Theatre Gossip #570: The "September Song" Edition (2024)

Proceed.

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by Anonymousreply 600September 19, 2024 5:35 PM

Do we know anything about the musical NPH will be starring in? Or is he waiting for "The Greatest Showman"?

by Anonymousreply 1September 1, 2024 2:50 AM

Who's going to see Mia and Patti THE ROOMMATE? I'm hearing the play is inept, but the stars deliver, anyway.

by Anonymousreply 2September 1, 2024 2:56 AM

OP, the thread should by all rights close out with Mr. Huston's version.

by Anonymousreply 3September 1, 2024 2:59 AM

[quote]This thread has been a grind.

But no one bumped it.

With or without a trumpet.

by Anonymousreply 4September 1, 2024 3:13 AM

I was ready to start the next thread. I had a significantly better title.

by Anonymousreply 5September 1, 2024 3:21 AM

This thread is Hundekacke!

by Anonymousreply 6September 1, 2024 3:27 AM

DVR Alert: Patti and Mia are being profiled on CBS Sunday Morning tomorrow morning at 9am EST.

by Anonymousreply 7September 1, 2024 3:39 AM

A couple of friends went to the first preview of THE ROOMMATE. They were surprised by how slight, old-fashioned and short the play was, and they were even more surprised to discover that it’s Farrow’s show, with LuPone good but rather recessive in support of Mia (Ronan Farrow’s voice is heard in a phone message to mother Mia).

But they had a decent time and they thought Farrow was rather adorable and terrific.

by Anonymousreply 8September 1, 2024 3:40 AM

R8 that happened with The Anarchist too. Lupone kind of faded when Debra Winger took command.

Maybe LuPone does better with men?

I know I do!

by Anonymousreply 9September 1, 2024 12:15 PM

It's a long long way from May to December......

by Anonymousreply 10September 1, 2024 1:27 PM

How about this thread stays limited to gossip about this century?

by Anonymousreply 11September 1, 2024 1:37 PM

Fat chance, r11.

by Anonymousreply 12September 1, 2024 1:41 PM

That would give us about three memorable shows to talk about, R11. If that many.

by Anonymousreply 13September 1, 2024 1:55 PM

The CBS Morning profile of Patti and Mia makes me want to see the play. Patti admitted Annette Bening was first choice for her role and Mia even touched on her films with Woody. There were brief glimpses of the play and they just look wonderful together.

by Anonymousreply 14September 1, 2024 2:20 PM

That CBS Morning segment will indeed attract a lot of ticket buyers. It looks like great fun, if slight.

I love Mia Farrow! I hope this gig brings her a career resurgence (though it doesn't necessarily seem like she's looking for it).

by Anonymousreply 15September 1, 2024 2:28 PM

I saw Mia in Love Letters. She was excellent which was kind of a surprise.

by Anonymousreply 16September 1, 2024 2:30 PM

R15, it doesn't bother you that apparently she's an insane harpy?

by Anonymousreply 17September 1, 2024 2:32 PM

She seems anything but, r17.

Did you happen to watch the CBS Morning segment? Not that it alone would change your fractured mind.

by Anonymousreply 18September 1, 2024 2:36 PM

[quote]How about this thread stays limited to gossip about this century?

You should be thankful that we only go back as far as the 20th.

by Anonymousreply 19September 1, 2024 2:38 PM

I saw Mia in Romantic Comedy (1980?) and she and Tony Perkins were great together. Another slight comedy but they brought so much to it. I remember her being funny, charming and endearing on stage. She also looked about 16 years old. That's around the time she met Woody.

by Anonymousreply 20September 1, 2024 2:40 PM

Somethin’ WRONG with insane harpies? (Broadway would be nothing without them.)

by Anonymousreply 21September 1, 2024 2:41 PM

Next up in our long-forgotten Broadway musicals is Mail! Written by and starring Michael Rupert (Falsettos, Sweet Charity) and his co-writer Jerry Colker (3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down).

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by Anonymousreply 22September 1, 2024 3:09 PM

R20, I also saw Romantic Comedy with Farrow and Perkins. I actually got his autograph after the show - Mia disappeared quickly after the curtain we were told.

I remember enjoying the show (I was in high school - what did I know). I do remember being shocked by Tony Perkins being nude (from the rear). Mia seemed very natural on stage. Glad I saw it. I think I have a copy, I may read the play this afternoon.

by Anonymousreply 23September 1, 2024 3:24 PM

[quote]Ben Vereen walked out on Grind and it closed a week or two later with Obba Babatunde finishing the run.

Trust me, Ben wasn't the only one.

by Anonymousreply 24September 1, 2024 3:35 PM

This century?

How will we ever talk about FOLLIES?

by Anonymousreply 25September 1, 2024 3:39 PM

You know it’s bad when you are getting Annette Bening’s sloppy seconds!

by Anonymousreply 26September 1, 2024 3:41 PM

[quote]Did you happen to watch the CBS Morning segment? Not that it alone would change your fractured mind.

