Theatre Gossip #432 "Flick This Beanie" Edition

I can't imagine a Broadway musical eagerly awaited with more hate and doubt than FUNNY GIRL.

it will be delicious.

Alice Playten lacked a belt.

Link to the finished previous thread.

Poor Little Person isn't belted?

She BRAYS!

Alice had rather a ragged sound. She wouldn't have pleased buttah fanatics.

She's also audibly panicking in the intro as she goes off-key.

Fanny needs sex appeal, for chrissakes. Say what you will about Barbra, but she *acted* like she did.

Homely sex appeal?

"Homely sex appeal" would be just about right for Fanny Brice.

FYI, that's British actor Julian Ovenden as George in the 2013 Théâtre du Châtelet production of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE. He's one of my favorite performers, and I had the fun of seeing him nude on stage in the West End productions of MARGUERITE and MY NIGHT WITH REG. Very nice!

And yes, he does have a vibrate similar to Mandy Patinkin.

He doesn't sound comical like Mandy does.

[Quote] seeing him nude on stage in the West End productions of MARGUERITE and MY NIGHT WITH REG. Very nice!

Size verifcatia?

I saw SUNDAY on Broadway. It was okay. It had some wonderful moments. All in all, I didn't find it terribly well produced or directed.

A few years later, I saw the show in London at the National Theatre. Philip Quast and Maria Friedman. And a MUCH smaller and simpler physical production. It brought tears to my eyes. The performances were splendid and the show was released from that leaden Broadway production. Lapine? Feh.

Well, Bernie, bless her, isn't an actress.

Bernie owns that role, r15.

So are subpar directors Sondheim’s greatest enemy?

Maria Friedman wiped the stage with Peters' performance.

R11 How cruel. To compare Julians' voice to Patinkin.

Sure she did, r18...

R18 Better actress than director. her Merrily We Roll Along was dreadful, and miserable.

Bernadette is wonderful in the right role.

Beanie will begin to sing "People" and her thin voice will have everyone running up the aisles!

Wasn't the first London production of INTO THE WOODS (it wasn't directed by Lapine) considered superior to Broadway and somewhat of a revelation of the material?

I'm no Lapine fan, but I can find very little fault in the original Broadway production of Into the Woods. It was wonderfully cast and had all the humor and pathos it should. His revival, with the exception of Laura Benanti's performance, was abysmal.

Consider superior by who, r24?

^Considered

The first London Woods was totally different from the Broadway version from the ground up. It wasn't a transfer. I don't care much for the cast album but it got great reviews.

Imelda was a great Baker's wife.

Let's see...

R19 I didn't compare Ovenden's voice it to Patinkin, someone else in the previous thread did (and positively).

So will all the theatre queens of America be furiously downloading the Paramount+ app on the night of September 26 and then canceling their subscriptions the next day?

[quote]Alice Playten lacked a belt.

Why didn't she just wear suspenders?

Suspenders aren't really comfortable with sanitary napkins.

Yes, R4. It is.

They only gave Alice a scene in the Actors Fund benefit of FUNNY GIRL, not even a song.

Regent Parks' Into The Woods was fun.

R24, the London ITW was directed by Richard Jones and at the time, yes it was generally thought to be superior. I remember writes and people working for the major NYC producers all going ape-shit for it.

I remember one very cute but very clueless boy from the Nederlanders telling me that I should go to London immediately to see it (and a few other things). He asked me what month I usually went to London and I had to tell him I had never been there.

His interest in me melted away. Then I understood that all those boys working at bargain basement salaries in for producers had family money and were living a life I could only dream of.

I just loved Carmen Cusack (soon to be in Flying Over Sunset or whatever it's called) in Chicago Shakespeare's Sunday in the Park!

Alice's other big one...

Saying Alice Playten could belt is like saying Lauren Bacall could belt

Apparently they re-recorded "Poor Little Person" in a pop version.

Some people here don't know what belting is.

And some people sit on their butts.

If you want Alice, you should go with "Capricious and Fickle."

She's shouting at 1:49.

She's shelting, r46.

I have heard this term belting for many years.

Still not exactly sure what it is.

Well, whatever she's doing, she has a *sound* and I find it very pleasing.

No one belts anymore; they scream.

Listen from about 0:45

Playten's big break was being cast as Minnie Fay in the original production of Dolly. Do we know anyone else who became well known by playing that part?

Actually her big break was...

I beg your friggin' pardon, r52???

I almost played it in the movie!

OT, but Google just informed me that Phyllis Diller was the original Dolly Levi but she only played the part three months and it was her only role on Broadway.

Did the chunk comedienne who had her leg amputated ever play Dolly?

[quote]She's shelting

At least she's not SHENTING. That's my thing.

Jane Cowl as Broadway's original Dolly Gallagher Levi in The Merchant of Yonkers, 1938.

No, r55, you didn't. Why would you, an Academy Award winning actress, go after the role of Minnie Fay?

[quote] Playten's big break was being cast as Minnie Fay in the original production of Dolly. Do we know anyone else who became well known by playing that part?

She was Ermengarde.

I once played Ambrose in community theater. We had a really nice production, with a working train and everything.

Jane Cowl looked like Fenella Fielding.

Why would Bette Davis go after the role of Vera?

Davis had to feed and house her fat daughter and her hanger on husband. She took what she could get.

God, can you imagine Lucille and Bette doing Bosom Buddies on the big screen?

R56, Google has misinformed you.

Then use DuckDuckGo. Google is so full of shit, they should be asking when they ate corn.

R35 With Pia Zadora in the blue coat and brunette pigtails and pre-Ryan's Hope Ilene Kristen (then Ilene Schatz) backing her up. (Well, kinda backing her up. Pia gets dangerously close to sticking her face between Playten and the camera several times.)

R69 here again. Forgot to mention Ilene Kristen is in the double breasted red coat and has blonde hair.

Baayork Lee!

Yeah, and?

Holy shit. Beanie is no longer the lead story.

Laura Osnes is no longer the lead story.

Social media is EXPLODING. This is the lead story.

More...

Yeeesh. That makes me want to live in a cave, miles from everyone.

Ripley-believe it or not?

Well, someone had to go there.

Imagine trying to murder someone for Alice fucking Ripley of all people.

I'd never heard anything particularly bad about Alice Ripley before--mostly that she was a little neurotic and that she hurt her voice during NEXT TO NORMAL. But now it looks like people are coming out of the woodwork with stories (or more accurately, stories about stories) and battle lines are being drawn.

Sensibly, some folks are saying that if the young woman had a legit accusation of being victimized by AR, creating a music video about it on TikTok may not have been the most responsible way to take action.

Diller was the last Dolly before Merman came in and closed the show. And Alice Playton played Ermengarde in HELLO DOLLY. And she was great.

It's too bad Mae West never had a crack at Dolly.

I can’t get an Annie/Anne Frank mash-up out of my head.

[Quote] I made a manipulation photo of Andrea McArdle as Donna from Mamma Mia, tagged her, and then she told me I made her look fat by putting her on Carolee Carmello's body.

[quote] It's too bad Mae West never had a crack at Dolly.

Nor did Whitney Houston.

And Queen Latifah is offended at the suggestion.

[quote]It's too bad Mae West never had a crack at Dolly.

Merrick offered it to her when looking for a replacement. She said she'd do it if she could rewrite the script, or at least her own lines. Merrick said no and negotiations ended.

Wow, that Brit Into the Woods is horrendous. Do none of those performers get any of the humor in the piece? The worst is the Red Riding Hood. Really makes you appreciate how good Danielle Ferland was and that she should have been nominated for a Tony, especially when you consider that two of the four actresses who were nominated were actually leading roles.

In that Stars in the House ACL reunion Ronald Dennis indicated that Pearlie Mae was a cuntess.

Does Ronald Dennis still sound like a late in life Celeste Holm when he speaks?

Merrick also offered Dolly to Jack Benny, to play it in drag with his close friend George Burns as Vandergelder. (Think of Charlie's Aunt, which had been a huge film hit for Benny). Benny and Burns both turned him down.

Yes, R85, the jokes in "Hello, Dolly" are nothing like the material Mae West was known for. I don't blame her for wanting to write her own material, and I don't blame Merrick for saying "never mind."

Mae West ALWAYS wrote her own lines. And she was offered Dolly but declined when told she'd have to play the original script as written.

Bailey talk a bit about Dolly and her... relaxed approach to work.

There are rumors about Nathan being offered Dolly after Bette but he had no interest. I don't know whether the rumors are true.

But I've heard the stories about Merrick offering the part to West and Benny for years and believe they are true.

I'm surprised Harvey Fierstein didn't try to play Dolly.

Is Alice Ripley a lez??

Do we know if Jennifer Damiano is in a safe place?

Who cares?

Streisand used a lot of Mae West schtick when she played Dolly in the film.

Mae told Barbra to stop imitating her.

It’s so great that Ed Sullivan had all those Broadway shows perform. It’s left us a visually rich history of musical numbers we wouldn’t have otherwise seen.

Ermengarde stop sniveling, you'll cry on the valises!

Ambrose, let me hear that tonic chord!

[quote]Ambrose, let me hear that tonic chord!

Originally, Ambrose and Ermengarde were to participate in a singing contest. That's when Come and Be My Butterfly was still in the show. After a year and a half the first tour went out and Champion, who had never been satisfied with the scene, changed it to a polka contest and the change not only went into the tour but also into the Broadway production. That's why the line in the licensed version is now "We haven't missed the train, thank the Lord!" The OBCR has the original line because the change hadn't been made yet.

I think the change went into the first tour with Martin but didn't go into the Broadway production until Channing left to lead the second tour. Open to correction.

What kind of tonic is in a chord?

Gin dahling, gin

Barbra also channeled Bugs Bunny at times, which helped her get [italic]What’s Up, Doc?[/italic]

Martha's Dolly...

"Watch those feelers, Miss!"

R69 Priscilla Lopez is in there too.

[quote] Priscilla Lopez is in there too.

Lopez was in the show, but I don’t think she played one of the students.

I never miss a Louise Lasser musical.

Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman would have made a good musical.

Kristin Chenoweth's voice could do a great Dody Goodman!

[quote] It's too bad Mae West never had a crack

Many in Hollywood thought Mae was really a man, and that the truth would be revealed when she died. There was even a movie made about it, called “Dinah East,” which riffed off the idea with a movie star named Dinah who, as it turned out, really was a man. The movie was notorious for including some scenes of full-frontal nudity.

I never miss a Liv Ullmann musical. And I saw them both.

Mary Hartman x2 opening with Dody's voice.

[quote] Ronald Dennis indicated that Pearlie Mae was a cuntess.

Bitch stole my song in House of Flowers. I hated her.

Alice Ripley??

Alice Ripley groomed Ronald Dennis!

Alice Ripley groomed Bubbles!

Alice Ripley groomed Karen Olivo!

Believe it or not, Alice Ripley has impeccable grooming skills!

But she can't belt.

I still can't groom, peoples!

But can you mould from clay?

Is this the most dancing Dolores did in a number?

R86 Yeah, that clip from the original British Into The Winds WAS underwhelming...and, yeah, the Little Red Riding Hood was awful. Danielle Ferland was so good playing that part on Broadway...the fact she was 'well fed' and had a big belting voice just made it all the funnier.

The British Narrator, Cinderella and Jack were all meh, too.

The OBC of Into The Woods was superb...very well cast.

Someone mentioned on the last thread that Annie and The Diary of Anne Frank should be fool proof shows to produce and no, that's actually not true. They're both very tricky shows to get right.

Annie HAS to have a good Annie and a good Hannigan or it falls apart. Annie has to be cute, but not cutesy and spunky but not TOO spunky. Meanwhile, Hannigan has to be both comical and mean and if you get the balance wrong, then it just doesn't work. If she's too mean, the show stops cold and if she's too funny and gets sweet with it, you lose the menace you need to make the show work.

And, Anne Frank really needs a superb director and a very strong actress playing Anne. I've see an Anne Frank with a really bad Anne and it really was a case of wanting the Nazis to come get her before the first act was over. The actress was very actressy and you just wanted her to shut the fuck up.

Very few shows are fool proof. For me, the only one I can think of is "Little Shop of Horrors" because it's a loving spoof of a silly bad movie and it has terrific songs and puppets in it. I've seen multiple productions of it, and while some were better than others, it's just a ridiculously sweet show. It always manages to "work" somehow.

I've seen lots of middling and bad Little Shops, so I think it's not always a slam dunk. There was a balance of camp and sincerity that Howard Ashman's original production achieved that I haven't seen equaled, plus there was something about seeing it at the Orpheum in the 80s when the area was much more ragged. An ideal match of show and venue.

R127, a lot of people said the original British production was funnier than the Broadway. But they did say that the whole section before they went into the woods emphasized how drab the character's lives were and that it exploded once they went in. (I never laughed once at the Broadway production. Like most of Lapine's work the were humor were forced and studied)

Also, it is sad that we did not see them on the actual set. Although one excerpt was not going to show the transformations, it would have been nice to see something.

Here's Julia McKenzie's Last Midnight, with the British specialty of having the set fall down at the end.

There are no fool proof shows. They all have to last about 2 hours and that is more than enough time for things to fall apart if the company isn't up to the challenge.

There are scenes that never seem to fail. The last scene of the first act of The King and I would be one of them. The scene is beautifully written and the act has been building to it. Throw in the music, the chorus, the orchestra, all pushing forward and it's hard to see how it could fail. Some productions will do better by it than other productions. Of course. But all the elements are so wonderfully coordinated that weakness in any one of them will not be fatal to the scene. It will play beautifully right to the moment the act curtain hits the floor.

I always thought Guys and Dolls was fool proof. That was before seeing the 2009 Broadway revival.

[quote] There was a balance of camp and sincerity that Howard Ashman's original production achieved that I haven't seen equaled

Same with me. I’ve never seen a production that got that balance right. Nobody in the US knows how to play camp anymore.

The original movie is an under appreciated gem. It’s low budget aspect really enhances the subject matter. I still don’t know quite how it works, but it does.

Most take a cartoon approach to the musical. Seymour is extremely difficult to play. Most actors take a Jerry Lewis approach and that sends the show into cartoon. I keep waiting for the production that brings back the original tone of camp mingled with sincerity.

[quote]Alice Ripley groomed Karen Olivo!

She never groomed me. Bitch.

There's also the 'Hot Seymour' issue. You wouldn't think a role originally played by Lee Wilkof would later go to Jake Gyllenhaal, Jonathan Groff, Gideon Glick or Jeremy Jordan. Seymour should be a bit of a schlub, not a great looking guy hidden behind a pair of nerd glasses.

As problems go, that's not a bad one to have.

"Er---Ermengarde stop sniveling, you'll cry on the valises!"

FIxed it for you.

[quote] Seymour should be a bit of a schlub, not a great looking guy hidden behind a pair of nerd glasses.

This bugs me as it happens too often. They throw a pair of black horned rim glasses on a guy and suddenly he’s Seymour. (The character is not Clark Kent/Superman). And they do the same with Audrey. As long as she can belt, they don’t give a second thought to her characterization. Most actresses try to play vulnerable and it falls flat.

[quote] And they do the same with Audrey. As long as she can belt, they don’t give a second thought to her characterization. Most actresses try to play vulnerable and it falls flat.

Going back to discussing the original, there is a bootleg of the Off-Broadway production on YouTube and also the Japanese touring production (which was similar to Off-Broadway but not an exact copy). Marsha Skaggs (later Waterbury) is Audrey. Apart from some of the breathy characterization, she doesn't copy Ellen Greene, and though less singular and eccentric, she's really moving. In "Somewhere That's Green," as she's singing "A picture out of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine...," you see her start to realize that it's never going to happen for her. It's a moment of reality injected into a song that otherwise presented a comic 50s-era idea of domestic bliss. There are moments like that throughout that I really haven't seen in subsequent productions.

R140, thank you for tipping us off to Marsha Skaggs' performance of "Somewhere That's Green." I just checked it out in the Japan tour video posted on YouTube and you are correct.

Skaggs is terrific in using all that imagery in the lyric to stave off her actual knowledge of painful black eyes and broken arms. First rate work on her part. In a few minutes, she gave us everything Audrey wants and everything she really has.

Again, thanks.

R134, I think you would be happy with the current Off-Broadway production of LITTLE SHOP. You might want to check it out when it reopens, if you haven't already seen it, although it will be Jeremy Jordan in for Jonathan Groff as Seymour, so that's a big change. I don't know how much of the rest of the cast will be new.

I agree that no show is truly fool-proof, but many of the classics are well-written enough that it requires real ineptitude to completely screw them up, like Des McAnuff did with GUYS AND DOLLS and James Lapine did with ANNIE, et cetera.

I don;t understand this Ripley story.

"I don;t understand this Ripley story."

Believe it or not.

Regarding fool proof shows... I've always thought that "Bye Bye Birdie" contained the unique ability to be done better in high school than by any professional company. It's dated now and was always very lightweight stuff, satirizing an era that's long gone. But with a bunch of kids playing kids and their parents, none of that matters.

The kids are always adorable doing "Bye Bye Birdie." It's light enough for them to shine in. That doesn't happen when they try "South Pacific" and God help the 16 year old boy who has to be Emile de Becque. Plus, no professional production could afford to flood the stage with 50 authentic high school girls bleating out, "We love you Co-on-rad. Oh, yes, we do-oo...." The kids always win with this one.

Just ripe for musicalization, r114!

Here is the alice ripley tweet with the link to the girl who tik tok'd about it.

True story - I actually knew a girl who Alice Ripley groomed. I thought it was very weird at the time - this girl and I were both teenagers (she was in suburban NJ and a huge Broadway fan, I was just a clueless gayling) and she suddenly because VERY close with Boradway star Alice Ripley - but I hadn't thought about it until I saw her trending on twitter today. She was sleeping over at her apartment, going backstage at Next to Normal, etc.

So strange!

Grooming is the precursor to sexual abuse, is it not?

Or a damning, but vague, allegation easily used by a sick person desperate for attention.

R149 - I just said I knew a girl this happened too. And if you read the comments on that tweet I linked - there are lots of women saying they had very weird experiences with Alice Ripley when they were teenage girls too.

It's not normal (or even next to normal omg lol) or appropriate to become obsessed with dozens of teen girls as an adult woman (and Broadway star) and have them sleep at your apartment and call them your "daughters" and manipulate them and gaslight them. I bet it's a matter of time until someone reveals that she and her husband had sex with them.

This "grooming" shit is very overstated and the tik tok girl does look unstable, I'm the first one to usually call bullshit, but considering my high school friend and her weird, very intense intense relationship with Alice Ripley, there is something strange there...

Dinah sounds like Bea Arthur in that beach clip.

I saw the London ITW and it was fairly dire. It was in the tradition of those British deconstructions of old Broadway musicals, only ITW was (at the time) a brand new show. If you don’t know what’s being deconstructed (and Act II is already a deconstruction of sorts) it’s almost impossible to have an emotional reaction. Strangely, it might come off better today, now that the show is a standard.

Is it possible that from Side Show Alice developed this need for “an other” surrogate person to feel whole and it’s like a phantom limb without anyone there, so she chooses these young naive girls who she can better manipulate and she can get them to play sisters attached at the hip literally?

That Julia McKenzie “Last Midnight” is a good example of all that was wrong with the London ITW. Not just dire, but unfunny in the extreme. It couldn’t hold a candle to the superior Broadway production and cast.

Who cares, r153. Stop trying to psychoanalyze. You’re not good at it.

[quote]there is something strange there...

Which is not proof of anything but bad judgment on the part of everyone involved.

Until then, we should all be respectful of everyone involved, including Alice Ripley.

She would not be the first narcissistic performer who does not understand boundaries. But that does not make her a criminal.

[quote]Which is not proof of anything but bad judgment on the part of everyone involved.

When there are children involved, the adults have the burden of showing the good judgment, not the kids.

