BUSKER ALLEY!!!!

Photo of the boat by Corine Cohen- HTTP://WWW.CORINESCORNER.COM



FOR THE FIRST TIME A BROADWAY BOUND MUSICAL
IS LAUNCHED ON THE HIGH SEAS!

BUSKER ALLEY

A SHERMAN BROTHERS/AJ CAROTHERS MUSICAL
GETS UNDERWAY ON CUNARD’S QUEEN MARY 2
WITH STAR JIM DALE AND DIRECTOR/DESIGNER TONY WALTON

BUSKER ALLEY is Broadway bound!! The musical starring Tony winner, Jim Dale, (Carry On films, Barnum, ‘Harry Potter’ audio books, “Pushing Daisies”) and directed & designed by the legendary Tony, Academy and Emmy Award winner, Tony Walton, is planning to arrive for the 2008-2009 Broadway season. The announcement was made by the producers: Margot Astrachan, Robert Blume, Kristine Lewis, Jamie Fox, Joanna Kerry & Heather Duke, at an event held on November 30th, 2007 on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 which also served to launch the CD release of the JAY Records cast album of the one night York Theater benefit performance of BUSKER ALLEY featuring Jim Dale.

BUSKER ALLEY has a score by Robert B. Sherman and Richard M. Sherman (Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, two Academy Awards©, 23 gold and platinum records, a star on the Hollywood Hall of Fame, and more movie scores than any other songwriting team in history, not to mention that little ditty, “It’s A Small World After All.”) the book is by noted film, television and theater writer, AJ Carothers (The Happiest Millionaire, The Secret of My Success). A 50 year collaborator with Tony Walton, the acclaimed Richard Pilbrow, will serve as lighting designer. Manny Kladitis and Niko Companies will provide General Management, while Production Attorney will be Jerold Couture of Fitelson/Lasky/Aslan & Couture.

BUSKER ALLEY captures the life and spirit of street performers (buskers) who earn their living in the shadow of London’s West End glamour just before and during World War II. A devil-may-care busker, Charlie, no longer “as young as he was,” takes a gutsy, young sneak thief under his wing. He discovers her gift for music and performing and, with his tutelage, her talent blossoms along with his growing infatuation for her. Although Libby becomes part of the busker family, she wants more out of life. Her natural charm and drive feeds her need for “being on the inside.” When she attracts the attention of a major West End producer, she leaves Charlie to follow her dream. She soon becomes a major stage, and after she unsuccessfully tries to introduce Charlie to her new world, Charlie comes to the realization that he and Libby belongs in different worlds.

The show is based on the 1938 British motion picture, St. Martin’s Lane, starring Charles Laughton and Vivien Leigh, which itself was based on the 1928 Marlene Dietrich/Emil Jannings film The Blue Angel. They were both inspired by the early 20th Century novel, Small Town Tyrant by Heinrich Mann.

Additional cast, designers, theatre and more exciting BUSKER ALLEY news to follow

Queen For A Day- On The Queen Mary 2!

I had the great fortune of spending the day on the Cunard Queen Mary 2!
I felt like royalty for the day.

Take a look at my lunch. I started with the salmon tartar. It was so good! I asked my waiter what he thought was best on the menu. He suggested I order the filet of beef. I am not a beef eater but this filet melted in my mouth. It also had a sauce that tasted like a plum sauce which was divine. I never enjoyed a steak that much!

Coming soon. Photos of the boat. And later photos of a performance of Busker Alley. More later.



Photos by Corine Cohen

The Salmon Tartar!

Filet of Beef with a wonderful sauce that tasted like plums!

Jamie deRoy Event!

Jamie deRoy & friends Celebrate the Season of Giving with a Special Musical Performance December 5that Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center


Join celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy & friends as she celebrates the holiday season with her acclaimed CDs, ‘Tis The Season and Animal Tracks, on Wednesday, December 5th (6PM) at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th Street).

