I had a sudden urge to watch Bob Fosse's SWEET CHARITY so I started looking for it on our DVD shelves. I could have sworn we had a DVD. So I combed through it a couple of times (I did manage to unearth two unopened VHS copies of WHEN HARRY MET SALLY...I guess they were back ups in case of an emergency!) but still couldn't find it!

Feeling that maybe my memory had failed me and we didn't own a copy after all, I went and bought a new DVD (widescreen of course). I went to special features and they had an alternate ending which I'd never seen before! It starts after Oscar leaves her at City Hall and she leaves, crying and broken hearted and heads to the bridge from the opening scene and throws the sign "almost married" into the water. Then it cuts to Oscar in his apartment, agitated and "suffocating" so much that he has to go out for a walk.

He spies Charity on the bridge and thinking she is about to commit suicide runs up to her, trips and falls in the water. She jumps in after him, but she can't swim so he has to save her. They have a touching converstation in the water about how he can't breathe without her and he asks her to marry him again and she accepts, deliriously happy again. They get out of the water and walk hand in hand into the moonlight. "And she lived hopefully ever after" is still supered over the ending.

Boy is that ever a different message from the original ending! Hmmm...I think I still prefer the original ending. Although hard to take because it isn't a pat happy ending, it really speaks to the character of Charity and how strong she is, and how she doesn't necessarily need a man to go on living hopefully, if not happily. Cool to see though.

And there is also a great "stage to screen" featurette with Bob Fosse and how he found the two mediums different, and how he came to really love directing films because he felt so much less constrained than directing on stage. You get to see them filming "Big Spender" and "The Rich Man's Frug" and "There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This". Very cool.

Of course, I'll probably find the other copy of SWEET CHARITY now...

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

One of my favorite performers (and people) of all time, the amazing Hollie Howard, who just happened to have played Holly Banks in PLANE CRAZY at NYMF 2005, appeared in GREASE at Stages St. Louis July 21 to August 20! She played Sandy Dumbrowski and I just know she was brilliant!

And the PLANE CRAZY alumni keep on coming -- Craig Laurie who also appeared in PLANE CRAZY at NYMF 2005 was also in this production of GREASE, playing Sonny LaTierri!

Check out more cool photos here:

First Roy Lightner as Charlie Brown (see my previous post), then Hollie Howard as Sandy and Craig Laurie as Sonny...wow -- the PLANE CRAZY connections are spreading far and wide!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

It's less than three weeks to opening night for my friend's (John Wimbs) musical GO-GO BEACH at NYMF '06! Oh wow, does that ever bring back memories of PLANE CRAZY last year at NYMF '05. Will you be ready? Will you sell enough tickets? Will you get enough press? Too much press? Arghhhh! Well, from what I hear the folks at GO-GO BEACH are in splendid shape and ready to make a splash in New York (I doubt if I'm the first to use the water imagery...)

Here's the latest info from their press release. John and gang -- break a leg! (Or do you say, break a surfboard?)

The beach party gang go-go-goes flower power!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival & Kevin F. Harrington's Plaza Theatrical Productions, Inc. present the World Premiere of A New Musical at THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL

GO-GO BEACH is a new musical fable told in the style of the popular beach party movies of the 1960s. It's a coming-of-age story about a surfer who gets into trouble with his girlfriend when he falls for a runaway teen pop star, and the flower child who helps him discover the true meaning of life. GO-GO BEACH features an original score inspired by the surf sound, girl groups, go-go music, and a little flower power as well.

GO-GO BEACH has book and lyrics by JOHN WIMBS, the playwright who won Canada's top theatre honor (Dora Mavor Moore Award) for Outstanding New Play and Outstanding Production for Molly Wood; and music by composers MICHAEL SHAIEB and BRENT LORD, both alumni of the NYU Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, whose work is currently represented in the Vh1 documentary "Last Days of Left Eye."

Direction is by JOHN SIMPKINS, a member of the music theatre faculty at NYU, who has directed many regional productions including Cabaret (Sacramento Music Circus), tick tick...BOOM!, Godspell and Chicago; and who has recently directed Things to Ruin: The Songs of Joe Iconis at Ars Nova.

Choreography is by MICHELE LYNCH, the choreographer for the upcoming Jason Robert Brown/Dan Elish musical 13 at the Mark Taper Forum this winter directed by Todd Graff; Associate Choreographer for Hairspray!; and Assistant Choreographer for The Full Monty and Urinetown on Broadway.

Production designer is MICHAEL SCHWEIKARDT (James Taylor's One Man Band tour, and Ella, an upcoming musical based on the life of Ella Fitzgerald); costumes designed by PHILIP HECKMAN (Shout! The Mod Musical); lighting by CHRIS DALLOS (off-Broadway Mrs. Klein, Kiki & Herb); sound by KEN TRAVIS (The Threepenny Opera, Hurlyburly, Kiki & Herb: Coup de Theatre); music direction by MATT GALLAGHER (Altar Boyz, Avenue Q, Wicked); wigs, hair and makeup by ROBERT MORGAN. Casting by Stuart Howard Associates.

AUSTIN MILLER, who created the role of Link Larkin for the 1st National Tour and Las Vegas productions of Hairspray! creates the role of California surfer Woody, opposite his three leading ladies: ERIN LEIGH PECK (I Love You, You’re Perfect..., Dance of the Vampires, Grease) as J.J., the Annette Funicello-inspired girlfriend; COLEEN SEXTON (Broadway Jekyll and Hyde, National Tour Chicago) as runaway teen pop star Mindy Chinchilla; and CHANDRA LEE SCHWARTZ (Penny Pingleton in the 1st National Tour and Las Vegas productions of Hairspray!, 2005 NYMF citation Best Leading Actress in But I'm a Cheerleader!) as flower child Bulldog. TIMOTHY SMITH, recently on Broadway in Sweet Charity and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, will create the role of B-movie producer Sammy Leech Jr.

The cast also includes some of the hottest new talent in musical theatre: DAVID A. AUSTIN (I Love You Because...) as Fingers, MICHAEL BUCHANAN (Kennedy Center's Mame) as Einstein, AMY GOLDBERGER as the Ann-Margret-inspired Kitten, newcomer COLT PRATTES as muscle-bound Rip, SHELLEY THOMAS as Honey, and SAVANNAH WISE as Baby.

GO-GO BEACH was first presented in New York as a staged reading in June 2001. It was staged at the Kennedy Center by the CAPPIES (a national youth theater organization), and won the Audience Choice Award at Toronto's SummerWorks Festival 2003. The show was further developed at University of Northern Colorado, and was given a commercial Korean-language production at the National Arts Center in Seoul.

