Theatre Gossip #570: The "September Song" Edition

Do we know anything about the musical NPH will be starring in? Or is he waiting for "The Greatest Showman"?

Who's going to see Mia and Patti THE ROOMMATE? I'm hearing the play is inept, but the stars deliver, anyway.

OP, the thread should by all rights close out with Mr. Huston's version.

[quote]This thread has been a grind.

But no one bumped it.

With or without a trumpet.

I was ready to start the next thread. I had a significantly better title.

This thread is Hundekacke!

DVR Alert: Patti and Mia are being profiled on CBS Sunday Morning tomorrow morning at 9am EST.

A couple of friends went to the first preview of THE ROOMMATE. They were surprised by how slight, old-fashioned and short the play was, and they were even more surprised to discover that it’s Farrow’s show, with LuPone good but rather recessive in support of Mia (Ronan Farrow’s voice is heard in a phone message to mother Mia).

But they had a decent time and they thought Farrow was rather adorable and terrific.

R8 that happened with The Anarchist too. Lupone kind of faded when Debra Winger took command.

Maybe LuPone does better with men?

I know I do!

It's a long long way from May to December......

How about this thread stays limited to gossip about this century?

Fat chance, r11.

That would give us about three memorable shows to talk about, R11. If that many.

The CBS Morning profile of Patti and Mia makes me want to see the play. Patti admitted Annette Bening was first choice for her role and Mia even touched on her films with Woody. There were brief glimpses of the play and they just look wonderful together.

That CBS Morning segment will indeed attract a lot of ticket buyers. It looks like great fun, if slight.

I love Mia Farrow! I hope this gig brings her a career resurgence (though it doesn't necessarily seem like she's looking for it).

I saw Mia in Love Letters. She was excellent which was kind of a surprise.

R15, it doesn't bother you that apparently she's an insane harpy?

She seems anything but, r17.

Did you happen to watch the CBS Morning segment? Not that it alone would change your fractured mind.

[quote]How about this thread stays limited to gossip about this century?

You should be thankful that we only go back as far as the 20th.

I saw Mia in Romantic Comedy (1980?) and she and Tony Perkins were great together. Another slight comedy but they brought so much to it. I remember her being funny, charming and endearing on stage. She also looked about 16 years old. That's around the time she met Woody.

Somethin’ WRONG with insane harpies? (Broadway would be nothing without them.)

Next up in our long-forgotten Broadway musicals is Mail! Written by and starring Michael Rupert (Falsettos, Sweet Charity) and his co-writer Jerry Colker (3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down).

R20, I also saw Romantic Comedy with Farrow and Perkins. I actually got his autograph after the show - Mia disappeared quickly after the curtain we were told.

I remember enjoying the show (I was in high school - what did I know). I do remember being shocked by Tony Perkins being nude (from the rear). Mia seemed very natural on stage. Glad I saw it. I think I have a copy, I may read the play this afternoon.

[quote]Ben Vereen walked out on Grind and it closed a week or two later with Obba Babatunde finishing the run.

Trust me, Ben wasn't the only one.

This century?

How will we ever talk about FOLLIES?

You know it’s bad when you are getting Annette Bening’s sloppy seconds!

[quote]Did you happen to watch the CBS Morning segment? Not that it alone would change your fractured mind.

Or, one could say the fact that she came across well in the CBS Morning segment certainly doesn't mean she's not an insane harpy, especially not when stacked up against all the evidence that she is..

P.S. I personally think she's very talented and I've enjoyed much of her past work, I was just asking whether or not her real-life behavior -- specifically what she did to BULLETS OVER BROADWAY -- was bothersome to you.

I know that when I can't get Annette Bening for a role, I immediately turn to Patti LuPone.

