TV: Secrets of New York

Now in it's second season, one of the coolest shows on New York television is Secrets of New York.  Tomorrow night's (June 29) episode will focus on the mysteries of New York theatre, from ghosts to secret apartments.    The program airs at 8:30 pm on NYCLife (Channel 25 on TimeWarner) and will also be available at the NYC Media Video on Demand Player at nyc.gov/vod

The Best Is Yet To Come: The Music of Cy Coleman at 59 E 59 Theater

Last Friday night, Noah and I went to see The Best Is Yet To Come: The Music of Cy Coleman at 59 E 59 Theater.  It was some of the most fun I've had at a performance.   It's an 85 solid minutes of a fun-packed revue of the music of Cy Coleman.  The only thing missing was a dance floor and a martini.    The cast is David Burnham, Howard McGillin, Billy Stritch, Lillias White, Rachel York and Sally Mayes.  The evening we were there, Sally was out and Natascia Diaz was in. 

Cy Coleman, a composer, songwriter, and jazz pianist, wrote the music for the Broadway musicals Sweet Charity, Seesaw, On the Twentieth Century, Barnum, City of Angels, The Will Rogers Follies, and The Life, as well as for numerous plays and movies. 

While there is choreography and a little bit of "acting,"  it's mostly just a song tribute to Cy's music.  With Billy Stritch at the grand piano and a big band backing them up, it feels very elegant and stylish - a throw-back to the 1940s.    The songs set is comprised of recognizable standards - obviously, The Best is Yet to Come  made famous by Sinatra - and his theatre songs.   Lillias White stole the evening with her rendition of "The Oldest Profession" from The Life, which won her the 1997 Tony Award for Best Feature Actress in a Musical.   It was also thrilling hearing Natascia perform "Nobody Does It Like Me" from Seesaw and made me hope for an Encores! production of this show for her to star in.  The finale was a "megamix" that blew the roof off.  

I found it impossible to sit still in my seat and I think my fellow audience members were experiencing the same sensation.   It was a total blast!  The show runs through July 3rd at 59 E 59.

(Incidentally, Natascia will finally play "Cassie" in the upcoming production of A Chorus Line at Oklahoma City's Lyric Theatre in August.)

Play Reading: The Old Masters at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Giorgione's The Adoration of the Shepherds

On Monday night, Karigee and I went to a reading of Simon Gray's The Old Masters at the Metrolitan Museum of Art.  The reading was by Sam Waterston, Brian Murray, Shirley Knigh, Heidi Schreck and Rufus Collings.  

The play is a dramatized true story that takes place in pre-second world war Italy and is about the relationship between Bernard Berenson (Waterston) and  Lord Joseph Duveen (Murray).  Berenson was an art historian and Duveen was an art dealer.   The story is centered around the painting The Adoration of the Shepherds by Giorgione and their disagreement about whether or not it was by Giorgione's teacher Titian. 

Seeing an accomplished cast such as this reading a fabulous play for just $20, we could not go wrong on a Monday night.  The reading is directed by Michael Rudman and produced by John Martello and Elliot Martin.   On Monday the 27th, there will be encore performance.    The Old Masters is on the list to play Broadway later this year.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEORGE HEARN!

Happy birthday George!   Ironically, I'm in Washington, DC today seeing FOLLIES at the Kennedy Center.  I first fell for George watching the dvd of the 1985 concert of FOLLIES (seeing him as Sweeney Todd in the dvd of the stage production caused me to pledge my love forever.)   I'm still hoping that my birthday wish for a production of THE VISIT starring George and Chita Rivera comes true.  

Follies at the Kennedy Center

Kari, Roxie and I took the train down to Washington to see Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the Kennedy Center over Memorial Day Weekend.  Tomorrow, I'm heading down again for the final weekend of the Kennedy Center run, this time with Noah.   Besides celebrating our seventh anniversary, which is even more special due to the fact we met because of Bernadette Peters, we are celebrating the news that the production is transferring to the Marquis Theatre on Broadway later this summer.  