KEVIN F. HARRINGTON, president of Plaza Theatrical Productions, Inc., has been producing and directing for over 25 years throughout the tri-state area. In partnership with his wife, Phyllis, the Plaza organization presents over 250 live performances a year. Co-producer JONATHAN SCHWARTZ has had a long association with GO-GO BEACH, having produced several developmental stagings since its inception in 2001.

GO-GO BEACH will be performed at 37 ARTS THEATRE, 450 West 37th Street (between 9th & 10th), for six performances only:

Thurs. Sept. 14th at 8:00 pm
Sat. Sept. 16th at 1:00 pm
Sun. Sept. 17th at 4:30 pm
Mon. Sept. 18th at 1:00 pm
Fri. Sept. 22nd at 8:00 pm
Sat. Sept. 23rd at 1:00 pm

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on-line at www.nymf.org or by calling (212) 352-3101. For more information, please visit www.nymf.org and www.gogobeach.com.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

The fabulous Seth Weinstein who was the musical director for PLANE CRAZY at NYMF 2005 has a new musical opening at New World Stages in November!

HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD AND FIND TRUE LOVE IN 90 MINUTES was written by Jonathon Karp (Book/Lyrics) and Seth Weinsten (Music) and will be directed and choreographed by Christopher Gatelli (who most recently did MARTIN SHORT FAME BECOMES ME and HIGH FIDELITY).

I didn't see it at NYMF 2004 or the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival where it was loved by audiences, but I wish I had. It sounds hilarious, and with Seth in charge of the music, it's got to be great. The show starts previews November 4 and opens November 12. Tickets went on sale today, and on the Telecharge Web site it says it may be inappropriate for 8 years and under, so I guess I'm okay to take my 9 and 12 year old daughters!

From the HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD AND FIND TRUE LOVE IN 90 MINUTES Web site:

A hilarious pop musical about the world's most dangerous office romance. A cowardly bookshop clerk, a sexy United Nations diplomat and an idealistic slacker risk everything when some intimate international relations provoke a global crisis. A modern tale of love and paranoia starring six of New York's most exciting young musical comedy performers.

The cast includes: Michael McEachran, Anika Larsen, Nicole Ruth Snelson, Stephen Bienskie, Natalie Joy Johnson, and Kevin Smith Kirkwood.

Way to go Seth!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Roy Lightner, the fabulous director of PLANE CRAZY at Oklahoma City University's Stripped Festival this past April, starred in YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN earlier this month at the Stages St. Louis at the Kirkwood Civic Center. Although I didn't get a chance to see it, I heard from a reliable source he was awesome! Way to go Roy!

Here's the review they got from Backstage.com:

Actor Roy Lightner's face is narrower than that of "the little round-headed boy," but he has the same winsome charm as the title character in Stages St. Louis' production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The Clark Gesner musical -- which was revived on Broadway in 1999 with additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa and additional dialogue by the director of that production, Michael Mayer -- has been shortened to 60 minutes to appeal to a younger audience as well as performed during the daytime.

A day in the life of Charlie Brown, Charles Schulz's hapless hero, follows him through his various trials and travails. Everyone trashes poor Charlie, even Snoopy, his mostly loyal dog (excellently portrayed by Codey Girten), who demands better dinner service. Charlie's baseball team doesn't win, either.

But the entire cast, however, is terrific. Girten, for example, is impressive in his ability to move believably from human to animal and back again. As Lucy, Annie Funke is the most unpleasant little girl in the world as she stands tall and demands her "queendom" with all the proper notes of faux authority. (She also does double-duty as Cha Cha DiGregorio in Stages St. Louis' production of Grease). Funke is one of several college students in the show, a University of Oklahoma attendee. Girten attends Indiana University, Lightner attends Oklahoma City University, and Chelsea Jo Pattison, who portrays Sally, recently graduated Webster University. Tall and lean, Vernon Goodman is another standout as Schroeder, especially when his character tries to lead a glee club in rehearsal even as its members gleefully squabble over a pencil.

Kristen Nordstom's choreography is simple and effective, as is the direction by her husband, Ben Nordstrom. The costumes, like Mayer's staging, are derived from those created for the Broadway revival.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Writer Christopher Isherwood was born on this date in 1904. The British-born author spent four years in Germany in the 1930s, as the Nazi party took over the country. He related his experiences in "The Last of Mr. Norris" and "Goodbye to Berlin", which became the basis for John Van Druten's play, "I Am a Camera" (1951). The play, in turn, was made into the Broadway musical and film CABARET.

CABARET won eight Tony awards, including one for Best Musical, Best Composer and Lyricist, and Best Supporting Actor in a Musical (Joel Grey). The film won eight Oscars, including Best Director (Bob Fosse), Best Actress (Liza Minelli) and Best Supporting Actor (Joel Grey).

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

I saw a great show last night. For the last three weeks, my daughter Myrna has been attending CharActors Theatre Troupe Summer Theatre Arts Program run by Megan and Wayne Davis. During the three weeks of camp they work on a show and present it on the last Thursday evening.

This session's show was DEAR EDWINA, with Book and Lyrics by Marcy Heisler and Music by Zina Goldrich. What a cool show! I had never heard of DEAR EDWINA before this. Myrna played Edwina in Act 1 (Because it is a camp, they split up the main roles over the two acts to give everyone a chance) and was fabulous! She wowed them not only with her amazing voice (was that a high C?) and "Russian" dance move, but with her engaging smile and on-stage charisma. You rock, Myrna!

It's really amazing to see a production of such high quality when you consider they only work on the show for 3 weeks, and they take a day off in the middle of the second week to go on a day trip to The Stratford Festival (they saw SOUTH PACIFIC).

From what I hear from Myrna, they really work the kids to get the best performance possible (I like the sound of that!), but also have such a great time together. On the last day everyone was hugging and exchanging emails, and yes, there were tears.

DEAR EDWINA was presented at the Holy Trinity Church Hall, with direction by Wayne Davis and Lynne Lurie, Choreography by Sharon Lindsay and Musical direction by Megan Davis. My favorite number was "Fork, Knife Spoon!"

I even got to see Daniel Greenberg again, who played Pigling in THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND at the Toronto Fringe in July. He was helping out as a production assistant!

DEAR EDWINA is a fabulous camp show because there are so many solo singing roles for so many kids. Everybody gets a chance to shine and strut their stuff!

From the MTI Web site:

Thirteen year-old Edwina Spoonapple would do just about anything to be a part of the Kalamazoo Advice-a-palooza Festival. While her siblings both have proof "up on the fridge" of their accomplishments, poor Edwina has nothing. When a talent scout from the convention visits her hometown of Paw Paw, Michigan, she trots out her musical advice giving shows live from the family garage in hopes of finding her place in the spotlight.

