News Roundup - Musicals Around the Country

A bunch of articles about musicals have caught my eye in the past 12 hours or so, so I figured let me distill them all into one handy blog entry.

First off, in Minnesota, the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press have both weighed in on the Minneapolis Musical Theatre's production of Summer of '42. Somehow, I've managed to miss this one in production, but have always been charmed by the recording of it (from Jay Records). Sounds like the production in the Twin Cities is a real delight.

Secondly in California, there's a production of "Olympus on My Mind" - Barry Harman and Grant Sturiale's 1986 off-Broadway musical that's based on Kleist's 1807 retelling of the Amphityron myth. This is a bit of an odd-ball rarity and might be worth looking into.

So that's a couple of productions, now for some news about shows in development/workshop. In the Miami Herald, Christine Dolen's reporting on a largish workshop of a new musical called Fool's Paradise. It's a show written by Jim Camacho, a fixture apparently in South Florida's rock indie scene. Alongside the article there are a couple of audio clips to listen to.

Over in Texas, there's word in the Houston Chronicle, that Larry Dierker, former Houston Astros pitcher and manager, has penned a musical with composer Paul English, and their show, Old Stories, is getting a couple of workshop performances at Stages Rep in Houston.

Finally, yesterday in Playbill, there were reports of two shows that have set their sights on Broadway - Angels, which is casting for a August – September run in Louisiana, and Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls...," which has posted a casting notice for a production scheduled to open on Broadway in early August.


QUICK LINKS:

Minneapolis Musical Theatre: http://www.aboutmmt.org/
Onstage Theatre: http://www.onstagetheatre.org/
Stages Repertory Theatre: http://www.stagestheatre.com/

A Busy Year Ahead as Charles Strouse Turns 80

When releases are as handy as this – an announcement about all of the events scheduled for 2008 that will celebrate the achievements of composer Charles Strouse, well, it just seems silly to gild the lily. So, let's look at what has happened and will be happening as Strouse – the man who's written shows like Bye Bye Birdie and Annie - turns 80 this year (June 7 is his actual birthday).

January 2008
Launch of www.CharlesStrouse.com
In honor of Strouse’s 80th year, a new official website is launched. The most comprehensive site for all things Charles Strouse, CharlesStrouse.com features biographical, discography, theatre, film and television listings; a collection of rare video segments from Strouse’s Broadway productions, film and television, audio clips, a photo library, and even interactive opportunities to share your connection with the music of Charles Strouse and offer birthday wishes.

February 6th at 8:30PM
Lincoln Center’s American Songbook presents
“This is the life: Eric Comstock Salutes Charles Strouse at 80”
Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Allen Room, New York
Comstock, joined by guest vocalist Barbara Fasano and Charles Strouse himself, will perform an evening of Strouse favorites from the standpoint of its influence on the jazz repertoire. For tickets and more information visit http://www.lincolncenter.org/show_events_list.asp?eventcode=16978

February 7th-10th, 2008
Applause at Encores!
City Center, New York
Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) will star as Margo Channing in Applause, the 1970 Tony Award-winning musical based on the classic film All About Eve, about a great Broadway star and her duplicitous understudy. Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall directs and choreographs. Songs include “Applause,” “Welcome to the Theater” and “Good Friends.” Following the matinee on Saturday, February 9th, Strouse and his collaborator Lee Adams will participate in a talk-back discussion with audience members. For tickets and more information visit http://www.nycitycenter.org/events/event_detail.cfm?event_code=EN108

Saturday, March 15th at 3:00PM
Screening: “The Colors of My Life - The Musical Theatre of Michael Stewart”
Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza
Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, New York
NYPL presents a screening of this special 2006 event honoring Charles Strouse’s Bye Bye Birdie collaborator, Michael Stewart. In addition to a musical performance by Strouse, there are tributes from Charles Busch, Melissa Errico, Jim Dale, James Naughton, Lee Roy Reams, Steve Ross and others. For more information visit http://www.nypl.org/research/calendar/prog/lpa/plistlpa2.cfm.

Thursday, March 20th at 5:30PM
Panel Discussion & DVD signing: “Life After Tomorrow”
Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center, New York
In celebration of the DVD release of Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr.’s documentary “Life After Tomorrow,” Barnes & Noble hosts a special panel discussion with Strouse and several of Annie’s alumni orphans featured in the film. The evening will also a live performance and a DVD signing. For more information visit http://www.nypl.org/research/calendar/prog/lpa/plistlpa2.cfm.

May 2008
Annie – The 30th Anniversary Cast Recording
The most musically complete recording of the Strouse/Charnin score to date, this double-disc collectable features an all-star cast including Carol Burnett, Gary Beach, Kathie Lee Gifford, Andrea McArdle, Harve Presnell, John Schuck and Sally Struthers. In addition to the new overture that Strouse has created for this recording, bonus tracks include previously unrecorded material from Annie 2, the 20th Anniversary Broadway revival, the Australian production and the 1977 NBC Annie Christmas Special. Released by Time Life and distributed by Warner Brothers, the album is produced by Grammy-nominated Robert Sher. For more information visit http://www.timelife.com/.

