REHEARSAL VOCABULARY WORD OF THE DAY equable \EK-wuh-buhl\, adjective:

1. Equal and uniform; not varying.
2. Not easily disturbed; not variable or changing

"The rhythm of your monologue is somewhat equable, and I believe that's why the audience keeps falling asleep."  ¶ 1:54 PM 2 comments links to this post

  TODAY'S RIEDEL - 5/31 - ROCK ME TCHAIKOVSKY Some of the most interesting Riedel I've read in a long while.

Peter Shaffer has a new play in the works and the Shuberts are waiting for it with baited breath. And from the sound if it, we should all be doing the same. Shaffer, best know for writing AMADEUS and EQUUS, recently completed his play about the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of the composer Tchaikovsky. He has been working on this play for the past 10 years. Sure, the mysterious death of a composer sounds a lot like AMADEUS (which Riedel says is a concern of the author), but this story sounds pretty fascinating:

"For a century, Tchaikovsky...was thought to have died of cholera after drinking contaminated water. There were, however, persistent rumors that, after being threatened with exposure as a homosexual, he committed suicide by taking small doses of arsenic. As the story has it, the suicide was covered up by the composer's brother, Modest, who was also gay. In 1980, a Soviet musicologist named Aleksandra Orlova, citing unpublished evidence, asserted that Tchaikovsky was forced to kill himself by a mysterious group of men - a sort of "honor court" - who were threatening to make public his affair with a young man."

Sounds exciting! And how do I get an audition for the young man?? Randy Harrison will surely get that part (mark my words).

Nonetheless, Riedel reports that EQUUS was a "pivotal event" in the history of the Shubert Organization (1200 performances), as was AMADEUS. This Tchaikovsky could be a really huge, and could also be a major turn for an actor either well known, or unknown.

(Today's Riedel is a bi-weekly post commenting on Michael Riedel's theatre column in the New York Post. If you don't know who Michael Riedel is, you're probably not reading this blog.)

read Riedel here (registration required)  ¶ 12:17 PM 0 comments links to this post

  NEXT SEASON LINEUP CaraJoy at Full Force Theatre Musings has posted a fairly comprehensive list of shows we will likely see on Broadway next season. She's broken it down into sure things and not-so-sure things. I've broken them down into things I'm excited about, and things that might blow.

Good Things:
GREY GARDENS - maybe I'll actually get to see this
MARY POPPINS - if she's really flyin', I'm buyin'
BILLY ELLIOT - i'm not so sure we'll see this next season, but its gonna be awesome when we do
THE VERTICAL HOUR - David Hare, check. Julianne Moore, check.
LES LIASIONS DANGEREUSES - its about m-effing time. Whose gonna be in this?? Imagine the possibilities. Alan Rickman and Lindsay Duncan did it last time.
MAME - Christine Baranski?
THE COAST OF UTOPIA - this is going to be such a nerd fest!

Things That Might Blow:
ZHIVAGO - yes, the musical
HIGH FIDELITY - who thought this was a good idea??
LES MISERABLE - can you even believe it?

There are many other selections that may blow as well. Not too many plays to be excited about, but I'm sure many will be added once the season gets started.  ¶ 12:30 PM 2 comments links to this post

  THE MAUREEN STAPLETON QUOTE OF THE DAY

"You have to have blinders on and be stark raving mad to go into the theatre."

Maureen tells it like it is. That's why I love her.  ¶ 12:07 PM 0 comments links to this post

  ROADTRIP Whoa!

Just read a rumor on All that Chat that Bebe Neuwirth is doing ANYTHING GOES at the Williamstown Theatre Festival this summer. Seems likely, as she's a WTF regular and she's be Awesome in that show.

UPDATE: Nope. Sharon Lawrence will be playing Reno Sweeney in this production. And that, folks, is why you can believe almost nothing you read on All That Chat.  ¶ 10:44 PM 0 comments links to this post

  NOPRAH Playbill reports today that "Tony Awards Will Go Hostless; 60 Stars to Present at 2006 Ceremony". There's something sad about the fact that they can't find a single person whose qualified and interested in hosting the Tonys. Apparently everyone they approached has said no.

My favorite part is the executive producers statement that, "The 60th Anniversary show is bigger than just one host. So we've put together a line-up of 60 stars from the stage to lead our celebration." Ha! That's a nice way of putting it.

While Oprah rejected the offer to host, she is willing to present an award, and Riedel reports that she has insisted on presenting the award for Best Musical. This is usually the biggest award of the evening, and also one that her show THE COLOR PURPLE has been nominated for. However, isn't it going to be very awkward when she has to announce that her play didn't win? This makes me feel uncomfortable. I feel like nobody wants to tell her outright.

Op, if you can hear me?.......You're show is nice, but its not going to win best musical. Its just not. Avoid that situation entirely and settle for introducing the musical number. I'm only looking out for you. Love you.

Other names scheduled to appear include Glenn Close, Hank Azaria, Bernadette Peters, Liev Schreiber, Kyra Sedgwick, Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Eric McCormack, Ralph Fiennes, Cynthia Nixon, Martin Short, Alfre Woodward and Anna Paquin. The 2006 Tony Awards air live on CBS, June 11.

