There was a time when the reality show Survivor was new and actually interesting. I don't watch it anymore, but this season's version caught my eye, and I'll bet you'll know why immediately.
This season it is called... Survivor: South Pacific.
So, immediately my mind went to that weird fantasy place it goes to when I'm bored at work and I daydream of Broadway. Imagine, if you will, the characters in Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. They are the first cast of Survivor: Broadway.
The motto: "Out Sing. Out Dance. Out Act." The location: Bali Hai (really, what else could it be?).
The two tribes: Team Forbush vs Team de Becque.
The Tribe Leaders share a moment
The "Pretty Girls," the "Eye Candy," the "Smart Guy"
9 team members per tribe: 1 natural leader (always cut when the team needs him/her the most), 1 villain (so close to winning, but found out just in time). 1 elder (offers great advice, everyone loves him/her, but he/she can't keep up in the challenges), 1 funny guy or bookish, quiet guy (if he/she can get a decent alliance, he/she could win), 2 male eye candy/musclemen (to be shirtless, look good sweaty and to justify the physical challenges), 2 female "babes"/pretty girls (to be catty in those solo confessional segments, to look good in a bikini top and panties, and to squirm in the inevitable mud pit or to be squeamish during a bug eating contest).
A tropical setting...
...a pretty, exotic young woman...
...and a shirtless guy. Just another episode of Survivor: Broadway!
TEAM FORBUSH:
Leader: Ensign Nellie Forbush
Villain: Captain George Brackett
Elder: Commander William Harbison
Funny Guy: Luther Billis
2 Male Eye Candy: Radio Operator Robert McCaffery, Lt. Buzz Adams
2 Male Eye Candy: Seabee Billy Whitmore, Lt. Eustis Carmichael
2 Female Eye Candy: Liat, Ensign Cora MacRae
The Physical Challenge: "Long Distance Beach Run...
... and Military Formation"
THE CHALLENGES:
Long Distance Beach Running and Military Formation: a test of endurance and mental strength
"Build a Working Laundry"
Build a Working Laundry: a test of teamwork, logic and problem-solving, with just enough brains needed to make it work
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
"The Towel Snap and Hair Dry Relay"
Looks like Team Forbush won this challenge!
Towel Snapping and Hair Drying: a relay race under odd conditions
Team Forbush wins again
The Let's Put On A Show Challenge: of course!
Next Season: Survivor: Broadway All Stars Team Tevye vs Team Mama Rose! The greatest characters in musical theatre history go head to head in the remote junkyard of Cats!
Photos from the Lincoln Center Theatre production of South Pacific; the Original Broadway Cast, the final Broadway Company, and the First National Tour.
Rate this silliness below, leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me! Jeff 3.023
OK, I'm the first to admit that, long run or not, The Phantom of the Opera is just not one of my favorites. I was decidedly underwhelmed when I saw the show the first time in the late 80's. I tried it again with the National Tour, and finally found a Phantom I liked in Howard McGillin. He was, and is the only Phantom I feared, and the only one I felt even a tinge sorry for.
I have always felt that the "love story" angle has been way over emphasized, while the thriller/horror angle of the story seems to get short shrift, especially some of the really cheesy staging that always seems to get giggles instead of gasps. I mean, let's face it, his first murder is so out of nowhere and so clearly unreal (the dummy swinging from a noose always - all 6 times I've seen it - gets a noticeable laugh). And there is that clunky chandelier more scary when it explodes before it ascends into the rafters than when it is supposedly "crashing" to the stage. I mean just how tense is it when the cast has time to 1. notice it is unsteady, 2. gather across the stage, 3. ooh and ahh then scream that it is falling, 4. clear the stage completely, and 5. have stage hands in costume come out and catch it. Even the conductor doesn't bother to feign fear by ducking.
Then there is the score, monotonous mostly with second rate opera numbers that I have always (even after listening to the CD) find to be mostly unintelligible. For me there are three interesting numbers: "The Phantom of the Opera," "Masquerade," and "Music of the Night." Beyond that...wake me up when it is over.
Still, there must be something to it. I mean people have seen it hundreds of times. It has played the world over, and is universally popular if not critically acclaimed. A quarter of a century in two major cities is nothing to ignore, either. I am, it seems, in the minority on this one. And I am OK with that.
But I have to say that if I had only the three commercials circulating about the show to go by, I can definitely see the appeal. It is amazing what some great photography and superb editing can make the show look fresh, exciting, tension-filled, romantic and lush. In short, in just 30 seconds or 1 minute, the people who put these ads together make even me want to buy the DVD or get a ticket and see it again.