Saturday, May 10th at 3:00PM
An Afternoon with Charles Strouse
Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, 40 Lincoln Center Plaza
Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, New York
In conjunction with NYPL’s exhibition “Writing to Character: Songwriters & The Tony Awards” (February 26-June 14), Charles Strouse takes to the piano for an afternoon of behind-the-scenes anecdotes and live performances from some of his Tony winning and nominated scores including Bye Bye Birdie, Applause, Annie, Golden Boy, Rags and Nick and Nora. http://www.nypl.org/research/calendar/prog/lpa/plistlpa2.cfm.

Thursday, March 20th at 5:30PM
Panel Discussion & DVD signing: “Life After Tomorrow”
Barnes & Noble at Lincoln Center, New York
In celebration of the DVD release of Julie Stevens and Gil Cates, Jr.’s documentary “Life After Tomorrow,” Barnes & Noble hosts a special panel discussion with Strouse and several of Annie’s alumni orphans featured in the film. The evening will also feature a live performance of “Tomorrow” by Gypsy’s Emma Rowley accompanied by Strouse and a DVD signing. For more information visit http://www.nypl.org/research/calendar/prog/lpa/plistlpa2.cfm

May 13th, 2008
Library of Congress Honors Charles Strouse
Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Following acquisitions from great American composers including Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and Aaron Copeland, the Music Division of The Library of Congress accepts the Charles Strouse collection of original theatre, film, television, opera and orchestral work manuscripts. The presentation will be followed by a birthday luncheon in the library. For more information visit http://www.loc.gov/.

May 14th, 2008
Broadway Up-Close and Personal: Charles Strouse at The Kennedy Center
Terrace Theatre at Kennedy Center, Washington, DC
Join Strouse for an intimate interview with ASCAP's Michael Kerker and live music by special guests performing the best of Charles Strouse. The interview will be followed by a dinner reception with Strouse and members of the United States Congress. For tickets and more information visit http://www.kennedy-center.org/text/calendar/event_details.cfm?event=PIPTC

Thursday, June 26th at 4:00PM
“Composing Pop & Broadway” Seminar
The Julliard School, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York
Part of a three-day annual workshop led by the esteemed choral conductor Judith Clurman, Strouse and fellow composers David Shire and Georgia Stitt discuss their works and careers in a panel discussion for choral musicians and students. For more information visit http://www.juilliard.edu/summer/ccm.html.

June 2nd, 2008, 6:00 -7:30PM
Applause, Applause: A Salute to Charles Strouse
The Paley Center for Media, New York
The Paley Center presents rare television and film footage featuring Carol Burnett, Sammy Davis, Jr., Elliot Gould, Larry Hagman, Alan Jay Lerner, Dorothy Loudon, Caroll O’Connor, Chita Rivera, Jason Robards, Jr., Jean Stapleton, and even the Muppets performing Charles Strouse songs from his Broadway shows, film and television. This public event, includes a panel discussion, a live performance by Strouse and a live appearance by Lauren Bacall, the Tony Award winning star of Strouse’s Applause. After the tribute, there will be a by-invitation-only dinner reception for Strouse and the Paley Center’s Producers Circle.

June 2008
Book release: “Put On a Happy Face,” a Broadway memoir by Charles Strouse
Charles Strouse takes his readers behind the scenes. Released by Sterling Publishing, Strouse’s autobiography is about songwriting, star-making and the memories of one of America’s greatest living composers.

July 22nd-24th, 2008
Hal Leonard Publishing: National Joy of Singing Convention
Country Springs Hotel & Conference Center, Waukesha, WI
The world’s largest music print publisher brings together over 1,000 music educators from around the country to honor Charles Strouse in celebration of 80 years of great American music. At this event, three new choral works by Charles Strouse will premiere. For more information visit http://www.jwpepper.com/branch/events

Thursday, June 26th at 4:00PM
“Composing Pop & Broadway” Seminar
The Julliard School, 60 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York
Part of a three-day annual workshop led by the esteemed choral conductor Judith Clurman, Strouse and fellow composers David Shire and Georgia Stitt discuss their works and careers in a panel discussion for choral musicians and students. For more information visit http://www.juilliard.edu/summer/ccm.html.

July 2008
Charles Strouse Launches National Put On A Happy Face Book Tour
Charles Strouse will visit Barnes & Nobel bookstores and theatres around the United States to discuss his new memoir as well as present workshops to students and offer live performances. For updates to his tour schedule visit http://www.charlesstrouse.com/

Fall 2008
BBC Radio: Elaine Paige interviews Charles Strouse
(Specific air dates TBA)
London
In celebration of his 80th year, legendary West End musical theatre star Elaine Paige will sit down with Strouse to discuss the "essential musicals" that have had an impact on him and his career.

Fall 2008
Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) Salon seminar with Charles Strouse
(Specific date and venue TBA)
London
MMD presents an evening with Charles Strouse. Budding, London-based musical theatre writers will sit down with the composer to discuss his 50 years of composing for the musical theatre.

