Archives for: March 2009
3/31/09 [updated 6:21PM EST]
By Andy Propst on Mar 31, 2009 | In Days Top News | Send feedback »
AmericanTheaterWeb
Digest - New Musical Happiness Debuts - read the reviews
Digest - Camargo Opens TFANA Hamlet - read the reviews
Variety
Cast set for 'The Fantasticks'
McCormack, Grabeel, Groener to star
Playbill
* STYX and REO Speedwagon Stars Will Crash Broadway's Rock of Ages April 27
TheaterMania
* Raúl Esparza, David Hyde Pierce, Chita Rivera, Tom Wopat, and More Set for Kander & Ebb Celebration
* Bob Balaban, Brian Cox, Jeff Perry to Star in L.A. Theatre Works' Art
* New York Pops to Honor Michael Feinstein, Premiere Work by Stephen Flaherty
amNY New York City Theater
Ivo van Hove to Stage "The Little Foxes" for NYTW
Ivo van Hove, who has staged controversial revivals of "Hedda Gabler" and "The Misanthrope" for New York Theatre Workshop, will direct a new production of Lillian Hellman's "The Little Foxes" next season for the Off-Broadway theater company. Beforehand, it will host a reading of the play on April 6 with Elizabeth Marvel, Jessica Hecht, Portia, Christopher Evan Welch, Thomas Jay Ryan, Zach Grenier, Lisa Joyce, and Curzon Dobell.
Back Stage - Blog Stage
Time Out New York Upstaged Blog
The Toxic Avenger: The Kaufman Cometh II
More from Lloyd Kaufman about The Toxic Avenger
Playbill
* "Someday I'll Find You": Ebersole Will Record Blithe Spirit Interlude Songs for CD
* Kritzerland Will Release Remastered Illya Darling on Disc in May
* Stage Versions of Orwell Works Will Play London Starting June 8
TheaterMania
* Jim Dale, Melissa Errico, Tovah Feldshuh, Nellie McKay, and More Set for Broadway for a New America
* Joe DiPietro Set for Art of Murder Talkback
Broadway.com
Miles C. Wilken Named CEO of Broadway Across America
Cleveland Plain Dealer On Stage Blog
Beck Center in Lakewood might shut down without needed $150,000
Beck administrators are trying to raise $150,000 by the end of...
BBB-Blogger
* GET TO KNOW THE CAST OF THE NORMAN CONQUESTS: PAUL RITTER
The Artful Manager
What if I WANT to be a passive audience?
As arts organizations around the world retool their experiences to foster engagement, connection, participation, and audience interaction, the parody newspaper The Onion reminds us that these may not be universally welcomed innovations. The mock report describes the horror of theater attendees as performers break the fourth wall, leave the stage, and attempt to connect with them directly:
diacritical
The Next Newspaper Casualty?
The latest newspaper to teeter to the edge of existence is the Chicago Sun-Times, which has just filed for bankruptcy, joining a half dozen other major papers: ...
The Fortress of Jason Grote
Two Shows That Renewed My Faith In Theater
I don't think it's any kind of secret that I've been considering hanging up playwriting lately. I'm probably not going to actually do so; I'm more likely to spend a couple of years mixing it up with non-theater projects than I am to leave for good. The fact is, I never set out to exclusively write plays anyway.
The Mirror up to Nature
No Life Preserver for Madison Rep
When the now closed Madison Rep was going under it reached for a lifeline from an endowment foundation ...
On Theatre and Politics
United States of Sheila
Congrats to Sheila Callaghan, who just landed a sweet gig!
The Rob Kozlowski Chicago Theater and Vintage Film Medicine Show
Porchlight Music Theatre's 2009-2010 Season
Porchlight Music Theatre announced their 2009-2010 season today, and how time flies! Next season is the musical company's 15th anniversary and they are promoting the season as one of "Songs of Innocence and Experience." One thing I'm always looking out for are economically-motivated ...
The Stage UK
South Shields and Worthing latest resorts to win seaside culture cash
South Shields and Worthing are among the latest coastal resorts to be given government cash to help boost their theatre and culture offering.
Whitley Bay Playhouse to be run by international stadium company SMG
International venue operator SMG, which manages some of the largest stadiums and arenas in the UK and US, looks set to take over the running of the 650-seat Whitley Bay Playhouse near Newcastle.
