Celeste Holm and Frank Basile Celebrate at Tony's

Celeste Holm & husband Frank Basile celebrate her 90th birthday and their wedding anniversary
Photos supplied by Mark Rupp.

Culinary Corner-

Hi,

I have been getting a lot of mail from readers asking for restaurant reviews. I am sorry that I have not had time to focus on restaurants but it is DRAMA DESK time and I have been incredibly busy.

Tonight, I had dinner with a friend and we ate at one of her favorite restaurants in Times Square. It is called LA Kabbr and it is mid-eastern cuisine. I was very impressed with the place. I ordered a Greek Salad with fresh grilled salmon. They were out of salmon and made me a side order of shrimp scampi in garlic lemon sauce.
It was fabulous. I will be going back.

The shrimp were black tiger giant shrimp and it was tasty.

Hope that holds you until after May 20th and than staytuned for reviews on both China Grill and the Russian Tea Room.

LA Kabbr is located at: 683 9th Avenue
212-586-0015

In NYC? Go to the street fair on Broadway today!

Photo of Julia Murney by Joan Marcus

There is a street fair on Broadway from 67th- 72. There is a free spinoff to win a Wicked Starter CD. Just spin the wheel and pick the character and if it lands on that character you will win a CD. I picked Elphaba and won.

Have a nice day.

C

Bruce Vilanch In "Spalding Gray Stories Left To Tell"

I went to the matinee of "Spalding Gray" yesterday. Bruce Vilanch is marvelous in this production. I highly recommend that you go and see it.
For more info and to purchase tickets:
http://www.storieslefttotell.com/

Spring Awakening: Totally Hip!

Photo of Jonathan Groff by Maryann Lopinto.

Photo of John Gallagher at Chatterbox by Maryann Lopinto
I was fortunate to attend "Spring Awakening" a second time tonight. I saw it in previews and was invited back a second glorious time.

I am hooked on this score. I wanted to get out of my seat and jump onstage with them. The music is contagious and I adore it.

One thing that upset me was the severe homophobia in the audience. In the kissing scene between two of the boy cast members one of the men in a row ahead of me gasped with such hatred it was alarming. A lot of gasps in the audience. I don't think there was any reason to gasp. That was the only negative (The audience reaction)

Spring Awakening has earned 10 Drama Desk nominations and in my opinion they deserved many more. Congratulations to: Duncan Sheik, Steven Sater, Michael Mayer, Lea Michele, John Gallagher and Jonathan Groff.

Puppy Love.

I love puppies but this puppy is one of my favorites. I thought I would post my friends adorable pooch. I want to thank my friend Bert for sending this picture of Rico. It made me smile. Hope it makes you smile.

Drama Desk Nominations!

Artwork by Eddie Varley.
I wanted to congratulate all the nominees!

52nd ANNUAL DRAMA DESK AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED;
LOVEMUSIK LEADS THE LIST WITH 12 NOMINATIONS;
AWARDS ANNOUNCED AT THE NY FRIARS CLUB BY THEATER LUMINARIES
JAMES NAUGHTON AND BETH LEAVEL;
AWARDS TO BE PRESENTED ON MAY 20 AT GALA CEREMONY HOSTED BY
BROADWAY STAR KRISTIN CHENOWETH

NEW YORK, APRIL 26, 2007 – Nominations for the 52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at The New York Friars Club by previous winners James Naughton and Beth Leavel, at a press conference for journalists and theater professionals. They were joined for the announcement by Drama Desk President William Wolf; Barbara Siegel, Chairperson of the Drama Desk nominating committee; Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards and Randie Levine-Miller, Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk and a member of the New York Friars Club Board of Governors.
The awards will be presented on Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 9:00 PM, at the F.H. LaGuardia Concert Hall at Lincoln Center, 100 Amsterdam Avenue. Past Drama Desk winner Kristin Chenoweth—currently nominated for her performance in The Apple Tree—will host the ceremony, which will also be taped for television and subsequently broadcast nationwide as a two-hour special on PBS stations. In New York, the program will be shown on Thirteen/WNET on Sunday, May 27, from 12:30 P.M. to 2:30 P.M. NYC TV 25 will broadcast the awards twice: Thursday May 24, at 8:00 PM and Saturday May 26, at 10:00 PM. For the fifth year in a row, the awards will be webcast live by TheaterMania.com. The awards ceremony will also be broadcast live -- for the first time -- by XM Satellite Radio’s theater channel – XM-28 On Broadway.
In keeping with the Drama Desk’s unique mission, the nominators considered theatrical events that opened on Broadway, off Broadway and off-off Broadway during the 2006/2007 season in the same competitive categories. Deliberations by the nominators culminated in a marathon weekend session at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, which ended Monday afternoon, April 23. The nominators included: Chairperson Barbara Siegel, TalkinBroadway.com and TheaterMania.com; Glenda Frank, Plays International and nytheatre-wire.com; Tony Phillips, New York Press; Andrew Propst, Americantheaterweb.com and XM Satellite Radio; Richard Ridge, Broadway Beat TV; and Drama Desk President William Wolf, Wolfentertainmentguide.com.


Leading the slate of distinguished nominees is LoveMusik, which received 12 nominations, followed by a trio of musicals—Curtains, Legally Blonde, Spring Awakening— and the play The Coast of Utopia with 10 nominations each. The off-Broadway show In the Heights garnered nine, and Mary Poppins six.
Two high-profile shows were not considered for this year’s nominations: Grey Gardens, eligible last season, could only be considered for any new elements in the subsequent Broadway production, and Deuce, which did not invite nominators to see the play before the Drama Desk cut-off date, will be eligible next season.
This year the nominators chose to bestow special ensemble awards for acting to the casts of two shows —In The Heights and Lebensraum, both off-Broadway productions. Therefore individual cast members for these shows were not eligible for acting awards in the competitive categories.
The Drama Desk maintained its tradition of acknowledging excellence in the theater by announcing special awards to: John Kander and Fred Ebb, Austin Pendleton, Transport Group and the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene.
A limited number of tickets for the Drama Desk Awards are available to the public by calling (212) 352-3101 or visiting the TheaterMania.com website.




DRAMA DESK NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2006/2007 SEASON

The following awards were voted by the nominating committee and will be presented by the Drama Desk at its awards ceremony:
Outstanding Ensemble Performances:
The cast of In the Heights
The cast of Lebensraum

Special Awards:
Each year, the Drama Desk votes special awards to recognize excellence and significant contributions to the theater. For 2006/2007, these awards are presented to:

• John Kander and Fred Ebb for 42 years of excellence in advancing the art of the musical theater.

• Austin Pendleton - actor, director, playwright, teacher - a Renaissance man of the American theater.

• Transport Group for its breadth of vision and its presentation of challenging productions.

• National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene for preserving for 92 consecutive seasons the cultural legacy of Yiddish speaking theater in America.

Following are the nominations for the competitive categories in alphabetical order. Winners will be selected by the voting membership of the Drama Desk:

Outstanding Play:
David Harrower, Blackbird
Terrence McNally, Some Men
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
Tom Stoppard, The Coast of Utopia
Bernard Weinraub, The Accomplices
August Wilson, Radio Golf

Outstanding Musical:
Curtains
In the Heights
Legally Blonde
LoveMusik
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Outstanding Revival of a Play:
The Hairy Ape
Hedda Gabler
Journey's End
Talk Radio
The Taming of the Shrew
Woyzeck


Outstanding Revival of a Musical:
110 in the Shade
The Apple Tree
Company
Di Yam Gazlonim!
H.M.S. Pinafore
Les Miserables

Outstanding Actor in a Play:
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jack Goes Boating
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brían F. O’Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio
Kevin Spacey, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Paul Sparks, Essential Self-Defense

Outstanding Actress in a Play:
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Orlagh Cassidy, The Field
Blythe Danner, Suddenly Last Summer
Jennifer Mudge, Dutchman
Sandra Oh, Satellites
Annie Parisse, The Internationalist
Meryl Streep, Mother Courage and Her Children

Outstanding Actor in a Musical:
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparza, Company
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains
Martin Short, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Outstanding Actress in a Musical:
Ashley Brown, Mary Poppins
Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde
Kristin Chenoweth, The Apple Tree
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Lea Michele, Spring Awakening
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play:
Anthony Chisholm, Radio Golf
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia
Boyd Gaines, Journey's End
John Ortiz, Jack Goes Boating
Andrew Polk, The Accomplices
Frederick Weller, Some Men



Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play:
Myriam Acharki, Woyzeck
Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Sarah Nina Hayon, Rearviewmirror
Jan Maxwell, Coram Boy
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia
Rita Wolf, The American Pilot

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical:
Brooks Ashmankas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle, Legally Blonde
Aaron Lazar, Les Miserables
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
Orville Mendoza, Adrift in Macao
David Pittu, LoveMusik

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical:
Linda Balgord, The Pirate Queen
Celia Keenan-Bolger, Les Miserables
Debra Monk, Curtains
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Barbara Walsh, Company
Karen Ziemba, Curtains

Outstanding Director of a Play:
Declan Donnellan, Twelfth Night
Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
Doug Hughes, Inherit the Wind
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
Ciarán O'Reilly, The Hairy Ape
Tom Ridgely, Marco Millions (based on lies)

Outstanding Director of a Musical:
John Doyle, Company
Thomas Kail, In the Heights
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde
Harold Prince, LoveMusik
Alex Timbers, Gutenberg! The Musical!

