Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Hedwig Coming to Broadway

Hedwig and the Angry Inch is coming to Broadway.  The 1998 musical by John Cameron Mitchell about East German transgender glam rocker Hedwig will have some new songs by the show's original composer, Stephen Trask, when the show comes to Broadway this fall and will change its setting to a Broadway theater.  John Cameron Mitchell will reprise his starring role as Hedwig, as will original director Peter Askin and producer David Binder.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Ruthie Henshall Interview

Ruthie Henshall is coming back to the London transfer of the current Broadway revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago and, for the occasion, she provided Broadway.com with a great interview.  Enjoy!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/chicago-london/buzz/chatting-ruthie-henshall-londons-hotsy-totsy-roxie-chicago/

Patrick Stewart Is Coming Back to Broadway

After his triumphant performance in The Scottish Play last season, Patrick Stewart will be coming back to Broadway this fall in David Mamet's A Life in the Theater.  The production will be directed Neil Pepe, who directed the recent revival of Speed-the-Plow.

Monday, March 29, 2010

June Havoc, Star of Stage and Screen, Dies at 96

June Havoc, among the last of Hollywood's true stars, died at the age of 96 on March 28th, though multiple birth certificates her mother kept make her exact age difficult to determine.  Her life became the basis for the musical Gypsy as the character of Baby June, of course.  True to the story as portrayed in the musical, Ellen Evangeline Hovick was born in Vancouver, became a child star on the Orpheum Circuit, and eloped with one of the male dancers in the show.  Ms. Havoc appeared on Broadway a number of times, starting with her 1936 debut in Forbidden Melody through her appearance as Ms. Hannigan late in the original run of the musical Annie, and originated the role of Gladys Bumps in the original production of Pal Joey in 1940.  She was nominated for a 1964 Best Director Tony Award for directing Marathon '33 which was adapted from her book Early Havoc.  Havoc had one child, April Kent (who died in 1998) and was married and divorced three times.

Bebe Neuwirth Interview

Broadway.com has just published a nice interview with Bebe Neuwirth about her upcoming show, The Addams Family.  Enjoy it!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/the-addams-family/buzz/bebe-neuwirth-revels-playing-macabre-matriarch-addams-family/

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Miracle Worker to Close

After weeks of talk about the profitability of the current revival of The Miracle Worker, and its ability to remain open, it has been announced that the production will close on April 4th.  The production stars Abigail Breslin as Helen Keller and Alison Pill as Annie Sullivan and, upon closing, will have played 21 previews and 38 regular performances.

Play Revivals Come With Baggage?

Variety.com has released a great article about the difficulty and the allure that go hand in hand when reviving classic plays of the 20th century repertoire.


http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016960.html?categoryid=15&cs=1&ref=bd_legit

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Might There Be Some Rapture At the Roundabout?

Rumors are floating around that Sherie Rene Scott may be saving the Roundabout.  Since the Roundabout production of Lips Together, Teeth Apart was cancelled earlier this week, the Roundabout has been looking for another show to fill in that show's slot.  One of the possibilities is Ms. Scott's semi-autobiographical show Everyday Rapture.  The show, which originated off-Broadway at Second Stage last spring, follows Ms. Scott (or a character at least partially based on her) from her Mennonite days through her time in New York.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Two Steps Forward, Two Steps Back

Well, it turns out that Paula Abdul will NOT be appearing in In the Heights any time soon -- the article I read earlier today appears to have reported rumor as fact, but has since retracted the statement.

Come Fly Away has opened!

Come Fly Away, the Twyla Tharp dance musical based around the songs of Frank Sinatra, has opened to some pretty strong reviews.  Based on the reviews and my logic telling me what I think will become of them, it seems clear to me that a choreography nomination for Tharp is as certain a thing as can be.  There are also strong chances for the show as a whole to be nominated for best musical, Tharp for best director, and that the show's orchestrations will also be nominated for combining recordings of Sinatra's vocals with new orchestrations of his songs for a 19 piece band.  I can't wait to see what happens come May 4th!

Carey Mulligan Is Quite the Fair Lady

Carey Mulligan, the Oscar nominated star of the film An Education last year, is likely to be the next in line after Julie Andrews and Audrey Hepburn to take on the role of Eliza Doolittle in an upcoming film version of My Fair Lady.  All of this is from an interview given by Emma Thompson, who will write the screenplay for the upcoming screen adaptation, at the release of her latest movie.  Though no casting has officially been announced or set for any of the roles, Thompson has also stated that she would love for Hugh Grant to play the leading male role of Henry Higgins.

Lips Together, Show Not Happening?

Quick on the heels of the news that Megan Mullally has departed the upcoming revival of Terrence McNally's play (also starring Lili Taylor, Patton Oswalt, and David Wilson) comes the news that the show may not be happening at all.  In a press release, Todd Haimes, Artistic Director of the Roundabout Theatre Company, which had been producing the revival, said that there was no foreseeable way to maintain the production schedule with Mullally's sudden departure but that they would do their best to get the show mounted as soon as possible for the sake of their subscribers.

Paula Abdul In the Heights

Paula Abdul, the ex-American Idol judge and pop star of the 1990s with hit singles like "Cold Hearted Snake", "Rush Rush", "Opposites Attract", and "Straight Up", is gearing up to make her Broadway debut in the musical In the Heights.  Ms. Abdul would replace Priscilla Lopez in the role of Camilla in the Tony winning musical with a score by Lin Manuel Miranda.  Rumors are also circulating that Abdul is being courted to choreograph the upcoming film based on the show which is slated to be directed by Kenny Ortega of High School Musical and Dirty Dancing fame.  This production would mark Abdul's Broadway debut.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls

Casting has been announced for the upcoming film version of Ntozake Shang's 1975 play For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow Isn't Enuf, which whill be directed by Tyler Perry.  The film will star Mariah Carey, Kimberly Elise, Whoopi Goldberg, Janet Jackson, Phylicia Rashad, Jurnee Smollett, Kerry Washington, Loretta Devine, and Macy Gray, and is anticipating a January 14, 2011 release date.  Perry has stated that his drag persona, Medea, will NOT appear in the film.