It was probably more like this:

Actresses who turned down The Roommate:

Annette Bening

Meryl Streep

Glenn Close

Jessica Lange

Nicole Kidman

Diane Keaton

Kathy Bates

Cherry Jones

Christine Baranski

Tyne Daly

Bette Midler

Sarah Jessica Parker

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Michelle Pfeiffer

Mary Louise Parker

Phylicia Rashad

Sandra Oh

Zoe Wanamaker

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Lindsay Crouse

Tonya Pinkins

Hey, Mr. Producer, Patti LuPone picked up the phone!!

On the list after Patti LuPone:

Dianne Weist

Debra Monk

Faith Prince

I almost choked when Mia said in the interview that Sicilian Frank Sinatra had a temper but Patti doesn't.

R29, that's only further evidence of Mia's insanity.

I wish there could have been live reaction shots from old co-stars when Mia said that Patti didn’t have a temper!

So sorry you're "old", Sherie Rene.

[quote]I wish there could have been live reaction shots from old co-stars when Mia said that Patti didn’t have a temper!

The stage manager from Evita

The stage manager from Noises Off

Andrew Lloyd Webber

The backstage staff of Sunset Boulevard

The person at Gypsy who took a picture

What happened to Sherie Rene Scott? Did she call it quits?

What "specifically" did Mia Farrow do to Bullets Over Broadway, r27?

Please don't tell me you're blaming her for that hot mess?

Michael Rupert = Complete and total babe

^ not in years.

Compared to Bacall’s expert delivery in “The Grass is Always Greener,” Raquel Welch is a total bore and Barbara Eden (sadly) is clueless. But to my surprise, Debbie Reynolds is almost as secure with her delivery as Bacall was, and scores most of Tess’ laughs (although it’s really Jan’s song).

Debbie was supposed to be good in the role.

Bacall was at least a good sport in WOTY. In addition to having to watch Cooper steal "The Grass Is Always Greener," she almost gets upstaged by the cleaning ladies in "I Wrote the Book."

Waiting in the Wings was a COMPLETE BORE. And everyone looked "period" except for Bacall.

I can't defend WAITING IN THE WINGS artistically, but it was delightful, thanks to the great Rosemary Harris and a battalion of wonderful character actresses: Patricia Conolly, Bette Henritze, Dana Ivey, Rosemary Murphy, Helen Stenborg (Tony-nominated for this) and (first among equals) Elizabeth Wilson. It was my only live experience of Barnard Hughes, and he was charming.

Speaking of those wonderful Broadway character actresses, does anyone else have fond memories of 1985's short-lived THE OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB by PJ Barry, about 8 middle-aged to elderly sisters in the 1930s? Nancy Marchand, Anne Pitoniak, Peggy Cass (!), Elizabeth Franz and Lois de Banzie were all just superb but the play, a hit at the annual Actors Theater of Louisville Humana Festival (with a different cast and director), only lasted a few weeks on Broadway.

I'll never forget Nancy Marchand sniping at one of her sisters: "Oh, go sit on a tack!"

The Octette Bridge Club was the play that John Simon called "faggot nonsense," which got him in a lot of hot water at the time.

Has anyone seen Tyne Daly recently? Or is she still in a round rubber room?

In the CBS interview, I was glad to hear Mia say she doesn’t believe people should refuse to work with Woody Allen. Even if it did have an air of “my work is done here.”

The Farrow family has gotten a lot of mileage out of those allegations and it’s about time she shut up about it.

I heard that Tyne simply couldn't remember her lines on DOUBT and thus, was suffering terrible stage fright. No illness or other sickness.

Uh, r46, you might remember, Mia did not bring up Woody in that interview. And I thought she answered the questions about him simply and with dignity.

[quote]and it’s about time she shut up about it.

She was asked, r46.

Oh please, R49. She’s been going on about it since 1992.

I agree, R48. As I said I was glad to hear her say it. Even it was about 7 - 9 years late.

Daly turned 78 around the time DOUBT went into rehearsal. For every Lois Smith or Rosemary Harris who keeps working onstage for years after that, there are dozens more without the good luck to remain able to do so. I'm heartbroken for her -- one of the most thrilling actresses I've seen live.