Or, one could say the fact that she came across well in the CBS Morning segment certainly doesn't mean she's not an insane harpy, especially not when stacked up against all the evidence that she is..

P.S. I personally think she's very talented and I've enjoyed much of her past work, I was just asking whether or not her real-life behavior -- specifically what she did to BULLETS OVER BROADWAY -- was bothersome to you.

by Anonymousreply 27September 1, 2024 3:42 PM

I know that when I can't get Annette Bening for a role, I immediately turn to Patti LuPone.

It was probably more like this:

Actresses who turned down The Roommate:

Annette Bening

Meryl Streep

Glenn Close

Jessica Lange

Nicole Kidman

Diane Keaton

Kathy Bates

Cherry Jones

Christine Baranski

Tyne Daly

Bette Midler

Sarah Jessica Parker

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Michelle Pfeiffer

Mary Louise Parker

Phylicia Rashad

Sandra Oh

Zoe Wanamaker

Phoebe Waller-Bridge

Lindsay Crouse

Tonya Pinkins

Hey, Mr. Producer, Patti LuPone picked up the phone!!

On the list after Patti LuPone:

Dianne Weist

Debra Monk

Faith Prince

by Anonymousreply 28September 1, 2024 3:53 PM

I almost choked when Mia said in the interview that Sicilian Frank Sinatra had a temper but Patti doesn't.

by Anonymousreply 29September 1, 2024 4:06 PM

R29, that's only further evidence of Mia's insanity.

by Anonymousreply 30September 1, 2024 4:45 PM

I wish there could have been live reaction shots from old co-stars when Mia said that Patti didn’t have a temper!

by Anonymousreply 31September 1, 2024 5:05 PM

So sorry you're "old", Sherie Rene.

by Anonymousreply 32September 1, 2024 5:07 PM

[quote]I wish there could have been live reaction shots from old co-stars when Mia said that Patti didn’t have a temper!

The stage manager from Evita

The stage manager from Noises Off

Andrew Lloyd Webber

The backstage staff of Sunset Boulevard

The person at Gypsy who took a picture

by Anonymousreply 33September 1, 2024 5:32 PM

What happened to Sherie Rene Scott? Did she call it quits?

by Anonymousreply 34September 1, 2024 5:50 PM

What "specifically" did Mia Farrow do to Bullets Over Broadway, r27?

Please don't tell me you're blaming her for that hot mess?

by Anonymousreply 35September 1, 2024 6:37 PM

Michael Rupert = Complete and total babe

by Anonymousreply 36September 1, 2024 6:42 PM

^ not in years.

by Anonymousreply 37September 1, 2024 9:07 PM

Compared to Bacall’s expert delivery in “The Grass is Always Greener,” Raquel Welch is a total bore and Barbara Eden (sadly) is clueless. But to my surprise, Debbie Reynolds is almost as secure with her delivery as Bacall was, and scores most of Tess’ laughs (although it’s really Jan’s song).

by Anonymousreply 38September 1, 2024 9:30 PM

Debbie was supposed to be good in the role.

by Anonymousreply 39September 1, 2024 10:20 PM

Bacall was at least a good sport in WOTY. In addition to having to watch Cooper steal "The Grass Is Always Greener," she almost gets upstaged by the cleaning ladies in "I Wrote the Book."

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by Anonymousreply 40September 1, 2024 10:28 PM

Waiting in the Wings was a COMPLETE BORE. And everyone looked "period" except for Bacall.

by Anonymousreply 41September 1, 2024 10:30 PM

I can't defend WAITING IN THE WINGS artistically, but it was delightful, thanks to the great Rosemary Harris and a battalion of wonderful character actresses: Patricia Conolly, Bette Henritze, Dana Ivey, Rosemary Murphy, Helen Stenborg (Tony-nominated for this) and (first among equals) Elizabeth Wilson. It was my only live experience of Barnard Hughes, and he was charming.

by Anonymousreply 42September 1, 2024 11:01 PM

Speaking of those wonderful Broadway character actresses, does anyone else have fond memories of 1985's short-lived THE OCTETTE BRIDGE CLUB by PJ Barry, about 8 middle-aged to elderly sisters in the 1930s? Nancy Marchand, Anne Pitoniak, Peggy Cass (!), Elizabeth Franz and Lois de Banzie were all just superb but the play, a hit at the annual Actors Theater of Louisville Humana Festival (with a different cast and director), only lasted a few weeks on Broadway.

I'll never forget Nancy Marchand sniping at one of her sisters: "Oh, go sit on a tack!"

by Anonymousreply 43September 1, 2024 11:13 PM

The Octette Bridge Club was the play that John Simon called "faggot nonsense," which got him in a lot of hot water at the time.

by Anonymousreply 44September 1, 2024 11:25 PM

Has anyone seen Tyne Daly recently? Or is she still in a round rubber room?

by Anonymousreply 45September 1, 2024 11:26 PM

In the CBS interview, I was glad to hear Mia say she doesn’t believe people should refuse to work with Woody Allen. Even if it did have an air of “my work is done here.”

