I know where I'll be in October! At The New York Musical Theatre Festival watching The Broadway Dolls amazing show TOUR DE FIERCE!

And spoiler alert -- there might even be a song or two of mine in the show!

From the NYMF website:

TOUR DE FIERCE

GIRL GROUP MEETS BROADWAY

Wow. What a performer! I went to see Hugh Jackman in concert at the Curran Theatre in San Francsico last weekend and was thrilled. I haven't seen Hugh live since THE BOY FROM OZ on Broadway (also thrilling!). The man was born to sing and dance! He appeared with two awesome back up singers, Angel Reda and Merle Dandrige and a 16 piece orchestra music directed by Patrick Vaccariello.

The Curran Theatre is a wonderful old Broadway size theatre steps from Union Square - not too big, fabulous acoustics! Every seat is great and it really felt like an intimate space, despite the sold-out and very excited crowd.

He opened the show with "One Night Only" and proceeded to sing one amazing song after another, including his "I Won't Dance" medley and "Soliloquy" from Carousel.

About half way through the evening, the two back up singers did a solo number (Take Me or Leave Me from RENT). When they were done Peter Allen appeared and we were treated to selections from THE BOY FROM OZ. He closed the show with "Once Before I Go" and brought the house down.

In between songs he chatted with the audience, took us through his career (musicals, movies, hosting the Tonys, the Academy Awards - "and then I got a call from...". Fun fact - did you know Hugh Jackman passed on the movie version of CHICAGO? He thought he was too young to play Billy Flynn. Needless to say he regrets that decision!

Musings from Hugh from the Playbill program:

Last summer, as I was watching Sting perform in Detroit, my friend and agent Patrick Whitesell turned to me and said, "All right, enough talking about it, you need to get your show together." Well, thanks in part to Patrick and his extra push, here it is...

Developing a one man show has always been a dream of mine and I couldn't be more thrilled to begin this adventure here in the beautiful city of San Francisco. As an actor, I have always tried to explore as many opportunities as possible, but to be honest, the number of those that I've been fortunate enough to gain access to has turned out to be more than I ever thought possible!

But of all the doors that have been opened, none have felt as naturally rewarding to me as being able to perform in the theatre. Tonight, at the Curran, I hope to share with you some of the eclectic world that is my career. From Australia to Broadway, to Hollywood and back again, I want to share with you some of that journey.

It was over too soon. <sigh> But hot off the press, Hugh is taking his concert to The Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto in July 5 - 17. Methinks he is prepping to take his show to Broadway!

I'll be singing I Left My Heart In San Francisco after I see Hugh in this concert! Maybe I'll bring him some tiramisu...

From the article on Playbill:

Tony Award winner Hugh Jackman, most recently on Broadway in the two-character Keith Huff play A Steady Rain, plays a two-week limited concert engagement in San Francisco beginning May 3.

Hugh Jackman In Performance at The Curran Theatre will continue through May 15.

In the concerts Jackman will perform his Broadway and Hollywood favorite musical numbers backed by a 17-piece orchestra. Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow, A Tale of Two Cities) directs with musical direction by Patrick Vaccariello.

In a previous statement Jackman said, "I have always loved performing live on stage. I'm excited to now have the chance to put together some of my favorite musical performances for Bay Area audiences. And I can't think of a more ideal place to do this than the intimate Curran Theatre in San Francisco, one of the best Broadway theatres in America."

For more information visit www.shnsf.com/shows/HughJackman.

We searched all of NYC and here they are...The Broadway Dolls!

The Broadway Dolls was created by Hollie Howard (she's the one in the middle of the picture), who just happened to originate the role of Holly Banks in the NYMF production of PLANE CRAZY in New York! (see how I always bring it back to me?). Hollie is an incredible triple threat Broadway performer who has put together an amazing group of women.