But thanks for your enabling.

R157, when there is a crime alleged, the claimant has the burden of proving the allegation.

But what's the claim here? Grooming? Not even sexual abuse. Grooming. That's not illegal. It's not even a thing in the absence of an act of abuse. In the absence of an act of abuse, "grooming" might not even be grooming.

That's the danger of this. It's enough that this young woman is doing it to Alice Ripley. You don't also have to join in. Didn't anyone read THE CRUCIBLE in high school?

R158 Yes, and Goody Ripley is a concubine of Satan!

I don’t think what Alice Ripley did is a crime. But it’s shockingly bad judgment. Why are you defending her creeping on a bunch of teen girls? We aren’t the cops - but it’s okay to say this is fucked up behavior.

And it’s not “bad judgment” on the part of the teenage suburban musical theatre fan girls who she was reaching out to and inviting to come hang out with her. It’s a little more complicated than grouping them in with her as “bad judgment all around.”

As a side note- what thirty something woman wants surround herself with teenage girls for fun?

[quote]As a side note- what thirty-something woman wants surround herself with teenage girls for fun?

Yes, when women do it, it's just icky.

[quote]As a side note- what thirty something woman wants surround herself with teenage girls for fun?

Alice Ripley, apparently.

But, as a side note - what parents of teenage girls allow them to hang out unsupervised with Broadway stars?

R162 Dumb parents who shouldn't be allowed to raise children. That's why I stepped in and finished the job!

Well there was that girl with James Barbour year ago... didn't she rather parlay that into tv appearances and him into the clink?

No, R164. Not over allegations of "grooming." James Barbour's legal problems were due to actual crimes committed.

Barbour pled guilty to two counts of endangerment and admitted to having sex with a 15 year old girl on more than one occasion.

It just sounds like such HELL to me to hang out around teenagers at all unless they are related to you (and you don’t have a choice) or you’re getting paid for it.

It’s highly questionable to me when any adult seeks out the company of teens. And seeking out highly impressionable teen girls from the suburbs? Friending them on Facebook and commenting on their photos and forming strangely intimate bonds with them? Inviting them to your dressing room and to your apartment?

Girl please. Not a crime but something stinks.

But I’m also an asshole who can’t stand kids in general. So what the fuck do I know?

This girl's accusations, even if true, amount to nothing. I assume she thinks using the word "grooming" is a good way to automatically get people to believe you and become enraged.

Going back to ANNIE for a moment. There's a line in the movie I really like, where Grace reminds Daddy that power and capitalism aren't going to love him back. Was that written for the movie or is it in the original book?

Lapine has been a pain in the ass hack his entire "career". Thomas Schumacher used to do a wickedly funny takedown of Lapine when James was fired for incompetence during "Hunchback Of Notre Dame".

[quote] Thomas Schumacher used to do a wickedly funny takedown of Lapine when James was fired for incompetence during "Hunchback Of Notre Dame".

Like Schumacher should be one to talk.

This Ripley accuser seems a bit off. Maybe Ripley befriended her and they lost touch and she got pissed off, thought she cared more than she did, and now wants revenge. Something about this feels very weird and I'm not about to join a mob especially when no actual sexual abuse has been mentioned. Who gives a fuck?

One thing's for sure - actors are about to get a whole lot colder and more reserved with fans. With COVID probably shutting down stage dooring for good, this was bound to happen.

Maybe Ripley enjoyed being worshipped. Maybe she was trying to start a cult.

[quote] I'm not about to join a mob

Then can I have your torch?

The Ripley accuser sounds like a bitter Eve Harrington!

R110 I'm pretty sure that's Priscilla Lopes in the clip wearing the red and white checked coat. My guess is they used some of the adult ensemble to pad out the kid numbers.

Sorry. Lopez, not Lopes.

Joyce James is also in the clip of "Poor Little Person." Alice Playten originated the role of Ermengarde in the OBC of "Hello, Dolly!" and Joyce James, who along the way became Joyce Ames, played Ermengarde in the movie.

Priscilla is 5 years older than Pia and one year older than Alice...

I remember seeing Priscilla Lopez waiting in the hallway to audition for Paper Mill's Pippin.

[quote] I'm pretty sure that's Priscilla Lopes in the clip wearing the red and white checked coat. My guess is they used some of the adult ensemble to pad out the kid numbers.

IBDB for Henry, Sweet Henry has 10 girls billed as "Norton School Student" and there are 10 girls + Playten in the Ed Sullivan clip. Priscilla Lopez is billed as "Adult Ensemble."

Which does not change the fact that Priscilla Lopez is visible in the red and white checked coat.

So some sick kid can post a tik-tok and destroy a person's reputation? I hate the world right now.

At least you're not in Afghanistan, r 182

It's scary, isn't it R182?

And what is she even accusing Alice of? Did she force her hands down her skirt or something? Drug her and molest her?

Please don't prompt her, R184.

She said "grooming." Leave it there.

There's no need to unnecessarily destroy the career of a seasoned performer.

That sure looks like Priscilla Lopez in the Poor Little Person clip.

Even Henry (Sweet Henry) knew not to groom Kafritz.

I believe she's one of the military boys, r186.

People watching the tik tok girl in a vacuum are missing the point. Alice ripely did this with dozens of teen girls. It’s not that one fool girl.

Her career shouldn’t be ruined - absolutely agree - but she should have known that eventually these girls would grow up and might look back like wtf was that about?

But agree she shouldn’t be “cancelled” or called a “pedophile.”

Isn't there also something called mentoring?

[quote]Isn't there also something called mentoring?

Alice was ahead of her time. She was implementing Meghan Markle's "Give them 40".

It does appear to be Lopez. She told Seth Rudetsky that Bennett asked her to be a Swing in the production for the female ensemble, including for the schoolgirls - and that she didn't know at the time what a Swing was. So she was probably on for the Sullivan performance in place of an injured or unavailable dancer.

Little Shop with Marsha Marsha Marsha...

So was Hammerstein "grooming" Sondheim?

FINALLY! We're getting a Museum of Broadway.

Now if The Roundabout would give up Studio 54 so we can have a 1970s museum!

What is the difference between being friendly and grooming?

Mentoring dozens of average-looking, needy teen and preteen fangirls? Calling them her daughters? And then apparently blocking them on social media if they said something she didn't like or when she lost interest?

Maybe? But one would think she would pick one or two girls with actual talent to mentor in a more professional manner?

She probably just has terrible judgment and non-existent boundaries - like many actresses.

In addition to other thoughts about Little Shop, Franc Luz, who played Orin, was pretty hot. I see he was a replacement Stone in City of Angels - wish I had gone back to see him.

Bye Bye Birdie is such an interesting property. It obviously still plays in every high school and community theatre throughout North America. But the book is dated (the whole racist Mama Peterson/Spanish Rose aspect was arguably flimsy even in 1960) It desperately needs a new book. I think they could still make the PERIOD work, but it needs sharper satire (ie. more specificity) to make it play as a period piece in 2021.

The Stamos revival was a real DUD. Going back to an earlier poster's point: putting glasses on a handsome leading man DOES NOT make him believably a nerd! A really awkward, twee performance by Stamos and not helped at all by a miscast Gina Gershon. I guess she had a horrible time throughout that run (I remember hearing her clashing with the director and almost quitting several times). The only thing worth hearing were the largely in tact orchestrations.

The Saks directed Tune revival in 1991/92 wasn't strong enough to land on Broadway post-tour. And the 2004 Encores staging with DL fave Karen Ziemba (along with Daniel Jenkins as Albert) really showed how poorly the underlying libretto had aged.

Did Karen play Rose? Or Albert's mother?

Cause they're equally plausible.

It's another example of contemporary audiences going in and expecting the movie, r199.

At 1:18:30 there’s a very long excerpt from the West End flop Billy. It’s jaw droppingly awful. And the “Lady from LA” number is certifiable proof that dancing and orchestral talent at that time was far inferior to that on Broadway in that era.

R201 - You're not wrong (especially about TSoM) but the Birdie film is beyond execrable. If it weren't for the iconic Ann-Margret against that blue screen, it would be as forgotten an adaptation as "Where's Charley".

I've always found it funny that Match Game's Charles Nelson Reilly was both Dick Van Dyke's and Paul Lynde's understudy in the original (talk about RANGE!). And further, Match Game's Gene Rayburn was Dick's replacement on Broadway, while Hollywood Squares' Peter Marshall originated the role opposite Chits in London.

Here's a snippet of Tune and Annie R from the tour.

[quote] Did Karen play Rose? Or Albert's mother?

Rose. The mother was played by Doris Roberts.

And why aren’t they adding the mother’s song from the tv show to newer productions? It’s a great song.

R202 Was 'Billy' a flop? Wikipedia says it ran over 900 performances.

Ann-Margret's other songs are very good, too in "Birdie". Musically, on the whole it's actually rather good. Choreography by Onna White very enjoyable. Paul Lynde is a hoot.

R204 - I believe they have that as an optional number you can license for the show. Interestingly, 'A Giant Step' which was added as a tap number for the Tune production (and later for Jason Alexander) is unavailable to be licensed. It's not a bad number either (you can see it around 20:00 below).

I don't know that Albert's mother needs a song. She's a pretty one-note character. A song just draws that out. I thought "A Giant Step," added for Albert when he sends his mom and Birdie away on the train, was a better addition. That's a moment with a character breakthrough that deserves a song.

R197, that sounds like borderline personality disorder or some other dysfunction.

But grooming has a sexual component. I do not see why these young women are claiming Ripley wanted to fuck them when she does not seem to have done anything specificaly sexual. Talking about a photo in lingerie does not count.

Gina & John

Jesus Christ, that BILLY clip at r202! I kept praying for Michael Crawford to trip on the stairs and break some of his hideous oversized teeth.

[quote]The Stamos revival was a real DUD. Going back to an earlier poster's point: putting glasses on a handsome leading man DOES NOT make him believably a nerd! A really awkward, twee performance by Stamos and not helped at all by a miscast Gina Gershon. I guess she had a horrible time throughout that run (I remember hearing her clashing with the director and almost quitting several times). The only thing worth hearing were the largely in tact orchestrations.

