As it was at the overture and shall be at the exit music, bliss without end. Amen.

Theatre Aficionado at Large

‘Once’ – West End

OnceLDN

  When I traveled to England this year, I had made a firm decision that I wouldn’t see anything that I had already seen, or could possibly see, in New York. The first time I saw the stage adaptation of Once was on its opening night last March (incidentally just prior to my last trip to London). However, I was drawn to the London production solely on a press photo I saw of the show’s West End leads, Declan Bennett and Zrinka Cvitešić. I loved the film and its simple but moving Brief Encounter-meets-folk-rock romance, and had also liked the Broadway production very much, but there was something about seeing these two…

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Posted on May 12, 2013 at 10:16 pm.
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The 69th Annual Theatre World Award Winners Announced!

The 2013 Theatre World Award Winners for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance during the 2012-2013 theatrical season have been announced! The ceremony will take place on Monday, June 3 at the Music Box Theatre, once again hosted by Peter Filichia. Bertie Carvel, Matilda Carrie Coon, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?  Brandon J. Dirden, The Piano Lesson Shalita Grant, Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Tom Hanks, Lucky Guy  Valisia LeKae, Motown Rob McClure, Chaplin  Ruthie Ann Miles, Here Lies Love Conrad Ricamora, Here Lies Love Keala Settle, Hands on a Hardbody Yvonne Strahovski, Golden Boy Tom Sturridge, Orphans  The 2013 Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater: Jonny…

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Posted on May 7, 2013 at 12:27 pm.
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West End Revisited

I’ve been itching to get back to London ever since my 2012 visit came to an end. I took the opportunity to fly back when I learned that The Union Theatre was going to be presenting the first fully staged production of Darling of the Day in England. The flop musical, with a score by Styne and Harburg, was a fast flop in 1968 but won my fave Patricia Routledge a Tony. I’ve known and loved the score for many years, but have never had an opportunity to see it onstage. An added bonus was the casting of my friend Rebecca Caine as Lady Vale. I booked my flight, and…

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Posted on April 27, 2013 at 12:50 pm.
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At Large Elsewhere: Comedy Class

When asked if I wanted to take a physical comedy course, my gut instinct was to find an excuse to say no. I hadn’t attended a class of this sort in probably ten years and my memories of such things are not the happiest. However, starting some time in 2012 and continuing through this year I’ve been finding myself saying “Yes” a la Kander and Ebb a lot more than I used to. Finding no discernible reason why I couldn’t participate, I said yes to my buddy Zach Laks, and I’m glad I did. The class I attended was part of Parallel Exit’s Comedy Academy, a teaching extension of the Drama…

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Posted on April 9, 2013 at 10:58 pm.
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‘It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman’ @ Encores!

Superman-01

There’s a moment in the finale of It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman in which the company sings (and I quote) “A-wah-o-wah-o-wah-o-wah-o.” This nonsensical lyric, set in one single measure, encapsulates the joyous silliness of the 1966 musical about the Man of Steel, a light-hearted caper in which two-dimensionality is not only allowed, but encouraged. The musical of Superman gently sends up the square Clark Kent/Superman character and ideal, but it is never overtly self-aware or mocking. It’s also a delicious slice of mid-60s nostaglia, with a period sound that bridges the gap between Broadway brass and the pop flavor of the day. Superman is light, effervescent, and…

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Posted on March 27, 2013 at 10:29 pm.
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“Better Nate Than Ever”

better nate than ever

When I was in eighth grade, I went to my first audition. There was going to be a local production of The Sound of Music, and since the film was a big part of my growing up (and just that summer we had visited Salzburg – a sign!), I thought I’d give it a shot. I had never auditioned for anything except solo lines in school concerts and such, and this would be my first attempt at a stage musical. In hindsight, I’m rather amazed how supportive both my parents were. They’re not stage parents and they’re not theatre people, but they dived in without a second thought. We noted the…

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Posted on February 20, 2013 at 6:53 pm.
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‘Cabaret’ – A Tale of Two Sallys

Cabaret Minnelli

Last night I had the great fortune to attend TCM‘s 40th anniversary screening of the film version of Cabaret at the Ziegfeld Theatre on 54th Street. After waiting for what seemed an eternity outside in the frigid temperatures, we were among the last to be let into the theatre for the screening. Several hundred people behind us were sent away (with a Howard Keel DVD set as a sort of consolation prize). I hadn’t intended on going. I do enjoy screenings, but I know how these TCM sponsored events, which are free, are a hot ticket and admittance isn’t guaranteed. I figured on sitting this one out. As it turned…

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Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:58 pm.
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‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ @ Studio 54

