Flash Mob for In the Heights!

Flash Mob America and over 300 fans celebrated the Los Angeles arrival of IN THE HEIGHTS (the Tony-Winning Best Musical) by surprising the creator and star of the show, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and dancing to the song "96,000"!

Tonight: Hunter Ryan Herdlicka at Feinstein's

I've been having fun watch Hunter Ryan Herdlicka take Broadway over the last 9 months.     I had a chance to sit down with him for an interview last December.  In less than a year since graduating from Carnegie Mellon, this bright and enthusiastic young actor has managed to take on a major role as "Henrick" in A Little Night Music, perform at Broadway cast concerts and see every show possible.Tonight, he makes his New York cabaret debut at Feinstein's at the Regency!

Missa Solemnis at the NY Philharmonic

Last night, I saw the New York Philharmonic's performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.  It was the final ticket from my 2009/10 vault, purchased back in August, 2009.  

I primarily went because I wanted to hear tenor Anthony Dean Griffey, soprano Christine Brewer and bass baritone Eric Owens, some of the most powerful and beautiful voices in the world.   I was not previously familiar with mezzo-soprano Jane Henschel, but now want to hear her again as soon as possible. 

I was transported by the beauty of this choral piece.   It's a High Mass with a smallish orchestral accompanyment, including organ and timpani.  Missa Solemnis translates to "solemn mass".  It's broken into six movements - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei and lasts about 80 minutes.  While the text is from a Catholic mass, it is similar to some of the language found in the Apostle's Creed and other liturgy of United Methodist. 

The voices were simply enveloping, particularly the male voices on dona nobis pacem - grant us peace.  Christine Brewer can knock you over like a feather with her power, but last night her pianissimi was divine.  I was was moved very much by Anthony Dean Griffey's tenor as well - it's so beautiful and full.   Eric Owens' bass is thrilling.  I love the mezzo voice and I was very pleased with Jane Henschel.  All four voices blended gorgeously and were easily heard over the orchestra and the chorus.   Their voices sent chills down my spine and induced tears.

Missa Solemnis was exactly what I needed this week.  When I purchased the ticket, I looked only at the names of the soloists involved without realizing that week would mark the tenth anniversary of my Dad's death.   I didn't know that I would be lifted from my sadness by the spiritually transportive music of Beethoven. It was cathartic to say the least.

Tonight: New York Philharmonic

This is the final concert of my 2009/2010 season.  I bought this ticket last August with a gift certificate I received from a client.   I can hardly wait to hear Eric Owens, Anthony Dean Griffey and Christine Brewer sing Beethoven!

The Curtain Call Speech of the Decade

Another Last Performance, i.e Angie Day, Summer Edition

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Maybe it was because I was with dear friends. Maybe it was because we were seated 5th row center in house seats. Maybe it was because it might have been Angela Lansbury's last performance in a full Broadway show.  BUT I declare that this was the BEST live performance that I have personally seen Angela give, hands down - and I saw her many times in Deuce and Blithe Spirit and a number of benefit concerts.

It's no secret that I complained about the casting, the lack of orchestra, the sets, the costumes and production in general of this much anticipated revival of A Little Night Music on Broadway. 

But the stars aligned early yesterday afternoon.  The entire cast was perfection and for the first time, I was oblivious to all which had bothered me before.    All of the supporting cast members played their characters much more delicately and with lovely nuance than I had seen them last, which was way back in January. 

Angela's "Liaisons" was nothing short of miraculous.  She was not able to hold back the personal emotions and played it with heartfelt emotion, this time with tenderness and sadness rather than sarcasm and disgust.    It was absolutely beautiful to see this rendition.  I am still savoring every second in my mind.   I could hear my fellow audience members sighing and sniffling when she was finished.  She seemed to be holding back from weeping.

Lest we forget it was her last day too, Catherine Zeta-Jones was spectacular.  She unabashedly wore her emotions on her sleeve and never held back.   At the end of "Send in the Clowns", her tears were falling freely from her eyes - as she bent her head, I could see them falling to her lap - and at the end she could only whisper the last words.  It was breathtaking.   Again, there were possibly no dry eyes in the house, including my own.  The applause was loud and long. 

During the curtain call, Catherine had us all sit from our long standing ovation.  She stated that the best part of her experience of being on Broadway was getting to be in this show with Angela and that she hopes she has the career that she has. She basically turned this into a love letter to Angela and went as far as getting down on the floor of stage and bowing down to her over and over.   It was a classy and beautiful thing to see.  

