Saturday, February 27, 2010

Hey @BettyBuckley - Can't wait to see you tonight, too!

Karigee and I are taking in Betty Buckley's final performance at Feinstein's tonight. Betty is the best thing about February in New York City.





POST FEINSTEIN'S UPDATE:  Betty's set was everything I wanted it to be - all of the power, all of the introspective, all of the pulling of heart strings.   I doubt there was a dry eye in the room after her stunning performance of "If You Go Away".   After the show, I said to Kari, "Come on, let's go back and say hey to Betty."  We did.  It was thrilling.   THRILLING!  Thank you, Betty for another fabulous February and to Feinstein's for promising to bring her back next year - it can't come soon enough! 


LOOPED on Broadway

TV legend Valerie Harper is playing Tallulah Bankhead in LOOPED on Broadway.   I went to last Wednesday's matinee and had a thoroughly fun afternoon. 

After playing regionally in LA, West Palm Beach and D.C., LOOPED has made its way to the Lyceum Theatre on 45th Street, between 6th and 7th Avenues. While the play itself unnecessarily turns into a little bit of "It's A Wonderful Life" in the second act, which seems uncharacteristic of Hollywood's original bad girl, it's a great time watching Valerie conquer that boozing, self-destructive, and riotously funny quip-a-minute actress. (My friend Jimmy Moon at Third Row, Mezzanine told me he was thinking "Auntie Mame", also incredulously.)

Brian Hutchison, who assumes the role of "George Bailey," and Michael Mulheren, underutilized once again and stuck in a "control booth", are the supporting cast. Tickets for this open ended run are available via Telecharge. Discounts are available via Broadwaybox.com.

RACE on Broadway

On Thursday night, we finally caught the new David Mamet play, RACE, courtesy of the producers Jeffrey Richards Associates.

Last November, I had the opportunity to attend an All Blogger Media Event with the cast of RACE: Kerry Washington, David Alan Grier, James Spader and Richard Thomas.  A podcast of the event was created and is available here.   At that time, the cast was reluctant (or directed) to tell us little about this new work by Mamet.  All we could be certain of is that it would be provocative and about race.

Having heard the actors speak about it and also having seen several of Mamet's works, I went in expecting to be provoked and even shocked.   It turned out to be neither, but it was interesting to this person who works in the legal field and spends television hours watching legal drama. 

Set in the conference room/law library of a two partner defense firm, it felt like the other side of Law & Order - the process of deciding whether to take a case and then finding and proving a defense.  A wealthy white man, played by Thomas, comes to the partners, played by Spader and Grier, seeking defense of his alleged rape of a young, black woman.   Kerry Washington plays their young associate.  

Spader was completely at home as the white partner.  His character easily explained away any racial and/or sexual slurs and/or prejudices.  He is excellent in the role and is a great reason to see this play.  Grier holds nothing back as a black man, partner to Spader.  Washington plays the young associate with a great chip on her shoulder. Every slight against her, whether it is because of her race or her sex or even her inexperience, is felt.   Thomas does sleazy and guilty effectively - he leaves the question of whether his character is guilty of crime or conscience due to prejudice unanswered.

The red herring is fine by mystery standards and every time Spader referred to sequins, I had to chuckle.   When their defense strategy is done in, the tables are turned by the associate.  The play is very well acted and directed, by the playwright himself.  Although it's an interesting evening in the theatre, it doesn't feel like the typical Mamet drama tinged with sick humor and shock nor does it effectively make race the main issue.  It's a slight drama lasting around 100 minutes including an unnecessary intermission. 

RACE is slated for an open ended run at at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on 47th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue.  Tickets are currently on sale via Telecharge through June 13th.  Discounts are available via Broadwaybox.com

Thursday, February 25, 2010

In the After Glow of Ann Hampton Callaway

Before going with my friend Christine to see Ann Hampton Callaway's set at Dizzy's Club CocaCola, I wasn't exactly a virgin fan of Ann's.  Her show was part of the American Songbook series for Jazz at Lincoln Center.  I was knocked over the edge and now I am enjoying being a full-fledged devotee. I confess that I am still basking in the after glow and I cannot stop listening to her.