What about ME?

Crawford sure is committing to those big sustained flat notes he's singing.

“LA was rather good but I missed me Yorkshire pud..” from that Billy clip

Good god, Don Black wrote some clunker lyrics.

Bad idea for actors to get too close to their ‘fans.’ Sign the fucking autograph and move on.

Can anyone spot Elaine Paige in the Billy clip? I can’t. I know she was in it.

Not even a good idea to go out with "stage door johnnies"

It isn't like the old days, r217.

Well, of course…

"A Lot of Living to Do" in the BBB movie is one of the great musical numbers of the era. Bless Onna White.

They should revive DREAMGIRLS instead. It’s more fun and I’m guessing would sell more tickets?

[quote] The only thing worth hearing were the largely intact orchestrations.

Roundabout didn’t cut the Bye Bye Birdie orchestra down to 5-6 musicians? I’m shocked!

The Show Must Go On.

I didn't see Roundabout's BYE BYE BIRDIE but that clip at r210 speaks very well for it. Gina and John are terrific, very much look and behave in period and sing and move well. I think the horn rims even look great on John and do the job - he looks just like a young Pat Harrington Jr. or Larry Blyden. Is there a clip of the Telephone Hour?

Onna White also choreographed Billy. Good work from her. Shame about the dancing.

I misquoted the Don Black lyric, by the way. It’s actually “It sounds pretty good but I missed me Yorkshire pud.” Still abysmal.

The film of BYE BYE BIRDIE will always be a sentimental favorite for baby boomers who saw it as teens and weren't familiar with the Broadway show. I know many who are shocked to discover there's no Russian ballet or turtle in the show, lol.

And so many who hold the film in disdain are the same who love Ann-Margret in it. Doesn't she (good or bad) represent all that was changed from the original show?

[quote] Roundabout didn’t cut the Bye Bye Birdie orchestra down to 5-6 musicians? I’m shocked!

They did it with 16 - large for them, though it was 26 originally. Tunick did new orchestrations, which he largely cribbed from the Robert Ginzler originals, which of course went uncredited.

R227 - It's a shame they went uncredited. Those Red Ginzler and Elliot Lawrence originals were hugely influential for every show that followed. Not unlike Gypsy, they borrowed heavily from the big band jazz sound made famous by the Billy Mays/Nelson Riddles of that era. Birdie's score was hugely influential for Tunick himself as he's freely admitted (he himself was a jazzer initially). I'd like to think the omission was more a production issue than Tunick being ungenerous. I know he can be a prickly character, but he's always been quick to give credit where credit is due.

For those interested, I highly recommend the 4 panels on Broadway Orchestration/Arranging and Musical Directing conducted by Steve Suskin/NYPL. Some fascinating insights from legends like Sid Ramin (West Side Story, Gypsy), Elliot Lawrence (Birdie), Tunick, Gemignani and Don Pippin. They also have a panel that includes newer MDs/orchestrators like Larry Blank and Michael Starobin discussing their work and influences. Quite eye opening, particularly on the subjects of 'house minimums', 'union walkers' and orchestra reductions. It's a deep dive (in shitty resolution unfortunately) but truly fascinating (I know...Mary!)

Yes, r226. The movie makes Bye, Bye Birdie about Kim.

r218 Were those guys waiting for Helen Lawson?

r224...

On top of the many terrible things in the choreography at R231, from 1:24-1:32, it doesn't look like anyone on stage knows where they should be.

[quote]I didn't see Roundabout's BYE BYE BIRDIE but that clip at [R210] speaks very well for it.

Trust us, it was execrable. Hopefully the last Broadway will ever see of Robert Longbottom.

Here's the antidote.

Harvey Johnson doesn't even seem to know how to use a telephone receiver, but... it doesn't matter.

I think that Harvey Johnson was afraid water or something was going to come spritzing out of one end of that receiver! Haha!

Wouldn't the original staging of Dream Girls be too expensive to reproduce? The original staging of WSS has toured for years, hasn't it?

*Would not Wouldn't

Yikes! That Roundabout Telephone Hour is truly horrible! Those boy teens dressed in precious lavender and chartreuse togs....cringeworthy. Gregg Barnes should stick to designing show girl costumes.

And I'm the poster who was so impressed with the English Teacher clip with Gershon and Stamos.

I thought the London Dreamgirls with Amber Riley would come to Broadway.

[quote] I thought the London Dreamgirls with Amber Riley would come to Broadway.

Over my dead, wig-shitting asshole!

R223 ALW really comes across like a self deluded, self obsessed asshole.

Linda Lavin's GYPSY, the thorniest Rose of them all...

The snappiest Rose of them all...

[quote] ALW really comes across like a self deluded, self obsessed asshole.

What do you expect? He’s 150 years old.

Didn't one of you see Ann Sothern as Rose?

No. I saw Gisele Mackenzie.

And Joyce DeWitt.

Gisele!

Tovah!

R234 Isn't that Priscilla Lopez in the plaid skirt in the Oconomowoc High School 2010 production of Bye Bye Birdie?

Going back to the Roundabout BIRDIE, was Nolan Gerard Funk any good as Conrad? Didn't they amplify Conrad's sexuality? I remember something like that Conrad no longer wore a robe when wandering into the McAfee's kitchen.

How was Nolan's funk?

No, r250, it's George Lopez.

Nolan was a stripper in WeHo, right?

Nolan came out in his underwear

Thank you R228! Orchestration is one of my favorite--slightly esoteric--topics in musical theatre, can't wait to watch those vids.

Yeah, Nolan was in just a pair of tighty whities. It was pleasant.

The problem with his performance was that he was the wrong kind of sexy. He had that non threatening boyband energy, and Conrad needs to offer a threat of genuine sex and testosterone. Just like Elvis did.

[quote] Going back to the Roundabout BIRDIE, was Nolan Gerard Funk any good as Conrad?

Well, he's a good looking boy. I remember thinking he seemed too young and boyish. He could have played Hugo.

We haven't yet covered the worst of that production... which was Bill Irwin's performance. I don't know how to explain what happened there.

Uggh, Bill Irwin.

I still don't understand when he went from "annoying New Vaudeville mime" to "go-to theatre actor." I cannot stand him.

I'm with you, R259. I would rather take a beating than sit through one of Bill Irwin's insufferable clown routines. He doesn't bother me as an actor.

Somebody ask for Bill Irwin?

[quote]Going back to ANNIE for a moment. There's a line in the movie I really like, where Grace reminds Daddy that power and capitalism aren't going to love him back. Was that written for the movie or is it in the original book?

That sounds like Carol Sobieski to me. That and "girls are easier to get used to than boys" in the swimming pool scene which she also came up with, apparently thinking since they sing about it, they might as well show it. That would be hard to do on stage.

Sobieski also wrote the teleplay for the feminist-themed TV movie [italic]The Women's Room[/italic] starring DL icon Patty Duke.

I don't suppose there's any photos/footage of Nolan in his tighty whities?

Who am I kidding? I'll be just fine with Stamos!

Close enough.

While not uninteresting, I think those Rick McKay musical documentaries just kinda wander all over the place (enough about the drugstores already). I SO wish Ken Burns would take on The Broadway Musical. I can only imagine the photos and clips his team could dig up, and surely Broadway's greatest, past and present, would line up to be interviewed (get Sondheim while you can, Ken!).

John Stamos isn't sexy. That belly button thing kills it for me. Plus, he still thinks he's one of The Beach Boys.

[quote] I still don't understand when he [Bill Irwin] went from "annoying New Vaudeville mime" to "go-to theatre actor." I cannot stand him.

And serial killer. He did multiple season story arcs as deranged serial killers on both SVU and CSI and was just outrageously over the top in each.

On SVU his cohort in crime was Jefferson Mays as a deranged *cross-dressing* serial killer and it was a bizarre contest to see who could outmug the other.

John Davidson already did it:

Didn't Irwin do Virginia Woolf and Waiting for Godot?

Irwin won a Tony for Virginia Woolf.

In Virginia Woolf the son was indeed dead and he and Kathleen had dismembered his body and put in in the basement freezer.

Love, Look Away...

I love how people on this board believe "Bye Bye Birdie" is done in high schools and community theatres. It's been dead a long time, replaced by the Disney shows, Legally Blonde, Millie"and Hairspray. No one does it. No one. Into the Woods is done more...

My high school did BIRDIE in '07. Our director opened the show with a disclaimer about Mrs. Peterson.

Irwin was amazing in Virginia Woolf, though. His one great performance.

Returning late to Billy (because I'm asleep when you're at top goss here):

- it was a big success. Why would they have given a flop that extraordinary amount of time on a Royal Command Performance? For some reason not obvious here, Michael Crawford was a huge star in Britain in the 70s and early 80s.

- Elaine Paige must be in the clip because in the "Aren't You Billy Fisher" number the whole cast appears to be onstage - his mother and father etc, not just chorus. Maybe the brunette in the horrid pink ruffles? Billy had three girlfriends: a hideous "good girl", a slutty one who still expected marriage from him, and a modern free-love type. Elaine played Rita, the slutty one.

- The critics above are too hard on Don Black. Billy was meant to be a harmlessly delusional small-town boy. He thought he was infinitely more talented than he was (so did Michael Crawford, which is obvious here, but that's another story), and the lyrics signal this deliberately through repeated rhymes and juxtapositions so inept they are funny. ("If I stay here my life can only be quite good/ But if I leave I might end up with a knight'ood" is another). It's actually a really good show, but I never saw it played so I can't speak for its execution.

- Finally, around 1.31 in the clip, when Michael Crawford says "One more time!" you can see the blonde facing front on his left, behind him, actually roll her eyes. Sure enough management brings the curtain down on his encore.

The revival with Stamos cut part of The Telephone Hour! After Helen (or Ursula) called Nancy, Alice calls Margie. The revival got rid of Alice & Margie, damn them.

Here’s a better high school Trlephone Hour which even uses hula hoops.

