Friday, April 29, 2011

The People in the Picture Opens on Broadway

The 2010-2011 Broadway season has come to a close with the opening of the year's final show, The People in the Picture. The show, about an aging Yiddish Theater performer, has received some mixed reviews. The Roundabout Theatre Company production is rather thin on plot but thick on sap, and Donna Murphy milks every word, movement, and sentiment that she can. While many have said that Ms. Murphy's performance here is not in the same category as her performances in such beloved shows as Stephen Sondheim's Passion or in Wonderful Town, this performance reminds us why she is a star.

Baby, You're Sued

A lawsuit has been filed in the New York State Supreme Court on Wednesday, the day that Baby, It's You! opened to poor reviews, against that show's creators and producers. The claimants include Dionne Warwick, two surviving members of the Shirelles, the estates of two deceased Shirelles members, and Chuck Jackson, who say in their complaint that the show uses their names, likenesses, and biographical information without authorization or consent. There has been no official response from Warner Brothers Theater Ventures, one of two defendants in the case.

Oscar Winner Robert DeNiro Eyeing Broadway

Two-time Academy Award Winner Robert DeNiro, star of such films as Taxi Driver, The Godfather, Goodfellas, and Raging Bull, has expressed interest in coming to Broadway. This interest was expressed in an interview with Charlie Rose recently when the two, along with Tribeca Film Festival co-founder Jame Rosenthal, discussed that festival's 10th year. When Rose asked DeNiro had ever considered retuning to the theater, DeNiro's response was, “I’ve been thinking about it recently because I’ve seen friends of mine in plays: Ben Stiller is in a play, Robin Williams is in a play, Al [Pacino] I’ve seen in his plays,” said De Niro. “So, I’ve thought of it, I just don’t know what at this point. It’s a commitment of time and so on, so I’m looking for stuff.”

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? to Return to Broadway

A 50th anniversary revival of Edward Albee's iconic play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? will be coming to Broadway next year. The production will transfer from Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre Company in a production starring Tony nominee Amy Morton (August: Osage County) as Martha and Tracey Letts (August: Osage County's Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright) as George. The show will open on October 13th 2012, 50 years to the day from when the original production, starring Uta Hagen and Arthur Hill, opened.

The Normal Heart Opens on Broadway

Joel Grey's Broadway directorial debut on Broadway has arrived with a knockout revival of Larry Kramer's The Normal Heart. This production has gotten absolutely stellar reviews for the production, the acting and, remarkably, for the play itself -- it is rare for a play revival to so outshine the original that the play is thought of as entirely new. I am now certain that I will have to update my nomination predictions at least once more by Tuesday.

Baby It's You! Opens on Broadway

Baby It's You! ... but, according to the reviews, baby it shouldn't be! The newest jukebox musical to hit Broadway just proves why the genre is as mocked as it is. The show is uninspired and unoriginal, though the story it tells is actually quite remarkable -- which is why it should be more remarkably told. The musical is about Florence Greenberg, a New Jersey Housewife in the 1950s who decided one day to create a record label without any experience, connections or the support of men in a man heavy industry. The fact that she founded not one but two labels, Tiara and Scepter, and created the Shirelles -- an early girl group that paved the way for Barry Gordy to create the Supremes ten years later -- makes her story prime source material for a musical, but there has to have been a better way to do it.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Sixth Nomination Predictions

As May 3rd (the date the Tony nominations will be announced) quickly approaches, I wanted to update my list of nomination predictions. I will likely update once or twice more by that date as the final few shows open in anticipation of the official announcement.

Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Book of Mormon
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Sister Act
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Catch Me if You Can
NO CHANCE:
Elf
The People in the Picture
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Book
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act
The Book of Mormon
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Catch Me if You Can
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
NO CHANCE:
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
The People in the Picture

Score
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act
The Book of Mormon
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Catch Me if You Can
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Wonderland

Play
War Horse
Good People
A Free Man of Color
A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
OUTSIDE SHOT:
The Motherfucker With the Hat
Jerusalem
Lombardi
Brief Encounter
NO CHANCE:
Elling
High
The Pitmen Painters

Musical Revival
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Play Revival
Merchant of Venice
La Bete
Arcadia
The Importance of Being Ernest
OUTSIDE SHOT:
The Normal Heart
Driving Miss Daisy
NO CHANCE:
House of Blue Leaves
Mrs. Warren’s Profession
A Life in the Theatre

Actor in a Play
Mark Rylance, La Bete
David Hyde Pierce, La Bete
Al Pacino, Merchant of Venice
Jeffrey Wright, A Free Man of Color
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Bobby Canavale, The Motherfucker With the Hat
Chris Rock, The Motherfucker With the Hat
Dan Lauria, Lombardi
James Earl Jones, Driving Miss Daisy
Tristan Sturrock, Brief Encounter
Dennis O'Hare, Elling

Actress in a Play
Lily Rabe, Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave, Driving Miss Daisy
Nina Arianda, Born Yesterday
Kathleen Turner, High
Frances McDormand, Good People
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Cherry Jones, Mrs. Warren's Profession
Hannah Yelland, Brief Encounter
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves

Featured Actor in a Play
Mos Def, A Free Man of Color
Tate Donovan, Good People
Damon Daunno, Brief Encounter
Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Ernest
David Harbour, Merchant of Venice
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
John McMartin, A Free Man of Color
Richard Easton, Elling
Paul Dano, A Free Man of Color
Byron Jennings, Merchant of Venice


Featured Actress in a Play
Judith Light, Lombardi
Joanna Lumley, La Bete
Dana Ivey, The Importance of Being Earnest
Estelle Parsons, Good People
Renee Elise Goldsberry, Good People
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Sarah Topham, The Importance of Being Earnest
Dorothy Atkinson, Brief Encounter
Nicole Behari, A Free Man of Color
Christina Ricci, Time Stands Still
NO CHANCE:
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The House of Blue Leaves
Veanne Cox, A Free Man of Color
Jennifer Coolidge, Elling

Actor in a Musical
Benjamin Walker, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Aaron Tveit, Catch Me if You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Will Swenson, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Daniel Radcliffe, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Colin Donnell, Anything Goes

Actress in a Musical
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Sherie Rene Scott, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Janet Dacal, Alice: A New Wonderland
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Rose Hemingway, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Beth Leavel, Baby, It’s You!

Featured Actor in a Musical
Coleman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O’Malley, The Book of Mormon
Joel Grey, Anything Goes
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me if You Can
Forrest McClendon, The Scottsboro Boys
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Jeff Hiller, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
John Cullum, The Scottsboro Boys

Featured Actress in a Musical
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Kristine Nielsen, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Karen Mason, Alice: A New Wonderland
Beth Leavel, Elf

Director of a Play
Matthew Warchus, La Bete
Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Anna D. Shapiro, The Motherfucker With the Hat
George C. Wolfe, A Free Man of Color
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Daniel Sullivan, Merchant of Venice
Emma Rice, Brief Encounter
David Leveaux, Arcadia

Director of a Musical
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys
Alex Timbers, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Jerry Zaks, Sister Act
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Jack O'Brien, Catch Me if You Can
Simon Phillips, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
NO CHANCE:
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Set Design of a Play
La Bete
Merchant of Venice
War Horse
Born Yesterday
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Brief Encounter
The House of Blue Leaves
NO CHANCE:
Driving Miss Daisy
Arcadia
The Pitmen Painters

Costume Design of a Play
Lombardi
Born Yesterday
War Horse
La Bete
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Free Man of Color
Merchant of Venice
A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Arcadia
Mrs Warren’s Profession
NO CHANCE:
House of Blue Leaves

Lighting Design of a Play
La Bete
War Horse
Merchant of Venice
A Free Man of Color
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Brief Encounter
Arcadia
House of Blue Leaves
Driving Miss Daisy

Sound Design of a Play
La Bete
A Free Man of Color
Merchant of Venice
Brief Encounter
OUTSIDE SHOT:
War Horse
Arcadia
A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
The House of Blue Leaves
The Pitmen Painters

Set Design of a Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Catch Me if You Can
Woderland: A New Alice
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Sister Act
NO CHANCE:
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes

Costume Design of a Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Catch Me If You Can
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes
Sister Act
Wonderland: A New Alice

Lighting Design of a Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Catch Me if You Can
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Wonderland: A New Alice
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes
Sister Act

Sound Design of a Musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys
Alice: A New Wonderland
Catch Me if You Can
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes
Sister Act
Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Choreography
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys
Jerry Mitchell, Catch Me if You Can
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Danny Mefford, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Ross Coleman, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Anthony Van Laast, Sister Act

Orchestrations
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys
Brief Encounter
Catch Me if You Can
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Wonderland: A New Alice
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

House of Blue Leaves

A revival of John Guare's The House of Blue Leaves opened last night to some terrible reviews. The production has been described as flat, poorly acted, and neither as dark nor as funny as it could be. The one exception to all this is Edie Falco, who gives a standout performance as a heavily medicated schizophrenic housewife who just wants to feel something -- anything.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Born Yesterday is Reborn

Yesterday, Born Yesterday opened to favorable reviews. Nina Arianda was not at all intimidated by Judy Holliday's award winning performance as the naive but beautiful Billie Dawn. Arianda sounded like Cyndi Lauper, with her excellent figure showcased in luxuriously detailed Catherine Zuber costumes. Arianda, Jim Belushi and Robert Sean Leonard each gave fine individual performances; even so, the romantic chemistry between Arianda and her leading men (first Belushi, then Leonard) never quite gelled. This very competent revival about political corruption is at the same time both relevant and dated. Charles Isherwood of the New York Times points out that today's tycoon seeking political influence might be inclined to become a senator rather than merely to buy one.

In attendance were the usual opening night array of notables. I had the great pleasure of speaking with Judith Light (currently getting favorable Broadway reviews herself as Marie Lombardi in Lombardi) and Lily Rabe (daughter of actress Jill Clayburgh and playwright David Rabe, who recently gave a superb performance as Portia in The Merchant of Venice), and I noticed many others including Brooke Shields, John Laroquette (now on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Todd Haimes (artistic director of Roundabout Theatre Company) and critic Frank DiLella of On Stage.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Jerusalem Arrives on Broadway

Jez Butterworth's new play Jerusalem opened last night at the Music Box Theatre in New York to some stellar reviews for both the play and the production. And particularly for leading actor Mark Rylance, who was also highly praised for his work earlier this year in La Bete, which also played the Music Box Theatre. It is looking more and more likely that Mark Rylance will be a double nominee this year.

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Sister Act Opens on Broadway

The Broadway musical version of Sister Act, the famous Whoopi Goldberg movie, has opened at the Broadway Theatre in New York. The reviews are in and are decidedly mixed. Patina Miller's leading performance in the Whoopi Goldberg role (a lounge singer who is on the run and hiding out in a nunnery as part of the witness protection program after watching her mobster boyfriend murder someone) got some strong reviews, though her performance has some strengths and weaknesses. The score, by Disney king Alan Menken, is also somewhat inconsistent -- some songs raise the roof and soar through the house while others are merely plot driven fluff. I think this show has some good shots at Tony nominations come May 3rd.

High to Close

Kathleen Turner's latest Broadway outing, Matthew Lombardo's High, has posted a closing date of April 24th -- this Sunday -- apparently due to low advance ticket sales.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Kathleen Turner Returns to Broadway

A new play opened on Broadway last night at the Booth Theatre that brings us the return to the stage of Kathleen Turner. This play, from what I've read, reminds us why Kathleen Turner is a star. The play is called High and is written by Matthew Lombardo, with direction from Rob Ruggiero. While the writing is, from all accounts, formulaic and predictable and the dialogue is, to put it politely, not as snappy as it could be, Ms. Turner is the star here. Her performance is well worth the price of admission and will almost certainly garner her the third Tony nomination of her career. (As a side note, David Gallo's sets also got some favorable attention in the reviews -- never a bad thing for a designer!)

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

How to Succeed to Release Cast Album

The cast album of the current Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying has set not one but two release dates. The album will be released on iTunes on May 24th and will be available in stores June 7th. The album, which was produced by Robert Sher, was recorded on April 11th at Manhattan Center and will be released by Decca Records.

