New York City Stage

Need a Pick Me Up...Then Check Out "Old Hats"

2013-05-17T22:55:00.000-04:00

These days, after crunching numbers all day, I usually need a pick me up by the middle of the week. Bill Irwin and David Shiner's slapstick and clowning around was just what the doctor ordered when I experienced their show Old Hats earlier this week.

With a near perfect mark from Stagegrade and described as "ebullient" by the Times, I am not sure what took me so long to see this show at the Signature Theater. But I'm glad I I finally did because I smiled until my face almost hurt.

Expect skits, live music, audience participation and lots of laughs. Now, sometimes audience participation at the theater can be just plain cheesy, but at Old Hats, this interaction provided some of the most hilarious moments of the evening, especially Cowboy Cinema, where members of the audience film an old western.

I smile now just thinking about it.

I was equally if not moreso charmed by adorable quirky music director Nellie McKay. Thanks to Ms. Mckay, intermission was actually enjoyable. She delighted those who remained in the Irene Diamond with her ukulele and interesting historical facts about May 15th. After seeing Ms, Mckay, I immediately added her name to my list of must follow musicians and can't wait to see her again. So glad to see she is performing at JALC and Summerstage next month.

Needless to say, I enjoyed Old Hats tremendously. If you are not coulrophobic and need a good laugh (like I did earlier this week), head quickly over to Signature and check out Old Hats before it closes on June 9th .

Reality Check...The Business of Broadway is Tough and Not Diverse

2013-05-13T06:30:00.000-04:00

Skim through Backstage's The 25 Most Powerful People on Broadway and note NO racial diversity; thank goodness for the few women who appear on the list.

First up (of course) are the men who run the Broadway theaters. Then there are several directors and producers. Finally, there are a couple of journalists and casting directors.

We...I get the picture; we...I understand who runs Broadway.

So, don't be surprise by Keli Goff's article Black Producers Still Rare on Broadway when you learn that there is only one African American duo who hands on produce Broadway shows - Stephen Byrd and Alia Jones. And they only joined the Broadway party in recent years.

And don't be surprise when you check out Alisa Solomon's The Not-So-Bountiful Trip to Broadway and learn that the number of black directors working on Broadway in last decade can be counted on one hand. By the way, congrats to Debbie Allen, Kenny Leon, Marion McClinton, Charles Randolph-Wright, and George C. Wolfe.

As a black woman who is a devoted fan of the theater, I keep coming back to this topic of diversity. But the reality is that the $11 billion business of Broadway is a tough one; most shows will never recoup their initial investment. And Broadway is not very diverse. Not behind the scenes. Not on stage (even though this appears to be getting better in recent years). And not in the au dience.

And simply put...that's that!

Related Posts
Diversity in the Theater - Part I
Diversity in the Theater - Part II
Diversity in the Theater - Part III
Diversity in the Theater - Part IV
David Henry Hwang Continues the Conversation

Theater Stories From Around the Web

2013-05-12T09:36:00.000-04:00

Why Straight Plays Can't Make It on Broadway [WSJ]

Broadway Shows Beloved By Tourists, Women And Geeks [Gothamist]

Showstopping: why Broadway au diences appl a ud too often [Guardian]

Want to Applaud a Broadway Show? Don't Get Up. Really [NYT]

Theatergoer Vomits Onto Audience From Balcony At Broadway's Grace [Gothamist]

An Open Letter To The Owner Of The Cell Phone That Went Off During The Final Moments Of Death Of A Salesman [Gothamist]

Theaters Vexed by the Text [WSJ]

From No Home to Back Home on Broadway [NYT]

The World's Most Memorable Theaters [Huff]

Stalked by the Ph ilharmonic: When Fund raising Goes Too Far [NY Observer]

Women in the theatre: why do so few make it to the top? [Guardian]

Theater's Expiring Subscription Model [WSJ]

How Broadway Has Changed [Huffington]

Originally Published - 11/29/2012
Updated - 5/12/2013

Random Happenings - April 2013

2013-04-30T21:11:00.001-04:00

SEC investigates Rebecca musical and sets rules for companies to use social media networks. Tom Hanks tears up on opening night of play by beloved friend Nora Ephron. Film critic Roger Ebert fades. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof fails to recoup. Iron lady Margaret Thatcher dies. Spidy settlement finally reached. Terror strikes Boston marathon; subsequent manhunt kills one suspect and captures other. Playwright Richard Greenberg changes Boston reference in The Assembled Parties. Deadly explosion at Texas fertilizer plant. Disgraced takes home the Pulitzer. Ricin laced letters scare Washington DC. Gun control debate continues. First openly gay NBA player emerges. Tony nominations announced and Kinky Boots comes out on top with most nominations...