Is Casey the Twink (in BACK TO THE FUTURE) playing matinees and otherwise showing up regularly? I want to go see Casey the Twink, not the Undertwink.

[quote]How about this thread stays limited to gossip about this century?

No thank YOU! As a geriatric millennial, I don't always get every reference, but I love hearing gossip, reviews and remembrances from the eldergays. Without this oral history, so many of these obscure stories would be lost to time.

WEHT Elizabeth Franz?

Just googling Elizabeth Franz, I see she's still with us and 83, so perhaps she's retired. Worked with her a few times over the years, a very gracious lovely lady and a great actress. I hope she's enjoying herself whatever she's doing.

I couldn't believe the CBS Sunday morning interviewer made LuPone talk about not being the first choice, What the fuck was that? They should fire their press person. That was pretty gross.

Did anyone on Datalounge see this production of TPOS? Looks amazing!

[quote]Looks amazing!

My opinion differs.

^^^ Sonia played by "Maria Couch" - don't tell JD Vance!

Franz did a podcast interview in Nov./21; it's short, about 10 minutes from 1:34 at the link (I had to sign in to listen to it). She still sounds OK; she says she can't eat sugar, so I wonder if she's diabetic and that has slowed her down in terms of being able to work. She says she preferred doing theater rather than movies and TV, and when she left "Roseanne" to do a play in New York, on opening night Roseanne sent a cake with an image of a penis to the theater with the message "It's all for Art's sake!" (Art was the name of Franz's character's husband on the series).

MikeR had a framed Playbill from Death of a Salesman, autographed by Lizzy Franz up in his dressing room, backstage at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose. I remember him trying to draw my attention to it one time when I walked in on him nearly elbow deep into the assistant choreographer of How to Succeed.

He always had such nicely manicured hands.

Elizabeth Franz always had that "long-suffering" thing down to perfection.

Franz played a truly memorable evil kook on Another World and I'm shocked to see it was one of her first roles (circa 1982). She was great even then.

Franz was married to 1950s/60s character actor Edward Binns. I can only think she must have been his child bride.

22 year difference

As the threads dwindle down....

Poor Elizabeth Franz.

DL thread killer

R53 I believe he’s scheduled for 8 shows a week and haven’t heard any chatter about him having a ton of absences. But he was out unscheduled when I saw the show on a Thursday in January.

Who are Farrow's and Lupone's understudies?

Each other

They share one understudy. Can't remember her name, she's not a star, but I guess they figure if both Patti and Mia are out everyone would want their money back. It's too bad Marsha Mason, the ass't director couldn't be persuaded to understudy both ladies.

So you’re at The Roommate. Mia is out? Do you ask for your money back? What about if Patti is out?

You text Liz Franz, silly.

If LuPone is out, they should totally get Annette Bening.

Then we could see the production’s original wishes and intentions.

They’re completely different but The Roommate seems like a vehicle similar to James Kirkwood’s Legends. Just an excuse to get two famous actresses on stage. Years from now it’ll be produced with a drag cast.

No, r76, it isn't camp. It's more A Couple of White Chicks or West Side Waltz.

Or that tennis thingy Angie & Mar did

That's MISS MARIAN SELDES to you, you pissant!

[quote]Who are Farrow's and Lupone's understudies?

Christine Ebersole and Soon-Yi Previn Allen

McNeal starts previews on Thursday. I wonder if we'll get any good dirt from that production.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1968, "Pantagleize" opened at the Lyceum Theatre.

To R8-My friends and I are coming to NYC in 3 weeks to see "The Roommate". 2 of my Broadway Gays have seen the preview show& were surprised how they liked it. Both gays told me Mia is really good& Patti is too, in a supporting way.

We now know what NPH's next project is. I'd wager there'll be a Broadway transfer in the spring.