When going in for this musical, I already knew I loved the music and the story, based on having seen the video of the 1985 New York Philharmonic concert and then 2007 Encores! production starring Donna Murphy and Victoria Clark.   The Encores! production was so fabulous, attendees and the theatre community of New York longed for it to transfer to Broadway.  There were even rumors that it would be produced by the New York City Opera.   In June 2009 interview, Victoria Clark stoked the fires of hope when she said, "I think the Kennedy Center is doing it next year."   Finally, it's here!  Unfortunately, it's not starring Donna Murphy and Victoria Clark, who are both busy starring in Broadway shows, but fortunately it is starring Bernadette Peters and Jan Maxwell. 

This musical has everything - old fashioned musical theatre with a huge cast, including showgirls, tap dancing, big song and dance numbers, ghosts, love, infidelity, angst, relief, and big stars on top of some of the most gorgeous music ever written for the theatre all swirling around the past and the future.    It's funny, sad, poignant and downright entertainment.  When I saw this production in May, I was thrilled beyond belief at what my eyes were seeing - thank you  by Greg Barnes who has designed eye popping costumes  - and what my ears were hearing - thank you Bernadette Peters, Ron Raines, Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Rosalind Elias, Linda Lavin, and Terri White.

The book, written by James Goldman (hello, he also wrote The Lion in Winter), is on its own a terrific play.  It's the story of a reunion of Weissman girls, follies performers who have the chance to visit their old theatre and relive their former glory one last time.   It centers around former showgirls and roommates Phyllis (Jan Maxwell) and Sally (Bernadette Peters) and their respective spouses  Ben (Ron Raines) and Buddy (Danny Burstein).  A few of the other former showgirls get their moments to show what they've still got Carlotta (Elaine Paige), Heide (Rosalind Elias), Hattie (Linda Lavin), Stella (Terri White) and Emily (Susan Watson).  

The set is the stage, backstage and catwalk of a dilapidated theatre.  There is abandoned scenery and props at the back of the stage and the curtain is in tattered.  Most chilling is the presence of ghosts of follies girls dressed, by Greg Barnes, that seem to fade into the walls of the theatre.  They move ethereally amongst the reunion guests and on the catwalks, taking it in, never seeming to be noticed.   The ghosts of all of the ladies and Ben and Buddy relive those glorious days of performing along with them, all of their memories coming alive.  

From the first moments of the theatre lights going low to the curtain call, it was beyond thrilling and beautiful.  At times I found it hard to breath and I know I gasped and laughed with delight audibly.   My companions were often moved to tears.  I know there will be no difference in my and Noah's reactions tomorrow and especially at the final performance on Sunday in the sold-out houses.

NEXT THING YOU KNOW at Cap 21

Last night I went down to the Cap 21 Theatre to see Lauren Molina is the new musical NEXT THING YOU KNOW.  

Next Thing You Know is a new musical by Joshua Salzman (music) and Ryan Cunningham (book and lyrics).    It's about four twenty-somethings caught in a time of life when they are frightened to move on and actually realize their dreams as they are not quite ready to become grown ups.   It's a little about love and little about dreams and choices.   The tunes are interesting melodies and the lyrics hiliarious.  Some of the lyrics are The band comprised of a piano, stand up bass, guitar, violin and cello lead by Kurt Crowley on music direction was terrific.     

I was really taken with the songs, particularly the opening number "Little Bar on Sullivan Street," "Don't Say Another Word," and especially "Hungover."      I could actually hear "Don't Say Another Word" being recorded by a pop diva for radio play - it's that kind of catchy song.    "Hungover" is just plain funny, especially as executed by this cast - Lauren Molina, Lauren Blackman, Heath Calvert and Adam Kantor.   After a night out, they sing this song while attempting to figure out where they are and even get dressed.  It was very funny.    I could see this song performed in the future by random people at gala concerts - it would totally bring down the house.

Next Thing You Know is another in the vein of those other long running show about twenty-somethings trying to figure out life.   It's sweet and clever and at one hour thirty, light evening entertainment.  I haven't traditionally enjoyed themes like these, but since I've been working at my current day job, I'm heading a team of twenty-somethings who are going through exactly these things.  I enjoyed seeing this perspective and maybe it made me laugh just a little more since I had something to relate it to.   

As for Lauren Molina, she's wonderful and I'm convinced that she can do anything.  In April, she won the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance of "Cunegonde" in Mary Zimmerman's production of Candide at the Shakespeare Theatre Company of Washington, DC.  She will be reprising the role in September at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston.  I saw this performance in Washington and it was like drinking champagne.   She has released a couple of really great albums of songs that she wrote herself, and on which she plays ukelele and guitar.   She's also a part of the Beatles Complete on Ukelele Project, which is free via iTunes - she plays cello, drum and ukulele and sings all of the vocals on "She Loves You."