Several years ago, my friend Robert Bullen, the Chicago Theatre Addict,  introduced me to Ann Hampton Callaway after I talked to him about her sister Liz Callaway, who I had seen in cabaret at Feinstein's and at several benefit performances.   I liked Ann and was interested but didn't take it any further.

Then, at last year's Theatre World Awards,  Ann Hampton Callaway amazed me when she performed a song that she wrote on the spot with lyrics suggested by words and phrases called out by the audience.  The song was all about the Theatre World Award Recipients. Earlier this month, I saw her again perform this magical talent at the Drama League Gala, this time in honor of Angela Lansbury.  The ease and speed in which these songs were composed, in front of an audience, is nothing short of astonishing.   Then she further blew me away with a soul stirring rendition If He Walked Into My Life from Mame.

Robert nailed what it's like to listen to Ann when he said to me, "Her voice, to me, is like cognac. So smooth, so calming, so sensual, so adult."   Her set at Dizzy's was exactly this; but, also throw in saucy, sexy and sparkling with humor and you get a spine-tingling evening that has you yearning for more.  I had to run home to iTunes to find as much of her music as possible.

Being at Ann's show at Dizzy's had that familiar feeling of being at Feinstein's - it's classy, grown-up and so New York.  I always feel like I am at a private party where there just happens to be a singer. Dizzy's Club CocaCola is on the 5th floor of the Time Warner Center and overlooks Columbus Circle and the night skyline of east Manhattan .   The food and drink are cheaper than some those cabaret nightclubs on the upper east side and you just need a reservation via Open Table.

Because this was American Songbook and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ann treated us to the jazziest of arrangements with the help of Ted Rosenthal on piano, Willie Jones III on drums, and Peter Washington on bass.   She opened with I've Got the World on a String, then threw in Porter, Mercer, Cole and of course, Gershwin.  Her presentation of In the Wee Small Hours, a 1955 tune written for Sinatra by Bob Hilliard and David Mann, nearly did me in. Then she could have knocked me over with a feather with the most grooving and soulful performance of Blue Moon, by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. She said that Rodgers didn't even like jazz, but that didn't stop her here, with the codicil, "I don't want any body to be single and bitter in this world. I'm going to give you a Diva spell." And believe me, she put a spell on us.

She didn't leave all of the ivories to Ted Rosenthal: she took a break from the jazz to perform "I've Dreamed of You" at the request of an audience member. She wrote the lyrics at the request of Barbra Streisand, who sang them to James Brolin at their wedding.   Before wrapping up the evening, she treated us to another song composed on the spot with lyrics suggested words and phrases called out by the audience.   This time, the key lines of the song were "Hot Monkey Sex".   The trio started a groove and she jumped in with the lyrics.  I thought it wouldn't go anywhere as the concept seems a tad ridiculous, but it was actually grin-inducing and sexy song.    Several jazz musicians, who received a shout out by Ann and were seated at the table behind us, added to the fun by joining in on the rhythm as they chanted "Hot Monkey Sex".  Her finale of the evening was the quintessential song of the American Songbook, Somewhere Over the Rainbow.

We were glad to hang out at Dizzy's for a just a bit, while Ann greeted friends and fans in the audience.  I enjoyed telling her how much I enjoyed her performance at Angela's Gala.

Her upcoming tour dates include this weekend with the Cincinatti Pops Orchestra and six nights in San Francisco at the The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko.   Recently, she mentioned on her Facebook that she's been working on new material with her sister Liz...something I'm hoping they'll bring to New York City.  In the meantime, check out her many albums - my two favorite so far as At Last (which Ann describes as a make-out album) and Blues in the Night.




Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Today, in 1685, George Frideric Handel was born

Today is George Frideric Handel's birthday.   My mother and I visited England in November, 2004 - her first trip there.  Among the many churches we visited, one stands out although I can't remember the name of it!  We were told by our guide that we were standing beneath the room in which Handel gave recitals - and possibly part of the Messiah.

We were extra excited!  My mother manages to sing in a community choir that performs the Messiah each year - or at least the Hallelujah Chorus.  When I was a teenager, I remember performing the entire Messiah with our church choir.  Over the years, I've been in other church choirs that have performed it.  There is nothing so glorious!