She is assisted by her older siblings (on piano and drums) and a host of quirky friends and neighbors: Becky, the perky cheerleader; Kelli, the cool, sophisticated ballerina; Annie, the girl-scout cookie-selling champion; the Vanderploonk triplets; Bobby, the befuddled new kid on the block; and Scott, who is helplessly and hopelessly in love with Edwina.

Together they set out to tackle the world's problems, in number after hysterical number about everything from birthday party etiquette to the proper way to set a table ("salad fork, fork, plate, knife, spoon"). This beguiling one-act charmer can be played anywhere, with extremely modest sets and costumes. Sweet, smart and tuneful, it appeals to audiences of all ages, as Edwina doles out advice, and finally learns to listen to some of it herself.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Is it still really Sugar and Spice versus Puppy Dog Tails?

I am sometimes told (usually by men) that the feminist politics in PLANE CRAZY are dated, which puzzles me.

Even disregarding the terrible sexism and extreme abuses women face in other parts of the world and looking only at the "modern" North American woman's lot, I continue to see numerous cases of sexism in the workplace and double standards in society. Yeah, we have come a long way, but we're not there yet!

Here's a case in point -- two etiquette course descriptions from a famous "rock-like" family sports and social club:

Basic Social Smarts, Boys Ages 8-12
Not a lesson from Fear Factor. How to's include: a firm handshake, eye contact, grooming 101, peer/adult encounters and conversation, good sportsmanship, behaving in public, at family gatherings and on special occasions, presenting your best side, wireless manners and how not to gross people out at the dining table.

Tween Chic, Girls Ages 8-12
Acquire some social polish with this program, which covers skin care and grooming, model posture and poise techniques, social introductions and invitations, mingling and conversation skills, thank you notes and elegant table manners.

Yikes! The only thing missing in Tween Chic is "How to vacuum wearing heels and pearls"! And if you've ever seen lunch hour at an all-girls school, you'd be signing them up pronto for that "how not to gross people out at the dining table" lesson!

So endeth today's rant.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Lately I've been getting a lot of those crazy spam letters from Nigeria asking for money. I got to thinking, that they must be working, otherwise they would stop sending them. So why not start an Internet fundraising campaign for my new musicals? Perhaps it would go something like this:

Attn: Please,

I am so very sorry if I pried into your privacy but due to your honesty, I am convinced that you would be capable to provide me with a solution. I am Suzy Conn Book / Lyrics / Music writer of PLANE CRAZY. I am writing on behalf of my musical PLANE CRAZY, a successful show from your country whose investment died unfortunately in an air mishap in July 2000.

I am contacting you simply to assist in claiming the deposited assets valued at 5,500,000.00 Euros before it gets confiscated by the Netherlands Bank. The Bank has written me as the consultant and issued a final notice to provide any other investors or have the assets channel to the Netherlands National Treasury as unclaimed fund within the next 10 working days.

Since there was no investors left in our record, I seek your consent to present you as its only surviving investor, so that this funds can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your expression of interest (EOI), I have agreed that you will inherit 45% of this fund for your help and sincerity, 45% for my musical capitalization (including additional workshops) while 10% for the refunds of processing expenses and to pay tax in your country (if any) upon successful confirmation of this funds in your bank account. Thereafter, all the related legal documents will be destroyed and we part ways.

Since I have been unsuccessful in locating support, my aim now is to usher you in legally as an investor since you are of the same nationality so that the fruit of my labour will not be in vain. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through. I guarantee that this will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of law. Please urgently reply if you can handle it. I'll also get you opening night tickets.

Best Regards,

Suzy Conn
Book / Lyrics / Music Writer
PLANE CRAZY

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

They like me, they really like me!

I was thrilled to find out that li'l ol' Blogway Baby has been included in the "Associated Content -- The People's Media Company" top ten list of theatre blogs!

Here's the blurb on Blogway Baby from the article:

Blogway Baby
The blogmaster here posts news and personal accounts all about musicals not only on Broadway but all around. Sidebars include song lists, historical notes and links. Very colorful, lots of facts and factoids.

We're also mentioned on the Rob Diamond's blog on Broadwayworld.com:

I was very pleased to wake up this morning to a Google Alert for "Ten Blogs About Theatre: Good Sources of Info on Broadway and Beyond" which included the Broadway Pulse amongst their list. Also included are some of my favorite blogs about theatre including Cues, Blogway Baby, The Wicked Stage, the Jersey Boys blog and others... The convergence of the worlds of theatre and technology is just what I'm all about!

Stop, I'm blushing...I'd like to thank the Academy, and of course Grad and John!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

...And I'm spent!

Whew. I finally came across the Playbill for the final show from our New York/Connecticut/Boston road trip extravaganza.

I went to see THE HISTORY BOYS while my husband and the girls went to see SPAMALOT. Who knew that they would get out and be back at the hotel before my show even finished? Of course I couldn't buy cool coconuts or stuffed cows at my show. But I still had a great time. THE HISTORY BOYS was written by Alan Bennett and directed by Nicholas Hytner. This was a presentation of The National Theatre of Great Britain's original production that had been a great success "across the pond". Here too (it won the Tony for best play).

According to the Playbill:

"THE HISTORY BOYS takes place in the mid 1980s at a grammar school [the English equivalent of high school] in the north of England. At the end of their senior year, English students take A-level exams in their three or four preferred subjects. Their university applications are decided on the basis of their A-level results. Until very recently Oxford and Cambridge -- England's pre-eminent universities, both more than 750 years old -- required applications to sit their own entrance examinations after they completed A-levels. Exceptional students, like the eight history boys, returned to school for an extra semester for intensive coaching in the subject they intended to read (or major in)."

The cast was, as expected, all excellent. My favs were Stephen Campbell Moore as Irwin, Malcolm Sinclair as the headmaster, Samuel Barnett as Posner, Dominic Cooper as Dakin, and Jamie Parker as Scripps. I loved the way they transitioned between scenes using film clips (video director: Ben Taylor) of the actors walking down the school hall, or in the library, or on a motor scooter, with loud (but not too loud) '80s music. I also really liked the way they worked singing, piano playing (and dancing) into the story. No spam, mind you, but still an enjoyable night at the theatre!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Sunday morning at 9am -- sounds like a great time for a musical, no? Well I made it back for another back-to-back day of new musicals. On the bill at 9am was FAIRYSTORIES, a NAMT finalist with book/lyrics/music by Paul Graham Brown. From the flyer:

"Based on true events, this graceful, romantic musical transports us to England in the 1920s. Two children claim to have photographed fairies dancing by a stream. The case comes to the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the fairy photographs become a sensation. But what will happen when the truth about the fairies comes out? FAIRYSTORIES is a musical about loss and grief and the magical power of the inner life to let us grow and love."