By the way, in the clip at r234, they single the alternate (“It won’t last, not a prayer, he’s too think, she’s too square”) which is offered if you have a short Kim.

I don’t think Elaine Paige is in that “Billy Fisher” number. Neither is Gay Soper, who played the good girl.

Michael J. Pollard didn't get to reprise the role of Hugo in the movie [italic]Bye Bye Birdie[/italic] so Walt Disney cast him in [italic]Summer Magic[/italic] instead.

Bill Irwin was truly god awful in the Birdie revival. And I'm actually a big fan of his. Just inexplicable choices (no doubt compounded by Longbottom's aimless direction). There were moments that were trying to evoke a Lynde energy but it just came across strange and unfunny. I longed for the Walter Bobbie Encores performance (which was no great shake, but at least evoked the Lynde archetype nicely enough!)

I will say I enjoyed Irwin immensely in GODOT with Nathan. I felt they were leagues better than the McKellan/Stewart production that toured around the same time. The one true misfire in Lane's GODOT was poor John Goodman, who was completely lost in that part. And the worst bit is that you sensed Goodman KNEW he was bad in it the whole time he was on stage. It pained me to see him so out of his depths (as he's usually quite superb) Good ol' reliable John Glover was excellent per usual.

Well, well

Do tell

Well, well

Do tell

Did teenagers ever talk like that?

Arthur Miller, posting from beyond the grave, at R285.

Bill Irwin and Sally Field were replacements in THE GOAT. He was very fine. She was bloody brilliant.

[quote]The revival with Stamos cut part of The Telephone Hour! After Helen (or Ursula) called Nancy, Alice calls Margie. The revival got rid of Alice & Margie, damn them.

Are you sure? Why the hell would they have cut that? It's only about five measures and it helps establish the concept of the song, since it comes right at the beginning,

If you're right ab out the cut, it was probably just another example of Longbottom idiocy.

Yeesh. You people are way too hard on Bobby Longbottom. Way. He has done a lot of good work on Broadway and all around the country. "Bye Bye Birdie" was a silly thing to revive. But a job is a job.

CHICAGO is getting ready to announce big casting news. I’m hoping Erika Jayne is coming back before she heads off to prison for real.

R289, as far as I know the the only work Longbottom has done on Broadway that anyone considered "good" was the original SIDE SHOW. Everything else was not good, and that includes that tour of DREAMGIRLS he directed, the one that started at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. Almost all of his work as a director that I have seen has been lousy, and on top of everything else, there was that unpleasantness about him getting in trouble with his union for working at Radio City. Check out the article I'm linking to here.

I'd add Side Show to the junk pile, though his version was slightly better than the Bill Condon revival. Still, it felt like Longbottom was trying to do with bleachers what Michael Bennett did with the lighting towers in Dreamgirls.

Lea Michele endorses Beanie Feldstein for Funny Girl role, says "This is going to be epic!":

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 2006, "Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me" opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.

"For the last time, no, Lea, you cannot be matinee Fanny!"

She knows it's going to flop with Beanie and she'll either get a phone call, or can gloat when it closes early.

What’s the Ripley update?

Pretty Woman is going on tour with Adam Pascal starting in October.

Can you imagine if Martin Short did his show today and they included "The Big Fat Black Woman Stops the Show!"

I cannot believe that someone can lob around the word "grooming" in an attention-seeking tik tok video with nothing to back it up, causing mayhem and chaos in someone's life as the mindless lemmings join in the attack.

Pretty Woman was one of the worst shows I have EVER seen.

R293-I think she meant to say "septic".

When did Nolan Funk come charging out of his closet on Facebook? I think I missed the announcement.

[Quote] When did Nolan Funk come charging out of his closet on Facebook? I think I missed the announcement.

Link?

[quote]I cannot believe that someone can lob around the word "grooming" in an attention-seeking tik tok video with nothing to back it up

Perhaps Ripley was merely picking nits off of the young woman's scalp.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: Lea Michele "endorses" another actress for a role she desperately wanted for herself :-)

But of course, it's just a blatantly obvious attempt to redeem herself for all that hateful behavior that got her canceled.

Hide your wigs, Beanie. Lea saw the White Lotus series finale and she's inspired.

I wouldn't take "This is going to be epic" as a ringing endorsement.

There are epic failures too. "Buttrio Square", " Kelly", 'Via Galactica", etc.

That was my point, r309.

Got Tu Go DIsco

That's more of a thread-closer, R311.

Didn't Frank Rich endorse Longbottom and that single-handedly got producers - who problaby hadn't even seen the show in question -to hire him because they're lazy and figured if Frank liked him, he'd like their show?

I noticed that Helen Lawson does her signature hand stylings even in the recording studio.

Bill Irwin in Old Hats.

Lea Michelle would probably be a better fit as a replacement for Beanie if the show's a hit and runs a long time.

Lea shouldn't be holding her breath, r316.

R316 It is only right that Lainie is matinee Franny.

Lainie would be perfect casting as Beanie's mom Mrs. Brice. Seriously.

Or has she aged out by now?

Lainie Kazan is 81. She's the right age to be young Fanny's great grandmother.

R319 That is a good idea.

I will change the script to make Mrs. Brice Fanny's great grandmother just so Lainie can be cast in the role.

Just give FUNNY GIRL the LORELEI treatment. Make it all a flashback. Start with Lainie singing that it's nice looking back. Then she steps into the past and plays young Fanny in a tab version of FUNNY GIRL. End it with Lainie and an epilogue.

How about someone tell Fanny that "ugly girls don't deserve ice cream". A kind of inside joke to Barbra's hated stepfather.

R323 Wasn't that how Barbra wanted to do the movie version of "Gypsy" at age 78+?

As long as Lainie gets to shake her big bazungas.

Try and stop them fucking things from shaking! Just try!

I think they should do Funny Girl in Cats’ outfits and call it Funny Cat.

Today on Ed Sullivan:

"Totie Fields, Richard Hearne, Patty Duke and dancers, the Muppets, and Tom Jones are featured"

*

Patty's (and dancers') number was Russian...or Greek...or something. They lifted her a lot....and they spun around a lot. Patty...ever game. Couldn't find it on Youtube, but here's Totie from today...

Lainie's singing voice did not age well.

[quote]Didn't Frank Rich endorse Longbottom and that single-handedly got producers - who problaby hadn't even seen the show in question -to hire him because they're lazy and figured if Frank liked him, he'd like their show?

Yes. There were rumors that Rich and Longbottom had some sort of personal relationship, because people couldn't believe Rich actually was an advocate for him due to his talent.

[quote] people couldn't believe Rich actually was an advocate for him due to his talent.

Rich was an awful critic. He thought Madonna was good in “Speed The Plow” while everyone else couldn’t believe how bad she was.

What production caused Rich to champion Longbottom? I remember the incident but can't remember the specifics.

I once had a business lunch with Bobby Longbottom. He didn't like me any better than I liked him, though of course I was right.

I had a lunch with Longbottom once too. I faked a dog dying to leave early...True story. He was so pretentious and full of himself, believing that he was THE talent of our time.

R335, I wonder how his horrendous, embarrassing track record has affected his ego since then? The reviews of his BYE, BYE BIRDIE alone should have been enough to drive him out of the business.

The Eyes of Laura Osnes....

PS: Miss Osnes has disabled comments on her IG post ^ following a storm of negative responses. Surprise.

That explanation sure ain't gonna help things.

Can I have her stuff?

[quote] I wonder how his horrendous, embarrassing track record has affected his ego since then? The reviews of his BYE, BYE BIRDIE alone should have been enough to drive him out of the business.

On top of his track record, he is a truly awful person. I think the fact that he hasn't been back to Broadway since Bye Bye Birdie does show that no-one wants to deal with him.

I don’t think Laura Osnes realizes yet how thoroughly fucked she is. It’s probably a huge sock to her that her long note hasn’t fixed everything.

Is she implying that the vaccine might affect her ability to procreate?

[quote]Is she implying that the vaccine might affect her ability to procreate?

More so than her having a gay husband?

[Quote] More so than her having a gay husband?

?

She really made things worse with that whiny bullshit explanation.

Well, at least any trolling of Tony Yazbeck by Osnes' supporters will cease.

“Every soul is entitled to live by their convictions and work without being publicly ostracized.”

Typical entitled Repug: “I can do as I please and you shouldn’t be able to call me on it.”

Typhoid Mary just wanted to live by her convictions and work without being publicly ostracized too.

[quote] “Every soul is entitled to live by their convictions and work without being publicly ostracized.”

Actually, no, Laura. You're an actress. You owe your entire career to the public. So they get to giveth as well as taketh away.

[quote]Every soul is entitled

The Republican Creed.

Oh, Janet!

R329-Am I hearing wrong, but did Totie casually call the guy in the audience a "faggot"?

Where in the video do you think you heard it, R353?

Osnes is so boring on stage. What will we be missing if she never works again?

She is basically the str8 female Danny PIntauro at this point, hiding behind a thoroughly undistinguished and utterly undeserved career in the entertainment industry to justify spreading a preventable disease.

[quote] Am I hearing wrong, but did Totie casually call the guy in the audience a "faggot"?

I don’t hear it. She calls him an animal.

I'd never use the word "faggot."

If it weren't for gay men, I wouldn't bother talking to men at all.

I hope Osnes is done for good. Whiny brat. Her private medical records have been made public - bitch STFU.

Shocking she hasn't already had a kid considering she's a conservative Christian frau and already 35. That pregnancy will be geriatric if/when it eventually happens.....

Nelly isn't a disease.

At 35 an ingenue's days are kind of numbered anyway, but I think she's screwed herself out of character roles too

It's a small business, at heart. No one wants to work with Laura, or Chad Kimball, or any other number of troublemakers. Why bother?

As a director friend says, "I maintain a no-assholes policy in my work."

She can do guest appearances with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

Joe Allen's re-opens tonight. Somebody mentioned it in the Helen Lawson thread and that part of the post was true.

Will Miyoshi Umeki be there?