European ministers block copyright term extension
Proposals to almost double the term of copyright protection for musicians on sound recordings were dealt a blow last week, when European ministers in the Committee of Permanent Representatives failed to agree on a deal.
MIDDAY ADDITIONS
amNY New York City Theater
John Stamos Expected to Star in "Bye Bye Birdie"
It looks like John Stamos will play Albert Peterson, the role originated by Dick Van Dyke, in the Roundabout's forthcoming revival of "Bye Bye Birdie." He even revealed to E! News that he will be in the show. 20 years earlier, he would have been a perfect candidate for Conrad. But Albert? Stamos has appeared in two previous Roundabout productions: as a replacement Emcee in "Cabaret" and as a replacement Guido in "Nine."
Hartford Courant Behind the Curtain Blog
Bresnahan as Hamlet's Mom
Alyssa Bresnahan, a fave Hartford Stage actress (Maggie in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," Stella in "Streetcar Named Desore"), is in the off-Broadway production of "Hamlet," which just got a glowing review from Charles Isherwood of the New York Times.
Village Voice La Daily Musto Blog
Is Susan Sarandon The Humblest Star on Broadway?
AmericanTheaterWeb
Review - To Whom It May Concern
Battle Scars Breed Surprising Friendship
Playbill
* Eccleston, Stephens and More Join Gillian Anderson for New Donmar Adaptation of Doll's House
* Eisenhower, Haas, Bonetti, Fannin Reveal Criminal Hearts in Philly, March 31-April 19
* At Steppenwolf, Things Are Looking Up for Osage County's Ian Barford
TheaterMania
* Spike Lee's Passing Strange Documentary to Play Tribeca Film Festival
* Suzzanne Douglas, Paula Kelly, Dawnn Lewis, and More Set for L.A. Crowns
* Rambo Solo Extends at Soho Rep Through April 19
Orlando Sentinel Attention Must Be Paid Blog
Shylock's Revenge tonight at History Center
Actors and lawyers together -- oh my! That's the plan for Shylock's Revenge, a mock appeal tied to Orlando Shakespeare Theater's production of The Merchant of Venice. It's happening tonight in the old courtroom at the Orange County Regional History...
The Producer's Perspective
What I learned from Rocco DiSpirito.
At the NY Emmy Awards on Sunday night, I was lucky enough to find myself at a table with a few fine folk, including soap star Colleen Zenk Pinter, ROA's Constantine Maroulis, and the Celeb Chef, Rocco DiSpirito.
Stage Banter: The Arena Stage Blog
The buzz about Maureen
Tonight might be the official opening night, but the preview audience is already buzzing about Maureen's performance in A Long and Winding Road. Here's a sampling of their reactions...
Daily Telegraph
The moment we've been waiting for
It's a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical event: Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart are on stage together in Waiting For Godot. They discuss how this casting to die for came about.
The Guardian
Dear Russia: the plays are the thing
Russia should start promoting its wonderful classic theatre abroad, where it is virtually unknown, writes Noah Birksted-Breen
Whatsonstage.com
Telegraph Critic's Orwell Play Gets West End Debut
Nicholas de Jongh, soon to be ex-Evening Standard, won’t be the only newspaper theatre critic with a play in the West End this year. Coming Up for Air - the stage version of George Orwell’s 1939 novel of the ...
MID-MORNING ADDITIONS
Hartford Courant Behind the Curtain Blog
Cohen Now Staging "Tom Sawyer
Jeremy Cohen has switched directing assignments.
Cohen, associate artistic director of Hartford Stage, was slated to direct this season "Gee's Bend," a theatrical work about African-American women who create magnificent quilts. Then the production was pushed onto the 2009-10 season.
A "Motherhood" of a Show
Jane Anderson, Theresa Rebeck, Bridget Carpenter and "a host of female writers" are contributing to a new theatrical work centering on the theme of motherhood, tenatively titled -- what else? -- "Motherhood."
Playbill
* Finian's Rainbow Star Kate Baldwin Sings "Alphabet City Cycle," Released Digitally
TheaterMania
* Alexander Gemignani, Judy Kuhn, Joanna Merlin to Help CAP21 Salute Charles Strouse
On Theatre and Politics
GO GET 'EM
Can Americans of the Arts convince Congress to make the NEA's appropriations slightly higher than the retention bonuses paid out at AIG? Stay tuned!