I love how mostly the same scenes can be rearranged to fit an ad emphasizing "The Greatest Love Story Ever" (sorry Romeo and Juliet), AND for an ad emphasizing "The Spectacle." Interesting, too that the love story appeals to the female audience, while the spectacle (including a touch of violence) would appeal to male audience members.
The Phantom of the Opera - The Love Story
The Phantom of the Opera - The Spectacle
And here is a longer ad for the forthcoming DVD of the 25th Anniversary concert staging at Royal Albert Hall. That production, which will feature Sierra Boggess and Ramin Karimloo, will happen early in October, and the DVD will be released November 14th.
The Phantom of the Opera - The 25th Anniversary Concert/DVD
It should be noted that all three videos feature, primarily, the 2009 London Cast, despite the ads being for the Broadway and Albert Hall engagements.
And, yes, I'm sure this DVD will be on my Christmas list! Who can resist it?
Rate this blog below, add your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me! Jeff 3.010
All you have to do is look at the names of this year's Primetime Emmy nominees, and you can see the impact New York stage actors have on television's best programs and individual performances. If you only look at the Best Lead and Supporting acting categories for comedy and drama, no less than 25 of the 48 nominees have major credits on and off Broadway. And another 22 nominees in the rest of the acting categories can boast the same.
Among the Emmy nominees are several Tony nominees, including Laura Linney, Edie Falco and Martha Plimpton, who are up against each other for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. Tony nominee Alec Baldwin is up against recent Broadway newcomers Johnny Galecki (The Little Dog Laughed) and Jim Parsons (The Normal Heart) for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Four of the six nominees for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy series have Broadway credits, including the 3 men from ABC's Modern Family: Ed O'Neill, Ty Burrell, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Another of the nominees, Chris Colfer of Glee, has no Broadway credits to date, but he has made a career thus far covering many a Broadway show tune.
Martha Plimpton in TV's Raising Hope
and Broadway's Pal Joey
And every nominee in both the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Movie has New York credits, including almost Mary Jane Watson, Evan Rachel Wood, Melissa Leo, Alfre Woodard, Mary McDonnell and Loretta Devine.
Members of the recent New York Philharmonic concert of Company also fared well, including: Martha Plimpton, Jon Cryer and Christina Hendricks.
Christina Hendricks in TV's Mad Men
and Broadway's Company
Several Tony Award-winners have been nominated, including Nathan Lane, Jane Krakowski, Christine Baranski, Alan Cumming, Kristin Chenoweth, Brian F. O'Byrne, Maggie Smith, andRobert Morse.
Broadway AND TV's
Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking
Broadway is also certainly represented in the show categories as well. Both The Kennedy Center Honors, Sondheim: The Birthday Concert and The 64th Annual Tony Awards were nominated. And actual Broadway productions have been nominated as well, including: Thurgood, Carrie Fisher: Wishful Drinking, The Pee Wee Herman Show on Broadway, and Colin Quinn: Long Story Short.
It has been a great year for Broadway... and TV has been just that much better this year with Broadway so well-represented! Congratulations to all of this year's Emmy nominees, all of them!
Rate this blog below, and leave a comment here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me! Jeff 2.322
Every year both USA Todayand TV Guidelaunch campaigns to "save" shows they like from cancellation due to low ratings. I think that today, I am going to launch a one-blogger campaign to save a show that I love from what appears to be impending "cancellation," also known in Broadway parlance as "closing."
SAVE PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT!
OK, all cards on the table: I have no information that confirms that this show is in trouble of closing, and am only basing the following on opinion and certain things, that, over my long history of observing the comings and goings of Broadway shows, leads me to believe that Priscilla Queen of the Desert may be in danger of closing sooner, rather than later.
First and foremost, the numbers are not good, and have not really been good over the past several weeks - Easter week, not withstanding. The most recent Broadway Grosses have the show at just 56.3% of capacity at the Palace Theatre. This is the third lowest percent of capacity of any Broadway show, play or musical (only RAIN and the newly previewing Hair are lower). Of course, I have no idea how the advance is; perhaps the early fall has an uptick that I am unaware of. I sincerely hope that is the case.
Second, and generally a sign that things are needing to be changed is the unveiling of yet another advertising tack. The most recent before the commercial I'll discuss shortly was a good, if silly, attempt to capitalize on the show's lone Tony win - "Winner! 2011 Tony Award for Best Costumes!" Not a single mention of the other (publicly lesser) awards the show has received. And now a third ad campaign has been launched.