I'm definitely glad I went one more time, and on this day in particular - and I'm grateful to my friend Alan for assisting in getting me the great seats.    Before the show, Byrne, Kevin and I were waiting for our other friend Donald to arrive when a lady approached me and introduced herself as a follower of my adventures.  It's always fun to meet new friends! That was so fun and later she joined us for great conversation at Angus McIndoe's (over 6 hours of conversation!) (and oh my goodness - revelation, Donald is a Prettybelle lover too!).  At Angus', we saw some Broadway types and stars and best of all Brian Murray who played Lord Shrewsbury in our favorite of last summer Mary Stuart - we had just been discussing Mary Stuart when he popped in and I shouted, "Lord Shrewsbury!".  He greeted each of us and was astounded that we were still talking about that play even after a year.   It was a great topper to a great day to meet him.

Today: A Little Night Music

Today, I'm going to Angela Lansbury's final performance in A Little Night Music. It's Tony winner Catherine Zeta-Jones' final performance too. I was there for their first as well. They both began on November 24, 2009. Angela has been there for around 199 shows and Catherine slightly less.

It's no secret that I haven't loved this production. But, it's Angela Lansbury. How could I not see her perform live on Broadway just one more time? It might not be her last, but for my money seeing Angela in a Sondheim show on Broadway is about as good as it gets.

High School Tony Awards via The Onion

High School Tony Awards Honor Nation's Biggest Drama Club Nerds

Thanks AnnieMcQ!

London Souvenirs

When Kari and I visited London last fall, we stumbled upon a perfect little street called Cecil Court just off Charing Cross Road.  That day, David Drummond's little shop of "Books, playbills and bygones of the performing arts" was tragically closed for a holiday and I was left staring longingly on the outside.

But on our recent trip, there he was!   And lucky for me, he is now only open the first weekend of each month.

Mr. Drummond is absolutely delightful.  He's full of stories of productions he seen and of the friends who visit his shop, both famous and infamous.  He's been the proprietor in this gem of a shop for 42 years.  I could have spent the day - or weeks - digging through his stacks and stacks of memorabilia.   As it was, I kept my visit short and not too expensive and walked away with some fabulous theatrical treasures that make me very happy.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE HEARN!

Tony Party 2010

It wasn't my favorite Broadway season, but I still wanted to celebrate Broadway's Prom Night with some of my nearest and dearest.  Fortunately, these friends include some of the biggest theatre nerds around and at least one person in the room at seen at least one of the nominated shows.    Although my favorites didn't win, Sean Hayes did a fabulous job as host and it was exciting to at least see everybody looking so lovely and excited on television.   

We gathered at the Regency Hotel again, this time suite 1820 which was a bit roomier than last year (it's almost as big the house I owned in San Antonio and infinitely fancier and larger than my Upper Westside apartment).    Roxie and Chelsea joined my decorating team - this year it was nice being the foreperson.  A friend catered the evening and the champagne flowed.  I banned twittering, although I did allow for a "Twitter Corner" in case someone just couldn't help himself.  To celebrate my 5th Tony party, I kicked up the swag, and included a silver framed photo of  Mr. Sondheim, a copy of RED or God of Carnage, a show magnet, a Sharpie and a button.  There was even a red carpet for all of the star arrivals!

TimesTalks: Dame Helen Mirren and Taylor Hackford

Sally, Kari and I sat on the first row center for Dame Helen Mirren and her husband Taylor Hackford at TimesTalks on Monday night.   THRILLING!    They have been together for twenty six years - they met when he directed her in White Nights.  Their new movie, Love Ranch, is coming out later this month and he directs her once again. 

It was like being granted the privilege of eavesdropping on a conversation between a mutual admiration society of two very smart, charming and successful people. In person, Dame Helen is so beautiful and very lady like!  She's also surprisingly small too. 

The best take away of the evening:  during the audience question period, Dame Helen said that she hopes and thinks that she may be coming back to Broadway in a play next year!   

When the interview was over, she forgot her little purse  at her chair, Taylor went back to retrieve it for her - he quipped to those of us in ear shot that this was a usual thing. 

Listen to the podcast here . A televised broadcast will air on CUNY-75 in New York beginning on June 25th. 

Get well Angie; A tradition ends

Every year, on the First Tuesday after the Tony Awards, I see a Broadway show.  Last night, the tradition broke.  Despite the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical going to A Little Night Music's Catherine Zeta-Jones, I didn't want to see it without Angela Lansbury.

