should be playing Morrible.

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by Anonymousreply 503October 3, 2024 6:24 PM

I have mixed feelings about color blind casting. It worked for me in Uncle Vanya because the black actor who played the doctor was the most dynamic actor on the stage. I saw a drama about a status obsessed English family in the 1920s. One of the sisters was played by a black actress. Everytime she showed up, she threw me out of the play. I think the creative types will have to determine when It works and when it doesn’t.

by Anonymousreply 504October 3, 2024 6:29 PM

[quote]R480 a complete suspension of disbelief, since just about every other line of dialogue in the play pinpoints the action as taking place very specifically in New Hampshire circa 1901

Since we now live in the 21st Century, I wonder how you managed the shocking time travel!

It’s almost as if the theater seats should have seatbelts and crash helmets!

by Anonymousreply 505October 3, 2024 6:41 PM

Are people somehow unaware that the entirety of the theatrical space is illusory?

by Anonymousreply 506October 3, 2024 6:47 PM

Exactly!

by Anonymousreply 507October 3, 2024 6:50 PM

Uncle Vanya is not about the white experience. Nether are Hedda Gabler, The Matchmaker or even Blithe Spirit and Private Lives. Certainly, none of Shakespeare. A Raisin the Sun is about the Black experience. A play about the Ku Klux Klan is about a certain white experience and should not have Black actors playing white characters.

Try hard to see people as people, no matter their color. Try harder. You can do it.

by Anonymousreply 508October 3, 2024 7:20 PM

[quote]Everytime she showed up, she threw me out of the play.

As she threw you out, I hope she also slapped you!

by Anonymousreply 509October 3, 2024 8:14 PM

And deleted you from her contacts!

by Anonymousreply 510October 3, 2024 8:24 PM

I’m the audience, I count on professionals to make good casting choices. If a play sucks I pass on seeing it. And if it flops, I haven’t lost a dime.

by Anonymousreply 511October 3, 2024 8:30 PM

A play needs to work on its own logic, but doesn’t have to have any connection to reality

by Anonymousreply 512October 3, 2024 9:22 PM

[quote]Uncle Vanya is not about the white experience. Nether are Hedda Gabler, The Matchmaker or even Blithe Spirit and Private Lives. Certainly, none of Shakespeare. A Raisin the Sun is about the Black experience. A play about the Ku Klux Klan is about a certain white experience and should not have Black actors playing white characters.

But there are countless older plays (and musicals) that are "not about the white experience" yet make no sense when POC are cast in certain roles, because historically those people/characters would never have been POC. One of the most ridiculous examples of this in recent memory, but not the only one, has been the casting of Black actors in the role of Cliff in the current production of CABARET. As if a a Black man would ever in a million years have been taken up by a Nazi as his best friend and confidante. Considering the way Nazis actually viewed people of color, to cast a Black actor in that role makes a mockery of one of the most tragic periods in world history. Another ridiculous, related example was the casting of women, whether of color or not, in that godawful revisal of 1776. And so on, and so on.

A RAISIN IN THE SUN is about the Black experience based on actual history. Countless other plays are about the white experience based on history. So IF willing suspension of disbelief is expected when POC are cast as white character, it should be expected in the other direction. My opinion is that it should be be expected in either direction, and yours is that it should be expected in only one.

by Anonymousreply 513October 3, 2024 9:45 PM

What a silly hill to die on, r513.

by Anonymousreply 514October 3, 2024 9:47 PM

[quote]Just about every other line of dialogue in the play pinpoints the action as taking place very specifically in New Hampshire circa 1901

Since we now live in the 21st Century, I wonder how you managed the shocking time travel!

I don't feel I need to have lived in 1901. I am of the opinion that I can learn about history by reading about it, but maybe you don't agree with that.

by Anonymousreply 515October 3, 2024 9:48 PM

r513, can you not simply see people as people?

