Friday, August 13, 2010

Gearing Up for the 2010-2011 Tony Race

Hard to believe that this blog is already 8 months in the making ... and that this is my 250th post!  As I am currently getting ready to start up for the 2010-2011 Tony race, I wanted to open up the floor to you, my readers, for some advice.  This blog, after all, is as much about YOU as it is about the race itself.  Is there anything in particular that you would like to see on the blog this year that wasn't there last year?  Anything I should discontinue?  What aspects of the blog should I continue or develop?  I'd love to hear your feedback on how last year went so that I can make this year BETTER.  To express your ideas, leave me messages in the comments section of this post.  Thanks, and I can't wait to bring you more content!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Patricia Neal, Tony- and Oscar-Winning Actress, Dies at 84

Patricia Neal, among the best actresses of a generation, died yesterday at the age of 84 of lung cancer at her home in Massachusetts.  She will be long remembered for her cherished performance in Hud, the 1963 film in which she costarred with Paul Newman and the role for which she became an Oscar winner.  Patricia also starred on Broadway, with credits ranging from the original 1959 production of The Miracle Worker to  a revival of Lillian Hellman's The Chlidren's Hour in 1952.  Perhaps her biggest Broadway success was her Tony-winning performance in Lillian Hellman's 1946 drama Another Part of the Forrest -- her Broadway debut.  She is survived by her children Lucy, Ophelia, Theo and Tessa.  Her husband, children's author Roald Dahl, died in 1990.  On a more personal note, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet Ms. Neal at the SunDeis Film Festival a few years back and I will remember her for a long time.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Kristin Chenoweth Rocks

I finally saw Promises, Promises today -- one of the last shows of the recently ended Broadway season that I hadn't seen.  The show is really dated and the score just doesn't work in any way (Turkey Lurkey Time, anyone?).  But thank heavens for Kristin Chenoweth and Sean Hayes who somehow managed to hold that show together because, otherwise, the show would have been a total and utter mess.

After the show, I had the pleasure of going back stage to Kristin's dressing room for a quick, informal chat (though I do hope to get in a formal interview with her at some point).  After congratulating her on the show and chatting for a few minutes, I was quite pleasantly surprised when 2010 Best Featured Actor in a Play Tony Award Winner EDDIE REDMAYNE walked in to give his well wishes to Kristin and the gang.  All in all a fun time.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Alice Brings Wonderland to Broadway

2010 seems to be the year of Alice in Wonderland.  A new musical version of the Lewis Carol novels will hit Broadway next spring, with previews set to begin March 21st and opening night set for April 27th.  The score will be by Broadway composer Frank Wildhorn, a book by Jack Murphy and Gregory Boyd, and the production will be directed by Boyd.  The show will play at one of the Nederlander theaters.

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Kristin Chenoweth

Well, dear readers, I have some exciting news.  I will be visiting Kristin Chenoweth back stage after the August 8th matinee of Promises, Promises.  Though this is not intended as a formal interview, but a social call, I wanted to open the floor to my readers to see if there were any quick things you wanted me to find out while I'm there.  Post them as comments and I'll do my best to get the dirt.