Outstanding Choreography:
Patricia Birch, LoveMusik
Andy Blankenbuehler, In the Heights
Matthew Bourne, Edward Scissorhands
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde


Outstanding Music:
John Kander, Curtains
Paul Leschen, Twist: Please, Sir, May I Have Some More?
Peter Melnick, Adrift in Macao
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening

Outstanding Lyrics:
Fred Ebb with added lyrics by John Kander and Rupert Holmes, Curtains
Lin-Manuel Miranda, In the Heights
Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Steven Sater, Spring Awakening
Bill Strauss, Elaina Newport and Mark Eaton, Capitol Steps
Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me

Outstanding Book of a Musical:
Scott Brown and Anthony King, Gutenberg! The Musical!
Julian Fellowes, Mary Poppins
Heather Hach, Legally Blonde
Rupert Holmes and Peter Stone, Curtains
Steven Sater, Spring Awakening
Alfred Uhry, LoveMusik

Outstanding Music for a Play:
Mark Bennett, The Coast of Utopia
Adam Cork, Frost/Nixon
Gerard McBurney, Oliver Twist
The Propeller Company, The Taming of the Shrew
Ray Rizzo, Adam Rapp and Lucas Papaelias, Essential Self-Defense
David Van Tieghem, Inherit the Wind

Outstanding Orchestrations:
William David Brohn, Curtains
Mary-Mitchell Campbell, Company
Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman, In the Heights
Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening
Jonathan Tunick, The Apple Tree
Jonathan Tunick, LoveMusik

Outstanding Set Design of a Play:
Bob Crowley and Scott Pask, The Coast of Utopia
David Gallo, Radio Golf
David Korins, Essential Self-Defense
David Korins, Jack Goes Boating
Garin Marschall, Hell House
Scott Pask, Blackbird

Outstanding Set Design of a Musical:
Beowulf Boritt, LoveMusik
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Anna Louizos, Curtains
Anna Louizos, In the Heights
David Rockwell, Legally Blonde
Kris Stone, Brundibar/But the Giraffe

Outstanding Costume Design:
Mara Blumenfeld, Lookingglass Alice
Judith Dolan, LoveMusik
William Ivey Long, Curtains
Santo Loquasto, Suddenly Last Summer
Robert Morgan, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Catherine Zuber, The Coast of Utopia

Outstanding Lighting Design:
Howell Binkley LoveMusik
Maruti Evans, Blindness
Paul Gallo, Blackbird
Mark Jonathan Prometheus Bound
Kenneth Posner, Brian MacDevitt, Natasha Katz, The Coast of Utopia
Japhy Weideman, Jack Goes Boating

Outstanding Sound Design:
Acme Sound Partners, In the Heights
Mark Bennett, The Coast of Utopia
Gregory Clarke, Journey's End
Duncan Robert Edwards, LoveMusik
Frank Gaeta, Dai (enough)
Richard Woodbury, Talk Radio

Outstanding Solo Performance:
Iris Bahr, Dai (enough)
Ed Harris, Wrecks
Capathia Jenkins, (mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story
Anna Manahan, Sisters
Vanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical Thinking
Nilaja Sun, No Child…

Unique Theatrical Experience:
Absinthe
Amajuba: Like Doves We Rise
Be
Brundibar/But the Giraffe
Edward Scissorhands
Hell House



Shows With Multiple Nominations
LoveMusik 12
The Coast of Utopia 10
Curtains 10
Legally Blond 10
Spring Awakening 10
In the Heights 9
Mary Poppins 6
Company 5
Frost/Nixon 4
Jack Goes Boating 4
The Apple Tree 3
Blackbird 3
Essential Self-Defense 3
Inherit the Wind 3
Journey’s End 3
Les Miserables 3
Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me 3
Radio Golf 3
Talk Radio 3
The Accomplices 2
Adrift in Macao 2
Brundlbar/But the Giraffe 2
Coram Boy 2
Dai (enough) 2
Edward Scissorhands 2
Gutenberg! The Musical! 2
The Hairy Ape 2
Hell House 2
A Moon for the Misbegotten 2
110 in the Shade 2
Some Men 2
Suddenly Last Summer 2
The Taming of the Shrew 2
Woyzeck 2

ELIGIBILITY & NOMINATIONS
Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway shows that opened in the Drama Desk 2006/2007 year which the nominating committee was able to see by the cutoff deadline of April 22, 2007, were eligible for awards. The Drama Desk nominating committee considered more than 500 shows in determining this year’s slate of nominees.
The Drama Desk Board of Directors oversees the nomination process and is composed of: William Wolf (wolfentertainmentguide.com), President; Leslie (Hoban) Blake (WFUV FM), Vice President; Charles Wright (A&E TV Networks, Best Plays International Yearbook), Treasurer and Second Vice President; Joyce Hauser, Secretary; and Members-at-Large: Michael Bracken (WFUV FM); David Kaufman (Freelance); Ellis Nassour (Broadway Stars.com, Playbill); Sam Norkin (Freelance theater artist, Past Drama Desk President); Barbara Siegel (TalkinBroadway.com, TheaterMania.com); and Elyse Sommer (Chief critic and editor, CurtainUp.com)




ABOUT THE DRAMA DESK
The Drama Desk was founded in 1949 to explore key issues in the theater and to bring critics and writers together in an organization to support the ongoing development of theater in New York. The organization began presenting its awards in 1955, and is the only critics’ organization to honor achievement in the theater with competition between Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions.
The organization hosts panels throughout the year, to which the public is invited to promote understanding and appreciation of the professional theater. In addition to honoring creative artists and stage productions in multiple categories, the Drama Desk annually presents scholarships to two worthy seniors in the Drama Department of the LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts who are planning careers in the theater.
The Drama Desk Awards event enlists personal sketches from this year’s nominated performers and creative talent for its Art*Kive program, started in 2001 by Art*Kive creator Sarah Galvin. This annual program—unique to the Drama Desk Awards—invites the nominees to render a sketch that is relevant to the role or stage production that helped them achieve their nomination. The sketches will be displayed at the awards ceremony.
To find out more about the organization and this year’s awards show, visit http://www.dramadesk.com.

PRODUCTION CREDITS & SPONSORSHIP FOR THE 2006/2007 DRAMA DESK AWARDS EVENT
Robert R. Blume is Executive Producer of the 52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards event. Lauren Class Schneider is Producer and Jeff Kalpak is Director. The show is being written by Peter Flynn. Production Manager is Kelly Martindale. Associate Producers are Corine Dana Cohen, Jacki Barlia Florin, Margot Astrachan, Matthew P. Donoghue and Les Schecter, who is also Director of Publicity and Promotions. Elias EL-Hage is the General Manager. Randie Levine-Miller is Special Events Director for the Drama Desk. For television, Terry Rohnke is Production Consultant and Roy A. Somlyo is Consulting Producer.

The 52nd Annual Drama Desk Awards event is made possible by the following individuals and companies:
Friends of the Drama Desk: David S. Stone, Esq., Boies Schiller and Flexner LLP/New Jersey Office; Susan and Jack Rudin; Ted Snowdon; Richard I. Kandel; Jacki Barlia-Florin.
Key Contributors: TheaterMania.com; The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation c/o Enid Nemy; The Dorothy Loudon Foundation, Lionel Larner, Executive Director; Roy Furman; The Nat R. & Martha M. Knaster Charitable Trust; Lawrence Fraiberg.
Scholarship Contributors: Susan and Jack Rudin; The Smart Family Foundation; Jamie deRoy & friends; TheaterMania.com; Daryl Roth Productions; Stewart F. Lane.
In-Kind Sponsors: The New York Times; Sound Associates, Inc./Peter Fitzgerald; Producers Resource Group (PRG)/Darren DeVerna; Shining Stars brought to you by Russ Berrie and Abrams Gentile Entertainment; Variety.
Additional Sponsors: Arrive Magazine (only on Amtrak’s Eastern Corridor); Federico Salon; Hit Show Club.
Reception, Food & Beverage Sponsorships: Russian Tea Room; China Grill of New York.

All About Joe Stein Part 4.

Joe and Elisa Stein at Vico Restaurant- Photo by Brad Balfour
All About Joe Stein
(Because this is a very large interview it is broken into four parts. Please scroll down and read part 1-4)Hope you enjoy this interview with Joe Stein!


Written by Corine Cohen
Page 4 of 4
Stein's first musical, based off a tourist guide to Amish Pennsylvania, "Plain and Fancy."CC: So, who are some of the other people you've worked
with that we haven't talked about?

ES: Charles Strouse from "Rags." Stephen Schwartz from "The Baker's Wife."

JS: I've done two shows with Stephen, and he's an enormously powerful guy. Also a very good friend.

CC: I met Stephen Schwartz. I went to the press preview for "Rags." You were there. And so was Stephen. I think Charles was there too.

JS: Charles and I were doing revisions on "Rags."

CC: I thought Carolee Carmello did a wonderful job. She's a really talented singer.

JS: Well, I think Charles' score is sensational. It's a great score.

CC: You say all of them are your favorite.

JS: I love them all. Even the shows that are not terribly successful.

ES: "Take Me Along." It was very successful in the end.

JS: "Take Me Along."

ES: "Take Me Along," "Plain and Fancy," and oh "Carmelina."

CC: Unfortunately I never saw those.

JS: You don't go the York. [The York Theatre, 619 Lexington Ave at 53rd Street]

CC: I don't go to the York that much. They do some wonderful things.

JS: Very good. They don't invite press because they don't do big productions.

CC: I think it's a small theater. If they invited 113 people, it'd be full. If it's only a short run it doesn't make sense for them, but if it's a long term thing, then it would be easier. I went to eight things last week.

EL: What a nice life you have, going out every night.

CC: I see everything. I can’t complain. I’m very happy!

JS: We're going to the Music Box tonight.

CC: Oh what are you going to see?" The Vertical Hour?" I saw that. I thought the acting was good. It wasn't my favorite play, but I enjoyed it. Have you seen “Spring Awakening?”

JS: I saw it Off Broadway.

CC: What did you think?

JS: I was not crazy about the score. I thought it was atonal. It was not…I mean when you see a score say like "Jersey Boys" or something. Anyway, I really liked the show. But, I'm not sure it's going to do very well.

CC: I personally loved the score, and I loved the music. I can’t get it out of my mind. It was one of my favorite musicals this season.

JS: That's very interesting. You probably have to listen to it a couple of times. I was talking to John the other day, and he didn't like the score. John Kander, and he is very generous to other composers.

JF: It's different. It's modern.

JS: I know, but John is not, you know, is not an old geezer.

