THEATRE GOSSIP #535: The "Chita Feels Over and I Kind of Do Too!" Edition

The former thread (OP, you should always link the new thread in the old one)

So, Chita gets ridiculed on DL for being too old to perform on stage, yet Biden isn't too old to be president?

I would NEVER feel over.

Thank you, OP! I tried to create a new thread but Muriel wouldn't let me. Not sure why.

Sister of Spanish beauty Kay Surrah!

Kay Surrah, Surrah

When Chita performed at NSMT in Beverly, MA a few months ago, she was led to the stage as if she were Helen Keller.

I’m so nervous with all of these Covid outages.

I’m flying to London in September and seeing Bernadette Peters in Old Friends. I will be devastated if she is out when I go.

A friend of mine was at Chita's show on Fire Island, and his description of what happened comports with what was posted in the previous thread. Apparently, Chita and Lisa were doing "Nowadays" from CHICAGO as their last number. "They started to do the choreography walking backwards, Chita tripped and started to fall backwards into the drums. Lisa caught her and someone from the front row helped her down and back up. She said she was okay." They restarted the dance but then "Chita must have had an adrenaline rush or blood sugar drop, and she seemed like she was going to pass out. She stopped responding. Lisa was holding her and Gary Adler got to her and then others sat her down and took her off to the side of the stage."

Of course, that all sounds very scary, but happy to report that my friend saw Chita having breakfast in a restaurant the following morning.

So, it turns out that one of the producers of the new Off-Broadway play "Pay the Writer," co-starring Bryan Batt, is......Mitchell Maxwell. I'll just leave that little factoid here.

Wah Wah.

Maybe someone should stage her act with her in a wheelchair. That might get some of you evil queens off my back.

Oh my God....Mitchell Maxwell. Who let that train wreck back into the building?

OP, I will ask& you can yell at me later, but who is Mitchell Maxwell?

R9 only on Datalounge can u read about a 90 year old diva falling off the stage during a concert, but then also relieved to discover she had her shredded wheat the next morning like usual!

[quote]Only on Datalounge can u read about a 90 year old diva falling off the stage during a concert, but then also relieved to discover she had her shredded wheat the next morning like usual!

And I hope you appreciate that!

R14, I'm with you... I'm an uninformed Eldergay (with a whor-ish past) from wMA - why did the mention of Mitchell Maxwell make others recoil in horror?

Mitchell Maxwell is a producer with a very shady past. You can probably find more info through Googling, though I imagine it's not that easy to do so. I hate to link to the NY Post, but here is one example.

So Mitchell Maxwell is out of jail?

I wish Lisa would finally tell Chita that seeing a 90 yo woman dancing is pitiful. Lisa's a good egg but she's kinda like Melissa Rivers in that she wouldn't have a career without mom. I think that's ironic because if she stayed in LA, she might have had a nice career. She was on several sitcoms and has a cheerful, sweet personality. She's not a singer or dancer. I heard she really wanted to play Morales in the first replacement Broadway production of ACL but she wasn't strong enough as a singer or dancer.

City Center has just announced that all of next season's Encores! shows -- ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, JELLY'S LAST JAM and TITANIC -- will have two week runs, as compared to the one-week runs of the past. (Their OLIVER! did have a two-week run.)

Broadway Briefing has devoted so many stories to El Mago Pop, you can be sure John Gore/BAA is producing, now that they own Broadway Briefing. Sad and pathetic for their allegiances to be so prominent.

I think I’ve told this story before but…on one of my annual visits to London I continued my tradition of walking down the Kings Road in Chelsea. This was around 4 pm and the sun had just set. I strolled down one of the side streets and took quick glances into the ground floor front room windows of some of the posh townhouses, there were gorgeously decorated Christmas trees in most of them. But in one of them there was an elderly lady in heavy make-up sitting up erectly and rigidly on the edge of a couch with a frozen grin on her face. It was Chita Rivera and she was watching a quiz show The Weakest Link. I went to see her in Kiss of the Spider Woman at the Shaftesbury (aka The Shafts) three nights later.

R23, you ARE the Weakest Link.

[quote] Sister of Spanish beauty Kay Surrah!

Kay is a puta if there ever was one.

I still hate every time I hear Len Cariou sing “virtu-is” instead of “virtu-us.”

R12 liza did I Got Rhythm sitting down during Minnelli Destroys Minelli so maybe

[quote]Broadway Briefing has devoted so many stories to El Mago Pop

I just saw him on TV for the first time the other day and he’s hot af, so I may have to buy a ticket now, damn it!

Hot?

He looks like his mom puts a bowl on his head to cut his hair.

He's bought a theatre in Branson, Missouri, so it's all about being able to advertise as 'direct from Broadway'. Plus lots of stealing from other magicians and egregious use of audience plants

oh Chita Rivera we love you get up.

SNEEZEY TODD

WHEEZEY TODD

VACCINE-Y TODD...

The grosses for last week just posted. Kimberly Akimbo is definitely closing in January. Even though Back to the Future dropped considerably from last week, it's still amazing for a show that got terrible reviews in The New York Times.

Apparently Mago Pop or whatever lands a helicopter on stage. 🥱

Tonight he will be Miss Saigon.

Did Ramin, Lea, and Tovah all have Covid for 3 shows over the weekend? Or did they go to a wedding?

Shucked canned their ad agency I hear. Any idea who accepted the dying patient?

I also couldn't help but notice The Cottage was at $310,000 and The Shark at $250,000. So much for summer entertainment.

And worse news, Here Lies Love is already at only $700,000 and something.

Finally, Broadway theater-goers are becoming discerning shoppers.

Vicky was on vacation last week so KA numbers would definitely be down. Ashford out of ST tonite. Uh oh.

I'd love to see Kim Cattrall replace Victoria Clark in Kimberly Akimbo just to piss off SJP.

Ashford is out on the 23rd as well.

SIX also seems to be slipping but I'm guessing their running costs are manageable.

KIMBERLY'S A BIMBO, R40.

Speaking of Ashford, I would love to see her play Winifred in Encores ...Mattress.

Oh dear

Lisa will be dragging that corpse around to her grave.

[quote]Apparently Mago Pop or whatever lands a helicopter on stage.

Been there, done that.

Who is Mitchell Maxwell....can we see nude photos please?

No! Not ever!

Well, tough luck, r44. The role is taken!

so are Ashford and Groban out at the same time, or is Groban back?

Leland Palmer said when rehearsing "Bajour" she bumped into fellow dancer Michael Bennett, who bumped into star Chita, who fell over flat onto the stage and then told Palmer, "If you weren't such a fabulous dancer, I would have you fired!"

So, she's been falling and dusting herself off for at least 60 years...

R51. Both out. No return dates set.

Update: looks like Groban will be back on Thursday and Ashford back on Saturday. I guess the quarantine period is no longer 10 days.

Some Like It Hot has got to be getting close to the closing line, I imagine.

Well at least Chits wasn't incontinent on stage. Must have borrowed from June Allyson.

So B*R*O*A*D*W*A*Y isn't testing for COVID anymore.

Turns out you can catch COVID singing into other people's faces. Golly who knew?

Wonder how long till testing comes back?

R57, you seem absolutely thrilled about the situation in a know-it-all sort of way. May I ask what's wrong with you?

Poor Justin.

Oh, some bitch here keeps making fun of Chita for performing while she’s too old. At the same time we give young performers who call out for every little thing a hard time. DL is rough and sometimes unpleasant. Chita troll, STFU. When you’re her age, the only dancing will be on your grave.

You sound old, R60, because you just don't understand that the younger performers don't live for their jobs. Other things in life are much more important. For example: Why should I let my job interfere with my attending a friend's wedding? So what if my absence is going to cause an inconvenience to so many? It's my life and my profession comes secondary to my personal life. Most of my generation feels the same way. You are so out of touch with contemporary life.

R61 not just young people. I too called out and ended my run with Funny Girl early to have a leisurely trip to LA.

Ticket buyers be damned!

[quote] the younger performers don't live for their jobs. Other things in life are much more important

Imagine trying to paint that as a negative.

Also, exactly what inconvenience did her absence cause?

[quote] You sound old, [R60], because you just don't understand that the younger performers don't live for their jobs. Other things in life are much more important. For example: Why should I let my job interfere with my attending a friend's wedding? So what if my absence is going to cause an inconvenience to so many? It's my life and my profession comes secondary to my personal life. Most of my generation feels the same way. You are so out of touch with contemporary life.

r60/Beanie, I've read carefully your various points and points of view, and after careful consideration, I say, fuck you.

[quote]Also, exactly what inconvenience did her absence cause?

Well, as far as Beanie is concerned, you've got a point. Her absences were only a plus.

The Outsiders the musical opens at the Royale in March.

Do we have any insiders on The Outsiders?

No. We're on the outside looking in.

Johnny O talkin' Sondheim show...

some excerpts from the article:

“Here We Are,” according to sources familiar with the book and score, has hardly any songs in its second act. One insisted it has “zero,” adding, “Steve bailed because he could not write Act 2. He gave it up and never thought it would be done.” The insider went on to say that “there are only six songs in Act 1, and one is repeated in every single scene.”

But many have doubts that it’s ready for prime time. “This is half a show,” a source said.

Yet one that’s charging full price. Theatergoers have griped about the stratospheric ticket prices, as the quality of the musical is unknown and it’s based on material unfamiliar to many. Seats are $129 if you’re lucky, and $350 if you’re not. That’s more than Saturday night at “Hamilton” and “The Lion King” on Broadway. Those eye-gouging costs for the 15-week run are due, according to a source, to its humongous $8 million enhancement.

This is all depressing news for Sondheim fans. I'm sure the 6 songs will be fascinating, but still.

Imagine paying $350 to see... a new David Ives play.

and when did it become OK for nonprofits to charge WAY above commercial prices for these "enhanced" tryouts?

I was recently shocked to see somewhere, I don't remember exactly where, an ad for HERE WE ARE in which David Ives' name was listed BEFORE Sondheim's. But maybe that's partly a reflection of the fact that the show apparently doesn't have a full score.

is a story like this part of their marketing plan or was Rick Miramontez caught with his pants down at Cole Haan?

R74, You make it sound as if that’s bad.

Most of Sondheim’s shows came together in previews. Seems foolish to be presenting this without him. The process is incomplete.