Here is their latest commercial:
Dubbed by the company as the "Three Friends" commercial, this ad is clearly trying to distance itself from its drag queen roots. There is not a single close up of a drag queen or any of the "three friends" in full get up, either. And bless 'em, Tony Sheldon looks so much like a woman, the quick champagne toast he shares with Bob in the spot, could go by to the untrained eye as "love" found in a most conventional way. Poor Nick Adams, scorching hot as "Felicia," gets no air time, but his young Adam smiles and struts a few times. But let's face it, Priscilla is so gay you'd have to be blind (and deaf; it is raining men, after all. And so why not cash in on the wave of good will that has overtaken New York, where gay marriage was just legalized, and show our gay hero (Will Swenson) reuniting with his precious (and seriously adorable) little son on his way to sure and true love! Please don't mistake my tongue-in-cheek tone with disrespect. I applaud any and every attempt made in order to get more asses in the seats.
But the other aspect of the ad is the one that they should really be cashing in on: the element of fun spectacular Broadway entertainment, with a score full of songs that people of my generation can sing word for word. Having our 80's heroine (and show co-producer) Bette Midler invite us is a big plus to go along with the dance numbers, flashy sets and crazy costumes showing whilst she narrates. The 80's generation and the gay population remain the two groups with the most extra income for Broadway show tickets, so again, this is smart.
Since decent seats to the other really fun show on Broadway are months off at best, the producers of Priscilla might do well to court the producers of The Book of Mormon, as well as their fans, who might enjoy a "fun fix" before next April.
I am telling you, Priscilla is a Broadway show that has it all - glitz, glamour, a teeney bit of naughtiness, a lot of smiles, fabulousness. And it is HILARIOUS, and still manages to be smart, to have a point, and best of all, to have a heart. Pack a tissue and a small bag to collect the confetti that rains down (in lieu of men) on the delighted audience at every performance! People throw around the term "feel good musical" a lot these days. But I can pretty much guarantee you will feel much better than good after you see this show.
If you follow TV at all - and I freely admit that I watch way too much of it - you know that now is the time that the networks announce cancellations and new series, which may picked up after their pilot episodes have been filmed, critiqued, polled, focus grouped, etc. (Kinda like Spider-Man 2.0!). "Out with the old and in with the new," they always say.
Kristin Chenoweth: From Glee to Good Christian Belles
This year, a lot of Broadway favorites have joined the TV ranks, which is bittersweet. I mean, sure, if the ratings are good, we'll get to see the likes of Cherry Jones and Kristin Chenoweth every week. On the other hand, that also means we probably won't be seeing them on Broadway any time soon, either. Naturally, I wish them all every success, but hope that they don't forget us theatre fans and come back to the stage soon.
Janney and MacFarlane: Gone from the TV screen, back to Broadway?
I was, first of all, saddened by the announcement of the cancellation of a few ABC series which have Broadway ties: Off the Map, sort of Grey's Anatomy meets Tarzan got cancelled. It featured one of my favorite young actresses, Mamie Gummer. Then there is the comedy Mr. Sunshine, whose co-star, Alison Janney (9 to 5: The Musical) was the biggest reason to watch that show. But I am heartbroken about Brothers and Sisters. With that show gone, however, maybe Calista Flockhart (The Glass Menagerie), Sally Field (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?) and Luke MacFarlane (The Normal Heart) will return/stay on Broadway.
Still, there are a lot of Broadway babies to be excited for (and I'm sure I'll miss a few):
Laura Benanti: The Playboy Club (NBC)
Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts: Good Christian Belles (ABC)
Katie Finneran: I Hate My Teenage Daughter (FOX)
Cherry Jones: Awake (NBC)
Megan Hilty, Christian Borle, Brian d'Arcy James: Smash (NBC)
Megan Hilty on the set of
the pilot for Smash
Of course, most Broadway eyes will be on Smash for several reasons. One, it is about the birth of a new Broadway musical. Two, if it is made into a series - more likely now that the pilot has been chosen - it will likely be filmed in New York, which means day jobs for Broadway actors. These are at a premium with soaps dying off or moving, Law and Order winding down and no more Sex and the City. And three, not only will it star some of Broadway's brightest, but its pedigree and production staff is all Broadway: Steven Spielberg (Catch Me If You Can) produces, Michael Mayer (American Idiot) directed the pilot, and March Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can) are penning the original musical score for the show.
I guess TV this year will be a win-win for everyone! I hope all of these shows make it and run for years. Just don't forget the stage, OK stars?
It has been some time since I've blogged about TV commercials for Broadway shows. So, today, I thought I'd blog about the commercials for the two shows I've most recently seen, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and Priscilla Queen of the Desert. And despite giving it up for Lent, I thought now might be my last chance to talk about the current ads for Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark before they make any of the substantial changes promised, so I relented and am talking about it now.
One of the things that strikes me about all three commercials is the inclusion of onscreen quotes from reviews - a common practice to be sure. Another thing that strikes me about all three is what isn't being touted in the ads. I think you'll see what I mean.