From the website:

The Broadway Dolls searched New York City for the finest Broadway talent and found Five Broadway Stars! We specialize in developing a customized theatrical experience for your corporate event, business party, fundraiser, benefit or theatrical event! Five, real triple threat women -- all singing, all acting, all dancing come directly to you from the most well known Broadway shows, including Mamma Mia, Chicago, A Chorus Line, Rent, Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Grease, The Wedding Singer, Spamalot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and more.

The Broadway Dolls was created by Hollie Howard, and is directed by Joey Murray, and assisted directed by Barbara Helms (a former Broadway Doll and she was also in PLANE CRAZY! See, I did it again!). Music supervision is by Lon Hoyt, with choreography by Jordan Fife Hunt and Bryan Knolwton.

For more information:

Phone: 646-537-1708 or info@thebroadwaydolls.com

Here's one for your "Must See" list -- SIDE SHOW at ArtsWest in West Seattle!

I went to opening night on Wednesday and LOVED it!

I didn't know too much about SIDESHOW before last night (other than the fact that Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley starred in it on the Broadway) so I was excited to see the show itself, in addition to seeing my daughter Myrna in the show.

SIDESHOW (book and lyrics by Bill Russell, music by Henry Krieger) is directed by Christopher Zinovitch and choreographed and musical directed by Troy Wageman. SIDESHOW is a musical about Daisy and Violet Hilton, conjoined Twins who make a change from being a circus act to becoming famous stage performers in the 1930s.

This show is awesome. From the opening number "Come Look at The Freaks" I was hooked. The direction and choreography are compelling, the costumes are awesome and the actors are totally invested in this show. Great singing, great dancing and great violin playing (courtesy of Myrna)!

Last night I sat "on stage" and it was a really cool experience seeing the show from a different perspective.

That's Myrna in the blonde wig and fat suit playing Dolly Dimples!

Get your tickets now. There are only five more shows left!

Looking for a way to recapture the joy and fun of seeing PROMISES, PROMISES on Broadway? Or just feel like listening to some kick-ass Burt Bacharach/Hal David tunes? You can kill two birds with one stone (no, not an Owl) by listening to PROMISES, PROMISES The New Broadway Cast Recording!

I have to confess I'm a huge fan of Burt Bacharach and Hal David. I still have the songbook of all their tunes that I bought back in the 1970s (for $4.98) and played constantly!

Some of my favorite numbers on this CD are the instrumental numbers and dance breaks! This does not reflect in any way on the vocals, I just really love the choreographed overture, Turkey Lurkey Time, and the dance break in A Fact Can Be a Beautiful Thing!

Driving in the car on a sunny day listening to Knowing When To Leave, Where Can You Take A Girl, and I Say A Little Prayer -- ahhh, my idea of sixties heaven!

As I continue to work on rewriting PLANE CRAZY, I tend to muse about all things PLANE CRAZY not specifically related to the script. (I believe that is also known as "procrastination").

What would be a super cool venue for PLANE CRAZY? Aside from "the Broadway" of course. Well, wouldn't it be a kick to stage it at Boeing Field, perhaps in Seattle's Museum of Flight? Or maybe up in Everett at The Future of Flight Aviation Center & Boeing Tour...there are huge half-built planes that would be perfect for those airplane scenes! Of course getting to your seat would require a one-third mile walk, 21 steep stairs and an an elevator ride.

And what about PLANE CRAZY merchandise...oh wait, you can buy that here.

Or a PLANE CRAZY board game? Sort of a "Careers " meets "Wide World" meets "Mystery Date"...

Maybe I should get back to work...

Every year we have a Tony-themed dinner in honor of, well, the Tony Awards! Last year our menu was dedicated to [title of show]. Just a few items on the menu included "are you gonna eat that pickle" turkey burgers, "necessary and appropriate" champagne and vegetable medley!

This year, how about:

Million Dollar Quart of Champagne...Fela Fries (Or -- I Am What I Yam)...Turkey Lurkey turkey burgers (we like turkey burgers, what can I say?)...

And for desert? A Little Light Mousse!

It probably wouldn't be a good idea to have "Owl" on the menu...