Megan Mullaly Departs From the Roundabout

Megan Mullaly has withdrawn from the upcoming revival of the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Terrence McNally's revival of Lips Together, Teeth Apart.  The departure comes after rumors of creative differences between the actress and the director, Joe Mantello, leaving many people involved with the production devastated, according to a press release.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

New Play By Tony Kushner

"The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures", a new play by Tony Kushner and his first epic since "Angels in America" in 1993, will premier next spring in a co-production by the Public Theatre and the Signature Theatre Company.  Michael Grief, who directed the Broadway productions of Rent and Next to Normal, will helm this production, which had its premier at the Guthrie Theater which commissioned the work.  In that production, the play, about politics, sex, marriage, radicalism, and the labor movement, the play had a three-and-a-half hour run time, but Mr. Kushner has said that he is reworking the play and moving pieces around, so it remains to be seen how long the New York production, expected to cost just under one million dollars, will be.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

American Idiot Coming to the Big Screen?

It has yet to open on Broadway, but it may already be in preparations to transfer to the big screen.  Tom Hanks' production company Playtone is in talks to option the piece for the potential transfer.

The production company gave Mamma Mia! the silver screen treatment in 2008 and grossed over $610,000,000 worldwide.  American Idiot includes the songs Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Wake Me Up When September Ends, and the show follows a new generation of young Americans looking for meaning in a post 9/11 world.

The stage version of the show begins previews at the Saint James Theatre on March 24th with an opening date set for April 20th.

Talley's Folly to Return to Broadway

Lanford Wilson's 1980 play Talley's Folly will be coming back to Broadway next spring and will star Robin Wright and Richard Schiff.  Marshall W. Mason, who is a frequent director of Wilson's plays and who also directed the original production of this Pulitzer Prize winning piece, will direct this production, as well.  Talley's Folly is a two-character play that takes place on a boat on the Fourth of July near the end of the second World War and deals with rebellion against the conventions of that time, especially relating to religion, courtship, and love.

Desperate Housewives Actor Coming to the New York Stage

Tuc Watkins, known for his current role as Bob Hunter on the juicy soap opera Desperate Housewives, has signed on to take the lead in an off Broadway play called White's Lies.  He is replacing Scott Patterson who has let the show to take on a TV pilot.  The play, which will also star Tony winner Betty Buckley, Peter Scolari, and Christy Carlson Romano, and is written by Ben Andron, is set to start previews at New World Stages on April 12, with an opening date set for May 6th.  The production will be directed by Bob Cline.  For more details, see the full announcement at Broadway.com.


http://www.broadway.com/shows/whites-lies/buzz/tuc-watkins-desperate-housewives-replace-scott-patterson-whites-lies/

Monday, March 22, 2010

More Sondheim News

According to an article on Broadway.com, Stephen Sondheim now has his own Broadway theater.  The Henry Miller's Theatre has been re-named in Sondheim's honor and will now be called the Stephen Sondheim Theatre.  Congrats, Mr. Sondheim!


http://www.broadway.com/buzz/isnt-it-bliss-henry-millers-theatre-broadway-be-renamed-stephen-sondheim/

The Week In Preview

Tomorrow afternoon, March 23rd, Broadway Baby Kristin Chenoweth will appear on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote (I'm assuming) her upcoming Broadway production of  Promises, Promises.

On Wednesday, American Idiot, based on the Green Day album of the same name, begins previews at the St. James Theatre.

Thursday, Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away will officially open at the Marquis Theatre.

The same day, Dame Edna Everage will be a guest co-host on the morning talk-show The View.

Producing Theater In A Down Economy

An article in today's New York Times discusses budgeting and producing theater in today's economy in an interesting way that I thought you, my readers, would enjoy.  Take a look!


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/theater/22nextfall.html?ref=theater

Happy Birthday, Stephen Sondheim!

Today is the 80th birthday of one of Broadway's most beloved composers, Mr. Stephen Sondheim.  In honor of the occasion, there have been a string of concerts all over New York (and, I'm sure, all over the country) at New York City Center, Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and The Roundabout Theatre Company.

Mr. Sondheim has won an impressive list of awards and honors.  In 1983, he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.  In 1993, he received the Kennedy Center Honors.  He has won the Pulitzer Prize in Drama for Sunday In the Park With George, the Academy Award for Sooner or Later (I Always Get My Man) from the movie Dick Tracey, 8 Grammy Awards, most recently for Best Musical Show Album (West Side Story), 8 Tony Awards (more than any other composer), 7 Drama Desk Awards, and an OBIE Award.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

The Olivier Awards

It is not uncommon these days to see a show from the West End to transfer to our shores and to bring that production's stars with it.  But a transfer in the other direction is much less common.  This year has been a unique one in the number of American shows being represented in London, and even more so in the number of winners at this year's Olivier Awards -- the West End equivalent of the Tony Awards.  The transfer of Debbie Allen's all Black production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof took home the Best Revival award and Spring Awakening took home a number of awards, including Best New Musical!  For full details on this year's winners, check out the article at Broadway.com!

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/broadway-imports-spring-awakening-cat-hot-tin-roof-and-wicked-win-big-olivier-awards/

An Accent By Any Other Name Would Still Sound As Sweet. Or Would It?

I just read a blog post by Charles Isherwood about accents in the theater and how these can affect a performance.  Enjoy!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/theater-talkback-with-charles-isherwood-the-accents-the-thing/?ref=theater

The Best of Posters Is Now

I just read a great article on the The New York Times website about the process of advertising a show and creating the poster.  Take a look at the article and the interactive menu for pictures of some of the ideas they went through before deciding on their ultimate choice.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/03/21/theater/20100321-lacage-interactive.html

Saturday, March 20, 2010

All About Me

All About Me, the new revue starring Dame Edna Everage and Michael Feinstein, opened Thursday night to some pretty terrible reviews, most complaining about the show's lack of focus.  Good thing the show isn't eligible for any Tony awards!  The show is classified as a special theatrical event, which means that it is not eligible in any Tony category (only things classified as either a play or a musical are eligible for nomination).

Calling All Disney Fans

I just read an article on Playbill.com about an upcoming documentary on the revival of Disney animation in the 1980s by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, composers of such Disney hits as "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast".  Enjoy!

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/137982-STAGE-TO-SCREENS-Waking-Sleeping-Beauty-Charts-the-Rebirth-of-Disney-Animation

Friday, March 19, 2010

What A Feeling!

Flashdance, the popular movie from 1983, will be coming to the London stage this fall in a production to be directed by Nikolai Foster and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.  Previews have been announced to begin on September 23rd with an opening date set for October 14th.  For full production details, check out the article at Broadway.com below!