NPH has joined the cast of Shit. Meet. Fan. at MCC, along with Jane Krakowski, Debra Messing, Constance Wu and more. Not a musical.

Oprah is vacationing with Isaac Powell and his new? bf.

What an odd vacation group

Could Broadway ever do a totally nude show like Oh Calcutta! again? I think Take Me Out was close but nudity, especially male nudity seems so taboo on the Great White Way.

NOOOOdies!!!!!!

The Roommate has been SRO since starting previews last Thursday. This might turn out to be a great big fat hit. Could it be that this is what audiences are craving?

It'll be interesting t see if that other boulevard comedy (sorry, forgot the title) starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher also takes off.

Who would have ever thought that was trend we'd see make a comeback?

[quote] Could it be that this is what audiences are craving?

Two noteworthy stars live onstage in an accessible comedy? Ya think?

Except Left on Tenth sounds maudlin, and Roommate sounds fun.

I agree. Left on Tenth has FLOP written all over it.

Directed by Susan Stroman. Even more so.

r87 Unlike most DLers I don't hate ink, but good god that tattoo on ICP's boyfriend is embarrassing. As if the fact that he's a rolfer. I guess Oprah still loves her quacks.

For all his faults, I bet Wes is bitchily hilarious when talking about this guy. So much material.

^^^^Holy crap, are those also little tattoo marks that look like moles or pimples on the side of his face? Or does he just have really bad skin?

Where is Stedman??

Only gays on this trip —no Stedman.

How the hell would a B- Broadway actor like Isaac Powell meet Oprah? Wtf?

R98. Well somebody had to stay home and water the plants.

Ooof this was interesting.

1) Chris Harper and Jack O’Brien dispute LuPone saying Annette Bening as first choice and basically call her a liar.

2) LuPone is still not a member of Equity and gleefully has not rejoined the union.

3) she cried herself to sleep over lost roles (mentioned is Martha in in Who’s Afriad of Virgina Woolf- Edward Albee personally banned her)

4) Mia admitted she is agoraphobic

5) LuPone is still friendly with David Mamet despite his politics

[quote]LuPone is still not a member of Equity and gleefully has not rejoined the union.

Fuck her.

SO much bullshit in that LuPone/Farrow interview. For example:

[quote]Farrow has become a familiar presence on social media, posting her Wordle scores and spontaneous reactions to world events. LuPone has mostly retreated from such platforms, from which she once provided instant-legend, antic tours of her basement during the pandemic.

[quote]“There’s no mystery left in our stars,” LuPone said. “And everybody has permission to take issue. And it’s never kind. Why? Why are we exposing ourselves when our job is just to play a character?”

[quote]Farrow picked up the cue: “As we speak to a person who is interviewing us for our thoughts on all these things. How crazy is this? We’re contributing to a problem that we cannot solve, ever.”

R103 I do think her not joining equity publicly will hurt her in the industry. Its a very pro-union town, and I think she cut herself out of a possible nomination

^^^It's not that she declined to join Equity, what happened was that she very publicly quit the union after being a member for decades.

To R97, that is the "stupidest tattoo in the fucking world"& they are moles on his/her face.

Orca& GAYle are awful people.

[quote]How the hell would a B- Broadway actor like Isaac Powell meet Oprah? Wtf?

A B-actor with an A+ ass.

Yes, R108, but I hardly think Isaac's ass is the primary attraction for Oprah....

This exchange brought me such joy:

[quote] Farrow “never made a professional decision without checking with Steve,” she said. When Edward Albee, after seeing Farrow in “Virginia Woolf,” proposed she do his famously abstruse “Tiny Alice,” she called Sondheim, who told her, “‘Absolutely not.’”

[quote] “Well, I had an interesting experience with Edward Albee,” LuPone said. “Liz McCann” — the producer — “was after me, for Martha, in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ So all of a sudden he decided I was too completely on the nose for it. Go figure that out.”

[quote] “And now he’s completely dead,” Farrow said sweetly. “So you can do it.”

