It’s rather late to put these out here, but here are some of the choicest quotes from the Lady Iris’ Annual Moon Lady Extravaganza, (SarahB’s annual Tony party, which is more fun than being in attendance as far as I’m concerned). These were all part of my live-twittering during the summer. There were a lot of other amazing things said, but you’ll have to ask the others to remember those…
“If he plays Unskinny Bop’ I’ll come unglued.” – Sarah, on seeing Brett Michaels in the Tony opening number
“Oh that’s me! And we’re both wearing sparkles!” – Sarah, on seeing her party namesake on the telecast (we were each assigned a Broadway favorite and had to drink upon seeing him or her, or in Kari’s case, them)
“I saw Lauren Graham in the ladies room!” – Christine “I peed next to her!!!” – Roxie
“They had a song off Broadway was that basically all the fuck word.” – SarahB on Next to Normal
“Whew, that was too much acting for me.” -Roxie, on Next to Normal’s Tony performance
“There’s a gay smackdown coming.” – Kari, on Steve and RivB’s differing POVs of Legally Blonde
“Harriet Walter broke our table!” – The Gathered Ensemble, but specifically Sarah & Kari
“I see this role wasn’t a stretch for Ripley.” – Me, on Alice Ripley geting all JFK on us
“Chandra Wilson? I thought it was Aretha without a hat.” – Christine
“What happened to the guy originated this part?” – Me, on Jersey Boys and John Lloyd Young “He became a mute.” – Sarah
“Those boys are underage, Elton… don’t try it!” – Sarah, while Billy Elliot collected Best Musical
Here is some rare footage from the original 1975 production of Chicago shot during a dress rehearsal, which includes a couple minutes of “Loopin’ the Loop,” the original finale that would be replaced by “Nowadays/Hot Honey Rag” (and whose theme remained in the show’s overture).
Walter Cronkite, once named the “most trusted man in America,” passed away yesterday at the age of 92 leaving behind an incredible legacy as a journalist and news anchor. Many other and more worthy news sites will be eulogizing the broadcasting legend, so I will leave that charge to them, but wanted to touch very briefly on his Broadway connection.
He and his late wife were avid theatregoers in New York; often seen on the red carpet at many opening nights on Broadway. His daughter-in-law is stage and screen actress Deborah Rush, who is currently on the boards as Mrs. Bradman in the revival of Blithe Spirit that closes tomorrow.
But I wanted to share this interesting tidbit from the TCM biography of Mr. Cronkite:
“Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine wanted Cronkite to play the Narrator role in their stage production, Into the Woods, but Cronkite declined. In 1995, he provided voice-overs, however, for the musical revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, starring Matthew Broderick.”
I knew the latter piece of information, as Mr. Cronkite’s voice over narration is on the revival cast album, but I never knew the former.
“I haven’t brought you both here just for a tea party…”
Countess Aurelia wasn’t kidding! As some of you might be aware, I am part of the Independent Theater Bloggers Association. Some of you might not know that I volunteered to be its membership director. One of my first assignments was to get an acceptance speech from The Norman Conquests which was voted Best Revival of a Play by our organization.
In terms of getting the actual acceptance speech, I was pretty much clueless how to proceed so I dropped a note to the show’s press agency (those fantastic folks at Boneau/Bryan-Brown). They invited me down to Sardi’s for a brief farewell toast (with tea) for the cast, as the production ends its limited run on July 26 and the company of British actors make their way home.
So here’s another series of firsts! It was my first time at any sort of specific press function, which is surreal in itself, let me tell you. People are gathering with their fancy cameras and video equipment. There I am representing the blogosphere with the mighty flipcam, which I have to say is a blogger’s best friend. Unlike opening nights and red-carpet events, this one was considerably low-key. Everyone was relaxed and the atmosphere most congenial.
The brilliant and talented cast of six arrived at the fourth floor of Sardi’s (another first!) and stood for a quick group shot surrounded by windowcards, then they sat down for a cup of tea and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies (though it was commented that cucumber sandwiches would have been more traditional, SarahB we needed you!!) after which the cast signed several posters for BC/EFA.
Finally, it was time for me to get what I came for. I had traveled 50 miles on a mission to get 30 seconds worth of footage and come hell or high water I was going to get a damned good acceptance speech! Jessica Hynes was elected by the group to accept on their behalf. We moved ourselves to the corner by the bar to quickly film it.