Angela called out sick for the first time since returning to Broadway in 2007 ( and possibly ever).  The house manager and her minions were shouting over and over to disappointed patrons in front of the Walter Kerr before the 7:00 pm curtain that Angela is suffering from laryngitis.  I guess she screamed too much for Green Day at the Tony Awards before collecting her own citation as the very first Honorary Chair of the American Theatre Wing.

Fortunately, refunds and/or exchanges were given out.  Of course, an exchange might  not be possible - Angela and Catherine's last day is Sunday.  Oh well, I survived and went on to enjoy dinner and a nice Queen size pint of Blue Moon at Angus McIndoe's.  Mostly, I just hope for Angela to get well soon so she can happily enjoy the final days of her run and then a much deserved vacation (before she returns to Broadway!).

Women Beware Women at the National Theatre, London

We became devotees of Harriet Walter last summer due to her phenomenal performance as Queen Elizabeth in Mary Stuart on Broadway.  Kari and I vowed that we would not miss an opportunity to see her on stage again.

So, we went over to see her in Women Beware Women at the National Theatre!

What a very cool and fantastic show!  It's by Thomas Middleton and is sort of  a Greek tragedy.  The production is set in the 1950s making it very sexy.  The setting is highlighted by Lez Brotherston's ultra fabulous costumes.  A two sided rotating set was in the middle of the large stage, one side depicting the poorer residents, and the other the wealthy.  This was used beautifully and especially intricately in the final scene.

A live jazz band, including a vocalist, was on hand to play music for scene changes.  Various lines from the text were musicalized to emphasize the previous scene - it was weird and wonderful.

Harriet Walter, dressed beautifully in couture, is a wealthy widow whose past time is playing games with people's lives.   Harriet was darkly hilarious in this role but when she was crossed, watch out for her wrath! 

Samuel Barnett (of The History Boys!) plays a young and somewhat naive newlywed Leantio.   Unfortunately, his wife is stolen by the wealthy Duke, which Harriet's Livia helps put in to place.  Then, Livia sees the heartbroken Leantio at a party and must have him for herself.  She achieves her goal by offering him her riches, which of course he cannot resist.   Their scenes together are delightful and so funny, with a bit of sexiness when Livia insists they seal the deal with a kiss - and what a kiss it is! (I just read a scene out loud to Roxie & Chelsea - Roxie says, "It's Thomas Middleton porn!)

In the meantime, Livia is also playing a little game with her beloved brother and niece - they are in love although they know it's not to be, but she fixes it so that the niece thinks that she's not blood related.  Whoops!  Incest!

Of course, everything goes wrong and the bodies start to pile up, poor Leantio's death being the first.  Livia is furious and she will have her revenge.   In the final scene, one of the coolest stagings I've ever seen and may never forget, the setting is a wedding ball for Leantio's now-widow and the Duke.   Fortunately, it's a masked ball making the revenge come a little easier.

During the masked ball, both sides of the set were utilized and doors separating them were opened.   The set began to spin and a rapid clip and the murder began with beautiful choreography while the jazz band played with increasing intensity.  By the end, almost all have died, some due to mistaken identity.  The scene was exhilarating! 

The other actor and character I loved was Tilly Tremayne as Leantio's mother.  She was so funny, especially when she had no lines at all.  There is even a scene in which she and Liva play an actual chess match.  It's so much fun.  (And yes the blocking for the chess match is even included in the Actor's Edition of Women Beware Women!)

Since we went all the way to London to see Harriet Walter in a play, there was no way we were going to see it just once so we saw it on  Saturday night and at the Sunday matinee.   It was good for me to see it twice in a row so I could catch all that I had missed the previous evening.     The only problem with this show is that I can't go at least one more time. 

Happy Tony Sunday!

Sing out, Patrick Lee (1963-2010)

Last night, my friend Byrne and I went to Park Ridge, New Jersey to attend the wake of our friend Patrick Lee.  Neither of us knew him that well, but he was a person who we both loved seeing in and about theatres.

Patrick passed away suddenly last week at the age of 47 (previously reported as age 51) leaving a huge void in his circle of friends, acquaintances, colleagues and the New York theatre community.

I served with Patrick on the Board of Directors of the Independent Theater Bloggers Association (ITBA), but I knew him before that when group of theater bloggers first met for brunch a couple of years ago, and before that I was a regular reader of his writing.

Patrick wrote Just Shows To Go You, and also regularly contributed stories to TheaterMania, TDF and Show Showdown.  His passion for theatre was as great as any I have known.  He saw well over 200 shows a year, from off off Broadway to Broadway.  He didn't discriminate when it came to production value - he was just happy to see a show and be in a theatre.