CC: I’m surprised he didn’t like it. Last year, Jersey Boys was the big hit, this year Spring Awakening seems to be a favorite.

JF: My children went to see "Jersey Boys" with my mother. And, actually the whole audience was their age, 60-70 years olds from New Jersey. My daughter was sitting there, and she said she really liked the story. And it had no relationship to her. My son liked the story…

JS: Well they're lucky that New Jersey has a big population because that's their audience.

ES: No, it's not only that.

JF: If "Spring Awakening" can find the fortune to fill seats with 16 year olds, they'll do fine. I think it'll become their "Rent."

CC: I think for those up to the age 35. But my 60 year old Aunt loved it and so did her ex husband who is 68. It is all a matter of taste. Personally, loved it though!

JF: I don't think so. I think by the time you're 22, you're so over the coming of age, no? If they can find their audience, 17-25.

JS: "Grey Gardens" is also very special. I loved "Grey Gardens." Once you get past first act, the second act is sensational. What did you think of "Wicked"?

ES: "Wicked" is all the people who saw "The Wizard of Oz."

JS: I think "Wicked" basically has a very young audience. I think people, middle aged, they don't care for "Wicked."

JF: But it found its audience. It's sold out for five years. You can't get a ticket.

JS: I can't get a ticket.

CC: I found it entertaining but I thought I would like it better than I did.

ES: I went with our daughter and after the first act, I needed her to translate.

JS: Actually I told Steve [Schwartz, composer and lyricist for "Wicked"]. I said, "Steve, your lyrics are getting lost."

JF: You know it's a big production. And when they're home, my daughter has every word memorized.

JS: You know what his favorite score is?

CC: He told me "Children of Eden," I think.

JS: He loves "Children of Eden," but I think he really loves "The Baker's Wife."

CC: Let's talk about "The Baker's Wife." What do you think?

JS: What do I think of "The Baker's Wife?" God, I loved that show. It's entirely different. It's very warm. Very moving. It's not sentimental but it's very moving.

ES: And very funny.

JS: Very funny. Most recently it was done at that place in New Jersey. Paper Mill. And they sold out. There were no names. If the Times would have come and given us a good review, it would have made it to Broadway. The New Jersey Times came, and the NJ Times gave it a good review.

CC: Jacki, maybe you could bring that back.

JF: I have a lot of plans.


Joe Stein.CC: What do you think of New York City? Do you love living here?

JS: If I didn't love it here, I wouldn't be here. I've lived here all my life. The only other place I've ever been was very temporarily on the coast. When I had an assignment there, you know, working on television. But I didn't like it very much.

CC: So is Vico your favorite restaurant?

JS: My favorite local restaurant, yeah. As a matter of fact, it's a wonderful restaurant. I remember I was talking to Mario Puzo…we were quite good friends. He said, "Wait a minute. You live on Madison and the 90s. You live right around the corner from it., "It's the best Italian restaurant in New York." I said, "It is?" He says, "You lucky pig. That's your neighborhood restaurant."

CC: It's my first time here and I really enjoyed it.

JS: In the evenings it's very different.

JF: It's great. It's quiet, bright. I like it.

JS: And they always give me this table.


It was a pleasure interviewing Joe, Elisa and Jacki. Catch "All About Us" through April 28th and pray it moves to Broadway! It is a wonderful musical!

All About Joe- My Lunch With Joe Stein Part 3!

Photo of Corine Cohen, Joe Stein and Elisa Loti Stein by Brad Balfour
All About Joe Stein part 3!


Written by Corine Cohen

CC: How did you two meet? Can you tell the story of how this all came about? How you actually got involved in the production.

JF: We met at [Broadway producer] Stewart Lane's Christmas party? Do you remember that? I think that's the first time we met.

ES: Melissa was in my house and she said something about how wonderful you are, and Joe said, "Well, why can't we meet her?" And, then, we met you at Stewart Lane's party.

JF: I said, "Let's go to lunch or something."

JS: Once we met, I introduced her to the material. And, obviously, she reacted positively. And, she loved it from there running.

JF: I was intrigued going to Princeton [for the first reading]. It really changed everything when I got there.

JS: At that point we really had the show. We had more work to do, but we knew that the show was marvelous.

JF: Watching their faces and watching them work, I could see their vision.

JS: It was after McCarter [Theater, at Princeton University] we knew we had something very special and unique and very exciting.

JF: It was a test. It wasn't the cast yet.


Joe and Elisa Loti Stein.CC: Are you going to do a new recording of the new cast?

JF: When we get there. We're going to Westport.

JS: And then we'll see.

ES: Step by step.

CC: And you probably have to get more investors to go to Broadway.

JF: We will be surprised at Westport. People really need to see it. It's not a show you can explain.

JS: It's not kind of a simple story line. Boy likes girl. Boy loses girl. It's nothing like that.

CC: It's a tough year too because there are two Kander and Ebb shows this year, yours and "Curtains."

JS: I really wish them well. I really love John. Everybody connects with that show. That show's loaded down with probably wonderful people. But, they're good friends of mine. A lot of them. A lot of the cast. Listen I've heard they're going to do very well. I think it's a fun show. And I think the audience is going to have a good time.

CC: So you're going to have two Kander and Ebb shows running at the same time. That's quite an experience.

JF: That'll be interesting.

ES: One should help the other.

JS: It's not an unusual experience. "Fiddler" had a very long run, and during that run, I had other shows at the same time. "Zorba" was running when "Fiddler" was running.

CC: Is there anyone you haven't worked with that you want to work with at this point? And what was it like working with Mel Brooks?

JS: Well, Mel is just one of four or five or six of us. Listen, what can I say? Mel is very funny. He is always a little crazy. But we had a group of awfully bright guys. we were all very lucky because it was like a school for comedy writers.


In his early comedy days, Stein worked with Carl Reiner and Mel Brooks as they developed their long-running skit "The 2,000 Year Old Man."CC: Right, "The Show of Shows."

JS: "Your Show of Shows" with a great teacher. [Neil] Simon was there. Carl Reiner. Myself. I have to think of who else.

CC: That is amazing. Were you around with the 2000-year-old man because that's one of my favorite short films.

JS: Why sure. The 2000-year-old man was actually born from kidding around in the writer's room. They would come to my house for example, and Mel and Carl would perform.

CC: You actually watched them do that?

JS: Why sure. They were just kidding around. They never thought anything would happen with it. That's the way they'd kid around.

CC: What was they like? Just always that naturally funny?

JS: They both have enormous sense of humor. They were real. They talked about what everybody else talks about. We're still friends. I'm very good friends with Carl. I speak to Carl at least once a week.

CC: Tell me all about him. I adore his work!

JS: Well, Carl is the most well-liked man in this business. Everybody adores Carl. He's still working. He writes novels, children's books.

ES: You adapted one of his novels.

JS: Well, actually the first thing I ever did more or less on a dare was make a play out of a novel Carl wrote. The most hilarious thing you ever saw. You know who was the star of that play? Alan Arkin. It was his first show. It really was hilarious.

CC: "The Show of Shows". I love that kind of humor. 15 years ago, they released it as a video with Mel Brooks speaking as the 2000-year-old man. Have you ever seen the video? It's adorable. And it's Carl Reiner doing the recording, but they put it through the video. "A lion is eating my foot off. Somebody call a cop." It's very funny. So, you were actually in the room when they conceived of that. But Carl was the voice of the announcer. He wrote it with Mel?

JS: They didn't write it. They kind of ad libbed it. They were just kidding around sitting in the living room.

ES: Just guys having a good time.

JS: We went to somebody's house. They would entertain with us sitting around. But they were much dirtier.

CC: Oh yes? Well, it wasn't dirty at all. Just funny.

All About Joe- Part 2.

Photo of Joe Stein at Vico Restaurant by Brad Balfour.
All About Joe Stein


Written by Corine Cohen
Page 2 of 4
CC: How did you come up with the book?

JS: Well, I wrote a book called "Fred and John." Basically, Fred and John are old friends. And, we had collaborated before. We wrote "Zorba." And, we were looking for a show we could work with together. We examined many! We sat around Fred's kitchen table for many weeks discussing various possible show ideas. And ,once this idea came up, we all got very excited!

ES: Basically, I suggested it because she suggested to me that this would make a musical. It was the most exciting play I was in college. I had played Sabina in college. And, I said, this would make a great musical. It's by Thornton Wilder, called "The Skin of Our Teeth."

JS: That's really the genesis. She played in it some years ago. While we're talking about ideas, I came up with the suggestion that came from my wife, And, this has gone through a lot of difficult times until we finally have the show that we originally dreamed of!

CC: That's wonderful. And you worked with Zero Mostel in the original? How did "Fiddler on the Roof" get started?

JS: I worked with Zero. You want to know how "Fiddler" started. It goes back a long ways. It has nothing to do with "All About Us." Very briefly. In a curious way, it started the same way as "All About Us." Jerry and Sheldon, people I had worked with on a previous show. We got together and decided we wanted to do a musical together, because we enjoyed working together. And, we examined numerous possibilities. And, then I remembered this old show from stories revolving around the character of Tevye. We all got excited about it. That's really the way it started.

CC: It's one of my favorite musicals of all time.

JS: One of mine too.

CC: I saw it with Harvey and with Rosie O'Donnell.

ES: Was she very funny?

CC: Yeah very funny. I loved Harvey's interpretation even though he's not a great singer.

JS: I thought Harvey was wonderful. I do.

CC: He's a wonderful actor, and he has been the host of the Drama Desk Awards for the last three years. Was he easy to work with?

JS: Harvey? Oh, Harvey's a joy. He is. He's a darling man. He's very professional. Harvey, as a matter of fact, asked to audition. He said, "Will you let me do the show?" You immediately like him, and that's a very rare quality. Schuler has that quality too.

CC: He's playing the father of the gorillas right now in "Tarzan."

JS: In "All About Us," he plays a father basically of the human race.

CC: Tell me about Kander and Ebb.

