Theatre Gossip #425: "We See You, White American Mimsy" Edition

If Plaza Suite is a hit, perhaps we'll see California Suite? And then we can argue about sham marriages and sleeping sex workers.

And then "London Suite", by which time the sham marriage has ended, or "Hotel Suite", which mashed up all three.

Nice job on the thread title, OP. There, see. Some of us CAN say nice things on Datalounge.

More kudos for thread title.

Any more early gossip about who else isn't returning to their shows?

Sarah has told how sorry she is that all the Christines following her has to sing the score written for her voice. ALW wrote it to suit her voice and it hasn’t been changed.

I have a feeling he is still writing for Sarah. It would suit her voice better. This is filmed at Her Majesty’s. Does the empty stage mean Cameron is putting down the original staging? If so, bad decision.

I would think that KDM's imminent child would necessitate his steady employment in a Broadway show. Are he and his hubby independently wealthy?

that Cinderella logo is so bad trying to do the miss Saigon thing with the "e" and "R-that-looks-like-a-P"

[quote] I would think that KDM's imminent child would necessitate his steady employment in a Broadway show. Are he and his hubby independently wealthy?

Or maybe they're not wealthy and hubby has a better-paying and so KDM will stay home and Mr. Mom (while on Grindr).

Who's Cinde Pella?

The original Miss Saigon poster was genius (even if it was attached to an awful show). But British graphic artists have turned that idea into a template, and the endless imitations have all been unmemorable, to say the least. It’s been 30 freaking years. Please God, try something else.

To the poster asking upthread: yes, it does indeed appear that Cameron Mackintosh has indeed won the West End Phantom battle. I hate it when people make me sympathize with ALW.

How was Phantom written for Brightman’s voice? Typically ingenues in opera are soprano.

Have there ever been any Broadway pit musicians that have told gossip about a show? You don’t often hear from them.

[quote]Who's Cinde Pella?

The R is in Cyrillic text, evidently.

R13 but singers have different strengths and weaknesses and this score was apparently written to accommodate hers. She would know, right?

ALW should have brought his musical genius to a stage adaptation of the much-beloved CINDERFELLA, with Jerry Lewis and Anna Maria Alberghetti!

The gender-swap feels so fresh and timely.

Interesting article about the MISS SAIGON poster art. I agree with R12 (good art, bad show).

Have you noticed the face in the helicopter?

And why is most current theatrical advertising such outdated trash?

[quote] Have you noticed the face in the helicopter?

If you haven't you must turn in your DL card immediately.

Jerry looks like he's receiving surprise anal at R17.

It's MimsEy, OP

[quote] good art, bad show

I wouldn’t say Miss Saigon was a bad show. Some of it is really good.

They don’t say here it was written for her, but it shows how close she was to it during the time. They look very close to each other.

Parts of the Christine track are lipsynced? How the fuck is it a hard sing?

What is Andrew and Sarah's present relationship like? I'm assuming cordial?

A bit like Mike and Nadine's from Twin Peaks

Dear God, which one is Nadine?

R25 I remember ALW saying he needed a house wife, someone to be with him at home. Sarah had lots of dreams and wanted to perform around the world and was hardly ever at home. I think they are close friends to say the least.

ALW talks about Sarah in his autobiography. Sarah was in the chorus of Cats and he started fooling around with her. He divorced his sickly first wife and married Sarah, who then started having side affairs. I think they’re cordial because she’s performed at his birthday celebrations and he allows her to sing his music in her concerts.

Nick Adams call your agent

Didn’t their marriage break up because Sarah was fucking one of the US Phantom musicians?

Didn't ALW fax Sarah the notice of their divorce?

Always classy, that ALW.

R29 He writes about her affairs in his memoirs? That’s classy, too.

I've never understood why Christine was considered such a hard sing. Sure, it's tough if you're an alto trying to sing it, but any reasonable soprano could handle it fairly easily.

A shame about Kyle not returning to Company. I caught a performance before the shut down and he was quite good in a thankless role. He brought a lot of warmth and sweetness to that role.

Here it is, the original keyboard player. Is it really his place to tell this?

Inspired by the INSIDE DAISY CLOVER thread....

How about a stage musical based on this 1965 Natalie Wood film? It could incorporate the existent Dory Previn songs.

I smell TONY....

Why did Natalie Wood keep getting cast in musicals?

Nobody could convince her she couldn't sing, r37...

[quote]I smell TONY....

Wow, and I showered just last month.

[quote] I've never understood why Christine was considered such a hard sing.

Possibly because it’s belt soprano. You need more than just a legit soprano to sing it.

[quote] I've never understood why Christine was considered such a hard sing.

Because Andrew Lloyd Webber writes like he hates women.

Christine's vocal range goes from Low G3 to High E6.

How much of it is sung live, though?

And how much was actually written by Puccini

"We See You, White American Mimsy"

I should hope so. I worked my ass to get here. How about you?

"Some of it is really good."

None of it, really. Not if you have a smidgen of taste in your soul.

Only a very small amount is lip synched and most of it is because of the staging, esp. the scene where the Phantom takes her down through the sewers to his lair.

But there was a rumor back after the show opened that Brightman had prerecorded her entire role and would tell the conductor and stage manager before each performance which parts she would sing live and which parts to use her tape. Have no idea whether that' true.

Please let's not turn this into an entire thread on SB and ALW!

[quote] But there was a rumor back after the show opened that Brightman had prerecorded her entire role and would tell the conductor and stage manager before each performance which parts she would sing live and which parts to use her tape.

Gwen Verdon would cut a song in “Sweet Charity” and Liza Minnelli lip synched when she partied too hard the night before.

Speaking of ALW, I recall discussion several threads back of a reboot of TELL ME ON A SUNDAY (a score I adore)...

Which I proposed as a revisal, with a young gay male lead: TELL ME ON A SUNDAY BRUNCH, GIRL!

Who's with me?

[quote] Which I proposed as a revisal, with a young gay male lead: TELL ME ON A SUNDAY BRUNCH, GIRL!

Starring Little Charlie Stemp!

Who else won't be returning to "Company"?

[quote] Who else won't be returning to "Company"?

If we’re lucky, Katrina Lenk.

R47 No intention. I’ve been Sarah’s fan for 35 years. She is one of last West End/Broadway stars to leave the stage to begin her own musical journey, which has made her a global brand. Her stage career was rather short but people often think it had to be longer due to success of Phantom. I sometimes wonder, what her career would have been had she stayed in musical world. But I am glad she knew better and didn’t. At the beginning of her solo tours she used to perform Wishing You... and Music of the Night, which was originally written for her (Married Man). Nowadays she performs the title song, which is amazing for a woman over 60.

R52 Rosalie was perfect in London, should have been hired for Broadway production.

[quote]I sometimes wonder, what her career would have been had she stayed in musical world.

She would have had the career Elaine Paige has.

Hardly, r55. Can you imagine Elaine's roles being sung by Sarah?

[quote] Can you imagine Elaine's roles being sung by Sarah?

I’m not saying would play the same roles as Paige. I’m saying she would have the same level of fame as Paige.

Not if she didn't have the roles, r57, and Paige's voice lent itself to more roles than Sarah's would have. Don't you think? Maybe not.

Elaine Paige had an outsized voice and a personality to match. Brightman sounded like an anemic boy soprano. There just aren’t many roles (good ones, anyway) that call for a voice that thin and wan and sexless.

Also, SB can’t act. Like, at all.

[quote]Paige's voice lent itself to more roles than Sarah's would have.

How do you mean?

What soprano roles were being performed in London after Phantom? What shows (including revivals) would she have been right for?

TELL ME ON A SUNDAY BRUNCH, GIRL! has me tickled. Instead of hats, Emmett designs jockstraps.

Kristen Bell, back in the day, would have made a great Daisy Clover.

Will there be a musical version of The Queen’s Gambit?

[quote] What soprano roles were being performed in London after Phantom? What shows (including revivals) would she have been right for?

One came along almost immediately, and by the same composer: Sarah Brightman took over from Ann Crumb in the Broadway "Aspects of Love." I believe Brightman also did "Aspects" in London at some point during the run.

Yes r63 already announced

It’s too bad Natalie died just months before she was scheduled to make her stage debut in Anastasia. She might have been wonderful.

I saw Brightman in Aspects of Love in Los Angeles

It was not the Bway staging, I remember it being minimalist and very white

I still say this is the musical so boring they have to put a funeral into the second act to liven things up.

Sarah Brightman never did "Aspects of Love" in Los Angeles.

[quote]Will there be a musical version of The Queen’s Gambit?

What was wrong with the way WE said it?

[quote]Didn't ALW fax Sarah the notice of their divorce?

At least it wasn't on a Post-It.

I love me some ABBA, R69, but there was actually quite a bit wrong with CHESS. Tim Rice's lyrics didn't help, for the most part.

They still haven't announced a creative team for THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT. Jeanine Tesori? Frank Wildhorn? U2? Will Julie Taymor direct?

[quote]R66 It’s too bad Natalie died just months before she was scheduled to make her stage debut in Anastasia. She might have been wonderful.

Or she might just as easily have been a snooze.

Natalie was a shitty actress who probably gave her worst performance in Inside Daisy Clover.

You're going to hear from her, r73.

Will she come visit me via Ouija board like Lois Nettleton?

I think Sarah Brightman also at one point did “Tell Me On A Sunday” (which later became Act 1 of “Song & Dance”) in the UK.

[quote] I wouldn’t say Miss Saigon was a bad show. Some of it is really good.

