Tag: Broadway

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Broadway: Baayork Lee Honored With 2014 Paul Robeson Award

My dear wonderful friend Baayork Lee – Asian American actor, dancer, singer, choreographer, director and author – has received the 2014 Paul Robeson Citation Award presented by the Actors’ Equity Foundation.

I first met Baayork in 1989 when she cast me in the first of two National Touring companies of A Chorus Line. Since then we’ve remained friends; and last year she asked me to choreograph a gala production of Hello, Dolly! for her National Asian Artists Project which was a beautiful experience.

From Broadway World:

Created in 1971, the Paul Robeson award honors individuals or organizations that best exemplify and practice the principles of universal brotherhood of all humankind, commitment to the freedom of conscience and of expression, belief in the artist’s responsibility to society, respect for the dignity of the individual and concern for and service to all humans of any race or nationality.

Throughout her career, Baayork Lee has been committed to promoting a diverse society on American stages and dedicated to fostering opportunities for Asian American performers to play roles for which they might otherwise not be considered.

In 2009, Lee founded (with Steven Eng and Nina Zoie) the National Asian Artists Project, which focuses on providing opportunities for the Asian American artistic community. NAAP’s “Discover New Musicals” program allows writers of all races and ethnicities to have new works showcased annually, utilizing Asian American casts, and its educational programs enable artists to hone their craft and to stay competitive in the workplace.

A member of the 1951 original production of The King and I, Baayork returned to Broadway in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Flower Drum Song, Bravo Giovanni, Mr. President, Here’s Love, Golden Boy, A Joyful Noise, Henry, Sweet Henry, Promises, Promises, Seesaw and Michael Bennett’s groundbreaking production of A Chorus Line, in which she originated the role of “Connie.”

She worked with Bennett in several productions and over the years went from being his dance partner, to being his assistant. She would later supervise all major productions of A Chorus Line, choreographing 35 international productions as well as the 2006 Broadway revival. She is the co-author of the book, On the Line: The Creation of A Chorus Line, published in 1990.

Lee also has choreographed and directed scores of national and international tours of, among others, The King and I; Bombay Dreams; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella; Porgy and Bess; Jesus Christ Superstar and Carmen Jones.

(via BroadwayWorld)

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First Look: Michael C Hall stars in “Hedwig And The Angry Inch”

Here’s a first look at Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under) as East German transgender rock star Hedwig, in the Tony Award-winning musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Hall will begin performances on October 16th, when he takes over from current star Andrew Rannells at the Belasco Theatre.

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Strong Reviews For Blythe Danner In “The Country House” On Broadway

Blythe Danner in “The Country House”

Reviews for the newly opened Donald Margulies’ play The Country House are – as expected – quite robust for the production’s leading lady, Blythe Danner.

Regular readers will recall that I’m a huge fan of the luminous Ms. Danner’s work, and have been for years. I was fortunate to work with her in the 2001 revival of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies and have remained friends since then.

The Country House, under the auspices of the Manhattan Theatre Club, opened last night on Broadway to strong reviews, especially for Danner.

New York Times:

“The most satisfying and exasperating aspect of “The Country House” is Ms. Danner’s performance.

“Watch Ms. Danner after Anna fails to seduce a handsome, younger houseguest. She deflates and then majestically reinflates, like someone who suddenly remembers that she is, after all, in front of an audience. Anna may describe herself as “a leading lady without a stage,” but that’s nonsense. With Ms. Danner in the role, all the world is Anna’s stage.”

Variety:

“(Author) Donald Margulies gets a big, sloppy kiss from leading lady Blythe Danner, who is effortlessly lovely and irresistibly charismatic as the queenly head of a fractious theatrical family in his new play, “The Country House.””

New York Post:

“Blythe Danner shines in Donald Margulies’ “The Country House””

USAToday:

Danner’s Anna is a model of rumpled dignity and vanity, at once blowsy and elegant in her fashion. “I am not one whose entrances go unnoticed,” she tells Susie early on. Yet House is at its funniest and most poignant when Anna comes to terms — or doesn’t — with her fading powers, and the ephemerality of life. Her daughter’s absence is, of course, a stinging reminder of the latter, and Danner makes that pain clear, even while delivering a wonderfully relaxed comedic performance.

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Broadway: CHICAGO the Musical Welcomes Back Four Original Stars

On Sunday evening, November 23, a Broadway show near and dear to my heart will reach a huge milestone.

On that date, the current company of Broadway’s record-breaking hit musical CHICAGO will welcome back its four original stars — Tony Award winners Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton and Joel Grey.

That evening, CHICAGO will surpass the run of iconic Broadway blockbuster “Cats” with a record-breaking 7,486 performances, making it the second longest-running show in Broadway history.

Only one show — “The Phantom of the Opera” — will have run longer than CHICAGO.