JS: Listen, they were wonderful to work with. You know, the other thing we regret about this show is that Fred is not around. He loved the show. He did marvelous work. The lyrics are a blessing, and he had his heart and soul in the show. John is a dream to work with. I've been very lucky.

CC: Is John involved in the day to day with you?

JS: Oh yeah. He's the composer. He's now also writing additional songs for the production.

CC: Oh fantastic. Who is the song for?

JS: It's kind of a light comedy song, but basically, it's not the major thing in this score. The score is very full. Basically the score was written by John and Fred. This is just a little added tidbit for Cady Huffman.

CC: That's great. She is very impressive.

JS: She did several versions of some of my old shows at the York Theatre. She played in "Plain and Fancy," and she was wonderful.


Legendary singer Eartha Kitt plays a fortune-teller in "All About Us."CC: Was "Plain and Fancy" your first show?

JS: My first musical. My first show was "Enter Laughing."

CC: You have a theater named after you. How does that feel? And there's a picture of you. They even engraved your face on the theatre…I saw pictures of it in 1995. Are you excited about that?

JS: I know. But nobody knows if I ever went there.

CC: If I were you, I would. I'm excited about having a sushi roll named after me. But I would rather have a theatre named after me than a sushi roll named after me. (Laughs.)

JS: Well, I don't know. I guess it's an interesting experience. I don't think about it every day. (Laughs.)

CC: So, tell me more about "All About Us." What is the most exciting thing about it for you as a writer?

JS: Well, it's been a challenge from the beginning because the basic play is very difficult really. I don't think it has a kind of old fashioned feel. But, the ideas are so contemporary and so exciting about today and what I think we have done is transfer it into a very contemporary musical while keeping intact the basic ideas from the original play. It's about the things that are happening to us right now. And, so, of course it's a challenge for awriter to interpret the material and bring it up to this level.

CC: So in addition to "All About Us," what's it like working with Jacki?

JS: I have said this about her, when she's not here. She is a very exciting and wonderful producer. She's a hands on producer with excellent taste.

CC: We've embarrassed her!. Sorry Jacki. (Laughs.)

JS: No, it's true. As a matter of fact. I had a conversation with somebody this morning, and her name came up. And I said, "She's one of the best producers I've ever worked with." Despite the fact that she has limited experience so far. I think she can go very far. And, I'll tell you something, I'd love to work with her on any show rather than just pick a show. Otherwise she's terrible.

CC: Liz Smith did an article on her recently in the New York Post. They mentioned her as a man.

JS: Well, I'll tell you. Liz Smith and everybody else is going to get the doughnut.

CC: She'll figure it out. I was going to write about it in my blog. So Jacki, your plans are to bring this to Broadway?

JF: Yeah, this whole thing is a dream come true! Truly, this is a childhood dream. I was in the theatre as a child. I wanted to produce or direct something in the theatre that was not onstage. I never really liked, was never comfortable on the stage. And I had to give that up several times for many reasons. But I kept coming back to it. It just wouldn't go away. So, several years ago, five or six years ago, I decided to pursue that dream again. But this! This I could have never imagined. The project and the people I'm working with are never anything I would have ounted on. To me it's a gift. I'm just doing the best I can with it.

ES: You're doing an incredible job.

JS: The whole staff is crazy about her. She's also the prettiest producer in town.

JF: This Thornton Wilder play is traveling the globe the world half a century and is still going. This musical, I think, will capture an audience and move many people. Like in Princeton. I mean, we had nothing, and literally, the four house lights is all we had.

CC: They were throwing money?

JF: They were like "Can I invest?" There's nothing to invest in right now. We're just a workshop. But, it was that moving. So, I stay with that. And I've carried that. It'll be two years in June. And it's really motivating because I've watched that week—in the audience, and that's all you have to do. The audience will decide. They will really bring this to Broadway. It will come from that.

CC: I hope so! Are you the only producer? Or do you have investors?

JF: I do have investors.

CC: Right, but are you the sole producer on the show?

JF: Westport is really the producer of Westport. And David Brown. He actually supported all the workshops which were many. Now, I'm coming in. He's been terrific, supportive.

ES: David Brown thinks you're terrific.

JF: He's a great guy. I've learned so much from him. Do you have his book? He has a book.

ES: He has a book?

JS: He bought a book or he wrote a book?

JF: He wrote a book.

ES: I'd love to read that.


JS:I have a book too. We all have books.

All About Joe- My Lunch With Joe Stein.

Photo of Jacki Florin, Joe Stein and Elisa Stein by Brad Balfour

All About Joe Stein


Written by Corine Cohen
Page 1 of 4All About Us
Through April 28
Westport Playhouse
25 Powers Court
Westport, Connecticut

www.westportplayhouse.org





Joe Stein began his decades-long career in the theater through Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows."

Stein wrote the book for the classic musical "Fiddler on the Roof," winning a Tony and a Drama Circle Critics Award.Though Joe Stein may be 93 (he was born on May 30th, 1912), he hasn't stopped working since he started on Broadway in the late 1940's. When he did his first shows such as "Mrs. Gibbons' Boys" (written by Stein) and "Lend an Ear" (a revue where he wrote some sketches), Broadway was a very different place. But Stein has survived —and thrived working with the best and creating the book to some of the finest shows on Broadway.

Stein was the librettist for such hit musicals such as "Fiddler on the Roof" (music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick), "Zorba" (lyrics by Fred Ebb; music by John Kander), and "Rags" (music by Charles Strouse; lyrics by Stephen Schwartz). He's been nominated for and won Tony and Drama Critics Circle Awards and has enjoyed the best of Broadway performing his shows.

A Jewish-American playwright, Stein began his career as a social worker, writing comedy on the side until a chance encounter led him to Sid Caesar's "Your Show of Shows," where he joined the writing team that included Mel Brooks, Woody Allen, Carl Reiner, Neil Simon, Larry Gelbart, Mel Tolkin, and Aaron Ruben. Stein went on to write a musical about Pennsylvania: Stein, with writing partner, Will Glickman, found himself drawn to the Amish community of Lancaster County and returned to New York to write his first notable show, "Plain and Fancy."

Recently Stein saw his handy work with the show "Rags," (though short-lived on Broadway with only 22 performances, it received five Tony nominations) turned into a concert for World AIDS Day earlier this year.

When I interviewed Stein, his wife Elisa Loti Stein and producer Jacki Florin at the Vico Restaurant on the Upper East Side, it was on the heels of rehearsing his latest show, "All About Us," with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb; based on the play "The Skin of Our Teeth" by Thorton Wilder. We talked about his prestigious theatrical past and hopeful future.

Corine Cohen: Recently your show "Rags" was done as a concert. What did you think of the production of "Rags," the concert?

Joe Stein: Over all I thought, considering the fact that, they had such limited time in preparing for it, I thought it was quite good! The audience reaction was very good. And, as a matter of fact, that’s one of the beauties of the theatre. We've learned certain things. We're making certain changes as a result of that showing. Even after all these years, we can keep changing things because it's a theatre. It's not film or a novel where once it's done, it's finished. I really liked it. I've always liked that show.

CC: if you could only pick one of your shows, what is your favorite?

JS: Well, I'll tell you. The favorite right now is the one I'm working on. That's the truth. I really love this show. I always like the show I'm working on anyway. We've been working on it for a long time. We were never discouraged. We always thought it was a gem.

Elisa Loti Stein [Joe's wife]: What's the name of the show?

JS: Listen, you don't have to cue me honey, because I was getting to it. The name of it is "All About Us."

CC: Originally it had a different name, why did they change the name?

JS: It was changed because…We've had several names. We subsequently decided to use the name of the original play, "The Skin of Our Teeth, a Musical." But first of all, it was rather a clumsy name. And secondly, I think it would be confused with the play. This is not the play. This is the musical! "All About Us". It is about the survival of the human race, in very personal pairings.

CC: What's it like working on the show; what's the behind the scenes experience like?

JS: Well, when we were in pre-production it means that the script is basically done. But we're making tiny little changes, adjust things to the needs of set, the needs of the choreographer.

CC: Who's the choreographer?

Jacki Florin [the producer]: Chris Gattelli.

CC: Oh I love him. He's fantastic! He did "I Love You Because" and a few other shows off Broadway and is currently working on "Adrift In Macao."

JF: Also he did "Altar Boys."

JS: The thing that's special about Chris is he's awfully inventive. Never the same. And we need that kind of quality for the show. This is a show that goes all over the place. It's a show that I hope is very funny. I hope very serious. I hope very touching. And I hope very exciting. I mean, it's all of those things.

CC: I love Eartha Kitt; what character does she play?

JS: Eartha plays the fortune teller. She's done the part several times really and she always stops the show.

CC: She always does. She steals every show; she's perfect, or should I say, purrrrfect!

JS: Yeah, she has basically one major number, "Rain." A vital number. It was not written for her, but it sounds like it was.

CC: "Rain?" How does that go?

JS: I'm not going to sing it.

CC: Can you please?

JS: I'm not, I'm not Eartha Kitt.

CC: I'm joking.

JF: It's a movie number. Exciting, but it's also funny.

JS: I'm very happy with the company. We couldn't have a better company. We really couldn't. The guy we wanted for the lead which I kind of dreamed about we got. His name is Shu.

CC: Shuler Hensley? He's incredible. I saw him in "Oklahoma." He's one of the best singers I've ever heard. When I saw him in "Oklahoma," I was just moved by his performance. He won a Drama Desk Award.

JS: He also won a Tony. It's not only that he is a good singer. He has a great quality that he moves you enormously. He's a wonderful actor, and this is a very special kind of part that really very few people can play perfectly. And he can.

CC: And, he's right now starring in "Tarzan." He's wonderful in "Tarzan." Did he leave Tarzan and is working on this now?

JF: I don't know. I think he's still doing "Tarzan." He also happens to be a sweet guy too, for whatever that counts. When he came on, everyone was wowed. The entire cast and design team are really committed and excited.