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/flashdance-musical-play-west-ends-shaftesbury-theatre-fall/

Tony Uncertainty

As I keep thinking about the upcoming awards season, I keep going back and forth about a few categories in which I updated my predictions a few days ago.  The first one is for Best Play.  After reviews came out for Geoffrey Nauffts' play Next Fall, I quickly updated my predictions to include it in the best play category at the expense of Superior Donuts.  While I still think Next Fall is a contender, and a strong one at that, I am no longer certain I took out the right play to include it.  Of the five major contenders for the four best play spots, the only one that I think will definitely be nominated right now is A Behanding in Spokane by Martin McDonagh.  As for Race, Time Stands Still, Next Fall, and Superior Donuts, I keep going back and forth about which three will get the nomination.  I think that Race received the weakest reviews of the bunch with Superior Donuts not far behind, while Next Fall and Time Stands Sill are more likely for nominations.  However, the fact that Superior Donuts has already closed and Time Stands Still will end its limited run at the end of next week, long before the Tony nominations come out, makes me wonder about the chances of either play.  For the moment, I will leave my predictions as they are in this category until I've settled on a better decision than what I currently have, but I am thinking about this issue.

The other category that is giving me trouble is the Best Director of a Play category.  While I think I was pretty right in giving a prediction to the director of Present Laughter at the expense of Tina Landau for Superior Donuts, I am less certain about taking away Brighton Beach Memoirs' nomination in favor of Next Fall.  Both productions were well praised and well put together, but I'm just not sure about this switch anymore.  The two things that Next Fall has going for it over Brighton Beach Memoirs right now are that it will still be playing come nomination time (unless it doesn't make enough money to keep going much longer) and that it has a female director -- a fact which becomes even more important with the removal of Tina Landau and Superior Donuts from the list.

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Hamlet in the South Pacific Seas? A Plantation in Elsinore?

The title of this post may sound odd, but it was meant to be so.  That is because the event it describes is just as odd.  Well, maybe not odd, but it is definitely unique.  According to an article on Broadway.com, David Pittsinger seems to be living in a world which could justly be described by the above title.  This coming Saturday, Mr. Pittsinger is going to become possibly the first person to appear in both a Broadway show and an opera in the same day.  For the Saturday matinee, he will be playing Emile de Becque in South Pacific at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center and, a few hours later, walk the 30 or so feet to his dressing room at the Metropolitan Opera where he will prepare to play the ghost of Hamlet's father in their production of Hamlet.  While there are no official statistics about this, it is believed that this is a first for any performer.  For more information on the interesting occurrence, read the full article at the link below!

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/broadway-star-to-opera-star-all-in-a-day/

Two Unfortunate Deaths

Some sad news today, with the passing of two great theater folk.  Variety has reported that Carmen Capalbo, director of the off-Broadway production of "The Threepenny Opera" in 1954 and the 1957 "Moon For the Misbegotten" died on Sunday at the age of 84.  Read Variety's full article below.
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118016588.html?categoryid=15&cs=1&ref=bd_legit


In other news, the New York Times is reporting the death at age 72 of H. M. Koutoukas, author of many surrealist plays.  The cause is reported to be complications from diabetes.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/18/arts/18koutoukas.html?ref=theater

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

It's all about THEM

The New York Times just put up a great interview on their website with Michael Feinstein and Dame Edna Everage (or should I say Dame Edna Everage and Michael Feinstein?!) about their current show at the Henry Miller's Theater.  The interview, much like the pair themselves, is a laugh riot that I want you all to enjoy.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/tea-for-two-dame-edna-and-michael-feinstein/?ref=theater

Sondheim Update

According to an article at Broadway.com, Raul Esparza and Edward Hibbert will be joining previously announced stars Donna Murphy and Sutton Foster in the Encores! production of Anyone Can Whistle.  Enjoy the article!

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/raul-esparza-will-whistle-sutton-foster-and-donna-murphy-encores/

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Could I get your Frank Ghery?

Well, it looks like the Signature Theater Company will be getting its new home after all.  Thought its original location may have changed, it will still be designed by the architect Frank Ghery and will still be in Manhattan, though at a fraction of a cost.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/theater/16signature.html?ref=theater

Lilly von Schtupp ... Is Tired

Well, it looks as though Lilly von Schtupp and the rest of the Blazing Saddles crew from the movie will be coming to Broadway.  According to Broadway.com (see article below), Mel Brooks is writing a musical based on his hit movie (one of my favorites of his cannon), though it is not clear that the show will debut in New York.  Where will it debut?  Well, let's just hope that we're not, er, down wind of wherever that is when that happens.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/mel-brooks-readies-ride-back-stage-blazing-saddles/

Monday, March 15, 2010

Sam Rockwell Interview

I just read a great interview with Sam Rockwell over at Broadway.com about his experiences in Martin McDonagh's A Behanding in Spokane, Christopher Walken, and, of all things, dancing with George Clooney.  Enjoy!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/behanding-spokane/buzz/behanding-star-sam-rockwell-walken-mcdonagh-and-dancing-george-clooney/

Looped

Looped, the Valerie Harper vehicle about Tallulah Bankhead rerecording a line of dialogue for what would be her last film (Die! Die! My Darling!), opened yesterday despite the horrendous weather.  While the play itself received relatively poor reviews, but Ms. Harper's star turn received some decently good reviews, even though some think she was not the ideal choice for the part.  This confirms my thought that she will receive a Tony nomination for her acting here, but probably not a win.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Some People Will Do ANYTHING For a Ticket

Here's a great article about the lengths people will go to in order to get tickets to the show they want to see. Enjoy!


http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/12/what-you-did-for-love-of-theater/

The Designer Series, part 4

Today brings us the last part in my designer series in discussing the Tony's and, with it, the last full article on my thinking before simply updating here and there on the ever changing buzz.  Today's update is about possibly the least understood yet simultaneously most powerful aspect of any theatrical production.  It is also amongst the most expensive single aspects of any show, with Broadway productions spending $100,000 or more on lights.  Most often, the big spectacle shows tend to get this award because most nominators fall prey to what I like to call "look at the pretty lights" syndrome (this is why Billy Elliot got the award last year in my opinion).

