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Everybody's got the right to be happy...even Sara Jane Moore

I saw Assassins, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by John Weidman, on Broadway at Studio 54 on July 13, 2004. It was my third Sondheim show (counting Gypsy and a really bad community production of Passion) and put me well on the road to becoming a Sondheimite. It sounds like a morbid almost disgusting idea, but it was one of the most clever, most entertaining and certainly most thought provoking productions I've ever seen.

The original production of Assassins opened off-Broadway on December 18, 1990 at Playwrights Horizons. The 2004 Broadway production at Studio was technically a revival. It won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. Michael Cerveris won the Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Joe Mantello won for Direction, Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer won for Best Lighting Design, and Michael Starobin won for Best Orchestrations.

Assassins looks at the history of presidential assassination. The characters are based on real-life presidential assassins and would-be assassins including the most famous John Wilkes Booth (Lincoln), Lee Harvey Oswald (Kennedy) and John Hinckley (Reagan) to the lesser known Sara Jane Moore (Ford), Leon Czolgosz (McKinley), Samuel Byck (Nixon), Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme (Ford), Giuseppe Zangara (FDR), and Charles Guiteau (Garfield).

If you've seen or heard Assassins, then you know one of the funniest "characters" is Sara Jane Moore. She was originally played by Debra Monk and on Broadway by Becky Ann Baker. Sara Jane attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford in September, 1975. Now, after 34 years, the real Sara Jane Moore has been released from prison and is talking. She was interviewed on the Today Show yesterday morning. Hopefully, she'll stay away from sales, gun, not shoe...and maybe she'll catch a local production in her town, wherever that may be.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Reasons To Be Pretty, Billy Elliot, and Universal Robtos Take Top Honors in First Ever Theater Blogger Awards

REASONS TO BE PRETTY, BILLY ELLIOT, AND UNIVERSAL ROBOTS TAKE TOP HONORS IN FIRST EVER THEATER BLOGGER AWARDS

The Independent Theater Bloggers Association (www.TheaterBloggers.com) is thrilled to announce the winners of the first annual ITBA Awards for Excellence in Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway theater.

The ITBA (Independent Theater Bloggers Association) was formed in 2009 by a group of the most passionate theater bloggers on the World Wide Web (partial list below). The members of the Association blog about all aspects and all varieties of both commercial and non-profit theater, from big Broadway musicals performed in Times Square, to the most unique forms of entertainment performed off-off Broadway on the Lower East Side, as well as productions all over the country and all over the world. Together they see thousands of productions, and, without being paid or prodded, they write about them.


Ken Davenport, founder of the ITBA, said, “The Association was formed out of a desire to provide structure to the quickly growing theatrical blogosphere, as well as to give the new media voices a chance to recognize excellence in three of the very distinct theatrical markets that make up the New York City theatrical landscape: Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway.”


In true “new media” style, there will be no live awards ceremony for the ITBA Awards. Instead, there will be a virtual awards ceremony, with video acceptance speeches for the winners posted electronically in the coming weeks on ITBA’s website, www.TheaterBloggers.com.


This year’s winners of the ITBA Awards are as follows:


BROADWAY
BEST BROADWAY PLAY
Reasons To Be Pretty

Written by: Neil Labute
Directed by: Terry Kinney
Produced by: Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Ted Snowdon, Doug Nevin/Erica Lynn Schwartz, Ronald Frankel/Bat-Barry Productions, Kathleen Seidel, Kelpie Arts, Jam Theatricals, Rachel Helson/Heather Provost and Scott M. Delman

BEST BROADWAY MUSICAL

Billy Elliot

Music by: Elton John
Lyrics by: Lee Hall
Book by: Lee Hall
Directed by: Stephen Daldry
Produced by: Universal Pictures, Working Title, The Old Vic Company, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene


BEST BROADWAY REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL

Hair

Music by: Galt MacDermot
Lyrics by: James Rado, Gerome Ragni
Book by: James Rado, Gerome Ragni
Directed by: Diane Paulus
Produced by: The Joseph Papp Public Theater / New York Shakespeare Festival, Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Productions, Fran Kirmser Productions/Jed Bernstein, Marc Frankel, Broadway Across America, Barbara Manocherian/Wencarlar Productions, JK Productions/Terry Schnuck, Andy Sandberg, Jam Theatricals, The Weinstein Company/Norton Herrick and Jujamcyn Theatres


BEST BROADWAY REVIVAL OF A PLAY

The Norman Conquests

Written by: Alan Ayckbourn
Directed by: Matthew Warchus
Produced by: Sonia Friedman Productions, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Thomas Viertel, Dede Harris, Tulchin/Bartner/Lauren Doll, Jamie deRoy, Eric Falkenstein, Harriet Newman Leve, Probo Productions, Douglas G. Smith, Michael Filerman/Jennifer Manocherian and Richard Winkler


OFF-BROADWAY

BEST OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL

Fela!