R362 Unless you're Jerome Robbins or someone of his ilk (and talent), and then you as director are indeed the primo asshole.

Is that why Debbie Shapiro has worked so little outside of concert work?

She's been in quite a few Encores shows. Terrific performer -- I never heard that she was difficult.

That's a story that has always gone around, r367.

What's it based on, r369?

Unfortunately Richard Muenz had lost most of his voice by the time he did Encores "Wonderful Town".

That's too bad--he was wonderful on that Bernstein tribute album.

Muenz sounded terrific in that audio clip back then. I remember him from a revival of "Most Happy Fella" which was done unamplified on Broadway starring Giorgio Tozzi, later shown on PBS.

Is Osnes dead of Covid yet?

Just her career.

After watching a few video clips of Laura Osnes and her husband talking and/or performing, I don't feel I can make an educated guess as to whether he's gay or not. But here's the thing -- they have been married since 2007. Has she made any statement as to why they have not had at least one child in all that time, even though they apparently want one, seeing as how she cited "family planning" as some sort of justification for her not having been vaccinated against COVID?

Muenz

[quote]I think she's screwed herself out of character roles too

Wouldn't Osnes need to display some kind of personality to perform a character role?

Thanks for that clip R370. There were rumors that the Encores Love Life was going to get a recording (probably thanks to the Weill Foundation). Hope we get to hear Brian Stokes Mitchell perform that song. I forget who the female lead was going to be.

I’m not an Osnes fan but why she hasn’t had a kid is no ones business but hers.

Kate Baldwin, R379. They had begun rehearsals when CV-19 shut everything down.

Speaking of ENCORES, here's some INTO THE WOODS casting!

Sara Bareilles as The Baker's Wife

Christian Borle as The Baker

Heather Hedley as The Witch

Ashley Park as Cinderella

I'm not excited about this utterly unnecessary ITW (IMHO), but for ENCORES, this is really first-rate casting. A very talented group.

She's either barren or the husband has dead sperm.

No other reason for a conservative Christian frau not to breed by age 35.

Christian Borle? No thanks. Not even if Bernadette herself were coming back as The Witch.

Javier Munoz jumps into the Osnes fray and Professional loon Tonya Pinkins comes for him (scroll down for her response).

I’ve worked with Debbie Gravitte. She’s sweet as can be. Loud, sometimes, but always nice. I did not work with her before she had children, so maybe that changed her.

Anyway, she’s a doll.

The critical edition of Love Life has recently been published, R379, so we will probably see a lot of concerts and some productions now. A few years back there were a number of performances of Firebrand of Florence when it was published--and that work had far less of a mystique than this one.

I just had a professional encounter with Debbie and she could not have been warmer or more delightful. It was my first time meeting her, so I don't have a lot of experience with her but there are some people who just come across naturally as "good people" and she is definitely one of them.

Couldn't find Tonya's response.

[quote]I’m not an Osnes fan but why she hasn’t had a kid is no ones business but hers.

Not if she implies that her reproductive plans have something to do with her refusal to be vaccinated, thereby putting other people (and their children) in danger. Understand?

Here is Pinkins' reply.

I know Munoz can be very abrasive and somewhat nutty himself, but his "open letter" was handled very diplomatically and non-judgmentally and Pinkins' response made no sense outside of just stirring shit. But we all know Pinkins is a cunt extraordinaire. Why anyone still works with her is a mystery.

Osnes has been super busy and may have decided to put off having children in favor of building her career. Not that any of that matters in terms of her refusing the vax, just that people are rushing to assume it's a fertility issue.

I've never heard a word against her, r387. r369 is vague with no specifics.

Tonya P is digging in, to the point of being downright nasty and insulting to the many, many people who are calling her on her inappropriate response. “I will always take a woman’s side because women are ignored” or something like that. She is such a cunt.

[quote]Am I hearing wrong, but did Totie casually call the guy in the audience a "faggot"?

Everybody used that word back in Totie's day!

It's time for Tonya Pinkins to be canceled. She's been a long time nightmare. And her response to Javi (and even worse, to everyone who has defended him) is completely out of line. If she was white, her career would be over.

My reply to Tonya, r390...

*

Why so much drama, Tonya? It's tiresome.

She's obviously having an episode, r396. She isn't quite balanced.

I used to get Tonya Pinkins and Leslie Uggams mixed up.

She's the cunt. I'm the loved one.

I used to watch Leslie's TV show. They did a recurring family sketch. On one her hippy-dippy younger sister comes in wearing one sandal. Leslie chastises her saying "And look, you've lost a shoe". The sister says "No...like...I 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 one."

Tonya’s answer isn’t just stupid, it’s QAnon wackadoodle conspiracy theory stupid.

[quote]She's the cunt. I'm the loved one.

At least I remember the lyrics, Les.

Comfort? Hmm... Has Tonya been tweeting anti-maskers about their focus on their own comfort? Somehow I doubt it.

Go-Gos musical being totally rewritten before premiering at Pasadena Playhouse

They should rewrite it about themselves. Do they have any song that would work in relation to their vadge polaroids game?

Heels Over Head, R406?

That sounds like it belongs in the Helen Lawson thread.

Anyone know who the leads will be when Chicago reopens? I’m hearing Jennifer Holiday as Mama and Paolo Szot as Billy along with names for Amos and Roxie.

I hope those names are bigger than Jennifer Holiday and Paulo Szot.

I hear Ariana DeBose from that Hulu musical show and the upcoming WSS will be either Roxie or Velma.

There was a time when nobody was bigger than Jennifer Holiday ...

Is Bway really happening in Sept. I’m really doubting it

yes, and it's also closing again in Sept.

The good news is that almost anyone can finally get HAMILTON tix.

No one want them anymore when they can see the show for free on Disney

wow wow just went thru a lot of the Tonya tweets and she's truly being hateful and kind of illiterate too

"Disappointment is good hopefully it bursts your delusion and lack of capacity to critically think"

"If you “care” so much about “others” and I am intentionally being sarcastic cause I don’t believe you do. What are you doing to insure that global majority all over the world not only have vaccine access but voting etc? I know the answer NOTHING"

Whatabouism... Very clever (not) Tonya.

*WhatabouTism

Since Michael Bennett’s death, who gives Jennifer Holliday her line readings?

R415 on half-price -- some tv commercial actually has text on the screen during a commercial that LMM is narrating -- wtf?

It seems like Tonya implanted that Tony of hers in either her head or her chest, as she either missing a brain or a heart.

I feel sorry for whoever has to sing “Who Taught Her Everything She Knows” in the Funny Girl revival. That song will not play well by the end of the evening.

Why don't they get tranny-adjacent Alex Newell to do it?

Tonya needs to be canceled.

For what? Speaking her mind?

For being a cunt no one asked to hear from.

Tonya could play Mrs. Brice.

Laura Osnes to stand by for Beanie?

I would prefer to sit if you don't mind r429. My body, my choice!

My totally heterosexual husband fully supports me in this.

I came to this thread late—Tonya Harding?

[quote] I came to this thread late—Tonya Harding?

Tonya Pinkins. Broadway’s resident nutjob and troublemaker.

You can search keywords withing the thread, you fat hotel.

*within

R433, I get to the thread late and I"m being called a "hotel"??!! That's harsh

A "fat" hotel, at that.

[quote] I get to the thread late and I"m being called a "hotel"??!! That's harsh

Meh, you get used to it.

No r426 for being aggressively cruel and abusive, like saying to HIV+ Javier Muñoz, who had cited the added COVID vulnerability of HIV+ folks: "If @LauraOsnes died from the vaccine you wouldn’t care. Or is your comfort more important than her sovereignty?"

They cut off Ben Platt crazy fake hair in the new Evan Hansen poster

[quote]I hear Ariana DeBose from that Hulu musical show and the upcoming WSS will be either Roxie or Velma.

She was also in Netflix's version of "The Prom."

I think that poster at R439 is pretty terrible, because the image of Platt looking toward heaven with that martyred expression on his face is awfully pretentious. Big mistake.

So, they are going to CGI the Cats fur his hair in the movie now after all?

The Times continues its theatrical illiteracy with its mostly positive review of Lord Andy's Cinderella from UK stringer Matt Wolf. No mention at all of choreography and only this about the director. "a big, colorful production, painted in deliberately broad brushstrokes by the director Laurence Connor." Design? Music style or aspirations? Just like Brantley, they are really unqualified to review most aspects of theater work for the supposed "paper of record."

[quote] for being aggressively cruel and abusive, like saying to HIV+ Javier Muñoz, who had cited the added COVID vulnerability of HIV+ folks:

The tweet written by Munoz is passive aggressive. “Being HIV+ I understand the health concerns, but you should follow the union guidelines anyway.” If anyone should have concerns about shooting non-FDA approved vaccines into their body, it should be Munoz.

Pinkins is a huge ball of crazy, but she has a point.

r441 Everything Platt does is awfully pretentious. God, he likened playing Evan to playing Hamlet.

R444. and you too have a point -- on your head.

Dear God, that poster. How up-their-own-asses are these people? It looks insufferable.

R439 The poster looks like it's for a John Cassavetes film, serious as shit art film, not something that they're seeking to actually make money.

[quote] serious as shit art film,

Especially with that ridiculous tag line:

An honest and original story for those lost and then found.

Wasn't the story already used in the Robin Williams film "World's Greatest Dad"?

[quote]Especially with that ridiculous tag line: An honest and original story for those lost and then found.

It really does seem like this movie has already become a marketing disaster even before its release.

[quote] It really does seem like this movie has already become a marketing disaster even before its release.

What worries me is that it sounds like something Harry & Meghan would say. Is this the way public communication will be going forward? Cheap sentiment that has no depth?

[quote]Cheap sentiment that has no depth?

In show biz? Hell, yes. That's about all it is.

R405-This news ought to send Jeff Whitty right over the edge.

Does the "Global Majority" just mean "anyone not Caucasian"?

Why the constant pimping of The Go-Gos? They were essentially a one album wonder. Are they that desperate for cash?

All that blow doesn’t materialize on it own!