Well it’s a wonder the camera wasn’t shaking as I stood there suppressing extreme laughter. I had no idea what Hynes was going to say and her speech took me completely by surprise. We got it all in one take and I continued to laugh myself silly. After getting out my fanboy appreciation for the hilarious Shaun of the Dead (she’s Yvonne!), the two of us talked for about twenty minutes about The Norman Conquests, the other shows playing (we zeroed in on God of Carnage and Reasons to be Pretty), comparing NY and London theatre and touching on, of all people, Patricia Routledge. She talked about what it was like to work in NY and the genuine appreciation at how the entire cast has been embraced by the Broadway community.
In those brief minutes she talked about the personal fulfillment she gets from performing live in the theatre, involving herself in the process of rehearsal and performance and how it’s one of the most satisfying aspects of her career. I asked if she’d like to come back to work onstage in NY and she said, “Oh, yes. Definitely!” I look forward to the opportunity to see all six onstage again.
The event lasted no more than 45 minutes, which gave me a chance to observe diligent press agents at work. Even more surreal were the show’s producers in attendance introducing themselves to me. Talk about a moment where I stopped and thought, “Wow, if they could see me now…”
Afterwards, I shared the elevator ride to the street with the three gracious and lovely leading ladies. It was a personal thrill to be able to tell them how much I enjoyed The Norman Conquests and the sort of exhilarating experience the marathon performances were like. I reminded Amelia Bullmore we had met at the Theatre Worlds awards and had had the opportunity to tell her then how much it meant to me (she remembered!) and then turned to Amanda Root and said, “We haven’t met yet, but I love you.”
I told them that myself and other bloggers were coming back to the last marathon and we discussed how lots of fans like to make a sort of pilgrimage to a final Broadway performance. Root told me I should also come to the second to last marathon, to which I replied, “Don’t tempt me.” It’s a show I would gladly go to again and again if I could.
When we got to the street, I thanked the actors for their excellent work and their time. It was Wednesday, so they were between shows, so I wished them well with their evening performance before heading home, freshly pumped with adrenaline and entirely smitten with the three charming actresses.
It was an invigorating way to spend an afternoon, with some of the most talented people on the boards in NY. And I implore you, if you’ve not had a chance to see The Norman Conquests at the Circle in the Square, get your tickets now. There are only three marathons left in the run, and that is the best way to experience it.
Meanwhile, here is Jessica Hynes’ rather cheeky ITBA acceptance speech:
My good friend Noah is starting a new project, as co-producer of a show in the New York International Fringe Festival! Here are the details:
For the Love of Christ will begin performances at the Cherry Lane Theatre (38 Commerce Street) on Saturday, August 15th at 2:15pm. Additional performances will be held Wednesday, August 19th at 10pm, Friday, August 21st at 5pm, Monday, August 24th at 3pm, Friday, August 28th at 7pm. The musical’s book, music, and lyrics are by Ben Knox with additional book by Heather Collins and Karen Weatherwax and additional lyrics and arrangements by Brian J. Nash. For tickets, visit www.fringenyc.com.
In 1979, a French-Canadian airline steward flew into San Francisco and all hell broke loose. This bathhouse brouhaha explores the advent of AIDS while satirizing mankind’s extremes–religious mania, gay drama and maniacal monkeys make for an outrageous experience!
Christ features a cast including Kristy Cates (Wicked), Steven Stafford (Spamalot), Jenna Coker Jones, (Evil Dead), Dan Amboyer (Bash’d), Ben Knox, Eric Rubbe, and Jamaal Wilson.
The musical is directed by Holly-Anne Ruggiero (Jersey Boys) with choreography by Holly Cruz (Seussical), sets by Michael Kramer, costumes by DH Withrow, and lights by Christian DeAngelis. For the Love of Christ is presented by Knoxious Productions with co-line producers, Joey Oliva and Noah Himmelstein.
Join us for Christ‘s Party Like It’s 1979 on Monday, July 20th at 9pm at Vlada (331 West 51st St.), hosted by Scott Nevins with special guests, Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys) and Kristy Cates (Wicked). Free admission with drink specials and man-raffle.
‘Others feel the outbreak in recent years of bloggers who disregard established professional etiquette by weighing in before a show’s official opening has damaged the reputation of the entire critical community. “Anyone in a position to make editorial comment is now regarded as the enemy,” one pundit said.’
–Variety, covering the press response to losing Tony voting privileges
So dear reader, have I ever violated so-called professional etiquette…?