The Farrow family has gotten a lot of mileage out of those allegations and it’s about time she shut up about it.

by Anonymousreply 46September 1, 2024 11:33 PM

I heard that Tyne simply couldn't remember her lines on DOUBT and thus, was suffering terrible stage fright. No illness or other sickness.

by Anonymousreply 47September 1, 2024 11:35 PM

Uh, r46, you might remember, Mia did not bring up Woody in that interview. And I thought she answered the questions about him simply and with dignity.

by Anonymousreply 48September 1, 2024 11:36 PM

[quote]and it’s about time she shut up about it.

She was asked, r46.

by Anonymousreply 49September 1, 2024 11:37 PM

Oh please, R49. She’s been going on about it since 1992.

by Anonymousreply 50September 1, 2024 11:39 PM

I agree, R48. As I said I was glad to hear her say it. Even it was about 7 - 9 years late.

by Anonymousreply 51September 1, 2024 11:42 PM

Daly turned 78 around the time DOUBT went into rehearsal. For every Lois Smith or Rosemary Harris who keeps working onstage for years after that, there are dozens more without the good luck to remain able to do so. I'm heartbroken for her -- one of the most thrilling actresses I've seen live.

by Anonymousreply 52September 1, 2024 11:46 PM

Is Casey the Twink (in BACK TO THE FUTURE) playing matinees and otherwise showing up regularly? I want to go see Casey the Twink, not the Undertwink.

by Anonymousreply 53September 1, 2024 11:50 PM

[quote]How about this thread stays limited to gossip about this century?

No thank YOU! As a geriatric millennial, I don't always get every reference, but I love hearing gossip, reviews and remembrances from the eldergays. Without this oral history, so many of these obscure stories would be lost to time.

by Anonymousreply 54September 2, 2024 12:06 AM

WEHT Elizabeth Franz?

by Anonymousreply 55September 2, 2024 12:51 AM

Just googling Elizabeth Franz, I see she's still with us and 83, so perhaps she's retired. Worked with her a few times over the years, a very gracious lovely lady and a great actress. I hope she's enjoying herself whatever she's doing.

by Anonymousreply 56September 2, 2024 1:33 AM

I couldn't believe the CBS Sunday morning interviewer made LuPone talk about not being the first choice, What the fuck was that? They should fire their press person. That was pretty gross.

by Anonymousreply 57September 2, 2024 2:51 AM

Did anyone on Datalounge see this production of TPOS? Looks amazing!

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by Anonymousreply 58September 2, 2024 3:17 AM

[quote]Looks amazing!

My opinion differs.

by Anonymousreply 59September 2, 2024 3:26 AM

^^^ Sonia played by "Maria Couch" - don't tell JD Vance!

by Anonymousreply 60September 2, 2024 3:46 AM

Franz did a podcast interview in Nov./21; it's short, about 10 minutes from 1:34 at the link (I had to sign in to listen to it). She still sounds OK; she says she can't eat sugar, so I wonder if she's diabetic and that has slowed her down in terms of being able to work. She says she preferred doing theater rather than movies and TV, and when she left "Roseanne" to do a play in New York, on opening night Roseanne sent a cake with an image of a penis to the theater with the message "It's all for Art's sake!" (Art was the name of Franz's character's husband on the series).

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by Anonymousreply 61September 2, 2024 5:30 AM

MikeR had a framed Playbill from Death of a Salesman, autographed by Lizzy Franz up in his dressing room, backstage at the Center for the Performing Arts in San Jose. I remember him trying to draw my attention to it one time when I walked in on him nearly elbow deep into the assistant choreographer of How to Succeed.

He always had such nicely manicured hands.

by Anonymousreply 62September 2, 2024 5:49 AM

Elizabeth Franz always had that "long-suffering" thing down to perfection.

by Anonymousreply 63September 2, 2024 1:32 PM

Franz played a truly memorable evil kook on Another World and I'm shocked to see it was one of her first roles (circa 1982). She was great even then.

by Anonymousreply 64September 2, 2024 1:35 PM

Franz was married to 1950s/60s character actor Edward Binns. I can only think she must have been his child bride.

by Anonymousreply 65September 2, 2024 1:42 PM

22 year difference

by Anonymousreply 66September 2, 2024 1:56 PM

As the threads dwindle down....

by Anonymousreply 67September 2, 2024 3:09 PM

Poor Elizabeth Franz.