Thomas Bradshaw's "Lecture on the Blues" at the Whitney Museum

2013-04-29T06:30:00.000-04:00

Look, someone is walking out the room offended! Oh, there must be a performance of Thomas Bradshaw material nearby. And that is exactly what happened yesterday on the final day of the Blues for Smoke exhibit at the Whitney Museum.

Let me take a step back.

Imagine my surprise on Saturday morning when I perused the list of performances accompanying the Blues for Smoke exhibit at the Whitney Museum. The controversial playwright Thomas Bradshaw would be presenting a new 40 minute work - Lecture on the Blues - created just for the exhibit and featuring actors Jeff Biehl and Frank Harts. Excerpts from Amiri Baraka's Dutchman would also be presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

How the heck did the Whitney team up with Mr. Bradshaw, I wondered. Not wanting to miss the exhibit, I purchased a museum ticket and with some hesitation reserved a spot in Mr. Bradshaw's "lecture."

I will spare readers the asinine details (email me if you want them) but Mr. Biehl (as a white lecturer) recites material from the character Clay in Mr. Baraka's 1964 Obie award winning work, channels Jimi Hendrix, has sex with an actress planted in the audience while Mr. Harts (playing a black Whitney security guard) watches and masturbates nearby. At the back of the second floor gallery, Mr. Bradshaw stands, chuckling and completely amused by the audience's reaction.

Many in the audience filled with youthful faces appeared to be rather amused by the shenanigans. I however walked away from the "lecture" not quite sure if Mr. Bradshaw complemented the Blues for Smoke exhibit or merely mocked it.

Perhaps those youthful faces (strangely, some resembled Bats) got something that I did not...

Related Posts:
Where is the Art in Merely Shocking the Audience?

WSJ Article - The Falling Apart of the Theater Subscription Model

2013-04-28T09:03:00.000-04:00

From Ms. X, an artistic director of an undisclosed theater company in Terry Teachout's WSJ article - Theater's Expiring Subscription Model:

Then the subscription model fell apart, for a lot of reasons. Some subscribers got too busy, or too old, to commit in advance to five shows on specific dates. Some of them couldn't afford to buy all five in one pop anymore. And young people never have gotten in the habit of subscribing to anything. On demand, that's their motto. Anyway, it all added up to the same thing: We had to start selling individual shows instead of a package. When that happened, everything changed. Instead of trusting us to give them something good, people started playing it safe, and we had to play safe with them. We didn't have any choice. The last time I tried putting on a classical revival, our single-ticket sales dropped by nearly half. And we've had to start using name actors as often as we can. Doesn't matter what the show is: It's the star that sells, not the play.

Related Posts:
Theater Stories From Around the Web

"Kinky Boots" at Lord & Taylor

2013-04-22T23:44:00.003-04:00

Theater-loving fashionistas may want to head over to Lord & Taylor to check out fashions inspired by the new Broadway musical Kinky Boots. Tomorrow at 12:30PM, cast members will be performing at the 5th avenue location, and if you spend $300 on fragrance, you might be able to score a free pair of tickets to see the show (while supplies last of course). Enjoy!

"Who's Your Daddy?" And I Don't Mean Those "Annie" Posters Around Town

2013-04-18T23:11:00.001-04:00

Uganda forced me to live in the present - apathy was no longer an option - and everything seemed possible again...Johnny O'Callaghan

The year is 2006. Actor Johnny O'Callaghan has just walked in on his lover in a compromising position with twins. He later runs into a colleague who is going to Uganda of all places to shoot a documentary about kids in an orphanage. Still devastated from his breakup, down on his luck, and not really caring whether he lives or dies, Johnny decides to tag along with his colleague to Uganda. And you know what...his life changes forever.