What you have is a pathetically limited imagination.

by Anonymousreply 516October 3, 2024 9:53 PM

He's old, r516. Change is scary.

by Anonymousreply 517October 3, 2024 9:55 PM

He also doesn’t understand theater. He confuses it with documentaries

This insistence that theater has to reflect reality (or, more specifically, his reality) is bizarre and anti-theater

The whole art form is lost to him

by Anonymousreply 518October 3, 2024 9:58 PM

I predict Whoopi misses at least 30 percent of her shows.

by Anonymousreply 519October 3, 2024 10:31 PM

[quote]What a silly hill to die on, R513

Sometimes you just gotta take a death as a win.

by Anonymousreply 520October 3, 2024 10:37 PM

Can Whoopi move in a way that "Easy Street" requires?

by Anonymousreply 521October 3, 2024 11:07 PM

Cheap shot, R517. And kind of ugly.

by Anonymousreply 522October 3, 2024 11:12 PM

I can't wait to see that production of A RAISIN IN THE SUN with the Younger family cast with whites, blacks, latinos, and asians. Shouldn't be a problem...

by Anonymousreply 523October 3, 2024 11:17 PM

[quote]Cheap shot, [R517]. And kind of ugly.

LoL, r522, I'd venture to guess that I'm older.

by Anonymousreply 524October 3, 2024 11:18 PM

Jesus Fucking Christ on a God Damned Ritz Cracker. Can we just start a separate theatre thread for the elderly, race-obsessed, pedants? I assume it's just 4 or 5 of you, but you're a God damned stuck record. The world is changing. You don't want it to change. We get it. Every touch of melanin is a threat to your very existence. How WILL we go on if a brown person is let anywhere near Thorton Wilder? Somehow the rest of us are coping, so, please, just start a separate thread to discuss your obsession with race.

by Anonymousreply 525October 3, 2024 11:26 PM

Can you stop treating "the elderly" like a monolith, you fucking -ist, -ism, narrow minded cunt? You're near worthless.

by Anonymousreply 526October 3, 2024 11:30 PM

[quote]I assume it's just 4 or 5 of you

In this case it's *one*, r535.

by Anonymousreply 527October 3, 2024 11:30 PM

^Oops r525

by Anonymousreply 528October 3, 2024 11:31 PM

Every time I resist my better judgement and jump into one of these back and forth arguments about nothing, even if it's just one post, I always wind up regretting it, R525.

The fucking Poppins Loon was more bearable than this shit.

by Anonymousreply 529October 3, 2024 11:38 PM

We're about at the stage where the racist loon will compare casting black people to casting an old person as a young character.

by Anonymousreply 530October 4, 2024 12:59 AM

We've already had the inevitable suggestion that colorblind casting should mean that white actors can be cast in "A Raisin in the Sun." That one comes up every fucking time in these tiresome debates.

by Anonymousreply 531October 4, 2024 1:12 AM

Look at diversity casting from actors perspective. Actors of color now have new opportunities with more diverse productions being produced plus they're being considered seriously for traditional 'white' roles that they never would have felt comfortable auditioning for five years ago. Wonderful. Terrific. Good for them. Now what happens to white actors who are losing roles they're right for and would never be considered for shows that are normally cast with black, Asian and Latino actors. Are casting decisions being made based on talent or are creative teams checking boxes.

by Anonymousreply 532October 4, 2024 1:15 AM

Can we get back to...

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 533October 4, 2024 1:30 AM

[quote]Now what happens to white actors

They still get the overwhelming majority of roles. Did you have such concerns about the career prospects of black actors in the past? I suspect not.

by Anonymousreply 534October 4, 2024 1:48 AM

Well...I tried.

by Anonymousreply 535October 4, 2024 2:34 AM

Only had to block four of you.

You'll be restored once you settle down. Maybe.

by Anonymousreply 536October 4, 2024 2:45 AM

Is Adjmi gonna have his Tony rescinded?

by Anonymousreply 537October 4, 2024 5:07 AM

I wish. That play is the most overrated thing to come along since August: Osage County.

by Anonymousreply 538October 4, 2024 1:24 PM

Compared to what that's been undeserrvedly underrated, R538? It was the best play on Broadway this year. It was certainly better than the plays it was nominated against for the Tonys, regardless of this lawsuit.

by Anonymousreply 539October 4, 2024 1:39 PM

R508, pray tell, what IS a play about "the white experience"? I'm gathering from your example that they are only plays in which white people exploit people of color. Nothing racist about that claim, no siree.

by Anonymousreply 540October 4, 2024 2:03 PM

r540, the point is that the "white experience" barely exists because there is no collective "white experience" unless it pertains to white people in contrast to people of color.

by Anonymousreply 541October 4, 2024 2:11 PM

Yeah, I get it. It's a racist point.

by Anonymousreply 542October 4, 2024 2:29 PM

Well, add two more.