The Mystery of Edwin Drood

I once did a book report on The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 8th grade because I procrastinated and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Frankly, I don’t remember much, except that the book was unfinished and I got a good grade. While I haven’t picked up the book since, the novel by Charles Dickens caught my attention once again when I discovered Rupert Holmes’ unique musical adaptation. Since Dickens died leaving half the book unwritten – and leaving no authoritative record of “who did it” – Holmes created a novel concept of having the audience vote to determine the show’s ending. (The original production’s tagline was…

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Posted on January 25, 2013 at 12:00 pm.
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Sunday Night Musings

My 2013 theatergoing started with my first trip to the Metropolitan Opera in about 4 1/2 years. Out of the blue, I got a message from Roxie asking me if I was interested in seeing Turandot and I thought for about a split second before saying yes. Puccini’s music is glorious – ask me some time to tell you about my experiences playing one of Cio-Cio San’s cousins in Madame Butterfly sometime – and this opera intrigued me. I only new the famed “Nessun Dorma,” a showstopper if there ever was one but I was curious since I knew it was Puccini’s final work, and that he died leaving it…

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Posted on January 20, 2013 at 11:53 am.
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A place where I can rant and rave about theatre,
theatre history, plus books, film and anything
else that strikes me as entertaining, interesting
or important. Feel free to chime in. If you'd like
me to have a look at your show or have any
interest in advertising, feel free to contact me. Membership
director of the Independent Theater Bloggers Association.

Photo by Kari Geltemeyer

Walking Among My Yesterdays

2013

1/7 - Turandot (Met Opera)

1/22 - The Mystery of Edwin Drood

1/27 - Renée Fleming & Susan Graham (Carnegie Hall)

2/3 - Fiorello! (Encores!)

2/7 - My Name is Asher Lev

2/19 - Rigoletto (Met Opera)

2/21 - Passion (Classic Stage Company)

2/23 - Much Ado About Nothing (Theatre for a New Audience)

2/27 - Carousel (NY Philharmonic)

3/1 - Carousel (NY Philharmonic)

3/4 - Matilda (first preview)

3/7 - Ann (opening night)

3/24 - It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (Encores!)

4/18 - One Man, Two Guvnors (West End)

4/19 - Once (West End)

4/20 - Darling of the Day (The Union Theatre, London)

4/22 - The Audience (West End)

4/23 - Top Hat (West End)

4/23 - Merrily We Roll Along (West End)

4/30 - Song of Norway (Collegiate Chorale)

5/12 - Bull

5/12 - On Your Toes (Encores!)

Walking Among My Yesterdays

2012

1/17 - If It Only Even Runs a Minute 8

1/22 - Follies (closing)

2/11 - Merrily We Roll Along (Encores!)

2/15 - Carrie (MCC)

2/27 - Death of a Salesman

3/12 - I Miss the City: The Music of Alan Schmuckler (Joe's Pub)

3/14 - Wit

3/15 - Venus in Fur

3/18 - Once (opening night)

3/22 - Matilda: the Musical (West End)

3/24 - Matilda: the Musical (West End)

3/25 - Rebecca Caine: No, No, Cosette! (Pheasantry - London)

3/26 - Sweeney Todd (West End) 

4/1 - Pipe Dream (Encores!)

4/10 - The Mikado (Collegiate Chorale)

4/12 - The Book of Mormon

4/18 - One Man, Two Guvnors (opening night) 

4/20 - Clybourne Park

4/23 - Nice Work If You Can Get It

4/24 - The Sound of Music (Carnegie Hall)

4/25 - Leap of Faith

4/26 - Now. Here. This.

5/11 - The Best Man

5/13 - Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (Encores!)

6/7 - Porgy and Bess

6/12 - One Man, Two Guvnors

6/13 - Other Desert Cities

6/17 - Don't Dress for Dinner (closing)

6/26 - Peter and the Starcatcher

7/1 - The Lyons (closing)

7/2 - Ed Dixon: Secrets of a Life Onstage & Off (Metropolitan Room)

7/3 - Evita

7/23 - Uncle Vanya (Sydney Theatre Company @ Lincoln Center Festival)

7/27 - Into the Woods (Delacorte Theatre)

8/6 - Into the Woods (Delacorte Theatre)

8/24 - Into the Woods (Delacorte Theatre)

8/26 - Nice Work If You Can Get It

9/2 - One Man, Two Guvnors (closing) 

9/27 - Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

10/1 - Man with a Load of Mischief

10/11 - Annie

10/18 - Barbara Cook's 85th Birthday Concert (Carnegie Hall)

11/9 - The Performers

11/11 - Giant

11/12 - Encores! 20th Anniversary Gala

12/3 - Assassins (Reunion Concert at Studio 54)

12/3 - Rebecca Cast Christmas Party

12/19 - A Christmas Story

12/19 - Elf

12/30 - Michael Feinstein & Christine Ebersole (Feinstein's)

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