Rob Kozlowski Chicago Theater and Vintage Film Medicine Show
Exodus
I'm writing this Monday night as my Spring Break comes to a close. As of this writing, there are 101 comments on Chris Jones's blog post regarding the mass exodus from American Theater Company.
The Stage UK - Blogs
Mark Shenton: Reading the grosses… and seeing the signs…
Yesterday I mentioned one Broadway sport: checking out the number of producers on a show’s billing. That’s where the money comes from, of course; but the other favourite sport is watching the money coming back in - or not....
THE DAY'S FIRST TOP STORIES
New York Times
A Signature Shuffle Enjoys a New Life
Bernard Purdie, the drummer who created the funky little miracle of syncopation known as the Purdie Shuffle, is playing for the Broadway revival of “Hair.”
amNY New York City Theater
Interview with Gavin Creel on Playing Claude in "Hair"
Back Stage
Four Heads with 'Hair'
Just over four decades since it first offered a message of peace, love, and freedom for a troubled era, Hair has returned to Broadway.
Hartford Courant
Hartford Stage Gets $500,000 Grant To Stage Horton Foote's Epic 'Cycle'
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is giving Hartford Stage a $500,000 grant to help stage the world premiere of "The Orphans' Home Cycle," the late Horton Foote's reconfiguring of his nine-play epic, described as an American "Odyssey."
Playbill
* Pasquale's Debut Album and Sleeping Beauty Wakes Get Digital, Web Release March 31
TheaterMania
Rock On!
Constantine Maroulis, Amy Spanger and the cast of Rock of Ages give a sneak peek at the new Broadway musical!
Broadway.com
Interview: 9 to 5 star Marc Kudisch on playing Broadway's biggest S.O.B.
Variety
Broadway weekly sales down
Weekly sales at most Broadway shows slipped last week -- although the overall cume held fairly steady, thanks to big gains by two strong-selling new offerings.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Director Ruggiero, St. Louis Rep are Kline Awards' big winners
The Rob Kozlowski Chicago Theater and Vintage Film Medicine Show
A Red Orchid Theatre's 2009-2010 Season
Lemme tell you something. When I get nominated for an Academy Award, I'm pretty much going to pretend I never met all the little people I've ever known. That's the kind of guy I am. But Michael Shannon? No way. He's a better guy than me, I'll admit it.
Providence Journal
Comedies coming to Second Story
Two popular comedies are coming to Warren’s 2nd Story Theatre this summer. Director Ed Shea has announced that his Market Street theater will stage Kaufman and Hart’s You Can’t Take It With You on July 8, and that beginning Aug. 12, it will offer performances of the Mary Chase classic, Harvey, about affable Elwood P. Dowd and his companion, a 6 1/2-foot invisible rabbit.
Los Angeles Times Culture Monster Blog
Herbert Hoover, puppets, Native American plays and Alfred Hitchcock coming to La Jolla
Gov. Jindal exorcizes arts funds from Louisiana budget
When Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal gave the now-infamous televised Republican response to President Obama's Congressional address in February, he mocked the inclusion of "something called 'volcano monitoring' " in the economic stimulus bill. "Instead of monitoring volcanoes," Jindal said, "what Congress should be monitoring is the eruption of spending in Washington."
diacritical
The New TV Journalism?
Where are all those laid off journalists going? Why to TV of course...
The Guardian Performing Arts Blog
It's about time young people took centre stage
I can't wait for this abundance of youth centred theatre
Daily Telegraph
'Mystery bear' in Suffolk forest was actor in Shakespeare's 'A Winter's Tale'
A mystery 'bear' spotted roaming a Suffolk forest was actually an actor in costume to promote an outdoor production of Shakespeare's 'A Winter's Tale'.
Whatsonstage.com
Musicals Extend: Blood Brothers, Lion King, Sunset
Several West End musicals – long-runners The Lion King and Blood Brothers::E891871907 and more recent arrival Sunset Boulevard - have announced extensions to their booking periods. At the Comedy Theatre, the Watermill’s actor-musician r...
London Theatre Guide
Stratford East stages Africa-set dramas
Two new plays exploring contemporary African life, Paul Sirett’s Bad Blood Blues and Mpumelelo Paul Grootboom’s Foreplay, are to be staged at the Theatre Royal Stratford East this spring.
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