Orpheus and Euridice by The Orpheus Project

Last week I saw a wonderful production of Ricky Ian Gordon's of Orpheus and Euridice by The Orpheus Project at Duo Multicultural Arts Center.

Heather Dudenbostel was Euridice and Ryan Keith Dudenbostel played Orpheus.   Jad Bernardo was the third "cast" member on piano.  

This Orpheus and Euridice was sort of a prequel to the story with which I was familiar when Orpheus journeys to the underworld to bring his wife Euridice back from death.    Ricky Ian Gordon has written a beautiful story of Orpheus' courtship of and marriage to Euridice and his time of mourning before he departs on his journey to rescue her.  

The music  - Ryan Keith Dudenbostel on clarinet and Jad Bernardo on piano - was soulful, sometimes mournful, always transportive.  It's an interesting mix of jazz and classical clarinet and piano.   I loved Dudenbostel's playing as a portrayal of Orpheus.  He danced around Euridice, wooing her and loving her, and even lay on the stage floor when he was prostrate with grief, at one point he taunted Bernardo at the piano.  

All of the vocals were performed by soprano Heather Dudenbostel.   She is a lovely actress and portrayed Euridice lovingly and lovely.  Her voice was covered at times by the piano and clarinet, so even though lyrics were momentarily lost, it was never unclear what was happening. 

The production was set in present day, beginning with Euridice reading a book in an arm chair and becoming drowsy.   At the end, she returned to her arm chair and appeared to awaken from a dream.

The set, in the beautiful little proscenium stage at Duo, was mostly bare, relying on lighting and slide show to illuminate the setting and mood.   Brian Letchworth directed the piece smoothly and thoughtfully, even making it seem dreamlike. 

This production of Ricky Ian Gordon's Orpheus and Euridice is the first in New York since its first viewing at the Lincoln Center Festival in 2006.   It has been nominated for a much deserved New York Innovative Theatre Award.

COMPANY on the Big Screen

Wow!  We saw the film of the concert of Sondheim's COMPANY with the New York Philharmonic on the big screen last night.   I loved it!   I didn't attend the live concerts back in April - I had actual company and I just wasn't interested enough to spend the big bucks they were asking, based on my previous experience of seeing the revival on Broadway.  However, the film was fantastic and for only $18, it was a steal!    The cast was absolutely fantasic - each one was a comedic and vocal powerhouse.

The amazing cast is Neil Patrick Harris, Patti LuPone, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Christina Hendricks, Craig Bierko, Martha Plimpton, Aaron Lazar, Katie Finneran, Anika Noni Rose, and Chryssie Whitehead. "Company's plot revolves around Bobby (a single man unable to commit fully to a steady relationship, let alone marriage), the five married couples who are his best friends, and his three girlfriends. It's a concept musical composed of short vignettes linked by a celebration for Bobby's 35th birthday."

It's on again tonight, the 19th and the 21st at theatres across the country. A list of theatres and links for purchase is here.

Goodbye to the 2011 Broadway Season

The 65th Annual Tony Awards were on Sunday night.  I usually treat the event like it's Prom Night, but I wasn't in the mood to celebrate this rather dull season in my typical fashion.  However, I did have a few of the gang over to watch the broadcast with me - and incidentally celebrate my 9th anniversary of becoming a New Yorker.  It turned out that the broadcast of the Tony Awards was as much of a reason to celebrate as any - it was the best that any of us had seen in recent years. 

Of the 42 Broadway shows that opened between June 1, 2010 and June 1, 2011, I saw only 13, and most of them had only a short life:

A Free Man of Color 
[Play, Drama]
Nov 18, 2010 - Jan 9, 2011 Performance Count: 61

Arcadia
[Play]
Mar 17, 2011 - Present - Performance Count: 100

Brief Encounter
[Play, Melodrama, Play with music]
Sep 28, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011 - Performance Count: 111

Elling
[Play, Comedy]
Nov 21, 2010 - Nov 28, 2010 - Performance Count: 9

High
[Play, Drama]
Apr 19, 2011 - Apr 24, 2011 - Performance Count: 7

How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
[Musical, Comedy]
Mar 27, 2011 - Present - Performance Count: 89