Based on that logic, Fela! is sure to get a nomination in this category.  The other major contenders in the category are Memphis, The Addams Family, A Little Night Music, Finian's Rainbow and Ragtime.  Finian's Rainbow and A Little Night Music also seem to me to be sure bets in this category based on artistic value, while the last slot is largely up for grabs.  For the moment, I have gone with Ragtime because of the praise it got for its design, while Memphis was not as highly praised in this department, nor did it deserve to be and The Addams Family I think is just not strong enough of a contender in this category.

As for the plays, I'm going with three artistic hits and one play that was praised for the show's ability to bring the audience right into an intended mood.  The first three are, as usual around here, A View From the Bridge, Present Laughter, and The Royal Family.  The last one, which I think will be one of the few awards this show may actually get, is A Behanding in Spokane.  This one, though, is my most questionable because, while Christopher Walken and the set design were praised by Ben Brantley of the NY Times as "such a perfect, demented marriage of character and environment that you can't help grinning like a fool," I'm not sure that the nominating committee will realize the contribution of the lighting design to that environment and mood enough to nominate it.  In case they don't, Brighton Beach Memoirs might get a sentimental nomination or The Miracle Worker for its creativity in the round, even though this last one is unlikely.  We shall see as time wears on what time will bring.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

The Designer Series, part 3

Today's Tony update is going to continue my series on the designers, and will be my second-to-last discussion of my thoughts on each category.  After that, I will just be providing updates as the buzz changes in relation to each show.  Today's design category is Costume Design.  My general thought on this award is that the shows that tend to get nominated for it are either period pieces (especially on the play side) or the major hits (particularly on the musical side).  There is a saying that often comes up, usually in reference to the Oscars, that the more hoop skirts there are in the final product, the more Costume Design awards the show will win -- and this applies to the Tony's as well.

That being the case, I have picked four period piece plays, two of which are decent hits and two of which are sentimental favorites -- Present Laughter, A View From the Bridge, The Miracle Worker, and Brighton Beach Memoirs.  The first two in this list are the hits that I think will be nominated for a large number of awards, but particularly the design awards, for being period pieces that were executed strongly.  Miracle Worker received mixed reviews, but was complimented more or less unanimously for its costumes (in addition to taking place in a part of history more distant from the present than any other new offering this year).  As for Brighton Beach Memoirs, this period drama taking place in the 1920s was a well received production that closed early based on low ticket sales, so I'm thinking this may get the show a sentimental nomination, even if a win is unlikely.

As for the musicals, I've many of this year's musicals fit the mold of commercial and critical hit, and many are also period pieces.  One thing that made this category easier is that Ragtime is ineligible for this award because the costume design for this show was recycled from the previous production.  The costume designer of the original production, Santo Loquasto, was credited again as designer, many of the costumes for the revival were simply pulled out of storage from the previous production and whatever couldn't be re-used was rebuild based on the original designs.  That being the case, there are five remaining major contenders for the four slots available in the category -- Fela!, Finian's Rainbow, Memphis, A Little Night Music, and The Addams Family.  The first four are already hits, and the last is likely to become one once it opens next month.  So far, I have excluded The Addams Family only because it hasn't opened, but I think that, as a fantasy piece, it could easily unseat Memphis (or maybe even Fela!) based on the fact that makeup design is often included under the guise of costumes for the purpose of awards here.  Though the Oscars have a separate award for makeup design (and I think the Emmy's may have one, though I'm less sure about this one), the Tony's do NOT have a separate design for makeup, so this may give The Addams Family an edge over one of the other shows.

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington has written a great essay for Broadway.com about her experiences in David Mamet's Race, among other things.  Follow the link below to read her thoughts!


http://www.broadway.com/shows/race/buzz/whats-up-kerry-washington-race-star-mamet-swearing-and-kissing-kristin-chenoweth/

Friday, March 12, 2010

4th Predictions


I have updated my predictions based on some new buzz and information about Next Fall, which just opened last night.  The few minor changes I've made are that Next Fall is now a Best Play nominee, taking the spot previously given to Superior Donuts, Next Fall and Present Laughter have taken Best Director spots over Superior Donuts and Brighton Beach Memoirs, and The Miracle Worker has taken the Costume Design spot from The Royal Family.

New Play
A Behanding in Spokane
Time Stands Still
Next Fall
Race

Play Revival
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
The Royal Family
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Major Threats: Hamlet, Fences

New Musical
Memphis
Fela!
Addams Family
Come Fly Away
Major Threat:  Million Dollar Quartet

Musical Revival
Finian’s Rainbow
Ragtime
A Little Night Music
La Cage Aux Folles
Major Threat: Promises, Promises

Book of a Musical
Memphis
Fela!
Million Dollar Quartet
Addams Family

Score of a Musical
Fela!
Memphis
Addams Family

Director of a Play
Gregory Mosher, A View From the Bridge
Daniel Sullivan, Time Stands Still
Sheryl Kaller, Next Fall
Nicholas Martin – Present Laughter

Director of a Musical
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Warren Carlyle – Finian’s Rainbow
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime
Trevor Nunn – A Little Night Music
Major Threats: Terry Johnson – La Cage Aux Folles, Eric Schaeffer – Million Dollar Quartet

Choreography
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away
Sergio Trujillo, Memphis
Warren Carlyle – Finian’s Rainbow
Major Threat: Lynne Page – La Cage Aux Folles

Orchestrations
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Ragtime
Million Dollar Quartet
Major Threats: Memphis, The Addams Family, Finian’s Rainbow, La Cage Aux Folles

Lead Actor in a Play
Brian d’Arcy James, Time Stands Still
Victor Garber, Present Laughter
Liev Schreiber, A View From the Bridge
Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane
Michael McKean, Superior Donuts
Major Threats: Patrick Breen, Next Fall, Jude Law, Hamlet,

Lead Actress in a Play
Valerie Harper, Looped
Laura Linney, Time Stands Still
Alison Pill, The Miracle Worker
Laurie Metcalf, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family
Major Threats: Megan Mullally – Lips Together, Teeth Apart

Featured Actor in a Play
Eric Bogosian, Time Stands Still
Brooks Ashmanskas, Present Laughter
Reg Rogers, The Royal Family
Michael Cristofer, A View From the Bridge
Santino Fontana, Brighton Beach Memoirs

Featured Actress in a Play
Alicia Silverstone, Time Stands Still
Scarlett Johansson, A View From the Bridge
Jessica Hecht, A View From the Bridge
Abigail Breslin, The Miracle Worker
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Fmily
Potential Threats: Viola Davis – Fences