DL thread killer

by Anonymousreply 68September 2, 2024 3:23 PM

R53 I believe he’s scheduled for 8 shows a week and haven’t heard any chatter about him having a ton of absences. But he was out unscheduled when I saw the show on a Thursday in January.

by Anonymousreply 69September 2, 2024 3:32 PM

Who are Farrow's and Lupone's understudies?

by Anonymousreply 70September 2, 2024 5:13 PM

Each other

by Anonymousreply 71September 2, 2024 5:14 PM

They share one understudy. Can't remember her name, she's not a star, but I guess they figure if both Patti and Mia are out everyone would want their money back. It's too bad Marsha Mason, the ass't director couldn't be persuaded to understudy both ladies.

by Anonymousreply 72September 2, 2024 5:46 PM

So you’re at The Roommate. Mia is out? Do you ask for your money back? What about if Patti is out?

by Anonymousreply 73September 2, 2024 7:09 PM

You text Liz Franz, silly.

by Anonymousreply 74September 2, 2024 7:19 PM

If LuPone is out, they should totally get Annette Bening.

Then we could see the production’s original wishes and intentions.

by Anonymousreply 75September 2, 2024 7:22 PM

They’re completely different but The Roommate seems like a vehicle similar to James Kirkwood’s Legends. Just an excuse to get two famous actresses on stage. Years from now it’ll be produced with a drag cast.

by Anonymousreply 76September 2, 2024 8:33 PM

No, r76, it isn't camp. It's more A Couple of White Chicks or West Side Waltz.

by Anonymousreply 77September 2, 2024 8:35 PM

Or that tennis thingy Angie & Mar did

by Anonymousreply 78September 2, 2024 10:18 PM

That's MISS MARIAN SELDES to you, you pissant!

by Anonymousreply 79September 2, 2024 10:24 PM

[quote]Who are Farrow's and Lupone's understudies?

Christine Ebersole and Soon-Yi Previn Allen

by Anonymousreply 80September 2, 2024 10:29 PM

McNeal starts previews on Thursday. I wonder if we'll get any good dirt from that production.

by Anonymousreply 81September 3, 2024 2:05 AM

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1968, "Pantagleize" opened at the Lyceum Theatre.

by Anonymousreply 82September 3, 2024 2:29 PM

To R8-My friends and I are coming to NYC in 3 weeks to see "The Roommate". 2 of my Broadway Gays have seen the preview show& were surprised how they liked it. Both gays told me Mia is really good& Patti is too, in a supporting way.

by Anonymousreply 83September 3, 2024 3:09 PM

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by Anonymousreply 84September 3, 2024 3:32 PM

We now know what NPH's next project is. I'd wager there'll be a Broadway transfer in the spring.

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by Anonymousreply 85September 3, 2024 6:25 PM

NPH has joined the cast of Shit. Meet. Fan. at MCC, along with Jane Krakowski, Debra Messing, Constance Wu and more. Not a musical.

by Anonymousreply 86September 3, 2024 6:26 PM

Oprah is vacationing with Isaac Powell and his new? bf.

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by Anonymousreply 87September 3, 2024 6:42 PM

What an odd vacation group

by Anonymousreply 88September 3, 2024 6:46 PM

Could Broadway ever do a totally nude show like Oh Calcutta! again? I think Take Me Out was close but nudity, especially male nudity seems so taboo on the Great White Way.

by Anonymousreply 89September 3, 2024 6:55 PM

NOOOOdies!!!!!!

by Anonymousreply 90September 3, 2024 6:58 PM

The Roommate has been SRO since starting previews last Thursday. This might turn out to be a great big fat hit. Could it be that this is what audiences are craving?

by Anonymousreply 91September 3, 2024 7:06 PM

It'll be interesting t see if that other boulevard comedy (sorry, forgot the title) starring Julianna Margulies and Peter Gallagher also takes off.

Who would have ever thought that was trend we'd see make a comeback?

by Anonymousreply 92September 3, 2024 7:18 PM

[quote] Could it be that this is what audiences are craving?

Two noteworthy stars live onstage in an accessible comedy? Ya think?

by Anonymousreply 93September 3, 2024 7:26 PM

Except Left on Tenth sounds maudlin, and Roommate sounds fun.

by Anonymousreply 94September 3, 2024 7:27 PM

I agree. Left on Tenth has FLOP written all over it.

Directed by Susan Stroman. Even more so.

by Anonymousreply 95September 3, 2024 7:33 PM

r87 Unlike most DLers I don't hate ink, but good god that tattoo on ICP's boyfriend is embarrassing. As if the fact that he's a rolfer. I guess Oprah still loves her quacks.

For all his faults, I bet Wes is bitchily hilarious when talking about this guy. So much material.

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by Anonymousreply 96September 3, 2024 9:28 PM

^^^^Holy crap, are those also little tattoo marks that look like moles or pimples on the side of his face? Or does he just have really bad skin?

by Anonymousreply 97September 3, 2024 10:20 PM

Where is Stedman??

by Anonymousreply 98September 3, 2024 10:57 PM

Only gays on this trip —no Stedman.

by Anonymousreply 99September 3, 2024 10:58 PM

How the hell would a B- Broadway actor like Isaac Powell meet Oprah? Wtf?

by Anonymousreply 100September 4, 2024 2:38 AM

R98. Well somebody had to stay home and water the plants.

by Anonymousreply 101September 4, 2024 3:01 AM

Ooof this was interesting.