Monday, April 18, 2011

2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama Announced

The trustees of Columbia University have announced the winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Since I didn't remember the nominees ever being announced, I looked it up. The nominees were: John Guare's A Free Man of Color, Lisa D'Amour's Detroit, and Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park. Mr. Norris' play, inspired by Lorraine Hansburry's A Raisin in the Sun, won.

Wonderland Descends on Broadway

A new musical version of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, titled Wonderland: A New Alice, has opened on Broadway. The reviews are in and are mixed-to-negative. While the songs, written by Broadway vet Frank Wildhorn, are catchy and witty, Alice is always an appealing story for kids, and the concept of the show is an interesting take on the take that takes a clear note from Wicked about girl power, the overall effect underwhelms. The show has been compared to another modern update of that old L. Frannk Baum book -- the 1970's rock musical, The Wiz -- and, frankly, that show won the Tony for Best Musical and became one of the most popular shows in town, so I'm not so worried about those mixed reviews.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Ben Stiller is Going Bananas for Edie Falco

Ben Stiller has been very involved with The House of Blue Leaves for a long time. 40 years to be exact, when Stiller's mother, Anne Meara, starred in the original off-Broadway production. Stiller then acted in the 1986 Broadway revival of the play and now he is bringing his experience to Broadway again in a revival of the John Guare play, acting opposite Edie Falco and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The New York Times has written up a profile of Mr. Stiller's experiences with the play in an article linked below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/17/theater/ben-stiller-edie-falco-in-john-guares-house-of-blue-leaves.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&ref=theater&adxnnlx=1303048063-ulv7szLaZhh9u3Yn80Y6Xg

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Spider-Man As Museum Piece

This weekend will have the last few performances of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, one of the most expensive (and most buzzed about) shows this year, for a while -- and will certainly be the last set with any of Julie Taymor's vision for the show. After tomorrow, the show will go on a three-week hiatus until May 12th, when the show will return in an entirely re-worked form. Among the changes to be worked into the show are the movement of Green Goblin's defeat to the second act from the first, the removal of the Greek Chorus of nerds, and a significant decrease in the role of the new villain, Arachne.

Friday, April 15, 2011

War Horse Opens on Broadway

The Lincoln Center Theatre import of War Horse, a British import from the National Theatre in London, opened last night to terrific reviews, particularly for the direction and design elements. Definitely a Best Play contender.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Hair to Return for the Summer

The 2009 Tony winning revival of Hair is set to return to Broadway for a 10-week stint this summer, playing from July 5th to September 10th. The return engagement will play the St. James Theatre, where American Idiot is set to close on April 24th, with a mix of cast members from the original Broadway Revival cast, the original London revival cast and some new tribe members.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Want to Take Home Harry Potter?

Twice a year, for six weeks at a time, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS raises money through the various Broadway, off-Broadway, and touring shows across the country by selling various things from the stage, including unique celebrity experiences. Check out the New York Times article below to hear about the special things going on this year.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/12/how-to-take-home-a-piece-of-daniel-radcliffe-and-other-tales-from-broadway-auction-season/?ref=theater

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Fifth Nomination Predictions

After a number of changes to the 2010-2011 season, including the addition of a number of new productions and the departure of a major comic book contender which needs not be named, I have updated my predictions for this year's Tony nominations. The official nominations will be released on May 3rd, so I will probably update my predictions two or three more times before that date.


Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Book of Mormon
Catch Me if You Can
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Sister Act
NO CHANCE:
Elf
The People in the Picture
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

Book
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys
Sister Act
The Book of Mormon
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Catch Me if You Can
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
NO CHANCE:
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
The People in the Picture

Score
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
The Scottsboro Boys
Catch Me if You Can
The Book of Mormon
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Sister Act
Wonderland

Play
War Horse
Good People
A Free Man of Color
A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
OUTSIDE SHOT:
The Motherfucker With the Hat
Jerusalem
Lombardi
Brief Encounter
NO CHANCE:
Elling
High
The Pitmen Painters