JS: Yes, that's right. When I saw Shu, I thought, "God if we could get him to do it," and we got him. And the girl that we have to play Sabina, is like made or written for the part. That's Cade, Cady Huffman.

CC: Cady Huffman from "The Producers."

JS: Well she's going to be in "All About Us."

CC: So she's the lead. They are the two leads?

JS: Well, those are two of them, the leads. There are like, I would say, four leads or five.

JF: Because the family is four. And, five would make it with Sabina, the maid. And, then you have Eartha, the fortune teller who would be six. Then, you have these four wonderful wise men. So, it grows to almost 10. Almost everyone is really important and special!

JS: Also, we have those three beauty parlor, beauty contestants. And that's the cast.

CC: When is the first preview? And how long does it run in Westport before it transfers to Broadway?

JF: April 10th. And it will run for three weeks

CC: What will it take to bring it to Broadway?

JF: I think the audience is what will make the difference. I think that we can never predict. The show's spectacular but nobody has seen
it.

CC: Right. I've never have seen it.

JF: Nobody has. And this is a bit of a challenging show, but now it's accessible because Joe's book made it very accessible, and the music certainly helped. And, I don't think you could describe it. It's not easy to describe. I think when people see it in Westport, it will translate easily.

Continue to part 2-4 by scrolling to the top of this blog.

MAC AWARDS- MAY 1.

Come celebrate with……



Joan Rivers…Rex Reed

Lee Roy Reams…Charles Busch…Stephen Schwartz

Carol Hall…David Zippel…Henry Krieger

Melissa Errico…Alison Fraser…Leslie Kritzer

John Wallowitch...Jamie deRoy

Julie Gold …John Bucchino…David Friedman

KT Sullivan…Mark Nadler…Alysha Umphress

And many, many more……



The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs will celebrate the 21st Annual MAC Awards, on May 1, 2007, at B.B. King Blues Club, in New York City. The announcement came from the Board of Directors of MAC; Ricky Ritzel, President. Phil Geoffrey Bond will be directing the Awards Ceremony.

The MAC Awards celebrate the best of live entertainment in Cabaret, Jazz & Comedy in New York. MAC Board of Directors Awards will honor Lincoln Center’s American Songbook, singer & Broadway star Karen Mason & performer Seth Rudetsky for his ongoing talk show “Seth Rudetsky’s Broadway Chatterbox.” Special Lifetime Achievement Awards will go to actress/singer Dody Goodman & cabaret impresario Jan Wallman. Time Out New York will present their “Special Achievement MAC Award” to Leslie Kritzer for her Joe’s Pub Show, “Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches.”



ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: (212)465-2662

Manoel Feliciano Added To Broadway By The Year!!!

MARY BOND DAVIS, JOSH PRINCE AND MANOEL FELCIANO

ADDED TO BROADWAY BY THE YEAR: THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1959

ON MONDAY, APRIL 30 AT THE TOWN HALL


DIRECTED BY MARC KUDISCH, FEATURING EMILY SKINNER AND BRUCE VILANCH

Created and Hosted by Scott Siegel



An all-star cast of nine Broadway stars will perform the music born on The Great White Way in 1959, in Broadway By the Year: The Broadway Musicals of 1959, presented by The Town Hall.on Monday April 30 at 8 PM. Hairspray star Mary Bond Davis, Josh Prince, choreographer of Broadway's upcoming Shrek, and the Tony Nominated Manoel Felciano will join the previously announced cast that includes Marc Kudisch (who will be directing his third Broadway by the Year concert), Emily Skinner, Bruce Vilanch, Mark Jacoby, Sarah Jane McMahon, and Nancy Lemenager.

Tickets for the event are $40 and $45 from TicketMaster, (212) 307-4100, or www.ticketmaster.com, or in person at the Town Hall box office, 123 West 43rd Street, New York, NY., (212) 840-2824, or www.the-townhall-nyc.org .


This talented cast will be singing some of the greatest music ever produced on Broadway. 1959 featured Gypsy, The Sound of Music, Fiorello!, Take Me Me Along, The Nervous Set, Once Upon a Mattress, and more! Assembling this cast was a joy, said Scott Siegel, who created Broadway by the Year for Town Hall and who writes and hosts each concert in this critically acclaimed, popular series. Getting Marc Kudisch to both direct and perform in this show will double the pleasure for our audience, said Siegel, not to mention treating everyone to a slew of great stars making their Broadway by the Year debuts, among them Sarah Jane McMahon, Mark Jacoby, Manoel Felciano, Josh Prince and Bruce Vilanch.

The music from 1959 is unusually eclectic, Siegel continued, so I needed to assemble a cast with equally wide-ranging talents. Getting Bruce Vilanch in a year that featured a Jackie Gleason musical is perfect. Pairing the great Nancy Lemenager from Never Gonna Dance and Movin Out with Josh Prince continues the exciting dance tradition that Nancy, herself, helped to create at Town Hall. The iconic music from Gypsy and The Sound of Music will be especially featured with Emily Skinner and Mary Bond Davis getting their respective cracks at Mama Rose, while Sarah Jane McMahon (late of The Pirates of Penzance at the New York City Opera) will provide a classic take on the beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein show.

Drama Desk

I wanted to thank Eddie Varley for sending yet another cute cartoon of me. This time with a Drama Desk Award. You can buy a ticket to the Drama Desk awards by going to:
http://www.theatermania.com and to find out more info check: http://www.dramadesk.org.

Thanks, Eddie!

Jamie And Larry!

Shaw Reading At The Players Club.

Bruce Vilanch is the funniest man alive. I just wanted to share that with you.
He played a Lion at the PLAYERS CLUB and he was hysterical. So was Musto.

These readings take place once a month. For more information:






Performance Schedule

FOR TICKETS 212-352-3101
Available online the first of every month.
(Do Not Call The Players for Reservations)
ONLY $15



Next up:
May 21, 2007 @ 7PM
ADMIRABLE BASHVILLE
June 18, 2007 @ 7PM
VILLAGE WOOING &
HOW HE LIED TO HER HUSBAND
July 23, 2007 @ 7PM
THE MILLIONAIRESS
September 17, 2007 @ 7PM
MAN AND SUPERMAN
October 22, 2007 @ 7PM
PRESS CUTTINGS &
PASSION, POISON and PETRIFACTION
November 19, 2007 @ 7PM
WIDOWERS HOUSES
December 17, 2007 @ 7PM
PYGMALION


FOR TICKETS 212-352-3101
Available online on the first of every month.
(Do Not Call The Players for Reservations)
ONLY $15
(No Service Charge)

My Corner In The Sky- (Cyberspace)

Photo of Pippin DVD cover which can be found on Amazon.com. I really enjoyed watching the DVD and intend to buy it. You can buy it on Amazon.com and it is a must see for those who never had the chance to see this gem of a show!




This week a new friend invited me over to watch "Pippin" on her DVD player. It has been years since I have seen the show and it put me into tears. I was moved. "Pippin" was one of the first Broadway musicals that changed my life. I even used it as my yearbook quote. If you don't know this by now, "Corine's Corner" was named after "Corner of The Sky" my favorite song. I have found my Corner and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Corine's Corner will be online for two years on July 4th and I would like to thank you all for reading.

As I sat on my friends couch watching "Pippin" with Ben Vereen, Chita Rivera and William Katt, I could not stop comparing it to Avenue Q. Pippin is searching for "Purpose" the same way Princeton is. Corner of the Sky and Purpose have so much in common. It moved me.

Cheers,
Corine

Interview with Grease Film Star Didi Conn.

Interview with Didi Conn.

by Corine Cohen

Corine Cohen:Where were you born?

Didi Conn: Brooklyn New York.

When did you realize your passion for acting?

I was always dancing around the house -entertaining my relatives with my interpretive dancing- A big favorite was dancing to Harry Belafonte's "Woman is Smarter!". I had a terrific teacher in the fourth grade, Mrs. Rothstein. Instead of assigning us to write book reports she gave us the option of expressing how we felt about the book we read in any manner we liked. So, I turned the "Adventures of Pippi Longstocking" into a full length play starring ME! My teacher was so impressed I had to perform it for all the classrooms in the school. I was launched.

Where did you go to school?

I went to Midwood High School in Brooklyn and then to Brooklyn college for 1 1/2 years. I was chomping at the bit to get my career started- so after I took all the theater courses at Brooklyn College I enrolled in a two year program at AMDA in the city ( The American Musical Dramatic Academy) I was there for 6 months and loved it. My teachers encouraged me to audition for some professional work during our summer vacation. I landed my first job. It was for the National Theatre Company's Mimika Pantomime troupe. I ended up touring with them for the next two years.

How did you get the role in Grease? It is a classic! I have seen it hundreds of times!
I auditioned for GREASE along with 2000 other hopefuls! My agent told me to go to Paramount and dress in 1950's clothes. So I went to Western costumes and rented tight stretch pants and a pink sweater set with matching pink scarf and then I went to get my hair styled. I drove down a street I had never driven down before and I could believe my eyes- there was FRENCHY'S salon! I went in and there was Frenchy- with a big beautiful hairdo. I asked her if she could make my hair look like hers. I didn't tell her I was auditioning for a part of an aspiring beautician. I wanted to hear all about how she got into the business. It was so interesting and when I left I had not only a great hairdo ( I think she used at least two bottles of hairspray!) I also had a terrific backstory to base my character on!

What was it like to be in such a wonderful film?

Everyone asks me if we knew when we were filming the movie if we knew it was going to become a classic. Believe me, if I knew, I would have asked for points!

How is Married life to David Shire?

"David Shire and I have been happily married for 21 years! We have a 12 year old son. David is a genius. He writes the most magnificent music and he is a devoted and loving husband. and father- I am so blessed!

Tell me about "Souls of Naples" Tell me about your character.

"I love working in the theater. I love this play and John Turturro and our talented cast and director Roman Paska and Theatre for a New Audience led by the brilliant Jeffrey Horowitz. "

I play Carmela, the doorman's sister. My character is described as a "damned soul". I see her as someone who has suffered a great shock and has become slightly deranged because of it. The main theme of the play is about who and what are the "ghosts" in our life. Also, a very moving theme is our inability to say what we feel to the people we love and when we finally find the courage to speak from the heart we are rewarded with a miracle.