[quote]and one is repeated in every single scene.”

Sounds like "Merrily."

So, Sondheim was too old and worn out to finish his musical? Where is the ridicule?

R78, At least he had no problem remaining erect.

He was going to fall into the drum set, but I saved him!

ST took a $370,000 hit last weekend when Groban was out.

Most of Sondheim's shows came together in previews

Yeah, that didn't work out so well the first time, the second time, the third time or the fourth.

TEENY TODD!

R81, Meanwhile, Goodnight, Oscar surpassed $1,000,000.00.

I'd really like to see Raul take on the role of Sweeney.

Tell us about it, r82!

Raul's take on Sweeney?

INTENSE and OVERWROUGHT!!

Bisexual!

[quote]Those eye-gouging costs for the 15-week run are due, according to a source, to its humongous $8 million enhancement.

Can someone explain this, please? My understanding of enhancement money was a commercial producer part-funding a non-profit's production, in exchange for getting the rights to transfer it commercially should the production be a hit. But that wouldn't explain the huge ticket prices trying to recoup that $8 million now.

R85, Sweeney Todd with an annoying vibrato?

What sort of a contract are the actors being paid under for HERE WE ARE?

[quote]Those eye-gouging costs for the 15-week run are due, according to a source, to its humongous $8 million enhancement.

[quote]Can someone explain this, please? My understanding of enhancement money was a commercial producer part-funding a non-profit's production, in exchange for getting the rights to transfer it commercially should the production be a hit. But that wouldn't explain the huge ticket prices trying to recoup that $8 million now.

R90, neither I nor anyone else can explain that statement to you, because it makes zero sense, as I noted elsewhere. Please consider that this quote came from an article in the New York Post.

You can "enhance" a play with 6 songs all you like, but that won't necessarily turn it into a full-length musical.

Poor Ryan

Broadway needs another Say, Darling!, r94.

[quote]This is all depressing news for Sondheim fans. I'm sure the 6 songs will be fascinating, but still.

Does anyone remember that song, "God," he wrote for "Sondheim On Sondheim?" I assume these songs will all sound like that.

Oh my....

I can see why this never became more of a thing.

It's like a parody of Sondheim.

So let's go back to possibly the earliest Sondheim. A song he wrote in 1952 for Burr Tillstrom for Kukla, Fran and Ollie, whom he admired. The song went into Side by Side when Tillstrom was in, sung with Nancy Dussault.

Any update on how the widow Sondheim is doing?

R100-No idea, but the Widow McNally is the producer of Here We Are, and I'm sure he's doing just fine. Overcharging for tix off-Broadway for a musical that was never ready for prime-time. Gotta make up those New York New York losses!

r100 Still posting his so-so photos on IG

Sondheim's song was rejected by the Kukla producers. They made quite a funny bit of it in Side by Side in Chicago.

Seeing Jeanna deWaal as Lovett tomorrow. Kind of hope Groban is out, just to see his US.

. . . with a blue-chip cast and director, R71.

r104 Groban just announced on IG he's back tomorrow, sorry!

I'm excited to see the Sondheim, though I am prepared for it to be a minor effort. Just kind of feels like a NYC event that will be cool to be present for. You can say you saw it. And I've not been to the Shed, either.

My thoughts (and $$$$$), too, r107.

Sondheim is dead, folks. Resurrecting his obscure music will only tarnish his memory.

His "obscure" music is so interesting, though! There are cut numbers from earlier shows, those new songs he wrote for the '04 revival of THE FROGS, and the Bounce/Road Show stuff. All worth a listen, if you're into Sondheim.

Oh dear.

It's page six, ffs, r111, so take it with a pillar of salt. After all, the article opens with:

[quote]A source exclusively tells Page Six that TikTok star Dylan Mulvaney is in talks to play Saly [sic] Bowles in “Cabaret”

It clarifies that she is only being considered as a replacement if it runs.

That's a whole lotta "ifs".

True. Source = Dylan.

^ I hope you're joking?

Those Mark McKillop comments in the last thread... they have to be coming from him right?

R95 those ill-fitting costumes are hideous!

What bizzare looking ears that kid on the left has…

R117, he plays a "dwarf" in the show. So....prosthetic.

[quote]I can’t believe, even on the first day of rehearsal…we were learning harmonies to ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time.’ That does not happen in a normal Broadway process,” marvels Levy, whose previous Broadway credit is the far more somber Dear Evan Hansen.

You can say that again!

I'm always suspicious when people bring stuff like this up when they're promoting something. But, if it's true, it's pretty shocking.

R111-Plenty of trained actresses in NYC. We don't need this trash stinking up the August Wilson.

Cabaret, sponsored by BUD LIGHT

r119 Big if. Every interview she's done until now has backfired as she's a massively egotistical and deluded cunt (as an example, she said she only agreed to do Mean Girls if Tina Fey and Lorne Michaels agreed to promote her music career forever), and the cynical side of me thinks she's pulling this claim out now as an attempt to reverse the damage and get some sympathy.

I agree with r122, r119, regarding the treatment she claims she suffered at Mean Girls. She told mommy and daddy, but not the Equity Deputy?

Did we discuss Chita’s autobiography here? The gratuitous outing of Debbie Reynolds was so odd.

R119 is that why her tits look so bad?

How does she out Debbie, r124?

Writing of the audience for her LA cabaret debut: “The boys [in Studio One] no doubt did double takes when they saw among them Fred Astaire, Cyd Charisse, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, Dick Van Dyke, Gregory Peck, Debbie Reynolds, and other Hollywood stars. Tony and Chris [Chita’s dancers] loved the fact that being in a gay bar had to be a first for many of them. But not for Debbie!”

R127, thanks for the quote... i don't think it means that Debbie was gay, but she was friends with gay men and had been in gay bars previously.

Thank you, R128. It's hardly an "outing," especially not when you consider that lesbians have never especially been known to congregate in bars catering to gay men. I'm sure Chita meant what you think she meant, not what R124 thinks she meant.

I understand your demurrals, but it jumps out so oddly, particularly since it’s the first mention of Reynolds in the book. It seems an odd thing to say so offhandedly.

I think it's called humor. r130.

I think it means Debbie was a fag hag.

Sweeney Todd understudy was great. Nicholas Christopher's Sweeny was taller, meaner, and sometimes sang with tears in his eyes. I liked the Pirelli understudy too.

"Epiphany" got about as much extended applause as Groban's version. So glad I so this again.

Whistles are back baby! I also noticed more pronounced whistles/whistle like flutes throughout the score, especially in Act 2.

Everyone can whistle!

r133 did you also see Lady Di as Mrs L?

R133, are you saying that the factory whistle has been added to this production? If so, I'd say that's pretty big news, since the director went out of his way to justify why they eliminated it originally. As for your other comment, I'm sure the orchestration hasn't changed a bit, so I guess you just noticed the flutes more this time, for some reason.

No r136. Love Annaleigh though. I am worried this won't extend since ticket sales are lower when the leads are out.

Blake Shelton and Reba

Now that funny girl is done - would Beanie Feldstein have had better luck with Once Upon A Mattress? My hubby thinks so. He felt it’s slight enough & fun but also forgiving on the vocals. What say ya’ll DL?

One word, r139...divorce.

R140 No really. I think it was do-able. She was abysmal in Funny Girl but the show is dull & the production cheap looking. She could’ve mugged her way through Mattress & please her teen fans.

Beanie will make a comeback but probably not Broadway. She's more Rhoda than MTM so she's suited towards supporting but I can see her doing well in some Netflix show.

I don't think a belt role is for her, r141.

Beanie's whole persona is sad sack apologetic and self-deprecating.

Winnie needs a brazen girl!

Received a brochure from the Ahmanson (in L.A.) today, which includes [italic]Funny Girl[/italic] in their upcoming season. Absolutely NO hint that Lea might be doing it. In which case, hard pass.

R145, Have you been in a coma? The touring cast was widely reported weeks ago.

When they were doing the horrible revival of Mattress way back when with Sarah Jessica Parker (who was excrectable in it) I tried to think of who could do it, and I came up with Cyndi Lauper. She would have been perfect for it!

Jeanna De Waal is terrific as Lovett. Audience loved her. She sings better than AA, has better diction and an authentic accent., with her own flourishes. Nonetheless, she does not have—at least yet—the unique comic genius of AA. Maybe that will come; after all, she's only played the role several times before an audience. As for Groban, he was on fire after his Covid rest. Just brilliant. Think that had he given this performance early on, he might have won the Tony. The rest of the cast is still great, with a lot of hammy enthusiasm. The Anthony was excellent. Nathan Salstone. Not sure if he's permanent or an us.

Nathan

How did SJP get Mattress?

She wasn’t a tv star at that point, and her film career was a mixed bag.

She also wasn’t a theatre star outside of playing Annie 20 years earlier.

Surely other stars were considered to be the first post Carol Burnett Winifred?

She was still a *name*, r150. A "mixed bag" of a film career is still a film career.

I think there's a general feeling that SJP got MATTRESS largely on the basis of her Off-Broadway performance in SYLVIA, which was delightful. But that didn't mean she was right for Winnifred. On the other hand, I think she might have given a far better performance as Winnifred if her director hadn't been so totally at sea with that show.

Much like Beanie, couldn't the team realize during rehearsals they'd made a huge mistake?

R153, it's quite possible that some or all of the team realized during rehearsals of FUNNY GIRL that a big mistake had been made in casting Beanie, but they certainly weren't going to make a change at that point, for obvious reasons. That said, its easy to imagine Michael Mayer thinking she was great in the role.

Beanie was a *huge* mistake, r153, Sarah Jessica was just a mistake.

AA will be out of ST tonite and both shows tomorrow.

Does her understudy do the Curly Shuffle?

[Quote] excrectable

Oh dear

[quote]Have you been in a coma? The touring cast was widely reported weeks ago.

It's also been widely speculated that Lea might do the L.A. engagement. That type of thing [italic]has[/italic] happened before.

Michael Mayer and Michael Patrick King are the same. Both have bad ideas and dig in on them even deeper, when someone questions.

[quote]It's also been widely speculated that Lea might do the L.A. engagement. That type of thing has happened before.

Yes, but when something like that happens, isn't it usually announced when the tour is announced? Would be rather awkward to announce after the fact that the star of the tour will NOT be headlining the LA engagement so Lea can step in for that in order for her performance to be seen by people who matter.