1) Chris Harper and Jack O’Brien dispute LuPone saying Annette Bening as first choice and basically call her a liar.

2) LuPone is still not a member of Equity and gleefully has not rejoined the union.

3) she cried herself to sleep over lost roles (mentioned is Martha in in Who’s Afriad of Virgina Woolf- Edward Albee personally banned her)

4) Mia admitted she is agoraphobic

5) LuPone is still friendly with David Mamet despite his politics

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by Anonymousreply 102September 4, 2024 1:32 PM

[quote]LuPone is still not a member of Equity and gleefully has not rejoined the union.

Fuck her.

by Anonymousreply 103September 4, 2024 2:17 PM

SO much bullshit in that LuPone/Farrow interview. For example:

[quote]Farrow has become a familiar presence on social media, posting her Wordle scores and spontaneous reactions to world events. LuPone has mostly retreated from such platforms, from which she once provided instant-legend, antic tours of her basement during the pandemic.

[quote]“There’s no mystery left in our stars,” LuPone said. “And everybody has permission to take issue. And it’s never kind. Why? Why are we exposing ourselves when our job is just to play a character?”

[quote]Farrow picked up the cue: “As we speak to a person who is interviewing us for our thoughts on all these things. How crazy is this? We’re contributing to a problem that we cannot solve, ever.”

by Anonymousreply 104September 4, 2024 2:29 PM

R103 I do think her not joining equity publicly will hurt her in the industry. Its a very pro-union town, and I think she cut herself out of a possible nomination

by Anonymousreply 105September 4, 2024 3:13 PM

^^^It's not that she declined to join Equity, what happened was that she very publicly quit the union after being a member for decades.

by Anonymousreply 106September 4, 2024 3:29 PM

To R97, that is the "stupidest tattoo in the fucking world"& they are moles on his/her face.

Orca& GAYle are awful people.

by Anonymousreply 107September 4, 2024 3:31 PM

[quote]How the hell would a B- Broadway actor like Isaac Powell meet Oprah? Wtf?

A B-actor with an A+ ass.

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by Anonymousreply 108September 4, 2024 3:33 PM

Yes, R108, but I hardly think Isaac's ass is the primary attraction for Oprah....

by Anonymousreply 109September 4, 2024 3:36 PM

This exchange brought me such joy:

[quote] Farrow “never made a professional decision without checking with Steve,” she said. When Edward Albee, after seeing Farrow in “Virginia Woolf,” proposed she do his famously abstruse “Tiny Alice,” she called Sondheim, who told her, “‘Absolutely not.’”

[quote] “Well, I had an interesting experience with Edward Albee,” LuPone said. “Liz McCann” — the producer — “was after me, for Martha, in ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ So all of a sudden he decided I was too completely on the nose for it. Go figure that out.”

[quote] “And now he’s completely dead,” Farrow said sweetly. “So you can do it.”

[quote] “Now he’s completely dead,” LuPone echoed. “How can an actor be too on the nose for a role? I thought, ‘What the [expletive].’ Whatever.”

And then she says actors have no mystery! Pot, kettle.

But the idea of Sondheim snarking on Albee made my day.

by Anonymousreply 110September 4, 2024 3:57 PM

The more you know💫

by Anonymousreply 111September 4, 2024 3:57 PM

r100 The boyfriend is a "rolfer" which is an 'alternative medicine' (so bullshit quackery) which basically believes painful massage can solve not just physical issues but also mental and emotional ones.

Wikipedia tells us Oprah had Mehmet Oz on her show in 2010 to promote it, so I'm speculating the bf is linked to Oprah through this nonsense, and ICP is tagging along. Hence why in all the photos he has that awkward 'rent boy with clients in public' look.

by Anonymousreply 112September 4, 2024 4:36 PM

Denzel & Jake are coming to the Ethel Barrymore.

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by Anonymousreply 113September 4, 2024 4:38 PM

These young kids telling us about Rolfing! 🙄

Now tell us about EST and TA, please!

by Anonymousreply 114September 4, 2024 4:39 PM

Well I'd never heard of it, but I suppose I should've expected DLers to be up on their quackery.

The boyfriend's name is Tate Justus, which means the tattoos aren't the worst thing about him. And here he is 'dancing' in tighty whities and a wig

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by Anonymousreply 115September 4, 2024 4:47 PM

Casey Likes profile:

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by Anonymousreply 116September 4, 2024 4:56 PM

Justus served. 15.005 on the beam.