Musical Revival
Anything Goes
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Play Revival
Merchant of Venice
La Bete
Arcadia
The Importance of Being Ernest
OUTSIDE SHOT:
House of Blue Leaves
Driving Miss Daisy
NO CHANCE:
Mrs. Warren’s Profession
A Life in the Theatre

Actor in a Play
Mark Rylance, La Bete
David Hyde Pierce, La Bete
Al Pacino, Merchant of Venice
Jeffrey Wright, A Free Man of Color
Dan Lauria, Lombardi
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Bobby Canavale, The Motherfucker With the Hat
Chris Rock, The Motherfucker With the Hat
Mark Rylance, Jerusalem
James Earl Jones, Driving Miss Daisy
Tristan Sturrock, Brief Encounter
Dennis O'Hare, Elling

Actress in a Play
Lily Rabe, Merchant of Venice
Vanessa Redgrave, Driving Miss Daisy
Cherry Jones, Mrs. Warren's Profession
Hannah Yelland, Brief Encounter
Frances McDormand, Good People
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Edie Falco, The House of Blue Leaves

Featured Actor in a Play
Mos Def, A Free Man of Color
Damon Daunno, Brief Encounter
John McMartin, A Free Man of Color
Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Ernest
David Harbour, Merchant of Venice
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Richard Easton, Elling
Paul Dano, A Free Man of Color
Byron Jennings, Merchant of Venice
Tate Donovan, Good People

Featured Actress in a Play
Judith Light, Lombardi
Joanna Lumley, La Bete
Dana Ivey, The Importance of Being Earnest
Estelle Parsons, Good People
Renee Elise Goldsberry, Good People
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Sarah Topham, The Importance of Being Earnest
Dorothy Atkinson, Brief Encounter
Nicole Behari, A Free Man of Color
Christina Ricci, Time Stands Still
NO CHANCE:
Jennifer Jason Leigh, The House of Blue Leaves
Veanne Cox, A Free Man of Color
Jennifer Coolidge, Elling

Actor in a Musical
Benjamin Walker, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Joshua Henry, The Scottsboro Boys
Will Swenson, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Aaron Tveit, Catch Me if You Can
Josh Gad, The Book of Mormon
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Daniel Radcliffe, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Colin Donnell, Anything Goes

Actress in a Musical
Sutton Foster, Anything Goes
Sherie Rene Scott, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Donna Murphy, The People in the Picture
Patina Miller, Sister Act
Janet Dacal, Alice: A New Wonderland
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Rose Hemingway, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Beth Leavel, Baby, It’s You!

Featured Actor in a Musical
Coleman Domingo, The Scottsboro Boys
Rory O’Malley, The Book of Mormon
Joel Grey, Anything Goes
Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Norbert Leo Butz, Catch Me if You Can
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Forrest McClendon, The Scottsboro Boys
Jeff Hiller, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
John Cullum, The Scottsboro Boys

Featured Actress in a Musical
Patti LuPone, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Laura Benanti, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Kristine Nielsen, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Karen Mason, Alice: A New Wonderland
Beth Leavel, Elf

Director of a Play
Matthew Warchus, La Bete
Brian Bedford, The Importance of Being Earnest
Anna D. Shapiro, The Motherfucker With the Hat
George C. Wolfe, A Free Man of Color
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Daniel Sullivan, Merchant of Venice
Emma Rice, Brief Encounter
David Leveaux, Arcadia

Director of a Musical
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys
Alex Timbers, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Jack O'Brien, Catch Me if You Can
Jerry Zaks, Sister Act
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Simon Phillips, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
NO CHANCE:
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Set Design of a Play
La Bete
Merchant of Venice
War Horse
The Pitmen Painters
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Brief Encounter
The House of Blue Leaves
NO CHANCE:
Driving Miss Daisy
Arcadia

Costume Design of a Play
Lombardi
Free Man of Color
War Horse
La Bete
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Merchant of Venice
A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
Arcadia
Mrs Warren’s Profession
NO CHANCE:
House of Blue Leaves