Corine Dana Cohen, Associate Producer of the Drama Desk Awards, works as a freelance writer.

Interview with Tom D' Angora. Corine's Corner Flashback!!

Interview with Tom D'Angora.


Corine: Where were you born?

Tom: I was born in Winchester Ma.



CC: Your show is adorable. How did you come up with the idea?

TD: I wanted to do a club act for a long time. I didn’t want it to just be me singing all of my favorite songs for an hour since I don’t particularly like the sound of my own voice. I wanted to do something I could have fun with and the audience could have fun watching. One day, I was telling some friends stories about my obsession with some Broadway divas and some of the crazy situations that occurred because of my obsession with these fabulous women and they were on the floor laughing. So over the next few months my director/live in lover Michael Duling and I starting putting the original production of Divas I’ve Done together which featured all Broadway divas. Broadway divas and Princess Di (she always looked so good we had to throw her in for good measure). We opened July 2nd 2003 and it’s been growing ever since.



CC: I had so much fun. You are adorable! Other then your show, do you have a favorite musical?

TD: I have a few. Most recently Caroline Or Change (Which we scheduled our L.A. run of divas around). I loved Urinetown. But if I have to choose one, I would have to say Jane Eyre The Musical. I don’t know if it was the actual show or Marla Schaffel’s flawless performance in it that makes it my favorite. Seeing her play that role made me understand how important good acting is in Musical theater. People put the acting second to how high you can sing and it is sad. But Marla as Jane Eyre had the acting chops and could sing her face off so what more could a young gay boy need.



CC: Have you ever performed with Liza?

TD: OH MY GOD WOULD I LOVE TO!!!!!!! But no, I have not. I have seen her live many times. I have met her twice but I was shaking the whole time we have photos. The closest I have got to performing with Liza was with Christine Pedi at my show. But Pedi is a legend in her own right so in many ways it was equally thrilling.



CC: Pedi is one of my favorite performers. I love her! You are so lucky to have had her in your show. Tell me about "Somewhere That's Pink".

TD: Well we love pink at my house. How can you not it is so fun! The Song “Somewhere That’s Pink” is of course a parody of the brilliant song from Little Shop “Somewhere That’s Green”. I was putting Divas together and needless to say Ellen Greene is one of my all time favorites but I wanted to show a parallel between me and Audrey. I wanted to show why Audrey/Ellen is such a gay icon. We can all relate we all have a day dream. My friend Tom Orr is a fabulous parody lyricist and he gave me parody lyrics to Green. They were super funny but didn’t fit my show or my personal day dream. I had never written parody lyrics before but I decided If I were to do Somewhere That’s Pink it had to be about me and my “sweet little guy” (Michael). It was so much fun, I had it rewritten in 25 minutes and it has been my favorite thing to sing for two years. Since that I do all my own parody lyrics.



CC: What is next?

TD: Oh boy! I don’t know for sure. We want to do Divas I’ve done until Labor Day. After that I’m going to tour with a Stand up act I’m working on. I’m also writing a Sitcom pilot but really who isn’t….



CC: Tell me about your fantasy job.

TD: My true fantasy job would be an 8 figure pay check to spend time with my dog Parker and boyfriend Michael. My dream role is probably Peter in Boy From Oz (but I can’t dance). In all honesty though, I’m living my fantasy, I get to be on stage all the time and perform at Studio 54. I get to come home to the most loving dog and most supportive boyfriend in the world. But if you can pull any strings I’d like to replace Conan O’Brien.



CC: If you can add a diva, who would it be and why.

TD:Now that my show is all Hollywood Divas I’d like to add back Maya Days (Aida, Rent, Jesus…) I think she deserves a record deal and a few movies because she is true Superstar and I can’t wait for the day that everybody in the world knows how amazing she is. That would be the coolest reason to add a diva. It’ll happen I have no doubt.



CC: Any funny dressing room stories? Bloopers?

TD: There are many people who come and see my show over and over again because they say something always goes wrong. Very recently I was singing my parody of Fernando retitled “Fran Drescher” and I was shaking the mic stand because I think I’m a rock star and The Mic flew off the stand and into the audience. So I was in the audience looking for the mic meanwhile the band is still playing, the back up singers are still singing and I’m on the ground in the audience looking for microphone. I’m a true professional.



CC: Thank you Tom. You are a pleasure to watch.

Interview With Playwright Earl Wilson.

Interview with Earl WilsonPlaywright “You’re It” by Corine Cohen

Corine Cohen: When did you realize your passion for theater?

Earl Wilson:I saw the original South Pacific, when I was a little boy. That was the first musical I ever saw, and I remember being completely captivated and thinking that I wanted to be involved when I grew up. My dad was a columnist for the NY Post who covered show business and consequently, I spent many evenings out with my folks at the Copacabana when the great pop singers would appear there...Sinatra, Bennett, Sammy Davis, Jr. etc. That's where my musical education really took place. Those night club shows were spectacular musically and were a kind of "Theater"...though I suppose nobody would have thought of it that way. I started out as a singer when I was in my 20's and performed around the country in night clubs...just as I had learned from my evenings with my folks. I started making up songs in my head as far back as I can remember....and so the singing and songwriting went together.

What are your top ten plays of all time?

I couldn't come up with a list...I really like most everything I see...There is always something to be learned especially if you are trying to create shows yourself. When you write a show and see it done by more than one group of people you become very aware of how different each production is....and how little you, as author, actually have to do with how it is accepted. Knowing that tends to make one less critical.

Do you have a favorite musical that is currently running on Broadway?

No. As I have said, I'm sure I'd find a lot to like about each of them.

Tell me about "Let My People Come" or is it Cum? EEK.

It's "Come"...and it is a musical revue about SEX...with some nudity and a lot of x-rated language. It was nominated for a Grammy in 1974 and has appeared all over the world. It is a really fun show that takes the attitude that everyone loves sex...when they are honest enough to admit it...and that we'd probably all be a lot better off if we were less up tight about it. It was very popular in the 70's and 80's because we had just come through the Viet Nam War, Richard Nixon...and the younger generation [my generation] coming of age and announcing their sexual freedom. We are planning a re-launching of the show because I think there is a new generation who would love this show...and an older generation who would love to re-experience it.

Tell me about You're It! It sounds like fun.

'You're It!" is a musical revue about what it is like to be in the theater...except we actually bring audience members up on stage and put them into the show...they have to "re-act" to whatever happens to them...it is a great deal of fun because there are moments when the show is really being ad-libbed...we're flying without a net...and what I find really amazing is how great the audience members ad lib. They really get into it....and they come up with amazing things to say in the situations. It is also a really fine "Musical", in that the songs our cast sings are, forgive my immodesty, really good. We've done the show in a few venues and it has been a fascinating experience to watch how different it is at every performance. It is a HOOT!

Chester Gregory Interview!

Photo of Chester at The Triad last summer. Photo by Maryann Lopinto.




A brief Interview with Chester Gregory.

Corine Cohen: How did you start in this business?

Chester Gregory: Performing is all I ever wanted to do. I grew up admiring performers like, Sammy Davis Jr. Gregory Hines and Michael Jackson. I am also from Gary, IN, (Michael's home town as well) so his story of success was very inspirational to me.


CC: Was "Hairspray" your first big break?

CG: Hairspray was my first Broadway show, but I think my first "break" was with a show called The Jackie Wilson Story, it was sold out for 3 years and ran in Chicago, then was eventually moved to NY. The "break" happened when I was seen by the producers of "Hairspray." I was brought right in to the final call backs... then a few weeks later, I was in the show.


CC: You were fantastic! Tell me about your newest CD.

CG: My latest CD is called "In Search of High Love" I've been working on it for three years! It will finally be released this summer. I'm excited to work with some very talented producers Afta-1, Neva, Dave Liang, Dave Cook and Kevin Kerr. It's R&B/Soul music with a little bit of a throw back feel....

CC: What do you want to do after "Tarzan?"

CG: Part of the reason I accepted this part, was to be able to work with Oscar and Grammy winner Phil Collins. When I finish with this show I want to focus on my music. I have a lot to say and a lot to sing about....


CC: Tell me about your concert at the Triad on April 30th.

CG: For the first time ever, I will be performing all the songs that will be on my new album "In Search of High Love". The songs tell you, what I've been going through personally. By the end of the night, people will know me a little better.....



CC: What are five things people don't know about you?

CG: I'm shy.
I don't eat pork.
I love Family Guy.
I love Hip Hop.
One of my favorite producers is J Dilla aka Jay Dee.


You can catch Chester Gregory in "Tarzan" and at the Triad on April 30th.
Thank you, Chester!!!

MAC AFTER PARTY. (Also After The Drama Desk Nominations Party! May 1!)

THE LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE



presents a very special edition of



THE AFTER PARTY




When the curtain comes down on the awards at BB King

on Tuesday, May 1, join us down the street for fun and frivolity

With special guest, 2007 MAC Board of Directors Award Honoree KAREN MASON!





The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Café (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to announce a special edition of THE AFTER PARTY, an informal social gathering for the theatrically inclined. On Tuesday, May 1 beginning at 11:30pm, join hosts BRANDON CUTRELL (MAC & Bistro Award winner) and ALYSHA UMPHRESS (XL Star and 2007 MAC nominee), as well as RAY FELLMAN (Captain Louie and Musical Director of the 2007 MAC Awards) at the piano, and award-winning vocalist LISA ASHER (MAC winner and 2007 MAC nominee - her pour is as ferocious as her belt), for a very special addition to our usual Friday night weekly party in the heart of Manhattan’s theatre district. There is no cover charge and no minimum. Come and sing yourself as the mic is always open (only rule: your selection must be from a musical!), or sit back and enjoy a cocktail with friends. Located just blocks from the Great White Way, you never know who might drop in.