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
You sure get a lot in this 30 seconds! And it will likely sell tickets, especially to those who are marginal fans of the Harry Potter films, who wanted to wait and see if Daniel Radcliffe could actually sing and dance. Well, the very first quote/voice over tells us that he is a "musical comedy superstar." And who wouldn't believe that? Clip after clip shows him doing just that - singing and dancing. And if that won't sell tickets alone or makes you still unsure, the quotes/voice overs tell us that the songs are "classic, bright and funny" and the dancing is some of the best on Broadway. The ad also succeeds because it is fast paced, shows a lot of scenes - hot guys in suits dancing (gay men, check), pretty girls in costumes that "they just don't make anymore" (wives who love musical theatre, check).
And it also succeeds by what it doesn't mention: a. the Harry Potter films. Seeing Daniel live is the prize; let's not remind folks that this is a decidedly un-Hogwarts show; b. that while critics loved his performance, his voice isn't going to get him to Carnegie Hall any time soon, so you never hear him singing; c. the husbands of the aforementioned "wives who love musical theatre" might just go along because cool funny man John Larroquette is in it, and he carries golf clubs and footballs...
Grade: A
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Gay musical theatre fans don't need a commercial to get them to see this show at the Palace Theatre. And clearly, the ad is going for a more "universal" crowd. For a show that features two drag queens (and dozens of others) and a transgendered person, this ad is surprisingly (not really, click HERE) lacking in drag queens and gay themes. OK, maybe the 2 second shot of Priscilla bathed in a rainbow lighting effect might be a clue. But if I didn't know anything about the show, save for it was "finally on Broadway," I'd see big, colorful sets, lights and costumes, and HUGE dance numbers with people in kick lines and pinwheels. The mention of "three friends" has our leads in street clothes both times they are on screen for more than a few seconds - I'd bet if you screened this for 100 people, 99 wouldn't know Tony Sheldon wasn't really a woman from this. And nothing says sexy fun for wife like a soundtrack of disco hits, and for husband like three sexy divas with tight dresses, prodigious cleavage and pouty lipsticked-lips gyrating to quotes about the show. And all of the costumes are outrageous, so as they blur by at an amazing pace, you don't even notice that those Broadway chorines are really Broadway boys. Now, I'll admit, and hope, that the ticket buying public at large might figure all the pink, neon and feathered clothing just might have to do with gay themes, not to mention the background song, "Finally," but the producers wanted a cleansed version "to get people in the seats" and to "teach them a lesson" once they are there. This commercial certainly fills that bill... and if you are savvy enough to realize what's up, a tight shot of Will Swenson hugging a child who leaps into his arms, will seal the deal... this has a FAMILY angle. The ad does what is supposed to - at least what the producers want, anyway - so in that way it is a big success. But an ad for a show that wears tolerance on its spangled sleeves that is tricking people into the seats, rather than educating them before money is exchanged kind of lessens the bigger impact that the show could have. Maybe it's just me...
Grade: A (for selling tickets) Grade: D (for selling out)
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Ad #1
Nothing beats bad word-of-mouth like filmed good word-of-mouth! And by all of the demographic groups - teenaged boys, tween girls, a lady who "goes to a lot of Broadway plays," a middle aged man... inter cut with lots of flying and fighting... lots of color and lighting... and a shot or two of Bono, with a rock guitar underscoring. Images of the most stunning visuals aside from the flying - the swinging/weaving (remember those colors in The Lion King?), the pop-up cartoonish sets (it is based on the comics legend, not the films) and some dancing to boot (a real Broadway musical, right?) This commercial pretty much gives the finger to all the bad word-of-mouth - especially since the majority of it comes from people who have never stepped foot in the Foxwoods Theatre.
If all I had to go on was this ad, I'd RUN to the B.O. and buy a ticket!
Grade: A+
Ad #2
This ad will not likely be playing much longer, as it is big on Julie Taymor's visuals. Note that it relies on a quote from a review. Hey, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em, right? That quote focuses on three things: "Visual feast," "electriFLYING" and "Bono and the Edge's rock score." On these three counts, the ad succeeds with, um, flying colors. First of all, there is a barrage of interesting visuals - gorgeous moving sequences, spectacular close-ups of villainous costumes and electrified sets. Then there is the blaring rock music throughout (if it is actually in the show, I don't remember it, but that isn't really the point, is it?). And finally, the flying - Spidey zipping around the theatre, Spidey and Green Goblin in an aerial battle, and perhaps most significantly, they are doing so OVER THE AUDIENCE, unscathed, not stopping, no one being injured. And this includes the final image before the logo - a clearly wired Spider-Man catapulting from upstage, right to the edge of the stage and in the face of a patron. See? They fixed it!