Book by: Jim Lewis and Bill T. Jones
Directed by: Bill T. Jones
Music and Lyrics by: Fela Anikulapo Kuti
Add'l Music by: Aaron Johnson and Jordan McLean
Add'l Lyrics by: Jim Lewis
Produced by: Ruth and Stephen Hendel and Roy Gabay

BEST OFF-BROADWAY PLAY

Ruined

Written by: Lynn Nottage
Directed by: Kate Whoriskey
Produced by: Manhattan Theatre Club and Goodman Theatre

BEST OFF-BROADWAY REVIVAL (PLAY OR MUSICAL)

Our Town

Written by: Thornton Wilder
Directed by: David Cromer
Produced by: Scott Morfee, Jean Doumanian, Tom Wirtshafter, Ted Snowdon, Eagle Productions, Dena Hammerstein/Pam Pariseau, The Weinstein Company, Burnt Umber Productions,

BEST OFF-OFF BROADWAY PLAY

Universal Robots

Written by: Mac Rogers
Directed by: Rosemary Andress
Produced by: Manhattan Theater Source

BEST OFF-OFF BROADWAY UNIQUE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE

Suspicious Package

Written by: Gyda Arber & Aaron Baker
Directed by: Gyda Arber
Produced by: The Fifth Wall as part of The Antidepressant Festival

CITATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN OFF-OFF BROADWAY THEATER

Flux Theatre Ensemble


Members of the ITBA include:

Bill Brown
www.creatingtheater.com

Linda Buchwald
Pataphysical Science
www.pataphysicalscience.blogspot.com

Donald Butchko
Me2ism?
www.me2ism.blogspot.com

Chris Caggiano
Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals
ccaggiano.typepad.com/everything_i_know_i_learn/


Zack Calhoon
Visible Soul
www.zackcalhoon.blogspot.com

Jodi Schoenbrun Carter
www.off-stage-right.com

Corine Cohen
Corine's Corner
www.corinescorner.com

Kevin Daly
Theatre Aficionado at Large
www.theatreaficionado.com

Ken Davenport
The Producer's Perspective
www.theproducersperspective.com

Ryan J. Davis
Ryan J. Davis Blogs
www.ryanjdavis.blogspot.com

Jeremy Dobrish
Jeremy’s Green Room
www.JeremysGreenRoom.com

Donelle Foreman
The DJF
www.thedjf.blogspot.com

Michael Gilboe
Broadway Bullet
www.broadwaybullet.com

Dan Gilloon
One NYC StageHand
www.onenycstagehand.blogspot.com

Diana Glazer
Lezbehonest
www.lezbehonest.tumblr.com

Byrne Harrison
www.stagebuzz.com

Leonard Jacobs
The Clyde Fitch Report
www.cyldefitchreport.com

Patrick Lee
Just Shows to Go You
www.justshowstogoyou.com

James Marino
Broadway Stars
www.broadwaystars.com

Tulis McCall
Usher Nonsense
www.ushernonsense.com

Jesse North
Stage Rush
www.stagerush.blogspot.com

Aaron Riccio
That Sounds Cool
www.thatsoundscool.blogspot.com

Sarah Roberts
Adventures in the Endless Pursuit of Entertainment
www.sarahbsadventures.blogspot.com

Michael Roderick
One Producer in the City
www.oneproducerinthecity.com

Adam Rothenberg
Adaumbelle’s Quest
www.adaumbellesquest.com

David Spencer
Aisle Say
http://www.aislesay.com/

Ethan Stanislawski
Tynan's Anger
www.tynansanger.com

Gil Varod
Broadway Abridged
www.broadwayabridged.com

Kim Weild
www.kimweild.com

Quote of the Day

From a post at All that Chat explaining the laughter captured in Tony Cenicola's candid photo accompanying the Patricia Cohen's Forget the Ingénues; Cue the Grown-Ups in the New York Times:

Harriet Walter told the group about a patron at Mary Stuart, who was apparently slightly bewildered and hard of hearing. As the show began, he was heard to loudly exclaim, "This isn't Blithe Spirit! Where the hell is Angela Lansbury?"

Hunks on Broadway this Fall

Remember when I told you on January 14, 2009, that Daniel Craig told Regis and Kelly that he would like to make Broadway happen? Well, in the Post today, Michael Riedel says it is going to happen and not only is it one hunk Daniel, but two! Hugh Jackman will join Daniel Craig in a new drama, "A Steady Rain" by Keith Huff. Oh my! Two hunks. Think there's a shirtless scene in this drama? One can hope.

Now, that was a show!