Next up was the very informative producers forum, which featured Bridget McDonough from Light Opera Works; John LaRock from North Shore Music Theatre; Nancy Gibbs -- a prominent producer from New York; Mark Edelmen from Theatre League, Kansas City; Tom Mullen from Mercury Theatre; and Steve Traxler from Jam Theatricals -- all moderated by Jeff Rosen of Gay Chicago Magazine. Basically "it's a tough business". That and get lots of exposure any way you can, network, and keep writing! Still it was fun!

Then off to a 1pm show of SUGAR DUMPLINGS (Book and Lyrics by Cherly L. Davis and Music by C. Colby Sachs). From the flyer:

"It is Viginia, near the end of the Civil War, and the conquering Yankees are swarming over the stricken South. Lizzie Rushton, made a widow by the "Northern devils", has been forced to become a prostitute. Haunted by the momory of her late husband David, she flees the oncoming Yankees along with several other loyal Confederates. Not too far away, Jonathan Springer, a Yankee oficer who has become separated from his men, joins forces with Lewis, a runaway slave, to make their way North."

I finished off the marathon weekend with COTTON CLUB -- the hottest show in the festival -- literally: the air conditioning stopped working in that theatre and everyone was melting, onstage and off. With Book by Arnold Margolin, Music by Weslie Brown, and Lyrics Jason Kuller, the description in the flyer describes it as follows:

"Enter the world of Harlem's most famous speakeasy in 1931, a place energized by black performers but reserved for white audiences only. This new musical features a soulful love story between two strangers who seek their dreams and find each other."

Whew! What a weekend. Congrats to Theatre Building in Chicago and all the shows!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Hehe...this is kinda funny...

PLANE CRAZY snuck onto the Audience Rewards Web site in the Broadway section due to a "testing error"...

Audience Rewards is the new loyalty program for Broadway. They describe themselves as:

Thank you for being a loyal Nederlander Theatres customer.

Today, Nederlander Theatres is proud to announce that we are the first sponsor of Audience Rewards, the new loyalty program for Broadway. We are excited to be in at the inauguration of what is sure to be the premiere rewards program for discriminating theatergoers like yourself.

Be one of the first to join this exciting new program that's sure to get raves from audiences across America.

Thanks guys -- it's nice to see that there are PLANE CRAZY fans in the most unexpected places -- and hopefully this is the "shape of things to come..."

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

How unbelievably cool is this?

A Flickr user has uploaded these scans of a Businessweek article from 1955 on the opening of Disneyland.

I've always loved wandering in Disneyland -- I always have fun looking around and wondering which parts of the Park haven't changed since Walt mortgaged everything to get it built.

I like to imagine that I'm walking on floorboards that Walt approved. What a magical place -- time to go back!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Eight New Musicals -- $85
One Opening Night Gala -- $75
Meeting Charles Strouse -- Priceless

This past Friday I braved the airports to fly to Theatre Building Chicago's Stages Festival of New Musicals. As it turned out both ways the airports were quite empty and I ended up just hangin' around airports a good deal of the day Friday and Sunday evening!

Thanks to Chiccago traffic, I made it to the hotel with barely enough time to change for the opening night gala. Thanks to the incompetence at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers, I was forced to shower and change in the hotel's workout club! Well I made it to the gala in time. It was a great party, with lots of shmoozing and lots of industry people.

After wine and nibbles we saw HALF THE SKY (conceived by Donna Trinkoff, book by Marsha Lee Sheiness, Lyrics by Luis Santeiro, June Siegel, Greer Woodward, and Music by Rick Cummins). This was a musical revue of vignettes detailing the various kinds of horrific abuses against women going on around the globe.

Saturday started at 9am for STUDIO with Book, Lyrics and Music by Charles Strouse. Wow, what a huge thrill to meet and chat with this musical theatre legend. I was able to tell him how much my daughter Myrna enjoyed playing Annie Warbucks. Too cool. And he and his wife Barbara are such nice, friendly and warm people. I loved this show. It was about a young man trying to decide whether to become a musician like his famous musician grandfather, or to become a lawyer, aquiescing to his father's wishes. He arranges a reading of his late grandfather's unfinished musical and through this show within a show, discovers who he is. Check out his cool website at charlesstrouse.com

Next was a 12:30pm showing of MAIN-TRAVELLED ROADS (Book and Lyrics by Dave Hudson, Music by Paul Libman). This show is based on the seminal collection of short-stories by Wisconsin writer Hamlin Galrand. First published in 1891, Main-Travelled Roads was groundbreaking in its naturalistic depiction of life and love in the (then) rugged Wisconsin Coulee Country. This piece is by the same writers who wrote DUST AND DREAMS: CELEBRATING SANDBURG (see my original post).

Next up at 3:30pm (after a quick lunch of cherry coke and fries -- yikes!) was THE NERVOUS SET (Book by Jay Landesman with resisions by Tim Treanor and Lorraine Treanor, Music by Tommy Wolf with additional music by Simon Wallace, Lyrics by Fran Landesman). This is an interesting musical because it was orgiinally done in 1959! Two "beatniks", book writer Jay Landesman and his wife, lyricist Fran Landesman, along with Jazz pianist Tommy Wolf -- wrote a musical about the beat experience. Backed by a four-piece jazz combo, it became the world' first Miles Davis-inspired jazz musical. It had characters modeled on Beat writers Kerouac and Ginsberg. It celebrated pot smoking. It had an openly gay character. It's second act ended with an overdose. It played to sell-out houses in St. Louis and lasted 23 performances on Broadway. The book of the show has now been reworked by Tim and Lorraine Treanor, and includes the original score with four new songs written by Fran Landesman and her current writing partner, Simon Wallace. My favorite song in the show is the classic "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most".

My final show of the day was BEACH WARS (Book and Lyrics by Nan Hoffman and Laurel Haines, Music by Howard Pfeifer). Described in their flyer as a screwball musical comedy -- "come spend two hours on the shores of Lake Michigan with two of the wackiest families this side of Kalamazoo...only at the beach will you meet singing chickens, an inept hit man and a famous French designer, to name a few. By the way, what do chickens have to do with panties, valuable beachfront property and murder-for-hire? Spread your towel and find out". This one starred the wonderful Bill Zorn with whom Greg Silva and I wrote our mini-musical last year. Bill was great, and also appeared in THE NERVOUS SET!