Now, if you can't score tickets to the splashy Broadway musical The Book of Mormon and want to experience a Uganda story...this time from an Irish actor's perspective, then you may want to head a mile or so south of the theater district to the cozy studio at the Irish Repertory Theatre in Chelsea to experience Johnny O'Callaghan's inspiring nine-month adventure to adopt a little African boy in Who's Your Daddy?

In 80 riveting minutes, Johnny O'Callaghan will remind you that offshore adoption is not reserved just for Hollywood c~~elebrities~~ superstars; even us single folks can make a difference. But better yet, he will inspire you to persevere even when others tell you that what you want is impossible.

"Hands on a Hardbody" Closes Last Weekend and "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to Close This Weekend...

2013-04-15T20:58:00.000-04:00

Full disclosure - I am writing this post just so that I can repost this hilarious gif posted by handle ClydeBarrow at broadwayworld.com.

Roughly a month ago, I enthusiastically wrote about all the shows opening on Broadway in March and April, no doubt to make the Tony Award cut off on April 25th.

So, where do some of the productions stand as of today? Well, Hands on a Hardbody, which received a consensus B- on stagegrade.com, has opened and closed. And Breakfast at Tiffany's, which received a humiliating D+, has just announced that it will close this coming weekend. Kitty drama. OVER!

But on a more pleasant note, Matilda received rave reviews and and an impressive A on StageGrade. I'm sure it'll be a while before I score tickets. And Michael Riedel may have poke d fun at Motown The Musical in his NYP gossip column, but Barry Gordy had the last laugh with advance sales of more than $16M.

Tonight, The Nance opens on Broadway. We'll see how Nathan Lane fares. And in the next 10 days, 10 more productions open.

Kitty may be coolly filing her nails, but I am anxiously biting mine, as I wait to see which ones survive and which ones don't...

Quote from David Ives "All in the Timing - The Philadelphia"

2013-04-13T08:39:00.000-04:00

Al and Mark in David Ives' one act comedy The Philadephia:

AL. Yes, physically you are in New York. But metaphysically you are in a Philadelphia.

MARK. I've never heard of this!

AL. You see, inside of what we know as reality there are these pockets, these black holes called Philadelphias. If you fall into one, you run up against the kinda shit that's been happening to you all day.

MARK. Why?

AL. Because in a Philadelphia, no matter what you ask for, you can't get it. You ask for something, they're not gonna have it. You want to do something, it ain't gonna get done. You want to go somewhere, you can't get there from here.

They Command the Stage But Can They Fill the House...

2013-04-09T22:49:00.001-04:00

Holland Taylor and Fiona Shaw both command the stage in their respective one woman shows now playing on Broadway. Both are captivating in their portraits of real and fascinating women - politician Ann Richards (a Democrat and the 45th Governor of Texas) and Mary of Nazareth...you know...mother of Jesus. As I sat through both performances though, I wondered why the plays are mounted on the Broadway stage and not a smaller, more intimate theater elsewhere. And as I skimmed through Broadway grosses last night, the same question came to mind once again.

Now, to be fair, The Testament of Mary has not officially opened yet. Therefore, who knows what kind of reviews it will receive and what that will do for ticket sales. Something tells me though that the artsy rambling piece with its vulture and symbolism may not be for the masses. Ann averages a B on StageGrade (and I'm not sure what's going on with the folks over at Curtain Critic; they don't seem to be updating their site any longer.)

So, let's look at some numbers:

Ann
Grosses are - for the week ending:
02/24/2013 - $262,436 or 28.31% of potential
03/03/2013 - $294,156 or 27.77%
03/10/2013 - $337,687 or 35.50%
03/24/2013 - $363,340 or 34.30%
03/31/2013 - $286,869 or 27.08%
04/07/2013 - $308,202 or 29.09%

The Testament of Mary
Grosses are - for the week ending:
03/31/2013 - $191,134 or 30.27% of potential
04/07/2013 - $196,495 or 26.82%

According to Ann's website, the show is extended through September 1st. And The Testament of Mary opens later this month. Will Ann make it to September? What will become of The Testament of Mary? (Goodness, I sound like that sitcom Soap from the late 70s.) Now, throw in Bette Midler's I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers, another one woman show about another real life and fascinating woman, and stay tuned...