I sat next to him at a Fringe show last year and I felt very privileged to do so.  I would sneak a peek at his face, wondering if his reactions were the same as mine.   He was thoughtful and considerate  and he definitely wore a poker face.   When I would run into him, he'd tell me what he had just seen and he was often running off in a hurry to make the next curtain. 

His love for performers was evident in his service as Awards Director of the ITBA.  He loved recognizing work in which he felt was deserving of recognition.

At the wake, Byrne and I spoke with his mother, Mrs. Catherine Lee, and his sister, Grace Ann Lee Arnold, as well as his dear friend Jennifer.    They were all so grateful to learn of the outpouring of love for Patrick from colleagues and friends in the theatre community.   His mother told us that she had feared that he was isolated in New York and was very pleased to learn that the opposite was true.    She also shared with us a story from when he was about 3 years old.  One evening, about 3 in the morning, she heard him awake in his room playing his little Victrola and riding his rocking horse.  She said she knew then that he loved music. 

Besides a display of snapshots and portraits of Patrick over the years, the family had also taken the time to print out many of the blogs and newstories about Patrick from the last few days and bind them into a book.  Byrne and I took the time to flip through that book.  We agreed with all of the tributes and it struck me that what a terrible loss this is. Our friend and colleague is gone and there will be none like him.   However, his legacy will be that he inspired many of us to follow our passion as fully as he always did. 

Patrick was a quiet, sweet soul.    He spoke so lowly, almost whispering, that I sometimes I had a difficult time hearing him whether it was in a meeting or on the street.  I would tell him, "Patrick, you're going to have to 'Sing out, Louise'" and he would just grin at me...and continue to speak softly.

Patrick, wherever you are now, I hope you're "Singing out, Louise" to your favorite showtune.

Paradise Found at the Menier Chocolate Factory, London

Paradise Found is a new musical playing at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. It's been said that it's just as much work to put on a flop as it is a hit.   This flop has a Dream Cast that is working working really, really hard.   Indeed, the only paradise found in this crazy, bizarre flop of a show is in fact the Dream Cast which is comprised of Kate Baldwin, Shuler Hensley, Mandy Patinkin, Judy Kaye, John McMartin, Nancy Opel, George Lee Andrews, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Lacey Kohl, Herndon Lackey, Daniel Marcus, Jim Poulos, Martin Van Treuren and Pamela Winslow Kashani.

In fact, everybody involved with the show is highly accomplished.  It's dream-like that they are assembled together - unfortunately it turned out to be such a nightmare.  Hal Prince and Susan Stroman are co-directing the show with music by Johann Strauss II adapted by "EGAT" winner Jonathan Tunick, lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, and a really awful book by Richard Nelson.   The costumes are by Judith Dolan.

I first heard about the work when Hal Prince talked about it at Wall to Wall Broadway at Symphony Space last year.  It sounded most bizarre - a bored loveless shah visits Vienna where he falls in love with the empress but since he can't have her, he  is tricked into believing a prostitute is the empress and Mandy Patinkin would play his eunuch.  What?!     Now I think, how did this show even get a workshop much less a full production that must be very expensive.

But back then, when I found out that Kate Baldwin was cast as well as Mandy, Judy and Shuler, I thought, "Well, it must be good."    In this case, thinking got me nowhere.

When Kari and I decided to go to London to see Harriet Walter in Women Beware Women at the National Theatre, I was over the moon excited that I would be able to see some favorites in a new show in London.   Perfection!  
The Menier Chocolate Factory is a charming place.  It was built in 1870 as a chocolate factory.  In 2004, it was converted to a theatre and restaurant.  The food is very good (I had the veal schnitzel!) and the atmosphere is fun.  It's quite easy to step from dinner straight to the show.  

We were seated in the second row center in this tiny house.   There was no way that Kate, much less the rest of the cast, couldn't see us.  This became a worry to me because the theatre was very, very warm and we were crowded in, plus we had only landed in London that morning and were operating on very little sleep.  I know I dozed a few times in the first act and I think Kari would admit she did as well.  

It was boring and weird.   Kate played a prostitute and Judy was her madame.  Shuler played a rascally duke with ladies all over the place, including Kate's character who had also born him a son.   John McMartin played the impotent lovelorn shah.   George and Mandy attended to the shah and worried over his impotence.   I'm not sure what the role Nancy was playing other than she was a bit of an instigator.  

The music, although way over amplified for such a tiny venue, was pretty, although I admit that I was expecting Richard not Johann Strauss so there was a little too much waltzing for one evening.  It was thrilling to hear all of the gorgeous voices of this cast.   The ladies really had their soprano on and Shuler has a heart-melting baritone voice. 