[quote] “Now he’s completely dead,” LuPone echoed. “How can an actor be too on the nose for a role? I thought, ‘What the [expletive].’ Whatever.”

And then she says actors have no mystery! Pot, kettle.

But the idea of Sondheim snarking on Albee made my day.

The more you know💫

r100 The boyfriend is a "rolfer" which is an 'alternative medicine' (so bullshit quackery) which basically believes painful massage can solve not just physical issues but also mental and emotional ones.

Wikipedia tells us Oprah had Mehmet Oz on her show in 2010 to promote it, so I'm speculating the bf is linked to Oprah through this nonsense, and ICP is tagging along. Hence why in all the photos he has that awkward 'rent boy with clients in public' look.

Denzel & Jake are coming to the Ethel Barrymore.

These young kids telling us about Rolfing! 🙄

Now tell us about EST and TA, please!

Well I'd never heard of it, but I suppose I should've expected DLers to be up on their quackery.

The boyfriend's name is Tate Justus, which means the tattoos aren't the worst thing about him. And here he is 'dancing' in tighty whities and a wig

Casey Likes profile:

Justus served. 15.005 on the beam.

r115 ignorance of the law is not an excuse. —Justus of the Piece

My hunch is Oprah, Gayle, ICP and Tate are doing a Last of Shiela remake.

Taint Justice is more like it. I don’t believe he went to the University of Chicago.

He went to the student bookstore

After seeing "The Sound of Music" movie, I would have enjoyed a good Rolf-ing.

Poor Tate's tattooed arm looks like an IBM card!

I guess I shouldn't be surprised but many of my FB actor friends made lots of disparaging remarks about Patti today re her Equity status.

It’s a legit complaint, if the story is accurate.

I don't really get what Patti's specific grievance with Equity is at this point in her life. And at the age of 75 she must be taking her pension which is probably pretty substantial considering all the dues she paid over 50 years.

I'm exhausted by LuPone's insistence on casting herself as the suffering victim every chance she gets. She says that Annette Bening was the first choice for the part (quite possible) as if it's so painful, so shocking, so personally devastating. Bitch, please -- to whatever extent your name sells tickets, it's in musicals, not plays, and in any case it's hardly an insult that they went to a multiple Oscar nominee with legit stage credentials before you.

'After seeing "The Sound of Music" movie, I would have enjoyed a good Rolf-ing.'

I agree.

But in the many many SOM reunions through the years why was Daniel Truhitte never included? He's very important in the film and he's so winning despite turning into a Hitler youth. Like on DL that would be a problem with such a hot ass.

[quote]I don't really get what Patti's specific grievance with Equity is at this point in her life.

Neither does she. She still hasn't given an even remotely decent reason for her quitting Equity.

Why do some people become more and more bitter as they find more and more success? It's so pitiful.

[quote]Neither does she. She still hasn't given an even remotely decent reason for her quitting Equity.

Didn't she say it was because, when she was on the phone with Equity one day for some reason, the particular person she was speaking with didn't happen to know who she was? Typical LuPone.

Aren't Oprah, Gayle and ICP on David Geffen's yacht?

r131 She did, but the problem is that her story there doesn't make sense:

[quote] "They accepted my resignation and told me that if I ever wanted to rejoin, I'd have to be approved," says the three-time Tony Award winner, who most recently finished a run the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company. "And it's the perfect reason I withdrew from Equity. Fifty years to this year ... I've been a card-carrying member of Equity, and they don't know who I am basically," LuPone continues. "They just said, 'Fine, but if you want to rejoin, we're going to have to approve you.' "

So her reason for why she left Equity is the response she got...after she submitted her resignation from them? Is Patti a time traveller?

The only other 'reason' she's come close to giving is that Equity didn't issue some kind of statement telling people not to talk about her when the Lillias White thing happened.