Off/Off Off Broadway Keeping It Relevant

2013-04-07T08:00:00.000-04:00

Packed with revivals, feel good pieces and long running productions, Broadway isn't the most relevant place. Off Broadway and Off Off Broadway do a much better job of tackling current issues.

Michael Perlman's From White Plains, which recently had a short run at The Studio Theater at Signature, tackled bullying from a gay perspective. Laura Marks' Bethany tackled the story of a woman desperately trying to navigate the financial crisis. I suppose Paul Downs Colaizzo's Really Really tackles today's twenty-something generation. But please don't get me started on that right now.

Instead get me started instead on revenge or involuntary porn.

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In the press at the moment, there is a story about a class action suit by a group of victims against a public humiliation revenge porn website, where men post explicit photos and other personal information about unknowing ex-girlfriends.Yes, some may blame the victims. Why did they take explicit photos in a time when digital files can spread quicker than they can say cheese. But does that give these men the right to publicly post these photos?
Definitely an interesting and newsworthy topic.

If this case interests you and you are a theaterlover, then check out Penny Brandt Jackson's quick-paced Off Off Broadway play I Know What Boys Want now playing at Theater Workshop. Meet prep school girl Vicky. Oliver has put something in her drink. In a drugged/drunken haze, she has sex with her boyfriend Roger. Oliver secretly videos the encounter and then to get back at his friend Roger for a past prank proceeds to gradually upload scenes on the internet. What the hell does Vicky do now? What can she even do?

The images will never ever go away.

Animals (Literally) on the New York City Stage

2013-04-06T10:17:00.001-04:00

Sunny..Macaco..Vito Vincent

It is not uncommon to see furry creatures on the Broadway stage.

There is Sandy (played by Sunny) in Annie. Having won front row seats in the Annie lottery, I had as much fun watching Sandy's animated trainer off stage as I did Daddy Warbucks. Sandy has an interesting story. Turns out she was on death row in a Texas animal shelter 24 hours away from her last breath when she was discovered by trainer William Berloni. Now, she and understudy Casey are doing their part to delight audiences over at the Palace Theatre.

And who can forget Stephanie J. Block's cuddly Macaco who appeared in one of the funniest moments in the recent Broadway production of The Mystery of Edwin Drood? Ms. Block says the Maltese/Yorkie mix can be an a-hole but that cutie (Macaco and I guess you too Ms. Block) made me laugh.

Now, the cats from Breakfast at Tiffany's have been getting more press on the New York City Stage blog than some of my theater idols. One cat was fired. Another wanted a car and driver. At this point, I can't keep up. When does Breakfast at Tiffany's close? When will the cat drama end?

No, it is not uncommon to see furry creatures on the Broadway stage. But theaterlovers, I experienced a first earlier this week. I saw my first vulture on the Broadway stage in The Testament of Mary. I don't see predatory birds every day in NYC. Last fall, I stumbled on this hawk chowing down on some poor creature. I and a group of onlookers were in awe as we observed lunch.

But I digress; let's get back to Pinhead. Check out this link to a Paul Kolnik photo of the incomparable Fiona Shaw and Broadway's newest star Pinhead in The Daily News.

Linked in from Daily News. Photo by Paul Kolnik

Now, if you have any interest in The Testament of Mary, you must arrive at the Walter Kerr Theatre early and check out the vulture (I wonder if the bird has an understudy). You can walk on stage and get a close look at the predator and what some are calling an art installation. It is definitely not something you get to see often on the Broadway stage.

Quote from Guillermo Calderón's "Neva”

2013-04-04T06:45:00.000-04:00

Masha in Guillermo Calderón's Neva:

Sometimes, I think I would have liked to be a man. I would have liked to drink vodka, to fall and fight in the street, to see blood. Wear boots, leather jackets. Smoke. Whistle. Offend women. Laugh at my own jokes, love my own stench. Bathe in the river Neva with polar bears in winter. I would have liked to be a man, having been in prison, having been kicked, not believing in God, urinating in the street, sleeping by day, having no fears...I would have liked to be a man. Killing...eating human flesh, having fought in the war, killing children, raping children and old. I would have liked to be a man. I would be happy...

