THEATRE GOSSIP #598: The "Audra Jokes, 65% Off!" Edition

The previous thread.

Thank you to OP for starting this thread at the very last minute in post 600 in the prior thread! Thank you for keeping our theatre gossip alive, OP!

I really wished the Gypsy were recorded. Audra’s performance is extraordinary and should be saved

There is a huge difference between Minnesota and Missouri. It’s an outside theatre and it’s 91 right now

I’m sure Norm is sweating his bulging balls off!

Norm Lewis seems to be one of those fellas who's asexual.

Wow! That video at the end of the last thread about Ryan Whateverhisnameis and Lindsay Mendez is scandalous! And is the Kirsten (or Kristen?) Anderson mentioned at the end the wife Bobby Lopez?

In the 60s and 70s the MUNY would often get the national tours of Broadway shows and even shows that were trying out, prior to Broadway. It's where I saw the original Mack & Mabel, which was fabulous (except for the 98 degrees heat).

[quote]Norm Lewis seems to be one of those fellas who's asexual.

WHAT???!!! (choking on my beads).

Norm Lewis is one of those actors who, with more and more leading roles, has tried to climb back into the closet. I do wonder what his partner of many years thinks.

R8 who’s his partner? I thought I read somewhere that he dated Lachanze in the 90s.

Also isn’t his leading role career pretty much done?

He’s doing La Cage in St. Louis for fucks sake!

[quote]He’s doing La Cage in St. Louis for fucks sake!

Well, smell you, r9.

[quote]who’s his partner? I thought I read somewhere that he dated Lachanze in the 90s.

Yeah, and Liberace dated Sonja Henie in the 50s. Your point?

[Quote] There is a huge difference between Minnesota and Missouri.

They look the same when you fly over them…

[quote]They look the same when you fly over them…

They actually don't.

I hope Norm does La Cage at Encores although I wouldn't wish Billy Porter on anybody.

R6, I assume he meant Kerstin Anderson, the terrific performer who understudied Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY and regularly did the Sunday matinees.

Norm is now, and has, for all of his adult life, been gay. He never fucked LaChanze.

[quote]I really wished the Gypsy were recorded. Audra’s performance is extraordinary and should be saved

What are you talking about? There is a cast album, and I'm sure the whole show has been or will be recorded for the TOFT collection at the NYPL at Lincoln Center.

[quote]Norm Lewis seems to be one of those fellas who's asexual.

Only on DL, kids. Only on DL.

Ryan Scott Oliver looks pretty creepy, even on his own website.

But Norm has never come out publicly as a homosexualist, has he?

Perhaps because he isn't one, R20.

I don’t think Norm is gay. I think he’s in the grand tradition of musical theatre straight men that date all the women

See also

Christian Borle

Norm is 100% gay and has a big dick. He has never even seen a vagina.

Perhaps he closed his eyes and thought of England?

Anyone know this guy? Pretty astounding story.

Which one of you got the cuff link collection?

I prefer snuff boxes

Would Follies have run longer with Sally Bowles and Phyllis Lindstrom?

NY Magazine non paywall article on Pietraa

R12 Los Angeles and New York City are one and the same -- woke socialist sanctuary hellholes, crime-ridden, lawless, dirty, rampant homelessness, etc.

Yes, R25. He was tangentially around my circle at the Met. He was basically the return of Alberto Vilar. I was surprised to read that the admin took him so seriously. One would think that they’d learned from Vilar. Apparently not. He was weird and plastic and detached and creepy, but most of the 1% pretenders are like that at the elite classical institutions. You can still get away with this sort of scammery in NYC, at least for a little awhile.

R30, shouldn’t you be on Truth Social?

[quote]Norm Lewis seems to be one of those fellas who's asexual.

I actually kinda know what you mean. Unlike the Literalist Lizzies on here, I don't actually think he is asexual. I know he's gay. But, yes, as a performer, I don't think he exudes a particular sexual energy. Regardless of their personal lives (for all I know, he's terrific in the sack and has amazing sexual chemistry with his partners), there are some performers who just don't exude that kind of energy on stage. I've only seen him twice, but, yeah, I get it.

R30, people in LA have cars.

[quote]Would Follies have run longer with Sally Bowles and Phyllis Lindstrom?

It would have run longer with Sally Rand and Phyllis Thaxter.

I saw The Muny La Cage last night.

It seems like it was a tuneup for the Encores next summer as it was also an all black cast sans Billy Porter.

The cast was good and I felt bad they were doing so much choreography in full costume in 90 degree weather.