Fall 2008
BBC Concert: Charles Strouse’s UK Birthday celebration
The Palladium London, England UK
This live concert, featuring Martin Yates conducting the BBC Orchestra, celebrates the music of Charles Strouse. This event will be recorded by the BBC for broadcast on their popular “Friday Night is Music Night” program in the UK in June 2008

Fall 2008
Stage & Screen: Edward Seckerson in conversation with Charles Strouse
The Shaw Theatre, London
Michael Feinstein's "Feinstein’s at The Shaw" season will include this special evening in which BBC Radio 3 host Edward Seckerson will interview Charles Strouse about his illustrious career before a live audience. American audiences will be able to view the interview later in the month at http://www.stageandscreenonline.com/

Fall 2008
National Tour of University and College Campuses
This fall, Strouse will offer workshops, seminars and live performances for music and theatre students around the United States. For updates to his tour schedule visit http://www.charlesstrouse.com/

October 16th-19th, 2008
Alumnae Weekend: Eastman School of Music Honors Charles Strouse
University of Rochester, NY
Strouse returns to his alma mater for a celebration of his 80th birthday and illustrious career. The university will honor Strouse in an evening that will include live performances. For more information visit http://www.rochester.edu/alumni/melioraweekend/.

October 29th-November 2nd 2008
Charles Strouse Festival
The Hartt Conservatory, Hartford, CT
University students present a weekend festival celebrating the music of Charles Strouse. Under the direction of a team of Broadway guest artists, the weekend will include performances of Strouse’s Rags, Lyle Lyle Crocodile, Charlotte’s Web and orchestral works. For more information visit http://www.harttweb.hartford.edu/.

April 3rd, 2009
The New York Pops Salutes Charles Strouse
Carnegie Hall, New York City
Join the New York Pops conducted by Martin Yates, a roster of fabulous stars and Charles Strouse himself for an evening of standards from Broadway and the movies, stirring orchestral works and a few debut performances from Strouse's Broadway-bound musicals.

For more information about Charles Strouse, his career, and any of the events detailed above, visit http://www.charlesstrouse.com/.

Fighting the Smoking Ban in MN, and More News of the Day

Blog entries have been scarce this week – I know. Lots of reviews and a couple of pieces for Back Stage - one on April Yvette Thompson and Liberty City and one on Joanne Camp and Ghosts, the 50th production that the Obie-award winning and Tony and Drama Desk nominated actress has done with the company.

I figured rather than letting the blog be silent while I work on my review for In the Heights and finish up listening to a couple of things that I need to review, I'll point you toward a few interesting articles from this morning's News Clippings on ATW.

First off, in USA Today, there's an article about a theater in Minnesota that's trying to get round the state's smoking ban. You'll find it at www.usatoday.com – direct link.

In Paul Hodgins' blog for the Orange County Register, there's an interview with Richard Maltby, Jr., who's hard at work on the musical version of the movie Mask at the Pasadena Playhouse. This one's at Orange County Register – direct link.

Similarly, there's an interview with composer/lyricist Jerry Herman in The Houston Chronicle, coinciding with the last few performances of Hello, Dolly! with Leslie Uggams at Theatre Under the Stars. You'll find this article at Houston Chronicle – direct link.

Finally, bunch of articles about things here in New York. Roundabout Theatre Company's plans to produce a revival of Pal Joey this fall and news of Lincoln Center Theater's new theater space. Of course, there have been plenty of reviews of the revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, which opened last night on Broadway. You'll find the "scrapbook" of reviews on ATW at ATW News Digest

Have a great weekend.

QUICK LINKS:

Pasadena Playhouse: http://www.pasadenaplayhouse.org/
Theatre Under the Stars: http://www.tuts.com/
Roundabout Theatre Company: http://www.roundabouttheatre.org/
Lincoln Center Theatre: http://www.lct.org
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof website: http://www.cat2008onbroadway.com/

A Birthday Event (and CD) for a Special Cause

Brian Gari, the composer/lyricist of Late Nite Comic, will celebrate his birthday today with an evening of song at "Don't Tel Mama." Gari will be joined by Liz Larsen (Tony nominee for The Most Happy Fella) and there's a low cover for this annual event – it's just $5.00 with a 2 drink minimum. I'm imagining that you'll hear some selections from "Late Nite" should you drop by Don't Tell Mama….he's just released a new recording of the now-infamous show – one that features Larry Hochman's original orchestrations.

I've not had a chance to take a listen to the new "Late Nite" – which has been released to coincide with the show's 20th anniversary, but the disc (which Gari's produced) features some pretty incredible talent including: Liz Callaway, Brian D'Arcy James, Larsen, Howard McGillin, Julia Murney, Mary Testa, Karen Ziemba and Chip Zien. The 20th Anniversary recording of Gari's musical is another way Gari is working to raise money for the Actors Fund. All proceeds from sales of the disc (from Original Cast Records) will go to benefit this worthy organization.