I went to the The Minds That Move The World Speaker Series: Charlie Rose Interviews Karl Rove and James Carville last night with my friend Joe. Joe is a politics junkie on the same level that I'm a Broadway junkie.

It was theatrical to say the least: drama, passion, humor, histrionics, protestors! Wow. It did feel a bit rehearsed, but was entertaining. Protestors screaming "Karl Rove is a warm criminal" were removed, as was a young woman, in a very short skirt, who stormed the stage with a set of handcuffs in an attempt to arrest Rove.

Carville came across as a nut, but a very smart and passionate one at that. Rove just came across smart and strong in his conviction. Things really got out of hand when they started arguing about Bush's initial ignorance of Katrinia - all three men were shouting at the top of their lungs. The thing that came across to me though was these men are professionals whose jobs happen to be political strategy and election and they definitely respect each other, even if they are on the far opposite side of the political spectrum.

La Diva Renée tells it like it is, about Dmitri Hvorostovksy anyway

About Dmitri, La Diva Renée says, he has "brooding good looks, absolutely verile presence." Oh yeah, and he can sing like there's no tomorrow.

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be An Old Woman

Read this New York Times Article by Patricia Cohen. Patricia says, "Hollywood has always been a man’s world, but as Pink might sing, so what? On Broadway at least, women can still be rock stars." Yes. This is just one of the most important reasons why I love Broadway. It applies to the men too, by the way. It's also one of the main reasons why I see so few movies.


PS I borrowed this post title from Michelle Shocked. If you haven't listened to her music, do it now.

Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day. I'm remembering my Dad, former 1st Sergeant M.O. Roberts. In 1958, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of eighteen and served for twenty years. He was deployed to the Bay of Pigs during the Cuban Missile Crisis and later to China Beach, Vietnam in 1971. He was stationed at San Diego, CA, Monterrey, CA, Kaneohe, HI, Camp Lejuene, NC, Kadena AFB, Okinawa, and Camp Pendleton, CA. He also spent time in Maryland, South Carolina, Germany, Portugal, Spain and Morocco and probably other places he never told me about.

My first ten years were spent as a Marine Brat...we traveled, we learned, we were patriotic. He took me to watch maneuvers and parades, to see tanks and helicopters up close, even to the mess and the NCO club. I am still proud of being the daughter of a Marine. I am always torn when people criticize the military and our country's involvement in foreign wars. He taught me about humility, respect, honor, justice, responsibility and service. He was the epitome of the adage, "Once a Marine, Always a Marine."

In our family, every day is Memorial Day and Veterans' Day. We lost him nine years ago after a brief, intense illness. There is a plaque on his grave commemorating his service to our country and a small American flag waves there. We remember him for the citizen and soldier he was and above all for the loving and proud father he was.

Right now, it's Fleet Week in New York. I saw hundreds of Marines Navy sailors, and airmen in and around Times Square. I wish I had time to thank each one of them personally for their willingness to serve.

Lean, Lithe, Delightfully Blithe

I lifted my my own spirits with a trip to Blithe Spirit on Friday night. Although I had seen the show several times previously, I had not taken the opportunity to stagedoor. Being a beautiful evening, it felt the right time. Unfortunately, the principals - Angela Lansbury, Christine Ebersole, Rupert Everett, Jayne Atkinson and Simon Jones - didn't materialize. We were only treated to Deborah Rush and Susan Louise O'Connor, who were both lovely. After some errands today, I tried my luck again today only at the stagedoor with windowcard in hand. Although there was still no Christine, Rupert, Helen or Simon today, Miss Lansbury did grant us an audience! And yes, she does look incredible and did say hello and signed my windowcard. Brava!

Bruce at the Meadowlands

Yeah, I dug it.

Appropriate for Memorial Day

I'm going to the Meadowlands with Kari, Sally and Joe to see Bruce Springsteen in his homeland of Jersey tonight. I've got my earplugs in my pocket and I'm ready to rock.

Wall to Wall Broadway

Last Saturday, my Little Love Noah and I spent the day at Symphony Space for Wall to Wall Broadway. It was a 12 hour program celebrating 100 years of Broadway. Isaiah Sheffer, Artistic Director of Symphony Space and the creator of the day, peppered the day with several symposiums about the process of writing, directing and producing, including influences, inspirations and even two raps (Sheldon Harnick rapped about Lin-Manuel Miranda; Lin-Manuel returned the favor with a rap of "Tradition"), but the day was for the American musical. Up until almost 8:00, accompaniament was shared on piano by Lanny Meyers and Beth Ertz, except for tracks for the current big Broadway shows, and Michael Cerveris accompanied himself on accoustic guitar. At 8:00, the American Theatre Orchestra under the baton of Paul Gemignani took over. Isaiah said that there were originally over 350 songs proposed. These are the oldies but goodies, recent and even brand new songs that made the cut:

1. "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King - Dashaun Young and Ta'Rea Campbell
2. "Practically Perfect" from Mary Poppins - Catherine Brunell, Alison Horowitz, Zach Rand
3. "She's in Love" from The Little Mermaid - Brian D'Addario, Julie Barnes, Catherine Baslie, Michelle Lookadoo, Zakiya Young Mizen, Chelsea MOrgan Stock, Kay Trinidad
4. "Don't Let Me Go" from Shrek - Daniel Breaker
5. "The Wizard and I" from Wicked - Chelsea Krombach
6. "Light My Candle", 7. "Take Me or Leave Me", 8. "Finale B", 9. "Seasons of Love" from Rent - performers from the Adelphi University production
10. "Honey" from Merrily We Roll Along - Jonathan Hadary
11. "My Girl Back Home" from South Pacific - Thom C. Warren
12. "When I Go Out Walkin' With My Baby" from Oklahoma - Kevin Burdette
13. "Come Down from the Tree" from Once on This Island - Nora York
14. "Pink Taffeta Sample Size 10" from Sweet Charity - Loni Ackerman
15. "Tell Me I Look Nice" from She Loves Me - Leenya Rideout
16. "The Bee" from Guys and Dolls - Sydney J. Burgoyne
17. "Travellin' Light" from Guys and Dolls - Thom C. Warren
18. "A Big Fat Heart" from Seesaw - Mary Brienza
19. "Nice She Ain't" from Gypsy - Jonahtan Hadary
20. "I Don't Care Much" from Cabaret - Marion Cowlings
21. "Mama's Talkin Soft" from Gypsy - Loni Ackerman, Ami Vice
22. "Brush Up Your Shakespeare" from Kiss Me Kate - Jonathan Hadary and Kevin Burdette (pre-song discussion with Robert MacNeil)
23. "If Mama was Married" from Gypsy - Loni Ackerman and Lisa Flanagan (pre-song discussion with Frank Rich)
24. "I Can't Get Started" from Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 - Nora York (pre-song discussion with Ted Chapin and lyricist David Zippel)
25. "You Can Always Count on Me" from City of Angels - Ami Vice (pre-song discussion with Ted Chapin and lyricist David Zippel)
26. "Something Wonderful" from The King and I - Lisa Flanagan (pre-song discussion with Ted Chapin and composer Jeanine Tesori and bookwriter/lyricist Joe DiPietro)
27. "All Men Are Freaks" from The Toxic Avenger - Mary Brienza and Kathryn Markey (pre-song discussion with Ted Chapin and bookwriter/lyricist Joe DiPietro)
28. "Lay Down Your Head" from Violet - Laurel Harris, accompanied by Jeanine Tesori (pre-song discussion with Ted Chapin and composer Jeanine Tesori)
29. "Blue Skies" from Betsy - Mary cleer Haran
30. "Taking a Chance on Love" from Cabin in the Sky - Martin Vidnovic
31. "Come Rain or Come Shine" from St. Louis Woman - D'Ambrose Boyd
32. "Coffee in a Cardboard Cup" from Seventy Girls - Isaiah Sheffer
33. "The Gentleman is a Dope" from Allegro - Loni Ackerman
34. "You and the Night and the Music" from Revenge with Music - Mary Cleere Haran and Martin Vidnovic
35. "Once Upon a Time" from All American - Lisa Flanagan
36. "Smile" from Smile - Martin Vidnovic
37. "Our Time" from Merrily We Roll Along - Loni Ackerman
38. "Being Alive" from Company - Doug Kreeger (followed by Rob Marx and Harold Prince in conversation)
39. "Hans Christian Andersen" from Hans Christian Andersen - Emily Loesser, Jo Sullivan Loesser, Debbie Gravitte
40. "Never Will I Marry" from Greenwillow - Debbie Gravitte
41. "You Understand Me" from Senor Discretion Himself - Emily Loesser and Jo Sullivan Loesser
42. "My Time of Day" from Guys and Dolls - Gregg Edelman
43. "I've Never Been in Love Before" from Guys and Dolls - Emily Loesser and Gregg Edelman
44. "Taylor the Latte Boy" - Zina Goldrich, Marcy Heisler
45. "Hola Lola" from Dear Edwina - Zina Goldrich, Marcy Heisler (also composer and lyricist of these plus the upcoming Ever After)
46. "The Kid" from The Kid - Trent Dawson
47. "Spare Changin" from The Kid - Brooke Sunny Moriber
48. "When They Put Him In Your Arms" from The Kid - Trent Dawson and Lucas Steel