By 9:30am, I headed home with my backside completely numb, my toes frozen like popsicles (wearing sandals in an over-air conditioned theatre all day) and a song in my heart! Day One was a blast!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

How cool is this! Megan Mullally is getting a talk show! I was just starting to suffer from Will and Grace withdrawl and I get this bit of good news. And from the sounds of it, could it be sort of like the old fashioned talk shows like Dinah Shore or Mike Douglas where the host can and does sing.

And what a great first guest -- Will Ferrell's rendition of the Der Guten Tag Hop-Klop over the ending credits of THE PRODUCERS movie was so hilarious. I'm so excited, it's time to start skipping school again!

According to this article in Playbill:

Stage and screen star Megan Mullally's forthcoming nationally syndicated talk show, "The Megan Mullally Show," will debut Sept. 18 with Will Ferrell appearing.

The daily, one-hour show -- which tapes in Los Angeles, CA -- will play in the New York area on WNBC at 3 PM. The host has already revealed Will Ferrell ("The Producers") will be her first guest.

"'The Megan Mullally Show' will be an entertaining hour featuring a mix of celebrities, real people, music and comedy," according to an NBC release. "Megan will interview top celebrities and also introduce the world to guests of all kinds -- from quirky characters to funny kids to off-beat experts."

Best known for her role as Karen on the NBC series "Will & Grace," Mullally is remembered by theatregoers as Rosemary Pilkington in the 1995 revival of How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opposite Matthew Broderick. Her other stage creds include Marty in the 1994 revival of Grease. She has also performed her one woman musical, Sweetheart and numerous concert gigs at Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center, Chicago's Goodman Theater and elsewhere.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

That's so "[title of show]"!

Thank goodness -- now I have the opportunity to buy a new cast recording CD since I wore out the grooves on the one I bought in July from the kids playing it over and over and over. Now, I'm not sure that's technically possible, but you get the idea. Oh yeah, and my mom heard it playing in our car and now she really wants a copy! She heard "Die, Vampire, Die" and fell in love with the show!

Now they have understudies too! I wonder what it would be like watching the show with the understudies...very surreal for the cast I imagine! Congrats guys!

According to this article in Playbill:

Off-Broadway can't get enough of the self-professed theatre nerds in [title of show] as the musical about the making of a musical extends at the Vineyard Theatre through Oct. 1.

The Vineyard plays home once more to the popular musical comedy which began its commercial run July 14 and opened July 20 following a run at the venue earlier this year. Kevin McCollum, Laura Camien and the Vineyard Theatre produce the 8-week limited engagement which was originally scheduled through Sept. 9 and now plays three more weeks.

Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, creators and stars, pen a musical which follows a writing team's "race to write and submit a show to the theatre festival" weeks before the deadline. The show was born out of just that experience: Bowen and Bell's race to complete an entry for the 2004 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Featuring a bevy of quips about theatre and musical fanaticism (including the duo's own), the meta-musical (as in real life) enlists two of the creators' friends, Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff, to appear with them.

Tony Award nominee Michael Berresse (The Light in the Piazza, Kiss Me Kate) leads the original creative team as the director-choreographer. Larry Pressgrove (Cats, Children's Letters To God) provides musical arrangements and direction. Bowen (The Who's Tommy) and Bell (Oh, Boy!) star with Blackwell (The Heidi Chronicles) and Blickenstaff (The Full Monty). Courtney Balan and Benjamin Howes serve as understudies.

The original cast album of the show was released on Ghostlight Records -- a division of Sh-K-Boom Records. Joel Moss and Kurt Deustch produce the CD which features Bell, Blackwell, Blickenstaff and Bowen, with musical direction and arrangements by Larry Pressgrove.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

This made me really, really sad. I loved 'The Mike Douglas Show', and I watched it every day when I should have been in school.

According to this article on CNN.com:

Mike Douglas, who drew on his affable personality and singing talent during 21 years as a talk show host, died Friday on his 81st birthday, his wife said.

He died at 5:30 a.m. in a Palm Beach Gardens hospital, said his wife, Genevieve Douglas. She wasn't sure of the cause, but said he had been admitted Thursday.

Douglas became dehydrated on the golf course a few weeks ago and had been treated on and off since. "He was coming along fine, we thought. It was really a shock," she said. "We never anticipated this to happen."

I always felt that it was such a great music show -- the kind of music variety show that you just don't see anymore. The days of incredibly talented musicians entertaining for an hour seem so, so long ago. Here's a great quote from Mike Douglas that nicely sums up what made the 'The Mike Douglas Show' so great:

Douglas' afternoon show, which aired from 1961 to 1982, featured his ballad and big-band singing style, other musicians, comedians, sports figures and political personalities, including seven former, sitting or future presidents.

"People still believe 'The Mike Douglas Show' was a talk show, and I never correct them, but I don't think so," Douglas said in his 1999 memoir, "I'll Be Right Back: Memories of TV's Greatest Talk Show."

"It was really a music show, with a whole lot of talk and laughter in between numbers."

Douglas did about 6,000 syndicated shows, most 90 minutes long, and estimated that at its peak the show was seen in about 230 cities.

I noticed that some of the Lennon/Ono episodes are available on VHS, but I sure hope they come out with an "ultimate DVD collection" soon...

However, King World Syndication does have a great 'The Mike Douglas Show' Web site, which says:

The Mike Douglas Show archives are currently being licensed for professional use in television programs, DVDs, and documentaries.

Out of the 4000+ shows Mike hosted, only a small number have been remastered from the original 2" tapes. The majority of the programs listed on this website have been remastered, but many more episodes and guests are available as well.

Screening tapes of already-remastered programs can be provided to interested parties at a cost of $95 per 90-minute episode. Fees for licensing of clips will be determined separately on a case-by-case basis.

If an episode has not been transferred from it's 2" master tape, the cost for a screener is $200 per program, exclusive of licensing costs.

Contact Donna Fields at (212) 817-5601 for more information. Professional inquiries only, please.

There are some amazing clips on the King World site, including a great Liza track, some priceless stuff with Tiger Wood when he was 2, and lots of other great stars.

Here's a last little bit on Mike Douglas from his entry on Wikipedia:

He next surfaced in 1961 in Cleveland, where a onetime Chicago colleague hired him for $400 a week as an afternoon television talk-show host at WKYC-TV, then known as KYW-TV. The show rapidly gained popularity, and ultimately, national syndication in August 1963 on five Westinghouse-owned stations. It stopped broadcasting live in 1965 after guest Zsa Zsa Gabor used inappropriate language on the air. As KYW-TV's owner, Group W, successfully had a station swap with NBC overturned by the FCC, the program moved to Philadelphia in June 1965 with KYW itself - though WKYC in Cleveland continued to carry the program for many years afterward.