Expect a review of "Late Nite" later this week or early next….tomorrow, some news about some Broadway rarities on CD.

Andy

Quick links:

Actors Fund: http://www.actorsfund.org/
Don't Tell Mama: http://www.donttellmama.com/
Original Cast Records: http://www.originalcastrecords.com/

Friday Miscellany - Mainly NYTW's New Series

So, two days without entries here. What gives you might ask? Well, with a partner who's not completely laid up, but bad enough to require a drive to the office every morning, and two shows on Wednesday, time just sort of flies. You can find the reviews of those shows, Crimes of the Heart and The Jazz Age on ATW and TheaterMania, respectively. (Also, there are quick links below.)

Today, I hope to get round to finally writing about The Slug-Bearers of Kayrol Island - a musical that's just opened at the Vineyard Theatre, and that's now been extended for a couple of weeks through March 2. I had a pretty complex reaction to this musical and with time constraints, I've just not gotten there. The other theatergoing of the week has been Catherine Filoux's Killing the Boss, which is reviewed in Back Stage.

Looking ahead, it's quite the musical weekend ….tonight's The Blue Flower, tomorrow's "Sunday in the Park…" and Sunday's Talking Band's Imminence at La MaMa. (Expect a review of the latter in "The Voice," the others will appear on the site.

In terms of other things, I will get to catch up to Patrick Stewart's Macbeth next week and I'm at work on a feature on New York Theatre Workshop's Liberty City for Back Stage.

And speaking of NYTW – I was thrilled yesterday to read about their new "Encores!"-like program for off-Broadway musicals. According to the "Times" yesterday, the first two shows for a three show series have been chosen: Al Carmines and Maria Irene Fornes' Promenade and "Iphigenia in Concert" from Doug Dyer, Gretchen Cryer and Peter Link. A third is still to be announced.

The announcement got me to thinking…..will NYTW dust of relatively recent off-Broadway shows? For instance, can we expect a concert version of The Knife seen at the Public the mid-80s, about a man undergoing a sex-change operation? It's an intriguing score. What about another show from the Public….William Finn's Romance in Hard Times. Looking back to the rock era, I'm sort of hoping that NYTW artistic director James C. Nicola will be considering Your Own Thing, that rockin' Twelfth Night.

Whatever the choices, the new series will be quite welcome on the horizon.

Have a great weekend.

Andy

Quick links:

Crimes of the Heart review: http://www.americantheaterweb.com/news/ind.asp?id=192863
The Jazz Age review: http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/12855
Killing the Boss review: http://www.backstage.com/bso/news_reviews/nyc/review_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003710811
New York Theatre Workshop: http://www.nytw.org/

Hello Jerry - Herman Productions Abound

Last week, I was musing on how it would be possible to glut oneself on musicals by Kander and Ebb – shifting from New York to the DC area to the Midwest and finally, Australia. Since that time, Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, which is hosting the major Kander and Ebb celebration this spring has announced several ancillary events to its productions – including an exhibit of items related to the team's shows.

Today, a review in the San Diego Union-Tribune got me to thinking about songwriter Jerry Herman. There's a production of Hello, Dolly! that's running at the Lamb's Players Theatre there right now, and it continues through March 16. Interesting, I thought – there's also a production of this show starting up at the end of the month in Houston TX at Theatre Under the Stars. There Dolly Levi will be played by Leslie Uggams.

Okay, so in the interest of fair-is-fair, I figured what other Jerry Herman musicals are on the slates of theaters around the county in the next few weeks. Well, the other "big" Herman musical is "Mame." And this one could catch right now in Seattle at 5th Avenue Theatre. Dee Hoty is playing the flamboyant aunt of the title, and apparently, she's being costumed by Luly Yang, described in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer as "Seattle's couture queen." In a recent article the paper reported that Hoty would sport at the end of Act 2, "a $30,000 gown from Luly Yang's "Passage to Shanghai" collection. It's a hand-embroidered robe of red duchess silk satin with metallic organza sleeves, adorned with thousands of Swarovski crystals." This production continues through March 2.

Broadway's original "Mame," Angela Lansbury, of course, appeared in one other Herman show - Dear World - his musicalization of Giraudoux's . This one isn't running right now, but in just a couple of months, it will be playing on the East Coast, at Bristol Riverside Theatre in Pennsylvania.

Looking around the rest of the country – and internationally – there are several options for catching Herman's La Cage aux Folles. It's playing right now (and through March 2) at Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana. There's also the acclaimed production that's running through March 8 at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. (It stars Philip Quast). And should one have the time (and resources) for a true U.K. adventure for Jerry Herman, Mack and Mabel will be playing at the King's Theatre in Edinburgh from February 26 through March 1.

So, having begun with Hello, Dolly! originally staged by Gower Champion – it seems I should mention that on March 31st, St. Luke's in New York will be the site of two panel discussions about Champion's work. Presented by Dancers Over 40, "In the Company of Friends: The Dancers and Creative Talents of Director/Choreographer Gower Champion" will feature such artists as Lee Roy Reams and Nicole Barth (both seen in "Dolly!") and will be moderated by David Hartman, host of Thirteen/WNET’s popular Walking Tours series who was featured in the original Hello, Dolly! as Rudolph the waiter.

