My Day at the Flea Market

Expecting bad weather, my friends and I spent a good part of Saturday monitoring the New York City weather forecast.  It fluctuated between a 30% to an 80% chance. Ick, right?  Well, it turned out that all three of us bringing our umbrellas to the 25th Annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction not only kept the rain at bay, but the sun even made a few appearances!

Of course, the real success of the day was the over one-half a million dollars raised for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS!  For details and more numbers, check out THIS.

For me, there is no other event where I feel so connected to the world around me.  I mean, think about it, thousands of people who share a love and passion for theatre coming together for a great cause, and also submerge ourselves in more than city block's worth of memories, history and art.  And the fact that right along with us are the artists themselves, volunteering time, and not just photo ops and autographs, but real time talking to fans.  How fortunate we all are to share such an experience like this. 

Here are a few of my impressions of the day:

• Best Trend: BRIGHT COLORS!  RED: Godspell; ORANGE: Lysistrata Jones; YELLOW: The Lion King  You couldn't help but notice them even in a tight 44th Street crowd or the sensory overload of Times Square.  The yellow beacon of The Lion King's booth tent... the orange sign, pom poms and basketballs of Lysistrata Jones brought life, and crowds to their simple booth, and the bright red of the t-shirts and hats of the street team, passing out fliers, and again on the cast members at their booth.
• Best Mini-Trend: Balls.  Yes, balls.  Both Lombardi and Lysistrata Jones had balls - foot and basket, respectively.  And what fun... squeezey stress relievers and fun bath toys both!
• Best Connection:  The cast and crew of Lysistrata Jones!  They did what all the best do: reach out and relate.  Not only did they cheer on every single brave soul who tried to win tickets by shooting baskets, but they took time to chat and laugh with anyone who wanted to.  Patti Murin and Teddy Toye are the very picture of grace, warmth and enthusiasm... their attitude alone would make me want to buy tickets.  (And I would have bought them then and there, but I already have them!)

• Best Freebies:  The free tattoos from Godspell and the free pom poms from Lysistrata Jones.  Free is great, even at a fund raiser, but these accomplished much more.  Every time a smiling face walked by with that show logo on it, I thought of Godspell, and every time I saw someone carrying one, or saw one left behind at another table, or even the two or three I saw on the street, the bright orange and the fun, fizzy plastic reminded me of Miss Jones and her jock friends!  (This show will go miles in bridging the gap between the jocks and the drama geeks!)
• Best High End Memorabilia: The goods at the War Horse booth.  Not just signed Playbills and posters, but unique magnets featuring all of the puppeteers, and beautiful sketches of the set, mounted and autographed.
• Best Memorabilia for the Everyday Masses: $1.00 posters at the Triton Gallery booth, $3 posters at the ITS booth, $10 dollar posters at The Book of Mormon table.  A savvy, patient shopper can find some real bargains... TIP FOR NEXT YEAR: Go back several times to the Triton Gallery booth.  The stock is constantly changing.
• Best Personal Find:  A mint condition Chicago window card featuring Sandy Duncan!  An actual board poster is probably very expensive, and only a photo reproduction of it is available from Triton Gallery for just $75!  My actual poster, sans flaws? $3.00!!!

My final haul: a Lombardi ball: $1.00; window cards: Lombardi: $1, Chicago:$3, Broadway Bares 19.0: $5, and a pristine Anything Goes: $10.00; a Sweeney Todd (LuPone/Cerveris) CD sampler $1, Lysistrata Jones pom pom: FREE.  $21.00 for a bounty of stuff I love and can't get anywhere else.  Not bad!

I am really looking forward to next year's event already.  And all shows should take note of the two shows who really stood out, Godspell and Lysistrata Jones.  And just think, neither of those shows have even opened yet!  I can only imagine how great those shows will be...

Rate this blog below and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me!
Jeff
3.029

Back to School: The 2011 - 2012 Broadway Curriculum

UPDATED!  See below in RED!