49. "Embraceable You" from Girl Crazy - Rebecca Luker
50. "Younger than Springtime" from South Pacific - Andrew Samonsky
51. "Pinball Wizard" from The Who's Tommy - Michael Cerveris
52. "I Miss the Mountains" from Next to Normal - Jessica Phillips
53. "Second Hand Rose" from Ziefgeld Follies of 1921 - Loni Ackerman
54. "Song of the Woodman" from The Show is On - Kevin Burdette
55. "Nobody Makes a Pass at Me" from Pins and Needles - Mary Brienza
56. "South America, Take It Away" from Call Me Mister - Mary Brienza
57. "The Boston Beguine" from New Faces of 1952 - Kathryn Markey
58. "Fat and Greasy" from Ain't Misbehavin' - D'Ambrose Boyd and Russell Joel Brown
59. "I Get Carried Away" from On the Town - Leenya Rideout and Kevin Burdette
60. "Find Me a Primitive Man" from 50 Million Frenchmen - Leenya Rideout
61. "We're Going to Balance the Budget" from I'd Rather Be Right - Russell Joel Brown, Kevin Burdette and Sidney J. Burgoyne
62. "Pacineica y Fe" from In the Heights - Olga Merediz (preceeded by rap by Sheldon Harnick, followed by conversation with Sheldon and Lin-Manuel Miranda and rap by Lin-Manuel)
Enter the American Theatre Orchestra and Paul Gemignani
63. Overture from Funny Girl
64. "Give My Regards to Broadway" from Little Johnny Jones - Tony Roberts
65. "All the Things You Are" from Very Warm for May - Alexander Gemingnani
66. "September Song" from Knickerbocker Holiday - George S. Irving
67. Soliloquy" from Carousel - Brian Stokes Mitchell
68. "Tchaikovsky and Other Russians" from Lady in The Dark - Brian Stokes Mitchell
69. "Nobody's Heart" from By Jupiter - Raul Esparza
70. "Zip" from Pal Joey - Martha Plimpton
71. "Night and DAy" from Gay Divorce - Terrence Mann
72. "You're the Top" from Anything Goes - Terrence Mann, Loni Ackerman, Randy Graff
73. "I Get a Kick Out of You" from Anything Goes - Randy Graff
74. "I Cain't Say No" from Oklahoma - Kate Baldwin
75. "If I Loved You" from Carousel - Leenya Rideout and Gregg Edelman
76. "Coconut Girl" from The Girl Who Came to Supper - B.D. Wong (accompanied by Wayne Barker on piano) (B.D. was AMAZING!)
77. "Can That Boy Foxtrot!" from Follies - Julie Wilson
78. Overture from Fiorello!
79. "There's No Business Like Show Business" from Annie Get Your Gun - Debbie Gravitte and Alexander Gemignani
80. "How Are Things in Glocca Mora" from Finian's Rainbow - Kate Baldwin
81. "Adelaide's Lament" from Guys and Dolls - Ivy Austin
82. "Don Jose of Far Rockaway" from Wish You Were Here - Isaiah Sheffer
83. "A New Town is a Blue Town" from The Pajama Game - Alexander Gemignani
84. "The RAin in Spain" from My Fair Lady - Gregg Edelman, Melissa Errico, George S. Irving
85. "Long Befre I Knew You" from Bells are Ringing - Loni Ackerman
86. "Don't Rain on My Parade" from Funny Girl - Debbie Gravitte
"Matchmaker, Matchmaker" from Fiddler on the Roof - Lisa Flanagan, Kathyrn Markey, Ami Vice
87. "I Really Like Him" from Man of La Mancha - Jonathan Hadary
88. "I Can Do That" from A Chorus Line - Jeffrey Schecter(complete with choreography on very crowded stage)
89. "Not a Day Goes By" from Merrily We Roll Along - Liz Callaway
90. "It Don't Mean A Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing" from Sophisticated Ladies - D'Ambrose Boyd
91. "No More" from Into the Woods - Chip Zien and George S. Irving
92. "Finishing the Hat" from Sunday in the Park with George - Raul Esparza (best performance of the entire day!)
93. "Sunday in the Park with George" from Sunday in the Park with George - Melissa Errico and Raul Esparza
94. "Could I Leave You?" from Follies - Donna Murphy
95. "Make Our Garden Grow" from Candide - Alexander Gemignani, Gregg Edelman, Leenya Rideout, Melissa Errico, Debbie Gravitte, Friends of Wall to Wall Choral Society