Reinking, Neuwirth, Naughton and Grey — who originated the acclaimed roles of Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly, Billy Flynn and Amos Hart, respectively — will each make cameo appearances at various points in the milestone performance.

As regular readers of The Randy Report know, I was fortunate to be one of the earliest replacements in the Broadway revival of CHICAGO back in 1998. I performed in the Broadway company at the Shubert Theatre, and toured with the show in the US and internationally with five other companies.

My run with the show – off and on – stretched from August 1998 to July 2013, when I was asked to come back and be a part of the show at the Hollywood Bowl. In addition, I’ve been able to explore the brilliant material as a choreographer, staging the show four times. CHICAGO has been a gift that keeps giving.

The revival of CHICAGO first began in May 1996 with a weekend presentation as part of City Center’s acclaimed Encores! series.

At the time, that brief four-performance engagement of CHICAGO — helmed by director Walter Bobbie and choreographer Ann Reinking — was the top-grossing production in the history of Encores!.

Produced by Barry & Fran Weissler, CHICAGO opened on Broadway at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on November 14, 1996. It transferred to the Shubert Theatre in February 1997, and subsequently transferred to the Ambassador Theatre in January of 2003.

CHICAGO received six 1997 Tony Awards for Best Musical Revival, Best Direction of a Musical (Walter Bobbie), Best Choreography (Ann Reinking), Best Lighting Design (Ken Billington), Best Leading Actress in a Musical (Bebe Neuwirth) and Best Leading Actor in a Musical (James Naughton).

Set amidst the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, CHICAGO is the story of Roxie Hart, a housewife and nightclub dancer who murders her on-the-side lover after he threatens to walk out on her. Desperate to avoid conviction, she dupes the public, the media and her rival cellmate, Velma Kelly, by hiring Chicago’s slickest criminal lawyer to transform her malicious crime into a barrage of sensational headlines, the likes of which might just as easily be ripped from today’s tabloids.

Congratulations CHICAGO!

With Ann Reinking celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of CHICAGO revival on Broadway
With the National company of CHICAGO in Las Vegas 1999

Back in CHICAGO blacks one more time – Hollywood Bowl 2013.
I had just turned 50 years old. Giving a little CHICAGO ‘attitude.’

(via press release)

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Polly Bergen passes away at 84

Emmy Award winning actress/singer Polly Bergen

Polly Bergen, star of stage and screen, has passed away at the age of 84 in her Connecticut home.

The Emmy Award-winning, Tony Award-nominated actress, singer and business woman became a household name by the time she was in her 20s. In 1953, she made her Broadway debut, by 1957 she had her own TV series, and in the 1960s she moved into the world of film roles.

From the LA Times:

Bergen won an Emmy in 1958 portraying the tragic singer Helen Morgan on the famed anthology series “Playhouse 90.” She was nominated for another Emmy in 1989 for best supporting actress in a miniseries or special for “War and Remembrance.”

In recent years, she played Felicity Huffman’s mother on “Desperate Housewives” and the past mistress of Tony Soprano’s late father on “The Sopranos.”

When she was refused an audition for the 2001 Broadway revival of “Follies,” she contacted composer Stephen Sondheim. He auditioned her and gave her the role of a faded star who sings of her ups and downs in show business. The show-stopping song, “I’m Still Here,” was reminiscent of Bergen’s own saga. She was nominated for a Tony award for her role.

In 2002 she played a secondary role in the revival of “Cabaret” and the following year she was back on Broadway with the comedy “Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks.”

I have a very personal connection to Polly. Halfway through the run of the 2001 revival of FOLLIES, I was cast as a replacement. My experience with that cast and crew – who became family – was remarkable, especially in terms of depth of talent, commitment and warmth.

It’s not always easy to jump into the middle of a Broadway run. You haven’t made the connections and relationships that get forged in weeks of grueling rehearsals. But I was welcomed with open arms by everyone. Everyone. And in particular, Polly.

Backstage at the Belasco Theatre, closing night of 2001 revival of FOLLIES
At intermission, the cast and crew celebrated our shared birthday with us.

Polly’s performance of “I’m Still Here” brought the house down every night. Near the end of the first act, I was done with my duties onstage until Act Two. I would make my way under the stage and the audience, through the basement, to stand in the back of the house at the Belasco Theatre at least 6 or 7 out of 8 performances a week to marvel at her power, art and passion. I have never seen such a reaction from a Broadway audience. Polly would finish and the applause would come. After several seconds, she would make her way upstage right to exit. Most nights, just as she would reach the edge of the stage, the applause would surge again. It was thrilling.

We closed that production on Broadway on July 14, 2001. It was my birthday. A birthday I shared with Polly.

With Polly Bergen at the 10th Anniversary Reunion of 2001 Broadway revival of FOLLIES

A few years ago, upon the passing of our cast mate Betty Garrett, a 10th anniversary reunion was held for us all. The night was filled with smiles and comfortable friendships. Among many others, it was a treat to see and catch up with Polly that night. We laughed, we reminisced, and we remembered how lucky we all had been to come together as a family, if even for such a short time. You can find my post about that magnificent night here.