Guests ranged from Truman Capote and Richard Nixon to The Rolling Stones and Herman's Hermits. The show helped introduce entertainers such as Barbra Streisand and Aretha Franklin. Regrettably, footage of Streisand's appearance, like many others of this era, was discarded by WKYC-TV.

After the move to Philadelphia, Douglas also attempted to revive his own singing career, logging his lone Top 40 single as a solo artist, "The Men In My Little Girl's Life" in 1966.

By 1967, The Mike Douglas Show was broadcasting to 171 markets and 6,000,000 viewers each day, mostly women at home. It earned $10.5 million from advertisers, while its host was paid more than $500,000. In 1967, the program received the first Emmy Award for Individual Achievement in Daytime Television from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

In July 1978, the talk show's home base was transferred to Los Angeles, where it remained until finally going off the air in 1981. A second series, The Mike Douglas Entertainment Hour, ended production in 1982.

Goodbye Mr. Douglas...

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Why every show doesn't do this, I'll never understand.

This was an awesome experience and perfect for a Saturday morning at 10am! Thanks to knowing important people in high places, we got four tickets for WICKED: BEHIND THE EMERALD CURTAIN at The Gershwin Theatre. This is a behind-the-scenes one hour tour/exhibit/talk conducted by two company members -- Sean McCourt, who plays Doctor Dillamond and Anthony Galde, who is a swing.

It was really a wonderful experience. They first find out if there are people who haven't seen the show (not many) and are careful not to give away too many of the surprises in their talks. You start off in the lobby where they have a sort of WICKED museum, with costumes worn by cast members from world-wide productions (including Idina Menzel's Wicked Witch dress).

It's always fun to see the costumes and masks up close, to see the beautiful detail that sometimes you can't see specifically from far away, but that contributes to the overall feel of the show.

And since WICKED's world-wide profits are like the GNP of a small country, the production team can afford to make new costumes for new cast members, instead of the usual process of finding replacements that fit existing costumes ("you look like a size 6, you're hired"). They even have warehouses where they store bolts and bolts of fabric! Don't you just love it!

Also in the lobby is the original set model -- it's so cool to see it in miniature! They also demonstrate how the monkey wings work (ah, if there were monkeys that flew in the story that is...in case you haven't seen it yet...). Both cast members are really funny and captivating in their presentations. You really feel like you're getting a special inside scoop. Very magical.

Then it's into the theatre we go! It's always cool to go into an empty theatre. You always feel special. They talked about the stage itself, lighting and the intricacies of calling the show (talk about your stressful jobs!). The talk was broken up with videos on the making of the show, and my favorite was a sped-up video of the load-in on tour. To see a stage go from empty to being "WICKED-ified" continuously was really neato.

Of course at the end, we had a chance to buy WICKED merchandise. We got the requisite t-shirts and a real cool book called the "Grimmerie", which is the complete behind the scenes story of WICKED, including a beautiful compilation of photos and stories, and with comments from Gregory Maguire, the author of WICKED, the producers, the director, cast members, and many others.

And we all wanted to see the show again! Like I said, why doesn't every show do this?

From the Web site for WICKED: BEHIND THE EMERALD CURTAIN:

BEHIND THE EMERALD CURTAIN (an exclusive behind-the-scenes journey through WICKED on Broadway) Now Available at the Gershwin Theatre

"Behind the Emerald Curtain," an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at WICKED, run by members of the Broadway cast at the Gershwin Theatre (222 W. 51st St.), is now offered every Saturday morning at 10 AM. The tour, which lasts approximately one hour, includes a 20-minute film containing special footage from NY and the national tour, featuring interviews with the cast and creative team of WICKED.

Participants visit the exclusive "Behind the Emerald Curtain" Museum, which includes an elaborate set model by Tony Award-winner Eugene Lee and an up-close look at some of Tony Award-winner Susan Hilferty's costumes (with beautiful details that are not always visible from the audience), as well as some of the actual props and wigs from the show.

The tour also includes a question-and-answer portion with current cast members, and an opportunity to find out what's in store for the mega-hit musical in New York City, around the country and around the world.

Participants will soon also have a chance to purchase exclusive merchandise available only on the tour!

Tickets for "Behind the Emerald Curtain" are $25. Groups of 20 or more can buy tickets for $23 each. They will be available for purchase at the merchandise booth in the Gershwin Theatre lobby for that week's tour during regular box office hours.

Corporate clients and groups of 20 or more -- please call 212-581-5352 or write to broadway@emeraldcurtain.com

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Forecast -- 100% chance of rain!

We topped off our July theatre odysessy with a trip to Beverly MA, via Boston. Only 25 miles from Boston, North Shore Musical Theatre (NSMT) is located on beautiful grounds, complete with mini-forest and path for wandering. Recently refurbished after a fire, NSMT has a circular stage -- theatre in the round at last!

The TOM JONES I saw and loved at NYMF 2005 was originally produced at NSMT.

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is based on the MGM Film (original choreography by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen), with screenplay and adaptation by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and songs by Nachio Herb Brown and Arthur Freed.

This production was directed and choreogrpahed by Richard Stafford, with musical direction by Richard Hip-Flores.

What a fun show! It was very cool to see it "in the round". You didn't feel like you were seeing the back of the show at any time, you were just getting a different perspective. For example in the scene where Lina is out mouthing "Singing In The Rain" and Kathy Seldon is actually singing it behind the curtain (before the big reveal), I got to watch the scene unfold behind the curtain, while the people on the other side of the audience got to see Lina mouthing the words. And of course in the round worked seemlessly during big dance numbers.

The cast was great -- Matt Loehr as Don Lockwood, Mark Ledbetter as Cosmo, Kelly D. Felthous as Kathy Seldon and Beth Beyer as Lina Lamont. Beth really nailed Lina's soothing accent!

Lina even had a number in the second act called "What's Wrong With Me", which I had never heard before. I wonder if it was in the film but got cut during editing? During the "Make 'Em Laugh" number Mark Ledbetter misjudged a distance and threw a bucket into the audience instead into a bin, and brought the house down with laughter!

The really cool thing about this production was the use of the silent films, ("The Dancing Cavalier", "The Dueling Cavalier", etc.) filmed with this cast and projected on three screens in the theatre's house. Those screens became part of a 360-degree projection surface employing light, patterns, projections and the moving image. The show actually started with a black and white film of Jon Kimbell, the artistic director and executive producer, talking about the show. Very cool.

