Archives for: April 2009, 30
4/30/09 [updated 3:42PM EST
By Andy Propst on Apr 30, 2009 | In Days Top News
AmericanTheaterWeb
ATW Digest - Accent on Youth opens on B'way - read the reviews UPDATED
* Review: 1930's Showbiz Comedy Mildly Amuses
MID-AFTERNOON ADDITIONS
New York Times ArtsBeat Blog
Anthony Page of 'Waiting for Godot' Teaches Us How to Pronounce Its Title
As the artistic director at the Royal Court Theater in London at various times from 1964 through 1973, Mr. Page worked with Beckett on the first British revival of "Godot."
Julie White Joins 'Twelfth Night'
Watch your back, Viola! Julie White, of "The Little Dog Laughed" fame (or is that infamy?) is joining the cast of the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production of "Twelfth Night"
BackStage
Labor Pains
Giving birth to a character in a new show has long been one of Alice Ripley's ambitions.
Star-Ledger
Allison Janney working overtime on '9 to 5'
Playbill
* Minor Gods, U.S. Play About Genetics, Sexuality and Passion, Gets Dublin Gay Fest Run
TheaterMania
* Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Feinstein, Natalie Toro, Jimmy Webb, et al. Added to Feinstein's Schedule
* Vaginal Davis Wins 2009 Ethyl Eichelberger Award
* Foothills Theatre to Close Following Production of Doubt
Dog Days
Making Art - Making Community - Making Cents
Three experiences converged into one idea for me this week: if the arts can be viewed as a part of the solution to social problems they will increase their standing in the hierarchy of public causes.
lies like truth
On The Horizon
Summer's on the doorstep so I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight a few Bay Area performing arts events that I'm excited about:
Live Design Online
Broadway Projection Master Classes Focus On Rock Of Ages
Zachary Borovay, who will be featured at the Live Design Broadway Projection Master Classes in New York, discusses images for Rock Of Ages.
Whatsonstage.com
Calendar Author Reveals Naked Truth at WOS Q&A
Theatregoers on our Whatsonstage.com Outing last night (29 April 2009) to Calendar Girls at the West End’s Noel Coward Theatre were treated to a highly illuminating insight into the dramatisation of the true story when they were joined by author Tim ...
Feature: Brief Encounter With...Nicholas Le Prevost
Nicholas Le Prevost is currently appearing in The Last Cigarette at Trafalgar Studios, adapted from playwright Simon Gray's Smoking Diaries. In the production, which premiered at the Chichester Minerva theatre back in March, he shares to role of Gray with Jasper Britton and Felicity Kendal. Le Prevost's other recent stage credits include Uncle Vanya, Wild Duck and My Fair Lady, for which he was nominated for an Olivier award in 2002.
MIDDAY ADDITIONS
Village Voice La Daily Musto Blog
Bea Arthur's Boobies
This eye popping 1991 artwork by John Currin was unearthed by my friend Vodka Stinger in a random google image search of late Golden Girl Beatrice Arthur. I have no idea why Bea's knockers are hanging...
Playbill
* Lincoln-Douglas Debates Revived in Irish Rep's The Rivalry, Starting May 15
* Boomers Reading to Feature Brown, Freeman, Larsen and More
* Adirondack Season Has New Works by Gwon, Corley, Lewis, Fawcett, Corley, Manton & Clue
* Finneran, Light, Bacon and Waterston Set for Children at Westport and Williamstown
* Broadway Musicals of 1944 to Feature Michals, McMahon, Yazbeck, Jones and Sullivan
* Las Vegas Shear Madness Will Begin Performances May 5
* Soundtrack for "Big Gay Musical," with McCartney, Newman, Thomas, Ward, Due This Summer
TheaterMania
* Jeb Brown, Cheryl Freeman, Liz Larsen, and More Set for Boomers Reading
* Judith Light, Katie Finneran, Mary Bacon, James Waterston to Star in Children
* Kathy Brier, Kassie DePaiva, Bobbie Eakes to Appear at St. George Theatre
BroadwayWorld.com
* Peter Mills: Off-Broadway's Golden Boy
* Playpen Holds 5th New Play Development Conference 7/10-7/26 In Philadelphia
* BWW TV Exclusive: 'LIVE with REGIS and KELLY' Celebrates 'On Broadway Week' on BWW!
Culturebot
Gabbing about Arts Funding
Come on down tonight and listen to me gab about alternative arts funding - specifically, about the project I work on called FEAST - http://www.feastinbklyn.org/
Live Design Online
Concept Design Productions Gives Away Free Sets
So last month Concept Design Productions contacted me about its “Holy Cow, It’s A Free Set” Contest, where one of the company’s existing clients gets free set rentals. Sure enough, the company has announced its first winner. Jason Wanderer from Precision Event Group in Beverly Hills, CA took the first booty.