R160, what are some examples of Michael Patrick King doing that? I was referring to Gerald Gutierrez, who did such an awful job of directing SJP in ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.

What's the buzz? Tell me what's happenin'!

r162 Everything to do with And Just Like That?

I think Lea should do it in LA. She still has a bad rep but if she came here and pumped the BO, got great reviews and was also on best behavior, it would help her a lot.

OP, I have a question about Beanie Feldstein being replaced by the Lea monster.

Did Beanie sue her manager (who was Lea's manager too (at the time) and the management company who represented them both in Funny Girl? Also, did she sue the producers who were running the show& the money people who back them. It was posted here months ago here that the Lea Monster was secretly auditioned as Beanie's replacement long before she was replaced by Lea. Did the producers of FG and Beanie's Management company just give her a "big fat untold millions of $$$$" cashier's check, along with the MONEY PEOPLE who backed the show.

Did Beanie get paid off to shut up about what happened to HER? There were violations of Contract Law, correct? OP, you are my Broadway source because I don't know jack shit about Broadway(except when Edward Windsor was working stagehand) Thanks.

R166, of course I don't know the details, but it seems to me the only point on which Beanie might have had grounds to sue the producers was the fact that Lea, rather than Beanie, recorded the cast album. I've read and heard that Beanie exited the production even earlier than originally announced for that specific reason, when it became clear that's what was going to happen.

Did Beanie sue DL?

[quote]Yes, but when something like that happens, isn't it usually announced when the tour is announced?

Not always. When Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, and Mary McCarty went into the "Chicago" tour for Los Angeles, it wasn't announced till a few weeks before it began (they actually started the last week in Chicago, to get them back into the company).

Same with Lili in Carnival. Susan Watson starred in the tour, but Anna Maria Alberghetti decided she wanted Los Angeles, so she took over the tour for LA and Susan Watson went into the Broadway company.

Then how come I saw Carla Alberghetti in Detroit in the first national tour?

Thanks, R169. Those are interesting examples. But I still think it will be awkward if Lea is belatedly announced for the LA run of the FG tour, after the casting was already announced and it was assumed that the star of the tour would be doing the whole tour. Unless maybe the star of the tour was informed from the get-go that this was a possibility. (Obviously, she has no other production of FG to step into.)

I doubt it, unless DL had something to do with Beanie getting sick with Covid& everything else all the time.

Everyone in the upper management wanted Beanie out, that's why the producers secretly auditioned Lea months before Beanie was fired (or left or paid off). Lea management company knew about secret audition, but they both shared the same manager, was Beanie told about this betrayal.

How many months was Beanie in FG before she bailed? Or was fired? Did she have longer than a 6 month contract.

I don't know all the details but have heard from backstage sources that she was miserably depressed and desperate to get out out of th show and back to LA. And supposedly, from those backstage sources, the cast and crew loved her in spite of her shortcomings onstage.

The "star" of the FG tour is a total unknown, barely out of college, so she'll do what she's told and be grateful for it.

My other question on Funny Girl, why wasn't Lea Monster given the lead role. Did she audition for it?

I know nothing about Broadway, but I have DL and OP for this information.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1980, "42nd Street" opened at the Winter Garden Theatre.

"The 12"? Couldn't I just watch "Six" twice?

I really can't imagine even Michael Mayer would have required Lea to audition for FG. We'd all seen quite enough of her doing it on TV.

I think Beanie would be perfect for Winnifred in " Mattress." Chris Colfer as Dauntless, Jane Lynch as Aggravain, and Jason Alexander as the King.

I think they only thing that would keep Lea from doing LA is if she had scheduling issues (ie if something better came along). The road tour Fanny can be Thursday night Fanny.

R169 R172. I’m not sure what’s scarier: someone remembering touring cast substitutions from 50 years ago, or someone else accepting it as a good example of what will happen now. Ye Gads!

You don't have to go back 50 years for examples R181

When the Diane Paulus [bold]Pippin[/bold] went on tour in 2014, it was announced that Lucie Arnaz would be playing the grandmother, Berthe. Several days later, however, it was announced that Tony winner Andrea Martin would be playing the role in Los Angeles.

A similar thing happened with the First National Tour of [bold]Cinderella[/bold]. Beth Glover played Madame (the Wicked Stepmother) on tour, except in L.A., where Fran Drescher re-created her Broadway performance in the role.

If Lea were going to do [bold]Funny Girl[/bold] in L.A., I presume they might hold off announcing it until after her run ends on Broadway. That would give them the most PR bang for the buck -- and sell a shitload of tickets.

I think loss of memory is far scarier, r181. Ye Gads!

[quote]shitload of tickets

An unfortunate choice of words.

[quote]I don't understand why waiting till after the Broadway FUNNY GIRL closes with Lea to announce she'll be doing the show in L.A. would give the tour "the most PR bang for the buck," rather than announcing it when the rest of the touring cast was announced. Why do you say that, R182?

If anything, I would think the opposite: Announcing now that Lea will be headlining the show in L.A. would remind people that they only have a brief time left to see her in the show on Broadway. That is, if they attend on a night when she shows up....

[quote]would remind people that they only have a brief time left to see her in the show on Broadway.

Don't worry, r185, they'll be reminding us.

Sorry, folks, I really screwed up above. That should have been:

I don't understand why waiting till after the Broadway FUNNY GIRL closes with Lea to announce she'll be doing the show in L.A. would give the tour "the most PR bang for the buck," rather than announcing it when the rest of the touring cast was announced. Why do you say that, [R182]?

If anything, I would think the opposite: Announcing now that Lea will be headlining the show in L.A. would remind people that they only have a brief time left to see her in the show on Broadway. That is, if they attend on a night when she shows up....

We understood the first time.

[quote]I think Beanie would be perfect for Winnifred in " Mattress." Chris Colfer as Dauntless, Jane Lynch as Aggravain, and Jason Alexander as the King.

Seriously? An all-white cast in 2023? Dream on.

They could announce Lea two weeks before the LA run and there would be a rush to buy whatever tickets are left. Lea would do LA because it's a chance to be seen by LA casting directors and movie people who probably forgot all about her after Glee.

harumph R189 and h-i-i-i-s-s-s-s. It's "An all-White cast"! You capitalize the "W", just as you have to capitalize the "B" in Black.

Follow the new, all-woke, all-the-time style guide!

you bitch - and again, h-i-i-i-s-s-s.

PS - I know, it's hard to keep up, it is for me...

The Lea Broadway legend has been gotten wrong by many, especially here. After the reviews unanimously destroyed Lea (well, except for Rex Reed) she melted down, and wanted out. She wanted out. Mayer and Lea have a long-standing, and he went to her, and smartly knowing she would be a hero, and it was perfect for her, she said yes. That was hush hush, and they worked with Beanie and her team to figure it out. But knowing the spotlight would be intense and awful, Lea insisted that she go into top secret rehearsal immediately -- she was out of shape for Broadway and wanted to get in shape fast. She was in secret rehearsals that the company didn't know about. By July, they had come to terms with Beanie, the announcement was made, and it was all moving, but she found out about the secret rehearsals, and felt betrayed, and stormed out. It was childish and stupid. And allowed Lea to look even better. It will make a great movie someday.

Please proofread, r192.

Of course you would not announce Lea for Los Angeles before the Broadway run is over. People need to think it is the last opportunity ever to see her do this part not that she’s going to do it again somewhere else

[quote]After the reviews unanimously destroyed Lea (well, except for Rex Reed) she melted down, and wanted out. She wanted out. Mayer and Lea have a long-standing, and he went to her, and smartly knowing she would be a hero, and it was perfect for her, she said yes.

Did you want to try that again?

[quote]That was hush hush, and they worked with Beanie and her team to figure it out. But knowing the spotlight would be intense and awful, Lea insisted that she go into top secret rehearsal immediately -- she was out of shape for Broadway and wanted to get in shape fast. She was in secret rehearsals that the company didn't know about. By July, they had come to terms with Beanie, the announcement was made, and it was all moving, but she found out about the secret rehearsals, and felt betrayed, and stormed out.

So you're saying the terms of Beanie being replaced by Lea were all worked out with Beanie and her team, but Beanie felt betrayed and stormed out just because she learned that Lea had already started "top secret" rehearsals? That doesn't sound right. The reason I heard -- that Beanie left earlier than anticipated when she found out that Lea would be recording the cast album instead of her -- makes a lot more sense to me.

Lea wanted to eat my ass.

[quote]Of course you would not announce Lea for Los Angeles before the Broadway run is over. People need to think it is the last opportunity ever to see her do this part not that she’s going to do it again somewhere else

Well, that's an interesting theory, but a little weird, seeing how those two productions are three thousand miles apart, and most people who really wanted to see Lea in the part and had the wherewithal to get to New York have already had ample opportunity to do so.

I find r192’s tale of “secret rehearsals” hilarious! It’s all fantasy on his part, just like the “secret audition” that Lea never had to do.

Is anyone actually paying for tickets to THE SHARK IS BROKEN?

Cause a more accurate title would be THE HOUSE IS PAPERED.

The LA Times had an ad for the 76 Tony Awards noting that the show would be coming to the Shubert Theater with the original Broadway Cast. That was mostly true but the entire cast did not make the trip, including Kelly Bishop who won the Best Supporting Actress award. Ironically, Bishop did come to LA briefly to replace Charlene Ryan who had a boob operation.

Performances of LA production of Miserable Lesbians cancelled

[quote]Ironically, Bishop did come to LA briefly to replace Charlene Ryan who had a boob operation.

I hope they gave her "Dance 10, Looks 3" after she came back.

I recently watched An Unmarried Woman after a long lonnnnng time and Kelly was quite good. She does brittle beautifully.

To R192, Maybe OP, you might be a little tired(or drunk or High or whatever). I just opened a good bottle of Cabernet(2001 Coppola) I need a glass of red wine.

To R195, Beanie was the only one who did not know about the "secret rehearsals" with Lea Monster. Beanie and Lea shared the same Management team. Beanie was the last to know about the Lea Monster rehearsals& replacement, my buddy Erik in NYC(finance& contract lawyer on Wall Street) has lots of Broadway clients &theatre owners(not Schubert).