I’ve learned to accept that my Musical Theater tastes are considered trash by the DL. Miss Saigon is one of my favorite scores, I love the score to Sunset Blvd., and I saw War Paint three times and listen to the cast album often.

#SorryNotSorry

[quote] and Music of the Night, which was originally written for her (Married Man).

Music of the Night was originally written for Dick Johnson in La fanciulla del West!

Brightman joined the scaled down tour of Aspects and it did play LA

Aspects of Love ... at some point you want to shout out, "Oh, just have an orgy already!"

I sat in the front row of the mezzanine for "Aspect of Love." It was so boring and tedious that, during the first act, I was wondering where I should go for a pastrami sandwich after the show was over. During the second act, while the older guy was sitting on a chair singing some dreadful song, I was wondering if I could hit him in the head with a baseball. I decided I really wanted to try.

Aspects of Love = One Kind of Semi-Good Song

R81 why a baseball?

Did anyone ever identify what "Love Changes Everything" was lifted from?

I've always thought that "Love Changes Everything" sounded like a Christmas song, especially with all the horns and bells playing. ALW should get someone to rewrite the lyrics and release it as a 'holiday song.' There's a market for that. Besides, who even remembers ASPECTS OF LOVE? Does it get revived, even regionally?

"why a baseball?"

I can throw a baseball pretty accurately.

Ah, it's the "baseball song." at 4:06.

If that's a baseball song, I'll stick with What a Game from Ragtime, thank you.

Well, R 88, you haven't read the previous responses. Try 81 and you'll understand.

R89 If you want to snark, use R correctly.

R81 it is boring show and the songs are forgettable. But at least Michael Ball wasn’t fat

Sarah was better Rose than Christine. This is probably the only song I like in Aspects and Sarah sings it very well. Andrew lost his melodies after Phantom.

How Wayne Sleep and I laughed about ALW. Laughed and laughed.

I loved the old Not The Nine O'Clock News gag..

'Sarah Brightman was rushed to hospital tonight. According to sources, ALW forgot to wear his bag'.

[quote] According to sources, ALW forgot to wear his bag

I don’t get that. Could you please translate for a non-Brit?

"[R89] If you want to snark, use R correctly."

So sorry, but I am R81.

Unexpected Song from Song and Dance and The Music Still Plays On from A New Brain are the same song … but I think ALW is the borrowee on that one.

[quote]Andrew lost his melodies after Phantom.

Andrew lost his book of Selected Puccini Melodies after Phantom.

PHANTOM has become the new FOLLIES.

R94, they were fucking and she had to look at him.

The team for The Queen's Gambit is the team for "Ratoutille" the on-line musical. Because that's what's considered "talent" these days. The producers are neophytes who think that internet buzz means something.

If Taymor directs The Queen's Gambit" musical, expect the ensemble to hang upside down dressed as chess pieces.

Thank you for that reminder of the delicious emptiness of Trevor's "Aspects of Love." The whole thing screamed "We're doing this for the paycheck." I remember stifling laughter during "Hand me the Wine and the Dice." Then, in a weird twist, I saw the national tour directed by someone else (don't remember) and it was great. Who knew?

The Chocolate Factory did it with Michael Arden, right?

And that production was wonderful, R103.

But it was still boring as shit.

Arden remembers that time as golden.

[quote] The team for The Queen's Gambit is the team for "Ratoutille" the on-line musical. Because that's what's considered "talent" these days. The producers are neophytes who think that internet buzz means something.

r100 they have a website and Instagram so why do they need a creative team?

Rita.

Coming out of a pandemic, why has Encores chosen to do "The Life"? That is one depressing show!

There's a lot of grumbling about the upcoming ENCORES season elsewhere, not just on DL. (See AllThatChat, for a start.)

People are unhappy with the selection. I am a subscriber and had been looking forward to LOVE LIFE... which was canceled without notice.

And as I stated in the previous thread, I'm not excited by yet another production of INTO THE WOODS (that much neglected SS show?). This additional hideousness is the icing on the cake:

[quote]Director Lear deBessonet, this production ushers in a new annual tradition that brings together Broadway’s brightest stars with a multi-generational group including New York City public school students, to celebrate an iconic American musical and inspire all New Yorkers to find their own way into the work.

Because she did such a magical job with WORKING a couple of years ago?

[quote](that much neglected SS show?)

That's because they went like 20 years without doing a Sondheim show. The mission of Encores was to revisit lost musicals or musicals that wouldn't get a full scale production today. Audiences were begging for an Encores production of "Anyone Can Whistle" "Do I Hear A Waltz?" "Merrily We Roll Along" "Pacific Overtures" or "Evening Primrose." And Encores has an excellent talkback session and many people wanted to hear Sondheim talk about one of his lesser shows before he croaked.

R111 what do you mean by 'one of his lesser shows'? I thought Into the Woods was one of Sondheim's most popular shows. It often gets produced in middle/high schools and community theater.

Sondheim did the talkback for ROAD SHOW a couple of summers ago during the Off Center series.

[quote]Audiences were begging for an Encores production of "Anyone Can Whistle" "Do I Hear A Waltz?" "Merrily We Roll Along" "Pacific Overtures" or "Evening Primrose."

And they were all done, except for PACIFIC OVERTURES. EVENING PRIMROSE is not a stage musical.

[quote]what do you mean by 'one of his lesser shows'?

What I meant was that they're now doing every Sondheim show they can think of because they neglected him so long. The shows I listed would have fit perfectly in Encores mission but in the first decade of Encores, they completely snubbed him. And there was sort of the fear that he was going to die before Encores bothered to get him up on stage to talk about those lesser shows that I listed.

[quote]And they were all done, except for PACIFIC OVERTURES.

Not in the first 13 years they weren't. Encores was too busy doing "Bye Bye Birdie" and "Chicago" to look at Sondheim. Encores started in 1994 and the first Sondheim wasn't done until 2007.

Why does Billy Porter get to "reclaim" 'The Life'? Was he a hooker in the 80s?

[quote]EVENING PRIMROSE is not a stage musical.

No, but Encores does staged readings, so it would have been a real treat for them to do Evening Primrose. Angela Lansbury as Mrs. Monday, Patrick Wilson as Charles. I bet they could have persuaded Sondheim to write a new song or two. Can't you hear Angela Lansbury doing a reprise of "Take Me To The World"?

I love Evening Primrose, but it's pretty weak tea when all is said and done. Doubt it would be any stronger on stage, even if SS wrote more songs (which I'm guessing is not likely,)

r108 is your link blocked in the US or already pulled?

[quote] Video unavailable. This video contains content from Lasso Group, who has blocked it in your country on copyright grounds.

[quote]I love Evening Primrose, but it's pretty weak tea when all is said and done.

But Encores did some pretty weak tea shows. And "Evening Primrose" has been staged in other venues. Candy Bergen played Mrs. Monday.

Pure joy. Hairspray started performances in London tonite.

R119 You will need to VPN in the States and Cuba.

Evening Primrose.

What if Lucie Arnaz did "The Act" and Liza Minnelli did "They're Playing Our Song?"

With public school students? As what?

Is Kyle Dean leaving Company because he can't dance "Tick-Tock"? Does he know he won't win a Tony for that role so he just isn't bothering?

[quote] With public school students? As what?

The Woods

Is it possible that they plan to hire teenagers for Jack (and the Beanstalk) and Red Ridinghood only?

That wouldn't bwe so radical, as they're kid characters. Wasn't Jack a young boy in the Into the W movie?

The worry comes in if they have something more aggressive in mind, casting kids in the grownup roles.

I wouldn't put it past them.

Everything in show biz now seems to want to play chicken with traditional procedures.

There's a real renegade air to show business now. It'll be interesting to see how history remembers this period: iconoclastic or pointless?

Thank you, R123! You are a pearl.

I remember a PBS special celebrating ALW where Sarah Brightman showed up completely wasted and started rubbing herself all over the birthday boy. “Sarah, please!” he demurred.

If by "renegade" you mean focusing on everything but art, I'd agree with you.

R132 how do you mean?

Who will fill all those expensive seats at City Center when the old theatre queens don't show up this season at Encores? I'm sure none will be renewing their subscriptions.

They'll probably be giving away tickets to school groups to fill the houses.

WHET SEAN PALMER?

What a hottie!

R135 All I remember from THE LITTLE MERMAID on Broadway is his wondrous ass! That thing was a wonder! And they had him in skintight pants! 😍

"I'll stick with What a Game from Ragtime, thank you"

Or THE GAME from DAMN YANKEES, superior to all of them.

"I thought Into the Woods was one of Sondheim's most popular shows. It often gets produced in middle/high schools and community theater."

Now THERE'S a standard of excellence.

"The Chocolate Factory did it with Michael Arden, right?:

And it was the best case ever made for the show.

Incidentally, I recently learned that the Betty Lynn Buckley Awards are a real thing in Fort Worth, Texas, and honors excellence in high school theater.

Was Michael Arden any slimmer than Michael Ball in Aspects of LOve?

The public school students will be playing the cow

It's funny seeing Michael Arden's name next to the chocolate factory considering....

I'd rather win a Ruta, r138.

[quote]I remember a PBS special celebrating ALW where Sarah Brightman showed up completely wasted and started rubbing herself all over the birthday boy. “Sarah, please!” he demurred.

A heated up Betty Lynn did the same flagrant rubbing at another celebration, and ALW demurred, "Grizabella, please!"

Suddenly, every Diva is trying to fuck Sir Andrew. Jesus, who next, Patti?

He was not aroused when Miss Dunaway threw her salad at him in a playful attempt at foreplay.

Natalie and the "Anastasia" that was not to be.

[quote]Does the empty stage mean Cameron is putting down the original staging?

