Thursday, April 3, 2008

Can we talk about it now? Cool!

Because this news is so [title of show].

Friday, July 20, 2007

A couple of musical theatre notes

After a tryout in Seattle this fall, Lone Star Love is planned to come into New York for a Broadway run beginning November 1. The show—which ran off-Broadway a couple of seasons back in a slightly different version—got a major overhaul at The Rep in 1989 after its debut at Houston's Alley Theatre, when it was still known as just The Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas. We had a rollicking time with the Red Clay Ramblers, who would jam at the (late, lamented) Backstage Club after the show well into the small hours. I'll be looking forward to the show's Broadway bow, with Randy Quaid, Robert Cuccioli and Rep alum Dee Hoty. (Here's some more background on the history of the show; it's been a winding road.)

And as a major Styx fan, I've got a hunch I'll have to make a trip to Chicago next spring, when the Bailiwick Rep produces Dennis DeYoung's musical adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame has enjoyed only one prior production—at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville in 1997. The score was praised and, at one point, the show was talked about as a likely prospect for Broadway. But potential producers ran into opposition from Disney Theatricals, which was pushing its own version of the Quasimodo-as-cathedral-recluse story. The Disney show never made it to Broadway, perhaps now clearing the coast for DeYoung, who has a big fan base. DeYoung says he is revising the show extensively for the Bailiwick production.

And since I have to be in New York for a meeting week after next, I'm squeezing another 12 hours into the trip to see both Xanadu and the closing night of Patti LuPone's City Center engagement as Rose in Gypsy. Of course, I saw Ms. LuPone in the role last summer at Ravinia and it was hands-down one of my most thrilling nights in the theatre ever. There was no way I could miss seeing here again in New York, and surrounded by such a marvelous cast. I'll be there on the aisle, just waiting for that extraordinary overture to begin again. And I've secured seats on stage for Xanadu, where I am assured by friends in the know that I will have the best view in the house, which is to say that of Cheyenne Jackson's backside. Woof!

Saturday, July 14, 2007

links for 2007-07-14

• How to make sexy buttons with CSS
  They're buttons! And they're sexy!
  (tags: css webdesign buttons)
• Playbill News: "Hairspray" Star Efron Will Be "Footloose" in Film Remake
  Plans are afoot to remake Footloose as "a full-blown musical" (perhaps a screen adaptation of the 1998 Broadway version?). Hmm...will our children be playing Six Degrees of Zac Efron?
  (tags: musicals movies)
• Opening Night: Xanadu Video Feature
  Xanadu on Broadway, with scrumptious Cheyenne Jackson? Can. Not. Wait.
  (tags: xanadu musicals broadway)
• Jim Hill : As "Tarzan" swings off Broadway, is Beyoncé getting ready to play Aida in Disney's next big movie musical?
  Disney is reported in talks with Beyonce to star in a movie adaptation of Aida.
  (tags: movies musicals broadway)

Sunday, February 4, 2007

links for 2007-02-04

• Ultrasparky: My Time of Night
  It's Sparky after darky. (Nighttime in the city is my favorite too.)
  (tags: weblogcommunity)
• Super Bowl Ads: 2007 - IFILM
  iFilm posts (and previews) the commercials of the 2007 Super Bowl.
  (tags: superbowl advertising)
• On the Scene: Julie Andrews at the Spelling Bee
  When Julie Andrews (promoting Kids Night on Broadway) is called on stage at The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, what word do you suppose she was given to spell? Yep.
  (tags: broadway video)
• AMC Theatres: Best Picture Showcase
  Oh, this is most excellent. See all five Best Picture nominees for $30, including popcorn and all the soda pop you can drink. Who wants to come with me?
  (tags: movies oscars)

Monday, May 8, 2000

Wicked stage

The 1999 Tony Award nominations have been announced. Rather spare assortment of musicals this season, but we knew that going in. A special Tony for Dame Edna? Cool. (Speaking of Edna, Christine Lavin finally found a place for her story of Edna addiction. Congrats!)