R25 where have you been? This has been covered in NYMAG and elsewhere.

The best part is that “elite” institutions like the Met and the Frick are so lax in their standard of review for big donors!

He was the George Santos of “culture” Lol

[quote]I felt bad they were doing so much choreography in full costume in 90 degree weather.

Pit pads!!!

When it came to culture, Pietras was the first hog to the trough.

Metropolitan Opera Credit Outlook........

I read the NYT—you live in Manhattan—it is a necessity.

Yet, my jaundiced eye can’t help but wink at the Times …a day late and a dollar short, NYMAG beat them to the punch and —now?—they play catch up? I’m glad for the sr. discounts—the Met and the Frick have inmates running their insane asylum philanthropy depts.

R40 I'm available for Aida if the Met needs a box office boost.

the idea that someone in the Met's inner circle of billionaires couldn't blow the whistle on this guy... really quite unbelievable.

NY Magazine's coverage of the story was woefully bad, because billionaires are not going to answer questions about being bilked out of millions when it's only a drop out of their ogliarch buckets.

R44. Indeed. I am sure that Soros does not even care that he spent so much money. It means nothing to him. We should be casting the movie.

The story wasn’t bad at all.

The story wasn't bad, but the writing is.

The Times doesn’t care about NY culture any more. Met stories don’t get clicks unless they’re trashy stories like Pietras that make fun of the rich. Why do you think they fired their entire cultural desk? The Times is so out of touch with the elite arts world at this point that they just put up a job listing for a classical music reviewer requiring years of major publication writing experience, intense in depth knowledge of opera and symphonic music, on camera and social media experience, and so many other qualifications I can’t remember how ridiculous they were, and they think they can pay this total unicorn just 125k a year. I just point and laugh at the Times as they turn into a combination of Apple Games and Buzzfeed. Pathetic.

I think R42 actually IS Billy Porter. It’s just too spot on.

Billy Porter = Box Office Poison.

How long was Billy in Cabaret in London? Did tickets surge or drop?

[quote]Would Follies have run longer with Sally Bowles and Phyllis Lindstrom?

It would have run longer with Sally Struthers and Phyllis Coates. Both were known from television.

Sally Ride and Phyllis Kirk for matinees.

Lola Falana as Carlotta. If she’s still here.

It's Lainie Kazan's time to shine, and she can do the "I'm Still Here" lyrics from her nightclub act, the ones that Sondheim gave her a cease and desist order for.

R54. I’d rather see Lola Heatherton as Carlotta. And Putin Sclerosoo as Hattie.

I had the funniest experience the other night. I saw a nice production of Sunday in the Park With George. The George was very good. When I enjoy a performance, I generally look up the actor online. I was surprised to discover that I'd slept with the George's husband (or boyfriend?) about 6 years ago in the back of his sister's car. We were both visiting family from out of town and were a little bored and horny and with nowhere to go, we ended up in the literal back seat. It was 100% him. Absolutely sensational fuck. How lovely to be reminded me of that long ago late night excursion.

Has that ever happened to any of you? Perhaps at Follies?

yes, R57!!! It has!

I discovered that I had fucked Fred Gwynne in the back of a hansom cab right after I saw Yvonne in Follies!

He had a monstrous cock! Green and girthy!

He came first and started to pull up his pants to go and I had to snap at him, "Hey!!! Lurch!!! I'm STILL HERE!!!" and made him eat me out until I screamed:

"Car 54, where the fuck are YOU!!!!???!?!?"

It was grand.

R42 it’s a museum, not the opera house—duh

Kidding ;)

The Countess LuAnn as Carlotta

When we had the chance, Bonnie Franklin and Linda Lavin for FOLLIES !

I'm sure Fred was thrilled when you called him Lurch!

r58 - I buy it. Lurch definitely had BDF.

[quote]When we had the chance, Bonnie Franklin and Linda Lavin for FOLLIES !

I saw Linda play Hattie in D.C. She had some other commitment and wasn't in the show (the Bernadette Peters production) when it came to New York.

You missed nothing.

Waylon Flowers and Madame as the Whitmans

Linda Lavin was hilarious as Hattie. Like it was Special Guest Star Linda Lavin, who came out by herself to sing Broadway Baby, as if it was a totally different show, and they announced when she was done, "And now back to our production of Follies!"

[quote]Norm is 100% gay and has a big dick. He has never even seen a vagina.

Was he blind at birth?