Parabasis
One Quick Question
A lot of ink has been spilled and voices raised declaring that the Nonprofit Arts system will soon collapse. Perhaps in 25 years, we won't have the nonprofit theater anymore, we'll have some new model. or people talk about how the Nonprofit System is Holdin' Us Back, Man!
The Producer's Perspective
How to invest in a Broadway show. Part I
I've gotten a lot of questions from readers all over the world expressing interest in investing in a Broadway or an Off-Broadway show. Usually they are are unsure about how to get involved, and more importantly, they want to know how to pick their first show.
How to invest in a Broadway show. Part II
Yesterday we dispelled some of the rumors associated with investing in Broadway shows. Today, we'll step through my checklist of how you should go about deciding whether or not to invest in a particular project.
On the Boards
Want to hear about our 09/10 season first? Or win fabulous OtB goodies?
That’s right - we’re almost ready to let you all know what wild things will be on our stages in 09/10. We’ll be announcing the full line-up soon, but while we wait for that day we’ll be giving away tons of OtB goodies on this here blog.
The Guardian Performing Arts Blog
West End girl: Broadway falls for Billy Elliot
Billy Elliot has danced his way into Manhattanites' hearts – and looks set to return with a sackful of gongs. Plus, is Beyoncé ready for Broadway and Gareth Gates for Les Misérables?
Natalie Abrahami: Why are we afraid of auteurs?
British theatre is terrified of the word 'auteur', but we need these bold directors to keep our classic plays alive
Whatsonstage.com
Norton Misses More La Cage Due to Rib Injuury
Graham Norton is set today's two performances of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre following a rib injury he sustained on Sunday evening. Norton, who is due to finish his stint as Albin/Zaza on Saturday (2 May...
THE DAY'S FIRST TOP STORIES
New York Times
Arts, Briefly: State Department and BAM Share a Program
Taking Subway Directions, Literally, From a Song of the City
In honor of the 110th anniversary of Duke Ellington’s birth, the orchestra that bears his name took the A train.
Connecticut Post
Broadway star leads workshop on unlocking creativity
Just call her Susan the Vampire Slayer. A "vampire," in actress and workshop leader Susan Blackwell's case, is the anxiety and the fear of self-exposure that can stifle creativity in artists or...
Variety
Fisher's 'Drinking' sets Broadway run
Carrie Fisher's "Wishful Drinking" has nailed down its Broadway run, with the solo show to be presented by the Roundabout Theater Company at Studio 54 in the fall.
Ashanti to play Dorothy in 'Wiz'
R&B diva set for Encores! musical
BackStage
No Longer 'Chasing' Roles
Jane Alexander and Lynn Cohen frankly admit they've never tackled roles like those in Tina Howe's new tragicomedy 'Chasing Manet'.
Live Design Online
Landmarks In New York Honored
The New York Landmarks Conservancy held its 18th Annual Lucy G. Moses Preservation Awards on April 20. Among the recipients are Jamaica Performing Arts Center and Longacre Theatre. The ceremony was held at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, also one of the awardees. This year’s full list of project award recipients are listed here. Here are the summaries of the theatres chosen:
BackStage - BlogStage (NY)
David Sheward: Best Actress in a Play: Fonda vs. Feldshuh vs. a Pair of Queens
Playbill
* Stephanie J. Block-Dolly Parton Duet Now Available on iTunes
* Midtown International Theatre Festival Announces 2009 Productions
TheaterMania
* Kelly McGillis and Julia Duffy to Headline Pasadena Playhouse's The Litttle Foxes
* Ruined Extends at Manhattan Theatre Club Through June 28
* Polly Bergen, Tyne Daly, Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, et al. Set for 2009 MAC Awards
BroadwayWorld.com
* Q&A with Andrea Burns on IN THE HEIGHTS, Her Actors' Fund Concert at Feinstein's and More!
The Stage UK - Blogs
Mark Shenton: Tweeting and quotes….
One of the things I am enjoying most about posting “tweets” on Twitter.com, which you can follow here (and from which you can also find the latest five entries appearing alongside this blog) is to post links to interesting...
The Producer's Perspective
A Beepin' Follow-Up on Followin' Tweets.
Last week I blogged about keeping an eye on what people are saying/typing/tweeting about you in the social media space.
Los Angeles Times
TV exec turns back the clock to stage '9 to 5'
Taking the musical version of the film to Broadway, Showtime's Bob Greenblatt got more than a little help from his hometown friends.