On this occasion, I require you all to watch Polly’s performance of her show-stopping “I’m Still Here” from FOLLIES at the 2001 Tony Awards (she was nominated for her powerhouse performance, of course). I would be remiss to not include this here.

There is a bootleg version on YouTube of Polly’s full performance of the song here. I know some theatre folks frown on the bootleg thing, but on days like this, I love that I can watch and revel in Polly Bergen’s magnificent talent again.

Although she may have left us for now, she is forever and always “still here.”

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Broadway: 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction

Be a part of the biggest day for Broadway fans as the 28th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction returns this fall to Times Square, Shubert Alley and West 44th Street.

The event is scheduled for Sunday, September 21 from 10am-7pm.

Last year, the free-to-the-public, once-a-year outdoor market raised $631,222, bringing the event’s 27-year total to more than $10.3 million.

All the funds raised go to The Randy Report’s favorite charity, Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Grand Auction, which includes a series of silent auctions throughout the day culminating in an exciting live auction, features dozens of fascinating lots, including walk-on appearances in Broadway’s biggest hits lunches with Tony Award winners, VIP tickets to Broadway opening nights and musical phrases handwritten by Broadway’s best composers and lyricists.

At the Autograph Table & Photo Booth, hosted once again by the inimitable Jim Caruso, fans have the opportunity to get autographs or pose for pictures with their favorite stars from Broadway and Off-Broadway in exchange for donations to Broadway Cares.

Among those schedule to appear are Tony winners Boyd Gaines, Lena Hall, James Monroe Iglehart, Nikki M. James, Bebe Neuwirth, David Hyde Pierce, Billy Porter and Alice Ripley, as well as other Broadway favorites including Bryan Batt, Stephanie J. Block, Danny Burstein, Charlotte d’Amboise, Ann Harada, Andy Karl, Lesli Margherita, Constantine Maroulis, Kyle Dean Massey, Josh Radnor, Christopher Sieber and Patrick Wilson.

(via press release)

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Blythe Danner returns to the NY stage in “The Country House”

Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Donald Margulies (Time Stands Still, Sight Unseen) returns to Broadway with THE COUNTRY HOUSE, his tenth MTC production.

Via press release:

Tony and Emmy winner Blythe Danner (The Commons of Pensacola, Meet the Parents) stars as Anna Patterson, the matriarch of a brood of famous and longing-to-be-famous creative artists who have gathered at their Berkshires summerhouse during the Williamstown Theatre Festival. But when the weekend takes an unexpected turn, everyone is forced to improvise… inciting a series of simmering jealousies, romantic outbursts and passionate soul-searching.

For more info visit ManhattanTheatreClub.com

Performances begin September 9th.

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Broadway reverses earlier decision – WILL dim theater marquees in honor of Joan Rivers

The Broadway League has reversed it’s earlier decision and will indeed dim the lights of Broadway marquees tonight in honor of Joan Rivers.

“Joan Rivers loved Broadway and we loved her. Due to the outpouring of love and respect for Joan Rivers from our community and from her friends and fans worldwide, the marquees of Broadway theaters in New York will be dimmed in her memory tonight, at exactly 6:45pm for one minute.”

The new decision comes after outcry in the theater community in response to The Leauge’s original announcement that “people need to have been very active recently in the theater, or else be synonymous with Broadway” for marquees to be dimmed.

Before The Broadway League’s official reversal, Jordan Roth’s Jujamcyn Theaters and Disney Theatricals had announced plans to dim their marquees this evening.

(source)

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DVD: “All That Jazz”

Criterion is releasing a new, restored BLU-RAY/DVD release of Bob Fosse’s 1979 musical masterpiece, All That Jazz.

Roy Scheider plays Fosse alter-ego “Joe Gideon,” a sex and drugs prone workaholic balancing career (a new Broadway show while editing a new movie) with personal life.  P.s. – the personal life sees less success than the professional.

Criterion’s amazing 4K restoration includes several new features:

  • New 4K digital restoration, with 3.0 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • Audio commentary featuring editor Alan Heim
  • Selected-scene audio commentary by actor Roy Scheider
  • New interviews with Heim and Fosse biographer Sam Wasson
  • New conversation between actors Ann Reinking and Erzsebet Foldi
  • Episode of the talk show Tomorrow from 1980, featuring director Bob Fosse and choreographer Agnes de Mille
  • Interviews with Fosse from 1981 and 1986
  • On-set footage
  • Portrait of a Choreographer, a 2007 documentary on Fosse
  • The Soundtrack: Perverting the Standards, a 2007 documentary about the film’s music
  • Interview with George Benson from 2007, about his song “On Broadway,” which opens the film
  • PLUS: A booklet featuring an essay by critic Hilton Als

Watch the original movie trailer below – Click here to order.