Just a year ago, as I was driving behind a yellow school bus, I thought to myself, "remember to leave earlier for work in order to not get stuck behind this bus next year."  Fast forward to this morning.  The bus was bright yellow and it stopped seven times on the main road near my house as the kiddies piled on headed for the local elementary school. 

Oh, I chastised myself for not remembering to start leaving earlier after Labor Day.  Then I tried to make the most of it - watching the "seasoned veterans" (3rd - 5th graders) push each other onto the bus and run to the back seats.  Some of them waved to me, others stuck out their tongues.  And I even teared up a bit as I watched a mom and dad bravely shepard their kindergartner onto the bus, all smiles and reassurances.  And as the bus pulled away slowly, my car following just as slowly, noting that same mom and dad holding each other sobbing.  Ah, parenthood.

Well, by stop three, my mind wandered again to Broadway and school.  Last year, I suggested a general curriculum of plays and musicals to cover a variety of subjects.  This year, I thought, "how much academic ground would be covered by only the shows currently and scheduled to appear this season?"  As it turns out, quite a bit!

Physical Education:
Lysistrata Jones - a course that covers both the rules and regulations of basketball and the physical prowess needed for cheerleading.

World Literature:
The titles speak for themselves:
The Phantom of the Opera
Rebecca
Mary Poppins
The Lion King (Hamlet)

World History:
War Horse - World War I
Yank! - World War II

African-American Studies:
Stick Fly
The Mountaintop
The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess

Women's Studies:
Chicago
Evita
End of the Rainbow
Funny Girl
Mamma Mia!
Venus in Fur
Wicked
W;t

Sociology:
The Road to Mecca
Detroit
Fat Pig
Picnic
Private Lives
Other Desert Cities

Writing:
W;t
Seminar
The Columnist

Business:
Chinglish
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
Man and Boy

Music:
Jersey Boys
Rock of Ages
Memphis
Nice Work If You Can Get It

Foreign Language:
Chinglish

Art:
The emphasis this semester will be on drawing comics-style:
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
The Addams Family

Psychology:
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
W;t

American History:
The Mountaintop
Bonnie and Clyde
Memphis
Hair

Comparative Religions:
The Book of Mormon
Sister Act
Godspell
Jesus Christ Superstar (I'm thinking it'll come in this season...)

Gay Studies: (Hey, my school is liberal and progressive!)
Yank!
Priscilla Queen of the Desert

Survey of the Arts:
Dance - Billy Elliot
Musical Theatre - Follies
Drama - Death of a Salesman
Music - Anything Goes
Acting/Vocal Master Class - An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin

I guess that goes to show that all theatre is a learning experience!

EXTRA CREDIT:  What "subject" would you use Ghost: The Musical to teach?  It is the only one I didn't use!

I ASKED, YOU ANSWERED!  If they recreate the pottery wheel scene onstage, you could probably claim "Art class". You might also make a case for criminal justice, since at the end of the movie, at least, the bad guy gets his reward. Maybe a stretch, but...
Keep up the excellent work, Jeff.
Chuck

Well, thank you, Chuck!  And it seems that they do the pottery wheel scene...!

Rate this blog here, and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me.
Jeff
3.008

Looking Forward to Fall

Every few months, I stop and take stock of what I've seen recently and what I am looking forward to in the coming months. Today I thought I'd look at what I really want to see that will be beginning previews during the months of September, October and November.  Before I do that, though, here was what I was looking forward to over the summer months.  I saw all  of the shows on my list, except for Follies, which I will be seeing shortly. 

Talk about an assortment of experiences!  From mega-spectacle to minimalist romance to campy excess on a budget, the summer of shows was completely fulfilling, despite a range of success.  I thought the best of the bunch was off-Broadway's Death Takes a Holiday (A+), and (relatively speaking) the worst of them was RENT (C), though I wouldn't mind seeing it again to see if I might like it better with a second viewing.  In between, I loved Lysistrata Jones (A-) and can't wait to see how it "grows up" in its move to Broadway.  And I was glad that the best parts of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark 1.0 were still in the final version, and disappointed with the score (B-).