Many years later, in my first full year of opera going, I built my Met subscription around Handel's Rodelinda so I could finally see Renée Fleming in an opera.   My friend Paul, my subscription partner, called it "Boredelinda".  But I was so excited!   My favorite parts of the evening were when she slipped off her wrist shackle herself.  Then when she gestured grandly on a top note and her ring flew off, bounced across the stage and fell in the orchestra pit, it was all I could do to keep from laughing.   Then finally, when everybody is reunited and living a happy ending, Stephanie Blythe almost stole the show as she sidled cross the great set to claim her man.   It was all so fabulous!   And the music!  Oh!

I saw Rodelinda again several times and while Handel's operas are not quite as thrilling as the Messiah (yes, I fell asleep at Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto at the Theatre du Champs-Elysees in October, 2006), I still enjoy them immensely.

By the way, my favorite of Renée's albums is Handel Arias.  It simply makes me happy.






Monday, February 22, 2010

An Idiotic Load In at the St. James

No, I didn't buy a ticket for American Idiot, based on the music of the rockers Green Day.   I'm undecided on whether I will see it.  But since it might be the last "load in" I catch for a very long time, I thought I'd share it with you just the same.   The first preview is March 24th. 




Friday, February 19, 2010

Good Bye View (and Good Bye Job)

You may have figured out from my recent tweets that I am starting a new day job. Even though my last official day at this office is Tuesday, I'm saying goodbye to my midtown view today. For 7 & 1/2 years, I've been working near Broadway. So close for the last four years, that I could spit on it from the 40th floor, and certainly explore during my lunch hour and even sneak in a matinee or two.

But now I'm moving on up to the East Side. My new office will be at 5th & Central Park South. It's bigger and better and probably more work, but I'm excited about the career aspects for my day job. And fortunately, it's only two subway stops from Broadway.



Monday, February 15, 2010

When Chelsea went to see Kate Baldwin & Matt Cavenaugh














Last Monday, February 8th, Kate Baldwin and Matt Cavenaugh performed with composer/lyricist Peter Mills and cellist Allison Seidner on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center. The entire program, billed Broadway: Today & Tomorrow, is available for viewing via the Kennedy Center video archives: click here.

I encouraged my friend Chelsea, who lives on the Hill in DC, to go.   Well, I insisted that she go, especially when I learned it was free.  FREE!  Kate Baldwin FREE!  Matt Cavenaugh FREE!

The obedient and trusting girl she is, Chelsea braved the "Snowmageddon" and trudged to the Kennedy Center to honor my command.    Here's an excerpt from her blog post at A Fish Out of Water:

Our evening of "Broadway Today and Tomorrow" featured the works of Peter Mills with the lovely Kate Baldwin and Matt Cavenaugh singing. It was a mixture of solos and duets - some funny and others poignant and sincere. Cavanaugh had a pretty good voice, but it definitely had that Broadway sound to it. Which I guess is a good thing since he's singing Broadway tunes. Kate Baldwin just had a flat out great voice. It was like a ray of sunshine in a hopelessly dreary day. She was so upbeat and perky when the song called for it, yet so touching and heartfelt when needed. My favorite song she sang was from Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge. It was just stunning! And she managed to put a slight country twang to it without sounding hoakey. After several other songs Matt and Kate finished with a duet about a missed connection. On the surface it was pretty funny because he is talking about a bad connection on the phone. Yet it's a bit sad because she's discussing a bad connection in the relationship. I don't think it ends well..

When the show was over, I was about to leave. But I lingered long enough to see Kate and the others come out into the audience. I decided that I couldn't trudge all this way through snowbanks and slush puddles without telling Kate that Sarah sent me. So I said "Hello!" and thanked her for coming despite the weather. Kate was a super lovely person and very engaging. She asked how I met Sarah (the bloggosphere) and then said how she owed her career to Sarah's blog. I wished her safe travels back to New York and went on my way - a bit happier and a little less cabin feverished.