[quote]r57 I was surprised to discover that I'd slept with the George's husband (or boyfriend?) about 6 years ago in the back of his sister's car. We were both visiting family from out of town

Was this gentleman and the George TOGETHER at the time? He has a right to the truth about who he’s joining his life with.

You have to let him know.

With the "both visiting family from out of town", I'm thinking R57 was in a Hallmark Christmas movie. The "[straying or future] partner of a musicals star" is a nice touch for a gay romcom.

[quote]Was he blind at birth?

How many babies are born with their eyes open?

Frankly, with the information provided, it’s not difficult to identify either the actor or the husband.

You rang?

Yesterday I saw Montego Glover as Rose and Shanel Bailey as Louise and it was a perfect production. I was able to enjoy a solid presentation without worry and I don't think I've ever seen a better Louise.

It was a joy from start to finish.

Back seat driver?

Reece Carney will be the next Emcee in London with Eva as his Sally. London gets much more interesting replacements than Broadway.

R74 Were there enough people in the audience to fill up the first four rows of center orchestra ?

It was a packed house

Who the hell is going to the umpteenth Cabaret production filled with anonymous nobodies no one cares about?

[quote]Reece Carney

REEVE, not Reece

R80. Sorry. I wasn't wearing my glasses.

R56 here. Should have been Perini Sclotoso—combination of autocorrect and bad proofreading. But Andrea Martin playing Perini playing Putin would be a sight to see!

You can have Lurch and Fred.....I'll take THING. Very handy.

This thread is hilarious.

I see what you did there! ^

[quote]Was this gentleman and the George TOGETHER at the time? He has a right to the truth about who he’s joining his life with. You have to let him know.

Dear, precious sheltered frau at R69, do you KNOW any gay men? Do you think only porn stars are in open relationships? But, in this case, I don't believe so. I'm pretty sure the guy was single at the time, but that was several years ago... who knows... I think he's gotten veneers since. I don't recall such prominent chompers, but that was the better part of a decade ago, at night, in the backseat of some beat up Chevy, so... grain of salt.

His instagram is up thread—take a look^^

[quote]R86 I'm pretty sure the guy was single at the time, but that was several years ago... who knows... I think he's gotten veneers since.

But wouldn’t you feel better if you KNEW? I know I would. You just wait for the George outside the stage door alongside the autograph hounds and then when he sails out, inform him you had sex with his partner six years ago. Then watch for the reaction.

I just think it’s best to be upfront and honest in these situations. You’re being given a second chance.

I bet Billy Porter is great as the Emcee. It's such an over-the-top role, it fits his strengths perfectly

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1925, “A Lucky Break” opened at the Cort Theatre.

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: Six years ago, the lead actor from regional theater’s “Sunday in the Park with George” was flagrantly cheated on in the back of a borrowed car by his man whore fiancé.

[italic]With a DataLounger.

I know Reeve for a long time since his Spiderman days and Hadestown R76 a sweet guy. I'll be in London in November staying right across the street from the Kit Kat Club. Not sure I can sit through that horror again but maybe I'll tell him I got a ticket and pretend I saw it and meet him and Eva after the show lol.

R91 you buried the lede… the man whore’s previous fucktoy was a young guy named Gus—well known to all here.

DL's contempt for Linda Lavin never ceases to amaze/nauseate me. Sometimes it feels like the only things you all know about her are ALICE and the SCTV skits in which Andrea Martin lampoons her.

Lavin was a lot of fun in FOLLIES in D.C. -- a tonic after Régine's disastrous "Ah, Paris!," and certainly preferable to Jayne Houdyshell's bizarre "bag lady" performance in the part when the show reached New York. (And I've loved Houdyshell in many other things.) And she was vastly superior to Judith Light in OTHER DESERT CITIES.

Seriously, the only DLers who mock Linda Lavin are those who never saw her onstage. That particular talent and charisma did not fully translate to TV. Talk about an actor who could effortlessly raise the quality of mediocre writing.

Linda was a brilliant actress who unfortunately thought her singing voice was far better than it actually was. I am CERTAIN this is the basis for Andrea Martin’s imitation.

Lavin's singing voice was godawful, but somehow she convinced herself and casting directors that it wasn't.

In her "big breakthrough" — "You've Got Possibilities," from "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Superman" — she's flat and sharp all over the place.

R97, whether a person is singing sharp or flat (or not) is not a matter of opinion. Lavin does bend a few notes in "You've Got Possibilities," but that's not the same as singing sharp or flat. I think she sounds great in that recording, and there seems to be general agreement about that.