Lead Actor in a Musical
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!
Chad Kimball, Memphis
Quentin Earl Darrington, Ragtime
Nathan Lane, Addams Family
Alexander Hanson, A Little Night Music

Lead Actress in a Musical
Montego Glover, Memphis
Kate Baldwin, Finian’s Rainbow
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music
Bebe Neuwirth, Addams Family
Christiane Noll, Ragtime

Featured Actor in a Musical
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian’s Rainbow
James Monroe Iglehart, Memphis
Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Chuck Cooper – Finian’s Rainbow
Kevin Chamberlin, Addams Family

Featured Actress in a Musical
Lillias White, Fela!
Terri White, Finian’s Rainbow
Jackie Hoffman, Addams Family
Cass Morgan, Memphis
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music

Set Design of a Play
Present Laughter
A View From the Bridge
The Royal Family
A Behanding in Spokane

Set Design of a Musical
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Finian’s Rainbow
Ragtime
Major Threat: Memphis, Addams Family

Costume Design of a Play
Present Laughter
A View From the Bridge
Miracle Worker
Brighton Beach Memoirs

Costume Design of a Musical
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Finian’s Rainbow
Memphis
Major Threat: Addams Family

Lighting Design of a Play
A Behanding in Spokane
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
The Royal Family

Lighting Design of a Musical
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Finian’s Rainbow
Ragtime

Sound Design of a Play
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Superior Donuts

Sound Design of a Musical
Ragtime
Fela!
La Cage Aux Folles
Addams Family

Race In The Theater

Being the multi-tasker that I am, I was reading an article in Variety as I was typing up my previous post that discussed race relations in the theatre.  I enjoyed the article well enough that I thought I'd share it with you all, my readers and followers.  Enjoy!


Next Fall

Next Fall, a new play by Geoffrey Nauffts, opened last night at the Helen Hayes Theatre on Broadway.  While I had previously not really considered the play much of a contender for anything, Ben Brantley of The New York Times and David Rooney of Variety gave the show such strong reviews that I am reconsidering my nomination predictions.  Based on the reviews, I am relatively likely to add this show to my list for Best Play and Director, and am thinking about adding Patrick Breen into the lead actor mix.  Patrick Heusinger, another actor in the show, may also sneak into the featured actor category, though if the Tony committee decides to deem his performance "featured" instead of "lead", I don't think he'll make the cut.  Also, the fact that the show's set and lighting designs were even mentioned in the review is surprising enough for me to consider them, but that they were praised is even BETTER for them.  Back to the drawing board I go to see how this changes the game!

The Designer Series, part 2

Today, I'm continuing my series on the design awards to talk about sets.  The set is one of the more interesting design aspects of a production in that it is the first thing you both see and notice (I'll talk about this distinction more when I discuss the lighting design category) and sets up your entire visual perception of the show.  Set designers also need to think about issues like storage and movement of various parts that audiences don't usually think about or understand (another discussion topic for the lighting design article).  Anyhow ... nominations for these awards tend to go two types of show.  One is to the smash hits where, basically, everything about the show gets nominated.  The other is a more artsy show, like this season's A Little Night Music or Sunday In the Park With George from a few seasons back.  On that logic, the biggest contenders this year on the musical side are Fela!A Little Night MusicFinian's RainbowRagtimeThe Addams Family, and Memphis.  On the play side, the major contenders are A Behanding in SpokaneA View From the BridgePresent LaughterThe Royal Family, with RaceSuperior Donuts, and Brighton Beach Memoirs on the outside.

Of the musicals, I think all six of the production I have listed have a strong chance at getting nominations.  I think Fela! is definitely getting a nomination in this category because of the mega-hit musical logic.  A Little Night Music and Ragtime were chosen based on the artistic show status, though The Addams Family could easily unseat either of these as a more direct fit to this logic, especially since it is more in line with the big budget, over produced Broadway musical vein.  And, this show may prove to be the Young Frankenstein of the year (that show got a set design nomination seemingly out of the blue).  As for A Little Night Music's mega-hit status, I am not 100% confident putting it into that category because, while it was a great production that most people really liked and has been selling tickets like nobody's business, I wonder how much of that is because of the show's quality or if it's because of the stunt casting of Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones, compared to Fela!, which has no major stars and yet is still selling tickets as though they were printing money.  I have given the last slot to Finian's Rainbow because it manages to be in both categories at once -- the artsy mega-hit.  This show, however, is one I can easily see being dethroned in this category by Memphis, a big hit that deserves to be a big hit but may not get as much recognition as it deserves.

As for the plays, Present Laughter and A View From the Bridge are pretty much certain to get set design nominations because of their solid hit status.  A Behanding in Spokane is in on the artsy show
 that got praise for its set logic.  Even though the show got panned for it's script and many of its actors, it WAS praised for Christopher Walken's performance and the brilliance of its set in setting the mood and matching his performance.  The last slot I have given to The Royal Family because of its similarity to the first two predicted nominees in the category.  A two tiered set of an apartment, much like Present Laughter, of a show taking place in the same time period as both of the other shows and which has lots of people running around and through it, much like A View From the Bridge.  It is clearly the weakest contender in the category, though, with its biggest threat being the much liked Brighton Beach Memoirs, which has going for it the artsy-show-that-didn't-last-long logic.  Superior Donuts and Race also have small chances at getting nominations, so they are on my radar, but I think it is highly unlikely that either of these two shows will succeed in this category.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Ray Charles Musical to Play Broadway

According to Broadway.com, a new musical based on the life of Ray Charles will be coming to Broadway in the fall of 2010.  According to the article (see the link below), the show will have a book by Susan Lori-Parks and will feature a number of familiar songs by the musical genius that was Ray Charles.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/ray-charles-musical-unchain-my-heart-mess-around-broadway-fall-2010/

A Time to Adapt

John Grisham's novel, A Time to Kill, will be adapted for the stage by Rupert Holmes, according to Broadway.com in a production to be produced by Daryl Roth at Washington, D.C.'s Arena stage in May 2011.  For full details, see the article at Broadway.com.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/stage-version-john-grishams-time-to-kill-debut-arena-stage/

Miracle Worker

I ended up seeing the current revival of The Miracle Worker last night starring Abigail Breslin and Alison Pill and it was actually better than I had expected it to be, given the reviews it received.  While the major critics all praised the two star performances (totally deserved praise, I must add), critics didn't enjoy the theater-in-the-round staging of the play, saying that it got in the way too much.  While I can understand what they meant, I think the staging actually worked, and while it didn't necessarily add to the quality of the show, it didn't take away from it either.  At least, not in any way such a staging wouldn't take away from any production not originally written to be done in the round.  My opinion, however, does not a Tony nomination make on this one, so I am going to let the buzz machine do what it will over the next few months and see how this affects my nomination predictions.  I am still calling noms for Pill and Breslin, but as for the production as a whole?  I'm now unsure.