Yes, R7. Just before the pandemic they were about to launch a new tour which was based off the original production, but simplified and cheaper to tour. This is what they're putting in, whilst still promoting it as the original production. Plus the orchestra has been slashed.

R24 I think it's for the doubles they use during the lair sequence - easier to lip sync to something pre-recorded than someone singing live. Plus with the actual Christine having to lay down in a boat etc.

R84 Bach's Well Tempered Clavier Fugue in E Major

Lear deBessonet is (another) example of someone who's publicity is better than their work. To act like using kids in "Into The Woods" is some sort of new concept is stupid. Groups around the country have used that concept for years. The Muny production years ago with Heather Headley used story telling to a group of kids with Ken Page as the narrator.

Music Man announced a person who has never run a Broadway musical before to executive produce Music Man. Sure Rudin isn't involved. Sure.

"The Game" from DAMN YANKEES wouldn't pass today's censors. Not in a million years.

Maggie Smith will be next.

Next to try to fuck Sir Andrew, that is.

I need to see another production of "Into The Woods" like I need to see another "Gypsy".

The person lacking experience R149 is talking about:

[quote]Kate Horton was the Executive Director of the Royal Court Theatre, working alongside Dominic Cooke. She was previously Commercial Director of the RSC and subsequently the Deputy Executive Director of the National Theatre, producing across the NT’s theatres, from classic revivals to new work by James Graham, Stephen Beresford, Lucy Prebble and debbie tucker green. Kate launched the celebrated temporary performance space (formerly known as The Shed) and led the transfer of the multi award winning THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHTTIME to the West End. Recently she worked on the planning and development of LITTLE ISLAND, a unique cultural park in Lower Manhattan on the Hudson River which opened in May 2021. She is a trustee of the Old Vic Theatre in London and Little Island in New York.

Seems she impressed Diller enough with her work on his pet project Little Island. Oh but she's never done Broadway so obviously she's just a Rudin puppet.

Andrew can't seem to shut up lately

[quote]ALW: "Andrew Lloyd Webber hits out at ‘profit-driven’ private equity in theatre" by The Stage's Georgia Snow - "Andrew Lloyd Webber has taken aim at private-equity financing in theatre, claiming companies such as Ambassador Theatre Group are too focused on profit and that he is concerned about the future of the UK’s commercial venues as a result. The composer and theatre owner criticised [bold]“people who are purely interested in taking a business, milking it, and then flipping it for a big amount of money”[/bold], and claimed private equity firms didn’t understand the theatre industry."

Who's he talking about again?

He's talking to the man in the mirror r155.

Well, that leaves the process of removing Rudin from West Side Story.

What the fuck am I, r146, spotted dick?

Apparently white people are over-represented in theatre

[quote]Yet as Black representation on stage has increased, representation for other marginalized groups decreased: white actors still occupied a majority (58.6%) of all stage roles and over 80% of lead roles.

[quote]For actors, the report found that in NYC, white actors continue to be overrepresented in relation to their population in NYC (white people make up 32.1% of the population in NYC but occupy more than half of the roles). Meanwhile, 29% of roles went to Black actors—up from 23.2% the previous season—6.2% went to Asian American actors; 4.8% went to Latino/a actors; 1.3% went to Middle Eastern/North African actors; 0% on Indigenous actors; and 18% went to mixed-race actors.

Interesting choice of statistics, as that would also mean black and mixed race people are now over-represented, given the same data puts black people as making up 24.3% of the NYC population, and mixed race people as 3.6%. I guess they ran out of space to mention that.

As if that's not bullshit enough, they're also trying to pretend there's a wage gap, by taking the above figures and converting them to dollar amounts. So the 58% becomes $1 and the 29% becomes 70cents - and from that they're trying to pretend black people are being paid less, despite it not being true at all.

he's right r155. ALW may be rich and may have made a killing in the theatre, but the buyers of ATG are profit-first pigs who ONLY see theatre as a way to make money. Sure, all producers want to make money but a private-equity purchase of a producer and landlord is something else entirely. Theatre doesn't [italic]work[/italic] like that.

r159 nails it all.

[quote] Interesting choice of statistics, as that would also mean black and mixed race people are now over-represented, given the same data puts black people as making up 24.3% of the NYC population, and mixed race people as 3.6%. I guess they ran out of space to mention that.

True this is mostly talking about onstage, and performers have acknowledged that and have been saying that being hired by whites to perform for whites is the problem. But the statistics are chosen--as they always are-to make a lopsided point.

[quote] As if that's not bullshit enough, they're also trying to pretend there's a wage gap, by taking the above figures and converting them to dollar amounts. So the 58% becomes $1 and the 29% becomes 70cents - and from that they're trying to pretend black people are being paid less, despite it not being true at all.

This is about putting the minority playwrights and artists in their lower-paid spaces. But it sure is spun to look like all these institutions actually pay minority actors less. The point is interesting; the spin is egregious.

The Royal Court hasn't been relevant for years. It's also the size of my apartment.

I can't begin to think of anyone who'd want to re-open that WSS travesty.

so obviously she's just a Rudin puppet.

The only way it would be "obvious" she was a Rudin puppet was if she had laptop imprints on her head and torso.

Did anyone happen to see Andrew Garfield on Colbert last night, telling a story about Mike Nichols giving newcomer Audrey Hepburn a heads up after a Broadway show? It was an obviously fake story because the last time Audrey appeared on a Broadway stage was in 1954, when Mike was 23 years old. The poor addled Brit gayling probably got his actress wrong.

A heads up?

Of course, he meant Audrey Landers.

Heads up, thumbs up..potato potah-to.

I thought "heads up" meant a warning... hence the question.

R169 Isn’t it from baseball?

Nichols was paying a young actress a compliment by comparing her to Audrey Hepburn; he wasn't talking to Hepburn herself.

Does Elizabeth Ashley still live in an NYU dorm?

Oh, it was Vanessa Hudgens.

Vanessa Hudgens went on to play Gigi in the dreadful revival of the musical. Audrey Hepburn played Gigi in the Broadway production of the play.

I think we can safely say he didn't compare Andrea McArdle to Hepburn.

R171-No, He specifically said the actress Nichols came back in the stage door and gave the shout-out to was Audrey Hepburn.

Andrew Garfield did not name the actress Mike Nichols compared to Audrey Hepburn.

Watch the video again, or read this summary of Garfield's appearance which refers to an "unnamed actress". Nichols wasn't talking to Hepburn...

Was it Audrey Meadows?

Little Audrey?

'Twas I, of course!

Surely it was twee Emma Thompson.

So, Andy Mientus has a book deal with a YA novel of a "secret society of queer kids" at a boarding school who find some magic book and become witches or something. It's a young adult novel but not "suitable for any children’s bookshelf”. The headshot they're using doesn't exactly help dispel the 'writes sex stories about children' energy this gives off.

Oof ... Chester the Molester vibes.

I say Garfield told the story and stupidly substituted Audrey Hepburn for whomever it really was. You can tell from Colbert's reaction he thought Mike was talking to Audrey as well.

[quote]So, Andy Mientus has a book deal with a YA novel of a "secret society of queer kids" at a boarding school who find some magic book and become witches or something.

That sounds so derivative.

[quote]So I actually did write my “plague novel” 😳. I’ve been pouring… a lot into this story, for years now, and next fall, it will finally by published by the good people at @abramsbooks. FRATERNITY is a Queer Grunge Witch epic that I can’t wait to share with you soon.

Playbill appears to not care that The Minutes will open next spring at Studio 54.

[quote] Playbill appears to not care that The Minutes will open next spring at Studio 54.

Then what's this?

Is that a short version of The Hours?

I adore Andrew Garfield in that interview with Colbert but he was absolutely phoney godawful as Prior in AiA, Tony Award or not.

Any guesses who will be replacing Armie Hammer in The Minutes/

[quote]So, Andy Mientus has a book deal with a YA novel of a "secret society of queer kids" at a boarding school who find some magic book and become witches or something. It's a young adult novel but not "suitable for any children’s bookshelf”. The headshot they're using doesn't exactly help dispel the 'writes sex stories about children' energy this gives off.

Where I can buy the movie rights?

I've never seen Phantom live, if they do put up another production who will they most likely have as the leads?

Andrew Garfield needs to play Tony Perkins in a bio pic. He’s a dead ringer. But who could play Tab Hunter?

R195 As long as it’s going to be kind of trashy, I would put forth Mason Dye as Hunter.

Well, he's certainly cute.

I hope the critics piss all over Mientus' book.

I predict THE MINUTES will pass like hours, with or without Armie Hammer.

Use some sense, people. It doesn’t matter what the name is. If it were Audrey Hepburn - who was last on Broadway in the early 50s, why would she be obsessed with a young man in his early 20s with no theatrical rep at all? And just to say to her “You! You’re Audrey Hepburn!” when that’s her name isn’t a compliment, it’s more like a diss. “I have nothing good to say so I’ll just tell you who you are.”

It’s only a compliment if the superstar director tells the young actress “You! You’re Audrey Hepburn” - a long-gone movie star known for her beauty, grace, elegance, and talent.

I think that actress was Audrey Rose, even though she died in a car accident at the age of nine!

Brooke Shields posed for the cover of AUDREY ROSE when she was still a child model.

Could it be musicalized? I wonder.

I wonder if ALW would put Ramin and Sierra in as first leads when Phantom re-opens on Broadway. Since the drama with Cameron over downsizing the West End version is such a big deal, “preserving” Hal Prince’s original means something and maybe somebody would care that ALW enforced the huge orchestra and original production as it was for 30+ years.