The evening will feature the following artists: the acclaimed a cappella group The Accidentals, MAC and Bistro Award winner Lisa Asher, MAC and Bistro Award winner Scott Coulter, Tony nominated Dee Hoty, multiple award nominated and award winning actress Karen Mason, and award winning entertainer Jay Rogers. The event will also supply attendees the chance to “give” some adorable orphan cats and dogs an opportunity to find new owners and a new loving home! Jamie deRoy’s favorite charity, Animal Haven will have several animals available for adoption! Animal Haven is a not-for profit no-kill animal shelter serving the Tri-state area. In addition to the new state-of-the-art facility in Manhattan, they have a shelter in Flushing, Queens and a sanctuary in the Catskills. All proceeds from this event will go directly to supporting these efforts, and contributions are tax-deductible.

Barry Kleinbort is the director this special edition of Jamie deRoy & friends and Paul Greenwood will serve as musical director. The appearance is part of “The Any Wednesday at B&N series” and is free and open to the public.

Produced by Harbinger Records, ‘Tis The Season offers 16 holiday favorites including “Silver Bells”, “Santa Claus is Coming To Town”, and “White Christmas” sung by some of theatre’s favorites including Dee Hoty, Stephanie Pope, and KT Sullivan. Animal Tracks features 16 pet-friendly songs also sung by theatre and cabaret favorites including Kerry Butler, Marian Seldes, and George Wurbach.

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 (Tony Award), Chita Rivera: The Dancer’s Life, Say Goodnight Gracie. Off-Broadway: Make Me A Song: The Music of William Finn, Dividing The Estate, Opus, Spalding Gray: Stories Left To Tell, Exits and Entrances, Adrift in Macao, Indian Blood (Outer Critics Circle Award), Dedication or The Stuff of Dreams, The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). In addition to her acclaimed television show “Jamie deRoy & friends,” with filmmaker Rick McKay she produced the Emmy-nominated segment "The Biggest Little Operas in Town" for City Arts, as well as that show's "Where Do Musicals Come From?" and "All That Glitters." Jamie is also one of the producers of McKay's successful 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.

‘Tis The Season and Animal Tracks are both available by visiting http://www.cdbaby.com/ and are available for purchase at the Barnes & Noble store. Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center is located at 1972 Broadway. For further information call 212-595-5859.

Broadway's Back!!!!

A TOAST! Broadway is back!!!!!
Doing the dance of joy!

BROADWAY’S BACK!! BIGGER AND BRIGHTER THAN EVER!
ANGELA LANSBURY, BERNADETTE PETERS, FANTASIA, BOB MARTIN, AND CAST MEMBERS FROM EVERY BROADWAY PRODUCTION (MANY IN COSTUME!) WILL CELEBRATE THE REOPENING OF BROADWAY AT FREE PUBLIC CONCERT:

“Broadway’s Back” free public concert, featuring Angela Lansbury, Bernadette Peters, Fantasia (“The Color Purple”), Bob Martin (Tony Award-winning creator of “The Drowsy Chaperone”), and cast members from every Broadway show on stage performing together, many in costume, to celebrate the return of Broadway and the holiday season. Featuring full orchestra, led by Seth Rudetsky. WHERE: On stage at the Marriott Marquis, 1535 Broadway (between 45th and 46th Street), home of the Tony Award-winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone”) WHEN: Friday, November 30, 2007, 12 p.m. (Doors open to the public at 11:30 a.m.).

ENTER LAUGHING!

YORK THEATRE COMPANY ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF
ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL
LIMITED RUN--FOUR PERFORMANCES ONLY!
STAGED CONCERT/”MUFTI” VERSION
CAST INCLUDES:

L.A. LAW’S JILL EIKENBERRY and MICHAEL TUCKER
as well as BRUCE ADLER, JOSH GRISETTI,
KAITLIN HOPKINS, ROBB SAPP,
EMILY SHOOLIN & KELLY SULLIVAN
STUART ROSS DIRECTS

Photo: Ben Strothmann

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is bringing back by popular demand Enter Laughing: The Musical, which was recently presented as part of York’s Fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series -- the York’s acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances. Enter Laughing: The Musical will be presented in its Mufti staged concert version (“in street clothes, without the usual trappings”) and will play for four performances only: Thursday, December 13 at 8 p.m., Friday, December 14 at 3 and 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 15 at 3 at the Theatre at Saint Peters (54th Street, Just East of Lexington Ave). Tickets are $35. For more information or to purchase tickets to any of the Mufti shows, visit http://www.yorktheatre.org/ or call York’s Box Office at 212-935-5820.