For this special evening, we’re thrilled that our guest will be the amazing KAREN MASON, who is receiving the MAC Board of Directors Award that evening on behalf of her remarkable accomplishments in New York Cabaret. Karen will be on hand to sing a few numbers and hang out with friends and fans.



The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located downstairs, within The West Bank Café, 407 West 42nd St at 9th Avenue. There is a full bar and bar menu available, and reservations are not necessary for this event.



The 21st Annual MAC Awards will take place Tuesday, May 1, at 7:30pm at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, 237 West 42nd Street (bet. 7th & 8th Ave.) Doors open at 6:30pm. Tickets are $125, $75, $60, and $40, with a two drink minimum and a full dinner menu available. Tickets are available at the B.B. King Box Office, open 10:30am-midnight, or by calling (212) 307-7171 or visiting www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call (212) 465-2662 or visit www.macnyc.com.



KAREN MASON has appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia!, Sunset Boulevard, Jerome Robbins' Broadway and Torch Song Trilogy. Her Off-Broadway credits include And the World Goes 'Round and Carnival, and she has also been seen on the small screen in "Law & Order" and "As the World Turns." A seven-time MAC Award-winning performer, Mason has charmed audiences at Carnegie Hall, Rainbow & Stars, Davenport's and L.A.'s The Cinegrill. Her solo recordings include “The Sweetest of Nights,” "When the Sun Comes Out," "Better Days," "Not So Simply Broadway" and "Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!" Her most recent CD is titled "The Sweetest of Nights." www.karenmason.com.



BRANDON CUTRELL is a Bistro Award and two-time MAC Award winner. New York credits: Broadway By The Year at Town Hall, The 2nd Annual Broadway Unplugged at Town Hall, Pippin (with Ben Vereen and Rosie O'Donnell), La Gioconda at TheatreSource, David Friedman's King Island Christmas, and Liz Swados' Waiting For Lefty. National: Theatre of the Stars, Goodspeed Musicals, the Human Race Theatre and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. For nearly two years, Brandon was the original host of the MAC Award nominated show, Mostly Sondheim. In December of 2005, Brandon made his debut in the world-famous Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel. In June of 2006, Brandon made his solo debut at Feinstein's, New York's legendary nightclub on Park Avenue. Currently, Brandon can be seen every Friday night at The Laurie Beechman Theatre on 42nd Street as the host of The After Party, a weekly open-mic, musical theatre soiree. Brandon's self-titled debut cd will be released on June 4th, 2007 at Feinstein’s. Please visit www.BrandonCutrell.com.



ALYSHA UMPHRESS, a recent graduate of The Boston Conservatory, made a splash last year at the Chelsea bar, XL, winning their American Idol-type competition, XL Star. She recently opened for Diana Krall at the Fujitsu Jazz Festival, soloed along side Carlos Santana at San Francisco’s Fillmore Auditorium and performed with the Boston Pops. Regional roles include the Witch in Into the Woods, Trina in Falsettos and Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress. Alysha is the recipient of two Bay Area Theatre Critics Awards for her work in Rags and FAB! She has belted out the National Anthem for The Oakland A's, San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings and San Jose Sharks. She is the proud recipient of a 2007 MAC Award nomination for her Outstanding Jazz Vocalist.


LISA ASHER’s critically acclaimed one-woman show, Stranded in the Moonlight, recently completed a successful run at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, were she was hailed by audiences and critics alike, and garnered the 2007 Nightlife Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist. Lisa made her national television debut in a solo vocal performance on the Emmy Award-winning The Rosie O’Donnell Show, at the insistence of the show’s musical director, John McDaniel. Ms. Asher is the recipient of a MAC (Manhattan Association of Clubs & Cabarets) Award for Outstanding Vocalist, as well as the Back Stage Bistro Award for her solo work in cabarets in New York. Her critically acclaimed debut CD, Let The Mystery Be, was nominated for a MAC Award for Recording of the Year, and her recent release Lisa Asher, Live at the Duplex, is available in stores nationwide. Lisa has appeared as a featured vocalist and actress in numerous concert and theatrical venues around the country. Recently, she appeared with Tony nominated songwriter/singer Craig Carnelia (Sweet Smell of Success, Imaginary Friends) at a sold out concert at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Recent theatrical credits include starring in the world premiere of two new musicals – I Married Wyatt Earp at The Bristol Riverside Theater and, Almost Heaven . . . Songs and Stories of John Denver at the Tony Award-Winning Denver Theatre Center Company. Lisa has toured nationally with the Broadway show, The Who’s Tommy and performed in the Off-Broadway hit, Woody Guthrie’s American Song which received a Drama Desk Nomination for Best Musical. www.LisaAsher.com.



RAY FELLMAN recently made his Off-Broadway debut when he was handpicked by Stephen Schwartz to musical direct his off-Broadway musical, Captain Louie. Other Musical Director credits include The Tutor by Wood/Gerle (59 E. 59th), Reluctant Pilgrim (The Barrow Group), Blood Drive: A Musical Triptych by Sheinkin/Derfner (workshop at the O’Neill Theater Center) and Amahl and the Night Visitors (national tour directed by David Aiken). Ray has been seen behind the piano in The Storefront Theatre’s New Mondays (with Bill Russell and Emily Skinner), No Reservations (starring Brandon Cutrell with special guests Karen Mason and Shoshana Bean), Broadway Downtown (with Kristy Cates) and We Miss Nancy: The Storefront Sings Lamott (with Liz McCartney). He has also served as accompanist for Utah Festival Opera Company, The Opera Company of Brooklyn, Mid America Productions at Carnegie Hall (with John Rutter) and A Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony starring Judy Kaye. As a singer, Ray has sung with some of the finest opera companies in the country, including Florida Grand, Glimmerglass and New Orleans operas. Ray holds degrees in piano and voice from the Indiana University School of Music. Ray is the proud recipient of a 2007 Bistro Award on behalf of his work for The After Party.

John Jeffrey Martin In Concert

John Jeffrey Martin at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (Hairspray)
John Jeffrey Martin

Thursday, April 19 @ 9pm

$5 cover

The star of the hit stage show, High School Musical, takes to our stage for a one night only concert event! He’ll be offering some covers on piano and guitar, and some original tunes to boot, maybe even a few original paintings on display.

Jennifer Simard Stars On Broadway In Spelling Bee!

Photo of Jennifer Simard by Maryann Lopinto.

Congratulations are in order for Jennifer Simard who will be starring in Spelling Bee on Broadway on Tuesday April 17th.

Mac Users

Hi,
Please ignore the new look it is temporary so Mac users can scroll on my blog and site. Hope you enjoy it.

Corine

The New York Drama Critics' Circle Announce 2006-07 Winners

NEW YORK DRAMA CRITICS’ CIRCLE

TO ANNOUNCE 2006-07 WINNERS

MONDAY, MAY 7



Adam Feldman, president of the New York Drama Critics’ Circle (NYDCC), announced today that the Circle will meet at the offices of Time Out New York magazine on Monday, May 7, to select the winners of the 71st annual New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards, which will be announced at approximately 7pm, immediately following the meeting.



The awards will be presented at a cocktail reception to be held on Monday, May 14, at the Algonquin Hotel, where the NYDCC was founded in 1935 by such legendary critics as Brooks Atkinson, Walter Winchell and Robert Benchley.



The New York Drama Critics’ Circle comprises 21 drama critics from daily newspapers, magazines, and wire services based in the New York metropolitan area. The New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, which has been awarded every year since 1936 to the best new play of the season (with optional awards for foreign or American plays, musicals and performers), is the nation's second oldest theatre award, after the Pulitzer Prize for drama.



The prestigious award for best play carries with it a cash prize of $2,500. Also, a cash award of $1,000 will go to the playwright who receives the award for best American or foreign play. The awards are made possible by a grant from the Lucille Lortel Foundation.



Adam Feldman, theatre critic for Time Out New York, has served as president of the NYDCC since 2005. Frank Scheck of the New York Post serves as vice president; Michael Kuchwara of the Associated Press is treasurer.


In addition to Messrs. Feldman, Scheck, and Kuchwara, the members of the New York Drama Critics' Circle are: Clive Barnes of the New York Post; Melissa Rose Bernardo of Entertainment Weekly; David Cote of Time Out New York; Joe Dziemianowicz of the Daily News; Michael Feingold of the Village Voice; Robert Feldberg of the Bergen Record; Elysa Gardner of USA Today; Eric Grode of the New York Sun; John Heilpern of The New York Observer; Jacques le Sourd of Gannett Newspapers; Jeremy McCarter of New York; David Rooney of Variety; David Sheward of Back Stage; John Simon of Bloomberg News; Michael Sommers of The Star-Ledger/Newhouse Newspapers; Terry Teachout of The Wall Street Journal; Linda Winer of Newsday; and Richard Zoglin of Time.

Jamie DeRoy At The Metropolitan Room April 26th

Photo of Jamie by Eric Stephen Jacobs
For Immediate Release:

Jamie deRoy & friends
Continues Monthly Series of Thursday Nights of Cabaret
Thursday, April 26th at Metropolitan Room
* Mary Bond Davis * William Finn * Gay Marshall *
* Karen Mason * Jeffrey Pirrami * Jay Rogers *


Celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy will continue the monthly series of Thursday evenings of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie deRoy & friends on Thursday, April 26th (7:30PM) at the New York hotspot The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street Between 5th & 6th Avenues). The series will continue Thursdays, May 31st, and June 28th at 7:30PM.

The April 26th evening will feature the following artists: Hairspray’s talented “Motormouth Maybelle,” Mary Bond Davis; acclaimed playwright and composer William Finn; singer/actress Gay Marshall, last seen in the revival of Jacques Brel is alive and well and living in Paris; award-winning cabaret and Broadway performer Karen Mason; hilarious comedian Jeffrey Pirrami and Drama Desk Award nominee, cabaret favorite Jay Rogers. Barry Kleinbort is the director of Jamie deRoy & friends and Lanny Meyers will serve as musical director.