Start a thread and skirmish there, assholes, your sniping is no longer about theatre, it's about yourselves and you've both fucking lost the plot. Neither' of you is gonna win this, neither of you is listening to the other and neither of you are actually as interesting as you think.

by Anonymousreply 543October 4, 2024 2:31 PM

I won't post on the subject any more, R543, but it IS about theatre. Broadway is tanking, not because of colorblind casting only but because of the whole Woke project (plus the ridiculous prices). The people who ARE going are dumbasses who give everything a standing ovation, thus demonstrating they have no criteria for and/or interest in excellence. Interestingly, the West End is doing better than ever post-Covid. It has embraced diversity too, but not as a cult.

That's me out.

by Anonymousreply 544October 4, 2024 2:48 PM

Will it get the job done?

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by Anonymousreply 545October 4, 2024 3:43 PM

[quote]Is Adjmi gonna have his Tony rescinded?

It's an interesting case, because the lines and plot points he is alleged to have stolen are supposed to be things that actually happened during the Fleetwood Mac recording sessions for RUMOURS, as reported in the memoir that was written by their engineer/producer. So would the use of material like that, rather than fictional material created by someone else, be viewed differently in a plagiarism lawsuit? Is the problem simply that Adjmi didn't credit the memoir, even if he wouldn't have had to pay to use that material?

by Anonymousreply 546October 4, 2024 3:48 PM

R544 Broadway is tanking because musical theater is completely and utterly cringey.

If I were a Broadway “performer” I’d be too embarrassed to look at myself in the mirror…or I’d jump from a high elevation. I wouldn’t wait for the C to get me.

by Anonymousreply 547October 4, 2024 4:10 PM

Broadway To Dim Lights For Gavin Creel:

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by Anonymousreply 548October 4, 2024 4:13 PM

[quote]the lines and plot points he is alleged to have stolen are supposed to be things that actually happened during the Fleetwood Mac recording sessions for RUMOURS, as reported in the memoir

Some of the things he took from the memoir—like one the band members spotting Tony Orlando while at dinner—are so specific yet so inconsequential that it's hard to figure out why he even put them into the play. It's going to be interesting to see how the case unfolds.

by Anonymousreply 549October 4, 2024 4:16 PM

R548 key word missing…. “Select” Broadway theatre's.

Mind you they ALL dimmed for Robin Williams.

by Anonymousreply 550October 4, 2024 5:17 PM

What is with the fucking Broadway League???? Dim ALL the fucking lights for Gavin Creel!

by Anonymousreply 551October 4, 2024 5:17 PM

And how do they select which theatres will dim their lights? Only the ones Creel acted in?

by Anonymousreply 552October 4, 2024 5:21 PM

I don't suppose Gavin minds either way.

by Anonymousreply 553October 4, 2024 5:26 PM

R552: from the article, which you plainly did not read before firing up your umbrage:

Once a date for the light-dimming has been determined, one theater from every theater owner on Broadway will participate in the traditional tribute, with 11 venues to include the Circle in the Square, Helen Hayes, Marquis, New Amsterdam, Samuel J. Friedman, Shubert, Stephen Sondheim, St. James, Studio 54, Todd Haimes, and Vivian Beaumont theaters.

The League’s Committee of Theatre Owners determines the specific plans for the light dimming tributes. While the committee deliberations are not made public, the number of Broadway venues participating in light dimmings is generally viewed as reflecting the honoree’s influence, career span and even how recent a Broadway career has been.

Earlier this week, the League announced that select theaters would dim their lights on October 17 for the actor Adrian Bailey, who died September 22. Bailey, who appeared in 15 Broadway productions, retired from performing in 2008 following a devastating onstage accident.

Deadline has reached out to the League regarding the partial dimming plans for Creel and Bailey.

by Anonymousreply 554October 4, 2024 5:28 PM

I was not umbraged, only curious. But you're correct, I did not read the statement, so thanks for sharing.

by Anonymousreply 555October 4, 2024 5:37 PM

Sorry, R55, I read that "And" at the start of "And how do they...." as kind of umbragey.

by Anonymousreply 556October 4, 2024 5:48 PM

Sorry, R555, not R55.

by Anonymousreply 557October 4, 2024 5:48 PM

Not exactly gossip, but how about Dean Jones wearing tighty-whities in Company? It's an image I've never seen before.