Okay, so we could have skipped about 8 of the 12 hours...let's say it was definitely no Wall to Wall Sondheim. NOTHING could ever be as good as that. There were definitely some clunkers and something akin to really bad lounge acts, but if we hadn't gone so early, we wouldn't have met a new friend or two, heard some great talks, the raps, Loni Ackerman singing "Our Time" early in the day, and we wouldn't have scored our great seats for the great evening concert that included some of my very favorite people. The next Wall to Wall at Symphony Space will be devoted to Frank Loesser.

Finally, I'm going to an evening of the Shaw Project tonight...

I've been wanting to go to Project Shaw for almost 2 years - really since after Deuce closed and I was wondering what Marian Seldes was up to. Either I was already booked for something or I didn't act quickly for this monthly event. But I can finally go tonight and and lo and behold, Kate Baldwin AND Michael Cerveris are performing! Kismet!



*Update* Project Shaw was a lot of fun. It was a simple reading only. The "cast" only has one opportunity to read through before before they read before the audience. I would never have guessed that because Michael Cerveris, Kate Baldwin, Bradford Cover and David Marguilis were so fun to watch. The Players Club is charming and full of history so it was a bonus in going down to Gramercy Park. The only problem was that the room was HOT and the audience was VERY CRAMMED into the room. However, I'd love to go again. The best thing about it is that if you're a fan of Shaw, it's an opportunity to hear his work that is rarely or never performed.

Win $ from the Norman Conquests

A message from Kirk Bromley of Team Norman

Hey…I want to let you know about an opportunity for you and your readers…

The Norman Conquests on Broadway (recently nominated for 7 Tony Awards!) is running a “Quirky Question Contest.” We’re taking question submissions, and the best quirky question will win $100!

It’s all explained here: http://normanfans.com

We’d love to have your questions, and you can submit as many as you want!

Deadline is May 25, 2009

Norman@normanfans.com

Tyne Daly's Cabaret at Feinstein's

My Little Love Noah took me to see Tyne Daly in her cabaret at Feinstein's on Friday night. Stephen Holden at the New York Times beautifully reviewed her act.

Tyne played Rose in the 1989 revival of Gypsy and the won the Tony for that performance. I am always intrigued to see a former Mama Rose perform because she will no doubt be formidable and special. However, of every Gypsy recording I have from around the world, Tyne's is not looping in my playlist. I just didn't like the voice. I have heard from people who saw her that she was magnificent in the role. Fair enough. I know she's a great actress because I've seen her on television.

Noah convinced me that she's not somebody you see because of the voice, but because of everything else. After seeing her live in cabaret, he's definitely right, but I have to say that now I do want to hear her voice. At times it was unexpectantly gorgeous, dripping with tenderness and emotion - not the kind of voice that evokes The Beautiful Voice - but the one that makes you feel everything the song is saying, whether its joy or heartbreak.

In this her first cabaret, she appeared comfortable and affable with the intimate audience. It's what I love about hearing a performer in a small room - it's like being in a living room and somebody is just telling stories in song. Tyne seemed to be a master at this. Number one, she is an actress, but even though she was acting each song, it was as if she was sharing her inner self with us as well. It was touching to see her eyes well up with tears that never quite spilled.

That was not the case for me. It was a two or three tissue evening for me, despite every attempt to hold back the tears. Tyne's renditions of Jule Styne's Killing Time, a first listen for me, and Richard Rodney Bennett's Not Exactly Paris just about did me in. Her final numbers from Ballroom, The Job Application and Fifty Percent, really did me in.

It wasn't all tears. There were a LOT of laughs. She brought out a couple of very old songs that were probably standards from Broadway around 100 years ago. She also sang a great song called Crayola Doesn't Make a Color for Your Eyes. The songwriter Kristin Andreassen and her writing partner were in the house too. The absolute most fun song of the evening was Captain Hook’s Waltz from Peter Pan, complete with dialogue. She got into the character of Captain Hook, a role she confessed that she always wanted to play, and encouraged audience participation. It was an absolute blast.

I hope she'll be back at Feinstein's soon. Even more so, I hope she'll be back on Broadway soon. Wouldn't a revival of Peter Pan with some unusual casting be fun?!

PS Tyne Daly appeared on the Leonard Lopate Show on WNYC on May 11th. Listen here to this great interview.

Tomorrow Wall to Wall Broadway Will Rock the Upper West Side for Twelve Glorious Hours