Andy

Quick links:

Signature Theatre: http://sig-online.org/
Lamb's Players Theatre: http://www.lambsplayers.org/
Theatre Under the Stars: http://www.tuts.com/
5th Avenue Theatre: http://www.5thavenuetheatre.org/
Bristol Riverside Thatre: http://www.brtstage.org/
Theatre at the Center: http://www.theatreatthecenter.com/
Menier Chocolate Factory: http://www.menierchocolatefactory.com/
King's Theatre: http://www.edinburgh-life.com/theatres/kings-theatre-122463.html
Dancers Over 40: http://www.dancersover40.org/

A Taste of the Sound That Says Love...Applause

When Applause, the musical adaptation of the movie All About Eve bowed on Broadway in 1970, it starred screen legend Lauren Bacall. She played Margo Channing, a one-time screen star who had shifted her career to Broadway, and who found herself battling not only with fears of aging, but also a scheming would-be starlet, Eve Harrington. The role of Margo Channing (and it's a name that seems to warrant the use of both birth and surnames) in the movie, of course, was originated by Bette Davis, and even for those of use who grew up listening to the original cast recording of the Charles Strouse (music) and Lee Adams (lyrics) score, there seemed to be a certain juiciness to Bacall, with her deep smoky voice, taking on the role made infamous by Davis, whose clipped and vaguely British line readings have inspired generations of imitators, both male and female

For this past weekend's staging of Applause as the opener of the 2008 Encores! series, Christine Ebersole took on the role made famous by Davis and Bacall. Fresh from her Tony Award-winning turn in Grey Gardens, Ebersole is an interesting choice. She's done her stint in Hollywood, and has returned to New York to triumph not only in "Gardens," but in shows like 42nd Street (for which she also won a Tony) where she played Dorothy Brock, the aging musical comedy star whose broken ankle allows a completely unknown chorus girl to achieve overnight stardom.

Ebersole's work in these two shows, on certain levels, points toward certain success for her in assuming the role of Margo Channing. In both "Gardens" (in the first act in particular) and 42nd Street, Ebersole brought a larger-than-life imperiousness to the stage. Concurrently, Ebersole was able to communicate a certain vulnerability that made these characters human, and that's also a requisite for Applause and "Eve." We have to believe this queen of the theater is capable of loving her director Bill Sampson (Michael Park) and of being wounded by Eve's schemes.

Interestingly, an illness that plagued Ebersole all last week – meaning that she had to miss a great many rehearsals and went on at less than 100% - led to a further parallel between her past work and the story in Applause. (Could there have been an Eve backstage waiting for her chance to blossom in this staging directed by Kathleen Marshall? Most likely not, but this is after all the stuff of theatrical fairy tales.) Illness or no, go on Ebersole did – and while the human side of Margo Channing shone through – beautifully throughout – some of the character's grandiosity and "Queen Bee" characteristics were not in evidence as much as one might have hoped. At times, in fact, one almost wondered how this woman might have survived in the studio system of Hollywood's Golden Age.

Still Ebersole gave a performance that truly did make one rethink not only the role of Margo Channing, but also the Strouse/Adams score. A torch song that Margo sings one night as she pines for her beau who's off making a film in Rome suddenly churned with emotion in a 70s pop-sound that was never heard in Bacall's original vocals.

For Marshall's production (which unfolded with ease on a clever set from John Lee Beatty that made it feel as though one were watching a show unfold on a Broadway stage peering out into the house), a host of Broadway veterans provided color and some choicely turned performances. Chip Zien and Kate Burton shone as Margo's nebbish-y playwright and his well-heeled Radcliffe-educated wife. Mario Cantone provided a beautifully muted turn as Margo's fey hairdresser. Tom Hewitt oozed charm and a bit of menace as the Broadway producer who sets his sights on Eve (a revision to the Addison DeWitt character from the movie) and Megan Sikora brought zest to the Broadway gypsy who delivers the show's title song.

As backstabbing Eve, Erin Davie (Ebersole's co-star from "Gardens") actually did convince as Eve – ever-so-retiring – first makes her appearance, and while Eve's transformation didn't always convince – Davie, too, seems just a bit too nice – Davie delivered her 11 o'clock with blistering intensity.

City Center's Encores! series will continue next month with a staging of Juno Marc Blitzstein and Joseph Stein's musical adaptation of Sean O'Casey's Juno and the Paycock. It will play from March 27 through 30. Then, in May, No, No, Nanette will be featured, running from May 8 through 12.

I've already started thinking about these two, which will star, respectively Victoria Clark, and Sandy Duncan. During my recent move I made sure that Don Dunn's "The Making of No, No Nanette" made it to the top of a must-read pile (and if you're looking for a copy there are a few to be had on Amazon.com). Later this month, I'll start up my prep work for the two by listening to the Fynsworth Alley re-release of the original cast recording of Juno, which can still be purchased with a visit to Fynsworth Alley or Footlight Records online.