(Now, I don't agree with Kate about her owing her career to me, but I'm absolutely flattered and thrilled that I maybe helped even a little. Honestly, she is one of the brightest and best and she deserves every accolade and success due her.)

 

Sunday, February 14, 2010

Happy Birthday to Renée Fleming!

It's Renée's fault that I became an opera fan at all. Her voice also warmed me and saved me from loneliness my first very long, cold winter in New York City. She also inspired many of my friendships. I do wish her a very happy birthday and a very happy and even more successful year.

Saturday, February 13, 2010

La Fille du Regiment on February 10

















I really love Donizetti's romantic comedy opera La Fille du Regiment  at the Metropolitan Opera.   It's the sweetest of love stories - young love and parental love.    The music is light and beautiful.  This production also includes spoken dialogue (in French), which makes it seem very much like musical theatre.

It's about a young girl who has been adopted by an entire regiment of the French army.   They are protective and sweet with her and it is understood that she will grow  up to marry one of them.
As she begins to blossom, she meets Tonio, a local Tyrolian boy.   They fall instantly in love.  In order to marry her himself, he joins the regiment.    But their plans are foiled when her long lost mother, a marquis, swoops in and brings her home to be married so she may save her estate.  Tonio, along with the entire regiment, save the day in the end and young love prevails. 

When Sally and I heard that Diana Damrau would assume the role of Marie, the "daughter of the regiment",  while Juan Diego Florez would reprise the role of Tonio, we knew we'd have to add it to our season list.  Even more thrilling, Kiri te Kanawa would be back on the stage of the Met Opera, even if it was in a non-singing role. 

The weather was rather horrid on February 10th  as Manhattan was just on the edge of the Snowmageddon of 2010.   However, the show must go on at the Met Opera!   It turned out to just be rather slushy and messy, however there was an amusing mountain of snow on the plaza at Lincoln Center

But voila, Kiri did sing as the Duchess!  What a thrill to hear her beautiful voice.  At 65, she is still one of the most glamorous opera singers with a gorgeous voice that rang to the rafters of the family circle, even though she hasn't sung an opera there since 1998.  At first she just hummed along with the violin solo, but in a moment of high comedy, she pulled a piece of sheet music out her sleeve for the conductor.  She sang Ginastera’s “Canción al Arbol del Olvido” to a very appreciative audience.  She also delivered a very funny and very wise line, in English, "Don't be stingy with the Dom Perignon."

Diana Damrau was wonderful.  Although it appears she's working a little hard at the comedy, her soprano is nothing short of exciting.  Her Marie is as lovely as any and its thrilling to hear her in the role. 

Juan Diego thrilled us again with his nine high c's that seem as easy as pie.  He does make the heart pound. 

Overall it was a satisfactorily fun evening at the Met, although I did miss the delightful chemistry and hilarity of  Natalie Dessay, Felicity Palmer and Alessandro Corbelli who I saw previously.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Monday, February 22: In Memoriam - A Birthday Tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy

On Monday, February 22nd, the TIPA Project presents In Memoriam-A Birthday Tribute to Senator Edward M. Kennedy.   On what would be his 78th birthday, this tribute honors the Senator's memory, his love of literature, and the universal power of the arts and humanities as a force of peace among individuals and nationals.  

A selection of Senator Kennedy's favorite poems by Benet, Frost, Whitman, Yeats, Tennyson, Cavafy and other will be read by Tony Award winners Fritz Weaver and Tammy Grimes, and Ronald Rand, Besy von Furstenberg, Noelle Tannen and Conrad Rothbaum.  

Additionally, pianist David Lewis will share reminiscences about playing some of Senator Kennedy's favorite music for him one year ago, on his 77th birthday.  David began his career in New York as the conductor of the original cast of Godspell, toured throughout the world with Barbara Cook, Lorna Luft, Andrea McArdle, Hildegard, the Theatre Guild, 20 years with the "Sesame Street" tours, and collaborated with Kitty Carlisle Hart for over a decade.    


The TIPA Project, or Toward International Peace Through the Arts, was founded by Stanley Tannen. Mr. Tannen began organizing readings in 1972. In 2006, the president of the United Nations Society of Writers nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. 2010 marks Mr. Tannen's 39th year as a peace advocate and activist dedicated to promoting the Humanities as an instrument for peace.