(Today's Riedel is a bi-weekly post commenting on Michael Riedel's theatre column in the New York Post. If you don't know who Michael Riedel is, you're probably not reading this blog.)

read Riedel here (registration required)  ¶ 7:00 PM 0 comments links to this post

  HELP I'm busy today, so I'm just gonna raise a topic for a future post:

Sexy Playwrights of the NY Stage......

GO!!  ¶ 1:41 PM 7 comments links to this post

  SECOND DOWN LESTAT

Closing this Sunday.

Announced 176 hours after the Tony nominations.

But seriously...is this a surprise to anyone?  ¶ 4:55 PM 0 comments links to this post

  HOT MEN OF THE THEATRE I came across playwright David Bell's blog of hot theatre guys and it made me laugh for several reasons:

1) Somebody actually keeps a blog of hot theatre guys.
2) The term "hot theatre guys" sounds like such an oxymoron.
3) Should there be a calendar?
4) If I blogged about hot theatre guys, it would sadly look very much like this.

Check it out HERE. I really enjoy when people treat the theatre industry like the rest of the world treats the film industry.

Somewhat more admirable is his quest to see 131 shows in 2006. You can read about that HERE.  ¶ 3:43 PM 7 comments links to this post

  NEW DOG, OLD TRICKS - COLUMBINUS @ NYTW The New York Theatre Workshop's current production of COMLUMBINUS plays like a cross between, The Laramie Project, Donnie Darko and the Gus Van Sant film Elephant...three projects that I thoroughly enjoyed. The trouble is that COLUMBINUS adds nothing new in its exploration of what makes teenagers behave the way they do. At the same time, the theatrical devices used feel familiar and sometimes a little cheesy. The Act 1 finale, a cinematic montage of quick vignettes from the characters private lives set to the song "Bittersweet Symphony" felt all to reminiscent of just about any teenager movie, and made me feel bad for the actors that have to perform it.

People will enjoy this show though. The cast is all clearly talented and very committed to telling this story. Their enthusiasm is entertaining in itself. To my knowledge, this story hasn't been touched on stage yet, this being seven years after the tragedy at Columbine. And the research done by the creators is admirable, including trips to Columbine, and much sifting through factual accounts.

I suspect that this will be a break-through production for the cast too. Much like those STUPID KIDS, who all went on from that show to have fruitful careers, I predict these COLUMBINUS kids will be all over the place after this show. Especially Karl Miller (pictured), who is great and is the kind of actor that you wanna see play just about any part you can think of.

UPDATE: Chuck agrees with me.  ¶ 1:11 AM 0 comments links to this post

  TODAY'S RIEDEL - 5/19 GRRR Today's Riedel touches on a subject that really pisses me off. How many Tony voters actually see all the shows that are nominated for the awards? This comes up every year, and every year I am angered by the facts. Tony voters get free choice seats to every show in town thrown at them. Two tickets to any performance they desire. I've seen these people revel in the fact that they saw sell-out shows like HAIRSPRAY from the fifth row not only when it first opened in the fall, but then again in the spring for awards season. The down side, of course is that you have to also sit through shows like IN MY LIFE or GOOD VIBRATIONS, that may not be such a thrill. BUT THAT"S YOUR JOB!!! You've been trusted with the honor of being a Tony voter. There are thousands of opinionated bloggers (i mean, people) out there who would give anything to be in that position.

What raises the issue today, is that the American theatre Wing has "chosen" not to award the Replacement Tony to anyone this year, the first year of the awards existence. The award was created to recognize an actor who has stepped into a role and given new life to a show with a noteworthy performance. Apparently, we should call this the Reba McEntire award, cause her turn in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN was the inspiration for the whole thing.

But I digress.

So Jonathan Pryce has taken over the lead in DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS from John Lithgow. He received stellar reviews for his interpretation of the role, and has given new life to the show. From all I hear, he's wonderful. At the same time, Harvey Fierstein did a turn in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF that may or may not have made the show worth seeing (I wouldn't know, as I never got to see it).

As per Riedel, The Replacement Award works like this:

"Producers submit candidates to the 24-member Tony administration committee. Three members of the committee go to see the performance; at least two of the three have to agree that it's strong enough to be considered for the award. Performers who make the grade are then submitted to the entire administration committee. To win, a performer must receive at least 16 (out of 24) votes."

And wouldn't you know, only 16 members of the committee showed up to see Pryce's performance in SCOUNDRELS. 16! Meaning every single member who saw it would have to had voted for him, and the entire concept of 2/3 majority is thrown out the window.

What the hell is wrong with these people? Is that hard to go out and see a great show? This is not a new problem. Every year it comes out that Tony voters did not see all the shows that they've voted on. They should be held accountable. Voters shouldn't be allowed to vote in categories where they have not seen all the nominees. The integrity of the award relies on it. And if voters can't make it out, the honor of being a voter should be passed on to somebody else, who'll take the job seriously.

Call me, Tony people. I'll glad suffer through the burdening task of seeing every show in town. I practically do it anyway.