Quick links:

City Center: http://www.citycenter.org/
Fynsworth Alley: http://www.fynsworthalley.com/
Footlight: http://www.footlight.com/

It's Springtime for ....Kander and Ebb

Reading through the announcement of casting for much of the Kander and Ebb celebration that will be kicking off shortly at the Signature Theatre in Virginia, I started thinking about there other shows, and how, during the next few months, one could catch not only the shows that are playing at this acclaimed Virginia theatre, but also in New York and elsewhere in the country.

Consider this: you could start off in New York and see two of the famed duo's shows. There's the long-running revival of Chicago at the Ambassador and Curtains (with contributions from Rupert Holmes) at the Al Hirschfeld. Also this later month, you'll be able to see a concert incarnation of Flora, the Red Menace at the Duplex Theater – a show produced by Opening Doors Theatre Company that's going to run February 24 & 25, and March 2 & 3.

Now, that pulls us pretty close to the start of the celebration at the Signature which gets underway on March 11 with the first performance of Kiss of the Spider Woman, which will continue through April 20. The show's going to star Natasha Diaz as Aurora, the Spider Woman of the title, and Hunter Foster and Will Chase as the cellmates who both fall under her spell. While "Kiss" is running, the theater will start up a second Kander and Ebb collaboration, The Happy Time, their 1968 work about a worldly photographer and the influence that he holds over his young nephew. When the show first played Broadway, it starred Robert Goulet. For the Signature revival, that role will be played by Michael Minarik. Also in the company – George Dvorsky and David Margulies. The production will run April 1 through June 1.

The final entry in the Signature celebration will be the team's long-in-development musicalization of Durrenmatt's The Visit, a show that was produced several seasons back at the Goodman in Chicago. In Virginia, the stars will be Chita Rivera and George Hearn, and the production's scheduled to run May 13 through June 22.

In addition to these productions, you'll be able to catch a couple of special shows at the Signature during its celebration. Karen Akers will perform her cabaret tribute to the team from March 11 through March 16. And then, June 4-7, graduates from the theater's Musical Theater Institute will perform a revue of Kander and Ebb hits in "Kander and Ebb Overtures."

Now, just while Signature is presenting "Happy Time," you'll need to hop out to Minnesota to catch a production of Cabaret that will be playing at the Ordway Center in St. Paul (running May 2-18).

Finally, and just because this will take some planning …there's going to be a production of 70, Girls, 70 playing in August. It's in Gosford Australia. It will run August 1 through 22 at the Laycock Street Theatre.

Meanwhile, you'll want to keep in mind the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts's multi-media exhibit "Songwriters and the Tony Awards." Cabaret will be one of the show highlighted in this tribute that will be on display from February 26 through June 14.

Another tribute – this one to Ebb – will be taking place at the 92nd Street Y from February 23 – February 25 – "Life Is a Cabaret: A Tribute to Fred Ebb." Scheduled to appear: Brent Barrett, Judy Blazer, Diana Canova, Tyne Daly, and David Garrison.

Quick links:

Chicago: www.ChicagoTheMusical.com
Curtains: www.CurtainsTheMusical.com
Signature Theatre Company: www.Sig-Online.org
Opening Doors Theatre Company: www.ODTConline.org
Ordway Center: www.Ordway.org
Laycock Street Theatre: www.Laycock.com
New York Public Library: www.NYPL.org
92nd Street Y: www.92ndsty.org

The Chicago Trip with Music from PS Classics

Well, the trip to Chicago was exceptionally enjoyable all the way around – even managed to make it there before O'Hare essentially closed down on Friday.

That night caught Hephaestus at Lookingglass Theater's very handsome home in the Water Tower on North Michigan Avenue. Will be posting a full ATW review of this show later today. On Saturday night, it was Talking Pictures at the Goodman Theater. You'll find my TheaterMania review as well as the two from the Chicago dailies here:

http://www.americantheaterweb.com/news/pressbook2.asp?id=5818101

Now, on the flights back and forth (don't ask about the return flight or you'll get a screed on rudeness), I did listen to a handful of CDs. I concentrated on releases from PS Classics which has been so prolific in the past few months. Among their releases late in 2007 – Victoria Clark's lovely "15 Seconds of Grace" and Andrea Burns' exceptional "A Deeper Shade of Red." I have reviewed both of these for the next issue of The Sondheim Review - so I'll leave the commenting on them to a minimum here. Basically, if you don't have these yet, you're going to want them.

Late last year, PS Classics also shipped Xanadu - The Original Cast Recording and Take Flight. As the latter deals with aviation and the former contains music that takes me back to high school days, they seemed like the ideal options for the jaunt to Chicago, and neither disappointed me.