I can't really blame them for using the quote, either. They didn't ask for it, but they sure got it. Why not make lemonade from lemons? (And I checked - The New Jersey Star-Ledger does refer to the "stellar songs.")
Grade: B+ (They should have used one of those "stellar songs.")
Here is the commercial teaser for the interview of injured Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark actor Christopher Tierney. The interview with reporter Dana Tyler of CBS-2 News aired on January 3rd's 11PM telecast.
(For some reason, I can not get the segment to stay attached to the blog. Please click HERE to see the teaser for the CBS2 interview.)
There is so much I could say about this commercial alone. But I think the poetic irony of it is so much more powerful than the ad itself. In the show, there is a scene with the editor of the big newspaper in town, who rejects each and every idea and headline pitched to him. None, it seems was enough to sell papers, particularly the truthful ideas. Hyping and twisting words in the scene got a laugh, particularly in light of all the press surrounding the show in real life. And now here we are, with a heroic cheating of death, in conflict with the public's love of failure and the potentially juicy tidbits we might get from the the ACTUAL person involved. Here is a chance to set the record straight and maybe even focus on a good news survivor story. But, just like those outlets who focused on the Chilean miner who had a wife and mistress waiting for him, here we are again... This tease for a news interview makes TMZ look tame and The National Inquirer look like a children's book. I'm not naive to the point that I don't recognize a hard sell to garner viewers, and I appreciate that news is a business. But this is a NEWS program, right? Not a gossip show.
HERE is the complete interview from CBS-2, which I can also not seem to embed.
Try as she might, reporter Dana Tyler cannot get Tierney to say a bad word about the experience, the show or the future. She warms us up with the idea that here is the actor "breaking his silence." Um, maybe he was only just now well enough to do an interview? Maybe he wanted to wait until he was mobile so he could show us that he survived and isn't clinging to life as reported throughout? I'd go with the latter, considering the 100% class act this young man has proven to be. He wouldn't take the bait when Tyler suggested that the cast had been "pushed too hard," and she seems positively aghast when a teary Tierney tells her that as far as the people directly responsible for the "human error" are "forgiven and forgotten" by the actor.
Of course, you can't blame Ms. Tyler entirely. Her job is to dig for the harder to admit truths. The piece even ends with the anchors asking about possible legal action (how Chicago). Finally a smile of admiration comes when she says he feels "he doesn't need to."
Finally, yesterday on Good Morning America, George Stephanopolous had an interview with Tierney, plus Reeve Carney, Jennifer Damiano, Patric Page, and newly minted Arachne, T.V. Carpio.
This interview is a somewhat softer sell, though Stephanopolous does go in for the kill when he brings up Tweets by Alice Ripley and Adam Pascal. Patrick Page should go into politics: he response was perfect - "Well, I can understand and appreciate their responses, but I wish they could be in the building with us every day to see what really goes on." Yes, they have a right to be upset, he says, given what they have heard. But the reality is different. I dunno...he seemed sincere as did every other actor in his/their praise for the way the show's crew and cast work together. And poor Carpio. Just hours after taking over the role, she is asked if she's afraid. Unprepared for the question, she misinterpreted it, thinking he was asking about taking over the leading female role, when he was asking if, new to the part, was she afraid for her safety. Decent save by both parties.
ABC News, of course, had to titillate: note the captions during the interview: "SPIDER-MAN SURVIVOR: The Cast Goes Public", etc. Hmm... a seedy tell-all on the way? OK, it was awfully positive, but it is a great news story of triumph. None of it seemed too "party line, stick to the script."
Again, though, a new standard of class, dignity and humanity has been set by Christopher Tierney. His positive attitude, his gratitude for everyone who supports him, his awe of the show and its company, and his selflessness is role model material. What an example he is setting. Just like a real-life super hero.
Those of us who don't live in New York City now at least have options when it comes to seeing things about Broadway on TV. Thanks to YouTube, show websites and even TV channel websites, all of us can catch a glimpse of ads (which I frequently blog about) and various specials that highlight shows and performers of out favorite entertainment, live theatre.
Recently, New York Channel 7 broadcast a seasonal special called Broadway Backstage: Fall Preview, hosted by anchor Michelle Charlesworth and none other than Bernadette Peters! Basically. the program amounts to an infomercial, and makes every show look equally dazzling (B Roll and well placed interviews work magic). Perhaps the only misstep of the program comes at the very beginning when Charlesworth refers to Peters as "the first lady of the Broadway theatre." She is one of the greats, but even Ms. Peters had the good sense to laugh it off while looking mildly embarrassed and uncomfortable. But things settle quickly and business is taken care of in a rapid pace.