Andrew Garfield is like a schlubby bland version of Anthony Perkins. Not nearly as handsome or twitchy. Just dull and British.

Yeah. The Tony for his Prior is....proof that acting awards are meaningless.

R203 Well Ramin does have a lot of time on his hands now

Unfortunately R203, I think both Ben Crawford and Meghan Picerno are returning as the Phantom and Christine on Broadway in October. There was a very public video-submission audition search for a new Christine, which I think was for the alternate (2-show/week, normally). I'm assuming the actress selected will be a POC. With Phantom only performing 5-7 show weeks until early March who knows when they'll fill the alternate or how many times per week she will perform.

r200, thanks for bringing clarity to the muddle of the Garfield postings. It's clear to anyone with a brain that he was not talking to the real AH.

Clearly Mike Nichols was saying to the young actress: "Omg. You evoke the very essence of Audrey Hepburn!"

Can we please move on now?

No, he was telling her to make a doctor's appointment. He could "see" the cancer.

Broadway Advocacy Coalition, American Utopia and Freestyle Love Supreme will be getting Special Tony Awards.

[quote]The Broadway Advocacy Coalition has provided an unparalleled platform for marginalized members of our theatre community and tools to help us all do better as we strive for equity. The two productions we are honoring, ‘David Byrne’s American Utopia’ and ‘Freestyle Love Supreme,’ take theatre to the next level, delivering outside-of-the-box presentations that have gone beyond the stage and brought theatre into the homes of millions of people around the world,” said Heather Hitchens, chief executive and president of the American Theatre Wing and Charlotte St. Martin, president of the Broadway League

[quote] David Byrne’s American Utopia’ and ‘Freestyle Love Supreme,’ take theatre to the next level

In what sense, Charlie?

Scranton: There’s no there there.

Is Charlotte St. Martin getting a Tony for being a tranny?

Instead of 'Music Man', The LATimes thinks we should have "Tranny Annie."

Blow G. Blow

My son will come out....

Tomorrow....

Dixie's ZIP

She's doing Stritch there.

[quote]She's doing Stritch there.

Pics please.

I’ve heard that a bootleg of Eleanor Parker in PAL JOEY is out there. Somewhere. Like so much velvet.

[quote]She's doing Stritch there.

If I didn't let Brando touch my hoo-hah, I sure as hell ain't gonna let Dixie Fucking Carter touch it.

You let Liz Smith, Stritchie...

She was an underwhelming Margo, r220, I imagine her Vera was as well.

[quote]You let Liz Smith, Stritchie...

She gave me a bottle of Scotch. I was at a weak place in my life. But she was only allowed to touch the outside. If she went in, I would have smacked her back to Texas.

[quote] I was at a weak place in my life.

So Elaine, somewhere between 20 and 80?

For an audience recording from the mid 70's, that's really great quality and Dixie's wonderful.

[quote] I’ve heard that a bootleg of Eleanor Parker in PAL JOEY is out there. Somewhere. Like so much velvet.

Yes, absolutely; I have it on reel-to-reel tape, so one day I'll have to dig it out and transfer it. It's from a preview and has Eleanor Parker and Edward Villella in the leads; both left during previews and were replaced by Joan Copeland (who was great) and Chris Chadman.

Bringing up the '73 revival of Pajama Game...WHET Sharron Miller?

R227. Wonderful to know that such a treasure even exists!

R205 how do you mean?

[quote]Instead of 'Music Man', The LATimes thinks we should have "Tranny Annie."

I've a feeling you're just kidding, but to me it sounds believable.

When Annie first opened, a lot of people called it "Oliver! in Drag."

Well, Oliver did live a hard knock life, that’s for sure.

R230 The TV show he was part of was cancelled (in its 23rd season) recently.

[quote] Instead of 'Music Man', The LATimes thinks we should have "Tranny Annie."

Way ahead of you.

For someone who's heard the Pal Joey bootleg, how does Eleanor Parker sound singing-wise? Didn't she also do a replacement in Applause, or did she do it in stock?

She did the national tour, r236. She was Betty-lite.

Isn't that Chris Chadman to Eleanor's right in the Applause photo at r237, who coincidentally replaced Edward Vilella as Joey in Parker's Pal Joey, in which she was replaced by Joan Copeland?

No idea, r238. My stagebill is l-o-n-g gone.

Yes, that's Chris.

Was Chris Chadman lost to AIDS?

yes after his good work on Guys & Dolls. Seemed so promising.

I remember reading somewhere that when Chris was in hospice care Gwen would visit him regularly.

Gwen took care of a lot of those Fosse dancers, especially the ones from Chicago.

She was a doll.

The Hollywood Reporter dropped another Rudin expose yesterday. They (finally) call out all the artists who have been silent -- Sorkin, Frances McDormand, etc... Interesting that George C. Wolfe has been silent. He probably has stories.

I need to read that article ^.

A lot of people are currently convinced that Frances McDormand is not merely The Greatest Living Actress but also a right-on sister and a candidate for sainthood.

I'm not one of them. She's a good actor, but if she weren't married to A Cohn Brother she wouldn't have as much of a career at all.

That makes little sense as a claim. It's not like Fargo made a megastar of McDormand. It's only in the last decade or so that she's been on a roll.

Actually, r245, she was...a bear.

I found her performance in Burn Without Reading very underwhelming, in fact the whole movie was despite starting off on an interesting premise.

[quote] It's not like Fargo made a megastar of McDormand.

She won the Academy Award for FARGO.

Do you think before you post? Just wondering.

[Quote] She won the Academy Award for FARGO. Do you think before you post? Just wondering.

Plenty of people have won Academy Awards. The Nurse Ratched actress has never been accused of being a megastar, has she?

She was fantastic on Broadway in "Good People"

R157 Seems Eli Bush will be replacing Rudin on WSS. From THR article:

[quote]Furthermore, Rudin can count on a familiar face on the inside of many of his projects. His right-hand man of a dozen years, Eli Bush, will continue producing The Lehman Trilogy, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and West Side Story. The fact that Bush has inherited the Rudin spoils has rankled many former employees who worked alongside both men.

Also, this about the fabled NYT exposé:

[quote]If Rudin was afraid of being outed in the press for any kind of toxicity, like so many of his compatriots — beginning with fellow industry titan Harvey Weinstein in October 2017 — he never showed that fear in the office. Many who worked with him say the producer was masterful with the media. Multiple sources say a New York Times exposé was scheduled to run before the Feb. 20, 2020, opening of West Side Story at the Broadway Theatre. Publication was imminent for the weekend of the 2020 Oscars, which took place Feb. 9, but was held without explanation to those who had participated, leaving several feeling exposed.

[quote]Caroline Rugo, who participated in THR‘s April exposé, shared on-the-record accounts of abuse with The New York Times back in early 2020. Likewise, Arnon, who worked for Rudin alongside several of the THR whistleblowers, says he talked for hours with a New York Times correspondent for an exposé “that never came to pass.” He adds, “I was not told at the time why it was killed.” A piece eventually ran about 16 months later, after THR‘s story and New York magazine’s follow-up. A New York Times spokesperson says the paper does not comment on unpublished stories.

[quote]Sources familiar with the New York Times-Rudin relationship say he provided one of the biggest ad revenue streams for the newspaper’s Arts & Leisure section, totaling about $3 million a year. The Times spokesperson adds, “The advertising department is entirely separate from the newsroom and has no control or influence over any news coverage.”

Not theatre related, but also contains the interesting snippet that Diller owns a stake in A24

The Life+Billy Porter=ugh

“The Life” is a terrible musical written around one great song.

[quote]“The Life” is a terrible musical written around one great song.

What's the one great song?

"Forever Plaid" 30th anniversary reunion concert.

She has voice but the acting and production. Just no.

Basically the same inculding a clip from With One Look. You can see Karim playing Joe standing there, too.

It’s a concert so cut them some slack.

Is that Ramin standing behind her? He has quite the fivehead.

Ramin Noodle’s character Kian died from a drug overdose on the UK hospital series Holby City this week.

He had a hot ass but he couldn’t live forever.

Merman ...dramatic...1956

that old cow again

But is Ramin’s Holby City corpse sliding up to (currently litigious) ALW? That’s the question…

R264 Holby City is in its final series

Do you pronounce his name like the noodles?

All the ALW stuff is getting hilarious. His drinking is so out of control (again) the press knows they can call him in the afternoon and he'll say anything. His need to be in the headlines is pathetic. And those Cinderella songs would have been great in 1992.

Thanks, r265! Who's the dame doing the Ethel Mertz impersonation early in the show?

[quote]Who's the dame doing the Ethel Mertz impersonation early in the show?

Nan McFarland

Wait. Billy Fucking Porter is playing the Sam Harris role in The Life? In drag?

I think we all learned from "Shuffle Along" the very sadly, Billy Porter has no voice anymore. I think he destroyed it during Kinky Boots.

Well, r273, that would make the role more interesting. And Sam just wasn't believable in the role.

Sam was a pretty Joseph

The Life was a trainwreck on Broadway. It seemed like they were trying to bring together Sweet Charity and West Side Story. Part of the problem was the tone of the show. They were playing realism and there's not enough quality material to play realism. Had they set the tone of a blaxploitation movie, it would have played better. It was directed by Michael Blakemore who did City of Angels, so he knew how to successfully move between realism and fantasy. Plus, it had premiered off-Broadway, so they had time to fix it or not bring it to Broadway. I don't understand why they rushed that mess to Broadway. I think it was Ira Gassman who was pushing it to Broadway and he must have convinced poor Cy Coleman that it would be a hit. Poor Cy, it was his last original Broadway score, and a huge clunker among his greater achievements.