OP, that is why I asked you today about Beanie Feldman suing her management team& the producers of FG for screwing her over with Lea as her replacement.

R205, there's a word for your posts and use of the term "Lea Monster" (repeatedly)... deranged. Please stay away from the keyboard until your meds have you stabilized.

Yeah, for a whore you seem peculiarly invested in this topic r205.

[quote]Beanie was the last to know about the Lea Monster rehearsals& replacement,

First you wrote that the terms for Lea replacing Beanie had been all worked out between their teams, and now you write this. As long as the fact that Lea was going to replace Beanie had been agreed to, including the date, what possible reason would Beanie have to become irate that Lea was having "secret" rehearsals, even assuming that's true?

There have been other replacements that were better reviewed than the original

1) Reba replacing Bernadette in AGYG

2) Marin Mazzie replacing Kelli O’Hara in TKAI

3) Bernadette replacing CZJ in ALNM

4) Pearl Bailey replacing whoever the last Dolly was in Hello Dolly before her

Talk about totally miscast - Bernadette Peters as Annie Oakley.

It's Doris Day Day on TCM! And because "Billy Rose's Jumbo" was just on (and I never miss a Stephen Boyd Musical), it's time for a remake ...

Beanie Feldstein IS "JUMBO".

Time to revive King Kong with Beanie in the title role

R210, She won a Tony for it.

[Quote] TKAI

Oh just stop it

R204, curious how you watched An Unmarried Woman. I don’t know why it’s never on TCM and isn’t a regular fixture on a Fox streaming service like Max. The same goes for The Turning Point and Broadcast News.

Oops, of course ax is a WB streaming service, not Fox. I guess I mean Hulu.

Did Lea's "secret audition" include a tour of her vagine with a desk lamp?

I think Beanie's violations of the stage were greater than the violations of contract.

Gawd, remember, they wouldn't even let her perform at the Tonys, thought it was a waste of money.

To R206, should I call her Lea, the scheming, lying, mean, vicious I loved Cory so much even though he was a PAY FOR PLAY junkie Male Prostitute CUNT!!! Is that better OP?

Fantasia's replacement in The Color Purple was almost legendary. If you look at her reviews, I think you'd be hard pressed to find any in the modern era that compared to hers.

[quote]It's okay to say "vagine," isn't it?

As long as you don't include a photo.

r219 Well you sure showed r206 for calling you deranged

Girls! Girls! You're both worse than Karen Olivo!

To R 207, you like your whores under 21 yrs old and chained to a wall!!

All I wanted to know is what was the end result, did Beanie sue her Management team(who was Lea's management team too) & the producers of FG. My ex-wife Alexandria called me last night from NYC to tell me it was "secret rehearsals not secret auditions" that Lea and the producers wanted to conduct to get her voice skills back to normal. No one told Beanie( this includes her management team until they told her). So, OP I am sorry, it was secret rehearsals, not auditions....My Bad big guy!!! My ex-wife is a Lesbian, a big one, and she never gets a story wrong.

To R223, who is Karen Olivo?

To R222, Thank You, it was pretty good comeback with only having 1 cup of coffee. I liked it! Shows my sensitive side, as I told my ex-wife.

So, the Theatre Gossip threads are doomed to go the way of the Heartstopper threads?

You get back what you put in, r226.,

Ok for a topic change is anyone listening to Ben Rimalower’s into the woods podcast?

I’m glad that he is doing it because no one else would….but I wish he would let the interviewees speak and not cut them off.

He asks most of the guests what they remember about Betty Buckley playing the Witch…but when they get into the story, he cuts them off.

Also…is he going to interview Bernadette?

She seems unlikely for this

wtf?

The Dolly musical actually sounds slight but charming. And super gay. I'd sooner watch a Dolly jukebox show than a Britney one, frankly.

Anyone here see it?

Rimalower needs a new voice. Too fanboy. Also can’t he edit the interviews. Sometimes there are stupid long pauses while interviewees think

Much like life, r231.

r232=Pinter

I always thought that Rimalower's last name was more of a verb than a noun.

R204. Friend lent me her blu ray of An Unmarried Woman. Turning Point is currently streaming on Max.

R215. See post at 235

[quote] To [R223], who is Karen Olivo?

LEAVE THIS HOUSE!

Lea did not audition for Funny Girl.

[quote]Then how come I saw Carla Alberghetti in Detroit in the first national tour?

Susan Watson and Anna Maria Alberghetti switched places in late April, 1962. Susan played Broadway for seven months and then left the show permanently.

AMA played San Francisco and Los Angeles, then left the show (for good, was the intent). Her sister Carla took over as Lili for the rest of the tour, but got sick at one point and Anna Maria went back in for a week.

When Susan Watson left the Broadway production in Nov, the tour had just closed. Carla Alberghetti took over on Broadway and finished out the last two months of the run.

Gina Lollobrigida

went to the refigida

Got herself an apple

and some cold spaghetti

*

Put some salad dressing

on her cold spaghetti

And it made her think of

Anna Maria Alberghetti

*

"Not on my fresh salad you don't!"

"And not on your fresh salad I won't"

Said

Gina

[quote] Sarah Jessica Parker (who was excrectable in it)

I'm not sure whether this is an "oh dear" or a new Jackie on Assistance.

Well, she makes me excrete...big time!

Let me echo, once and for all time, SJP was dreadful/lousy/execrable in the revival of MATTRESS. In ways that cannot be blamed on the shitty direction.

But yes, the direction was shitty.

Does anyone remember the MATTRESS done for TV with Tracey Ullmann (who was too old for the lead even back then)? Any good? It seems to have disappeared.

Thanks, r239, are you Alan Scott?

Was it during CARNIVAL when AMA didn't turn off her microphone and the audience heard her taking pee?

Yes.

r246 The very idea!

She drank pee at Carnival? Learn English.

Just before I bit the head off a chicken

Thanks re: The Turning Point, R235! It’s about frigging time it got added to Max’ platform. But why the fuck is Norma Rae being removed at the end of the month?

Tonight in The Netherlands there was something called The Musical Awards: Kick-Off which features numbers from upcoming Dutch productions, both sit-down and touring. I’m not sure Winnie The Pooh will be any good but you decide for yourself:

Also something whiose score has a Come From Away vibe but has something to do with ice skating. The cast is quite attractive looking, though. I’ll take the older, scruffy man for $1000, Alex:

How Ice Castles!

How come none of them are on ice skates?

SE

Turning Point had 11 Oscar nominations! Won Zero. Still pretty entertaining, especially for Baryshnikov!!

PS. Bancroft and Maclaine could have made a great Phyllis and Sally.

Shirl couldn't sing it.

Agreed, R258 -- but MacLaine certainly could have been a good Phyllis at the right stage of her career!

Meh, Shirley's a Christine Crane.

[quote] MATTRESS done for TV with Tracey Ullmann (who was too old for the lead even back then)?

I remember it. It started as a passion project for Carol. She would play Aggravain and Winnifred would be Donna Lynne Champlin, who played Carol in “Hollywood Arms.” But Burnett could no longer get a project financed and aired just based on her own name. It was a no-go with Champlain, who was only in her late 20s then. That’s why Burnett turned to Tracey Ullmman, who may have been too old but was a real comedian / clown with a great singing voice.

R257, Lauren Bacall very much wanted to play Bancroft’s role and was disappointed when she wasn’t cast.

Was Bacall ever considered for Phyllis in FOLLIES in 71 or for the Lincoln Center concert? Or anywhere else?

Maclaine could have sung it as well as Staunton.

Lauren Bacall would have been good as the ballet director. She had bitchy lines that Bacall would have landed

Yes BRAVO to r235! Thanks for letting us all know about The Turning Point on Max. As great as we remembered it in every way.

The Ullman-Burnett MATTRESS, if I recall right, was one of the last hurrahs for the Wonderful World of Disney revival. It had an interesting supporting cast: Tom Smothers, Edward Hibbert, Matthew Morrison, Zooey Deschanel and Denis O'Hare as Dauntless. It also had something that always annoys me: an unresolved framing device. It began with some kid (at Disney World?) getting lost and running into Carol. I want to say that Carol proceeded to tell the kid the story.

Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly were, allegedly, the first choices but Bancroft and Shirl were just so perfect. Why this movie has not had a Criterion or at least a blu ray release is a mystery. I bought the DVD when it was finally released nearly 30 years after it premiered then it disappeared.

Let's see, Audrey and Shirl did The Children's Hour. Anne and Shirl did Turning Point and Shirl got Anne's role in the movie version of Two for the Seesaw.

Grace Kelly as the hausfrau from Tulsa, Oklahoma?

R269, And Tom Skerritt played Shirley’s husband in “The Turning Point” and her neighbor in “Steel Magnolias”.

I don't think Audrey Hepburn could have ever mustered the hauteur and bitchiness required of Emma in The Turning Point. Bancroft was perfection and even had the believably wiry body of a 40-something prima ballerina. And it's certainly Shirley's last decent performance before she went all hammy.

Every role in the film is so perfectly cast from Martha Scott as the Exec Director/Founder of the ballet company, to Tom Skerritt (unbearably sexy here!) as Shirl's husband, to James Mitchell as the Artistic Director of the company, to Alexandra Danilova as the former diva, to Starr Danias as flirty ballerina, to Daniel Levans as the bitchy young choreographer, to the two kids who play Shirley's son and younger daughter. Even Lesley Browne, who I remembered as insufferable was surprisingly good and dances like a dream with Baryshnikov who is off the charts hot.

Herbert Ross and Arthur Laurents knew who those characters were.

This film really needs its own thread.

Audrey expressed regrets that she wasn't able to do it, r272.

Can you just imagine Audrey in that cat fight with Shirley?

I started a Turning Point Thread but can't link it!

I hope the Herbert Ross troll shows up.

Can someone repost or link my clever response at r272 to the new thread? I don't have those talents. TIA!

Oh for chrissakes...

[quote] But Burnett could no longer get a project financed and aired just based on her own name.

A shame.

The dancing is a dream.

R254, apparently they will be on ice skates in the actual show.

R274, yes. In the alternate, excised ending of The Children’s Hour, where Shirley tries to perform surprise cunnilingus on Audrey, when Auds suddenly snaps her thighs shut, backhands Shirl, screams “You’re a Super Rat!,” and Jim Garner has to turn the firehose on the vixens like they were Joan Collins and Linda Evans wrasslin’ on Dynasty!