Channel 7's online site has broken down the program into 4 segments, breaking, one assumes, where commercials would have been placed. For your viewing pleasure, fellow non-New Yorkers (and any New Yorker reading who loves the theatre) here are those four segments:
Part I: The Scottsboro Boys in rehearsal, plus an interview with Joshua Henry. A Life in the Theatre with show footage and commentary by both stars, TR Knight and Patrick Stewart. Footage of Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice. Spider-man: Turn Off the Dark is represented by a montage of photos and an interview with villain Patrick Page. (This show is really being tight-lipped, isn't it? But does that help or hurt?) The first segment ends with a review of shows from past seasons that have had high profile replacements: A Little Night Music (Peters and Stritch), In the Heights (Jordin Sparks), Promises, Promises (Molly Shannon), and Fela! (Patti LaBelle).
Part II: The second segment focuses on shows with a heritage in film: Driving Miss Daisy, including show footage and an interview with James Earl Jones. I was surprised to see scenery. The original production had almost nothing on stage. Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, including show footage (I can see they've made some improvements already), and interviews with Patti LuPone and Danny Burstein. Elf: The Musical, which features the unveiling of Broadway's Elf, Sebastian Arcelus and the ominous statement: "They are really keeping this one under tight wraps." The Pee Wee Herman Show features footage from Live! with Regis and Kelly. Philbin and Paul Reubens, both dressed as Pee Wee stroll down the street to the Stephen Sondheim Theatre. This part ends with a fun segment about a Wii game that has participants doing Broadway choreography.
Part III: La Bete features B roll footage and an interview with David Hyde Pierce. An interview with Cherry Jones and a funny clip highlights Mrs. Warren's Profession. Jones loves her "hooker boots"... The Pitmen Painters includes a brief scene and a chat with Christopher Connel. RAIN is represented with a segment of the cast doing "Hard Day's Night." They look pretty authentic! Lombardi is up next, featuring footage and interviews with Dan Lauria and Judith Light. Everything gets kicked up a notch with footage from Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, complete with commentary from star, Benjamin Walker. The final segment is really interesting, focusing on the tattoos of American Idiot. Stark Sands explains how he and costume designer Andrea Lauer selected the images to tell his character's story and to reflect the actor himself. The temporary tattoos are explained by a representative of Temptus, the company that creates them, and make up designer Amy Wright. Michael Esper ads he two cents worth at the end with a funny quip.
Part IV: Plays are the thing in this last segment: Time Stands Still includes a brief scene and interviews with Laura Linney and newcomer Christina Ricci. Lots of B roll footage highlights Brief Encounter, while an interview with Jeffrey Wright and a rehearsal scene show off A Free Man of Color. The unusual comedy Elling is represented by some astute observations by co-star Denis O'Hare. Colin Quinn: Long Story Short is last up and features a CNN segment with Anderson Cooper, Colin Quinn and director Jerry Seinfeld. Here's hoping the show is funnier than these comedians trying to be funny about themselves...
The second half of the TV week is kinda dull in terms of drama. It is full of reality shows, reruns and sports. Heck, there isn't anything comedy/drama-wise that is original on Saturday nights at all. And only Friday nights offer any new programming featuring Broadway stars. There are, however, many great actors returning to existing series, so at least there is that for us rabid theatre fans!
For a look at the new TV season, Monday - Wednesday, click HERE.
THURSDAY
Tim Daly, Taye Diggs and Audra McDonald of Private Practice
Returning from last year:CBS's Johnny Galecki (The Little Dog Laughed) in Big Bang Theory; NBC's 30 Rock has Alec Baldwin (Twentieth Century) and Tony-winner Jane Krakowski (Grand Hotel, Nine); On ABC's Grey's Anatomy there are Chandra Wilson (Chicago), Sandra Oh (Stop: Kiss), Tony-winner Sara Ramirez (Spamalot), original Dreamgirls gal, Loretta Devine, Kim Raver (Holiday), and James Pickens, Jr. (Balm in Gilead); CSI stars Laurence Fishburn (Thurgood)on CBS, while NBC's The Office features Rainn Wilson (London Assurance) and Melora Hardin (Chicago); FOX's Fringe features Blair Brown (Copenhagen); and ABC's The Practice has 4 time Tony-winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, Master Class, Carousel), Timothy Daly (Coastal Disturbances), and Mr. Idina Menzel Taye Diggs (Wicked, RENT).
FRIDAY
Blue Bloods stars Len Cariou and Tom Selleck
8PM: FOX: Human Target - an action-drama that features Jackie Earle Haley (Slab Boys)
9PM: FOX: Good Guys - is actually a return from the mid-season last year and starsBoeing Boeing's Bradley Whitford.
10PM: CBS: Blue Bloods - This cop drama stars Tom Selleck (I Never Sang for My Father) and Broadway's original Sweeney Todd, Len Cariou (Applause, Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music).