La Bête
[Play, Comedy]
Oct 14, 2010 - Jan 9, 2011 - Performance Count: 101

The Normal Heart
[Play, Drama]
Apr 27, 2011 - Present - Performance Count: 54

The People in the Picture
[Musical, Comedy, Drama]
Apr 28, 2011 - Present - Performance Count: 52

The Scottsboro Boys
[Musical, Drama]
Oct 31, 2010 - Dec 12, 2010 - Performance Count: 49

War Horse
[Play, Drama]
Apr 14, 2011 - Present - Performance Count: 69

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown
[Musical]
Nov 4, 2010 - Jan 2, 2011 - Performance Count: 69

Wonderland
[Musical, Fantasy]
Apr 17, 2011 - May 15, 2011 - Performance Count: 33

Of these, it was the plays I enjoyed most.  I really loved La Bête (Joanna Lumley, David Hyde Pierce, Mark Rylance), The Normal Heart (Joe Mantello, John Benjamin Hickey, Ellen Barkin) and A Free Man of Color (Jeffrey Wright, Veanne Cox, John McMartin, Paul F. Dano).  I enjoyed the very entertaining and lovely Brief Encounter very much - it was  aplay with music and I wish I had a recording of the wonderful Noel Coward tunes the cast performed.  I liked Arcadia and High as well.    The Normal Heart was unreal.  A lady asked me at intermission if I was "enjoying the play."   I couldn't say I was - sure the acting and direction is phenomenal, but the subject matter tore my heart out.  I felt sad, ashamed, horrified, and grief stricken.  I confess that I, often devoid of even moist eyes, practically wept during the second act.   It runs until July 10th and I believe that anybody who has an interest in powerful theatre and performances should go.  

As for the musicals, How to Succeed in Business, which is still running and I'm telling you to go see it, was a great time in the theatre with its high energy, classic songs and fantastic choreography.    The Scottsboro Boys was extraodinary theatre.  I needed to see it again to fully understand its powerful imagery, but unfortunately that chance didn't come.   It was one of those shows that was artfully entertaining, challenging, beautifully staged and acted, perfect really.  I'm sorry it closed so soon, but I hear from a producer friend of mine that a another life, although probably not on Broadway, is imminent.   It didn't get the due it deserved.  I really liked Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.  Patti LuPone and Laura Benanti, both nominated for the Tony for Featured Actress in a Musical, were outstanding and I'm enjoying the cast album very much, partciularly Patti's "Invisible."    I enjoyed the first act of Wonderland, especially the performance by Karen Mason as the Queen of Hearts and the costumes by Susan Hilferty.   The People in the Picture was interesting but not quite good, although I kept thinking about seeing it again.  The reason to see it is the incomparable Donna Murphy, who flits back and forth between generations as if she's changing a hat.  She's extraordinary in anything she does, even in this not great musical.   It closes this Sunday so there's still a few days in which to catch her performance.

The best thing about seeing all of these shows and what really made them memorable was that I was always with great friends.   It's fine to see a show alone and sometimes I do, but its that communal experience of being in a theatre when anything can happen and that any given performance will never be what it was or is or will be twice that makes it so special.   Thank you to my theatre buddies of the 2011 season:   Karigee, Chris Caggiano of Everything I Know I Learned from Musicals, Byrne Harrison of Stagebuzz.com , Linda of Pataphysical Science, Noah, and Kyle for sharing tickets and keeping me company.  

When accepting the Tony for Best Revival of a Play for The Normal Heart on Sunday night, Daryl Roth, producer, said, "...we all share a deep belief that theatre can change the world, and that theater really matters."

Annoyance of the Week

All week long I've been extremely annoyed by the headlines like "Angela Lansbury Says Lady Gaga Perfect for MAME on Broadway."   This particular headline comes from Broadwayworld, whom I find completely irresponsible in its reporting.   The original "news" came from The Showbiz Tonight website, The Showbiz Tonight webiste, which is apparently part of Headline News/CNN.   The entire interview doesn't appear to be available, only the part they thought was "newsworthy" and it's sandwiched in with Kim Kardashian and Jersey Shore news, so that should give you the context of what kind of "news" this is (read: trash).

