Show Buzz Online | Broadway and Local Theater Diaries

MARTHA PLIMPTON of TOP GIRLS will be interviewed by FAITH SALIE

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Fri, 09 May 2008 05:50:36 -0700

On Wednesday, May 13th, the brilliant actress MARTHA PLIMPTON will be interviewed by FAITH SALIE , host of FAIR GAME FROM PRI WITH FAITH SALIE. FAIR GAME, which airs in New York at 8pm on WNYC-820AM radio, is a national, nightly news and entertainment program that airs coast to coast on public radio.

Martha will be discussing with Faith her dual roles in Caryl Churchill's award-winning play TOP GIRLS. Plimpton plays two roles in this absolutely riveting play. In Act One she plays the ninth century Pope Joan, who served the Vatican in a man's disguise until she gave birth and was stoned to death. In Acts Two and Three she plays Angie, a rebellious, simple-minded teenager trying to find her way in life.

Plimpton was most recently seen on the New York stage in CYMBALINE, and in Tom Stoppard's COAST OF UTOPIA (for which she was nominated for a Tony Award, and received the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards)

TOP GIRLS, which has not been performed in New York since its 1983 production at the Public Theatre, opened a limited engagement at the Biltmore Theatre on May 7th.

StarDUST (Adventures in Conscioussness) on Tour

nospam@example.com (Doug Motel) — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 06:01:21 -0700

Hey Everyone!
Had a great time doing my new show "starDUST (Adventures in Consciousness)" on a short California tour recently. Did 5 shows at Ojai's Theater 150 on their main stage: Theater 150.org and also performed it in a cozy new venue in Cotati called The Barn.

Saw some great friends and supporters and had a blast doing a show that was totally different for me: autobiographical-yes it is about my own personal journey.
I will write more soon...

Xanadu in Central Park with Slides

nospam@example.com (B. Swibel) — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 11:29:00 -0800

Hey there, this is B. Swibel from Xanadu on Broadway! This was a cool, fun day.

We were out in Central Park auditioning skaters to do guerilla marketing and promotions for Xanadu during the first summer. We were looking for rollerbladers since most people don't rollerskate on the street that much anymore.

We put the word out with some social networks and a bunch of people showed and danced and spun around the fountain and it was a fun day!

Continue reading "Xanadu in Central Park with Slides"

Auction of 1000 Stars

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:56:00 -0800

The Auction of 1000 Stars runs February 18-28 to benefit The Actor's Fund. This is a national, nonprofit, human services organization that helps professionals in the performing arts obtain health, housing and social needs.

Bids can be made online at http://www.auctionof1000stars.org and include exciting items like a chance to attend the opening night cast party of the revival of Gypsy starring Patti Lupone, a walk-on role in Rent on Broadway, celebrity gift bags, and VIP tickets to both The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report.

Remember the auction begins February 18th and is LIVE until the 28th.

Broadway Baby Born to Xanadu Producers

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:59:00 -0800

Broadway Baby Alexis Murchison-Smith was born during previews of Xanadu on Broadway to the shows producers Dale Smith and Sarah Murchison. Beautiful Alexis was born May 6, 2007 at 7:17am a healthy 8lbs 6oz and 20 inches

Xanadu: Creative Evolution of the Poster

nospam@example.com (B. Swibel) — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 11:42:00 -0800

Selections from the artistic process for the creation of the first poster for XANADU on Broadway. We wanted to create something that paid homage to the original iconic Xanadu poster, but moved away from the film to show the humor and high satire of the broadway production. We wanted it to harken a modern fantasy.

-B. Swibel
Producer on Xanadu

Hear Producer Brian Swibel Talk About The evolution of the Broadway Poster design for Xanadu:

MP3 File

We wanted to create something that was reminiscent of graffiti or street art, which came out of the main character in the broadway production, Sonny, is a street artist. For this we sought out two of the best CD artists in LA.

Dealing with inspiration from the original movie poster was a challenge. The original had become iconic and had a blow up characterization of Olivia Newton John looking directly at the camera. We wanted to respect the original, but we also needed a whole new look for a whole new show.

We took a photo of our star, Kerry, and then turned it over to our brilliant poster creators who took her image and then created an Art Deco-like world behind it in keeping with the fun and excitement of the show. The final result really showed the great joy and inspiration which is what the show is about.