(Today's Riedel is a bi-weekly post commenting on Michael Riedel's theatre column in the New York Post. If you don't know who Michael Riedel is, you're probably not reading this blog.)

read Riedel here (registration required)  ¶ 9:25 AM 3 comments links to this post

  I HAVE FRIENDS. THEY MAKE PLAYS. Taking a moment to shamelessly promote some of my friends' shows, that I have to admit I haven't seen yet. But these friends are great actors and I'm sure their work is good.

Vampire Cowboys present:
LIVING DEAD IN DENMARK
All the world's a stage, and this one's covered in blood and zombies!

written by: Qui Nquyen
director: Robert Ross Parker
fight director: Marius Hanford

MAY 4th - 21st, 2006
thurs, fri, sat, & sun @ 8pm
Center Stage, NY
48 west 21st street, 4th floor

Tickets: $18
Tickets available at www.theatermania.com or call 212-352-3101
for more information, please visit www.vampirecowboys.com

The Vampire Cowboys can do no wrong. I highly recommend anything they ever do. You've never seen fight choreography till you've seen a VC show. I swear you won't regret it.

Checkpoint Productions Presents
TWO ROOMS by Lee Blessing

May 18-20 - ALL SHOWS AT 7:30 pm

UNDER St. Marks Theatre
94 St. Marks Place between 1st Ave & Ave A.

Tickets available at www.smarttix.com or call
Smarttix at 212-868-4444.
General Admission $15
student and senior discount $12 (ID required)

This hostage drama comes at a time when America and Americans face more international resistance than ever. Though written twenty years ago, in a different world climate, Two Rooms presents startling parallels to America's current difficulties. By exploring the triangle of citizen, government, and media, it asks the question: When the latest headline becomes a personal nightmare, who can we trust?

Still relevant political drama. Hells yeah!

George F. Walker's BETTER LIVING
Directed by Tony Glazer

May 25 - June 25, 2006
Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m.,
Saturday and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

A darkly comic play about a family faced with the return of their abusive patriarch ten years after they tried to kill him. The three daughters find idiosyncratic ways to deal with their dysfunctional parents. The mother's out-of-the-ordinary ideas include taking a jackhammer to the basement floor to build a cavern where the family can live better. The father, an ex-cop, commandeers his wife's project putting the whole family into survivalist mode.

Um....Awesome. I love sad plays. And I also love Canadian plays.

There's so much to see. And tickets to each of these shows are less than $20.

No excuses folks.  ¶ 3:32 PM 0 comments links to this post

  THE MAUREEN STAPLETON QUOTE OF THE DAY Maureen's back y'all!

Maureen's daughter Kathy played a supporting role in THE GINGERBREAD LADY on Broadway, for which Maureen won her second Tony Award.

"I was thrilled to be appearing on stage with Kathy. It was a mother's dream and a daughter's nightmare. I had fun doing it; I can't speak for Kathy. I know she thought her character was incredibly whiny."

Little Kathy never acted again.  ¶ 1:08 PM 0 comments links to this post

  OH MY!!! Actors' Equity just posted a casting notice for EVIL DEAD: THE MUSICAL, which appears to be booked at New World Stages (formerly Dodger Stages) beginning in October. I kid you not. My first thought was "Oh, dear God!", but now, I'm thinking this production has some potential. The Evil Dead film trilogy has lots of appeal outside the theatre community and maybe can attract the much coveted straight male demographic. Much like SPAMALOT did on Broadway.

The Casting notice is laughable: "actors are covered/rolling in/splattered w/stage blood."

EVIL DEAD, The Musical—Equity Principal Auditions

Date of Audition
5/30-31/2006

Conceivers: George Reinblatt/Chris Bond/Frank Cipolla
Book/Lyrics: G.Reinblatt
Music: F.Cipolla
Add'l Music: Melissa Morris
Dirs: Chris Bond/Hinton Battle

1st reh: 7/3 or 7/10 in NY.
Out-of-town tryout: 8/3–9/10@Diesel Playhouse in Toronto, Canada.
Off-Broadway run: @ New World Stages, begins on/about 10/3.

Contract: Off Broadway
Category “E”, $872 Minimum Per Week.

Seeking: Eq. perf'rs: ALL ACTORS must possess EXTREME COMIC ABILITY, be strong vocalists, move very well & have great horror movie screams

All will also be req. to do some stunt & combat work—during show, actors are covered/rolling in/splattered w/stage blood.

Prepare to perform brief comic song, either pop or trad. mus. theatre, in extreme, imaginative manner.
Have 2nd, similar song ready
Also, prepare to perform best horror movie scream
Best preparation for auditioning is to watch “Evil Dead 1,” “Evil Dead 2,” & “Army of Darkness”

(You might wanna leave your character shoes at home for this one.)  ¶ 4:23 PM 0 comments links to this post

  FIRST DOWN THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARSHALL

4 hours and 12 minutes after the Tony nominations are announced.  ¶ 12:38 PM 0 comments links to this post

  HERE THEY ARE Some surprises and some omissions. I like that this is a pretty even year and no show really has a lock on anything. This should be a fun month. I've got a lot to see.

