How I love NYC in late summer…
From Ramin Karimloo, the Tony-nominated star of “Les Misersables” on Broadway
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.
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.
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.
Photography: The Men of “Rocky the Musical” on Broadway
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| (from left) Okieriete Onoadowan, Adam Perry, Adrian Aguilar & James Brown III |
Let’s face it – any Broadway show puts an an actor through their paces.
But being in the cast of ROCKY on Broadway goes over the top. These guys have to not only look the part but nail the moves of professional boxers.
You can only catch the show on Broadway until August 17th when the show will close at the Winter Garden Theater, so you may need to hurry if you want to see the spectacle that is ROCKY.
But, you can glimpse a bit more here than the show would offer, thanks to Out.com.
Four actors from the cast of ROCKY on Broadway volunteered to be photographed by Cedric Terrell at a studio in Chelsea—with just the barest of essentials.
Here’s just a sample – head over to Out.com for more.
Happy Friday!
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| Adrian Aguilar – “Rocky” is his Broadway debut |
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| Dance Captain James Brown III – This is his 9th Broadway show |
Broadway: Cast of THE LION KING serenades subway car with “Circle Of Life”
Riders on the New York subway system got a surprise recently when the Broadway cast of the hit musical THE LION KING took a ride and broke out into an a cappella performance of “Circle of Life.”
You’ve got to live NYC to get it.
Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical comes to life 8 times a week in the heart of Times Square at The Minskoff Theater. Find out more at www.lionking.com.
Audra McDonald lands at #1 on four Billboard Charts with “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” Cast Recording
From Billboard:
Audra McDonald, Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill (No. 156): McDonald’s Tony Award-winning turn as Billie Holiday arrives in album form, as the original Broadway cast recording sings out with 2,000 sold and debuts at No. 156 on the Billboard 200.
The six-time Tony winner also bows at No. 1 on four other charts: Heatseekers Albums, Jazz Albums, Traditional Jazz Albums and Cast Albums.
Anne Runolfsson chats with Seth Rudetsky on OBSESSED!
I love the folks that Seth Rudetsky interviews, and the fab stories that you get in these interviews.
In the latest of his OBSESSED! series, he chats with the fantastic and disarmingly humble Broadway veteran Anne Runolfsson (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera).
I was on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre at the same time Victor/Victoria was playing across the street at the Marquis Theatre, and I heard so many terrific things about her performances standing in for Julie Andrews.
From this clip’s description:
After giving a sample of some Phantom, Runolfsson relived the whirlwind ride that she experienced filling in for Julie Andrews right in the middle of a performance of Victor/Victoria. Then, she gave a taste of her extra high notes in the the show’s “Le Jazz Hot.”
You are REQUIRED to watch to the very end for her insanely high “optional” note of “Le Jazz Hot.” I literally screamed.
Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” recoups in 15 weeks
Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” has recouped it’s initial investment in only three months since opening at the Belasco Theater, thanks in great part to the star-power of Neil Patrick Harris.
The New York Times has the details:
The producers announced on Tuesday that “Hedwig,” a concertlike show about a transgender rock musician from East Berlin, had recouped its capitalization, which was about $5 million, according to investment papers.
The show has elevated Mr. Harris (best known from CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother”) into Broadway’s newest box office star: The average paid admission to “Hedwig” last week was $148.66, the fourth-highest on Broadway, and the show managed to recoup swiftly even though it’s only holding seven performances a week, instead of the usual eight, because of the score’s demands on Mr. Harris.
Harris won the Tony Award this year for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his performance.
Next up – Andrew Rannells (“Book of Mormon,” HBO’s “Girls”) takes over the lead role as Harris departs on August 17th. We’ll see then if Harris was the draw, or the show itself…
Broadway: New video for upcoming “On The Town”
Super-cute three minute video promoting the upcoming Broadway revival of “On The Town.”
The clip follows three sailors as they discover what New York City has to offer – in just one day.
Previews begin September 20th.
From the YouTube clip:
This fall, one of America’s classic musical comedies is back on Broadway!
With a 30-member cast of New York’s most talented singers and dancers, ON THE TOWN tells the story of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave eager to experience all that the Big Apple has to offer, including a chance to discover love with the girl of their dreams!
Featuring a beloved LEONARD BERNSTEIN score, lyrics by COMDEN AND GREEN, and breathtaking dancing inspired by the original JEROME ROBBINS choreography, this big, brassy musical comedy arrives on Broadway following a critically acclaimed out-of-town run.
The New York Times calls it “one of those rare revivals that remind us what a hit show was originally all about.” Come spend a spectacular evening… ON THE TOWN!
For more info, go to OnTheTownBroadway.com