Lighting Design of a Play
La Bete
War Horse
Merchant of Venice
A Free Man of Color
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Brief Encounter
Arcadia
House of Blue Leaves
Driving Miss Daisy

Sound Design of a Play
La Bete
A Free Man of Color
Merchant of Venice
Brief Encounter
OUTSIDE SHOT:
War Horse
Arcadia
A Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo
The House of Blue Leaves
The Pitmen Painters

Set Design of a Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Catch Me if You Can
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Woderland: A New Alice
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Sister Act
NO CHANCE:
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes

Costume Design of a Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Catch Me If You Can
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes
Sister Act
Wonderland: A New Alice

Lighting Design of a Musical
The Scottsboro Boys
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Catch Me if You Can
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Wonderland: A New Alice
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes
Sister Act

Sound Design of a Musical
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys
Alice: A New Wonderland
Catch Me if You Can
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Anything Goes
Sister Act
Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Choreography
Susan Stroman, The Scottsboro Boys
Jerry Mitchell, Catch Me if You Can
Kathleen Marshall, Anything Goes
Rob Ashford, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
OUTSIDE SHOT:
Danny Mefford, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Ross Coleman, Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Anthony Van Laast, Sister Act

Orchestrations
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
The Scottsboro Boys
Brief Encounter
Catch Me if You Can
OUTSIDE SHOTS:
Wonderland: A New Alice
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

The Motherfucker With the Hat Opens

The play whose title no major news source will print in its entirety, Stephen Adly Guirgis' The Motherfucker With the Hat, opened last night at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The reviews are in and are relatively strong, particularly for the play's writing, direction, and acting. Bobby Canavale has, by most authorities, done his best work to date in this play and comedian Chris Rock proves his acting chops in a well reviewed performance. I will be adding them to my nominations prediction list as soon as I know whether they are leads or supporting actors.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Catch Me If You Can Opens

The Broadway musical version of Frank Abignale, Jr.'s life, Catch Me If You Can (also based on the 2002 film of the same name and subject matter), opened last night on Broadway to mixed-to-negative reviews. The musical is cited as being too predictable and one-dimensional but with some excellent performances (notable by Norbert Leo Butz as a cop chasing Aaron Tveit's Abignale, as well as Tveit himself) and one or two great showstoppers. Let's see how this one fares come May 3rd!

Profile of Mark Rylance

Mark Rylance is in the unique position this year of possibly receiving two Best Actor in a Play Tony nominations this year -- the first for La Bete, most remembered for his 25 minute meandering and wordy monologue, and the other for his upcoming performance in Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem. The New York Times published a profile of Mr. Rylance last week talking about his chameleon-like qualities (along with promoting the upcoming production of Jerusalem). Check it out at the link below.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/theater/mark-rylance-on-jerusalem-at-the-music-box-theater.html?_r=1&ref=theater

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Third Eligibility Decisions Announced

The Tony Awards Committee has announced their third round of eligibility decisions regarding the 2010-2011 awards season. Frances McDormand will be eligible as a leading actress for her performance in Good People while each of the men in That Championship Season will be considered as supporting actors for their performances. The rest of the decisions were consistent with opening night credits which state that above-the-title actors are considered leads while below-the-title actors are considered supporting. The committee will meet once more after the remaining shows of the season have opened to make their final calls and make their nominations.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Director Sidney Lumet Dead at 86

Film director Sidney Lumet has died at 86. He is probably best known as a film director, having directed films like Network, Dog Day Afternoon, and 12 Angry Men, as well as the film version of the musical The Wiz, but Lumet also did some theater, as well -- both as a performer and a director. He directed a Broadway production of Caligula in 1960 and Nowhere to go but Up in 1962.

Friday, April 8, 2011

Anything Goes Opens

Yet another revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes has opened on Broadway and the reviews are in. After a terrible return to Broadway in 2007 with her revival of Grease, Kathleen Marshall is back on top of her game with this stellar revival. Everything about this show was praised -- the singing, acting, and particularly the dancing, as choreographed by Ms. Marshall. But the real star seems to be Sutton Foster, who I had never been able to picture in this role but who appears to be getting some of the best reviews of her career for this dance heavy role. That Joel Grey still shines at 79, while he is also directing another show to open soon on Broadway, is another standout credit of this production. My thoughts right now? Run, don't walk, to see this show.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

La Cage to Shut Down

Zaza and her girls will be closing down shop soon. The Tony-winning revival of La Cage Aux Folles, currently starring Christopher Seiber and the show's librettist, Harvey Fierstein, has announced a closing date of May 1st. At that point, the show will have played 15 previews and 433 regular performances.