11 AM Performances by the casts of The Lion King, Mary Poppins, The Little Mermaid, Wicked and Shrek
11:45 AM Excerpts from Adelphi University's production of Rent
12 Noon Great songs that never made it to the Broadway stage, featuring performances by Kevin Burdette, Loni Ackerman, Leenya Rideout, Amy Vice, Marion Cowings, and more
2 PM Robert MacNeil and Frank Rich discuss the musicals that changed their lives, with performances by Jonathan Hadary, Kevin Burdette, Loni Ackerman and Lisa Flanagan
2:30 PM Composers Jeanine Tesori, Jo DiPietro and William Finn pay tribute to works that inspired them, accompanied by Theodore Chapin
3 PM Successful songs from shows that flopped, featuring performances by Mary Cleere Haran, Martin Vidnovic, D'Ambrose Boyd, Loni Ackerman, and Lisa Flanagan
3:50 PM Harold Prince in a one-on-one discussion with Rob Marx about the making of musicals
5 PM A pre-centennial salute to Frank Loesser, with performances by Emily Loesser, Jo Sullivan Loesser, Debbie Gravitte and Gregg Edelman
5:30 PM Songs from new musicals in the works: Ever After and Dear Edwina by composer Zina Goldrich and lyricist Marcy Heisler; and The Kid by composer Andy Monroe and lyricist Jack Lechner
6 PM Performances from the current and recent shows South Pacific, Girl Crazy, The Who's Tommy, In the Heights, Avenue Q and Next to Normal performed by Andrew Samonsky, Rebecca Luker, Michael Cerveris, Carrie Anderson and others
6:25 PM A sampling of side-splitting songs from Broadway revues, featuring performances by Loni Ackerman, Kevin Burdette, Mary Brienza, Kathryn Markey, D'Ambrose Boyd, Leenya Rideout, Ivy Austin, Sidney J. Burgoyne and more
7 PM Lyricist Sheldon Harnick in discussion with composer and lyricist Lin-Manuel Miranda
8 PM Tony and Emmy Award winner Paul Gemignani conducts a full orchestra in performances of Broadway musical classics. Performers include Michael Cerveris, Alexander Gemignani, George S. Irving, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Raúl Esparza, Martha Plimpton, Loni Ackerman, Terrence Mann, Randy Graff, Kate Baldwin, Leenya Rideout, Gregg Edelman, B.D. Wong, Julie Wilson, Debbie Gravitte, Ivy Austin, Isaiah Sheffer, Melissa Errico, James Naughton, Lisa Flanagan, Kathryn Markey, Amy Vice, Jonathan Hadary, Jeffrey Schecter, Liz Calaway, D'Ambrose Boyd, Chip Zien and Donna Murphy

The lobby and theatre interior will feature large-scale reproductions of Broadway drawings by the late Al Hirschfeld.

Peter Norton Symphony Space is located in Manhattan at 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). For more information visit www.symphonyspace.org.

Blithe Spirit was heavenly tonight, then there was the ghost light

Doogie to Host the Tony Awards!

Okay, so he's outgrown the "Doogie" role, but I always love him as that lovable young dr. I saw him in Assassins, at Wall to Wall Sondheim and at Broadway Backwards. Neil Patrick Harris can sing, dance, act, is charismatic and is just as cute as can be. I can't wait to see him host the Tonys on June 7th!

Back to Blithe Spirit tonight

off-Broadway: Groundswell

A few weeks ago, I clipped this ad for Groundswell because Larry Bryggman was in the picture. I taped him up to the side of my computer monitor so I would remember to go see him in this play.

I adore Larry - I have for years and years since I was old enough to watch As the World Turns on tv. He played bad guy Dr. John Dixon and I just thought he was wonderful. I finally saw him on stage here in New York in Twelve Angry Men and then last year off-Broadway in Edward Albee's Occupant. I almost don't care what I see him in just as long as I see him on stage.

Even better, Groundswell, a new play being staged by The New Group at the Acorn Theatre in Theatre Row, sounded interesting enough for me to venture off-Broadway. I even broke my matinee rule (matinees are the worst, unless it's a Sunday and now I know, unless off-Broadway).

This story is of three very different men on one day in a very isolated sea-side shack in South Africa. It takes place post-apartheid and examines the differences between retribution, charity and expectations. I found it riviting and thought provoking. It opened with the black African Thami, played beautifully by Souléymane Sy Savané, reading out loud as he writes a letter to his wife. He speaks in a native African language. I could not understand a word, but there was love in his voice. He carefully put the letter away and begins quietly and methodically cleaning the shack. His white friend Johan, played by David Lansbury, bursts in the door, obviously from blustery weather. His presence is at once upsetting and welcomed.

Thami and Johan couldn't be more different, but it becomes clear that there is kinship and Johan depends more on Thami than vice versa. Johan needs his friendship and therefore wants to help him. Thami needs help but in the end he intends to be more loyal to his family than his friend. They are scheming to purchase rights to a diamond mine from the South African government.

In comes Larry Bryggman who plays Smith, a traveler and guest at the shack. He appears to have had a successful life. Johan and Thami ask him to invest in their scheme. When Smith politely refuses, things go wrong.

The play takes a frightening and fairly violent turn as it brings light to a struggle between right and wrong, and what is really owed to somebody you didn't actually do wrong toward just because of the color of your skin. Smith argues that he doesn't owe anything to anybody because he was never for apartheid to begin with and has also been a victim. There is no solution in the end and the questions are left open, almost uncomfortably.