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by Anonymousreply 117September 4, 2024 4:58 PM

r115 ignorance of the law is not an excuse. —Justus of the Piece

by Anonymousreply 118September 4, 2024 4:59 PM

My hunch is Oprah, Gayle, ICP and Tate are doing a Last of Shiela remake.

by Anonymousreply 119September 4, 2024 5:05 PM

Taint Justice is more like it. I don’t believe he went to the University of Chicago.

by Anonymousreply 120September 4, 2024 5:37 PM

He went to the student bookstore

by Anonymousreply 121September 4, 2024 6:14 PM

After seeing "The Sound of Music" movie, I would have enjoyed a good Rolf-ing.

by Anonymousreply 122September 4, 2024 9:32 PM

Poor Tate's tattooed arm looks like an IBM card!

by Anonymousreply 123September 4, 2024 9:44 PM

I guess I shouldn't be surprised but many of my FB actor friends made lots of disparaging remarks about Patti today re her Equity status.

by Anonymousreply 124September 4, 2024 10:12 PM

It’s a legit complaint, if the story is accurate.

by Anonymousreply 125September 4, 2024 10:13 PM

I don't really get what Patti's specific grievance with Equity is at this point in her life. And at the age of 75 she must be taking her pension which is probably pretty substantial considering all the dues she paid over 50 years.

by Anonymousreply 126September 4, 2024 10:17 PM

I'm exhausted by LuPone's insistence on casting herself as the suffering victim every chance she gets. She says that Annette Bening was the first choice for the part (quite possible) as if it's so painful, so shocking, so personally devastating. Bitch, please -- to whatever extent your name sells tickets, it's in musicals, not plays, and in any case it's hardly an insult that they went to a multiple Oscar nominee with legit stage credentials before you.

by Anonymousreply 127September 4, 2024 10:19 PM

'After seeing "The Sound of Music" movie, I would have enjoyed a good Rolf-ing.'

I agree.

But in the many many SOM reunions through the years why was Daniel Truhitte never included? He's very important in the film and he's so winning despite turning into a Hitler youth. Like on DL that would be a problem with such a hot ass.

by Anonymousreply 128September 4, 2024 10:28 PM

[quote]I don't really get what Patti's specific grievance with Equity is at this point in her life.

Neither does she. She still hasn't given an even remotely decent reason for her quitting Equity.

by Anonymousreply 129September 4, 2024 10:36 PM

Why do some people become more and more bitter as they find more and more success? It's so pitiful.

by Anonymousreply 130September 4, 2024 10:43 PM

[quote]Neither does she. She still hasn't given an even remotely decent reason for her quitting Equity.

Didn't she say it was because, when she was on the phone with Equity one day for some reason, the particular person she was speaking with didn't happen to know who she was? Typical LuPone.

by Anonymousreply 131September 4, 2024 10:59 PM

Aren't Oprah, Gayle and ICP on David Geffen's yacht?

by Anonymousreply 132September 4, 2024 11:08 PM

r131 She did, but the problem is that her story there doesn't make sense:

[quote] "They accepted my resignation and told me that if I ever wanted to rejoin, I'd have to be approved," says the three-time Tony Award winner, who most recently finished a run the revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company. "And it's the perfect reason I withdrew from Equity. Fifty years to this year ... I've been a card-carrying member of Equity, and they don't know who I am basically," LuPone continues. "They just said, 'Fine, but if you want to rejoin, we're going to have to approve you.' "

So her reason for why she left Equity is the response she got...after she submitted her resignation from them? Is Patti a time traveller?

The only other 'reason' she's come close to giving is that Equity didn't issue some kind of statement telling people not to talk about her when the Lillias White thing happened.

It's in the same realm as the Hamilton cast being warned by Equity that agreeing to do a lab instead of a workshop would mean they don't get royalties, agreeing to do the lab anyway, and then shitting on Equity for not "protecting" them when they didn't get royalties.

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by Anonymousreply 133September 4, 2024 11:27 PM

I agree with R127. When they offer it to Sara Porkalob first, then she can complain.

by Anonymousreply 134September 4, 2024 11:36 PM

Annette needs to show up on opening night and give Patti 10 pages of notes on how the role should really be played.

by Anonymousreply 135September 4, 2024 11:43 PM

I also found Patti not comprehending why Edward Albee would say she was "too on the nose" for Martha in Virginia Woolf rather ingenuous.