Having clicked on the "Times Square is Empty" thread, I noticed a poster for Beetlejuice is still up. How does the rent for those work? Surely the producers haven't been shelling out for poster space for over a year for a show which is closed? Some googling shows other shows still have posters up too. Are the spots for Broadway shows owned by producers or theatres or something? Or was the ad space there just judged worthless when so few visitors are in town?

Jeff Whitty’s talent was best used when he danced in a jockstrap at the Slide. The rest of his career? Not so much.

[quote]Having clicked on the "Times Square is Empty" thread, I noticed a poster for Beetlejuice is still up. How does the rent for those work? Surely the producers haven't been shelling out for poster space for over a year for a show which is closed? Some googling shows other shows still have posters up too. Are the spots for Broadway shows owned by producers or theatres or something? Or was the ad space there just judged worthless when so few visitors are in town?

The answer is really simple, r458. It costs money to remove those posters. The shows are closed, so they aren't gaining anything, and whoever owns the space isn't losing anything by waiting for the next entity to replace it.

There's still an ad for Titanic the Musical or 45th St.

There was a poster for "Oh! Calcutta!" up in one of the Edison Hotels entrances for years after it closed. Those nudies are grandparents now.

Classic decor never ages, r461.

It's too bad DLers can't have an in-person meetup to see the Dear Evan Hansen film on the big screen in September. I plan on going with a friend and laughing my ass off. I actually liked the show (I saw it when Ben Platt could actually somewhat pass for a HS student), but the movie looks hysterical. That wig and his weird cakey makeup and tiny child's body? And his DEAD SERIOUS performance as a 30 year old man in a high school using lockers?

I personally think it would bring a lot of us some real joy and laughs.

I fail to see an issue, r463.

I'm changing my name to Andromada DeBerry...

yes r451 that diamond shape grid of images reeks of marketing desperation, they don't know what to do or say, so collage some photos and add a line about feelings

I'm surprised Ben Platt's name isn't on or prominent in that poster though. Do the producers think he's not nationally known (I don't think he is, despite an upcoming national tour financed by his Daddy).

A National concert tour?

R467 Funny that, given how - according to Ben - if he wasn't starring in it, then it would never get made

I’m not a big Ripley fan but I believe her.

[quote]None of the accusers have accused Ripley of having sex with them or engaging in physical sexual activity.

What am I not getting? A teenager develops a crush on a successful actress. Actress may lead them on or not, or toy with their affections. That's terrible judgement and not-especially-nice behavior on the actress' part. And inappropriate for sure.

It's nowhere near a criminal offense. And it's offensive to suggest it's as bad as the very real harassment and abuse that some people in theatre experience.

So who will be the most missed chorus boy whores on Only Fans? And what will they do when Broadway shuts down again? Turn tricks in the wreckage of the Ninth Avenue Saloon? Or conduct business in the gents at Flames and Saddles? I’ll take Adam Perry’s ass with the Frito Lay special, thanks.

It’s become much too easy to destroy people.

We have lived with internet culture long enough to recognize the Munchausen-like behavior of people who live by apps like Facebook and Twitter and other "community-based" internet sites that mimic a setting of feeling a part of something. If one person says something that resonates with a lonely misfit who is in dire need of attention, then they are likely to get copycats with all kinds of agendas and no proof whatsoever. How are people still falling for this and rushing to judgment against a person before really looking into the situation?

It reminds me of the McMartin Pre-school case from the 1980s, where a bunch of children were allegedly molested by the group of teachers there. The story grew and grew and became this enormous network of satan worshipping, animal sacrificing child pornographers that spanned several California pre-schools and involved police chiefs and senators, and all based on the testimony of 4 year olds who had no idea what they were saying and who had been coached by psychologists looking to make names for themselves. A lot of lives were ruined and the case, which went on for years, resulted in not one single conviction. The stories were made up.

I don't understand how Twitter has been allowed to take the place of a court of law, which in and of itself is not infallible, but is at least a system.

Alice Ripley absolutely shouldn’t be destroyed but she should also back off the teen girls. Her behavior is very strange.

I think it's telling that the Ripley stuff comes with no screenshots. Instead random photos are meant to be proof. And saying she was grooming them was obviously done with malice, as everyone links grooming with sexual abuse. I'd be willing to bet that the photo of Alice in lingerie that was mentioned was Alice in Rocky Horror.

Baz Bamigboye tweeted some huge breaking news-

Donny Osmond will play the Wizard of Pantoland in Pantoland at the London Palladium over the Christmas season.

Woo hoo!

We have the Ghislane Maxwell saga to thank for the term ‘grooming.’

A lot of the Alice ripley stuff happened before screenshots were a thing. My friend who was extremely close with her - that was back when we were in high school - in the late 90s. I doubt she kept their AOL chats? I remember them talking on the phone A LOT.

Bottom line - teen girls are too big a liability. You don’t befriend them and develop these close bonds with them as an adult. Especially not fan girls. Fat suburban fan girls. I can’t think of a riskier group to get involved with…..

Jesus, how many of these things do we need? Is this a film version of Razzle Dazzle??

Those fan girls are nuts. Alice should have known WAY better

Of course, faux cunt extraordinaire Alexandra Billings is chiming in, defending the girl.

One day, Alex, they're gonna turn on you, too.

Amazing and scary how people are so quick to condemn. No one is safe.

Miss Millicent Martin

No one is safe but also you can’t court a group of unstable teen fan girls from NJ and not expect some fallout when you lose interest and drop them. Her judgment is terrible. Yikes.

R39, that Chicago Shakes Sunday had a lot going for it, especially Cusack and Daniely. I saw their smaller and underwhelming production 10ish years before with Andrea Burns. They had stuffed animals onstage for the monkeys and dogs.

[quote]There's still an ad for Titanic the Musical or 45th St.

R460 That's interesting! Do you remember the cross streets?

This was not a wise comment on Ripley's part:

"A piece of trash’s attempt to mar my world = a sad, shameful and discarded cigarette butt #failed,” per the Daily Beast.

R479 Okay but the one who started all this on TikTok specifically said they spoke on Facebook, so screenshots should've been more than possible.

R489 maybe ripley ended up blocking her and that took away the ability to screenshot. Who knows. I agree that tik tok girl seems unstable and has crazy eyes. Ripley’s now deleted comment from R488 is also completely unstable…..

She was great in next to normal.

Alexandra Billings should STFU. They know nothing about what happened so they have nothing to contribute. And wicked sucks

Glenn Close’s touching story about understudying and replacing Mary Ure was the highlight of the new Golden Age documentary. Ure taking the time to send Close a supportive note hours after she was fired and Close replaced her is a whole new level of class. I had no idea Close went on opening night with no rehearsal.

R492, agreed. I have lots of negative feelings about Glenn Close for a number of reasons, but in this movie, she comes across as thoroughly likeable and very compassionate about her fellow actor's situation. Also, Glenn looks great in the talking-head interview. I wonder how long ago it was filmed?

JOH has written a "Gossip Girl" play:

JOH seems to be getting an extra 5 minutes of fame.

Actors, get vaccinated or get off the public stage:

"Pass Over" Might Need a Miracle to Survive:

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1936, "The Mikado" opened at the Martin Beck Theatre.

It was no Hot Mikado.

This stuff wasn't that persuasive to me. The girls just sound nuts....

I’m not buying any of these accusations against Ripley. Mediocre actress, yes. Predator, no.

Just walked past Cynthia Erivo soundchecking for that big concert in Central Park this weekend. She was signing “don’t rain on my parade.”

They should have just cast her. At least she can sing.

Agreed R501

Was she signing while singing?

So Billings is in Wicked and she is calling out Ripley who was in Next To Normal-both produced by: _________________.

Didn’t Cynthia Erivo miss lots of performances in Color Purple? If she didn’t have the stamina for that show, she certainly couldn’t handle Funny Girl for 8 performances a week.

[quote]She was signing “don’t rain on my parade.”

That will save the cost of hiring an ASL interpreter.

[quote] "Pass Over" Might Need a Miracle to Survive:

Let's not waste a miracle on this POS.

As opposed to TPOS, r507?

TPOS IS a miracle!

Erivo doesn't know how to smile when she performs, which is why she will never win an Oscar.

^ Julia is still bitter about losing the Harriet Tubman role to Cynthia.

Laura Osnes has been removed from the Disney Princess tour, Christy Altomare will replace her.

Can I get back to Title Thread Lady Beanie Feldstein?

Does Beanie ever exhibit "bravado" in her performing? I watched her film Booksmart last night and, while she's very charming playing the wistful underdog, she doesn't seem to have the essential comedic energy for powerhouse Fanny/Barbra.

Even when Barbra played the put upon hangdog secretary Miss Marmelstein she had an undeniable sexual bravado. I can barely remember Beanie in Hello, Dolly! except as a cute chubby girl in a lot of ruffles.

Would you call this bravado?

who tf cares about Beanie Hill?

No, I'd call that whimsy.

Bravado requires a touch of vulgarity.

Streisand, Merman, Verdon, Judy Holliday, Chita Rivera, Roz Russell, Carol Burnett, Nancy Walker, Vivienne Segal, Pearl Bailey, Vivian Blaine, Bea Lillie, Tammy Grimes, Dorothy Loudon, Dolores Gray, Janis Paige, and of course, Lupone and Chenoweth. Only Mary Martin and possibly Angela Lansbury and Bernadette Peters seems to have succeeded without it.

Have I left anyone out? Gertrude Lawrence....the jury is out on her.

Gertie used vulgarity sparingly, but to great effect, r517.

Nicely done, Alice. I hope this crapfest goes away and you can move on

A thought about the Alice Ripley situation: It's a somewhat slippery slope in judging whether an adult's attentions to minors or barely legal young people are inappropriate or not. But from what I've read, there's is a huge difference in what Ripley's accusers claim she did and the behavior of, for example, someone like Michael Jackson, who arranged to spend tremendous amounts of time alone with many young boys, including actually sleeping in the same bed with them. In contrast, it seems that few if any of Ripley's accusers claim to have spent any significant amount of time alone with her in private situations. Rather, it seems almost all of their interaction with her was in her dressing room, with other people present, or having meals with her in restaurants.