R276, “Wasn’t he a homosexual?”

Audrey managed to "muster the hauteur and bitchiness" in the later sections of Two for the Road. It's rare that she got to play that, but she could.

"managed to muster"??? Well, that's damning with faint praise.

Audrey was incapable of playing an unlikeable character.

I also watched The Turning Point on MAX thanks to the poster here. I still liked it.....still thought Lesley Brown was awful when she wasn't dancing. I did like the kids.

I bought the novel version of the movie when it came out. I don't remember if it was credited to Laurents or another writer. But there was a section in the book when Dede was in NYC.....her husband Wayne was lying on a floatie in the pool when the father of one of his students came out of the house and brought him a drink......they looked at each other and then proceeded to have hot swimming pool sex. I was sad that scene wasn't in the movie.

But I imagined it was.

And now, thanks to r275 and t278, we don’t have to talk about it here anymore

Frank Rich on Sondheim's last.

Joe Mantello seems to have skipped daddy status and gone straight to granddaddy

Billionaire granddaddy!

Donna Lynn Champlin would have been 34-35 when that film version of Mattress was done, not late 20s. Yes, a decade younger than Ullman, but no spring chicken herself.

I read the article…it seemed like they should have left well enough alone. I’m surprised the widow signed off on this

The article made me more eager than ever to see the musical.

[quote] I’m surprised the widow signed off on this

I'm not $$$$$$urprised.

I need to ask it again. Why has there not been a revue of Michael Bennett? We get Sondheim ad nauseam, Fosse, Prince, Robbins but no Bennett. You could go back to Hullaballoo and throw in some Henry Sweet Henry and then move on to his big works. Does his estate not want it? Even as a workshop project, I think it could generate significant interest. Watching the Company concert, his work on the title number and Side By Side was simply brilliant and I was not overly familiar with it.

Also, will we ever see anything from Scandal? Mandelbaum said it was his best work ever and others say it showed he was losing it. The few songs that are around are nothing much but I would like to see his choreography.

I bought Turning Point on dvd last Christmas. Amazon, I believe.

I never miss a Swoosie Kurtz musical.

[quote]I bought Turning Point on dvd last Christmas. Amazon, I believe.

How nice. How nice for us all.

I absolutely agree with you r296, on a Michael Bennett revue but I wonder if there's a feeling that his best work in ACL, Follies, Company and Promises has been seen enough in multitudes of revivals (even when only only copied and not authentic) that it doesn't seem necessary?

I doubt the overseer of Bennett's estate would ever agree to a revue.

Tickets for the three performances of "The Frogs" concert at Rose Hall are on sale.

But putting them together could create a story. And even though Tommy Tune's Balloon number from Seesaw, It's Not Where You Start is on tape, it's not well known (only 63K views). There's an oddly poignant moment featuring Tune and tiny Baayork at the end.

Why do you suppose that, r301? And do you know who the overseer of his estate is? I imagine there are still many dancers around to authentically recreate his choreography and a lot of it was filmed.

Who names their kid Swoosie?

Wasn't it well-known even at the time that Tommy Tune choreographed that Seesaw number for himself?

R305 mama and papa Kurtz!

who oversees the Bennett estate?

[quote]Who names their kid Swoosie?

An aviator

The Bennett overseer is probably that very very very rich lawyer who holds all his rights in perpetuity.

Maybe those revues are expensive to mount and have not been profitable. See Jerome Robbins' Broadway , the latest Fosse, etc. Recreating sets for Dreamgirls, Follies, etc. would cost a lot.

Constance Wu from Crazy Rich Asians joining Little Shop next month. Guess those movie offers dried up.

Wow, that bitch is getting Maude Apatow's sloppy seconds (or fifths).

Exactly what she deserves.

I'm honestly not looking to shit on that number from Seesaw. I love Michael Bennett and all his work, and I admire much of Tune's work. But that clip was... underwhelming, to say the least. For those that saw the actual production, was it simplified for that telethon stage? Or has legend just grown the number into something it really never was?

[quote]For those that saw the actual production, was it simplified for that telethon stage?

In the actual production it was set on a patio and was much more freewheeling.

[quote]who oversees the Bennett estate? - r308

[quote]The Bennett overseer is probably that very very very rich lawyer who holds all his rights in perpetuity.

r310, for the win! John Breglio is his name. Horrible man. He and that martinet, Baayork, refused any of the tiniest changes in the ACL revival - until Mario Lopez showed up. Zach's iconic (but admittedly ridiculous) costume was changed so he could show off his biceps. Staging was changed. Lines were paraphrased, and SO much more.

Who controls the Bennett estate, isn't Super old married fag Geffen involved in the estate somehow?

Breglio is a gigantic dick. Doesn't have one, is one.

R316 why did they acquiesce to Mario Lopez?

I saw the Seesaw tour (twice), and It's Not Where You Start was a legitimate showstopper. It just built and built, and then the audience whooped and clapped their hands off at the end. Although I do remember balloons being a part of it, I do not remember the women swaddled in head to toe balloons. Agreed, the telethon version just kinda lies there, but it's nice to have *some* record of it at least. (I still don't know how Tune did that number in clogs.)

Is Seesaw an Encores candidate? I know that's been discussed here before.

[quote][R316] why did they acquiesce to Mario Lopez?

You'd have to ask Breglio, r319. My guess would be that he thought that D-lister would boost sales. Instead, it tanked after the first week of looky-loos attended and word of mouth got out.

Lopez was unprofessional from the start. He often had his girlfriend at the time sitting in his lap in Zach's chair in the back of the house during the show. Later, he would exercise behind the chair - then, he started going outside the theater during Paul's monologue, and twice failed to return in time for the end of it, leaving Paul awkwardly sobbing onstage for over a minute while stage managers scurried to find him.

WHET Donna Lynn Champlin? I haven't seen her since Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.

And Lopez put Nick Adams and his gorgeous arms in a hoodie!!!!!!

I saw SEESAW both on Broadway and on the tour multiple times (friend in the cast) and absolutely loved the show. The kind of mindless1970s Broadway entertainment (much like OVER HERE! and APPLAUSE) that we really don't get any more. Now it's just mindless girl power shit.

When Bennett was offered the show when it was tanking out of town, there was just so much he could change due to severe budget and time restrictions and the balloons were a super cheap way to get a big effect. And believe me, that number stopped the show every time. Part of it was the anticipatory build, as r320 said. Pure joy! And Tune's unapologetically gay character (much like Lee Roy Reams in APPLAUSE) was just so endearing on mainstream Broadway, especially back then.

While I'd love to see Encores do the show and it would be easy to cast the 3 leads with any number of great folks, I think it's simply too sweet and good-natured for these troubled times (I know, you'd think it would be just the opposite, but here we are).

Encores needs to do Over Here with Alice & Emily.

Speaking of "sweet and good-natured" shows, is Drowsy Chaperone revivable? Too soon? Too slight? I saw it on tour and enjoyed it while I was watching it but remember nothing much about it, other than "Show Off," "As We Stumble Along" and the lavish Chinese fantasia set that opened Act 2, then almost immediately disappeared because the Narrator had picked up the wrong cast album. I also remember thinking (I guess I remember more than I thought...) that it was more than a little padded, especially in the second act, but would have been a fantastic one-act. Which, of course, could be paired with the first act of A Day in Hollywood/A Night in Ukraine.

I don't think that revival of Promises, Promises was in any way like the original. The Turkey Lurkey number was a big dud. I remember wheeling around desks and coat racks. Underwhelming.

That's true r327, but there are so many clips of the original Turkey Lurkey out there, everyone who cares has seen it with the original girls many times. No need really for a rehash.

[quote]No need really for a rehash.

Yes, r328...there really was.

Gee…wonder why Mario would always leave during Paul’s monologue?

[quote]For those that saw the actual production, was it simplified for that telethon stage?

In the original, it was a dream ballet.

breglio hyping ACL revival spring 2007

[quote] Encores needs to do Over Here with Alice & Emily

And who to steal the show from them, as Janie Sell did to the Andrews Sisters?

Breglio from 2016 .... talking about 50th anniversary revival of A Chorus Line in 2025.

R334, if he has seen the show so many times, he should have gotten Cassie's line right. It "what I really don't want is to teach others what I should be doing myself."

Too bad we'll never see anyone fix up Bennett's choreography from ACL, notably his boring MATM choreography. It's been suggested Donna self choreographed the number so the keepers of the legacy should've no problem re-doing the number.

About 7 years ago I saw a dance program at the Joyce and they recreated showstoppers from musicals with the original choreography. They included Turkey Lurkey Time and it was incredible. Stopped the show. I also remember Music and The Mirror. I wish I could remember more about it but my memory is failing me.

ADM21, r336.

R326 On Broadway it was played without an intermission and worked fine (though the Man in the Chair explained where the intermission came). We went to a matinee of it on impulse and got gift row center. I’ve never been so pleasantly surprised by how wonderfully entertaining and clever it was (and everyone but the gun moll were in that day. Would love to see it again when JoAnne Worley replaced Georgia Engel as Mrs. Tottenham. Hard to think that was the same time responsible for The Prom, which I found tedious.

For some reason, that Tommy Tune/"Seesaw" number always reminds me of this one from "How Now Dow Jones."

R337. Yes! Thank you! Amazing evening of dance.

[quote] Hard to think that was the same time responsible for The Prom, which I found tedious.

It wasn't. The Drowsy Chaperone had good composers. The Prom had Chad Begeluin and Tim Sklar.

A minority opinion on DROWSY CHAPERONE -- while I thought that the original production was inventively staged, with Sutton Foster at her considerable best, I wished throughout that the score had had more wit/personality; it all sounded like pale pastiche to me. And though Beth Leavel pulled out every stop to get that Tony, I would have voted for Megan Lawrence that year.

I agree with all you say, r342.

Jersey Boys deservedly won Best Musical that year.

I also agree. Though I liked a lot of the Man in Chair stuff, the rest was pretty weak, even with some great performers doing it.

I'm hearing beloved playwright Tina Howe has passed. Painting Churches was such a beautiful play. RIP

Highlight of " Drowsy Chaperone."

Theater companies are cutting this number because cancel culture warriors object to the " racism."

Hi Michael Riedel!