Did it rain? Twice! I couldn't believe it! In the iconic "Singin' In The Rain" number they actually "poured" (it never rains, it pours) hundreds of gallons of water on the stage so those were real puddles Matt (aka Don) was a-splashin' in! Very cool! And at the end of the show after the curtain call the cast all come back on stage in yellow slickers and they sang and danced a reprise of "Singin' In The Rain" -- and it poured again! I was sure somebody was going to fall and break his/her neck. Sure enough, someone did slip -- but just bruised his behind (I'm assuming) because he sprang back up again with a big smile on his face!

Now say it with me, "I Cawn't Stand It!"

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Where's Becca? At Theatre Collingwood!

Rebecca Stewart, a wonderful quadruple threat (singer, dancer, actor, choreographer) performer is appearing in a Theatre Collingwood production of THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG from August 9-12 and August 15-19.

THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG was written by Neil Simon, with music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Carol Bayer Sager. It tells the story of accomplished composer, Vernon Gersch and the quirky lyricist Sonia Walsk; their partnership leads to romance, competition and fun disco beats!

I still have the LP of the original cast recording of THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG -- I saw it at the Royal Alex (as mentioned in a previous post) with Lucie Arnaz and Robert Klein in the good old days when Ed's Warehouse Restaurant was still open (I went there for a pre-show din-din). I think my favorite songs are "They're Playing My Song" and "Fill In The Words".

Rebecca Stewart recently appeared as Aunt Pettitoes in THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND at the Toronto Fringe Festival, and was the assistant choreographer for PLANE CRAZY at Theatre Sheridan.

Neil Simon? Marvin Hamlisch? Carol Bayer Sager? Talk about your triple threat! What more could you want? What are you waiting for? Time for a road trip to Collingwood!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

OK, everybody sing:

Give us a place to stand
And a place to grow
And call this land Ontario
A place to live
For you and me
With hopes as high
As the tallest tree
Give us a land of lakes
And a land of snow
And we will build Ontario
A place to stand, a place to grow
Ontari-ari-ari-o

From this post from Cory on Boing Boing:

I love this archive of vintage tourism materials from my home province of Ontario, Canada, especially the video for the "Ontari-ari-ari-o!" song, which I sang on many long car-trips. Link

I haven't seen this film in DECADES, and boy what a treat! You have to scroll about 4/5 of the way down the page, and then you'll see a little film strip with this note:

Ontario had an opportunity to showcase its wide array of attractions to the world at Expo '67 with the film "A Place to Stand". The refrain from the title song releases nostalgic memories for many of us and the words come effortlessly to our lips..."a place to stand, a place to grow, Ontari-ari-ari-o".

God, I LOVE THE WEB! Enjoy...

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

I had the great pleasure of attending a fabulous performance of I BELIEVE I CAN FLY: A WINX CLUB MUSICAL by Myrna and Trinity Conn at the Conn Theatre, located in midtown Toronto. It was opening night, and I always like to check out new works, so it was very exciting!

For those of you not familiar with Winx Club, it is a cartoon TV show (and related merchandise) about young women (girls?) that are both fashionistas and powerful evil fighting fairies! Each has a distinct personality and specialty. Tecna, for example, has digital powers. Too cool.

This original musical traced the story of Carey, who was left standing at the altar, and then with the help of her friend, Louise goes on to kill a vampire and then triumphs at the end and learns to fly. (Duh, it's a metaphor).

Both recorded tracks, live piano accompaniment and acappella singing were used. The musical starts off with "It's Your Wedding Day" from THE WEDDING SINGER, and then moves onto "My Eyes Adored You" from JERSEY BOYS, and then onto an acappella version of "Oh Happy Day" from LI'L ABNER. The vampire killing scene follows, where "Die, Vampire Die" from [title of show] is performed (needless to say, the vampire dies!). The finale is "I Believe I Can Fly" and Carey soars into the air. The curtain call was done to the Winx Club theme. Very moving! And totally awesome.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY: A WINX CLUB MUSICAL was produced by Layla, directed by Tecna, stage managed by Bloom, with set design by Myrna and Trinity Conn, sound design by Icy, lighting design, costumes and make-up by Stella. The cast included Flora as Louise, Musa as Wedding Sing/guitar band, Stella Morella as Ensemble, Stella Nutella as Ensemble, Stella Singsational as Carey and Tecna Mecna as the Vampire.

I even got a special thanks in the Playbill for the venue and equipment!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Even better the second time!

During our week in New York, we took in a few shows we had already seen before. On Tuesday night we saw THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE as party of Camp Broadway's Family Theatre night. We had all seen this last year before the Tonys. This time we arrived really early to try and sign up for the audience participation. I think we were too keen (and we answered honestly about being in the business which was probably also a mistake. I've heard that they have run into problems with people getting picked and then putting it on their resume!) and unfortunately, were not picked.

We enjoyed the show anyhow, and happily almost all of the original cast was still in it. Jesse Tyler Ferguson who plays Leaf Coneybear is my favorite, and this time I saw him fall off the bench -- too funny. I just love all the characters in this show, they are so endearingly hilarious!

Wednesday night I took my 12-year old daughter, Myrna, to see JERSEY BOYS (it was the excuse I needed to see the show for the third time...). We had amazing seats (thank you Grad). Myrna had already memorized the cast recording and the two of us would often break in a chorus of "Sherry" or harmonize on "My Eyes Adored You", so she was very excited to see the show.

The two of us bopped through the whole show, mouthing the lyrics and having a fabulous time. At one point J. Robert Spencer looked over at Myrna and smiled! I have to admit, I do love that show. After the show we went to the stage door and waited to get autographs. All four of the JERSEY BOYS came out and were very gracious and friendly about taking pictures and giving autographs. Now Myrna has pictures on her digital camera of her with each of the JERSEY BOYS! We took a pedicab home singing songs from the show at the top of our lungs all down Broadway!

While Myrna and I were rockin' it out to "Rag Doll" and "Walk Like A Man", my husband and younger daughter went to see DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS again. We saw it as a family last year before the Tonys. They loved it again (I think they enjoyed it more than the first time!), and commented that it seemed that the Muriel Eubanks character (now being played by Lucie Arnaz) had been expanded. They said that Lucie Arnaz was amazing in the role. The last time I saw Lucie Arnaz on stage was at the Royal Alex in Toronto during the tour of THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG. I loved that show...but I digress. Sherie Renee Scott was back playing Christine Colgate, and the understudies for Lawerence and Freddy were on, and also really great. I'm sorry I missed that!