Obviously, Xanadu the stage version of the cult-hit, but commercial flop, 1980 movie of the same name, has proven to be quite the success on Broadway this season. The unlikely story of a muse who comes to earth to inspire an artist – who ends up wanting to build a roller disco – features a score from Jeff Lynne and John Farrah. Hits from the movie include "Magic", "Suddenly" and "All Over the World," and they're all here, plus some others from Lynne and Farrah (a.k.a. Electric Light Orchestra). For some, like this writer, these tunes were part of growing up, and there's something pleasant about revisiting them, particularly when performed by such Broadway talents as Kerry Butler (Clio, the muse) and Cheyenne Jackson (the artist).

Both of these performers – along with Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, and Tony Roberts – deliver the pop/disco score with panache in the theater, and their performances sound great on the disc. Butler – who's morphed from Belle to Bat Boy's love interest to Penny in Hairspray and Audrey in "Little Shop" – is particularly appealing, channeling her inner Olivia Newton-John and bringing some decided Broadway flair to the songs. Jackson, who imbues the artist with a deft level of cluelessness, retains that quality in the small amounts of dialogue that are included on the disc and his smooth vocal stylings, as always are a pleasure. Testa and Hoffman shine particularly when they imbue "Evil Woman" with a healthy dose of comedy. Roberts shines in the more traditional "Whenever You're Away From Me."

As with all of the company's releases, Xanadu has been packaged beautifully. The CD is accompanied by a full-color booklet that is awash with pictures from the show. Who knows? The disc might even inspire you to pull out your rollerskates and take a spin.

Now, the musical Take Flight is something in an entirely different vein. It's a new musical fantasia of sorts about aviation from the songwriting team of Richard Maltby, Jr. (lyrics) and David Shire (music) and bookwriter John Weidman. In it, the stories of Orville and Wilbur Wright, Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart all converge with German aviator and inventor Otto Lilienthal acting as the audience's guide.

What you'll find on this disc – which is the premiere recording of the show and features the original London cast from the Menier Chocolate Factory production – is 18 tracks of probably the most complex music that the team of Maltby and Shire have ever devised. In "Flight" they play not only with the grandly varied sounds of American popular music in the first decades of the twentieth century and embellish the melodies so that it often sounds as if the songs are soaring off into the distance themselves. At other times, they work in what I've come to think of as Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park" pointillist mode – providing characters with quick staccato melody lines that – if you listen real hard – can sometimes sound like the sputtering of early aircraft. In other words, this is a show that bears more resemblance to another musical for which Weidman provided the book - Assassins - than many of Maltby and Shire's previous collaborations – things like Baby and Big.

The British company – led by Sam Kenyon and Elliot Levey as the Wright Brothers, Michael Jibson as Lindy and Sally Ann Triplett as Earhart – handles the music with flair, delivering the lyrics with almost always perfect American accents.

I'll admit that I was only listening to the disc while on the plane and that was foolish. It's rather important to have the booklet that accompanies the disc handy during your first and second go-rounds with "Flight" – Matt Wolf's liner notes and the stage directions that are interspersed with lyrics and dialogue – are rather handy to get a sense of some of what's going on in the musical – which I imagine is going to garner a large number of fans based on this release.

Andy

A couple of Passing Strange photos

This new show is about to start previews at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street) in Manhattan on February 8 prior to opening February 28, 2008.


Colman Domingo, Stew and Daniel Breaker in the Broadway-bound musical PASSING STRANGE
Photo Credit: Michal Daniel

Stew in the Broadway-bound musical PASSING STRANGE
Photo Credit: Michal Daniel

For further information and some mp3 downloads, drop by: http://www.passingstrangeonbroadway.com/

Tony Season Begins Tomorrow - Some Predictions

Well, I figured that I might as well join in on the prognosticating on who will be nominated for Tony Awards. This isn't a complete slate, but rather, a snapshot of whom I believe will be up for the top awards. As we barrel into the Tony Award season, remember you can always see a full selection of press about the 2007 Tony Awards at www.americantheaterweb.com/news/Tony2007.asp

Until next time,

Andy

PLAY
The Coast of Utopia
Coram Boy
Frost/Nixon
Radio Golf

MUSICAL
Curtains
Grey Gardens
LoveMusik
Spring Awakening

REVIVAL OF A PLAY
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
A Moon for the Misbegotten
Talk Radio

REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade

LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY
Boyd Gaines – Journey's End
Frank Langella – Frost/Nixon
Brian F. O'Bryne – The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer – Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber – Talk Radio

LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY
Eve Best – A Moon for the Misbegotten
Angela Lansbury – Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave – The Year of Magical Thinking
Marian Seldes - Deuce
Julie White – The Little Dog Laughed

LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Christine Ebersole – Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald – 110 in the Shade
Lea Michele – Spring Awakening
Debra Monk - Curtains
Donna Murphy – LoveMusik

LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Raul Esparza - Company
Jonathan Groff – Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee – Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce - Curtains
Martin Short – Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

DIRECTION OF A PLAY
Michael Grandage – Frost/Nixon
David Grindley – Journey's End
Doug Hughes – Inherit the Wind
Kenny Leon – Radio Golf
Jack O'Brien – The Coast of Utopia

DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL
John Doyle – Company
Scott Ellis - Curtains
Michael Greif – Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer – Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell – Legally Blonde

An update from Andy / Reviews of recent openings

So what's become of Andy you might ask? The blog hasn't been updated in over a week and the reviews on AmericanTheaterWeb have been slight. All that I've written for the site itself is the review of Cymbeline that's playing at BAM through Saturday (Full Review). Despite what you might have read elsewhere, this is a truly effective and affecting production. If you've got time tonight or tomorrow, take the trip out to Fulton Street.