The sad thing is when people who aren’t credible start making accusations like this it’s a great big fuck you to those who are actually victimized. And people like Alexandra Billings backing them up just adds to the fuckery.

Alexandra Billlings victimized me when I saw him in The Nap.

I hope Ripley sues the fuck out of them.

Karaoke accusations are so rarely credible.

Those fans are damaged and desperate for attention, and theatre attracts them. Then when they get the attention, they want to be in charge of it, so the star becomes an object of hate if they withhold it at all or even draw boundaries (which Ripley should have done way earlier in these "relationships." But it is very very "Fatal Attraction."

unfortunately, posters like r513 and so many others are comparing Beanie with Barbra, rather than talking about whether or not any of Beanie's qualities might make a good Fanny on her terms. Her assignment isn't to do Barbra's, but to play the part. Did Ann Miller play Angie's Mame? Did Steven Skybell play Zero's Tevye?

Streisand has a stronger imprint on Fanny Brice. It’s impossible to even sing “People” or “Don’t Rain on My Parade” out of context without being compared to Streisand. Lansbury and Mostel were definitive, but other performers have succeeded in these roles, largely because Fiddler and Mame are well written. Funny Girl is not.

Even if you just look at the requirements of the role, Beanie lacks the versatility, depth, and drive needed for the role. She lacks the buzz of stardom Barbra had even before Funny Girl. This is a hard role to cast, but she came out of left field…in a minor league stadium.

Maybe it will work, but smart money is on surer bets.

Streisand also has the benefit of the indelible film capturing her performance for the ages. Mostel and Lansbury do not.

Good luck, Beanie!

Barbra had offbeat sex appeal. Beanie is a meskite. Barbra has drama in her singing voice. Beanie has competence and nothing more. Beanie also has questionable anal hygiene.

[quote]Streisand also has the benefit of the indelible film capturing her performance for the ages. Mostel and Lansbury do not.

Exactly. It would be better to compare the Beanie/Barbra situation to anyone who tries to play the role of Harold Hill in THE MUSIC MAN after Robert Preston, or the king in THE KING AND I after Yul Brynner, or Higgins in MY FAIR LADY after Rex Harrison. For whatever reasons, a few performers have had considerable success in the latter two roles despite having to perform in the shadow of stars who are indelibly associated with those roles. As far as I know, NOBODY since Preston has had any real success as Harold Hill, but that will presumably change with Hugh Jackman.

You should talk Bette.

Beanie such a bad choice and its obvious. She doesn't have the voice. She doesn't have stage presence, she has film appeal. (I don't think one critic noted her 'Dolly' performance which was competent at best (and a little odd, but I'll blame that on Zaks). This will be quite the event.

What's this about Beanie's anal hygiene?

What’s really interesting is how these accusers are throwing the word GROOMING around. I never heard that term used re underage girls until the Jeffrey Epstein shit hit the fan. Ghislane GROOMED underage girls for predators. Exactly how did Ripley allegedly groom anyone? It’s all so fucked up.

R526 - Beanie doesn’t have the voice to sing the show. That’s the issue. Watch that clip of her singing and “dancing” above. She sounds like an amateur. She wouldn’t even carry this show in a regional theater.

I’m sure she’s had voice lessons since elementary school so unless some coach can completely change her level of talent before the show opens… that will be the real problem.

Unless they make it a play? Is that an option?

[quote] She doesn't have stage presence, she has film appeal.

Hardly. In the olden days, we'd have said she has a face made for radio.

I hope Ripley reschedules her 54 below show. It’s bullshit she had to cancel because of the army of borderline fraus.

I would go to support her at this point. Fuck this nonsense. She probably thought she was helping these awkward teenage messes and now she’s being called a pedophile on twitter. Disgusting.

R536, she’s gotten an awful lot of on camera work for someone with a face for radio.

This Saturday morning cartoon was just on...

No matter the reviews for Beanie, she will be a hit for the Wicked fangurls and Alice Ripley's rejects.

I suspect that Beanie has gotten a lot of work largely due to a combination of her family connections plus the fact that we are in a period of affirmative action for overweight performers.

Rags opened 35 years ago today. Saw it was Stratas who was fine. Anyone lucky enough to see Christine Andreas in Boston? Met Stratas’ other understudy Audrey Lavine who said Andreas resigned after opening night in NY. Lavine is married to a really bad actor and they’re both insufferable.

Physically, Beanie is miscast as Lewinsky but I guarantee not one critic will mention that for fear of being canceled. Monica isn’t a great beauty but she doesn’t look like Miss Piggy either. She should sue.

r542, who is the really bad insufferable actor? We're on an anonymous chat board.

[quote] Beanie has gotten a lot of work largely due to a combination of her family connections

R541 what are her family connections?

R545 Sister of fellow fat pig Jonah Hill. Best friends with afro hair Ben Platt.

[quote][R542], who is the really bad insufferable actor? We're on an anonymous chat board.

Actor/director H. Clark Kee

R547, I have never heard of that person.

For R548

R549, I really do know how to use Google. My phrasing was meant as a comment that this H. Clark Kee person is pretty much a nobody, which I've now confirmed through Googling. So I'm not sure why R542 even bothered to mention him.

Well, this is lovely. Gorgeous Dutch performer Romy Monteiro performing “I Will Always Love You” alongside a child violinist at a concert today in Amsterdam:

Monteiro was the lead in the Dutch production of The Bodyguard and won The Voice (of Holland).

[quote] [R549], I really do know how to use Google. My phrasing was meant as a comment that this H. Clark Kee person is pretty much a nobody, which I've now confirmed through Googling. So I'm not sure why [R542] even bothered to mention him.

Because someone asked. He initially just said the woman was married to a really bad actor who was insufferable, leading one to believe the person was not anyone we'd heard of.

I didn’t mention Audrey’s crappy actor husband because he’s not someone you would know or care about. I just pointed out that he’s as insufferable as she is but she at least has some talent.

Forget Streisand for a moment. Beanie simply doesn’t have the voice to deliver those songs the way they’re supposed to be delivered. Period. It’s a thin, small voicemail and there’s nothing special or exciting about it. Add the fact that she’s physically all wrong, and it’s an overwhelmingly bad choice.

" and there’s nothing special or exciting about it. "

*

She doesn't have a *sound*, r555.

[quote]Rags opened 35 years ago today. Saw it was Stratas who was fine. Anyone lucky enough to see Christine Andreas in Boston?

I reviewed "Rags" on press night in Boston, with Christine Andreas. I thought that she was fine and that the show had a lot of potential, but that it needed work. I remember also being impressed with Judy Kuhn, whom I had never heard of before.

Annette is an insane fun musical.

There's a new Annette, r558!

[quote]There's a new Annette, R558!

A new, sophisticated Annette, if that glamorous hairdo is any indication. Was it designed by Frank Lloyd Wright?

so really is there anyone out there you queens would [italic]like[/italic] to see as Fanny?

No. Babs really is irreplaceable in this role.

BRING BACK LAINIE!

[quote]so really is there anyone out there you queens would like to see as Fanny?

Fanny Brice, but she died in 1951.

Liza sparkles while doing raunchy choreography...

Liza for Fanny!

[quote]Fanny Brice, but she died in 1951.

It's always 1951 on Datalounge.

Roger Minami was dazzling in The Act and Arthur was a highlight. He did the Annie movie after that.

Speaking of useless musical revivals......Dancin’???? Why? It sucked the first time and that was with Fosse in charge.

What happened to Minami after that? Did he become a caregiver/bf to an old white billionaire?

I remember reading he turned to selling Mary Kay, r570.

The scoop on Roger. He’s painting now.

Three homes....he must have invested wisely...

"With homes in Santa Monica, California, Vancouver, and Puerto Vallarta, he has a varied source of inspiration for his work. His paintings reflect the color of Mexico combined with the flair of show business and has provided yet another creative outlet for this multi-talented man."

Back in lockdown and bored so...

Merrily We Roll Along.

Why does the lady shout every line?

She shouts every line because she’s so ashamed of her bad Amurrican accent.

When I went to see it at the Menier Chocolate Factory Mark Umbers’ then-bf was there, a blond twink whose very presence seemed to scream “I’m Mark Umbers’ boyfriend.” Mark could do much better and I gather he eventually did.

Is Mark Umber the guy playing Franklin?

Umbers*

It's a Gehry, r560.

Yes, R576. Cute as a button and also a sweetheart. Sort of like Gavin Creel but with way more charm and a face you actually remember the day after seeing him in something. He was also an adorable Oscar in the Chocolate Factory production of Sweet Charity.

Does he have bad B.O. like Gavin?

[quote]Chocolate Factory production of Sweet Charity

Was that ever recorded on video?

No, R581. It did transfer to the West End, though.

It was the first show I ever saw at the Chocolate Factory. I’ll never forget sitting in that tiny theatre and that hidden orchestra began the overture with those first five notes from “Hey, Big Spender.” I was almost blasted out of my seat.

A bosomy lass was she...

Wasn’t a DANCIN’ revival/reboot in the works prior to Ann Reinking’s death? Even without her involved, it could be pretty interesting (especially if they integrated the cut/lost numbers and took out some of the more dated material).

Sixteen more replies left ... would whomever starts #433 maybe share the link?

"... and Stritch, who celebrated by getting plastered at the opening-night party at the Inigo Jones restaurant in Covent Garden and barking savagely at anyone who crossed her path."

Just look the link up in search. it's not that difficult.

R587 Stupid fucking title.

It's not that hard to link it in the previous thread, r587. I don't know why the Theatre Gossip threads are so lax about it. Also you know how well the search function works.

R589 Here.

Sail Away!

[quote]Sixteen more replies left ... would whomever starts #433 maybe share the link?

Oh, dear.

Elaine has always meant business...

I wish Elaine had done the title to the new thread because it's horrible.

"Whoop-Up!"

Elaine around 6:00...

My goodness...

Goldilocks

Small Craft Warnings

Bajour!