The colorful cabaret series, which has been thrilling New York City audiences for the past 16 years and serves as the basis for deRoy's award-winning cable television show, spotlights a wide variety of well-known entertainers and newcomers lighting up the cabaret, theater, and comedy worlds.

JAMIE deROY has won eight MAC Awards, four Back Stage Bistro Awards, ten Telly Awards and CaB Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award for her extensive work on both stage and screen. Jamie has appeared onstage with Joan Rivers and has headlined at many of New York’s major clubs. She has produced eight CDs in the Jamie deRoy & friends series on the Harbinger and PS Classics labels. Her theatre producing credits include Broadway: Coram Boy, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only, Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Say Goodnight Gracie; Off-Broadway: Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell, Athol Fugard’s Exits and Entrances, Christopher Durang’s Adrift in Macao, A. R. Gurney’s Indian Blood, Terrence McNally’s Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). Her TV and film producing credits include the Emmy-nominated "The Biggest Little Operas in Town" for Channel 13 and Rick McKay’s documentary Broadway: The Golden Age. Her acting credits include appearances on the television shows “Alice,” “Spiderman” and “Knight Rider,” and in the films GoodFellas, Raging Bull, See No Evil Hear No Evil, and Married to It. Onstage, Jamie appeared with Rene Auberjonois in The Threepenny Opera, as well as in The Drunkard with musical direction by Barry Manilow.


Jamie deRoy & friends at Metropolitan Room at Gotham, 34 West 22 Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues) has a $20 cover charge plus a two beverage minimum. For reservations, please call (212) 206-0440. Program is subject to change.

The Week In Review....

Photo of Art Garfunkel's newest CD. He is an incredible performer and he gave everyone a very enchanting evening!
What a glorious week! Some of my greatest highlights:

I saw A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN. I was moved to tears! I found it riveting! Eve Best and Kevin Spacey give glorious performances.

I also had the pleasure of seeing Art Garfunkel in concert last evening. The man still has it after all these years! The best part was when he sang a duet with his son James. It was very touching! I have been a fan of his music for many years and was wondering if they should make a musical based on the music of Simon and Garfunkel. I wonder!

The Pirate Queen. I was was very impressed with the gorgeous sets and costumes. The dancing was gorgeous as was the singing. I was not crazy about the score, I could not remember one word of it but it is worth seeing for the dancing and costumes.
The best costumes this season.



Corine
;-)

The Pirate Queen On The View April 17th 11-12 EST.

Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg’s

THE PIRATE QUEEN



Stephanie J. Block and Hadley Fraser

will perform a LIVE, 3-song medley with 20 cast members

on ABC’s “The View”

Tuesday, April 17th at 11:00AM – 12:00PM

on channel 7





THE PIRATE QUEEN’s stars Stephanie J. Block and Hadley Fraser will perform a LIVE, 3-song medley with 20 cast members on ABC’s “The View” on Tuesday, April 17th at 11:00AM-12:00PM on channel 7 (outside of the Tri-state region, check local listings). Alain Boublil & Claude-Michel Schönberg’s epic new musical plays at the Hilton Theatre (213 West 42nd Street).







Commissioned and produced by Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the producers of Riverdance, THE PIRATE QUEEN combines classic storytelling with a sweeping score and joyous dancing to celebrate the real-life story of legendary Irish Chieftain Grace O’Malley: a compelling, inspiring heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th Century Ireland. To protect her people and save her one true love, O’Malley must confront the one woman more powerful than her…her fierce rival, Queen Elizabeth I of England.



Log on to The Pirate Queen website to view production photos and watch the daily video diary castcom:

http://www.thepiratequeen.com/pirate_queen_photos.php



The cast of 42, is led by Stephanie J. Block (Grace O’Malley), Hadley Fraser (Tiernan), Linda Balgord (Queen Elizabeth I), Marcus Chait (Donal),

Jeff McCarthy (Dubhdara) and William Youmans (Bingham).



www.ThePirateQueen.com

Legend Art Garfunkel at Jazz at Lincoln Center!!!!!!!!!!!

I have been a fan of Art Garfunkel since his free concert in Central Park with Simon.
This concert sounds incredible to blend his vocal talent with the greatest writers of showtunes! Art Garfunkel is one of my favorite singers of all time!
Friday April 13 and Saturday April 14

Check out his website for more information about his new cd, "Some Enchanted Evening"
http://www.artgarfunkel.com/map.html

The Allen Room

Frederick P. Rose Hall

Broadway at 60th Street

8:00pm

Tickets: $89.50 available by calling CenterCharge 212-721-6500, online at Jalc.org or the Jazz at Lincoln Center Box Office

Art Garfunkel is touring in support of his recently released solo album, Some Enchanted Evening – a musical celebration of material from the 20th century’s greatest songwriters, including Rodgers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, Antonio Carlos Jobim and George Gershwin. “I’ve been loving this stuff all my life,” Garfunkel says. The album is the organic next chapter in Garfunkel’s life, as he reflects on fatherhood and the chaotic world we live in.



Blessed with what the New York Times described as a "beautiful countertenor," singer Art Garfunkel has made an indelible mark on the music world as both a solo artist with "I Only Have Eyes for You" and half of the unrivaled Simon & Garfunkel with classics including "Bridge Over Troubled Water, “Sounds of Silence” and Mrs. Robinson!

*Metropolitan Talent Presents*

www.concertstonight.com

- - - -

Tony Award News! This In From The League.

TONY AWARDS ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES

ELIGIBILITY FOR 2007 NOMINATIONS
For more info go to www.tonyawards.com



New York, New York (April 12, 2007) – The Tony Award Administration Committee met today to decide the eligibility of four Broadway productions for the 2007 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards®, presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing.



All three parts of The Coast of Utopia will be considered as 1 play in the Best Play category.



Brían F. O’Bryne will be considered in the Leading Actor in a Play category for his performance in The Coast of Utopia.



Jefferson Mays will be considered in the Featured Actor in a Play category for his performance in Journey’s End.



John Mahoney will be considered in the Featured Actor in a Play category for his performance in Prelude to a Kiss.



All other decisions were consistent with the opening night credits.



This is the fourth time the Tony Award Administration Committee has met this year. It will meet one more time to discuss the eligibility of shows opening in the 2006-2007 season. The cut-off date for eligibility is May 9th and nominations will be announced on May 15th.



The Tony Awards will be broadcast in a live three-hour ceremony from Radio City Music Hall on the CBS television network on Sunday, June 10th.



The Tonys are presented by the League of American Theatres and Producers and the American Theatre Wing. At the League, Gerald Schoenfeld is Chairman and Charlotte St. Martin is Executive Director. At the Wing, Sondra Gilman is Chairman, Doug Leeds is President and Howard Sherman is Executive Director. For Tony Award Productions, Elizabeth I. McCann is Managing Producer and Joey Parnes is Coordinating Producer.



Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment are Executive Producers of the 2007 Tony Awards. Mr. Weiss will also serve as Director of the 2007 Tony Awards.

Help Rosie's Kids!!!!!!

Photo by Rosalie O'Connor
Benefit to help Rosie's Broadway Kids!
I have one thing to add. I have been a fan of Rosie for many years. I really admire her love and passion for NYC and Broadway. Please help her raise money! She is someone I really admire. (Many years ago she was friends with my Dad before she made it big and my Dad really loved her humor)

NEW YORK, NY-APRIL 3, 2007: HYDE PARK & LAFAYETTE and BRIAN LIEBMAN are pleased to announce that the opening night performance of their Off-Broadway show MOTHER LOAD will benefit Rosie’s Broadway Kids. MOTHER LOAD, a one-woman show written and performed by Amy Wilson and directed by Julie Kramer, opens on Friday May 4 at 8 p.m. at Off-Broadway’s Sage Theater (711 7th Avenue at 47th/48th St). Tickets for this benefit performance, plus a post-show talkback with Amy Wilson and a cocktail reception, are $75.

In a world where a toddler's birthday party must be catered, a stroller costs eight hundred dollars, and nursery school applications require thoughtful essay writing, how can a mom keep her perspective? From prenatal yoga to preschool interviews, actress and writer Wilson struggles to throw off the "Mother Load" of unrealistic expectations, ignore the competitive "sanctimommies" lurking in every playgroup, and somehow find the time to enjoy her kids.

Any parent who has fed their kids dinosaur chicken nuggets three times this week will identify with Amy's guilt, and fellow perfectionists will cheer as she frees herself from it. You'll love MOTHER LOAD whether you are a mother—or just have one.

MOTHER LOAD will play an eight-week limited engagement at the Sage Theater. Performances begin Saturday, April 21 and continue through Saturday, June 16. Tickets are $45. Press Performances are Wednesday May 2nd at 11am and 8pm, Thursday May 3rd at 8pm and Opening Night, Friday May 4th at 8pm.

Rosie’s Broadway Kids, founded by Rosie and Kelli O’Donnell in 2003, is an arts education organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children through the arts. Using professional teaching artists, Rosie’s Broadway Kids offers classes in dance and music and a professional theater experience to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity. Its goal is to inspire excellence, motivate learning, uplift the human spirit, and instill a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

RBKids currently provides two distinct services to New York City public schools: the PS Broadway program and the ACTE II (A Commitment to Excellence) after-school scholarship program. PS Broadway is a free fifteen-week musical theater program for fifth graders attending New York City public schools in particularly low-income neighborhoods. For pictures, case studies, and further information, please visit www.rosiesbroadwaykids.org .

Tickets to the opening night of MOTHER LOAD are $75 (regular ticket price is $45) and are now available online at www.ticketcentral.com or by calling 212-279-4200. Tickets may also be purchased in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, located at 416 W. 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues.

MOTHER LOAD runs April 21-June 16, with performances Tuesday–Saturday at 8 p.m. and a “Moms’ Matinee” Wednesdays at 11 a.m. (There is an additional 3 p.m. performance on Sunday, April 22. There are no performances April 24 and 26 and May 1). For more information on MOTHER LOAD, photos, biographies, video and more, please visit www.motherloadshow.com.