Fran Drescher Dishes About Love

I just read a great interview with Fran Drescher on Broadway.com in which she talks about love, cancer, her new play, and her audition for ... Avatar.  To read about THAT connection, follow the link below.

http://www.broadway.com/shows/love-loss-and-what-i-wore/buzz/love-loss-star-fran-drescher-cancer-politics-avatar/

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

The Designer Series, part 1

Tonight begins my series on the design awards for the upcoming Tonys.  I'm going to start with the newest category of the bunch -- Sound Design.  Created in 2007 to award theater artists long ignored by our awards system, the Tony here is in that funny transitional place where it is old enough (this upcoming awards season will be the award's third year being granted) to have some data at which to look but young enough for any analysis of the data to be entirely scientific -- the sample size is too small.  There seem to be two patterns going on in the short history of the category.  The shows that are nominated in this category are either blockbuster hits of the season -- In the Heights, South Pacific, Billy Elliot, etc. -- or shows whose technical merits outshine the production -- Macbeth, Equus.    Based on that information, I have picked a combination of shows I think will be the biggest hits of the season and shows that will have great technical merit to them.  Ant the lists are:

Sound Design of a Play
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Superior Donuts

Sound Design of a Musical
Ragtime
Fela!
La Cage Aux Folles
Addams Family

On the play side, View From the Bridge and Present Laughter are sure bets, while the latter two are only highly likely.  The biggest competition to the play side of the sound design category comes from A Behanding in Spokane and The Royal Family.  On the musical side, La Cage Aux Folles is the weakest of my pics, with a potential threat coming from American Idiot which may turn out to be more like Taboo than I'm guessing at the moment.  That show, from 2004, was a critical failure and closed not long after it opened, but received an unexpected nomination for its costume design in a year with major competition from shows like Wicked, Assassins, and the revival of Henry IV at Lincoln Center which put both of Shakespeare's parts into a full evening of theater.  Based on buzz after the opening of some more shows, I will have updates in many categories, but this one in particular.

Monday, March 8, 2010

All About Michael Feinstein

I just read a great interview on Broadway.com with Michael Feinstein -- the great pianist and interpreter of the American Songbook now on Broadway with Dame Edna Everage in All About Me.  Check it out!


http://www.broadway.com/shows/all-about-me/buzz/michael-feinstein-tells-ialli-about-singing-sparring-dame-edna/

Broadway's Cheyenne Jackson

It appears that alums of the recent revival of Finian's Rainbow are doing well these days.  Broadway's Cheyenne Jackson has recently landed a TV pilot for ABC.  We are sure, though, that even if the show is picked up, he won't stay away from the theater for very long!

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/cheyenne-jackson-lands-new-abc-pilot-it-takes-village/

Christopher Fitzgerald

Christopher Fitzgerald, star of the recent revival of Finian's Rainbow (and predicted Tony nominee for his efforts there), is heading to Williamstown Theatre Festival!  Fitzgerald will appear in A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum as Pseudolus, the part originated by Zero Mostel and recreated in the mid 1990's by Nathan Lane.  For the full article, go to the link below.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/christopher-fitzgerald-forum-and-starry-our-town-tap-williamstown/

Sunday, March 7, 2010

The Featured Actresses, Part II

Tonight's entry is going to be about the featured actresses in musicals.  This category seems, on some level, rather pointless to discuss at the moment because, as of right now, Angela Lansbury looks as though she is so far ahead of the pack that anyone else at least seems a bit irrelevant.  That being said, there is also a relatively small number of potential nominees this year as far as I can tell -- six by my best count.  The six lucky ladies that I can imagine being considered here, of which only five will be nominated.  They are:


Lillias White, Fela!
Terri White, Finian’s Rainbow
Jackie Hoffman, Addams Family
Cass Morgan, Memphis
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music
Carolee Carmello, Addams Family

As of right now, all of the above shows have opened except for The Addams Family and each of these performances has something to be said for them.  Lillias White, best known for her outstanding performance in The Life years ago, is a Broadway favorite whose appearances are few and far between enough that she is often missed.  She also gives a much talked about performance in Fela! that has been garnering buzz since the show opened.  The same can be said of Angela Lansbury, actually, who will for certain be getting her 7th Tony nomination come May.  The buzz around this performance has been so strong that, so far, I think she's the frontrunner in the category.  the only thing that may stop her (from winning, anyhow) is that she has already won 5 Tony's over her lengthy career.

Terri White has one of the greatest riches to rags to riches stories of the year.  Ms. White was a Broadway performer for a number of years, performing frequently with Liza Minelli and acting in the Broadway companies of Ain't Misbehaving, Barnum, and Bubbling Brown Sugar, among other shows.  Then, in 2008, she became homeless, only to be recognized by a police officer in Greenwich Village who helped her find a place to live before she was cast in the recent revival of Finian's Rainbow.  In addition to the fact that she gave a scene stealing performance, this story should give her plenty of certainty that she will wake up a Tony nominee on May 4th.

Cass Morgan, a greatly under-appreciated character actress who has been working steadily in the business for 30 years, has found herself a great role in a popular, awards worthy musical.  She clearly is the wild card in this category, but I think she may just eek ahead of her competition.

The two ladies from The Addams Family are two Broadway vets who are loved within the community.  Carolee Carmello has long been one of the great leading ladies of the broadway stage, with two previous Tony nominations to her credit, though this performance is clearly a wild card in the category.  Jackie Hoffman is quickly becoming Broadway's go-to character actress for quirky, comedic bit parts, and the part of Grandmama is perfectly suited to Ms. Hoffman's talents.  I think she is sure to get a nomination for the part.