Translation provided by Google.

"The Testament of Mary" by Colm Toibin

2013-04-03T23:57:00.000-04:00

Her husband is gone
Her Son has left home
He raises Lazarus from the earth
Turns water into wine
Now He is to be crucified
And she is in complete and utter despair

Random Happenings - March 2013

2013-04-01T06:30:00.000-04:00

Doctors announce Mississippi newborn with HIV infection cured after aggressive treatment with antiretroviral drugs. Broadway Backwards raises $347 K. Hugo Chavez dies. Cat understudy fired from Breakfast at Tiffany's. Suspect arrested in Sarai Sierra Turkey murder. Leads and other cast members in Once musical change. Pope Francis installed. Spring arrives. The Book of Mormon breaks ticket sale record in UK. Youtube has a billion users. Newsies celebrate one year anniversary. Americans recall 10 year anniversary of US invasion of Iraq. Matilda The Musical investors gear up for lucrative payday.

Want Chekhov?

2013-03-31T20:36:00.002-04:00

As I skim through the theater listings, I see no Anton Chekhov play in production on the New York City stage. Wait a second, let me double check. No, I don't believe that I see any in the theater listings. But wait another second, there are two productions out there, inspired by the Russian genius - Neva and Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.

Now at the time I am writing this post, Neva is wrapping up its final performance at the Public Theater. So, I'm sorry Chekhovian lovers; if you haven't seen this play by Chilean writer-director Guillermo Calderón yet, then you are probably out of luck.

Now, I must confess that I was dreadfully bored by most of this dimly lit piece about Chekov's widow Olga Knipper at a theater in St Petersburg for a Cherry Orchard rehearsal with two other actors - Masha and Aleko. As they wait around, they act out all sorts of scenes from their lives including Chekov's death, while a revolution occurs outside.

Roughly two-thirds into the play, I gazed upon the woman sleeping in the seat next to me and then scoped out the exits again wondering if I should attempt to make a quiet getaway. However, I'm glad that I didn't, because the whole experience became worthwhile in the last few minutes of the play -- for Quincy Tyler Bernstine's (Masha) fiery monologue about the world, change, acting, and revolution. These few minutes became one of my most memorable theater experience year to date. Well worth the trip to the East Village on a wintry Sunday evening.

On a lighter note, theatergoers still have an opportunity to catch Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike on Broadway. When I missed the Christopher Durang comedy at Lincoln Center last season, I was ready to write an updated Ode to the Shows I Missed. So, imagine my joy when I learned that it was transferring to Broadway.

This energetic play starring Sigourney Weaver (Masha), David Hyde Pierce (Vanya) and Kristine Nielson (Sonia) is the funniest thing I've seen on Broadway since The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Aging Vanya and Sonia still live in the family country home wasting away their lives. Their over the top actress sister Masha and her boy-toy returns home. Throw in a soothsayer housekeeper and a costume party and comedy ensues. According to the playwright, the play "takes Chekhov themes and characters and mixes them all up, as if I’ve put them into a comic blender."

David Hyde Pierce, a little hoarse in the show I saw, gives a hilarious rant about the past. This turns out to be the second best monologue I've seen all year.

So theatergoers, not quite Chekhov directly, but you must admit that we got a gut full last season. However, we do see his imprint this season. And better yet, we get two of the best monologues to date.

Related Posts
2012: Another Year at the Theater

The Herb Festival at Gallow Green

2013-03-31T19:08:00.003-04:00

Always a fan of the folks over at The Mckittrick Hotel, I must pass this one on... Experience the springtime splendor of Gallow Green, the McKittrick Hotel's rooftop garden bar.

Check out details here and tickets here.

I'm Not Going to See "Breakfast at Tiffany's" But I Sure Like Reading About It

2013-03-22T21:37:00.000-04:00

As I strolled through the Theater District on Wednesday to get to the far West Side, I stumbled upon the red carpet opening for Breakfast at Tiffany's at the Cort Theatre. Curious, I peered through the group of photographers. Not seeing anything of particular interest though, I kept it moving.