You just didn't care about those people, at least I didn't.

I know I’m inviting trouble by even asking, but any word on the first preview of ALW’s Cinderella? It occurred tonight. I admit I’m an unabashed fan of most of his work, but even I have been underwhelmed with the songs that have been released thus far. Any tidbits about the first performances would be appreciated nonetheless.

From one the UK boards:

"Half-time... the doubters aren't going to like this, but for a first preview the first half has been slick. Funny. Witty. Ivan Turco almost took the roof off with his ovation for his ballad. VHB is sublime - she will win awards.

Only one half played but I have a hunch this will be a resounding hit. The music fuses modern with traditional themes, and the most epic soaring ALW music I've heard in a long time.

To those going tomorrow or later in the week, I'm jealous already.

Oh, and for those who like such things, lots of extremely toned men cavorting with their muscles bulging. An observational fact, not a judgement.

Hope the second half is as good - ALW gave a nice intro too with a wry reference to a certain health minister... "

Thanks so much, R280! Sounds like it actually is quite good.

R280 I liked the post which came immediately after that

[quote]“The best new British musical since Bend It Like Beckham.”

That poster using the term "the doubters" pretty much says it all - their mind was already made up. Rather lukewarm reaction on Twitter, fair few "well it is a preview" comments. Seems Cinderella isn't on stage alone much either so other characters steal the show. Though when Carrie Hope Fletcher is your leading lady, that's to be expected.

They're using the revolve in the Gillian Lynne to rotate the first few rows of the audience, I'm surprised that still works.

Does anyone know if that used that revolve when they did War Horse there?

I didn't even know they'd turned Bend it Like Beckham into a musical. It never transferred, right?

"They (finally) call out all the artists who have been silent"

Call out? What is this, Soviet Russia? Did you ever stop and think (I know, that's asking a lot) that they were privy or witness to absolutely nothing? Yes, God bless them and America. Everybody has the right to express or not express an opinion. This witch hunt is as disgusting, repellant and pointless as the McCarthy trials.

[quote][R13] but singers have different strengths and weaknesses and this score was apparently written to accommodate hers. She would know, right?

She knows nothing. She would say anything to feed her own ego. Untalented bitch. And P.S. the high note in the title song has been pre-recorded from the beginning, so whoever is playing Christine only has to sing it once.

[quote]Possibly because it’s belt soprano. You need more than just a legit soprano to sing it.

Christine is not a "belt soprano." You have no idea what you're talking about.

[quote]Did anyone ever identify what "Love Changes Everything" was lifted from?

It's lifted from Mahler's 8th Symphony, the "Symphony of a Thousand." Follow this YouTube link, go to 20:23, and within a couple of seconds you will hear the main theme of that song come screaming through. You can even follow along with the written score. Absolutely shameless on ALW's part.

R288 I think that's just coincidence. I mean, there are only so many keys on a piano.

If fit weren't ALW, it might be coincidence. But it's ALW. Arthur Sullivan was often accused of lifting other people's melodies and his reply was "We only have the same twelve notes to work with."

The beginning of "I'll Be Seeing You" is lifted almost note for note from Mahler's Third.

R289, that is NOT "coincidence." The melody that ALW stole in this case is not a simple chromatic melody, it's a very distinctive seven-note melody.

Ramin is so hot.

R285 Hi Scott! Now you've got time on your hands you should probably read the article. It specifically says that McDormand and Coen were witnesses to an example of the abuse.

[quote]“There have been times when he’s laid into someone while a celebrity was in the room,” he says. “He invited Frances McDormand and Joel Coen into the office for a meeting.” In the middle of the visit, says Emauni, Rudin exited his office to the assistant bullpen just outside and “laid into [a female] assistant while they were there. They sat there, [then] they continued their meeting. Right after that, she quit.”

Besides which, your attempt at a defence doesn't hold up much, given stories about his behaviour were common knowledge. At the very least it was obviously a deliberate ignorance some chose to adopt to benefit their careers. Same thing with Weinstein.

Oh, please, that series of notes in the Mahler 8th can also be heard embedded in the verse of WOULDN'T IT BE LOVERLY? ("it's rather dull in town/I think I'll take me to Paree--Hmmm!"), MAMA, A RAINBOW (but for one note) and TAKE CARE OF THIS HOUSE (again, but for one note), just to mention a few. It's a very common melodic contour.

[quote] You have no idea what you're talking about.

And we're back.

Rudeness not redness. Although, if that hat fits...

[quote]Oh, please, that series of notes in the Mahler 8th can also be heard embedded in the verse of WOULDN'T IT BE LOVERLY? ("it's rather dull in town/I think I'll take me to Paree--Hmmm!"), MAMA, A RAINBOW (but for one note) and TAKE CARE OF THIS HOUSE (again, but for one note), just to mention a few. It's a very common melodic contour.

First of all, "but for one note" makes a tremendous difference, but also, I don't think those melodies sound the same at all. And since you cite that particular part of "Wouldn't It Be Loverly?", I think maybe we're talking about different melodies. I'm referring to the melody that accompanies the words "Love, love changes everything" and several other lyrics in that song, which to me sounds identical to that melody from Mahler's 8th as heard in the YouTube link I provided.

What's wrong with a piece of Mahler?

Maybe those lyrics could be rewritten:

"Another long, exhausting day, Another thousand dollars. A matinee, a Webber play -- You'll hear a piece of Mahler's!"

"With every other row removed, reducing its capacity to 160 from 520, the auditorium at the Barrington Stage Company’s main theater here seems about as serious as a gaptoothed 8-year-old."

Huh?

Jesse Greene can. not. write. I don't know what happened to him. But it's good to read a strong review of a new play.

Although this line is better I guess-

" too effective to let you keep an emotional distance, even if you’re at a social one. "

Whatever Jesse Green had at New York magazine, he has completely lost since joining the Times. He's as clueless and lazy and self-absorbed as the late Lady Brantley.

The Times really needs to do some serious housecleaning. Their arts criticism is now painful to behold--and easy to ignore.

Agree r303. It really seems obvious that he is a notably worse writer than he was before

Remember back in the old days what a ritual it was to get the Sunday Times (yes, the print edition) and pore over the Arts and Leisure section? Or the old Weekend section? The Times was never the only game in town, but they helped elevate the conversation about contemporary culture.

They're now competing with every 16-year-old theatre geek with a Twitter account. And the Times is losing the battle, miserably.

Is Jesse Green the guy who wrote a biography of Joey Stephano?

No, that was the (fired and disowned) Charles Isherwood, who was equally as bad. WEHT him?

R307-He married Rex Reed and is now living in Costa Rica.

"They're now competing with every 16-year-old theatre geek with a Twitter account. And the Times is losing the battle, miserably... "

"Their arts criticism is now painful to behold--and easy to ignore."

Aye, verily, amen. No longer about standards of excellence, it's an embarrassment when compared to the Financial Times or even the Wall Street Journal. And everybody knows it.

Anybody got a link for Marilyn Maye's recent 54 Below show? Thought they had extended the show through the end of June, but looks like it ended earlier this month.

R310, I think it was only extended through June 19. Sorry you missed it, the show is amazing, but maybe you can somehow catch up with it eventually.

Someone should really cut a studio album with Marilyn Maye.

[quote]Remember back in the old days what a ritual it was to get the Sunday Times (yes, the print edition) and pore over the Arts and Leisure section? Or the old Weekend section? The Times was never the only game in town, but they helped elevate the conversation about contemporary culture.

I also miss "Theater Talk" with Riedel and Haskins on Friday nights on PBS/Channel 13. Riedel was, of course, completely full of himself but it was nice to have a half-hour of TV devoted to the theater every week.

They had some good guests. I miss it too. They are sometimes posting clips from past shows when a guest dies (e.g., Charles Grodin).

[Quote] It was directed by Michael Blakemore who did City of Angels, so he knew how to successfully move between realism and fantasy.

If we’re being honest, City of Angels only worked in the first act…and then quickly fell apart.

[Quote] The Life was a trainwreck on Broadway. It seemed like they were trying to bring together Sweet Charity and West Side Story.

The Life was a fun musical about prostitutes. They were trying for something deep?

Speaking of Theater Talk, did anyone save the upload of the episode where the Minnie Fae actress outed Mary Martin? The episode was taken down very quickly.

R263 how do you mean?

They're only going after Frances McDormand because she won the Oscar (her third) over Viola Davis and Andra Day.

No, r319. They're "going after" Fran because she purports to be all about the underdog, the common man (or woman) and about being real. This has nothing to do with race.

[quote] Speaking of Theater Talk, did anyone save the upload of the episode where the Minnie Fae actress outed Mary Martin? The episode was taken down very quickly.

At this stage, she wouldn't be coming out of the closet, but coming out of the coffin.

You can be "all about the common man" and still (allegedly) not intervene when someone is yelling at an employee in their own office.

I missed that episode!! Did Mary Martin like her cooche diddled by women??

She never fucked me.

A tarantela!

I spent many joyful years scissoring in the Brazilian savanna!

Local 11pm news here in NYC giving lots of coverage to "the reopening of Broadway," ie, Springstein's revival of his show. I'm not a big fan of his but it's wonderful see so many really happy people outside a Broadway house talking about how glad they are to be back.

^ Springsteen, sorry.

I'm sure half of them will wind up with Covid.

I'm watching an old CSI rerun that features co-guest stars Phyllis Frelich and Marlee Martin. I wonder how awkward that was on set.

Probably not much. They were both pros and probably both grateful for the opportunity.