10PM: NBC: Outlaw -This political drama stars Jimmy Smits(Anna in the Tropics, God of Carnage).
Returning from last year:On CBS's CSI:NY, Melina Kanakaredes (Cabaret) and Gary Sinise (One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) co-star.
SUNDAY
Desperate Houswives' Vanessa Williams and Felicity Huffman
9PM: ABC: Desperate Housewives - Things are sure to reheat with Wisteria Lane's newest neighbor and Broadway favorite, Vanessa Williams (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Sondheim on Sondheim). Atlantic Theatre Company member and Broadway star Felicity Huffman (Speed-the Plow original production) also returns.
Returning from last year: On ABC's Brothers and Sisters, Calista Flockhart (The Glass Menagerie), Sally Field (The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?), and Ron Rifkin (Cabaret).
What shows are you watching this season? Write in!
Comment here, at my Yahoo email or Tweet me on Twitter! Jeff 2.23
Just as we are starting a new Broadway season, so too is TVLand. And isn't it nice that so many stage stars are appearing in our living rooms when we can't get them live on stage? Here is a round-up (though not all-inclusive, I'm sure) of Broadway actors slumming acting on the small screen this fall.
MONDAY
Florence Henderson of Dancing with the Stars
8PM: ABC - Dancing with the Stars - Always a natural connection to Broadway, this season is no different. Florence Henderson (The Girl Who Came to Supper, Fanny, Oklahoma!) is said to be Broadway-bound in Merry-Go-Round. David Hasselhoff starred on Broadway (and DVD) in Jekyll and Hyde. Meanwhile, Jennifer Grey is the daughter of legend Joel Grey, and even Brandy did a TV version of Cinderella with the likes of Bernadette Peters!
9PM: NBC: The Event - This big show features Zeljko Ivanek (Biloxi Blues).
9:30PM: CBS - Mike and Molly - Tony Winner Swoosie Kurtz (The House of Blue Leaves) goes from Pushing Daisies to this comedy.
10PM: CBS - Hawaii 5-0 - This sexy remake features Jean Smart (The Man Who Came to Dinner) as the Governor of the 50th state.
Returning from last year: Matthew Settle (Chicago) in Gossip Girl. Josh Radnor (The Graduate) and Neil Patrick Harris (Cabaret, Assassins) in How I Met Your Mother.
TUESDAY
Jon Michael Hill of Detroit 1-8-7
9PM: FOX - Raising Hope - This sitcom features Tony nominee Martha Plimpton (Pal Joey).
10PM: ABC - Detroit 1-8-7 -Superior Donuts' Tony nominee Jon Michael Hill co-stars in this police drama.
Returning from last year: Matthew Morrison (Hairspray, South Pacific), Lea Michele, Jenna Ushkowitz (both in Spring Awakening) are all in Glee, not to mention MANY Broadway guest stars: Idina, Kristin, Jonathan, Cheyenne, and John Stamos (Cabaret, Bye Bye Birdie). Barrett Foa (Avenue Q), Chris O'Donnell (The Man with All the Luck) in NCIS: Los Angeles. The Good Wife features Festen's Juliana Margulies, Women on the Verge's Mary Beth Piel, Gore Vidal's A Good Man's Chris Noth, Boeing Boeing'sChristine Baranski, 13's Graham Phillips, and Cabaret's Alan Cumming - PLUS the first episode features guest stars Montego Glover (Memphis) and Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins). And then there is NBC's Parenthood which features Peter Krause, Bonnie Bedelia, Lauren Graham and Craig T. Nelson, all of whom have Broadway credits.
WEDNESDAY
Alfred Molina of Law and Order: Los Angeles
8PM: NBC - Undercovers - This action-drama co-stars Gerald McRaney (Dividing the Estate)
8:30PM: ABC - Better with You -Cat on a Hot Tin Roof's Debra Jo Rupp.
10PM: ABC - The Whole Truth - Rob Morrow (The Boys of Winter) and Maura Tierney (The 24 Hour Plays of 2008) co-star in this legal drama as opposing attorneys. 10PM: NBC - Law and Order: Los Angeles - Alfred Molina (RED) and Terrence Howard (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) co-star in this latest "Dun Dun" spin-off.
Returning from last year: Patricia Heaton (Don't Get God Started) in The Middle, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Spelling Bee) in Modern Family. Plus I am sure stage stars will continue to dominate guest starring roles on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, along with B.D. Wong (M. Butterfly).
And of course, this doesn't include the cable networks... what will you be watching this fall?
Comments? Leave one here, Tweet me or Yahoo me! Jeff 2.21
I don't know how many of you look around at London theatre sites, but if you do, you have probably noticed that many of them include links to really cool TV commercials, music videos, promotional videos and excellent b-roll previews of the shows they are promoting.