I will say, I think it was a big mistake for her to appear as the Old Lady in CANDIDE as her last major musical role in NYC, but I'm not aware of any other, previous occasions when she played a role that she couldn't handle vocally.

R98. Her voice was not suited to Rose in Gypsy.

Someone wrote on Broadwayworld that Mira Sorvino is joining Chicago on Broadway.

Will this be what finally kills that show?

If Alyssa Milano and Ashley Graham didn't kill Chicago nothing will.

Sorry, Mrs. S., but YOUR voice is the one that's not suited to Rose in GYPSY, as is now evident from the cast album.

[quote]Her voice was not suited to Rose in Gypsy.

Thanks, Audra.

[quote]I bet Billy Porter is great as the Emcee. It's such an over-the-top role, it fits his strengths perfectly

The show is absolutely tanking at the box office with Billy and that woman, who apparently is also all wrong for her role. I'm told that, last week, the show had the lowest gross of all the musicals currently running on Broadway, and a business acquaintance of mine reports that they are even having great trouble papering the house with free tickets. So, in other words, they literally can't even give them away.

The producers still buck off the booze

make bucks*

R104. I find this hilarious that he is bombing in the role since he was so self righteous in his media appearances about his this was

1) His turn

2) His time

3) HIS version!

Her turn!

Her time!

Her vision!

R103 see r99

There is only so much money that can be made from the sale of booze at a theater -- and also, isn't it true that the producers get only a small percentage of that?

Before this production of CABARET opened, someone crunched the numbers to figure out how long they would have to run at full capacity with premium tickets, two-thirds capacity, and so on in order to pay back and start earning a profit, and the numbers were insane -- partly due to the tremendous amount of money that was spent to rejigger the theater for this "immersive" presentation. So I would imagine only a tiny percentage of the investors' money, if any, will be returned to them when the show closes.

They'd make a lot more money if they'd sell the booze AND the boys.

R111, have you seen the boys -- and the girls -- in that show? I don't think selling them would add much to the show's coffers....

My friend saw the show with Peck and he said an understudy for Schneider was on and she looked like a 25 year old made up to look 50 but came off more like 30. That's just sloppy.

David Sabella from the original 1996 cast of Chicago has returned to the show for a limited run.

R110 that show offers much more than a simple intermission bar service.

[quote]That show offers much more than a simple intermission bar service.

I'm aware of that, but again, I think the producers of CABARET get only a percentage of the liquor sales. And even if they sell LOTS of liquor, it's very unlikely that can make up for all of the show's tremendous expenses.

The original post merely said they can still take in good $ due to the unique “atmosphere” of this show. That remains true.

Yes, I'm sure the extra liquor sales help. But my point is that, from all reports, the investors in this CABARET are going to take a huge bath because the show's expenses and running costs are SO high, and also because the show began to underperform after Eddie Redmayne left the cast, and now is underperforming to an alarming degree.

Grosses are out. Cabaret is $18k lower. Worst week for the show, again the lowest grossing musical on Broadway. Billy is setting new records every week!

I don’t think anyone told Billy Porter that Cabaret isn’t simply a musical version of Pose.

Cabaret can't hold on until October. I predict a Labor Day closing.

Every day is Labor Day, at the Boston Lying-In.

Nobody wants to see anyone in Cabaret any more. Enough already!

Smaller productions don't have much bargaining power and are lucky to get any Broadway house at all but this two-person show is getting...the Longacre!?

I’m sorry but this fall looks like a real shit show except for Chess and Ragtime.

Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) has got the Longacre.

Not for long.

This isn't a rhetorical question. What do you think was the last original musical to have originated in London that was genuinely well written (book and score.) Not revivals. Not British productions of American musicals. I'm struggling to think of one from the past two decades, but, admittedly, I only get to London occasionally and NY about two times a year. Can think of plenty of non-musical plays, but musicals...?

Operation Mincemeat.

And before that, Matilda originated in London before coming to New York.

As did Groundhog Day, which I really loved.

And not a peep out of THE EVIL WEARS PRADA. I guess that one will wisely stay put in London.

David Sabella?? WEHT Ernie Sabella? Is he still with us? Such a funny sweet man.

R93, you’ve left me speechless. Someone who knows it is “lede.” Take a bow, bitch.

I know how to use a caret also.

Can you spot the intentional error? ^

ATC folk are drooling over the STRANGERS star Sam Tutty. Twink with a Platt-like voice. Cute as a bedbug, but not likely to helm a huge Broadway hit.

Think I meant cute as a ladybug.

[quote]Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) has got the Longacre.