It's in the same realm as the Hamilton cast being warned by Equity that agreeing to do a lab instead of a workshop would mean they don't get royalties, agreeing to do the lab anyway, and then shitting on Equity for not "protecting" them when they didn't get royalties.

I agree with R127. When they offer it to Sara Porkalob first, then she can complain.

Annette needs to show up on opening night and give Patti 10 pages of notes on how the role should really be played.

I also found Patti not comprehending why Edward Albee would say she was "too on the nose" for Martha in Virginia Woolf rather ingenuous.

Patti, Edward meant everybody, even the Darfur Orphan, knew EXACTLY how you'd play the role, much like your "interpretation" of Momma Rose.

Patti, I think you'd have been an amazing Martha, subtle and haunting!! And please tell your sweet co-star that if she needs another orphan, I could be her new real life roommate once the run of your play ends!!!

Too bad Patti never did Mame. I would have given anything to see her do Mame. That's the revival we should have had. Patti as Mame and Baranski as the role she should have played, Vera. And no you would not have had two Veras. A good director could have pulled the warmth out of Patti for the role. And Mame does have her bitch side in any case.

Oy, I meant disingenuous, not ingenuous (which Patti has never been).

If anything, Bernadette should have been Mame and Patti should have been Vera.

[Quote] She says that Annette Bening was the first choice for the part (quite possible) as if it's so painful, so shocking, so personally devastating

Except she didn’t. She just stated it on Seth and moved on.

They’re both Italian girls from Long Island. Neither should be anywhere near Beekman Place…

The role of Mame Dennis requires one quality above all others -- charm. LuPone, for all her considerable gifts, has never displayed an ounce of that.

Patti will steamroll her way into our hearts.

[quote]Yes, [R108], but I hardly think Isaac's ass is the primary attraction for Oprah....

Who cares? I posted it because it's what I ( and, I'm sure many) find primarily attractive.. I mean, look at it.

[quote]LuPone tells PEOPLE that AEA doesn't "support actors at all," adding: "They're just not good. And I just didn't want to give them any more money."

But, according to what we're now reading, in order to still perform on Broadway she still has to pay dues to Equity even though she's no longer a member of the union, and the only thing she had to give up was her voting rights in the organization.

[quote]"I've been a card-carrying member of Equity, and they don't know who I am basically,"

So I didn't quite remember the story correctly. Rather, it sounds like she was just making some meaningless, vague statement about Equity not knowing who she is, "basically" -- whatever the hell that means.

She’s such a malcontent, that Patti woman.

It amazes me how so many people have no idea whatsoever of what's required for the role of MAME in terms of type, and therefore suggest or approve such ridiculous casting as Cher, Bette Midler, and Patti LuPone. I will say that Patti is a SOMEWHAT less weird choice for the role than the other two, but not by much, and her lack of warmth would be only a small part of the problem.

That’s what amazes you?

CRISPR is Amazing, to me. The fortitude of the Ukrainian people is Amazing, to me. Lemon meringue pie is Amazing, to me.

[quote] It amazes me how so many people have no idea whatsoever of what's required for the role of MAME in terms of type

Isaac on Daddy Gaffen's yacht makes sense...

Everybody has played Mame. Ginger Rogers, Celeste Holm, Janis Paige, Ann Miller. It becomes meaningless.

[quality]Everybody has played Mame.

But only Roz and Angie did justice to the role.

I meant quote...whatever.

Apologies if this is a stupid question, but how can Patti be permitted to perform on Broadway if she isn’t a member of Actors’ Equity?

[quote]But in the many many SOM reunions through the years why was Daniel Truhitte never included?

Maybe because he got fat and wears a rug.

R156: The crux of it is at the link below.

Some historical background—"Financial Core" derives from the 1963 United States Supreme Court decision, National Labor Relations Board v. General Motors and refers to a legal carve-out that permits workers opposed to participating in a labor union to be employed under the benefits of a union's contracts without compelling them to be a member of that union.

Patti might not quite be a scab, but she's close. It's pretty despicable of her IMO.