It is kind of sad that most Broadway shows don't have this, outside of links to promotional interviews, the occasional backstage "tour" or commercial. Believe me, I'm thankful for what ever scraps they throw us. But, still, most of it, you still have to find for yourself on YouTube and the like. Kudos to the major theatre sites like Playbill Online and Broadway.com for taking up the slack, proving it can be done.
Some of it I understand. I mean regular music videos don't even get play on MTV, let alone a relatively small niche like show tunes. Still, it is a sad commentary that a very American art form (and the performing arts) aren't more a part of our everyday popular culture.
Then, too, there is the American Greed Factor and everyone shares the blame there: actors, producers, writers. Absolutely nothing gets done without an eye toward profit and money making for everyone involved. I don't know for sure, but I'm willing to bet part of the reason we don't see more things like they do in London because the unions won't allow it or because of haggling over profit margins or salaries or royalties.
Never mind the fact that maybe if they gave a little bit away for free (beyond promotional interviews and the rare backstage thing) it might entice people to see a show they know nothing about. I can tell you for 100% certain that the promos for Deathtrap, La Bete and Brief Encounter have influenced my desire to see all three, and I am a VERY regular theatregoer, aka the sure thing to buy a ticket. Imagine what it might do for the occasional, on the fence, but tired of Mamma Mia crowd! People never see the long-range possibility... (I could go on about ticket prices being lowered with an eye toward longer term profits rather than upfront smaller profits - if a show is crap it won't run anyway, so why not lower the prices and get more people in for a longer run? But I digress...)
Here are some recent London videos... what do you think? (Scroll to the bottom for maybe the best "unofficial" video for a show to date!)
Brief Encounter
Deathtrap
La Bete
Legally Blonde (Promotional Video)
Legally Blonde (Music Video)
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert (Promotional/Music Video)
Priscilla: Queen of the Desert(Cast member produced for a cast party)
Do Broadway people go to this much trouble for a cast party? This is better than most shows, period. If Broadway folks do, share it! Geez, this isn't even "official" and it has gotten thousands of hits. Any cast that has this much fun together must be tearing it up on stage. I'd be surprised if this could happen here, though... rights, copyrights, in costume union time, blah blah blah... I hope I'm just being a cynic. I somehow doubt it.
Another show has thrown its hat into the ring for the 2010-2011 season. Frank Wildhorn's musical Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure will begin previews March 21, 2011, and will officially open on Broadway April 17, 2011.
Wonderland features a book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy, lyrics by Murphy and music by Wildhorn. Marguerite Derricks is the choreographer, and will be directed by Boyd.
I hope he has better luck this time than his last show, The Civil War. Read my initial thoughts on this show here. At least here are some potentially large female musical roles.
CASTING NEWS
As the new seasons on stage, screen and TV get ready to start, casting news is coming in fast and furious.
From Gypsy to the Verge:
LuPone and Benanti reunite!
Laura Benanti (Gypsy)has joined the aleady stellar cast of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
Boyd Gaines (Gypsy)has joined the starry revival of Driving Miss Daisy
Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde)has been cast in CBS's How I Met Your Mother.
Carol Burnett (Moon Over Buffalo)has joined the cast of Glee. Idina, Cheyenne, Kristin and Jonathan are all confirmed to return, too.
Robert McClure (Avenue Q) is the lead role in La Jolla Playhouse's world-premiere production of the musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin. The cast includes Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Jenn Colella (High Fidelity), Eddie Korbich (The Little Mermaid), Ron Orbach (1776) and William Youmans (Grand Hotel). The show has music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and a book by Curtis and Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray).
Joey Taranto, who made his Broadway debut in Rock of Ages, will succeed Constantine Maroulis and Mitchell Jarvis will also play his final performance as Lonny on Sept. 5. Starting Sept. 13, he will take over the role of Stacee Jaxx from James Carpinello, and he role of Lonny will be played by Jay Klaitz (Lend Me a Tenor).
COMING UP THIS WEEK:
Best of the Decade: The Best Musical Revivals, Part II
Best of the Decade: The Best New Musicals #2
REVIEW: The New Cast of next to normal
Virginia's Signature Theatre
REVIEW: Signature Theatre's Chess
Happy Birthday to ...
08/01: Ashley Parker Angel (Hairspray) 08/02: Mary Louise Parker (Proof) 08/03: Martin Sheen (The Crucible) 08/04: Pamela Burrell (The Scarlet Pimpernel) 08/05: JonathanSilverman (Broadway Bound) 08/06: Lucille Ball (Wildcat) 08/07: John Glover (The Drowsy Chaperone)