^ Matlin, not Martin. Oh, dearing myself.

Phyllis Frelich was too old for the role by the time they made the movie. There's no reason for her to be angry with Matlin because she was never gonna get that film.

I'm watching The Birdcage on PBS here in NYC because there's nothing else on. I've always avoided it and I was right. It's embarrassing for any self respecting gay man. Or anyone with any kind of intelligence. So sad.

Can you say "stereotype"?

No wonder Nathan refused to do the film of Love! Valor! Compassion! He knew he had this coming up and all his fears of being typecast as a flaming queen would have come true.

So he did [italic]Mouse Hunt[/italic] instead.

The Birdcage is even worse than I expected. It's so bad I'm switching over to an SVU rerun post Meloni produced by Mariska with a social justice theme.

That PBS is showing 1990s movies, and the New York City PBS affiliate at that, is shocking.

Mariska/Olivia got Typhoid Trudy and the other anti-vaxxer moms arrested. She's going to save the babies!

Noah is seriously ill and might die because one of the anit-vaxxer moms refused to have her toddler vaccinated!

I'm watching the shitshow that is the Tales of the City musical and before the musical begins, they have half a dozen disclaimers, apologies, acknowledgements and oaths in blood about how they are against homophobia, racism, transphobia, acknowledge the indigenous people and are utterly horrified at the fact that they cast a "cis woman" to play a tranny, and because of that, they're donating a portion of the proceeds to two tranny orgs.

Give me a FUCKING break. Had I known, I would have never spent money on this. I like to know where my money is going, and I don't want it going to any organizations that support the erasure of gays and lesbians.

The jury acquitted Typhoid Trudy on the main charge but found her guilty of reckless endangerment. She's going down. And Baby Noah is going to be OK.

I'm with R340. Gays need to go back to picketing media that erases gay people this way.

I'm not sure what Frances McDormand was supposed to do about Rudin.

Was she personally responsible to talk to the press and bad mouth him?

Why? And, why single her out?

EVERYONE with access to DL or any gossip site about the entertainment business has known Rudin was a monster for decades.

Didn't Spy and the old movie rags all write about this in the early 90s?

When is Monster: The Rudin story coming to Broadway?

R343 Why single her out? How about because she likes acting like the outspoken voice for the downtrodden? Let me put it another way - if she saw something like that happening, but it wasn't done by someone who was helping her career, do you really think she'd still be no-commenting?

R345 Political extremists and their purity tests. This is how you lose supporters.

R346 Reaching much? It's not political to call out people abusing their staff.

would still love the Rudin convo to move over to the Rudin thread and keep that pollution off this thread about Mary Martin and Stritch and who's gonna replace Armie in [italic]The Minutes[/italic] and Kyle in [italic]Company[/italic].

BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!

Sorry, you're stuck with some Rudin here, Rudin press reps...The point about McDormand and others is that for every other social justice issue -- a Trans person farts -- and they are out there making statements and joining the protests. Here there are documented cases of mental and physical abuse and she remains silent -- not even an acknowledgement. It's gross hypocrisy and we're gonna talk about it on Datalounge.

Is it common for Trans people to lose their singing ability after hormones? I recall someone who was FTM saying that in a documentary.

I feel so bad for Liz Callaway, such a nice lady who clearly has no idea the raining shit storm she's about to be hit with.

[quote]and are utterly horrified at the fact that they cast a "cis woman" to play a tranny

I realize that the dismal TALES OF THE CITY musical has no future whatsoever, but a serious question. Mrs. Madrigal is an elderly MTF transgendered person--and almost no one knows her secret until it is revealed late in the original books. (She "passes" as a biological woman, in other words. The late Olympia Dukakis played her brilliantly in the TV adaptations.) So should Anna Madrigal only be played by transgendered persons going forward, even though this would spoil a major secret about the character?

[quote] Is it common for Trans people to lose their singing ability after hormones?

If that’s true, then Julie Andrews losing her voice was actually just a front for this.

A lot of elderly people can pass for either sex, though.

The theory is, R353, that audiences can't tell an MTF from a woman, because of course MTFs ARE women (and better at it than ciswomen are, you betcha).

Phyllis and Marlee have worked together before. It’s not a Patti/Glenn situation.

[quote] The theory is, [R353], that audiences can't tell an MTF from a woman, because of course MTFs ARE women (and better at it than ciswomen are, you betcha).

Then why have any women at all, real or fake, if men can do it better and real women would rather be men?

[quote] If that’s true, then Julie Andrews losing her voice was actually just a front for this.

No, Julie just had no technique. I think Merman was the only singer who didn’t have technique but still kept her singing voice.

Does anyone know if they’re gonna change up how they cast Mary Sunshine in Chicago?

[quote] Does anyone know if they’re gonna change up how they cast Mary Sunshine in Chicago?

Why should they? Mary Sunshine is a cis man in drag, not a transsexual.

at the Muny they're doing it with a trans guy as Velma and a cis woman as Mary Sunshine.

[quote]Phyllis Frelich was too old for the role by the time they made the movie. There's no reason for her to be angry with Matlin because she was never gonna get that film.

She should've had her father produce the movie.

[quote]We See You, White American Mimsy

Mother always reminded me that nice girls keep their white American mimsies covered at all times.

[quote] cis woman as Mary Sunshine.

The licensing company shouldn’t allow them to make changes. It ruins the joke when the reveal happens. I blame the movie for killing the joke.

r365 They changed it in the movie.

This dancer spills some tea on Julie Andrews, especially regarding her reaction to knowing he got cast in a movie she was passed over for.

Celeste/MAME

[quote]The licensing company shouldn’t allow them to make changes. It ruins the joke when the reveal happens. I blame the movie for killing the joke.

I certainly agree that a woman should not be cast as Mary Sunshine in the stage version of CHICAGO, but for what it's worth, of course the reveal will be cut for the MUNY production, as it was cut from the movie. FWIW, I had no problem with the character being changed to an actual woman and the song being cut for the movie, because the concept of the film made it necessary that Mary Sunshine be a more realistic character, whereas in the obviously much more stylized Broadway version, it was great for MS to be a guy in drag to make the point about things not always being what they seem to be.

In the OBC they had a female u/s that covered Mama and Mary. If she went on the reveal after THINGS ARENT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR TO BE was prim Mary in lingerie and a boa.

I'm no fan of Celeste, but she was a pretty darn good Mame in Chicago in the 60s.

Who did Loretta Switt play in that Vegas Mame?

I've often wondered why Rob Marshall / Neil Meron and Co wouldn't try to come in and do a version of 'Chicago' on Broadway that evoked their film.

Obviously the Encores/Weissler staging would need to close (which let's be honest, would be no great loss at this stage) but it would be fun to see a new, colorful production that actually steered into the musical's original tagline 'A Musical Vaudeville'. It obviously works in the concert staging mode, but the whole concept of the show was based on old vaudeville/burlesque tropes and traditions, which definitely got watered down or removed in the '96 production.

[quote] I've often wondered why Rob Marshall / Neil Meron and Co wouldn't try to come in and do a version of 'Chicago' on Broadway that evoked their film.

It would cause more seizures than a Japanese action show.

That video is an hour and eleven minutes. Timestamp?

The Julie Andrews story in the video at R367 starts around the 30 minute mark.

Pete Menefee talks more about Julie and Audrey Hepburn later in the video also.

[quote]Who did Loretta Switt play in that Vegas Mame?

Beauregard

[quote]Who did Loretta Switt play in that Vegas Mame?

Little Patrick. And in Act 2 she'd look through the set's windows and make faces at the Grown-up Patrick.

That's one of the reasons I quit [italic]M*A*S*H[/italic], R379. Her halitosis was making me lose my lunch.

You even have to ask, r372?

With the success of the UK "Hairspray" revival, I wonder if they'd consider doing a limited revival over here? There was that rumor about "The Producers" coming back for a limited run (which I still think could be a lot of fun) -- but "Hairspray" would definitely be an easy, commercial, feel-good sell. And the kind of musical comedy Broadway could use as it finds its feet again.

But with an all-black cast!

Ginger's back!

All Black trans women of color.

Chrissy Metz *is* Tracy Turnblad in Broadway's "Hairspray." Call Telecharge today!

Loretta/MAME!

Thanks, R370. That's very interesting, and I don't believe I'd ever heard or read about that before you mentioned it.

Loretta played Mame in Raleigh, NC in the early 2000s.

Here's an article about the production:

What I wouldn't have given for a Loretta Switt/Linda Lavin production of FOLLIES in the 90s. They could have traded roles every night and we'd still be debating which was the better Phyllis.

Ginger's MAME...glistened.

Wow, she had more foundation than the Parthenon.

There's a reason it's called GREASEpaint!

But she wasn't in [italic]Grease[/italic], R394, she was in [italic]Mame[/italic].

Was Juliet Prowse the youngest Mame?

Thanks r376.

Annie was the tappiest MAME.

La Swit was also a staple at the Forestburgh Playhouse (NY) during their summer stock seasons. Not unlike DL fave Sally Struthers having a recurring summer stock residency at Ogunquit. Admittedly though, Struthers is the far more beloved and far more talented star of the two.

Missed opportunity: Dear World in summer stock, starring Loretta Swit, Sally Struthers and Bonnie Franklin.

[quote] Missed opportunity: Dear World in summer stock, starring Loretta Swit, Sally Struthers and Bonnie Franklin.

Hold me, Dickie, I'm scared.

r372 your computer also gets Wikipedia, right?

and there's always this

Interesting YouTube about how "...The First 3 Minutes of In the Heights (stage version) Changed Everything".