Ben Platt and Noah Galvin are married.

I've always thought Diane Keaton would have been a lovely Mame. And she had a notable stage career before going into movies.

[quote]r160 = And she had a notable stage career before going into movies

Oh really?

[quote] But only Roz and Angie did justice to the role.

You saw [italic] all [/italic] the Broadway Mames?

following up on r159, here's Vogue's take

I didn't have to, r162.

welcome home from camp everybody

The Roommate and The Outsiders have both announced they'll be doing Thursday matinees

There's been talk that the producers paid for Patti's Union dues, which sounds even worse.

I wonder why she is being such a stickler with this union thing.

[quote]I wonder why she is being such a stickler with this union thing.

I wonder why any ninny gives a crap.

r163 And here are DLers takes

r169 Yeah why should anyone give a crap about someone who's benefitted from organised labour for decades now shitting on it and undermining it.

[quote]and undermining it.

LoL, sure Jan.

Time to retire the Lucille Bluth eyeroll, perhaps?

Equity should have a picket line outside of The Roommate.

Don't forget your torch, r174.

I had tickets to "Cats" tonight, and it just got cancelled due to cast illness. 😭

[quote]I had tickets to "Cats" tonight, and it just got cancelled due to cast illness.

I hope it's not feline leukemia.

And I have my pitchfork at the ready, R175!

“Witch! Witch! Witch!”

Maybe Patti should do Dolly. Isn't she Carol's age on the last tour?

[quote]I had tickets to "Cats" tonight, and it just got cancelled due to cast illness

Shouldn't that be "... cancelled due to cats' illness"?

This is at least the second performance of CATS that has been canceled due to cast illness. Don't they have enough covers/standbys/understudies at this point in the run?

It's off-Broadway, so maybe not, r182.

R183, if they don't have enough covers/understudies because they're Off-Broadway, that's foolish on their part, when you think of how much money they lose when they have to cancel a performance. Also, especially because of the way this show is staged, I don't think they would need covers for every single track.

Marianne Elliott wants to do a film version of Company.

[quote] I asked Elliott for any update on the idea she and Harper have of making a feature based on Company. “I hope it will happen,” she says. “We’ll see. I think we have to get the rights first, so we have to go to the estate and see. But yeah, I hope so, actually.“

Dear god I hope the estate tells her to fuck off. Is it known who controls the estate when it comes to those kind of decisions?

[quote}"I think we have to get the rights first, so we have to go to the estate and see. But yeah, I hope so, actually.“

Damn, the way she phrases that makes her sound like a rank amateur. "I think we have to get the rights first?" Ya think so??? REALLY????

R184, but all those covers and understudies have to be costumed, rather elaborately and expensively from what I see in photos of the production. That's a HUGE expense for a show, especially an off-Broadway show with tight running costs.

And covers and understudies often aren't willing to be locked into long contracts.

R187, it's not a long contract by any means, and there is a lot more freedom with the costumes in this production than in other shows. And again, whatever expenses they would have for understudies -- which would not be all that great, especially for an Off-Broadway contract -- pale in comparison to how much money they lose when they have to completely cancel performances.

Anyone else see RDJ's show last night?

R189 how was it?

I just got a report from a friend she liked it....RDJ and Andrea Martin were great but she didn't like the guy who played the son......

What is the musical in the MCC season rumored to be?

A new musical based on What's Eating Gilbert Grape? written and directed by Peter Hedges, who wrote the original source material. He's also the father of actor Lucas Hedges.

I posted this as a scoop a couple of threads ago.

So it’s not a scoop.

Lucas hedges who also had never seen a Michelle Pfeiffer movie or a Meryl Streep movie before co-starting with them both?

This Lucas Hedges?

I see the tuchas of Lucas.

That doesn’t rhyme FYI.

Wasn't Lucas Hedges non-binary for a while?

R198 = Stephen Sondheim

[quote]That doesn’t rhyme FYI.