Best Play
The History Boys
The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Rabbit Hole
Shining City

Uggh. No WELL. I give up! Really glad RABBIT HOLE got a nom though. HISTORY BOYS will clearly win this anyway.

Best Musical
The Color Purple
The Drowsy Chaperone
Jersey Boys
The Wedding Singer

So WEDDING SINGER nabbed the mystery 4th spot. I guess I have to see it now.

Best Revival of a Play
Awake and Sing!
The Constant Wife
Edward Albee's Seascape
Faith Healer

Do you think FAITH HEALER can/should win this? I like A&S, but can't say that I loved it.

Best Revival of a Musical
The Pajama Game
Sweeney Todd
The Threepenny Opera

No surprises

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play
Ralph Fiennes, Faith Healer
Richard Griffiths, The History Boys
Zeljko Ivanek, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
Oliver Platt, Shining City
David Wilmot, The Lieutenant of Inishmore

Whoa! No Gabriel Byrne. I had a thought that he might come out of nowhere and win this. So much for that. Oliver Platt, huh? And where the hell is John Slattery??

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play
Kate Burton, The Constant Wife
Judy Kaye, Souvenir
Lisa Kron, Well
Cynthia Nixon, Rabbit Hole
Lynn Redgrave, The Constant Wife

Everyday I get more and more pissed that I missed CONSTANT WIFE. Damn. Glad to see Lisa Kron get this nom over Julia Roberts.

Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical
Michael Cerveris, Sweeney Todd
Harry Connick, Jr., The Pajama Game
Stephen Lynch, The Wedding Singer
Bob Martin, The Drowsy Chaperone
John Lloyd Young, Jersey Boys

I supposed this is the nail-biter of the bunch. I have no clue.

Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical
Sutton Foster, The Drowsy Chaperone
La Chanze, The Color Purple
Patti LuPone, Sweeney Todd
Kelli O'Hara, The Pajama Game
Chita Rivera, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life

How nice that Chita's performance in her special theatrical event got her a nod for actress in a musical.

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play
Samuel Barnett, The History Boys
Domhnall Gleeson, The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Ian McDiarmid, Faith Healer
Mark Ruffalo, Awake and Sing!
Pablo Schreiber, Awake and Sing!

Did you know that Pablo is Liev Schreiber's half-brother? Ian McDiarmid is really wonderful.

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play
Tyne Daly, Rabbit Hole
Frances de la Tour, History Boys
Jane Houdyshell, Well
Alison Pill, The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Zoë Wanamaker, Awake and Sing!

Wow! Alison Pill must be totally psyched right now. She just got Cherry Jones's nomination.

Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
Danny Burstein, The Drowsy Chaperone
Jim Dale, The Threepenny Opera
Brandon Victor Dixon, The Color Purple
Manoel Felciano, Sweeney Todd
Christian Hoff, Jersey Boys

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical
Carolee Carmello, Lestat
Felicia P. Fields, The Color Purple
Megan Lawrence, The Pajama Game
Beth Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone
Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, The Color Purple

Awww. LESTAT.

Best Direction of a Play
Nicholas Hytner, History Boys
Wilson Milam, The Lieutenant of Inishmore
Bartlett Sher, Awake and Sing!
Daniel Sullivan, Rabbit Hole

I'm shocked that Leigh Silverman isn't on this list!

Best Direction of a Musical
John Doyle, Sweeney Todd
Kathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game
Des McAnuff, Jersey Boys
Casey Nicholaw, The Drowsy Chaperone

If John Doyle doesn't win this, he can always win it next year with his similar production of COMPANY.

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, The Wedding Singer
Donald Byrd, The Color Purple
Kathleen Marshall, The Pajama Game
Casey Nicholaw, The Drowsy Chaperone

Yeah! PAJAMA GAME!

Best Orchestrations
Larry Blank, The Drowsy Chaperone
Dick Lieb and Danny Troob, The Pajama Game
Steve Orich, Jersey Boys
Sarah Travis, Sweeney Todd

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
The Color Purple Music & Lyrics: Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray
The Drowsy Chaperone Music & Lyrics: Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison
The Wedding Singer Music: Matthew Sklar; Lyrics: Chad Beguelin
The Woman in White Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber; Lyrics: David Zippel

Best Book of a Musical
Chad Beguelin and Tim Herlihy, The Wedding Singer
Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, Jersey Boys
Bob Martin and Don McKellar, The Drowsy Chaperone
Marsha Norman, The Color Purple

Best Scenic Design of a Play
John Lee Beatty, Rabbit Hole
Bob Crowley, The History Boys
Santo Loquasto, Three Days of Rain
Michael Yeargan, Awake and Sing!