Of the two wild cards I have identified (Carmello and Morgan), I'm putting my money on Morgan because her part is much flashier than I think Carmello's will be and Carmello is more likely to get better roles and more nominations in the future.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

The Featured Actresses

This year is a great year for featured (supporting) actresses in plays.  Not only was there a large number of performances that naturally fit the category, such as Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Ophelia in Hamlet, Zoe Kazan in A Behanding in Spokane, and Kate Buddeke in Superior Donuts, but a number of performances that straddle the border between lead and featured have been relegated by the Tony committee to the featured category, most notably Jessica Hecht and Scarlett Johansson in A View From the Bridge.  The best way to start, I think, will be to list as many of the eligible performances in this category as I can.  This list includes what I know about the shows that have already opened and the shows that are coming up in the coming months.  Since I don't know much about either Lips Together, Teeth Apart or Lend Me a Tenor, I can't predict what the likelihood is that any nominations will go to those shows.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Hamlet
Zoe Kazan, A Behanding in Spokane
Kate Buddeke, Superior Donuts
Harriet Harris, Present Laughter
Lisa Banes, Present Laughter
Viola Davis, Fences
Jessica Hecht, A View From the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson, A View From the Bridge
Alicia Silverstone, Time Stands Still
Abigail Breslin, The Miracle Worker
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family

Based on this list, there are some clear nominees and some clear also-rans.  Unfortunately, there are only five nomination slots and I can count at least eleven major contenders for those spots, meaning that some of the above list has to go.  The first to go is Gugu Mbatha-Raw who played Ophelia opposite Jude Law's Hamlet.  While the show got good reviews, Mbatha-Raw did NOT.  For such an important role, to have the actress playing her be discussed as being bad (instead of praised or ignored entirely) bodes terribly for the actress playing her.  Buddeke was not really buzzed about for her performance in Superior Donuts, so I think she has no chance at a Tony nomination.  The two ladies in Present Laughter received some good buzz for their performances, but I doubt it was strong enough to get them nominated given their competition this year, particularly for Harris who won a featured actress Tony in 2002 as Mrs. Meers in the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie.  As for Viola Davis, she is a talented actress who is well respected in the theater community, but her show has yet to open.  Once it does, I might add her to my list of predicted nominees but, until then, I can't in good faith predict her.  That leaves the last five nominees in my list, each of whom got stellar reviews in the popular press, making them the easy choices so far for nomination.  The weakest two on my predictions list for this category are Alicia Silverstone and Abigail Breslin, two Hollywood stars whose praise may be as much based on being star struck than talent.  Once Fences opens, if Viola Davis is well enough praised, she will definitely get one of the two slots taken by Breslin and Silverstone.  Until then, my official picks are:


Jessica Hecht, A View From the Bridge
Scarlett Johansson, A View From the Bridge
Alicia Silverstone, Time Stands Still
Abigail Breslin, The Miracle Worker
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Family

Friday, March 5, 2010

New Nomination Predictions

Well, it looks like it took me less time than I had anticipated to update my list of nominees.  Here's the new list -- Enjoy!


New Play
A Behanding in Spokane
Time Stands Still
Superior Donuts
Race

Play Revival
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
The Royal Family
Brighton Beach Memoirs

New Musical
Memphis
Fela!
Addams Family
Come Fly Away

Musical Revival
Finian’s Rainbow
Ragtime
A Little Night Music
La Cage Aux Folles

Book of a Musical
Memphis
Fela!
Million Dollar Quartet
Addams Family

Score of a Musical
Fela!
Memphis
Addams Family

Director of a Play
Gregory Mosher, A View From the Bridge
Daniel Sullivan, Time Stands Still
Tina Landau, Superior Donuts
David Cromer, Brighton Beach Memoirs

Director of a Musical
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Warren Carlyle – Finian’s Rainbow
Marcia Milgrom Dodge, Ragtime
Trevor Nunn – A Little Night Music

Choreography
Bill T. Jones, Fela!
Twyla Tharp, Come Fly Away
Sergio Trujillo, Memphis
Warren Carlyle – Finian’s Rainbow

Orchestrations
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Ragtime
Million Dollar Quartet

Lead Actor in a Play
Brian d’Arcy James, Time Stands Still
Victor Garber, Present Laughter
Liev Schreiber, A View From the Bridge
Christopher Walken, A Behanding in Spokane
Michael McKean, Superior Donuts

Lead Actress in a Play
Valerie Harper, Looped
Laura Linney, Time Stands Still
Alison Pill, The Miracle Worker
Laurie Metcalf, Brighton Beach Memoirs
Jan Maxwell, The Royal Family

Featured Actor in a Play
Eric Bogosian, Time Stands Still
Brooks Ashmanskas, Present Laughter
Reg Rogers, The Royal Family
Michael Cristofer, A View From the Bridge
Santino Fontana, Brighton Beach Memoirs

Featured Actress in a Play
Alicia Silverstone, Time Stands Still
Scarlett Johansson, A View From the Bridge
Jessica Hecht, A View From the Bridge
Abigail Breslin, The Miracle Worker
Rosemary Harris, The Royal Fmily

Lead Actor in a Musical
Sahr Ngaujah, Fela!
Chad Kimball, Memphis
Quentin Earl Darrington, Ragtime
Nathan Lane, Addams Family
Alexander Hanson, A Little Night Music

Lead Actress in a Musical
Montego Glover, Memphis
Kate Baldwin, Finian’s Rainbow
Catherine Zeta-Jones, A Little Night Music
Bebe Neuwirth, Addams Family
Christiane Noll, Ragtime

Featured Actor in a Musical
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian’s Rainbow
James Monroe Iglehart, Memphis
Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Chuck Cooper – Finian’s Rainbow
Kevin Chamberlin, Addams Family

Featured Actress in a Musical
Lillias White, Fela!
Terri White, Finian’s Rainbow
Jackie Hoffman, Addams Family
Cass Morgan, Memphis
Angela Lansbury, A Little Night Music

Set Design of a Play
Present Laughter
A View From the Bridge
The Royal Family
A Behanding in Spokane

Set Design of a Musical
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Finian’s Rainbow
Ragtime

Costume Design of a Play
Present Laughter
A View From the Bridge
The Royal Family
Brighton Beach Memoirs

Costume Design of a Musical
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Finian’s Rainbow
La Cage Aux Folles

Lighting Design of a Play
A Behanding in Spokane
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
The Royal Family

Lighting Design of a Musical
Fela!
A Little Night Music
Finian’s Rainbow
Ragtime

Sound Design of a Play
A View From the Bridge
Present Laughter
Brighton Beach Memours
Superior Donuts