Patti, Edward meant everybody, even the Darfur Orphan, knew EXACTLY how you'd play the role, much like your "interpretation" of Momma Rose.

by Anonymousreply 136September 5, 2024 12:11 AM

Patti, I think you'd have been an amazing Martha, subtle and haunting!! And please tell your sweet co-star that if she needs another orphan, I could be her new real life roommate once the run of your play ends!!!

by Anonymousreply 137September 5, 2024 12:28 AM

Too bad Patti never did Mame. I would have given anything to see her do Mame. That's the revival we should have had. Patti as Mame and Baranski as the role she should have played, Vera. And no you would not have had two Veras. A good director could have pulled the warmth out of Patti for the role. And Mame does have her bitch side in any case.

by Anonymousreply 138September 5, 2024 12:34 AM

Oy, I meant disingenuous, not ingenuous (which Patti has never been).

by Anonymousreply 139September 5, 2024 1:15 AM

If anything, Bernadette should have been Mame and Patti should have been Vera.

by Anonymousreply 140September 5, 2024 1:51 AM

[Quote] She says that Annette Bening was the first choice for the part (quite possible) as if it's so painful, so shocking, so personally devastating

Except she didn’t. She just stated it on Seth and moved on.

by Anonymousreply 141September 5, 2024 1:57 AM

They’re both Italian girls from Long Island. Neither should be anywhere near Beekman Place…

by Anonymousreply 142September 5, 2024 1:58 AM

The role of Mame Dennis requires one quality above all others -- charm. LuPone, for all her considerable gifts, has never displayed an ounce of that.

by Anonymousreply 143September 5, 2024 2:18 AM

Patti will steamroll her way into our hearts.

by Anonymousreply 144September 5, 2024 2:24 AM

[quote]Yes, [R108], but I hardly think Isaac's ass is the primary attraction for Oprah....

Who cares? I posted it because it's what I ( and, I'm sure many) find primarily attractive.. I mean, look at it.

by Anonymousreply 145September 5, 2024 2:31 AM

[quote]LuPone tells PEOPLE that AEA doesn't "support actors at all," adding: "They're just not good. And I just didn't want to give them any more money."

But, according to what we're now reading, in order to still perform on Broadway she still has to pay dues to Equity even though she's no longer a member of the union, and the only thing she had to give up was her voting rights in the organization.

by Anonymousreply 146September 5, 2024 2:51 AM

[quote]"I've been a card-carrying member of Equity, and they don't know who I am basically,"

So I didn't quite remember the story correctly. Rather, it sounds like she was just making some meaningless, vague statement about Equity not knowing who she is, "basically" -- whatever the hell that means.

by Anonymousreply 147September 5, 2024 2:56 AM

She’s such a malcontent, that Patti woman.

by Anonymousreply 148September 5, 2024 2:56 AM

It amazes me how so many people have no idea whatsoever of what's required for the role of MAME in terms of type, and therefore suggest or approve such ridiculous casting as Cher, Bette Midler, and Patti LuPone. I will say that Patti is a SOMEWHAT less weird choice for the role than the other two, but not by much, and her lack of warmth would be only a small part of the problem.

by Anonymousreply 149September 5, 2024 3:01 AM

That’s what amazes you?

CRISPR is Amazing, to me. The fortitude of the Ukrainian people is Amazing, to me. Lemon meringue pie is Amazing, to me.

by Anonymousreply 150September 5, 2024 3:28 AM

[quote] It amazes me how so many people have no idea whatsoever of what's required for the role of MAME in terms of type

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by Anonymousreply 151September 5, 2024 3:28 AM

Isaac on Daddy Gaffen's yacht makes sense...

by Anonymousreply 152September 5, 2024 3:31 AM

Everybody has played Mame. Ginger Rogers, Celeste Holm, Janis Paige, Ann Miller. It becomes meaningless.

by Anonymousreply 153September 5, 2024 3:44 AM

[quality]Everybody has played Mame.

But only Roz and Angie did justice to the role.

by Anonymousreply 154September 5, 2024 3:49 AM

I meant quote...whatever.

by Anonymousreply 155September 5, 2024 3:49 AM

Apologies if this is a stupid question, but how can Patti be permitted to perform on Broadway if she isn’t a member of Actors’ Equity?

by Anonymousreply 156September 5, 2024 6:39 AM

[quote]But in the many many SOM reunions through the years why was Daniel Truhitte never included?

Maybe because he got fat and wears a rug.

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by Anonymousreply 157September 5, 2024 10:45 AM

R156: The crux of it is at the link below.

Some historical background—"Financial Core" derives from the 1963 United States Supreme Court decision, National Labor Relations Board v. General Motors and refers to a legal carve-out that permits workers opposed to participating in a labor union to be employed under the benefits of a union's contracts without compelling them to be a member of that union.

Patti might not quite be a scab, but she's close. It's pretty despicable of her IMO.

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by Anonymousreply 158September 5, 2024 11:21 AM

Ben Platt and Noah Galvin are married.

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by Anonymousreply 159September 5, 2024 2:25 PM

I've always thought Diane Keaton would have been a lovely Mame. And she had a notable stage career before going into movies.

by Anonymousreply 160September 5, 2024 2:34 PM

[quote]r160 = And she had a notable stage career before going into movies

Oh really?

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by Anonymousreply 161September 5, 2024 2:44 PM

[quote] But only Roz and Angie did justice to the role.

You saw [italic] all [/italic] the Broadway Mames?