RABBIT HOLE better have this locked down.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
John Lee Beatty, The Color Purple
David Gallo, The Drowsy Chaperone
Derek McLane, The Pajama Game
Klara Zieglerova, Jersey Boys

Best Costume Design of a Play
Michael Krass, The Constant Wife
Santo Loquasto, A Touch of the Poet
Catherine Zuber, Awake and Sing!
Catherine Zuber, Seascape

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, The Drowsy Chaperone
Susan Hilferty, Lestat
Martin Pakledinaz, The Pajama Game
Paul Tazewell, The Color Purple

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Christopher Akerlind, Awake and Sing!
Paul Gallo, Three Days of Rain
Mark Henderson, Faith Healer
Mark Henderson, The History Boys

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Ken Billington and Brian Monahan, The Drowsy Chaperone
Howell Binkley, Jersey Boys
Natasha Katz, Tarzan
Brian MacDevitt, The Color Purple

Regional Theatre Tony Award
Intiman Theatre in Seattle, WA

Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre
Harold Prince

Special Tony Award
Sarah Jones

Now, get back to work!  ¶ 9:07 AM 0 comments links to this post

  THEATRE CHRISTMAS!! Speaking of the Tony nominations, TARZAN marked the final show eligible for the awards this season. The nominations will be announced tomorrow morning by Phylicia Rashad, Natasha Richardson, and Liev Schreiber (I loves me some Phylicia Rashad).

The rules of eligibility are very specific and complicated. This blogger has taken the time to analyze the Tony Eligibility Committee's decisions in a way that I would never have time for. Check it out for some full force Tony musings. She also has some pretty right on predictions.

Oh, and you can sign up HERE to have the nominations (and probably lots of other stuff) sent to your email so you can view them with your coffee and egg sandwich tomorrow with ease.  ¶ 2:06 PM 0 comments links to this post

  NO HOPES Broadway shows are dropping like flies, and the Tony nominations have not even come out yet. RING OF FIRE closed two weeks ago, WELL closed yesterday, and now comes rumors that FESTEN will be closing this Sunday. BAREFOOT and last season's DOUBT have also announced closings. You know things are bad when they can't even hold out for the nominations. This has been a busy spring for Broadway shows, and there's been much competition for audiences and press. I expect that by the end of this week, we may see some other closing notices. Prepare!  ¶ 11:52 AM 0 comments links to this post

  THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING AWFUL The Times today reports that on May 23, live commercials will make their debut on the New York stage. STOMP will be the first production to feature a live commercial with actors presented before the show begins. Remember when commercials started appearing before movies, and you were pissed that you had to sit through them. Now imagine your feelings after paying upwards of $100 to watch them.

Sure its just STOMP, but this could lead to live commercials becoming a regular feature at all shows. After New York, the actors are heading to Pittsburgh do their commercial/skit before a production of THE PILLOWMAN. There's something terribly ironic about a corporate ad being a part of THE PILLOWMAN.

Anyways, other than the fact that actors are being employed for this, I think it totally blows. I know people will say that the theatre industry should accept funding wherever they can get it, but where do we draw the line? I was okay with corporate names on theatres (American Airlines Theatre, Hilton Theatre, Cadillac/Wintergarden Theatre), and I was uneasy about naming a specific brand of liquor in SWEET CHARITY, but I'm done being inundated with ads when I'm watching a play. I'm drawing the line here.

Read the Times article here (third story down).

Watch the live ad here.  ¶ 3:02 PM 1 comments links to this post

  THE OTHER DAY'S RIEDEL - 5/10 Since I never talk about celebrities (shut it!), I was riveted by Riedel's column the other day when he ran down the laundry list of movie stars who are lining up to work on Broadway like planes waiting to land at LaGuardia in a storm. Here's a quote from an "important theatre executive" that I found interesting:

The critics "are doing a terrible thing to this industry. Stars make Broadway exciting. They get it out of the arts pages and onto the front pages. But if they're going to get beaten up, they won't come, and this whole business is going to suffer because nobody's going to care about it."

I don't think the critics pan celebrities just for the fun of it. And to be honest, Ben Brantley's review of THREE DAYS OF RAIN did more for her superstar image than one would have expected. It was a love letter disguised as a bad review. Its sad to think that people may not care about the business, but he may have a good point. However, from the looks of things, nobody's been scared away yet:

(All this is lovingly ripped off from Riedel's column)

Robin Williams

The beloved screen comedian is definitely on the hunt for a play. He appeared on stage in New York in 1988 in a lackluster revival of WAITING FOR GODOT directed by Mike Nichols and also starring Steve Martin. Last year, there were rumors he was being wooed to step into SPAMALOT after Tim Curry left the show, but the idea never got much traction. "Robin is not going to replace anybody," says a theater insider. Word is he's looking for a "serious" play to do, but some producers wonder whether that's the right move. Says one: "The public wants to see Robin Williams do something funny. They don't want to see 'Good Will Hunting' on stage. SPAMALOT would have been the perfect vehicle." Another producer says: "He'd be great in a new play, but he'd probably make the playwright very nervous. There won't be a lot of discipline to the performance."

I disagree. I think he could be great in a serious play if he really turned off all that annoying Robin Williams stuff. In fact, he should definitely stay away from comedy on Broadway. We've seen enough.

Tom Hanks

No speculation here - the Oscar-winning actor very much wants to do a Broadway play. His wife, Rita Wilson, will make her Broadway debut this summer in CHICAGO, and it's thought Hanks will be hanging around backstage, soaking up the atmosphere (which, in a hit Broadway show like CHICAGO, can be infectious fun). In his early 20s, Hanks spent three years working at the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland, doing everything from building scenery to stitching costumes. He also won a Cleveland Critics Circle Award playing Proteus in TWO GENTLEMAN OF VERONA. No word yet on the type of play Hanks wants to do, but, because he's such a good actor, producers say he could tackle a new script rather than play it safe and do a revival.

Sure, why not?

Tom Cruise

They are faint, to be sure, but put your ear to the ground on Shubert Alley and you will pick up rumblings about Cruise making his stage debut at some point in the not-too-distant future. A well-regarded turn in a play might go a long way to restoring his credibility as a serious actor. Right now, he's both a figure of ridicule and a movie star whose box office drawing power is on the wane. "He would have to do a revival," says a producer. "It would be too risky to do new a play and be worried about the script and his performance at the same time."

Please, please don't let this happen! I begging anyone who can hear me! Make him stop, make him stop!!!!

Matt Damon

Damon appeared in the West End in Kenneth Lonergan's THIS IS OUR YOUTH a few years ago. New York theater people who saw it said he was terrific. Last year, he did a reading of a new Longergan play, HOLD ON TO ME, DARLING, about a country singer. Once again, people who saw him raved, and he came very close to doing the play but opted for a movie instead. Hollywood's booked him for the forseeable future, but he's sure to appear on stage in New York one day.


Dear Producers of the world, if there's anything I can do to make this happen any sooner, contact me. I fully support, no matter what it is: Greenberg to Strindberg. I'll even pick Matt up at the airport. I'm dedicated like that.

Nicole Kidman

Like Damon, she's busy making movies for the next few years. But every now and then you still hear she wants to do a play, probably in London's West End. And a serious play, to boot. Five years ago, she came close to starring in Ibsen's THE LADY FROM THE SEA, hardly a cakewalk, at the Almeida Theater in London, but her divorce from Cruise scuttled those plans.

Didn't we do this already?? She was naked. Wasn't it boring? I can't remember. I was too broke then to see it anyway. Incidentally, wasn't that in the Cort Theatre. Can you remember there ever being another hit show at the Cort? I can't.

(Today's Riedel is a bi-weekly post commenting on Michael Riedel's theatre column in the New York Post. If you don't know who Michael Riedel is, you're probably not reading this blog.)

read Riedel here (registration required)  ¶ 2:26 PM 1 comments links to this post

  WELL... WELL is closing this Sunday. This sucks. Y'all know how much I enjoyed and respected this show. I think its closing at a significant loss is sad for a number of reasons: last show on Broadway ever with no stars in it, Broadway not a home for innovative new theatre, producers will be less likely to take big risks, etc

Playgoer raised a couple important questions in reference to the closing of WELL.

"To save future Well's from the stigma of failure, we'd be better off asking how to engineer longer Off (or non)-Broadway runs that don't lose money; why we give so much attention to an award which only recognizes plays in theatres of 500-plus seats within five blocks of Times Square; and why we only consider a play worthy if people who don't care about theatre want to see it."

And Jayne Houdyshell's blog this week is about the saddest thing I've ever read. Particularly this post:

Mon. 5/8: This morning received a call from Liz McCaan saying that the show would close this coming Sunday. Liz said "Jayne we have been a triumph in every way except financially..... we just can’t stay open with the size of houses that we are having." It was hard to breathe..... Liz and I continued to chat for a few minutes about the current climate of Broadway, and what sells and what doesn’t, but the whole time we were chatting I kept thinking ... " my God she has to make all of these phone calls to deliver this news ... what a horrible job" ..... I hung up from Liz and immediately called Leigh... no answer.... called Lisa..... we chatted briefly.... set up a date to meet later in the day.....Deep deep sadness. This experience feels like we have been soaring artistically despite small houses.... soaring..... and instead of being able to land gently, we have been shot down mid flight. Such a hard blow, a blow dealt by a bottom line that is a hard reality in commercial theater. Later in the day I met Leigh and Lisa for a drink... the beginning of processing what we need to do in order to move into our final week ready to perform in a very present and centered way. These last 8 performances will be a gift to treasure. There is poignancy in closing on Mother’s Day. I say now to any who are reading this, please come and see our play this week if you haven’t.... if you have seen us, please tell any who may care to come, that they need to do it now. We have one more proud week at the Longacre which we will perform with gratitude and love. I look forward to it with the same deep joy and pride I have always felt in performing WELL.

Thanks to my readers who went to see WELL based on my recommendations, and took time to tell me. Who knew you people take me seriously??  ¶ 10:52 PM 0 comments links to this post

  THOSE BALLS!! The most surprising thing about the current Broadway revival of THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL, is that there's a possibility that it could have been good.

Its not good, for the record. But its not awful. Some well acted cameos and a powerful performance from Zeljko Ivanek, as Lt. Queeg, keep the show mildly entertaining, despite two very uninspired performances in the lead roles. The only thing David Schwimmer does right in this production is perform in a theatre right next door to THREE DAYS OF RAIN, where Julia Roberts's bad acting can outshine his own. And while Tim Daly doesn't suck, I can barely remember a thing he did or said, which does not bode well for his performance.

And apparently, the producers missed the memo about flashy sets helping to disguise weak shows, cause the sets here are some of the worst I've ever seen on Broadway. Pretty much two walls that rotate with a wheely platform for a witness stand. Its inconceivable that these were created by the same set designer as this season's RABBIT HOLE and COLOR PURPLE. Either John Lee Beatty spent too much time working on his other, more inspired projects, or the producers simply spent their entire budget employing 22 actors, and had no cash left for petty details.

BUT, there is one moment of pure theatrical bliss that makes the evening both memorable and satisfying. Its the kind of moment that you never quite forget, that makes the play worth the price of admission (free, in my case). When Zeljko Ivanek walks on stage as the final witness for the defense, he pretty much rips it up and takes the play home. A large part of the scene has to do with the silver balls that Queeg rolls in his hands. Without revealing too much, I'll say that Ivanek does for silver balls, what Kathleen Turner did for ice cubes in a glass in last season's VIRGINIA WOOLF.

All that being said, the only answer I can possibly come up with as to why THE CAINE MUTINY COURT-MARTIAL is being produced at all, is that the issue of questioning the competence of our leaders is so relevant to current politics. More so now than perhaps, ever. So I would applaud the production for its bold, important message, if it weren't for David Schwimmer negating that idea in a recent interview when he said, "...I don't mean that I think people will see Queeg as the equivalent of our political leaders, and I think the audience will be intelligent enough to differentiate between World War II and the current war".

Thanks David, for f-ing that up completely.

Seriously folks, some people just burn me up!  ¶ 9:00 AM 1 comments links to this post

  WORK WITH ME HERE And the award for WTF random casting of the day goes to the Berkshire Theatre Festival, who'll be presenting the Tennessee Williams classic, NIGHT OF THE IGUANA starring none other than Linda Hamilton (of Terminator fame).

Some who know me, know that Richard Burton's 1964 film version of Night of the Iguana is one of my favorite movies. I've always wanted to see a production on stage. I stopped wishing for another revival right around the time that Christian Slater starred in GLASS MENAGERIE admist the parade of Tennessee Williams massacres that went through Broadway over the past few years.

And while I can't say that I ever saw Linda Hamilton coming, I have to admit that it might be a really good idea. I'll bet she's fantastic on stage. She's got a great voice, she's hot, and she's got a strong presence that I think will resonate. And maybe she can even pull off a tough play like IGUANA, despite what light research tells me is a thin stage resume.

I'm not putting any money on that though. I'm no fool.  ¶ 10:28 PM 0 comments links to this post

  TODAY'S RIEDEL Riedel today says that LESTAT is in serious danger of closing before the Tony Awards. Watch the video to see why.

  ¶ 11:22 AM 5 comments links to this post

  "BUT....I DON'T HAVE $96.25" Neither do I, you cheap bastards.

THE HISTORY BOYS is gearing up to be the Best New Play frontrunner. They aren't papering, and rush tickets are hard to come by. What's a girl to do??

Fortunately, the BBC Radio 3 records theatre in England for the radio and THE HISTORY BOYS is up on their site for listening. You can sit in your own home (with no cell phones) and hear the play with the same cast that's performing it on Broadway.

The radio version is 2.5 hours. And I believe they've cut the show a bit for the transfer. Always need to dumb things down a bit for American audiences. Sigh.

Click HERE for Radio 3. Then click the Radio Player in the top right corner. Then click on "Arts and Drama". And finally, click The History Boys.

Note, there is lots of other good theatre stuff here to listen to as well. Why don't we record new drama here as well??  ¶ 12:34 PM 1 comments links to this post

  NEW TKTS BOOTH Check out the plans for the new and improved TKTS booth. Developers are calling it "the Spanish Steps on Steroids". The structure will be covered with a bright orange staircase where you can sit, enjoy a latte, and listen to Margie and Flo from Minnasota discuss how BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was way better last time they saw it. My normal sitting place in the district is the side steps of the Booth Theatre, pretty much because that's the only sitting place I can ever think of. Now I have options. Rejoice!!

Check out plans for the entire new Duffy Square HERE.

And as I posted earlier, you can always see what's been on the TKTS board for half price tickets HERE.

All this info is courtesy of Gothamist.  ¶ 2:40 PM 5 comments links to this post

  TODAY'S RIEDEL - 5/3 Please God.....NO!

Today, Michael Riedel mentions a horrific Tony proposition that made my skin crawl. As you know, the Tonys are coming up on June 11, and they still haven't announced a host for the awards show. Why the secrecy, you might ask? Clearly, because everyone approached has said no. Its get dicey trying to find a host who has mainstream appeal but is also (at least a little) respected in the theatre community. Per Riedel, the people being courted (begged) included Oprah, Billy Crystal, and any number of older (ooolder) hosts like Julie Andrews, Angela Lansbury or Bonnie Franklin. (HAHA...Bonnie Franklin!!!)