The reading begins at 12:30 pm in the sanctuary at Saint Peter's Church, 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street. It is free and open to the public. 

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Fanny at Encores!

Karigee, Roxie, Kevin and I saw the last Fanny at Encores on Sunday night. It was so good! It's so nice to see a nice, fairly realistic adult musical with really pretty music about regular people who love each other and treat each other with humanity and respect, starring some older than usual people. I loved seeing George Hearn on stage again (I know, I know, that's no surprise) and Fred Applegate was just wonderful! Kevin wrote a thesis about the work - so go read it.

Quote of the Day


From Party Lines, New York Magazine

Tuesday, February 09, 2010

The 2010 Drama League Gala Honoring Angela Lansbury

Last night, the Annual Drama League Gala was an evening billed as a Musical Celebration of Broadway honoring Angela Lansbury.  I worked as one of  dozens of volunteers - helping with the evening by stuffing gift bags, assisting with the silent auction set up, and finally acting as a "Greeter" in full party dress.

I arrived at the Pierre Hotel at noon and was privy to the rehearsal - first Len Cariou and Alexander Gemignani, then Cheyenne Jackson and Christopher Sieber working on Bosom Buddies and best of all, Donna Murphy in a fantastic rendition of Me & My Town (please, oh, please let her be the Mayoress in the upcoming Anyone Can Whistle at Encores!).  

At 5:00, we dolled up (we shared a green room with the stars, which meant that Bernadette and I were gathering our belongings together after the show) and prepared to greet guests.   Hundreds of guests arrived  in varying degrees of couture. While I did see a few Broadway producers such as Stuart Lane, Jamie DeRoy and Marty Richards, the crowd seemed mostly comprised of socialites and patrons of the Drama League.  My position did allow me to see Angela arriving like the Queen she is, in a beautiful full length velvet gown.   My duty also included pointing some of the performers toward the right door for the green room. 

There was short film, which elicited much laughter and applause, compiled of  many scenes from Angela's great film career and tv appearances, highlighting some of the greater and truly fabulous roles.  It also included a hysterical homage to Murder, She Wrote that played out a full scene of her solving a murder that was compiled from many different episodes.  Best of all, the film included clips from her Broadway career.

The concert itself lasted around an hour and featured songs from Angela's repertoire from both stage and film.  It was directed by Michael Mayer and Beatrice Terry.  Choreography was by Diana Baffa-Brill and Joann M. Hunter.   Each performer showed one thing in common - great admiration and love for the lady of the evening.   Clearly, Angela was having a great time and stood up for each performer while offering applause and blowing kisses. 

The performances* were: 

Dee Hoty - It's Today 
Catherine Zeta-Jones and Victor Garber introduced the evening
Beth Fowler -  Beauty & the Beast
Edie Falco - spoke and read letters from Hal Prince and Chita Rivera
Frankie Michaels (the original Young Patrick), Jerry Lanning (Original Older Patrick) and her mentee Tom Rhoads- My Best Girl
Donna Murphy - Me & My Town  (Donna waited right next to me before she made her entrance!)
Victor Garber  - Anyone Can Whistle
Sarah Rice - beginning of Green Finch then The Age of Not Believing
Len Cariou & Alex Gemignani - Pretty Women
Ann Hampton Callaway - composed a song for Angela w/ words from the audience + If He Walked Into My Life
Charles Busch told a riotous story about attending a Passover Seder with Angela at mutual friend's home - he said, “You haven’t lived until you’ve heard Angela Lansbury try to pronounce the word khoroset.”
Cheyenne Jackson and Christopher Sieber -  Bosom Buddies
Bernadette Peters - Not While I'm Around
Bernadette then Malcom Getz, James Barbour, J. Bernard Calloway, Will Swenson, Christopher Sieber, Cheyenne Jackson, Derrick Baskin and others sang "Angie" to the tune of "Mame" and then Angela was brought up on stage to a standing ovation







*Marian Seldes, Audra McDonald, Chita Rivera and T.R. Knight were unable to attend