My husband also took my youngest daughter, Trinity, to see SWEENEY TODD with Patti Lupone and Michael Cerveris at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. I had already seen earlier in the year so I was off with Myrna at THE WEDDING SINGER that night. They loved SWEENEY TODD, and Trinity was completely mesmerized during the show. They were blown away by the actors playing the instruments in addition to the acting and singing. They went to the stage door after to meet Patti Lupone and Michael Cerveris, and Patti said Trinity was cute!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

If you're in the Chicago area be sure to go to this fabulous festival of new musicals!

Here's the info direct from the press release:

THEATRE BUILDING CHICAGO OPENS 30TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON WITH STAGES -- A FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS:

AUGUST 11, 12, 13, 2006

August 4, 2006 -- CHICAGO, IL. Theatre Building Chicago presents STAGES 2006, a festival of eight new musicals on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, August 11, 12, and 13, 2006. The three-day musical extravaganza performs each new work twice in concert-style formats. Now in its thirteenth season. STAGES is committed to developing musicals and the writers who create them.

STAGES kicks off with HALF THE SKY, conceived by Donna Trinkoff, book by Marsha Lee Sheiness, lyrics Luis Santeiro, June Siegel, Greer Woodward, and music Rick Cummins.

STAGES features two musicals by homegrown Chicago writers. BEACH WARS by Nan Hoffman, Laurel Haines and Howard Pfeifer and MAIN-TRAVELLED ROADS by the 2005 Richard Rodgers award-winners Dave Hudson and Paul Libman were both developed in TBC's Musical Theatre Writers' Workshop.

STAGES includes STUDIO by Charles Strouse, Broadway's preeminent composer of ANNIE, APPLAUSE, and BYE BYE BIRDIE. STUDIO marks TBC's second Strouse premiere. (The first was THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL THEATRE in 1987).

STAGES also highlights a "revisal" of the ground-breaking 1959 Broadway jazz musical THE NERVOUS SET, book by Jay Landesman with revisions by Tim Treanor and Lorraine Treanor, music by Tommy Wolf with additional music by Simon Wallace, and lyrics by Fran Landesman. Several of the show's songs have become international jazz standards, such as "Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most" and "The Ballad of the Sad Young Men."

STAGES also presents FAIRYSTORIES by Paul Graham Brown. The National Alliance for Musical Theatres suggested this piece to TBC and several other Alliance members that are devoted to developing new work in order to expand the Alliance's capacity to encourage musical production.

STAGES also highlights THE COTTON CLUB by Arnold Margolin, Weslie Brown and Jason Kuller and SUGAR DUMPLING by Cheryl L. Davis and C. Colby Sachs.

THEATRE BUILDING CHICAGO's musical program offers an array of works in multiple "stages" of development. TBC nurtures new works through its Musical Theatre Writers' Workshop and through collaboration with theatre companies and artists across the country.

WHEN: STAGES kick-off gala (6pm reception; 7:30pm performance, Fri., Aug. 11)

Curtain times range from 9am-7:30pm, Sat.- Sun., Aug. 12-13

STAGES BRUNCH: 11:15am, Sun., Aug. 13, followed by PRODUCERS' FORUM: 11:45am

WHERE: 1225 W Belmont Ave., Chicago, IL Phone: 773.327.5252

TICKETS: $75: Opening Night performance and receptions; $85: Stages Pass (good for all Sat. & Sun. shows); $20: Brunch, followed by Producers' Forum (free); $15: Single tickets will be sold at the door as available

Reservations are strongly encouraged. Valet & metered parking available; enjoy dining discounts; enjoy dining discounts (with TBC ticket stubs) at neighborhood restaurants.

Visit our website: www.theatrebuildingchicago.org for details.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

I found my corner of the sky in Connecticut!

This is only my second time out to Goodspeed and what fun it was. We drove July 23 from New York to Chester, Connecticut where we stayed at the historic Griswold Inn (interesting coincidence since we were on a family vacation...).

Chester is so lovely -- a wonderful little town with shops, boats -- we found an awesome Christmas shop called the Christmas Barn and bought a Christmas Advent Calendar Box, just like in the CHRISTMAS VACATION movie!

We checked into the hotel, and then sped off to East Haddam. We made it just in time (actually, in time enough to pre-order our intermission drinks before the show!). I really love that theatre -- it has a lovely, intimate feel, yet doesn't feel like "summerstock". The production values and talent always feel first class.

PIPPIN, with book by Roger O. Hirson and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, was directed by Gariel Barre (who also directed TOM JONES at NYMF 2005), choreographed by Mark Dendy and had musical direction by Michael O'Flaherty. What a great show -- the cast were really great -- Joshua Park as Pippin, Andre Ward as Leading Player, Micky Dolenz (formerly of The Monkees) as Charlemagne and a terrific Shannon Lewis as Fastrada. It was a very colorful, magical production, and of course the music was great. I wish I had a dime for every time I've heard "Corner of The Sky" in auditions!

From the director's notes:

PIPPIN was originally written as a beautiful, pastoral coming of age story. Once Bob Fosse was brought on board however, he injected elements of vaudeville and cynicism into his direction and choreography and found ways of undercutting the sentimentality of the play with humor and surprise, creating a tension in the piece that hadn't been present before. The company came to represent the torturous "demons" in our heads that attempt to manipulate and control us. However, the truth is they can never have more power than we permit. His notion that the players actually exist in Pippin's mind was wonderfully evocative and brought tremendous depth to Pippin's entertaining and colorful adventures.

In preparation for this production, Mark Dendy, the choreographer, and I studied Bob Fosse's work and his approach to PIPPIN. We wanted to keep the "feel" of the original show, but have plenty of fun finding our own ways of recreating it for a modern audience and at the same time, making sure that it never takes itself too seriously. We have been inspired to add elements of magic and the circus, and have taken full advantage of the tools of the theater that weren't available 30 years ago and incorporated them into this production.

In addition, Stephen Schwartz and Roger Hirson, the original composer and author, have been intimately involved throughout the process of mounting this production. They have created a new ending for the show, added an intermission, made some cuts, and rewritten dialogue and lyrics. We believe we have found a good balance of paying tribute to the original production, while drawing upon our own creativity to reinvent a show that is modern and fresh, thereby, rather than a revival we prefer to think of this production as giving PIPPIN a rebirth.

We were very fortunate to have assembled an amazing design team and cast for this production, with actors, dancers and singers who all bring their unique individuality and special skills to this show. Their sexiness, humor, and palpable energy entice Pippin and hopefully, the audience, to come along for the wild ride.

That is where the real magic of this production will occur. In reacquainting those who first loved PIPPIN 30 years ago and, at the same time, introducing it to a whole new generation of audiences who are also trying to find their "corner of the sky".

The kids loved the show as well, although Trinity was a bit disappointed that Pippin didn't light himself on fire at the end...

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment