Archives for: February 2009, 25
2/25/09 [updated 11:55PM EST]
By Andy Propst on Feb 25, 2009 | In Days Top News | Send feedback »
NIGHTTIME ADDITIONS
Associated Press
Festival Considers O'Neill in the 21st Century
For someone who was written off as passe long before he died in 1953, Eugene O'Neill still has an uncanny ability to grab headlines and spark debate among theater critics.
Jeremy Piven Plans to Attend Grievance Hearing
Jeremy Piven will again be center stage in New York.
Playbill
* Holbrook to Perform Mark Twain Tonight! at Playhouse Square
* Actors' Equity and the LORT Reach Tentative Agreement
* PHOTO CALL: First Look at Remake of Movie Musical "Fame"
LATE AFTERNOON ADDITIONS
Edge New York
’Our Town’ hits Off BroadwayBy Leonard JacobsScott Morfee is not afraid of risks. The commercial producer who operates Off-Broadway’s Barrow Street Theatre, opens David Cromer’s revival of Thornton Wilder’s "Our Town," based on the director’s widely acclaimed Chicago revival by the Hypocrites, with a New York cast this Friday.
Hartford Courant Behind the Curtain Blog
Wesleyan's Thomas Kail Now Hot Director
Wesleyan grad Thomas Kail, who directed the Tony Award-winning musical "In the Heights" on Broadway (that show began at Wesleyan, too), will stage the Encores! production of "The Wiz" this summer in New York for a three-week run, June 12 to July 3.
"Mockingbird" Breaks Box Office Record
It's two days before the opening of Hartford Stage's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (it's in previews now), but the show has already become the largest grossing production in the theater's history.
Los Angeles Times Culture Monster Blog
Monster Mash: Breaking news and headlines
-- You are what you view: Are Broadway theatergoers getting more sophisticated and intellectual?
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Acting Out Blog
Door Shakespeare Scales Back Its 2009 Season
Our crippled economy affects theater companies in all kinds of ways. For Door Shakespeare, the impact is indirect but significant. The Bailey's Harbor summer troupe is cutting the number of its productions from two to one and the length of its season from six weeks to three because artistic director Jerry Gomis, one half of the married couple team that runs Door Shakes, lost his day job with a financial services firm last fall.
Orange County Register The Arts Blog
Update on ‘Rent’ dispute in Corona del Mar
The dispute at Corona del Mar High School over the cancellation of a production of “Rent” continues to simmer — and attract national attention.
Phillyist
Whiz of the Web: Wednesday Whiz-Up
...In other Marvel news, Kenneth Branagh's Thor will hit theaters on July 16, 2010, and Iron Man 2 will begin principal photography in early April.
TheaterMania
* Theodore Bikel, Sheldon Harnick and More to Celebrate Sholom Aleichem's Birthday
MID-AFTERNOON ADDITIONS
amNY New York City Theater
Body Image Video from "Reasons to be Pretty"
Back Stage - Blog Stage
Andrew Salomon: Bumbling on the Bayou
Though this is slightly off the beaten path that actors normally travel, it's important to study and consider the effectiveness of politicians in the realm of public speaking. Some used to feel this was given too much weight, particularly when President Ronald Reagan displayed his mastery throughout the 1980s. Since Reagan, however, stagecraft has become a principal element of how we judge (fairly and unfairly) the elected.
Time Out New York Upstaged Blog
David Cote: Casting Call: John Gallagher Jr. for Spider-Man
Playbill
* Tin Pan Alley Rag, Filled With the Music of Joplin and Berlin, to Get NYC Bow
* Chicago's About Face Postpones Show, Launches Emergency Fundraising Campaign
TheaterMania
* Mattie Hawkinson to Join William L. Petersen in Victory Gardens Blackbird
* Itamar Moses' Love/Stories Extends at the Flea Through March 30
Broadway.com
Video: Blasphemers & believers laugh together in The Savannah Disputation
lies like truth
The San Francisco Fringe Festival Goes Corporate?
I don't remember much about my visit to Andorra, the postage stamp-sized, landlocked principality located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. My family drove through the place one day when I was a teenager on our way to somewhere else. We stopped for about an hour. There were a lot of stores selling tax-free gold jewelry. And there was snow on the ground. About Andorra I can't recall much else...
The Mirror up to Nature
The Lieutenant is Dismissed
The Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles announced that it will be "postponing" their production of Martin McDonagh's The Lieutenant of Inishmore.
Pirate Dog
Dancing along the Avon
Last week, the charming hip-hopper Akala (a familiar presence on YouTube) launched the Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company, which aims to explore poetry and lyricism in both contemporary music and traditional theatre. ...
The Producer's Perspective
How To Get A Producer To Read Your Script.
As someone who gets a minimum of 10 script submissions a week, I can tell you first hand that I know how hard it is to get a Producer to read your script and give it even 1/10th of the time and energy that you gave when you wrote it.
MID-DAY ADDITIONS
New York Magazine Vulture Blog
Star Wars: A Musical Journey to Invade Our Galaxy
Will Ferrell may be single-handedly keeping Broadway's lights on now, but who will be the savior of serious-minded theater after You're Welcome America closes on March 15? Maybe Darth Vader! The insane makers of Star Wars: A Musical Journey have announced tentative plans to bring the show to America sometime after its April premiere in London. [Rolling Stone]
Playbill
* Arena's 2009-10 Season Will Boast Piazza, Quality of Life, Stick Fly, Hines and More
* L.A.T.W.'s This Is Our Youth to Feature Ruffalo, Hamilton and Yager
TheaterMania
* Estelle Parsons to Be Honored at Women's Project Gala
* Nick Mennell, Greg Mullavey, Armin Shimerman, and More Set for L.A. Misalliance
* Jackie Hoffman, Nellie McKay, and More Set for Big Gay Variety Show
* Keith Carradine and Marlo Thomas to Star in George Street's New Year's Eve
Whatsonstage.com
ACE Slashes Quarter of its Workforce by April 2010
Arts Council England has announced it will reduce its staff numbers by 24 percent in order to meet the government’s requirement that it saves 15 percent on its grant in aid administration costs by 2010. A representative of ACE confirme...
London Theatre Guide
The Big Interview: Nigel Planer
He made his name on television and is known for satirising theatrical stereotypes, yet Nigel Planer is a stage actor through and through, finds Caroline Bishop.
THE DAY'S FIRST TOP STORIES
New York Post
Riedel: Piven's poisonal plea
Going before B'way union to defend 'sushi sickness'
Bloomberg.com
Irons Tries Love, Sarandon Gets Jitters Returning to Stage: Broadway Buzz
Looking tall and lithe in a leather vest, pants tucked into motorcycle boots and sporting a vaguely ethnic scarf for warmth and color, Jeremy Irons talked about his return to Broadway.
New York Times ArtsBeat Blog
Answers About Broadway, Part 2
Ken Bloom and Frank Vlastnik, authors of the newly revised "Broadway Musicals: The 101 Greatest Shows of All Time," answered readers' questions about Broadway's history: the best, the overrated and the overlooked.
New York Daily News
Munchkin hopefuls strut stuff at Garden seeking part in 'Oz' play
Hopping around in rainbow-striped, knee-high socks and neon green T-shirts, Munchkin hopefuls did patty-cake dance steps and sang "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead."...
Variety
'Sleepwalk' extends run
Off Broadway show set through June 7
Playbill
* Songwriters Hall of Fame to Honor Schwartz, MacDermot, Rado and Ragni
TheaterMania
Peter Filichia's Diary: Miller and His Music
So here’s John Miller, who grew up playing guitar, singing folk music, worshipping Pete Seeger and Janis Ian. And what songs does he choose to sing on his first-ever CD?
Associated Press
NY Post Drops Legendary Gossip Columnist Liz Smith
The New York Post is dropping Liz Smith's column this week to save money, leaving the legendary gossip columnist without a newspaper home in the city for the first time in 33 years. ''I'm very sorry that that has come to an end, and that I wasn't valuable enough for them to keep me on,'' the 86-year-old Smith said Tuesday.
Washington Post
Kennedy Center Welcomes 'Alive From Palestine'
George Ibrahim tugs down at the top of his turtleneck and points to the bare skin of his throat. "This," he says in accented English, "is what kasaba means in Arabic. Center of breathing. Center of life."
Backstage: Arena Stage Is Singing Quite a Few Broadway Tunes
Two shows nurtured by Arena Stage are about to open on Broadway, as the theater company itself heads into a second full season away from its home in Southwest Washington. Arena's voluntary exile continues while the campus undergoes a $125 million renovation.
Edge Boston
Actor Shakespeare’s Ben Evett Gets Political
Boston’s Actors’ Shakespeare Project gets political with their newest production -- the little-seen "Coriolanus" -- that will be shown in an unusual venue: a National Guard armory in Somerville. EDGE spoke to ASP’s artistic director Benjamin Evett about the company and his starring role in the new production.
Chicago Tribune
South Shore Cultural Center face-lift draws smiles
Cleveland Plain Dealer On Stage Blog
Ensemble Theatre cancels rest of season; JCC to cut back theater programming next season
The economy continues to wreak its damage. Ensemble Theatre, which has had precarious financial footing for years, has canceled its two remaining shows of the season, Nilo Cruz's "Beauty of the Father" and August Wilson's "Radio Golf," both of which...
Theatre Jones
Role of Critics
Is there a diff between critics and reviewers? Thumbs up on that.
Los Angeles Times Culture Monster Blog
First family of arts lovers
Barack and Michelle Obama and their daughters spent the evening of Feb. 6 in the presidential box at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., applauding the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Evidently, it was the first family’s idea of a fun Friday night out.
Taper postpones 'Lieutenant of Inishmore'
The economy has claimed another play: Center Theatre Group is postponing until next year Martin McDonagh’s “The Lieutenant of Inishmore,” part of its 2009 season at the Mark Taper Forum. Rather than name a show to take its place, the Taper will go dark after David Mamet’s “Oleanna” closes in July, CTG artistic director Michael Ritchie told Culture Monster.
Pasadena's Boston Court theater eliminates unintended freebies
Sorry cheapskates, but there will be no more free lunch, er, seat at the Theatre @ Boston Court. It'll now cost $5 for a ticket to the bargain matinee at the Pasadena theater.
San Francisco Chronicle
Sex, Art And Dance
Onetime Warhol Factory superstar Penny Arcade finally brings her "Bitch! Dyke! Faghag! Whore!" - a hit in 22 cities around the globe since 1990 - to San Francisco.
'Chad' Speaks
"High School Musical" star Corbin Bleu talks about ice skating, hair and performing for the Obama girls.
The Stage UK
Exclusive: Fresh air for Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Andrew Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group is seeking planning permission to install air conditioning into the Theatre Royal Drury Lane as part of a scheme that is expected to cost in excess of £1 million.
The Stage UK - Blogs
Newsblog: Bristol Old Vic: In Safe Hands?
So, Bristol Old Vic has found itself a new artistic director . Tom Morris strikes me as a pretty fantastic choice. As a director he has a foot in both camps - large scale and small scale - and...
The Guardian Performing Arts Blog
Lyn Gardner: Tom Morris's role at Bristol Old Vic is crucial for all regional theatres
The beleaguered playhouse has a talented new artistic director. I wish him luck because his performance will affect theatres across the land
Daily Telegraph
Miners back Margaret Thatcher funeral play
While the BBC has already provoked controversy with its drama Margaret, an account of Baroness Thatcher's downfall which will be broadcast tomorrow, the criticism is likely to pale into insignificance compared with the rumpus that is expected to greet a play coming to the London stage later this year.
Whatsonstage.com - Off-West End & Fringe
After Doroteia, The Flies & Void Story Grace the London Stage this Spring
StoneCrabs Theatre presents the UK premiere of After Doroteia (26 – 28 March), a play adapted from Nelson Rodrigues’ Doroteia . Written and directed by Franko Figueiredo, After Doroteia centres on a young man who leaves home and returns years later as Doroteia.
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