How about mucus?

MJ, HK, & Juliet, pony boy all out tonight on the Broadway

Oh and Orpheus too

Lucas Hedges gives a world class blowjob, or so I’ve been told by someone who would definitely know.

He knows how to use his chest voice—in his throat.

R202, that understudies website could be very helpful, but it would be nice if it somewhere listed the date of the performance its referring to, rather than just saying "today," so there would be no misunderstanding depending on when one logs on.

Lucas Hedges broke my heart in The Waverly Gallery. He and Elaine May, not to mention Joan Allen and David Cromer, looked mortality straight in the eye without flinching. Those were two of the best hours I have spent in a Broadway theater.

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

[quote]Lucas Hedges gives a world class blowjob, or so I’ve been told by someone who would definitely know.

Hope it was Joe Alwyn.

Or, maybe, him?

It was probably Tommy Dorfman who is now a lesbian and married to a woman.

Ick.

My bet is on R210–practice makes perfect.

Kathleen Chalfant (an old favorite on these threads) won an award at the Venice Film Festival.

Patti LuPone found dead on the floor.

Wow! No theatre gossip in almost 24 hours?

I think several of us must have been in mourning over Patti LuPone. Being dead on the floor and all that.

Patti DIED??!?!?!????

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red red red

That's what I said

Red Shoes

r214

I'll take Patti's version still... I don't get all the hype over Cynthia Erivo... she's good but not THAT good... she seems exhausting

I was relieved when I saw the trailer for "Wicked." I was afraid that Erivo would insist on wearing that bovine nose ring of hers.

Patti's version sucks. She just bellows with no understanding of the lyrics. Just her usual vocal masturbation.

Not always,r221. She sang it brilliantly in the actual show (check out the original cast CD),

Erivo is the quintessence of meh.

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Achieve EGOT Status With ‘Only Murders’ Emmy Win:

LuPone vs Erivo is a true DL Morton's Fork.

No matter who comes out on top, the bitching will be endless.

Waving through a window Waving through a window

Waving through a window

Waving through a window

Any chance Table 17 will be making the move to Broadway. The Booth would be perfect for it.

How dare you. [Italic] HOW DARE YOU! [/Italic]

John Mulaney Sets Broadway Return:

Intervention in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

Michael McKean Joins ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ Broadway Revival With ‘Better Call Saul’ Costar Bob Odenkirk:

I guess Maybe Happy Ending is going to open after all?

It is. One of its co-producers closed a significant shortfall in the capitalization. But the show has no advance - what they have is not even enough for one week of sales, let alone an open run.

R233, you sure seem to have lots of detailed information on their financing, or lack of same.

r234, do you not realize we have lots of Broadway pros and insiders here at the DL?

^^^....and also a lot of people who think they are, but aren't.

Well, of course Broadway will dim its lights for James Earl Jones. He had a theater named after him, for chrissakes.

Sorry your show is not selling, R234. And tell Jeffrey Richards "fuck you" from me.

^^^I don't know where all that hate is coming from. I merely commented that you seem to have a lot of detailed info about that particular show. I didn't mean it as a negative, and I certainly have no dog in the race when it comes to that show.

Not *my* idea of Norma...

People on Facebook are up in arms that Patti and Mia don’t stage door after the show.

I dare someone to shout “I am Not One of your FANS” at Patti as she rushes to her car after a show

I'm still giggling over a FB Broadway Remembered page member going after Regina Resnik who she approached for an autograph as a young girl. After "signing illegibly" the young fan wanted to thank Regina who shut her up with a "We're done here!" and moved on before the poor young fan could get in another word.

Sad.

R240. Sarah looks very happy and she's been showing up for performances. Is she sucking off stagehands before her entrance? Asking for a friend.

Aurora Spiderwoman has become such a bore. I suppose the treasure trove of vintage material he deigns to share is running dry. I can see all the curtain calls I want on Instagram.

Then you do that, r244.