The players are brilliant in this very intense drama that is almost 2 hours with no intermission. Despite the length, there is almost no time to even breathe. Savané is beautiful on stage and play Thami as a man who just wants for his family to move out of poverty. Bryggman was wonderful and elegant as always. His pleading was very real as was his refusal to admit guilt in apartheid. I was amazed by Lansbury. He was crass, interesting and held a very strong South African accent throughout the play. He was the most believable of the three (he must have inherited a skill or two from this aunt, especially in the accent department).

Groundswell runs through June 27th at the Acorn in Theatre Row on 42nd Street.

Cara is my sunshine!

Cara had her second dance recital today. Since I couldn't be there to see her perform live, this is the next best thing.

George is Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside, oh my!

George Hearn is Uncle Beau in Willsboro Drama Club's production of "Mame" this weekend! As soon as I got the news, I immediately mapquested Willsboro, New York. Hmmm, it's kind of far for even for this Yankee who just had five weekends of traveling in a row, even if I did take Auntie Mame's horse Meditation, er Lightening Bolt. Aw, maybe I'll just stay put at Beekman Place this weekend. Sigh.

Hooray - one more opera to see this season!

I thought I was finished with the Met's 08/09 season when I saw L’Elisir d’Amore on April 8th, but voila, Sally rushed La Cenerentola for us tonight!

The Norman Conquests - Weird and Wonderful

The Norman Conquests, playing at Circle in the Square, is a three play trilogy that's not really a trilogy. That's to say, it doesn't matter which order you see the three plays yet they are related. It involves the same characters over the same weekend and that's about all I can tell you. I caught Round and Round the Garden last night. It was weird and funny and today I'm thinking it was downright wonderful. The cast is incredible. It's a a revival and this fabulous production is a British import from the Old Vic. I'm a fan of Britcoms and it feels very much like a combination of Are You Being Served, Coupling and The Vicar of Dibley. I am now on a quest to see the other two plays - Table Manners and Living Together .

Tony Nominee in the Rain

This morning, I went to Times Square in the rain to watch the Tony Award Nominations. Unfortunately Tony Awards.com and/or CBS didn't get their act together for the live feed. So there we were, 50 or so of us, reading twitters for the anticipated news of the nominees. The best part was standing next to one of the kids from Billy Elliot the Musical , David Bologna, when he got the news that his show was nominated!!

Bonus of the Newport Mansion Tour

Yesterday in Newport, we did the plus 1 tour of the mansions. I insisted on the Breakers and then Kari and I got our way for Rosecliff because we liked the picture of it in the brochure. Turns out that The Great Gatsby was filmed there. Robert Redford! Some other movies were filmed there too, but best of all to me, the docent said that Cole Porter composed Anything Goes there sometime in 1933 or 34. Maybe the Merm was Reno Sweeney-ing her way around that gorgeous lawn.

Adventures for a Birthday

Steve, Kari, Roxie, Chris and I converged in Rhode Island for an excellent adventure weekend to surprise the very special birthday girl, Esther. It couldn't have been a more perfect trip and it ended with a dream visit to The Breakers in Newport. I do love a road trip, sightseeing, constant laughter and best of all friends!

Poetry and Prose About a President

As planned, I spent my extended lunch hour on this May Day at Saint Peter's Church listening to poetry and prose. Every few months, Stanley Eugene Tannen gathers actors and other readers to participate in his TIPA Project (Toward International Peace Through the Arts). Today's program was an Homage to Abraham Lincoln. I arrived a few minutes late and took the first seat I saw available. It turned out that I sat next to two-time Tony winner Tammy Grimes. At the end, Mr. Tannen called the readers to the front for a bow. She turned to me with some confusion and I told her, "Go take your bow, Miss Grimes." She responded, "Darling, what would I do without you?" She deserved that bow as she stole the show today with her reading of Carl Sandburg's "Mr. Lincoln and His Gloves". The program also included:

Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology, "Anne Rutledge" read by Noelle-Helen Tannen

Norman Corwin, "The Rivalry" read by Marian Seldes

Mario Cuomo, "Abraham Lincoln and Our 'Unfinished Work'" read by Brian F. O'Byrne

Barack Obama, "Speech at Springfield, Illinois" read by John S. Major

Ida Tarbell, from The Life of Abraham Lincoln , Edgar Lee Masters, Spoon River Anthology, "Hannah Armstrong" read by Frances Sternhagen

Adlai Stevenson, "Remarks at Gettysburg", Allen Ginsberg, "Adapted from Neruda's 'Que dispierte el lenador'" read by Bess Rous

Leo Tolstoy, "Lincoln is the World's Greatest Hero", Langston Hughes, "Lincoln Monument: Washington" read by Betsy von Furstenberg

Abraham Lincoln, Reply to a Southern Woman" read by Stanley E. Tannen

Walt Whitman, Selections, read by Fritz Weaver