They really need to kick these white 'progressives' (mainly white women and gay men) to the curb!

They are ruining the arts with their censorship and shoehorning their woke* propaganda into everything.

All because they suffer from white guilt and a white savior complex.

*anti-meritocracy, anti-men, anti-white, anti-police, anti-America, anti-femininity in girls/women, anti-masculinity in boys/men, anti-women and anti-biology re the trans/nonbinary issue

r349 is also:

*Gayle King has made the CBS Mornings show into a daily discussion on race equality and education*

[quote]R57 ultra-liberals (aka 'woke') are racist, plain and simple.

[quote]People who see only skin color are racist.

[quote]To white liberals, the worst victims are the darkest black people. Especially if they're women or 'transwomen.'

[quote]Tell me that's not racist.

Thank you for your service, r350!

Hey! R350 didn't blow ME!

Meghan hit a new low not inviting her niece who she was so close to (because she helped her a lot) to her wedding because she claimed the palace forced her not to. Meghan has the make up of years of accumulated sperm on the floor of the Adonis.

Any predictions for the aftermath of this week's grosses report? I feel like The Shark is Broken can't last much longer.

The Neil Diamond musical is playing to such small capacity, there must be an echo at each performance.

But now they have Thursday matinees!

The Shark hardly sounds like popular fare for a Thursday matinee crowd. They'd do better to schedule midnight Friday and Saturday shows.

I think we will see lots of closings after Labor Day weekend.

Do you think there would ever be a movement to have two shows every day, a matinee and an evening performance? You would have perhaps a new star for the matinees and another for the evening performances. Since the tourist trade has taken over Broadway (it's always been that way but has become more pronounced) I would think that the appetite for matinees has grown.

Personally, I love 7 pm curtains and no intermission. And a running time of no longer than 1 &1/2 hours.

A quick in and out with content for social media snapped either way.

Then dash home for Metamucil and bed!

I’m seeing some shows in London in a couple weeks and they all have 7:30 curtains. I love that!

Last week El Mago Pop did $2 million for 13 shows, with an average ticket price of $212.85. WTF?

Anyone who defends 90 yo Chita dancing has to be in the same group who thought it was hilarious for 75 yo Lucy to be doing slapstick in Life With Lucy. It's "Don't! You're going to break your hip."

Chita's choice. It's also a choice to be cunty to her about it.

Lucy's choice too and we saw that ended up. But 101 DL threads won't be posted about Chita because so few people will have seen it.

It ends up how it ends up, judgeypants.

[quote]It ends up how it ends up, judgeypants.

Like everything on Datalounge -- in tears.

Or in Chita's case -- perhaps TEARS -- to vital muscles or tendons.

To Chita fans, seriously, do you want to see her onstage dancing? Isn't there a time where even her staunchest admirers say ENOUGH!

Chita should have transitioned to character actress years ago.

It doesn't matter what we think. It's Chita's choice.

r363 Let it go, let it go. FFS. What, did she spit in your Froot Loops or something long ago?

Can Here Lies Love last much longer? And I really do not get El Mago Pop....WTF is going on? Las Vegas just landed...

That's not necessarily true, r370. Chita can't put up a show on her own, even one as small as this one probably was. By all accounts (as few as they are) her daughter Lisa was present and very concerned for her mother's well-being. Witnessing a close call like this first hand might likely change her thoughts on being involved with any event like it in the future.

There was at least one other fall before. There were several close calls as far back as A Dancer's Life. It's far too late for her to leave on a high note. I just hope she stops before she gets injured again. Her excellent physical condition probably saved her this time. She might not be so lucky again.

Jesus Christ give it a rest. It's creepy and none of our concern.

Here Lies Love was down to just 79% capacity and $627,000. Yikes!

Here Lies a Flop

Pertinent to our interests

Lea Salonga exiting Here Lies Love won't help the box office. Think of all those stalkers who won't be buying tickets.

[quote]Jesus Christ give it a rest. It's creepy and none of our concern

You are in the wrong place, r374. This is DL's Theatre Gossip thread. There is nothing "creepy" at all about a discussion of Chita Rivera.

R373 has been my only post in this thread about her, btw. I have worked with her, so I think it's valid to share my experiences and concerns. That said, I am pleasantly surprised that there has been no press or God forbid, any video of this,though.

Knock it off with the gatekeeping, too.

As the article at r376 states, one of the biggest issues is a generation of theater goers who has aged out of the habit (or has died) and is not being replaced by younger audiences who couldn't care less about live theater. The only young people I know who still attend a lot of theater are theater people themselves.

And, of course, the bang for the (big) buck is just not there much. I can't count the number of shows post-pandemic that I regretted seeing and spending $150-200/ticket with an expensive mediocre dinner in NY.

As for CHITA, if she wants to die dancing, all the more power to her! What a way to go.

Has anyone listened to the Into the Woods remastered album on Apple Music? There are three bonus tracks, but I get "This song is not currently available in your country or region" which makes no sense to me. I'm in the US. If not here, where? Anyone else try?

Re: R380 -- I saw the recent Into The Woods tour in San Francisco. The audience was mostly older folks and families, but there was a large number of Theatre Kids, those 20somethings who you can tell at a glance know every word of whatever the show is because they did it at summer camp, in high school or college or all three. Bless them, they were practically vibrating before the show started, and when the curtain went up it did to uproarious applause. (No one was applauding the minimal scenery or the handful of actors standing there waiting to start the show, they were applauding the show itself.) Every song got a big hand, but to their credit those Theatre Kids were quiet and rapt during the book scenes. If the US had more or better or even any arts education in its schools, theatre, opera and dance companies and symphonies wouldn't be tearing their hair out for audiences. The arts can be an acquired taste, and you have start early.

Could the exit of season subscribers have anything to do with the crap that is pawned as theater and the rising cost of tickets?

I think so R383. Also, the quality of the new plays is not that great.

What is Chita without dancing. She was never a great vocalist, and probably a good storyteller, but people expect her to dance, despite the hazards to her health.

Does anyone understand Theatre-Adjacent Nick Cearley? He is repulsive yet so confident.

Well when you name your band Skivvies....

Skivvies or Skeevies?

Lea out of FG tonite. No, really. She's under the weather. I would love to see Julie Benko play the final performance. The only Fanny who had been dedicated to the production. She deserves it.

Since listening to the Into the Woods podcast, I’m surprised a movie version was never considered with Barbra Streisand as the Witch.

1) she LOVES transformation sequences where everyone sees how beautiful she is.

2) she loves soaring ballads (stay with me)

3) she loves acting like she’s hip and young (the rap)

[quote]I think so [R383]. Also, the quality of the new plays is not that great.

Also the fact that you never know whether you're going to see an understudy or not.

Looking at this week's grosses, I'd say that Some Like It Hot is emerging as a new favorite for closing soon. Filler at the Shubert for late fall-Christmas, then The Wiz revival in the spring?

Interesting. It’s Lea’s birthday. 🧐

Funny Girl turned off the comments on their Instagram post announcing Lea's 'under the weather' absence. It's the last week. Show up. Bette Midler did two performances of Dolly on her birthday and she was 72 (I think).

If Lea leaves Broadway with a bad taste in its mouth, does she try to rehab her image in LA at the Ahmanson?

My own take is that she might have been a cunt on Glee but she had big people around her who enabled it. Getting called out publicly is pretty humiliating but who knows how she really reacted. I think it's been believed she's been on excellent behavior during her run of FG and saved the production. That's pretty huge. These missed performances might sully what was becoming a genuine comeback. I think a good PR group as well as some well placed interviews could do wonders.

Whatever bad taste there might be is eclipsed by her saving a floundering show and bringing in a shitload of money. She is forgiven.

Lea will be just fine. A few missed performances are *not* going to be held against her, lol.

It's her BIRTHDAY, for Christ's sake: that happens once a YEAR, while the stupid Broadway show happens literally every NIGHT.

R397 = Donna Murphy

r389 agree!

[Quote] It's her BIRTHDAY, for Christ's sake: that happens once a YEAR, while the stupid Broadway show happens literally every NIGHT.

Except Thursdays

WhET Sherie Rene Scott?

God forbid, but what if Lea has Covid for her last week?

[quote]God forbid, but what if Lea has Covid for her last week?

Maybe Beanie will come to the rescue.

I think everyone got bored with Scott and her brand of crazy, R402. I kinda did.

A shame: I loved her voice on LAST % YEARS.

LAST 5 YEARS, that is.

A fashion show is never a bad idea...

Lea got her dedication to performance....from me!

Lea has had Covid twice during her run. I hope she doesn't get it a third time.

Was she vaccinated? If not, I'll be available.

I would give you ten W&W votes if I could, R410.

Theory - Beanie paid Josh Groban $100 to make out with her last week so she would get Covid. Then disguised as a maid, she snuck in backstage at the Augie, sat bare-assed on Lea’s commode and licked everything in her dressing room.

[quote]Interesting. It’s Lea’s birthday.

I sent her a nice pair of hostess pants.

[quote] It’s Lea’s birthday.

I don't know her.....

I wanted a toaster!

I took them all

“Lea Michele, we knew her so well”

Larry Kert is featured on the Aids Memorial Account on Instagram today. Seems his partner died recently as well.

Lea out until Friday. Wow

And comments are turned off for that post

Is it just me or does Maureen Arthur seem to be channeling Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee in the movie of How to Succeed, down to Channing’s particularly idiosyncratic style of hyper-articulation?

Beanie’s name is above the title for a Coen movie coming out soon.

Another Coen movie I won't be seeing.

R210- She did win the Tony though.

Beanie is likable and that counts for something especially onscreen.

[quote]She did win the Tony though.

Not much competition, r424. Plus, she wasn't bad, she was just miscast. It was still a joy to hear her sing those songs.

Josh Groban on vacation from ST Sept 13-17.

R225- you missed the point. It wasn’t a compliment. You were proving the original point that you were deranged.

[quote]Beanie is likable

If you're a restaurant owner, perhaps, but the rest of us?

Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES! Folies! Follies! Follies! OMG FOLLIES!

r430 I've seen Jennifer Leigh Warren in a couple of shows at Reprise, but I've never heard of ANY of the other actors.

Is the birthday thing a joke or does she have covid? I've never heard of anyone missing a day of work because it was their birthday. Least of all when you're starring in a Broadway show and people want to see you.