Meanwhile, an outline of some of my theatergoing and the reviews that have been appearing elsewhere: I quite enjoyed Memory at >59E59 (expect a full review in "The Voice" next week). This week, you'll find my thoughts on Harold Prince's excellent work on LoveMusik in the paper (Full Review).

Elsewhere, my review of Rachel Dickstein's Betrothed at the Ohio Theater has been posted this morning on backstage.com (Full Review). Also, while you're looking at that site, take a look at my review of Jenny Schwartz' God's Ear, this is one of the most exciting pieces of theater I've caught in a long time (Full Review). You should check it out. Finally, expect a review of An Octopus Love Story next week in Time Out. This quirky love story that's also a shrewd bit of commentary on what makes a marriage took me by surprise. It's funny and touching and well worth a look. (For quick reference - here's their website: http://www.kidswithguns.com/.

And with that, we're truly off and running in the 2007-2008 season.

Until next time,

Andy

A Season Ends (sort of) With Strong Women

It's been over a week since I've posted here. Sorry for the silence. The Drama Desk nomination process is an arduous one that sort of overtook all of my time. But, it's done and I'll admit I'm quite proud of the slate – it's amazing how it gets done at all. Not including festival shows (Fringe, NYMF, etc.) I saw 287 shows in the 12 months since the last nominations were announced. Distilling that many shows, performances and design elements down to six per category is no easy feat. But, it's done, and so, now onto the 'new' season, even as the old winds down.

Speaking of which, there was a flurry of theatergoing for me during all of this, and in three instances, we're talking about, to paraphrase Cryer and Ford, women doing their "strong woman numbers." With these capsule reviews, along with a full review of Frost/Nixon that I'll post on ATW early next week, basically allow me to move forward into the "new" season (at least for Drama Desk purposes) with a relatively clean slate.

I'll start with The Pirate Queen – the new musical over at the Hilton from Les Miz creators Boublil and Schoenberg. Stephanie J. Block is doing some admirable work in this awfully heavy seagoing, almost swashbuckling, musical, but sadly, it never swings fully to life. To their credit, the creators have written some rather grand Elizabethan sounding arias for Queen Elizabeth (Drama Desk nominee Linda Balgord), and in act two when Elizabeth and Block's pirate queen Grace O'Malley square off, the show's rather grand. Also an asset to the show are choreographer Carol Leavy Joyce's Irish dances that are lovely variations of work seen in Riverdance. I'll admit to having had real hopes for this one, and perhaps my expectations were just too high. I left thinking that the writers, with Gary Griffin (director) and Graciela Daniele (musical staging) should have been able to fashion a truly thrilling adventure tale from this obscure piece of British history.

A similar level of female strength, albeit much more contemporary, and infinitely more cutting can be found at the Actors Temple Theatre on 47th Street where J.A.P – The Jewish American Princesses of Comedy is playing. Here Jackie Hoffman, Cory Kahaney, Jessica Kirson and Cathy Ladman each deliver 15 or 20 minutes of their standup routines all the while paying tribute to some of the women who paved the way for them in comedy field: comediennes like Jean Carroll, Betty Walker and Pearl Williams. Before the quartet of women performs, clips of these other women's routines (mostly from old television shows) are projected onto a pair of "Laugh-In"-esque flower mobiles that are a key element of Jo Winiarski's scenic design. It makes for an interesting contrast in what was and is cutting edge in women's humor. I found it hard not to want to see a more direct correlation between the old and new in J.A.P., and although, some of the Jewish flavor of "J.A.P." failed to land with this goy, the show, directed by Dan Fields, is ultimately an affable 90-minutes of standup comedy.

Finally, and in yet, another whiplash-inducing switch of styles and tones, I want to mention the subtle and often riveting performance that Vanessa Redgrave is giving in The Year of Magical Thinking at the Booth Theatre on 45th Street. As Redgrave performs Joan Didion's text – an adaptation of her memoir about her husband and daughter's deaths, Redgrave manages to be simultaneously coolly stoic and deeply emotional. For most of the evening, she sits centerstage in a wooden armchair and as the play progresses, scenic designer Bob Crowley punctuates the shifts in Didion's life with a series of scrims in mottled and muted grays and beiges, which plummet to the stage floor.

So, at least for the Drama Desks, 2006-2007 has ended…there will be second night reviews on ATW of the Broadway shows yet to open in the Tony Award realm of the past year, but for off and off-off-Broadway it's welcome to 2007-2008. (In fact, I've already been to the first show of the new season.)

Until next time,

Andy