The Tony Awards committee decided to revoke voting privileges from first night press members, meaning all journalists are henceforth unable to participate in the Tony process. As many can guess, this decision is being met with a mostly negative response from bloggers, the chatterati on ATC, and inevitably those writers whose privileges have been revoked.
Citing “conflict of interest” doesn’t quite cut it, as the press voters were the most objective parties who had a greater probability of seeing all nominated shows. Remaining voters include producers, actors, writers, union leaders, the Broadway League, et al, et al. You know… the Switzerland of the Broadway community. Anyway, it lowers the number of voters from 800 to 700, a 13% reduction.
When you provoke the media, you’re liable to make them angry. Here are some further articles on the matter:
A feature by Paul Steiner from a 1970 playbill for Company (with Larry Kert as Bobby):
Preparation Edmund Kean, the famous British thespian, believed that diet was important in preparing a role. Consequently, when he was to play a tyrant he ate pork. If he was to be a murderer, he leaned heavily on raw beef and when he was rehearsing as a lover, he always ordered boiled mutton… Claudette Colbert had a theory that what one wore next to the skin was significant. As a result she chose black lace for her glamorous part and homespun when she was a down-country heroine.
Debuts Arthur Godfrey broke into vaudeville by trying to sell a cemetery plot to an old trooper, who didn’t buy the plot but signed up the salesman… Don Ameche made his stage debut in a grade school Christmas tableau in which he played the part of the Virgin Mary… Danny Kaye’s very first public performance was in a PS 149 production in which he played a watermelon seed… Gregory Peck worked as a barker at the 1939-40 New York World’s Fair.
Act I, Strike 3 Ethel Barrymore, a rabid baseball fan all her life, used to have an extra come onstage on matinee days when a game was in progress and whisper the Giants’ score in her ear.
Close to the Heart W.C. Fields listed contributions to churches in the Solomon Islands and depreciation on his lawn mower on his income tax forms… Although unable to cook, Joanne Dru has always been an inveterate collector of cook books… The late Gypsy Rose Lee once smuggled her Chinese hairless puppy onto an airline in her bra in order to avoid having her beloved pet ride in the baggage compartment.
About three years ago I discovered the Showtime series Weeds starring Mary Louise Parker and Elizabeth Perkins (ooh wouldn’t she make a great Barbara in August? sorry, I’ll get to the point). Since devouring that first series, I’ve looked into other cable series with particular favorites among Entourage and Six Feet Under. I have to admit here I’ve never seen The Sopranos, but was intrigued to hear that its Emmy-winning star Edie Falco would be starring in a brand new series.
Nurse Jackie is an offbeat dark comedy centering around the goings on of All Saints, a fictional hospital in NYC. Falco is the inevitably flawed protagonist, a woman leading two lives; she kisses her husband and children goodbye and takes off her wedding ring before entering her realm: the ER of this hospital. Add to the mix, a pain pill addiction and an affair with the pharmacologist supplying her with drugs. The writing is sharp and shows considerable promise for a long run. Jackie may be the most interesting character on TV since Nancy Botwin, helped considerably by Falco’s fully realized performance that is simultaneously hilarious and unnerving. Jackie isn’t above eviscerating a doctor for making an inept call or flushing the ear of a UN delegate down the drain after he slashed a prostitute. For all of her problems and questionable choices, she is a compassionate nurse who genuinely cares for her patients and is brilliant in her job as a healer.
The emergency room is chock full of colorful characters. Under Jackie’s wing is Zoey, a narive nurse in training played with utter whimsy by Merritt Wever. Tony award nominee Eve Best is delectably droll as Jackie’s best friend and confidant, a narcissistic doctor somewhere between Sex and the City and Emma Thompson (give this woman an Emmy already). Peter Facinelli is the new doctor, insufferable yet completely likable (with a unique form of Tourette’s). Anna Deavere Smith is the stern hospital administrator; Dominic Fumusa is Jackie’s devoted husband. The series is shot in NY and there have been a slew of appearances from theatre actors including Eli Wallach, Swoosie Kurtz, Blythe Danner, Judith Ivey and Erin Dilly.
The show airs Monday nights at 10:30 on Showtime or you can also catch the episodes On Demand. If you don’t have Showtime, you can go to their website and watch episodes for free on there. It’s a new that’s worth checking out, and if you’re anything like me, you’ll be obsessed in no time.