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by Anonymousreply 558October 4, 2024 5:52 PM

[quote]key word missing…. “Select” Broadway theatre's.

What SHOULD be missing is the apostrophe.

Oh, dear.

by Anonymousreply 559October 4, 2024 5:56 PM

R558 Steve Sondheim had it written in his contract that this scene had to have that costume choice

by Anonymousreply 560October 4, 2024 5:57 PM

Petition for all marquees to dim their lights for Gavin Creel:

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by Anonymousreply 561October 4, 2024 6:19 PM

With all due respect (which is [italic] none [/italic] ), to r486, I repeat what I said before.

[quote] Time to stop, you two.

by Anonymousreply 562October 4, 2024 6:27 PM

Here’s a Betty Buckley performance for the ages. See at 5:10 and other places in the show.

As a former Miss Ft. Worth who failed to get the Miss Texas crown, dear Betty was reduced to being part of the “troup” at the 1967 pageant—where Miss America 1968 Dede Barnes (Kansas) was crowned.

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by Anonymousreply 563October 4, 2024 6:45 PM

Well now, at least we're back to some Theatre Gossip relevance, r563.

by Anonymousreply 564October 4, 2024 6:58 PM

That opening number is so twee it makes Franz Lehar's music sound interesting. I think I love it.

Skip to 20:40 for Joan Crawford hawking Pepsi!

by Anonymousreply 565October 4, 2024 7:00 PM

R562: and I'll repeat: GO. FUCK. YOURSELF.

by Anonymousreply 566October 4, 2024 7:02 PM

Betty is introduced at :40. Oh how the mighty fall!

by Anonymousreply 567October 4, 2024 7:04 PM

Shouldn’t the lights be dimmed for Ken Page? Or is he just forgotten?

by Anonymousreply 568October 4, 2024 8:16 PM

I'm sure this is going to be unpopular, but ENOUGH with the dimming of the lights on Broadway. Pretty soon we'll be dimming them every fucking night. ENOUGH!

by Anonymousreply 569October 4, 2024 8:16 PM

How about an annual dimming ceremony, say, the night before the Tony Awards?

by Anonymousreply 570October 4, 2024 8:32 PM

R568 Agree. He was an actual legend.

by Anonymousreply 571October 4, 2024 8:48 PM

Megan '88

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by Anonymousreply 572October 4, 2024 10:11 PM

I look forward to watching R475 get chucked from the Barrymore when he stands up and loudly denounces the production as a lie since we clearly are not in fact in New Hampshire in 1901.

by Anonymousreply 573October 4, 2024 10:41 PM

Nor Northern California in either 1985 or 1955.

by Anonymousreply 574October 4, 2024 10:48 PM

And we weren't in the Weissmann Theatre...

by Anonymousreply 575October 4, 2024 11:08 PM

Oops, it was '89...

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by Anonymousreply 576October 4, 2024 11:31 PM

R573 haha I already saw it. And I survived.

I just wish it was more of a tear-jerker.

by Anonymousreply 577October 5, 2024 12:30 AM

Ken Page and Gavin Creel actually had comparable careers in some respects.

Both appeared in about a half-dozen Broadway productions (Page in 5 or 6 . . . Creel in 8). In both cases, 2 of those appearances were as replacements. Both Broadway careers spanned about 20 years.

As already noted, however, Page (sadly, even unjustly) had no Tony nominations, while Creel had 3, winning the last one. And Page hadn't appeared on Broadway in over 24 years -- I'm pretty sure that most of his stage ventures for some time now had been restricted to his native St. Louis -- while Creel of course was there much more recently.