Originally titled So Long, 174th Street, Enter Laughing: The Musical has a book by Joseph Stein, music and lyrics by the late Stan Daniels and is based on Stein’s play, from the semi-autobiographical novel by Carl Reiner. The show is about the journey of young aspiring actor David Kolowitz as he tries to free himself from overly protective parents and girlfriends, while struggling to meet the challenge of a lack of talent in 1930s New York City.

Regarding the return of Enter Laughing, York’s Producing Artistic Director James Morgan said: “Enter Laughing was a delightful surprise to all of us -- it played like gangbusters! We’re thrilled we’re able to bring it back for people who missed it, and for people who want to see it again. It is a show that deserves a significant future life and we’re delighted to be the ones who are able to make that happen.”

Enter Laughing: The Musical will feature a cast that includes: “L.A. Law’s” married couple Jill Eikenberry (Moonchildren, Watch on the Rhine) and Michael Tucker (The Goodbye People, Moonchildren), Bruce Adler (Crazy for You, Tony Award nomination), Paul Binotto (Dreamgirls), Josh Grisetti (“The Knights of Prosperity”), Kaitlin Hopkins (Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Great American Trailer Park Musical), Trisha Rapier (The Boy From Oz), Robb Sapp (Johnny Guitar, Zanna, Don’t), Emily Shoolin (Nerds://A Musical Software Satire) and Kelly Sullivan (Bells are Ringing,). The show is directed by Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid, York’s It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman). Matt Castle (Company) is the Music Director and will perform in various cameo roles.

The musical opened on April 27, 1976 at the Harkness Theatre. Directed by Burt Shevelove and choreographed by Alan Johnson, the show featured Loni Ackerman, Kaye Ballard, George S. Irving, Barbara Lang and Robert Morse. The play Enter Laughing opened at the Henry Miller Theatre on March 13, 1963 and ran for 419 performances. Directed by Gene Saks, the show starred Alan Arkin and Vivian Blaine. Arkin won a 1963 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. A successful film of Enter Laughing was made 1967, was directed by Carl Reiner and starred José Ferrer, Shelley Winters, Elaine May and Jack Gilford.


For ticket information visit http://www.yorktheatre.org/ or call 212-935-5820.
THE YORK THEATRE COMPANY in Saint Peter’s Theatre,
54th Street Just East of Lexington
E train to Lexington Avenue or 6 train to 51st Street

HO HO HO!

The Holiday season is upon us. Hope you all have a glorious Christmas, Kwanza and Chanukah.

I wish my readers a very healthy and happy New Year.

Much love,

Corine

My Last Meal At Raku!

The Corine's Corner roll: Shrimp tempura, spicy and or sweet eel sauce. It also sometimes had caviar on the outside.

Dear Readers,
Tonight was my last meal at Raku on West 47th Street. It was a very sad night for me. I wanted to give my best regards to Ray at Raku. Hoping he will find another restaurant soon. For the past few years Raku became a social place for me to dine in the theater district before shows. I also hosted 8 parties there. It was a blast!
I will miss the food and the staff terribly!

Photos Corine Dana Cohen

My last Corine's Corner roll at Raku on 47th. It was so yummy!

DELISH!

Chazz Palminteri Photo Coverage Part 2.

Valerie Smaldone and Chazz Palminteri

We could not forget the woman who made the event at Tony's happen. Thank you, Valerie Smaldone!

Photo by Michael Portantiere.

A BRONX TALE- CHAZZ PALMINTERI UNVEILING AT TONY'S DI NAPOLI!

Chazz Palminteri portrait

Chazz poses for the press!

Chazz Palminteri and Bruce of Tony's Di Napoli

Jerry Zaks and Chazz Palminteri

Chazz Palminteri makes a nice speech.

On November 27th, Tony's had an unveiling for Chazz Palminteri to celebrate A Bronx Tale.

The Broadway strike did not stop Chazz, his relatives, friends and family from having a great feast at Tony's Di Napoli in his honor. It was a salute to the Bronx Chazz cheered! It was a great party that went till 12 Am. Chazz and his friends know how to party! Stay tuned for the voice recording of this fabulous event.