The show was rather dirty - including a masterbation song as well as a recorded track of the shaw and the prostitute getting it on in the bedroom above while Mandy, Judy and Shuler's characters waited and listened in. 

Mandy's character is sort of the moral compass since he is unable to have sex given that he's been castrated.  He tries to understand what "love" is all about and walks around on stage the whole long evening with a great look of wonder on his face.  It's a strange juxtaposition to all of the other action on stage. 

The underlying love story was between Kate's prostitute character and Shuler's duke character.  It is actually the most interesting and lovely bit of the story and had that taken the lead, it might have been a very nice show.  

It's well over 2 hours long and just when you think it's going to finally be over, there's more.  It's like a infomercial: but wait, there's more!   The best things I can think of about this show are the fact that its stacked with so many great performers giving it their usual all and secondly luckily for them, it's only seven performances a week. As it is, it's a bizarre period piece that's a combination cartoon, drama, comedy, operetta about sex.  When it was finally over, I turned to Kari and said, "This must be an elaborate joke."  

Photo of the Day

London Souvenir

Renée Fleming's take on some indie & rock tunes is out today in the USA.  But, I bought it yesterday in London at HMV in Terminal 3 at Heathrow.   La Diva performed "Endlessly" on Good Morning America this morning.  It's different than her usual fare, but I sort of like it.  The album is a bit hypnotic and very soothing too.   

London or Bust!

(photo originally uploaded at http://www.johnstokesphotography.co.uk/Virgin-Atlantic-747.jpg)

Future Tony Award Winners

The Tony Awards is having a contest for "Flat Tony" on its facebook page.  Every Friday until the Tonys, you can print your own Flat Tony, take a picture with it and upload to their fan page.   If you get enough friends to like your photo, you'll win!   To vote for my Little Loves, go to their picture at the Tony Awards fan page and choose the "like" button.  Who knows, one or even all three may be a real live Tony winner one of these days!

Law & Order: UK

Target has the first season of Law & Order: UK, released by Universal!   Roxie picked it up for me and imported it all the way from New Jersey.  Now I'm completely addicted, just in the nick of time as my favorite Law & Order (the flagship) has been canceled by NBC.  

So far, the first season has consisted of some recycled stories from the original Law & Order, but nicely worked over for British lingo and legal system, including the wigs and court dress.   It's a bit more dramatized for the starring characters as well.

On the "Order" side, Harriet Walter (but she's not in it enough!) plays the Detective Inspector (the equivalent of Lieutenant Anita Van Buren) while Bradley Walsh and Jamie Bamber play the Detective Sergeants. On the "Law" side, Ben Daniels and Freema Agyeman play the Senior Crown Prosecutor and the Junior Crown Prosecutor respectively, which are the equivalent of the Assistant District Attorneys.  Bill Paterson plays the Director of Crown Prosecution Service, which seems to be the equivalent of the District Attorney. 

When I heard of the series, I hoped that BBC America would pick it up, but since it's ITV, I came to doubt that.  When we went over to London last fall, I was hoping to catch an episode or two on the telly during downtime in the hotel (but only ended up watching Murder, She Wrote on BBC Two - not that I'm complaining). Now, Universal that has released this season on DVD, hopefully they will release Season Two as soon as possible. 

Le Grand Macabre at the NY Phil

Sally and I saw Le Grand Macabre at the NY Phil on Friday night.  It was so weird!  But I liked it too.    Ligeti's opera, staged with projection of a live film, was like Samuel Becket meets Tim Burton.   Although it was completely atonal and included a bizarre use of instruments, including car horns, it was also completely fascinating.     It was sung in English and without subtitles it was sometimes hard to understand, although it wasn't completely sung through and the dialogue helped my understanding.   The costumes, by Catherine Zuber, were very cool even if wacky and a little shocking.  All of the the singers were phenomenal - Barbara Hannigan Soprano (Gepopo) , Kiera Duffy Soprano (Venus), Jennifer Black Soprano (Amanda), Renée Tatum Mezzo-soprano (Amando), Anthony Roth Costanzo Countertenor (Prince Go-Go), Melissa Parks Mezzo-soprano (Mescalina), Mark Schowalter Tenor (Piet the Pot), Eric Owens Bass-baritone (Nekrotzar), Wilbur Pauley Bass (Astradamors), Peter Tantsits Tenor (The White Minister), Joshua Bloom Baritone (The Black Minister), and Rob Besserer Atmosphericist.  I loved Anthony Roth Costanzo's performance - and I never thought I'd say that about a countertenor.