None of this is to say that Creel *deserves* the dimming more than Page. But it's hardly surprising that he's getting more attention at the moment.

by Anonymousreply 578October 5, 2024 12:57 AM

Muriel, please permanently ban the white supremacists and the race obsessed pedants. PLEEEAASSE?

by Anonymousreply 579October 5, 2024 1:36 AM

Lots of the posts in these threads are not actual "gossip," and that certainly applies to some of my posts. But here's some real gossip: According to a very reliable source, the female lead of HELL'S KITCHEN, who won a Tony Award for her role, has on SEVEN occasions left the show at some point DURING THE PERFORMANCE. And on at least one occasion when this happened recently, no understudy or standby or cover was available to step in, for some reason, so the audience was sent home and all of that money had to be refunded. Just to be clear, we are talking about the performer who plays the leading role, modeled after Alicia Keys -- NOT the veteran who plays her piano teacher, who also won a Tony for her performance.

by Anonymousreply 580October 5, 2024 2:22 AM

R580 - Alright! Now THAT'S some tasty gossip. Surprised we haven't heard about this earlier if this has happened SEVEN times. Are there rumors as to what's going on? Trying to perform through illness and losing her voice or something less.... forgivable? Full disclosure, I haven't seen Hell's Kitchen, and I know some theatre performances can't be "excerpted" well, but I found her so underwhelming and uncharismatic on the Tony Awards. Was genuinely surprised about the acclaim for her performance.

by Anonymousreply 581October 5, 2024 2:27 AM

I have a slightly silly complaint about the Hell's Kitchen cast album. It's two CDs, 30 songs total. The first is 24 songs, featuring all of act one and most of act two. Wouldn't it make slightly more sense to divide it 15-15, i.e. between the two acts?

by Anonymousreply 582October 5, 2024 2:43 AM

What's a CD?

by Anonymousreply 583October 5, 2024 2:53 AM

What’s a second act?

by Anonymousreply 584October 5, 2024 2:57 AM

How could mgmt let that happen 2 or 3 times, let alone 7 times. Hire a standby already.

by Anonymousreply 585October 5, 2024 3:32 AM

r580 Why not just say Maleah Joi Moon?

She doesn't do Wednesday matinees either. There are two understudies listed on the website for her role, so them cancelling performances is a puzzler

by Anonymousreply 586October 5, 2024 4:53 AM

[quote]r50 Mind you they ALL dimmed for Robin Williams.

… that huge Broadway star …

by Anonymousreply 587October 5, 2024 5:22 AM

Ken Page originated roled. Gavin Creel mostly appeared in revivals.

by Anonymousreply 588October 5, 2024 9:16 AM

Creel seems like he was a lovely guy, but were the performances really that great?

by Anonymousreply 589October 5, 2024 11:29 AM

Creel originated "Jimmy" in Thoroughly Modern Millie and received a Tony nomination for his first Broadway show.

by Anonymousreply 590October 5, 2024 11:49 AM

Ken Page's impact was huge in two landmark shows: "Ain't Misbehavin'" and "Cats" -- the original Broadway Old Deuteronomy. The should dim some lights.

by Anonymousreply 591October 5, 2024 11:50 AM

If all of that is true, it really begs the question why do the producers put up with it? Just because she won the Tony? And if she’s now causing them to lose money by having to issue refunds, then it truly makes zero sense why they would continue to condone such behavior.

by Anonymousreply 592October 5, 2024 12:51 PM

Okay: Maleah Joi Moon.

R586, the person who told me about the show that was cancelled mid-performance because no one else was available to step in had no idea why that happened, so I can only guess that both of the understudies were absent due to illness.

by Anonymousreply 593October 5, 2024 12:54 PM

[quote]Hire a standby already.

They feel they have the role covered, and in fact, someone has stepped in for MJM mid-performance on several other occasions. Don't know what happened with the one performance that was canceled after it started.

by Anonymousreply 594October 5, 2024 12:57 PM

R592-She's an amateur and a diva-in-waiting. Her attitude backstage hasn't exactly won her Miss Congeniality.

by Anonymousreply 595October 5, 2024 1:28 PM

I don’t mean to start any rumors… but it sounds like the behavior of a drug addict to me!

by Anonymousreply 596October 5, 2024 1:31 PM

I could do it! I never miss a performance! Too bad I'm dead...

by Anonymousreply 597October 5, 2024 1:31 PM

[quote]She's an amateur and a diva-in-waiting. Her attitude backstage hasn't exactly won her Miss Congeniality.

As a friend of mine said, "She'll probably never work again. On second thought....she won a Tony and she's young and hot, so she'll probably get hired for TV or movies, where they don't care about people not being to do eight shows a week."

See also: Lindsay Mendez.

by Anonymousreply 598October 5, 2024 1:45 PM

Closing this thead out ....

by Anonymousreply 599October 5, 2024 2:03 PM

Bajour!

by Anonymousreply 600October 5, 2024 2:04 PM
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