The Little Things You Don't Together?

For most shows, the rehearsal process is relatively cohesive. People work together and, while they don't always get along, they are always together (and that may be the problem!). But, for the upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's Company being directed by Lonny Price for the New York Philharmonic, being together has been a big problem given the schedules of the starry cast, which includes Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Jon Cryer, Stephen Colbert, Katie Finneran, Martha Plimpton, and Craig Bierko. Check out the New York Times article below to learn how this production was creatively pieced together without the cast having been in the same room together.



http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/07/theater/patti-lupone-neil-patrick-harris-in-company-at-avery-fisher.html?_r=1&ref=theater

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Special Tony Award Winners Announced

The winners of the Special Tony Awards for 2011 have been announced. The 2011 Special Tony for lifetime achievement in the theater will go to Athol Fugard, the South African playwright, director, and actor, and to Philip J. Smith, Chairman of the Shubert Organization. In addition, playwright and activist Eve Ensler (author/creator of The Good Body and The Vagina Monologues) is receiving the Isabel Stevenson Award, which was created to recognize "an individual from the theater community who has made a substantial contribution of volunteered time and effort on behalf of one or more humanitarian, social service, or charitable organizations, regardless of whether such organizations relate to the theater." (playbill.com)

Fugard is probably best known for his plays Master Harold ... and the boys and Exits and Entrances. His plays bring forth the struggles of appartheid and are a record of the South African experience, which have helped the fight against racism.

Smith has been involved with the Shubert organization in various functions for 50 years, including box office treasurer, president (1996-2008) and now chairman.

Ensler, author and creator of The Vagina Monologues, is being honored for her creation and management of V-Day, a global organization working to prevent violence against women and girls.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Joel Grey Does Double Duty

Joel Grey, soon to be 79, is definitely a pro. After a six decade career, Mr. Grey is one of a few people to have two shows opening almost simultaneously on Broadway. He is starring in the upcoming revival of Anything Goes, Cole Porter's musical about love at sea, as well as directing the Broadway premier of Larry Kramer's 1985 AIDS drama The Normal Heart. Between his busy commitments to both shows, Mr. Grey managed to grant an interview to Broadway.com. Enjoy!

http://www.broadway.com/shows/anything-goes/buzz/155878/joel-grey-on-doing-double-duty-in-anything-goes-and-the-normal-heart/

Sunday, April 3, 2011

How a Designer Works

If any of you have ever been curious about how designers work or think, you're in luck. The New York Times recently published an article that explains exactly that. Susan Hilferty has described to the Times the process she went through in creating some of the costumes for the upcoming musical Wonderland: A New Alice, a new musical based on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland. Check it out!

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/03/theater/susan-hilferty-creates-queen-of-hearts-for-wonderland.html?_r=1&ref=theater

Friday, April 1, 2011

The Bengal Tiger Crawls onto Broadway

Rajiv Joseph's play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo opened last night at the Richard Rodgers Theatre to glowing reviews. The play is smart, makes you think, asks good questions (more than it answers, of course), and is directed with the right touch. Oh -- and who knew Robin Williams could act? (The answer to that last one is: anyone who's seen him in, well, anything knew that he could act.)

Brooke Shields to Join Addams Family

Brook Shields will be joining the cast of The Addams Family, replacing current star Bebe Neuwirth in the leading role of Morticia. "I am delighted to be joining The Addams Family this summer," Shields said in a statement. "When the producers asked me to come see the show a few months ago, I found it to be wonderfully entertaining, funny, clever and even touching, and I knew immediately that I wanted to be the next Morticia, following the amazing Bebe Neuwirth. I can’t wait to join Roger [Rees as Gomez] and the wonderful cast."