And that's probably what I will do when it comes to seeing Breakfast at Tiffany's, one of the many productions opening on Broadway over the next six weeks. For the most part, the reviews have been lukewarm.

Surprisingly though, I have been having fun reading about the drama surrounding the production. First, there was the photo-taking frenzy that occurred when Emilia Clarke, who plays Daenerys Targaryen in HBO's Game of Thrones and is making her Broadway debut in Breakfast at Tiffany's, removes her towel and gets in a bubble bath. The theater has since beefed up security.

Now, Montie, understudy for the role of "Cat" has been fired from the cast for being unruly. Hey producers, my friend's cat Dru can sure use a job. She can be a little antisocial, but unruly, she is not. Here is an unprofessional headshot for your consideration...

Dru and Baby Chyme

David Henry Wang Continues the Conversation...

2013-03-18T20:45:00.003-04:00

Last year, David Henry Wang moderated an Asian American Performer's Action Coalition (AAPAC) roundtable discussion at Fordham University. The purpose was to begin a discussion about making the theater more inclusive.
Check out my post - Diversity in the Theater - Part III
for more information.

This year, as Signature Theatre's Residency One playwright, New York City theatergoers get a chance to experience three of Mr. Wang's plays - Golden Child, The Dance and the Railroad, and Kung Fu. And if you were as fortunate as I was this past weekend, you got a chance to experience plays from The Contemporary Chinese Playwri ting Ser ies (at absolutely no cost to the public).

Wei-Jan Chi, Nick Yu, Meng Jinghui and Candace Chong

The Contemporary Chinese Playwriting Series was a collaboration between Signature and Lark Play Development Center and was a vital component of Mr. Wang's residency at Signature. The series was aimed at exposing NYC audiences to the world of contemporary Chinese playwriting. But better yet, as Mr. Wang puts it...It begins a conversation between Chinese and US artists.

The series featured four plays:

Playing the Violin by Taiwanese playwright Wei-Jan Chi
The Captain by Nick Yu, mainland China's most produced living playwright.
Punk's Carnival by Beijing playwirght Meng Jinghui
Wild Boar by Hong Kong playwright Candace Chong

I was fortunate enough to catch two readings - The Captain and Wild Boar. It was a treat to observe the multicultural cast of actors and sit amongst a more diverse than usual audience. Most of all though, I was delighted by how easily I was drawn into the plays. The Captain touches on themes such as aging, dementia, responsibility and love of the sea. And Wild Boar touches on media, censorship, economic development, marriage and relationships.

The distance between NY and China may be some 7,000 miles but this African American girl from Brooklyn had no problems whatsoever appreciating these two wonderful plays.

Mr. Wang, all I can say is ... keep the conversation going. Because this devoted fan of the theater is listening closely...

The Next Six Weeks on Broadway

2013-03-17T08:00:00.000-04:00

Broadway Openings - March 14 thru April 25th

So many shows are opening on Broadway, I have to write this post just to sort through and prioritize them.

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike - Opened March 14th
Vanya and his sister Sonia live a quiet life in the Pennsylvania farmhouse where they grew up. But their sister Masha escaped many years ago and became a famous movie star! When Masha returns unannounced with her twenty-something boy toy, Spike, so begins an unforgettable weekend of rivalry, regret and generally hilarious racket. By the end of their impromptu family reunion, this lovable bunch won't ever be the same!

Breakfast at Tiffany's - Opening March 20th
Holly Golightly is the woman every man wants to be with and every woman wants to be. Now, the unforgettable heroine of Truman Capote's novella comes to the Broadway stage in a world-premiere play.

Hands on a Hardbody (musical) - Opening March 21st
For 10 hard-luck Texans, a new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end, armed with nothing but hope, humor and ambition, they'll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In the hilarious, hard-fought contest, only one winner can drive away with the American Dream. Based on documentary by the same name.

Luck Guy - Opening April 1st
A new play about the scandal- and graffiti-ridden New York of the 1980s, as told through the story of the charismatic and controversial tabloid columnist Mike McAlary, who won the Pulitzer Prize shortly before his untimely death on Christmas Day, 1998. Hollywood superstar Tom Hanks' makes his Broadway debut.