Didn't Jack and Karen do that on "Will and Grace" (although in that case it was to the top of a building.)

Sam Tutty performs " Waving Through a Window." He's not a cute as DL favorite Charlie Stemp.

Sam and three other Evan Hansens sing.

Rumors on B'way (don't know how accurate they are, though) is that 'Cabaret' will be posting an early closing notice by the end of the week for Labor Day weekend. Anyone surprised ? I'd be surprised if it didn't happen.

Is Tutty on the spectrum?

Tutty is the spectrum.

Is Tutty frutty?

[quote]What do you think was the last original musical to have originated in London that was genuinely well written (book and score.)

Despite one or two fairly major flaws, I think BILLY ELLIOT was well written overall in terms of both book and score.

Meanwhile fucking Rudin gets the Booth and "Art" literally could've gone anywhere else.

The last original British Musical I loved was Benjamin Button (before it moved to the West End.) The one before that was years before, Spend Spend Spend. Neither 9so far) have come here. (and all the one's who did come here didn't do much for me,)

Actually, IMO, the score was the major flaw of BILLY ELLIOT, r146. What do you think were the other flaws?

Swan Lake, the accents….

[quote]Actually, IMO, the score was the major flaw of BILLY ELLIOT, [R146]. What do you think were the other flaws?

Certainly not this little cutie.

[quote]R123 Nobody wants to see anyone in Cabaret any more. Enough already!

Well, I’d like to see Audra’s take on Sally…. ?

[quote]R110 There is only so much money that can be made from the sale of booze at a theater

Well… especially when the house is practically empty..

Tickets on sale today for Two Strangers.

When I saw Two Strangers at ART, it seemed very much a middlebrow tourist take on NYC. So maybe that’s who will go to see it.

[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.]

It's true! Mira Sorvino IS Roxie Hart starting Sept 15th.

Don’t know why my post didn’t go through above, but that link shows that Sunset lost 6 mil, and Cabaret will lose 25 mil, surprising no one. UK producers need to stop bringing their shitty mid revivals here. Countdown to no one going to see the hated Rachel Zegler in that Evita she is currently faking her way through in head voice.

I know two co-producers on CABARET who are threatening suit because the theater made millions on the Booze while the investors have lost everything. Don't think these are any Sunset co-producers are going to lose millions on EVITA so Sir Andrew Lloyd Drunkhead can have another Broadway outing.

Someone should write an expose on CABARET on Broadway...

[quote]r159 that link shows that Sunset lost 6 mil, and Cabaret will lose 25 mil, surprising no one.

But, but… [italic]the booze buys!

lol, R161. That discussion upthread is hilarious. As if the bar is going to save a show that’s been a giant black hole for months.

I don't get how SUNSET BOULEVARD could not have made a profit. Other than Nicole's salary, what were the overriding costs? Certainly not the sets and costumes or their upkeep.

R162 the earlier point was that plenty of $ was being made for a few even with a flop.

I’m sorry but if a musical can sell at 85-100% capacity for a year, win all the awards and be a “hit” AND lose 6 million dollars…the system is indeed broken!

Plenty of money was not being made if the show lost 25 million.

Again—plenty of $ has been made off the atypical booze arrangements.

Did the blockbuster plays with Clooney, Denzel and Kieran make money?

Sunset seemed like THE musical event of the season. So, what prevented it from being profitable? I'm guessing, although there wasn't a set, the tech aspects (including live camera operators) and the large orchestra would have required a higher average ticket to come close to the black?

One of them did

I assume producers blame unions, right? In the UK actors and musicians make a very poor living in the West End, right? And, I get that argument, but actors and musicians deserve to make a decent living when they're performing at the top of their industry. Maybe theatre owners need to start giving up more?

R168. All three recouped.

[quote]R167 Again—plenty of $ has been made off the atypical booze arrangements.

America is being FORCED to drink till DRUNK to support the theater!

One of the reasons I won’t have children…

You keep insisting that R167. You have zero evidence of that. Are you the fucking barkeep? 🙄

I can’t vouch for the economics, but I remember those cocktails being very expensive. Like over $30. And there were long lines at all the bars.

That said, the alcohol helped a lot. What a train wreck.

[quote]I know two co-producers on CABARET who are threatening suit because the theater made millions on the Booze while the investors have lost everything.

But bar sales and ticket sales are an entirely separate issue. And again, I may be wrong, but I think the major profits from sales of drinks go neither to the producers of the show nor to the "theater," but to whatever company runs the booze concessions.

Oh dear.