Photos by Michael Portantiere.

Bruce from Tony's knows how to throw a party. The food and drinks were excellent. Tony's is in Times Square and they never skimp on portions or quality. I was enjoying my favorite drink that Bruce invented called the frozen bellini. If you like sweet drinks you need to try one!

Tony's: 147 West 43rd.

Make a reservation as it gets crowded. 212-221-0100.

To get tickets to A BRONX TALE call 212-239-6200.

Bruce will take care of you like you're family! A great party.
Comments: Corine Dana Cohen

HOLIDAY WONDERS!!!!

NEW YORK (Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2007) – Is the Stagehands Strike giving you the Broadway Blues? Looking for something new to do for the whole family?

Check out Holiday Wonders at the Beacon Theater Dec. 18-26th. Sponsored by New Tang Dynasty Television, this live performance is an extravaganza of traditional Chinese arts combined with the American holiday spirit. Now in its second year, Holiday Wonders has drawn sellout crowds with its renowned choreography, costuming, original scores and background designs.

Among the highlights of the production are mini-theatrical acts based on ancient Chinese legends, folk dances from some of China’s 56 ethnic minorities, authentic costumes and dance routines from the Tang Dynasty (6-9th century) and Qing Dynasty (16-19th century). In addition, the show also brings in a genuine holiday feel by once again featuring world-class ballet and exciting American brass band performances.

“Our hope is to further build the bridge between Chinese and American culture. Through productions such as Holiday Wonders, we are able to introduce Chinese culture to a vast number of people across the United States,” said NTDTV President Zhong Lee.

In addition to the Beacon Theater in New York, performances will also be held in Baltimore, Charlotte, Greensboro, Miami, Tampa, and Atlantic City.

Coffee Talk.

Good morning,

Are you tired of the same old grind? Well, Jo Khalifa of Mojo Roast sent me some samples of the most exotic coffee. I am currently sampling a large extra fine Mexican
Chipas Cafe. I added some french vanilla coffeemate.

It is dark, rich and exotic.
www.mojoroast.com
Cheers!

Corine

Readers in California! Check This Out!

Photo Coverage Growing UP 70'S. Will The Real Greg Brady Please Stand UP!

OH. SUNSHINE DAY. WILL THE REAL GREG BRADY PLEASE STAND UP?

Photos of the cast of Growing Up 70's. Can you spot the surprise guest?

OH. OH, OH. Is you're clue.

Ha Comedy Club. 163 West 46th Street. 212-977-3884 for tickets.

Photos by Maryann Lopinto.

Answer: Ron Palillo

Broadway Unplugged After Party.

Sarah McMahon and Lorinda Lisitza



Sarah McMahon and Max Von Essen.

Sarah McMahon, Marc Kudisch and Max Von Essen

Sarah McMahon, Aaron Lazar, Jamie deRoy and Michael Winther

Photos by Maryann Lopinto

The evening was a giant success. Hoping they will bring back West Side Story and they cast Sarah McMahon as Maria! She blew me away.

NYC IS BEAUTIFUL. I LOVE NY!

New York is where I'd rather stay. I get allergic smelling hay. I just adore a penthouse view. Darling, I love you but give me 5th Avenue. ;-)

Go to a restaurant in Times Square! I LOVE NYC!

Corine D Cohen

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade- Photo Coverage.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hope you enjoy these photos of the parade.

The weather was beautiful and very warm. It was fun taking photos. I wish I had a better view.
Photos: Corine Dana Cohen for http://www.corinescorner.com

Since the strike, I have decided to cover other things than theater and food. Missing Broadway, and hoping Broadway will be up and running after the 25th. It is really sad. Last year on Thanksgiving, I got to see Jay Johnson "The Two And Only." The year before I spent it at "Forbidden Broadway."

Missing Broadway. Toodles!
Corine Cohen

Macy's Thanksgiving Parade Balloon Photo Coverage. Photos by Corinescorner.com.

Photos of Thanksgiving balloons by Corine Cohen

Note: These photos were taken yesterday from 3-4pm when the volunteers were blowing up the balloons for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade. Something I have loved every year since I was three!