Kinky Boots (musical) - Opening April 4th
Charlie Price has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.

Matilda The Musica l - Opening April 11th
Based on the novel by author Roald Dahl, Matilda tells the story of an girl who dreams of a better life. Armed with a vivid imagination and a sharp mind, Matilda dares to take a stand and change her destiny.

Motown The Musical - Opening April 14th
The real story of the one-of-a-kind sound that hit the airwaves in 1959 and changed our culture forever. This show charts Motown founder Berry Gordy's journey from featherweight boxer to the heavyweight music mogul who launched the careers of Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and so many more.

The Nance - Opening April 15th
Tells the story of Chauncey Miles (to be played by Nathan Lane), a headline nance performer in New York burlesque, who also happens to be a homosexual. Integrating burlesque sketches into his drama, Beane paints, with humor and pathos, the portrait of a homosexual man, living and working in the secretive and dangerous gay world of 1930’s New York, whose outrageous antics on the burlesque stage stand in marked contrast to his messy offstage life.

The Big Knife - Opening April 16th
The story of a dynamic stage actor who has become a Hollywood star — at the expense of his art, his values and his marriage. He finally makes one last attempt to restore his honor.

The Assembled Parties - Opening April 17th
In a sprawling Central Park West apartment, former movie star Julie Bascov and her sister-in-law Faye bring their families together for their traditional holiday dinner. But tonight, things are not usual. A houseguest has joined the festivities for the first time and he unwittingly - or perhaps by design - insinuates himself into the family drama. Twenty years later, as 2001 approaches, the Bascovs' seemingly picture-perfect life may be about to crumble.

Orphans - Opening April 18th
Two orphaned brothers live in their decrepit North Philadelphia row house. They survive by petty thievery and a steady diet of tuna fish and daytime television until the violent older brother decides to kidnap Harold, a notorious Chicago gangster. Harold soon becomes the force that will forever change their lives.

Jekyll & Hyde - Opening April 18th
A devoted man of science, Dr. Henry Jekyll is driven to find a chemical breakthrough that can solve some of mankind’s most challenging medical dilemmas. Rebuffed by the powers that be, he decides to make himself the subject of his own experimental treatments, accidentally unleashing his inner demons along with the man the world would come to know as Mr. Hyde.

Once Upon a Dream - Opening April 18th
A live theatrical event featuring the four original members of the band The Rascals, together as one for the first time since 1970. Features over two dozen unforgettable songs, including such super hits as "Good Lovin'," "Groovin'," "It's a Beautiful Morning," "How Can I Be Sure" and "People Got To Be Free."

Macbeth - Opening April 21st
This Macbeth is set in a clinical room deep within a dark psychiatric unit. Cumming is the lone patient, reliving the infamous story and inhabiting each role himself. Closed circuit television cameras watch the patient's every move as the walls of the psychiatric ward come to life in a visually stunning multi-media theatrical experience of Shakespeare's notorious tale of desire, ambition and the supernatural.

The Testament of Mary - Opening April 22nd
Jesus' mother, Mary, now elderly, talks to some of his followers about her famous son - a young man she didn't quite understand. Adapted from Colm Tóibin's novella.

The Trip to Bountiful - Opening April 23rd
The Trip to Bountiful follows Carrie Watts, an active, highly motivated widow living in a cramped apartment in Houston in the Spring of 1953 with her son and daughter-in-law. Carrie escapes her relatives’ watchful eyes to realize her dearest dream: to return to her beloved hometown, Bountiful. What starts as an ordinary trip soon becomes an inspiring and life-changing journey of discovery.

I'll Eat You Last - Opening April 24th
For over 20 years, Sue's clients were the talk of the town and her dinner parties were the envy of Hollywood. And this spring, you're invited to her glamorous Beverly Hills home for an evening of dish, dirty secrets and all the inside showbiz details only Sue could tell you about. Bette Midler stars.

Pippin - Opening April 25th
Pippin tells the story of a young prince on a death-defying journey to find meaning in his existence. Will he choose a happy but simple life? Or will he risk everything for a singular flash of glory?