Yeah, if by "changed everything" you mean "proved how much Asians and Latinos benefit from anti-Black racism."

R404 I’m not watching a 23 minute video to try to find out about the first three of the show.

YouTube needs to clamp down on these soynalysis videos with shallow examinations of even shallower art by whiny-voiced punks, all with the intention of reinforcing the status quo.

R407 Youtube needs to put trigger warning on videos with vocal fry.

Are they also required to have at least three mispronunciations per video? I saw some soy-eater make an effort to pronounce the names of obscure Japanese anime artists correctly but still couldn't pronounce "Winsor McCay" correctly.

LOVE IS NEVER GONE!!!

So what do we think about Harry Connick Jr. announced as Daddy Warbucks for ANNIE LIVE!? Will he go bald? Will he go shirtless? Will Annie be black/trans/etc.? So many questions.

Will Harry Connick be shaving his toupee off?

He'll be almost as bad as that as he was in [italic]South Pacific[/italic].

I'll never say a word against the original film again. Ever.

Will he have his jaw rebuilt?

They should make Annie Japanese.

A fat Japanese boy with downs syndrome.

Jazz Jennings IS Grace Farrell!

The T obsessives need to get some new material. And there's no "Maybe" about it.

The T defenders are going to have a literal hard-knock life if they don't stop sterilizing gay people.

Jordan Roth was so happy to welcome Bruce back

Jordan Roth is a GIANTESS among men!

Does Jordan define himself as trans or non-binary?

Bruce's expression capture's America's reaction to a month of PRIDE...

I am somewhat fascinated by gay men who are all about being gay, 24/7. I think it was Colbert who said of Buttigieg that his being gay is like the fourth thing one talks about with him. But is there anything else to contemplate with regard to Richie Jackson and Jordan Roth?

Oh, let's be fair to Jordan Roth.

I think "gay" comes in third, after "entitled" and "delusional."

r352 She is a willfully clueless white woman. This is not her first racial rodeo, btw. I doubt anything will happen, but if it does, white lady tears will make her out to be the victim.

Tovah Feldshuh IS Dr. Ruth Westheimer!

It feels meant to be.

Dr Ruth would bring more than paper plates to a picnic.

Is this the same play that cunt Debra Jo Rupp did at Westside Arts?

She'd probably bring rubbers, lube, and dildos.

We know this didn't sell tickets, it probably even led to ticket returns.

How was Tovah's Yentl?

And now, one of the more interesting versions of "Over The Wall" from KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN you’re apt to hear:

Jordan Roth and Richie Jackson in They’re Lamé-ing Our Song”

Oops wrong thread

Harry Connick has no warmth or generosity as a performer. He is totally miscast as Daddy Warbucks.

I was hoping they'd cast Audra.

Wasn't he rather nice to Kelli O'Hara?

The Kelli & Harry rumors were widespread. Maybe he once called out “Who’s your daddy” and a lightbulb went off.

The hilarious thing is that Tovah went on Merv to promote Sarava but sang a cut song from Sweet Charity.

[399] I was shocked by how good Struthers was in the shows I saw her in...really funny, and knows how to work an audience.

If only she could sing passably well.

She starts out with Sarava at r431, r440. The first time I heard that Charity song was Sylvia's version. It's such a Gwen song...so wistful.

How many chins is Sylvia hiding in that portrait?

Farewell, Nancy Walker

"I feel so bad for Liz Callaway, such a nice lady who clearly has no idea the raining shit storm she's about to be hit with."

What on earth for? (It's a rhetorical question which doesn't need an answer). These "shit storms" exist in cyberspace, they don't exist. Ignore 'em.

"Why? And, why single her out?"

Exactly. And for what? Being a "witness" (insert eyeroll emoji here) to a boss rebuking his secretary? Gimme a break.

Oh, lay off Liz.

[Quote] These "shit storms" exist in cyberspace, they don't exist. Ignore 'em.

Why would posters like the Liz one way upthread ignore them? Such posters cream themselves at the opportunity argue against "cancel culture."

This evening on Dick Cavett:

*

Gloria Swanson, Alexis Smith, Elsa Lanchester And Jeanette Rankin

And yet he never once claimed to be gay. Fancy that.

Ian McKellan did call him a queen in one of their interviews, or words to that effect.

And when he hosted SNL and supposedly took audience questions on cards, one of them was "Are you hung in proportion to your height" or something like that.

I’m always outta there at Seth’s first “Anyhoo.”

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 2007, a revival of "Old Acquaintance" opened at the American Airlines Theatre.

Are some of you forgetting that Debbie Reynolds was pursued to replace Lansbury in ALNM? The idea that Sondheim's lightbulb moment idea kept a show open that was about to close... Highly unlikely.

Wasn’t Debbie also pursued for Hattie in the last Follies revival.

I wonder if they asked Julia McKenzie. It's a shame she hasn't done any Sondheim - not even an appearance at his televised birthday celebrations from recent years - for such a long time.

[quoted]Is this the same play that c__t Debra Jo Rupp did at Westside Arts?

Presumably, yes, or maybe a revised version of it. Debra Jo was great in the play, and if anyone brings it to Broadway, it should be her. Sorry that's apparently not going to happen, and shame on you for calling her the "c" word with no explanation.

On another note, will you people who keep responding to other posts with no indication whatsoever of which post you're responding to please STOP DOING THAT?! Thank you.

Oh fuck off, Prissy.

R459 = POS

You all asked for it.

This has never been funny, R461

What the hell, I'm bored -- what's the tea on Debra Jo Rupp?

[quote] No, Julie just had no technique.

What an incredibly stupid comment

[quote]What an incredibly stupid comment

And one that has been repeated ad nauseum on the DL theatre gossip threads.

r462 - Oh fuck off, Prissy.

Plaza Suite sets dates. I heard they were basically sold out before they opened on the last engagement. Will be interesting to see if that still happens.

Doesn’t the “Visitor from Forest Hills” segment of Plaza Suite end with Mimsy’s husband-to-be showing up and forcefully commanding her to leave the bathroom, and she meekly obeys? How is that going to play today?

R468, sort of. He shows up in the room and says one line to her: "Mimsy -- cool it!" After all the angst and drama she has caused for half an hour or more, that's enough to finally get her out of the locked bathroom. Whether or not people think that's stupid and/or offensive, I think we can all agree that it's not remotely funny or clever.

[quote]not remotely funny or clever

That pretty much sums up the majority of Simon’s plays, despite a few classics. Yet he has a theater named after him, and I don’t.

[quote]Yet he has a theater named after him, and I don’t.

Don't you have a ballroom named after you, R470? Oh, sorry. That was named after your grandfather.

OBSESSED!: Randy Graff Auditions for "Show Boat"—Andrew Lloyd Webber Style

Nicole Parker is adorable.

IG seems to indicate Charlie Williams and Ryan Steele are playing Hide The Mortadella again.

So, is American Buffalo dead, or is it going to try for one of the venues that'll be available in the spring?

There are going to be so many venues in the Spring because none of the Fall plays are selling. None.

Not even Hamilton? What about Music Man?

Yes R474 they've been back together for a while now.

Consider Loving Midtown Instead of Hating It:

FWIW, there are four Broadway houses (not counting the out of commission Palace and Cort) that need to decide their next tenants or set exact opening/returning dates: Broadway, Hayes, Lyceum and Marquis. There are currently eight houses awaiting spring tenants: Lyceum and Marquis again, plus Booth, Circle, Golden, Nederlander, St. James and Wilson.

American Buffalo has postponed to the spring allowing new BIPOC play Chicken and Biscuits starring Norm Lewis and Michael Urie to take Circle-in-the-Square this fall.

Is Norm playing Chicken or Biscuits?

If I didn't know it was 2021, I would swear you made that up, R481.

Lyceum has a tenant for the fall, not yet announced. Marquis is likely the Britney Spears musical in the spring. St. James I think is going to Some Like It Hot after American Utopia concludes. Hayes has Clyde's in the fall, Take Me Out in the spring and Between Riverside and Crazy in Fall 2022.

Nothing I want to see.

[quote] Britney Spears musical

Can I bring my giant M&M’s store bag full of goodies into the theater when I see the matinee? And what time does Applebee’s start serving dinner?

Only if they have crinkly wrappers r485.

"Hayes has Clyde's in the fall"

What is Clyde's, r483?

seriously, r487? Why ask r483? Do a little work and come prepared.

[quote] Britney Spears musical

Does daddy get all the profits?

Remember when Britney was in talks with the Weissler’s to replace Christina Applegate in Sweet Charity. Oh what might have been.

Charity was such an Oops, I Did it Again sorta girl.

[quote]Britney was in talks with the Weissler’s

The Weissler's what, dear?

Sellers tries to spin greed as Hamilton gets $30 million in federal aid

Happy Holidays. See you there.

The Cort renovation could be ready by Spring. When I saw Glenda Jackson's King Lear there, I had just had knee surgery, and the handicapped bathroom was a port-a-potty outside.

R494, I don't think so

Sellar has it correct. It is like the auto industry. The start up costs are enormous and no one has been paid for 15 months...

Those theatre companies and producers currently bending over backwards to accommodate playwrights of color are in for the biggest backlash of their lives. Who fills these subscription houses? Old white people. And old white people aren't going to resubscribe if they can't relate to what's on the stage. Jesse Green gave a near-rave to a production playing in the Berkshires last week. What do you think the chances are a 2 character play with two white guys sittin' around talkin' will ever come to NY? ZERO. But by all means, let's bring in an 85 minute play from the Clare Tow at LCT to Broadway at the August Wilson. No wonder LCT is already offering 2 for 1 tix to their subscribers. It wasn't good in a tiny theatre above the Beaumont, and it won't be any better in a barn.