This fall looks to have the same potential for variety.  You'll notice that I have included some off-Broadway shows, too, in an effort to expand my New York theatre going beyond Times Square.

PLAYS

The Submission - MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (Off-Broadway)

I have a subscription to the entire MCC season, which started simply because I wanted to get tickets to its winter offering, Carrie.  But when reading about the rest of their season, I had to see all three shows!  Of course, the director of this new play by Jeff Talbott, Walter Bobbie would be draw enough, but the subsequently announced cast Eddie Kaye Thomas, Will Rogers, Rutina Wesley and Jonathan Groff made this a must-see in my mind.  And the topic of this world premiere production - the creation of theatre under the guise of a phony artist in order to even be heard, among other things - intrigues me.  Art about making art is always, at the very least, interesting.  Here's hoping it poses more questions than answers to ponder over after the final curtain.

Chinglish at the Longacre Theatre (Broadway)

Any new work by David Henry Hwang is worth considering - I've been a huge fan of his since the brilliant and beautiful M. Butterfly.  And the press it is getting from its Chicago premiere certainly ups the ante.  But the real draw here is for my theatre companion, Mike, who studies linguistics and the Chinese language.  I look forward to lengthy chats about those subjects.  It could be the best possible combination of entertainment and thought-provoking education.

Wild Animals You Should Know - MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (Off-Broadway)

Another world premiere, this time a play by Thomas Higgins, that sound both intriguing and thought-provoking.  The play, according to the MCC website is about a father chaperoning a wilderness camp out who gets drawn into his son and another scout's game of cat and mouse.  Creepy...

Other Desert Cities at the Booth Theatre

The playwright: Jon Robin Baitz.  The cast: Stockard Channing, Rachel Griffiths, Judith Light, Stacy Keach and Thomas Sadoski.  Why wouldn't this be on the list?



MUSICALS

The New York Musical Theatre Festival

At the suggestion of Mike, and his argument that my favorite show next to normal started out here, we are going to try it out this fall.

Ghostlight

A musical about a real life Ziegfeld girl with a checkered past, along with many other theatre legends (Florenz Ziegfeld, Billie Burke and Fanny Brice) certainly pleases the history fan in me, and the cast, which includes Daisy Egan (Tony winner The Secret Garden), Rachel York (Drama Desk nominee Victor/Victoria, City of Angels) and Michael Hayden (Tony nominee Carousel, Cabaret) is exciting.  I am really looking forward to this one!

Greenwood

The fan of the film Camp in me makes this show - about former theatre campers who come back together after years apart to celebrate an event at the camp -  is interested in this show.  It should be interesting no matter what, potentially sweet, funny and, forgive the pun, campy.  The cast assembled for this festival entry - Andrea McArdle (Tony nominee Annie, Starlight Express, State Fair), Cary Shields (RENT, Taboo) and Felicia Finley (The Wedding Singer) - will certainly show its greatest strengths, I'm sure.

Godspell at Circle in the Square (Broadway)

I am a huge fan of this vintage show - its cast recording was one of the first I ever bought (I still have it on vinyl).  An early work by Stephen Schwartz, the score is brimming with catchy songs ("Day By Day", "Prepare Ye") and beautiful ballads ("All Good Things" , "On the Willows").  I am looking forward to a fresh, creative take on this story of the last days of Jesus Christ.  I am excited to see Hunter Parrish, who I loved in Spring Awakening.

Bonnie and Clyde at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (Broadway)

I love dark, potentially dangerous musicals,  What could be darker than real-life Depression-era killers on the run who are in love with each other.  If Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan can be this dark and sexy in just one picture, I'm sure they are terrific together.  And I'm hoping Frank Wildlhorn will finally have another decent hit show.