Here is the transcript:

Showbiz Breaks News: Is Gaga going Broadway? Lady Gaga has just had a major shoutout from an acting legend. 85 year old Angela Lansbury has just revealed to Showbiz Tonight she wants Gaga to bring it to Broadway and play MAME, one of the stage’s most over the top eccentrics. Lansbury, who won a Tony for originating the role in 1966, tells us Gaga could pull it off, more or less. [cut to Angela mid sentence]

“…she could sure wear the clothes, that’s for sure. It would be another generational type MAME. I can’t imagine that, her singing ‘If He Walked Into My Life,’ but you know, anything’s possible.”

Does this sound like an endoresment to you?   It sure doesn't to me.   That being said, if Lady Gaga, whose work many of friends admire, really wants to come to Broadway then good for her and I wish her luck.   It's an established fact that I'd give anything to see a revival of MAME and perhaps its possible that it will need extraordinary star quality to make it happen, but dear producers, please sensible about this. I believe your extraordinary star is already right beneath your noses: Donna Murphy.

This clip of "If He Walked Into My Life" is from the 1983 revival of MAME, which Angela Lansbury starred in once again.

Quote of the Day

"She was very cagey, but Angela Lansbury said we could see her back on stage by January 2012. Beyond that, all I got was a Mona Lisa smile." 

Tweeted by Howard Sherman, the Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing about his interview with Angela Lansbury for Downstage Center, June 9, 2011.   

Howard has been the host of Downstage Center since 2004, which translates to approximately 325 shows.   Unfortunately for us fans of his work at the Wing, Howard is moving on to a new venture.  We wish him well in his next steps and hopefully he will continue keeping us informed and entertained via Vwitter.  Fortunately, Downstage Center will continue with a new host yet to be named.   

The new executive director of the Wing is Heather Hitchens.    Incidentally, Angela Lansbury was named the Wing's first Honorary Chair of the Board of Trustees at last year's Tony Awards, which the Wing founded in 1946.   She was a recipient of a drama school scholarship from the American Theatre Wing when she was still a teenager and had just immigrated to America.   Besides continuing to co-present the Tony Awards, the Wing promotes education of actors, those working behind the scenes in the theatre and audiences through its many online programs, internships, awards, and grants. 

Always entertaining and always educational, the Downstage Center podcasts can be downloaded from the Theatre Wing site or subscribed to via iTunes.

Marilyn Maye at Feinstein's at the Regency

Today, Feinstein's at the Regency announced its fall schedule (which, by the way, is an embarrassment of riches).  I was thrilled to see Marilyn Maye back on the bill in November! 

Last Friday night, I was treated to Marilyn's late show at Feinstein's, along with Kevin Daly and Byrne Harrison.   It's the way to live right - great music and great friends - and Feinstein's always delivers.  Marilyn Maye always delivers too. 

Marilyn has a policy of performing upbeat songs and loves to include medleys of songs that sort of go together about being young, or rainbows, or love.  She will make you feel great with standards like "Young at Heart," "You Make Me Feel So Young," some Fats Waller tunes including "Honeysuckle Rose," and a set Johnny Mercer songs in memoriam to the late great cabaret singer and her friend Margaret Whiting.  She included a medley of Lerner and Lowe songs from My Fair Lady which were absolutely to die for, especially "Wouldn't It Be Loverly."  Finally, and thankfully, she included her wonderful rendition of "I'm Still Here" from Sondheim Follies which he had first witnessed at her Carnegie Hall debut at the NY Pops Sondheim celebration earlier this year.  

She encored with a thrilling medly of Jerry Herman songs, that included high kicks on "It's Today."   You haven't lived until you see such a broad in glitter pants, an octogenarian at that, do high kicks emphasized with cymbal bangs from her drummer of around 50 years, Jim Eklof.  

Joining Eklof in Marilyn's trio were Tedd Firth on piano and Tom Hubbard on bass.   Firth adds to the fun with sarcastic comments from his bench and some mean jazz piano playing.

It's impossible not to feel upbeat when you're listening or with Marilyn - I don't think I stopped smiling for hours and my hands hurt from all of the applause.   I've been a fan of Marilyn's for just over a year and I always want to say to her, "Where have you been all my life?"




Kevin D., Marilyn, Sarah B. in the Green Room

 

You know what? I'd love to play Mame, Auntie Mame.

All we need now is a producer.