All that sounds somewhat acceptable. Here's where things get rough. A certain morning show host has recently made a very public (and very upsetting) move to the CBS Evening News. CBS airs the Tonys and is desperately hoping for a host that will boost ratings.

That's right, friends:


And after that, she could star in the next revival of STREETCAR

The horror.......the horror!

(Today's Riedel is a bi-weekly post commenting on Michael Riedel's theatre column in the New York Post. If you don't know who Michael Riedel is, you're probably not reading this blog.)

read Riedel here (registration required)  ¶ 12:26 PM 1 comments links to this post

  REHEARSAL VOCAB WORD OF THE DAY! por·ten·tous

adj. Full of unspecifiable significance

"Avoid the portentous pause here, which is misleading and makes you look like a bad actor."  ¶ 11:00 AM 0 comments links to this post

  NOW I'M REALLY PISSED When I wrote about THE MISTAKES MADELINE MADE last week, I hadn't yet seen it. I was angry that after receiving love letters from Variety and Time Out, the Times panned the show and now they can't bring in an audience. So much for daring new work.

Well, now I'm really pissed! Cause I've seen it. And its awesome. There are some bits of dialogue that have been bouncing around my head non-stop since I saw it several days ago. I'm tempted to quote them here, but I know I'd be paraphrasing and it wouldn't be right. I'll just say that Elizabeth Meriwether's writing deals with pain in ways that have me still squirming in my seat...ways that make me want to cry...and ways that have not been dealt with before. Marilyn Stasio of Variety said, "Meriwether's gift as a playwright is her ability to take what is familiar and real and view it through the distorted lens of absurdism..."THE MISTAKES MADELINE MADE" takes a good hard look at how the world appears to a generation of smart young kids. From a safe distance, the picture is savagely funny. But when you get close enough, it looks like hell."

There are no weak links in the cast either. Playing the lead role, is Laura Heisler (she was the girl from EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT, in case that means something to you). I would say that this girl is going places, but judging from her bio, she's already been places. She's great and I'll see anything she ever does from now on. Also, Ian Brennan pops up here, totally adorable and quirky as Edna's co-worker Wilson, who "is the poster boy for a generation of kids who have been educated for dead-end jobs in a society that no longer has any honest work to offer them" (Stasio).

I haven't told you much about the plot. If you want details, read the great reviews in Variety or Time Out

DO NOT however read Jason Zinoman's bad review from the NY Times. Not only does he misquote the play, but he also takes cheap shots at playwright, saying her work "seems to be trying to overcome the impression that they are merely stunts dreamed up in a half-serious bull session at a party in Williamsburg". (Is this really a Times review? It is.)

So consider this an official ROCCO BLOWS WG/WBINYT recommendation. I swear again, I have no connection to this show.

Tickets are $35 on Smartix.com, which is more than any of you can afford, I know. So here's two ways to go cheaper. Use code "EDNA" at Smartix for $20 tickets to any performance. Or, they have $10 cash-at-the-door Tuesday night performances.

THE MISTAKES MADELINE MADE runs till May 13th at The Culture Project @ 45 Bleecker Street. More info HERE.  ¶ 11:28 PM 0 comments links to this post

  OMG ROCCO!! WILL YOU JUST SHUT UP AT ABOUT "WELL " ALREADY?!? No. Here's one of the most important reasons why WELL needs to be supported. Producer, Liz McCann said this in an open email from Lisa Kron.

"If WELL closes there will never be another show on Broadway without a star in it. There will be only star vehicles or British imports. She said, if this show closes what it will mean is that Broadway is not a home for new American plays. And then where will the next Albee come from, the next O'Neill, or the next Williams?"

And its true. I know I harp on movie stars a lot. But what actually bothers me is that there must be a celebrity in a show for it to have a chance of succeeding. And often, it doesn't matter so much how appropriate this actor is for the part (see: CAINE MUTINY). The producers of WELL have taken a huge gamble on the theory that an exciting new American play with talented cast, that has recieved stellar reviews can draw and audience. And it pains me to even consider the fact that they may have been wrong.

Discounts still available HERE. If you follow the link and put in for balcony seats, you can get a ticket for just $26.50. (And I hear they may move you down...shhh. Don't tell)  ¶ 2:39 PM 0 comments links to this post

  FREE TONY'S Pretty cool contest on Playbill.com right now. All you gotta do is check a box and give away some of your precious personal information.

The prize is a free trip to the Tony's, plus tickets to all the nominated musicals.

Enter HERE

(if you win, you have to take me)  ¶ 1:56 PM 2 comments links to this post

  EDDIE TRAVELS If you're like me, and you stay up nights wondering what exactly Edward Albee is doing right this minute, you'll be pleased to hear he's been doing some traveling recently. The NY Times Travel section printed his article on his trip to Easter Island yesterday.

This is not exactly theatre news, but since anything Albee writes should be treated as The Word, this might be worth a lunch time read.

Read it HERE

And did you know that Mr. Albee must personally approve the cast of any production of his plays? The producers are required to send him headshots and resumes. Can you imagine hearing that you have the job pending the personal approval of Mr. Albee? Yikes.  ¶ 10:44 AM 1 comments links to this post