Lysistrata Jones at the Walter Kerr Theatre (Broadway)

I loved it in a tiny gym.  I can't wait to see how they get it to a Broadway-sized show while still keeping all the charm.  I trust Douglas Carter Beane.  I hope they keep the same cast, too!  We shall see...

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever at the St. James Theatre (Broadway)

I know nothing about the original show, but I hope the gender switch of a main character/gay theme works FOR the end result, not AGAINST it.  But if anyone can pull this edgy twist off, it is director Michael Mayer.  And I really want to finally see Harry Connick, Jr.

An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (Broadway)

Considering how many fall shows there are that I want to see, this one might not make it for me.  I love Ms. LuPone (as you all know) and she puts on a hell of a concert - I've seen her in that capacity twice.  But I really don't care for Mandy Patinkin - he was great in The Wild Party - but as himself, he annoys me to no end.  Self-indulgent, vocal histrionic, shrill... is there enough Patti to calm down that beast?

The last few don't open until early December, so I might have to put a few of these off, but I hope to see all of these.  The musicals are a given, and I hope to catch most if not all of these plays.

Which shows are you looking forward to?  Write in and let me know!


Rate this blog below, and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com, or Tweet me!
Jeff
3.004

Broadway Jigsaw Puzzles

I thought it might be fun to do some Broadway-related jigsaw puzzles.  Here are three.  One is a production photo.  One is a show logo.  And the third is a New York City candid.

Click on each link to do each puzzle.  It is pretty self explanatory.  Click and drag the pieces.  When they fit, you'll hear a "click".   Enjoy!

Broadway Jigsaw #1  (54 pieces)

Production photo: Hair at the St. James Theatre.  Photo by Joan Marcus.

Broadway Jigsaw #2  (54 pieces)

Show Logo: Godspell coming soon to the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway. Image is copyright 2011 held by the Godspell Company.

Broadway Jigsaw #3  (54 pieces)


New York City Candid: Taxi on 46th Street.  Photo by JK's TheatreScene.

Enjoy!


Rate this blog below and leave your comments here, by email at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
2.346

BROADWAY BLOG: Day By Day: The Godspell Blog

When it comes to other theatre blogs, I'm pretty choosy about the ones I follow.  You'll notice that there is a list of just 8 that I follow closely to your right.  You'd think there would be more, considering how many of us there are out there.  But very few fit my simple criteria: knowledge about theatre, the ability to express an opinion with back up (whether I agree or not!), and an overall passion for whatever the topic at hand is.

Ken Davenport

One of the blogs I love is written by a New York theatre producer, Ken Davenport, the man behind such Broadway shows as Oleanna and the upcoming revivals of A Few Good Men and Godspell.  He tells it like it is, has a sense of humor about it, and is completely practical.  He is also behind the most recent addition to my blog following list, a blog devoted to the behind-the-scenes details of bringing Godspell to its first preview on Broadway, October 13, 2011.

The Godspell Logo

The occasion was the 100th day prior to that first preview, and Mr. Davenport decided to launch a separate blog to allow theatre fans a chance to see what it takes to bring a show in.  He promises 100 days of decision-making, insider information, and lots of how-to.  Today will be day 98 - it started Tuesday.  In the two days so far, he's introduced the advertising/promotions team, who decided about a huge Times Square billboard (it'll be near The Phantom of the Opera), and talked about the minute decisions he faces in choosing a t-shirt maker and merchandiser.  It may or may not sound all that glamorous to you, but as a lover of all things theatre, I am enticed by the idea of learning from someone who actually DOES theatre!  At the very least, I'll gain an appreciation for all those hundreds of small decisions that are made before anyone even steps foot in the Circle in the Square Theatre for the first Broadway preview of Godspell.

To find out all about this new blog, click HERE.
To find out about Davenport's regular blog, click HERE.

Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
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