The Times gave like 300 raves to JOH's POS, and no one went.

You stumped me. "JOH's POS"? Huh?

R497 But 16 months ago these same people now taking federal aid were paid $75 million by Disney, and that's on top of the huge profits they'd already made from the productions running. And it's not like the auto industry, because without that aid Detroit would've shut down. Anyone really think that if they didn't get the SVOGs then they weren't going to reopen Hamilton?

Slave Play, by Jeremy O. Harris, R500. And boy, is R498 triggered.

[quote]Sellers tries to spin greed as Hamilton gets $30 million in federal aid.

Read the article, asshole. And his name is Seller, you dim-wit.

I must have been asleep at the wheel. I didn't realized Miss Altay's Evita vocals finally appeared on Youtube. She sounds fine to me.

[quote]But by all means, let's bring in an 85 minute play from the Clare Tow at LCT to Broadway at the August Wilson. No wonder LCT is already offering 2 for 1 tix to their subscribers.

It’s not even 2 for 1 tix. Members are allowed to purchase one EXTRA ticket for each membership. At the full membership price. I’m sure all the geriatric LCT subscribers are just dying to buy extra tickets for this one.

The collector at r504 is serious

Indeed they are, r506....

^Sorry, didn't mean to post that again

The problem with Derin Altay wasn’t her voice. It was her complete lack of any kind of star presence.

O.K., r509, that sounds familiar. I thought her voice was fine.

Mike Tyson got a one-man Broadway show. Might Cosby be next?

Say what you will about Cavett, but he certainly had an interesting combination of guests. The other night it was Alexis Smith, Gloria Swanson, Elsa Lanchester and Jeanette Rankin. Tonight (watching now) it's Herschel Bernardi, Darryl Zanuck, Madeleine Le Roux (currently in The Dirtiest Show in Town) and Anthony Perkins.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1924, George White's "Scandals of 1924" opened at the Apollo Theatre.

Ben Platt covers Lady Gaga's "Yoü and I" from Born This Way Reimagined:

Ben's getting fat again.

Must have eaten his feelings after how badly the DEH trailer bombed.

Ben’s cover was atrocious, so why did they even bother? Like it happened and it wasn’t great, so why release it at all? It seems like his father is going to kill his career faster than he can himself.

What happens when you surround yourself with "friends" who only tell you what you want to hear.

...and Dad as a well-heeled, powerful enabler.

Yale School of Drama graduate here!

My alumni friends are filled with admiration and conversely outrage over David Geffen's phenomenal gift of 150 MILLION DOLLARS which will be utilized IN PERPETUITY to erase all student loans and make tuition free but with the caveat the school is now named The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University.

I'm all for it and believe he deserves the name recognition for that kind of generosity (and Geffen has absolutely no connection to Yale of the drama school). But many old friends think the school has sold out. What does the DL think?

It's a remarkable gift. It might have been even more remarkable if he didn't have to slap his name on the school. But still, the fact that it will help eradicate student loans and make the school tuition free is huge. Young people don't deserve having to start their lives and careers in crippling debt.

[quote]Mike Tyson got a one-man Broadway show. Might Cosby be next?

Does this mean it's time for me to revive "The Blonde in the Thunderbird?"

Only if it stars Bill Cosby r522.

A propos of nothing, I've realized that if a play or playwright is called "whip smart" or "razor sharp" in a review, that translates as "written by a woke millennial who wouldn't know Smart if it whipped them but can't, at this time, be contradicted in any respect."

"Original approach" often means "I didn't see the National Theatre production of the same play on which this is based".

It's like translating realtor talk into English. Anyone have any other transliterations from Contemporary Theatre Critic into Reality?

Rather like in Yes Minister, brave/courageous = unpopular with the public

[quote] My alumni friends are filled with admiration and conversely outrage over David Geffen's phenomenal gift of 150 MILLION DOLLARS which will be utilized IN PERPETUITY to erase all student loans and make tuition free but with the caveat the school is now named The David Geffen School of Drama at Yale University.

Why would anyone be outraged?? The typical "I had to pay so why not everyone else!"?

R526 That's the majority of DL

Don’t, R524. It’s hard enough these days; after the last year, everything is so, so precarious. It feels slightly miraculous that anything is happening at all, and so you have to try to find the most positive euphemisms possible, even when reviewing absolute dreck.

Shut up and take the money. In 20 years no one will give a fuck who David Geffen is/was, and the school will be able to give a variety of people a real chance. Jesus, Yalies are annoying.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 2015, original "Little Shop of Horrors" star Ellen Greene returned to the role of Audrey for Encores! Off-Center presentation of the show, with Jake Gyllenhaal co-staring as Seymour.

Camila Cabello and Idina Menzel star in the new Cinderella trailer:

The "outrage", r526 is about David Geffen buying the right to name the school after himself when he never had any connection to the school. A generous gift surely...but one with strings.

R532, has anyone never heard of Capitalism?

The person with the most money wins

[Quote] A generous gift surely...but one with strings.

Every gift like that always has strings

R532. Oh, grow up—schools at colleges are more often named after big donors, not alums (unless they are both). Kellogg did not attend Northwestern’s management school, nor did Roy Park go to Ithaca College’s communications school. It’s about raising money.

Yeah, who cares if he has a building named after him? That's pretty much how things work and no one has ever complained before. At least Geffen isn't doing it to get his kid into school.

He's literally providing FREE TUITION and people are bitching?! Seriously?! What is wrong with these idiots?

Off to see Bruce…tomorrow night’s show. Wish me luck as I fight my way past the anti-vaxxers.

please report back on the theatergoing experience r538.

I was at the opening. It was heaven. The anti vaxxers were a small, stupid group.

Broadway actor Aaron Tveit sells NYC penthouse for less than he paid:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1985, "Singin' in the Rain" opened at the Gershwin Theatre.

A penthouse!

In Astoria??

Can we talk about that bedspread. Confirms that he's straight.

[quote]A penthouse! In Astoria??

Wasn't "A Penthouse in Astoria" a Cole Porter song?

If that duvet could talk....

It wouldn't say much...

Well we know he's a cornholer at least

Tveit's apartment is pretty nice. And that's not a bad price, even for Astoria.

"Actor XXXXX" is a native of Nebraska and a graduate of the Cool Ranch Doritos School of Drama at Yale University."

If it is true that the Britney Spears songbook/fairy tale musical is playing the Marquis, then they're in a situation like Diana at the Longacre: no shortage of publicity to work with.

Diana is a bio musical. The Britney thing just uses her songs in a fairy tale plot that I gather is not otherwise Britney related.

Tammy's Liaisons

Can we discuss the fringe element?

Is Erich Bergen openly bisexual?

it sounds like the reason you're asking might be an interesting story, r555

But probably not r556.

More asexual than bisexual.

Ask Jim Caruso.

His character on "Madam Secretary" was bi-- right?

Dear Miss Streisand...

The ONLY people going anywhere near a Britney Musical are the gays

Not this gay.

I will go to Britney if it stars Charlie Williams in a lead dancing role.

[quote]The ONLY people going anywhere near a Britney Musical are the gays

Not this gay, either. I loathe jukebox musicals.

Even the legendary Leader of the Pack, r565???

Darlene!

I did LOVE the Donna Summer musical but mainly because I grew up being a huge fan. I had a great time at that show.

If I weren’t a fan, I would likely think, WTF?!

Jukebox musicals should stay in Vegas and on cruise ships where they belong. Plus, the actors get paid a lot more money there than on Broadway!

Jennifer Nettles does it to Broadway!

Aided and abetted by Alex Lacamoire.

When was the last time you thought about...Far From Heaven?

Wow, that score is gorgeous — and beautifully performed.

R572 sadly, it's a complete bore when watching live. The entire score is so slow

The movie was a successful reproduction of a certain cinematic style and era. I'm not sure why they thought that would translate to a Broadway musical. Glamorous Sirk soap on stage!

Everything Frankel and Korie create brilliantly strives to be the "Best Musical of 1956." I've never had so many naps...

And you could use them r575.

Company will be reopening one month earlier than planned.

And closing a week after that.

They couldn't manage to get rid of Lenk during all this? Who's not running that asylum?

[quote]They couldn't manage to get rid of Lenk during all this?

Big mistake, unless she's vastly improved since the preview I saw in early March 2020.

Lenk's gained 50 pounds since March of 2020.

Anybody want some Head?

And ШАХМАТЫ.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1967, "The Unknown Soldier and His Wife" opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

Katrina Lenk was so moving in Indecent and just exquisite in The Band's Visit.

How could she not succeed in the reactionary non-role of Bobbi in Company?

I assume they remain unknown, r584.

R586, I would assume so, too.

It ran 4 months, r587. So that it can be known...the Unknown Soldier was...Christopher Walken!

Katrina ran out of gas midway through The Band's Visit and her bag of tricks was empty.

Wasn’t the entire second half just that guy staring at the payphone?

Interesting, R583. So Chess in Russian was called "Checkmate"?

[quote]So Chess in Russian was called "Checkmate"?

да.

I need DL's take on this Time's article

[quote]I need DL's take on this Time's article

Why?

[quote]I need DL's take on this Time's article

Oh, dear.

Aaron Tveit has been announced as part of the cast of American Horror Stories - another one Ryan Murphy has got his claws into then.

Was Sutton ever in contention to play “Bobbie” in this revisal of Company She seems a much better fit than cold and weird Lenk. Say what you will, but Emma Stone wouldn’t have been bad casting either.

Closing ...

this ...

down....