It's not like you can't celebrate your birthday in the 22 hours before and after your performance.

Interesting kind of illness when you can predict for sure it'll be over two days from now.

J. Harrison Ghee out of SLIH for 6 weeks. Surgery. I hope there's a show for him to come back to.

Gender reassignment?

I just read Eddie Shapiro’s new book “here’s to the ladies”

It’s everything you want it to be.

TOVAH!

[quote] [R430] I've seen Jennifer Leigh Warren in a couple of shows at Reprise, but I've never heard of ANY of the other actors.

I would say Anastasia Barzee is the "name" in that cast. She's mostly been replacement, but she's done a lot of leading roles.

But we all know why Jennifer Leigh Warren got the photo.

[quote]But we all know why Jennifer Leigh Warren got the photo.

It's newsworthy that she didn't get Stella, r439.

Faith Prince, Tonya Pinkins, SJ Block? who cares what these second bananas have to say, r437?

R441 the Sherie Rene Scott section is interesting, she definitely confirms her feud with Patti LuPone during Women on the Verge.

Mary Beth Peil also speaks to their feud in her chapter and says that she grew to love SRS and blamed Bart Sher for letting the feud happen in the first place.

She also says that Jan Maxwell and Bernadette tried to out-do eachother on their exits from Follies.

It’s an interesting read.

Will Funny Girl give Julie B some special recognition at the final performance (assuming Lea is there)?

Sounds like Mary Beth Peil is finally loosening her lips.

I think Julie will get plenty of recognition at her own final performance tomorrow night. Assuming it is her final performance. You never know.

I bought the Thurs. night T-shirt!

Amazon Prime Video has served me a terrible movie starring Aaron Tveitt. He’s so hot. Why hasn’t he been a more mainstream success? Is it the stench of Laura Osnes?

I get Claybourne Elder being unsuccessful. His face is busted.

But Aaron is perfect. What gives?

He needs to show dick to make it.

Hurricane Patti hits Fire Island... and Fire Island LOVES it.

R449. Can't believe I'm saying this but Patti looks kinda cute in that pic.

Distance is her friend, R450.

To R450, she looks like Miss McConnell having a stroke with her face frozen& eyes looking out in fear with the crazy smile.

For those who won't be able to see Lea in person. The musical staging is awful. Like community theatre level.

I can't wait for us to stop talking about this. Close the fucker already.

R454 Hi Beanie! How’s California?

Re MAGO POP: a show about a Spanish magician or something.

Over at BroadwayWorld, where I slum from time to time, they suspect it may be a laundering scheme, because it grossed nearly $3 million last week.

I don't know. It's my first time hearing about the show. But they think it looks sketchy.

Is THE WIZ taking the Shubert?

R447 I think he prefers the stage and keeping it low-key. It's just work that he enjoys doing.

He comes from a very Catholic family. His brother is a priest.

A little priest.

I have to say, whoever shot that FG boot ought to get a job capturing for the Lincoln Center library. It looks better than what they do professionally.

R460. There are Benko and Beanie full show vids up also. Quality is amazing and I prefer Benko to Lea. Beanie runs out of steam during every musical number.

How much do we think Michael Mayer made from that monstrosity?

r456 Are those figures audited at all, or are they basically just whatever the producer says? I seem to recall posts on here saying Cameron Mackintosh was messing with the Cats figures in the later years

According to social media/Reddit, the Eugene O'Neill has fleas

And the Nederlander has boll weevils.

[quote]Cameron Mackintosh was messing with the Cats

Pics please.

[quote]According to social media/Reddit, the Eugene O'Neill has fleas

Ah, so it isn't the heat...or some rare disease.

Messing with Cats???? Cameron never touched my pussy!

Wow, those Funny Girl production values are even worse than I expected.

Were the people they hired amateurs?

Seriously, a lot of the production values have been subpar and uninspired in recent years.

I just finished the FG bootleg. Lea sang it wonderfully, but her acting was not very good. She never really seemed to be listening to anyone, just waiting for her next line. I have a feeling she wasn't so much directed as "put in." I think lea is capable of giving a good performance, but not on her own. She needs a director to help her.

Poor Jared Grimes. What a thankless role to be stuck in for almost two years.

Bottom line, the show/production is a stinker. The second coming of Streisand herself wouldn't have been enough to save it. The producers are very, VERY lucky that Lea had enough of a following to turn their fortunes around.

I think Ramin is good looking and sings well…but he’s kinda thankless also.

I saw his Bestie posted their last workout on Instagram before he moves back to London. I wonder if he’s going back to the wife or if he has a new girlfriend now

Well, Nick Arnstein could be a better role than it was in the hands of Ramin (or had it been directed better). Eddie is just a waste of space.

[quote] Poor Jared Grimes. What a thankless role to be stuck in for almost two years.

Two years of a principal Broadway contract and a Tony nomination, while still doing his TV work.

This just in-a Tony nomination means bupkis when it comes to landing future work.

What about pride and satisfaction, you whore?

Omar is wonderful in the movie. It's kind of a thankless role but Omar turns on full star wattage. Just look at the way he looks at Streisand singing People, he's stealing her biggest song!

The former Nick standby is on the Julie bootleg. He's very VERY different and I liked him better. He's a big bearish guy and not really what I'd call suave but he makes it work. He's the first Nick I ever felt sorry for.

Pretty much everyone in the FUNNY GIRL movie is a thankless role.

I watched it for the first time last year due to the Beanie/Lea controversy, and I was surprised by how much little screen time and dialog everyone else had.

Streisand is in practically every frame and sings almost every song, but everyone else are mere cameos.

Omar is supposed to be her co-lead, but his is a very minor role, coming in and out of the story and disappearing for long stretches.

I haven't seen the stage version, but they must have whittled everyone's part down for the film.

Unless the stage version is a one-woman show.

Another thing I took away: how gorgeous was Omar Shariff! 🥵 I never knew.

r479 Sing it, sister!

As has been noted, r479, when Jerome Robbins went in to doctor FG, he realized that the show only worked when Barbra was on stage. Cukor went even further with the focus on her in the movie.

[quote]Cukor went even further with the focus on her in the movie.

And he wasn't even the director!

Shoot me...shoot me now.

Address?

There is a recording and ountless videos of curtain calls - but I haven’t seen one video or photo of Julie and Ramin together onstage in a song or scene - have you?

Countless not ountless - I am blind

[quote]Address?

623 East 68th Street

They’ve even turned off comments for this Congrats Julie post. Rough final week over there

There have been a LOT of rough weeks over there.

American Horror Story: FUNNY GIRL. Who would believe it?

Ryan Murphy Presents

FEUD

Beanie vs Lea vs Julie vs Beanie vs Michael vs Harvey vs Jane vs Tovah vs Barbra vs Lea vs Ramin vs shirts vs Jared.

The designers on this Funny Girl revival have countless Tonys and Broadway hit credits. You can blame the cheap look on producer Sonia Friedman and director Michael Mayer.

Cukor didn’t direct the FG movie - William Wyler directed.

R470- you want production values, go to BACK TO THE FUTURE. Wow. Also-some great production values off Bway esp Shadow/Land and also Flex.

R492- they have Tonys and hit credits too.

r493 see r483

Sonia Friedman is notorious for cutting corners at every turn.

President To Attend ‘Broadway For Biden’ Fundraising Concert:

No Laura Osnes?

[Quote] Sonia Friedman is notorious for cutting corners at every turn

Except for all that money, she overspent on NYNY. Straight down the loo.

Why not MEEEEEEEEEEEE!!?

R500 she sounds awful

Just finished reading "The Lady From Dubuque," quite a strange and interesting play.

I'm ashamed to say I don't know plays anywhere near as well as I know musicals, but Albee's arch and brittle style made for a great party at the end of the world (if that's what the play is about).

Celia Keenan Bolger lets her DL Cunt flag fly a bit... about Stockard Channing.

I find this story utterly unsurprising.

Where are our Irene Worths?

That bitch from Dubuque can afford Trigère.

What I can't figure out (and I've googled!) is what project Celia Keenan-Bolger did with Stockard Channing.

Anybody?

Seems strangely unprofessional

this is a thing that is actually happening....

[quote] Just finished reading "The Lady From Dubuque," quite a strange and interesting play. I'm ashamed to say I don't know plays anywhere near as well as I know musicals, but Albee's arch and brittle style made for a great party at the end of the world (if that's what the play is about).

I love this play, and we talked about it in a previous thread. There was an excellent revival of it in 2012 at Signature Theatre, with Jane Alexander as The Lady from Dubuque, Laila Robbins as the terminally ill wife, Jo, and Michael Hayden as the husband Sam, among others. I think less a party at the end of the world, it is about what happens in a household when death comes to call - those who would ignore it, or embrace it, and what happens to those being left behind. The original 1980 Broadway production was famously and violently dismissed by critics and audiences, but David Esbjornson's production made it feel as valuable and worthy as some of Albee's more famous notable works. It's probably not foolproof, but it showed that that play can work in the right hands.

The Broadway for Biden talent roster is truly tragic. These are “Broadway’s Biggest Stars?!”

What’s weird about the Stockard Channing thing is her reputation is usually pretty good amongst other actors. I wonder if it was a one off with Celia…or if she’s like Patti LuPone…where some people love her and others will NEVER work with her again?

r497 Is there a producer who isn't?

Stockard and Celia may have worked together on an episode of The Good Wife.

R460 I completely agree with your take. What did s/he use for the recording? an iPhone or something more sophisticated?

Is Jerry Seinfeld bootlegging again?

I can't stand to watch most bootlegs, because they're always zooming in and you miss out on what's happening on the rest of the stage.

The point of live theater is to be able to see the entire stage at the same time.

If I want closeups, I'd watch a movie or something.

Thank you for chiming in, Cecil B. Demille. r517!

Looking at that Funny Girl video and not having gone back for Lea, I was reminded: is there any current or recent Broadway musical number that has looked worse than "Rat-Tat-Tat-Tat"?

R519. Yes. Sadie, Sadie

I think Lea was shown a lot of grace by the Broadway community for saving Funny Girl.