Theatre in Chicago
New Cirque du Soleil Show Launching in Chicago
Cirque du Soleil and MSG Entertainment have announced a brand new theatrical touring show that will be making a stop in the Windy City. The show is set to open first at The Chicago Theatre for a limited engagement from November 19, 2009 through January 3, 2010. Following Chicago, the show will premiere in New York in 2010 and then tour additional cities.
Decider Chicago
Jeff Non-Equity Award nominations announced to the usual grumblings
No love for Our Town… sigh…
The Rob Kozlowski Chicago Theater and Vintage Film Medicine Show
Outrage!
I might as well join the throngs of people who are reacting with outrage at the latest batch of Jeff Non-Equity Award nominations, the ones that were announced this morning that you can find right here on their website.
Chad Jones' Theater Dogs
Rumor mill: Downtown SF theaters closing?
UPDATED 5:45 p.m., April 29, 2009The rumors have been swirling for days that the Post Street Theatre and the Marines Memorial Theatre are closing down
The Guardian
After Ayckbourn: Chris Monks takes the reigns at Scarborough
He's done a cricketing Mikado and set Figaro in a gym. Now Chris Monks has got his hands on Alan Ayckbourn's theatre
Tim Kedge
Obituary: My friend was a dedicated teacher who touched thousands of students with his passion for the dramatic arts
The Independent
Adetomiwa Edun: A Romeo to die for
He's only the second black actor to play the tragic hero at the Globe. But, says Amol Rajan, it's Adetomiwa Edun's star quality and natural charisma that really matter
Whatsonstage.com
Burke Follows Black Watch with Hoors Premiere
Scottish playwright Gregory Burke’s follow-up to his international hit Black Watch - which, among its myriad accolades won three of this year’s Laurence Olivier Awards, including Best New Play, for its belated London transfer last ..
Gossip: Will You Run with Nuns for Sister Act???
Not yet made plans for this bank holiday weekend? Do check out Sister Act’s “fun nun run” on Sunday if you’re in town. If you’re feeling energetic, you can still sign up to take part – be quic...
The Stage UK
Shortlist for Sheridan Morley Prize announced
Biographies of playwright Arthur Miller, ballerina Lydia Lopokova, director Peter Gill and actors Ellen Terry and Henry Irving will vie for this year's Sheridan Morley Prize for Best Theatre Biography.
Exclusive: West End's Theatre Royal Haymarket to be star of in-depth documentary
London's Theatre Royal Haymarket is to be the subject of one of UK television's most in-depth ever series to go behind the scenes of a West End playhouse. The venue's backstage activities will be explored in Theatreland, an eight-part observational documentary for Sky Arts that is being made by West Park Pictures, best known for shows such as Stephen Fry - HIV and Me.
Scottish playwright McGrath dies aged 68
Tom McGrath, the Scottish playwright and poet who wrote Laurel and Hardy and was a founding editor of hippy counterculture magazine International Times, has died of cancer. He was 68.
theatre notes
Interview: Franz Xaver Kroetz
On Saturday evening, Hoy Polloy Theatre is presenting what is, unbelievably, the Australian premiere of Franz Xaver Kroetz's 1978 play, Tom Fool (Mensch Meier). Not that Ms TN needs any excuse to leap at the chance of an interview with Kroetz, whose ...
diacritical
Power Law - Why Arts Organizations Need To Reinvent
Newspaper publishers have been lashing out at Google for aggregating headlines and selling ads on the news feeds. The criticisms are controversial (my thoughts here). Google directs huge rivers of traffic to news stories, and publications like that. But aggregation has in some ways come to compete with the news organizations themselves
Extra Criticum
Is Theatre Worth Saving? A Uniquely American Question
It is a constant refrain that seems to be growing in volume with each season. Literary departments of theatres nationwide are overwhelmed and understaffed. There simply isn’t the manpower (nor expertise) available to adequately evaluate the deluge of new plays...
The Hub Review
This economic cloud has a cultural silver lining (at least so far)
I don't mean to minimize the effects of the ongoing economic crisis on the local arts scene. Arts venues are struggling, or closing; the precarious situation of the North Shore Music Theatre means that a whole swath of American theatrical culture may soon have no major local presenter; everywhere, it seems, folks have hat in hand, hoping that donations will help to make ends meet.
Travalanche
A Morning Mini Manifesto
Lacking material for a new post (although a flood is heading this way), I hearby attach my artistic statement for a pending grant application, written at about four o’clock this morning. Those are ways the best ones, because the censor is off. I have been writing and re-writing the sentiments expressed therein since I was a teenager. I hope one day to get better at it.
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