Quote from Athol Fugard's "The Road to Mecca"

2013-03-16T09:58:00.000-04:00

Spoken by Elsa in Athol Fugard's The Road to Mecca:

God, that was more than just happiness, Miss Helen. It was like discovering the reason for being the person, the woman, I am for the first time in my life. And a little bit scary...realizing that another person could do so much to your life, to your sense of yourself.

The Roundabout Gives Us Two Former Spinsters - Rosemary Sydney and Sally Talley

2013-03-12T22:22:00.000-04:00

Elizabeth Marvel as Rosemary Sydney and Sarah Paulson as Sally Talley

There is a scene in William Inge's 1950s play Picnic where aging schoolteacher Rosemary begs her boyfriend to marry her. She says:

Come back here, Howard. I'm no spring chicken either. Maybe I'm a little older than you think I am. I've formed my ways too. But they can be changed. They gotta be changed. It's no good livin' like this, in rented rooms, meetin' a bunch of old maids for supper every night, then comin' back home alone.

Later, desperate on her knees, she pleads,

Oh, God, please marry me, Howard. Please.

The Roundabout Theatre Company seems to be fascinated with the spinster because we meet yet another one - Sally Talley - in Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize winning Talley's Folly, a "no-holds-barred romantic story." Not as desperate as Rosemary, 31 year old Sally Talley has accepted her situation in life in this play which takes place on July 4, 1944 in Lebanon Missouri by closing herself off.

So, what happens in the end? Minor Spoiler Alert Here!! Fueled by alcohol (and the possible side effects of PCT), Rosemary caves to her desperation and coerces the reluctant Howard. And Sally cracks her shell and exposes her secrets. This pays off for both women, and the former spinsters run off and presumably get married.

Now, on the day I saw the Broadway production of Picnic, there was a large group of young kids at the American Airlines Theatre. The kids probably not quite getting the Rosemary scene found it funny and laughter spread amongst them in the center orchestra of the theater. As I sat in the right orchestra, I cringed at her breakdown but was partially comforted that in 2013, such desperation wasn't obvious to the group of kids and was even laughable.

James Franco, You Are no Broadway Star... Yet.

2013-03-08T08:44:00.000-05:00

The Colbert Report
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There used to be a running joke in my former office about how inadequate we felt when we heard about 34 year old James Franco's accomplishments, which are summarized nicely in this NY Times article and comically in a SNL skit.

Let's see, he is/was a:

Hollywood actor

award nominee and winner

producer

director

writer

painter

performance artist

teacher

masters degree recipient

masters and doctoral student

host

Then he was supposed to add Broadway star to his CV in a revival of Tennessee Williams’ Sweet Bird of Youth, but then he dropped out and the play never graced the New York City stage. Well, now it seems that Mr. Franco is attempting to come back, determined to conquer Broadway. According to his recent appearance on The Colbert Report, he will debut as George in Of Mice and Men on Broadway.

Stay tuned...

"The Jammer" Made Me Aware of Roller Derby's Popularity

2013-03-04T08:14:00.001-05:00

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I really dislike this clip of Kathie Lee Gifford and Hoda Kotb with the LA Derby Dolls. Come on, they could have at least made a damn effort. What was the point of putting on all that gear?

But I am not writing this post to bash the giddy hosts of Today's Show 4th hour (even though I would love to see them replaced). I'm actually writing this because since I took advantage of this winter's 20at20 promotion and experienced Atlantic Theater Company's amusing production of Rolin Jones' The Jammer, I've been seeing a lot of coverage of the roller derby. The Today Show, magazine and newspaper articles, and news clips.

I didn't realize that this contact sport which came on the scene during the 1930s still existed. According to the WSJ article As the World Turns, So Do the Wheels of Roller Derby by Matt Moffett, the sport has a global reach as far as Dubai and is played as follows:

Now female-dominated, roller derby is played by five-member teams. One skater on each team, known as the jammer and sporting a star on her helmet, tries to lap the other team's skaters. Starting with the jammer's second pass through the opposition, her team gets a point for each opponent she laps.The other skaters wield their hips, rear ends and shoulders to block the opposing jammer, while trying to propel their own jammer onward.

Thanks to The Jammer and all the coverage, I wouldn't mind checking out a game.