I think if she has the same attendance record on her next show…their will be less forgiveness

I disagree with R517. If you watch some of the NT Live productions, you realize more theatre companies should be recording their best productions. I got to see "Who Killed my Father" directed by Ivo in Barcelona last summer (the production was canceled because the actor was severely injured) projected on a huge screen and it was incredible. Ivo himself directed the film version. Since it was a monologue, I got to see the actor's facial expressions up close. If I had seen the real production, and given my lousy seat in that cavernous theatre, I doubt that I would have enjoyed it as much. If I had been in the last five rows....but not from where my original seat was.

R521. One of the ensemble members defended Lea when someone made a snide remark about her absences on Instagram. I think it was on the BroadwayWorld page. He went as far as to tell them to go fuck themselves.

R522: The NT Live productions are beautifully filmed and edited, using a variety of wide, medium and close shots as the moment requires. I recently rewatched the RSC's Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby on DVD, which is merely a grainy transfer from the original broadcast tapes. The direction-for-television is awful -- I'd guess more than 60% of it is head and shoulders shots of the actors, which is nice for getting their facial expressions but leaves out other characters in scenes or the visible actors who watch the show from other parts of the stage and the house. (Also, I believe Roger Rees was in his early 40s playing Nicholas, a character half his age. Rees looks his own age in the closeups but the character's age in medium/long shots.) I saw Nickleby on Broadway, and to this day it is the best thing I've seen on any stage. I'm glad to have the DVD as a way of remembering the show, but it could be SO much better. (And I'd love to see the RSC or National revive it. Sure, it's a huge cast of 35-plus, but just one set!)

[quote][R521]. One of the ensemble members defended Lea when someone made a snide remark about her absences on Instagram. I think it was on the BroadwayWorld page. He went as far as to tell them to go fuck themselves.

If not for her, he'd be unemployed.

William Daniels Remembers Barbara Harris (Oh Dad Poor Dad)

[quote] you want production values, go to BACK TO THE FUTURE.

If you’re indifferent to good writing and skilled performances, go to BACK TO THE FURURE.

Whatever else u say about the flop of it…this truly was something special

Betty Buckley give good flop.

Love William Daniels but I was a little confused by his sweet Barbara Harris remembrance. Was he assisting Jerry Robbins on Oh Dad, Poor, Dad... or was he an actor in it?

Bill Daniels is listed as co-director in the credits.

But the production he's discussing is the off-Broadway production at the Phoenix Theatre on East 74th Street. No one in that cast took it to Broadway in 1963. In fact, Jo Van Fleet was replaced by Hermione Gingold.

"Asst." Director

the movie

Talk about a play that was a pretty big hit in its day that will NEVER get a revival.

Perhaps not nowadays.

But never say never.

A NY company wanted to do a production of OH DAD... with a rather well-known NY actor in the role of the mother (in drag) a few years ago. Kopit said "Over my dead body!" The company responded, "OK, we'll wait." I guess they can do it now.

I too adore THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE and was thrilled by the Signature production -- which among other things made it clear that the main character is the husband. Michael Hayden was wonderful in the role, but the whole thing was terrific.

[quote]A NY company wanted to do a production of OH DAD... with a rather well-known NY actor in the role of the mother (in drag) a few years ago.

A male in drag? On Broadway? Never happen.

[quote] On Broadway?

Off-Broadway

A male in drag? Off-Broadway? Never happen.

A male in drag? Kenley Circuit? ...

[quote]A NY company wanted to do a production of OH DAD... with a rather well-known NY actor in the role of the mother (in drag) a few years ago. Kopit said "Over my dead body!" The company responded, "OK, we'll wait." I guess they can do it now.

I remember seeing a photo of Christine Jorgensen, the 20th century's first trans celebrity, playing the mother in "Oh Dad, Poor Dad." I can't remember where it was done, but I'm certain that Arthur Kopit was alive at the time.

Christine Jorgensen wasn't an actor in drag, r543.

I'm aware of that, R544, but thanks for educating me.

What was your post for, r545, if not to draw a comparison?

My post was not for stupid people, R546. Let it go.

[quote]Is it just me or does Maureen Arthur seem to be channeling Carol Channing as Lorelei Lee in the movie of How to Succeed, down to Channing’s particularly idiosyncratic style of hyper-articulation?

Of course it's not just you. The first time I saw the movie, I almost literally could not believe what a shameless impersonation of Channing that Arthur woman was doing, And she's not at all sexy OR funny in the role of Hedy LaRue, she's simply grotesque.

I know Arthur played the role on the stage -- I don't remember if she was a Broadway replacement or if it was on tour or somewhere else -- and I can only imagine her performance was somewhat more bearable on stage, but it's totally unbearable on film.

It was Langella.

R524 I want to fuck you. I adore that production, but it is so poorly filmed. But still.....so.....good.

Maureen Arthur wasHedy in the National Tour of How to Succeed. After it closed, they b brought her into the Broadway company, ands finished out the run.

Too bad they didn't get Virginia Martin, the original Hedy, to do the film.

It’s also a shame they didn’t bring back Charles Nelson Reilly for the film of How to Succeed.

Locker room talk sure has changed

Well ... damn. Regardless of what they're seeing, good for those meatheads!

That FG bootleg is pretty terrific. (The filming, that is) The orchestra playing one of the great overtures sounds pretty crappy.

Does anyone know of a bootleg video of Sweeney?

As stated above by r549 Frank Langella wanted to play the mother in Oh Dad, Poor Dad several years ago. IIRC he even announced that he was going to do it in some interview. Not sure why the poster further upthread was being so coy about not mentioning his name.

But Frank has been cancelled due to bad behavior on a movie set, hasn't he? Would that extend to Broadway? He must be in his early 80s by now so he doesn't have much time left.

I am R537 and the production I was referring to was not the Frank Langella one, but a more recent one, planned for off-Broadway, with a less famous actor, but well-known in NYC. Kopit seemed to allow a male actor to play the mother in OH, DAD... outside NY, but wouldn't allow it to happen in NYC.

Do you think the production will happen now with your actor, r557, since Kopit is dead?

Btw, who is your actor? We're all friends here.

Speak for yourself r558.

[quote] The orchestra playing one of the great overtures sounds pretty crappy.

Their playing was also pretty ragged when I saw it. The biggest problem though is cutting down the size of that orchestra. Funny Girl has to sound a certain way. You certainly don't go to see it for the story. The original Broadway orchestration had five saxes, three trumpets, three trombones and French horn, and 10 strings, plus piano/celeste, guitar and percussion, for a total of 25, a pretty standard size for a musical comedy until the 1990s or so. The current production uses 14 (three reeds, two trumpets, one trombone, one French horn, two keyboards, three strings, one bass, one percussion). You can't cut nine parts, amp the shit out of it, and have what is left working overtime to try to compensate for what is missing.

It wasn't "my" production and, alas, the lead actor died recently. But thankfully he did get to play it out of town.

And I'd say, while the casting of the mother is important, you better have two really compelling actors as Jonathan and Rosalie, because the play is definitely "of its time."

Has anyone seen the Shakespeare in the Park THE TEMPEST?

It's essentially a musical version.

Are any of Kopit's plays worth reviving? Oh Dad? Indians? Wings? The only work that seems to have legs is Nine.

Sorry, make that you can't cut 11 parts! I was under-caffeinated.

[quote]It wasn't "my" production and, alas, the lead actor died recently. But thankfully he did get to play it out of town.

So, why are you still declining to name the actor? Are you afraid we'll somehow guess your identity if you name him? If not, what other reason do you have for being so reticent?

He did. It was Everett Quinton.

R566, Not to be confused with Edward Everett Horton.

Quinton was brilliant in Movieland.

The musical version of Kopit's "Wings" which was done at the Public back in '92-'93 was lovely. I wouldn't mind seeing that revived.

I never miss a stroke musical…

R570, Almost as much fun as a brain tumor musical.

I'm currently working on a lumbago musical. I call it "Oh, My Aching Back!...the Musical".

[quote] Are any of Kopit's plays worth reviving? Oh Dad? Indians? Wings? The only work that seems to have legs is Nine.

“Wings” still holds up.

Recently in LA, there was a musical called MENSTRUATION:: A PERIOD PIECE.

Basically, it theatricalizes the menstrual cycle with a "queer" love story at its center and told through the cells of the body.

r574, is it the prequel to Menopause: the Musical?

Were we all supposed to read The Lady from Dubuque? I didn't realise there was homework.

I ate a Dubuque ham. Does that count?

Even though everyone rightly hates John Simon he did get it right on Dubuque. He said The Lady from Dubuque is one of the worst play titles ever.

I actually have a lot of respect for John Simon in some ways, but he was distinctly blind (and deaf) to Albee's merits. (I seem to recall that he liked ZOO STORY and didn't mind VIRGINIA WOOLF, full stop.)

R579, he said Virginia Woolf was one of the greatest American plays ever written.

The late Jan Maxwell was wonderful in “Wings” at Second Stage.

THE LADY FROM DUBUQUE is actually quite a good title.

I agree, r582.

Cool rehearsal footage from PASSION 1994.

Donna, Jere, Marin. Sigh.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST in rehearsal, also 1994.

Why didn't Susan Egan become a bigger Bway star? Or at least work more?

Susan Egan was The Boring Broadway Star before Sutton showed up.

I take that back. She might have been slightly more interesting.

Sutton never went toe to toe with Betty Lynn.

I sort of enjoyed Triumph of Love, even though it was wildly uneven. But Betty singing Serenity was magical, and the best thing in the show.

FIRST MIDNIGHT!

Whatever shall we talk about in the next thread?

Oh wait, that never stopped us in this one!

I never miss a menstruation musical.

Turning Page

[quote]He said The Lady from Dubuque is one of the worst play titles ever.

Ahem.

Honorable Mention goes to...

The Freaking Out of Stephanie Blake

"The Bed Wetter" and "Urinetown" were terrible titles, however appropriate either may have been.

Not everything can be...

FOOTSTEPS ON THE CEILING

Bajour, Bajour, toujours, Bajour…

Once upon a time...

Regardless of the content of the play, I think MOOSE MURDERS is a fine title for a spoof of a murder mystery.

I respectfully disagree.

[quote] "The Bed Wetter" and "Urinetown" were terrible titles, however appropriate either may have been.

Urinetown did very well with that title. Considering the subject matter, what alternate would you suggest?

Young Liza does "Frank Mills" from HAIR. Her choices are... interesting.

Then there's THAT at 1:20.