Sound Design of a Musical
Ragtime
Fela!
La Cage Aux Folles
Addams Family

A Behanding in Spokane

Reviews are in and it looks as though I was right.  Christopher Walken has been unanimously hailed as giving one of the best performances of the year in Martin McDonagh's A Behanding inSpokane.  The play itself, while not one of McDonagh's best, still got pretty strong reviews, making me more secure in having predicted it for a best play nomination.  The atmosphere of the play was also praised as being top notch, leading me to change one of my set design calls in order to give Behanding a slot, yet knowing that I made a good call by putting this show into the lighting design category.  Later today, or possibly tomorrow, I will put up an updated set of predictions based on this new information.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

The Miracle Worker

The current revival of William Gibson's most famous play, The Miracle Worker, opened last night to some pretty harsh reviews.  Most critics (I haven't yet seen the show, so I don't yet have an opinion) seem to agree that, while an in-the-round staging had the potential to make this show brilliant, this aspect of the production got in the way more than it helped.  The text itself has always been a problem, to some extent, because of the language barrier inherent to the story, but where most productions find a way to make it work, this production appears not to have been successful at this.

In addition, Ben Brantley of the New York Times, complained that the production has no particular focus.  All actors remain onstage for the bulk of the performance, sitting on the perimeter when not active in a scene, with the lights illuminating the entire stage most of the time.  Scenery simply lowers from the ceiling to change time and place, and then raises up again when no longer needed.  This lack of focus, however, has not taken away from the power of the two main performances.  While some think Abigail Breslin may be too old for the part (she's eleven while the character is only six), others think this could be an asset to a performance of the character, showing how menacing her problems could make her.  Alison Pill, known for playing strong, independent women, continues her streak here as Boston-Irish Catholic Annie Sullivan, Helen's teacher.

How does this affect my predictions?  First, I am no longer projecting a Best Revival nomination for the show -- that slot has now gone to Brighton Beach Memoirs and the lighting design nomination I had called for the show is now going to The Royal Family.  Also, Kate Whoriskey, who I considered a threat to the director category, is no longer in that league.  My predictions for Pill and Breslin as Best Actress and Best Featured Actress nominees, however, still stand.  After tonight's opening of Martin McDonagh's A Behanding in Spokane, I will post a third set of predictions, given what will then be some updated buzz.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Sleapless in Youtube

A composing team for an in-the-works musical adaptation of the film Sleepless in Seattle has been chosen, according to Broadway.com.  One of the collaborators was found, of all places, on Youtube!  For the story of how that came to be, and for the names of the members of the team, please see the full article at Broadway.com.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/composing-team-named-sleepless-seattle-musical/

Dumbo

Broadway.com has announced that a Broadway musical version of Dumbo, the classic Disney animated movie, is in the works.

Check out the full article at Broadway.com.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/will-disneys-dumbo-fly-great-white-way/

'Venus in Fur' Might Be Coming to Broadway

According to the New York Times, Robert Fox is considering producing a Broadway transfer of the Classic Stage Company's production of Venus in Fur by David Ives.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

The Featured Actors Again ... But This Time, With Music!

This was a stellar year for featured actors in musicals.  Magic, sight gags, great singing, quick humor, and personalities to spare, the supporting actors are, in each case, scene stealers.  There are so many that deserve to be in this category that my first instinct was to pick my favorite five.  And to some extent, that's what I did.  But there is also some prognostication here, as well.  I guess I will start off by mentioning who the possible contenders are.

Christopher Fitzgerald and Chuck Cooper, Finian's Rainbow
James Monroe Iglehart and J. Bernard Calloway, Memphis
Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Bill Irwin, Bye Bye Birdie
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family
Aaron Lazar, A Little Night Music

In addition to the above, there is a chance that, as with Movin' Out a few years ago, some of the dancers in Come Fly Away will be nominated, but that's difficult to predict just yet.  Somehow, though, I doubt that will be the case because I think there are enough other strong nominees to fill the category.

The first unfortunate actor that I did not pick from the above list was Bill Irwin who, as funny as he generally is, was just wrong in that role -- and most people I've heard from agree with that, some saying that his talents had so much potential that was entirely misused here.

Of the remaining actors, it seems relatively clear to me that Christopher Fitzgerald and James Monroe Iglehart will be nominated.  Fitzgerald performed a number of great magic tricks and pulled off a lot of quick humor and sight gags that deserve nomination.  Iglehart had his own brand of magic in Memphis with his great singing and dancing, stealing the show in his big musical number.

The last two slots I have picked are good contenders, but are also wild cards, to a certain extent.  Kevin Chamberlin is ideally cast as Uncle Fester in The Addams Family and I can't imagine this well loved actor (who has never won a Tony) NOT being nominated, but there will be more buzz to learn from after the show opens.  There is definitely a chance that he won't make the cut, though, based on the strong performances of others in the category.

The same goes for Bobby Steggert -- Mother's Little Brother in Ragtime.  I thought he was great, and the critics agreed.  But his show may have closed too long ago for someone else to get the nomination instead of him.

Of the above, the biggest threat to any of the men in the category is Calloway, who was a solid presence and a scene stealer in his short time on stage.  Aaron Lazar, a decently respected actor on Broadway, gave a smart performance in a great production of a Sondhim musical, but there just hasn't been enough buzz around Mr. Lazar yet for me to be sure he will be nominated.

As I wrap up this post, for clarity's sake, my picks are:

Bobby Steggert, Ragtime
Christopher Fitzgerald, Finian's Rainbow
Chuck Cooper, Finian's Rainbow
Kevin Chamberlin, The Addams Family
James Monroe Iglehart, Memphis

So, those are my pics, and we will see how these develop over time until May 4th.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Anyone Can Enore!

Donna Murphy will be joining Sutton Foster in the upcoming Encores! production of Stephen Sondheim's Anyone Can Whistle in the role originated by Angela Lansbury.  For more details, see the full article at Broadway.com.

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/donna-murphy-join-sutton-foster-anyone-can-whistle-encores/

On a Promise and a Prayer

It seems that the upcoming revival of "Promises, Promises" will be getting something new.  According to an article on Broadway.com (link below), the Burt Bacharach and Hal David musical will be adding one of the writing duo's most famous pop standards -- "I Say a Little Prayer" -- which will be sung by Kristen Chenoweth in the show.


http://www.broadway.com/shows/promises-promises/buzz/prayer-added-promises-promises-star-kristin-chenoweth/