The New York Times | January 16, 2008

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:18:00 -0800

"Broadway Web Sites: Now for Fans as Well as Fanatics"

By Caryn James

Daily Variety | Dec. 14, 2007

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 10:16:22 -0800

"Broadway raises the curtain online- New websites reach out to theater audience"

by Mark Blankenship

Xanadu Will run at the La Jolla Playhouse

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 09:34:09 -0800

November 11 — December 21, 2008 in the Mandell Weiss Theatre

As part of his first season as Artistic Director of The La Jolla Playhouse in La Jolla CA, Christopher Ashley, will direct Xanadu. Ashley's credits include The Rocky Horror Show and All Shook Up on Broadway, and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told, Jeffrey, and Fires in the Mirror, Off Broadway.

Gypsy: Driving around getting ready to get back on the road

nospam@example.com (Samuel Kiernan) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:46:48 -0800

Sam Kiernan phoning Show Buzz fans while driving riving around, getting ready to get back on the road with Gypsy to Modesto CA.

MP3 File

Hey, this is Sam, Tulsa in the National Tour of Gypsy. I’m calling in to say a quick hello. It is Saturday night here in Modesto, California and we just finished a 2-show day and last night was our first show back from break, which actually went really well until the middle of the first act when the main curtain stopped working so we had to re-adjust to lot of our blocking around the main curtain not coming and out. So that was pretty difficult.

But then once intermission happened, you know, we finally go it down and then we had people come in and fix and I think, it just came off some of the rails or something to that degree. But everything was fine after that. It was a great show. Audiences here in Modesto have been fantastic. And yeah, they seem to really be enjoying the show, which is great.

And today, we had a 2-show day and I actually have been hurting quite a bit because my shins have been killing me all day long and I think it’s really haven’t gotten to those shoes in a long time and they’re kind of hard to dance in and we do a lot of you know jumping over our legs and probably that after a while and I was running last night and this morning and I think I may have over done a little bit. So I need to take my own advice and you know, keep myself in check a little bit.

I’m not sure, I think we have one (indistinguishable) tomorrow and then we have a night off in Modesto and then on Monday, we drive 400 something miles to Las Vegas and I’m going to be seeing a friend, within the Mamma Mia cast out in Las Vegas so that will be fun.

Alright, that’s about it. Well, have fun guys and talk to you soon. Great, bye!

Xanadu on Broadway Videos Part I

nospam@example.com (Show Buzz) — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 09:56:47 -0800

Here is Part I of a collection of some of our favorite videos related to Xanadu on Broadway currently being shared on the web.

Video 1:
Kerry Butler and Cheyenne Jackson "Suddenly" live on The View, September 12, 2007

Video 2:
Xanadu being featured on ABC News Nightline right before the Broadway opening.

Video 3:
A Pug dog named Louie singing along with the original film soundtrack. Louie is a big Olivia Newton-John fan who likes to sing along with her on the radio.

Enjoy!

Continue reading "Xanadu on Broadway Videos Part I"

Scoundrels Tour: People Are Getting Sick in Chattanooga

nospam@example.com (Adam Dulin) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 10:40:58 -0800

Checking in from Chattanooga TN! It is winter, people have been sick! So understudies abound. We have a really talented cast.

MP3 File

Xanadu Comes to Show Buzz!

nospam@example.com (Doug Motel) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:21:00 -0800

Everyone at Show Buzz is buzzing about the fact that the irreverent and wild cast of Xanadu will begin letting you in on what exactly goes on backstage of the funny and inspiring musical that the New York Times callls "the outlandishly enjoyable stage spoof of the outrageously bad movie from 1980". Look for the cast to start leaving you exclusive video, voice messages and diary entries next week!

Kathy Halenda is our Mama Rose in the current Gypsy Tour

nospam@example.com (Samuel Kiernan) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:09:21 -0800

Kathy Halenda is our Mama Rose. She really is wonderful. She has done so many tours. She has played the role before in regional theaters. Because of the fact that she is not neccessarily known to many of these audiences, it allows people to really focus on the character of Rose. Most of the Roses that people have heard of or have seen perform take the character to a particular "star" place. This show was written for a star (Ethel Merman). Her entrance and the whole opening scene usually just about "Ethel Merman just walked in!" in or Bernadette Peters or Patti LuPone and then the whole first scene is people just getting used to her being on stage.

With Kathy they really get more of a sense of the character. With her I feel like the show is a little more poignant. You can get a little sense of it from the video.

It’s Adam Dulin on tour with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

nospam@example.com (Adam Dulin) — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 08:23:12 -0800

Shout Out from Adam Dulin on Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

Hey It’s Adam on tour with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. We are currently in Nashville, Tennessee. I started touring September 12th of last year, 2007; and we go until March 23rd. We had a three-week break for the holidays and unfortunately, one of our cast mates decided at the very last minute not to return to the show. In fact, he didn’t get on the plane and didn’t call anyone until an hour before we all arrived here and in Nashville!
Continue reading "It’s Adam Dulin on tour with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"