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by Anonymousreply 162September 5, 2024 2:52 PM

following up on r159, here's Vogue's take

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by Anonymousreply 163September 5, 2024 2:52 PM

I didn't have to, r162.

by Anonymousreply 164September 5, 2024 2:54 PM

welcome home from camp everybody

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by Anonymousreply 165September 5, 2024 3:43 PM

The Roommate and The Outsiders have both announced they'll be doing Thursday matinees

by Anonymousreply 166September 5, 2024 4:30 PM

There's been talk that the producers paid for Patti's Union dues, which sounds even worse.

by Anonymousreply 167September 5, 2024 4:33 PM

I wonder why she is being such a stickler with this union thing.

by Anonymousreply 168September 5, 2024 4:36 PM

[quote]I wonder why she is being such a stickler with this union thing.

I wonder why any ninny gives a crap.

by Anonymousreply 169September 5, 2024 4:49 PM

r163 And here are DLers takes

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by Anonymousreply 170September 5, 2024 5:39 PM

r169 Yeah why should anyone give a crap about someone who's benefitted from organised labour for decades now shitting on it and undermining it.

by Anonymousreply 171September 5, 2024 5:40 PM

[quote]and undermining it.

LoL, sure Jan.

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by Anonymousreply 172September 5, 2024 5:47 PM

Time to retire the Lucille Bluth eyeroll, perhaps?

by Anonymousreply 173September 5, 2024 7:28 PM

Equity should have a picket line outside of The Roommate.

by Anonymousreply 174September 5, 2024 8:19 PM

Don't forget your torch, r174.

by Anonymousreply 175September 5, 2024 9:20 PM

I had tickets to "Cats" tonight, and it just got cancelled due to cast illness. 😭

by Anonymousreply 176September 5, 2024 9:41 PM

[quote]I had tickets to "Cats" tonight, and it just got cancelled due to cast illness.

I hope it's not feline leukemia.

by Anonymousreply 177September 5, 2024 9:46 PM

And I have my pitchfork at the ready, R175!

“Witch! Witch! Witch!”

by Anonymousreply 178September 5, 2024 10:15 PM

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by Anonymousreply 179September 5, 2024 10:29 PM

Maybe Patti should do Dolly. Isn't she Carol's age on the last tour?

by Anonymousreply 180September 6, 2024 7:04 AM

[quote]I had tickets to "Cats" tonight, and it just got cancelled due to cast illness

Shouldn't that be "... cancelled due to cats' illness"?

by Anonymousreply 181September 6, 2024 12:05 PM

This is at least the second performance of CATS that has been canceled due to cast illness. Don't they have enough covers/standbys/understudies at this point in the run?

by Anonymousreply 182September 6, 2024 12:50 PM

It's off-Broadway, so maybe not, r182.

by Anonymousreply 183September 6, 2024 1:22 PM

R183, if they don't have enough covers/understudies because they're Off-Broadway, that's foolish on their part, when you think of how much money they lose when they have to cancel a performance. Also, especially because of the way this show is staged, I don't think they would need covers for every single track.

by Anonymousreply 184September 6, 2024 1:28 PM

Marianne Elliott wants to do a film version of Company.

[quote] I asked Elliott for any update on the idea she and Harper have of making a feature based on Company. “I hope it will happen,” she says. “We’ll see. I think we have to get the rights first, so we have to go to the estate and see. But yeah, I hope so, actually.“

Dear god I hope the estate tells her to fuck off. Is it known who controls the estate when it comes to those kind of decisions?

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by Anonymousreply 185September 6, 2024 2:20 PM

[quote}"I think we have to get the rights first, so we have to go to the estate and see. But yeah, I hope so, actually.“

Damn, the way she phrases that makes her sound like a rank amateur. "I think we have to get the rights first?" Ya think so??? REALLY????

by Anonymousreply 186September 6, 2024 2:26 PM

R184, but all those covers and understudies have to be costumed, rather elaborately and expensively from what I see in photos of the production. That's a HUGE expense for a show, especially an off-Broadway show with tight running costs.

And covers and understudies often aren't willing to be locked into long contracts.

by Anonymousreply 187September 6, 2024 2:44 PM

R187, it's not a long contract by any means, and there is a lot more freedom with the costumes in this production than in other shows. And again, whatever expenses they would have for understudies -- which would not be all that great, especially for an Off-Broadway contract -- pale in comparison to how much money they lose when they have to completely cancel performances.

by Anonymousreply 188September 6, 2024 2:51 PM

Anyone else see RDJ's show last night?

by Anonymousreply 189September 6, 2024 2:52 PM

R189 how was it?

by Anonymousreply 190September 6, 2024 2:57 PM

I just got a report from a friend she liked it....RDJ and Andrea Martin were great but she didn't like the guy who played the son......

by Anonymousreply 191September 6, 2024 3:01 PM

What is the musical in the MCC season rumored to be?

by Anonymousreply 192September 6, 2024 3:48 PM

A new musical based on What's Eating Gilbert Grape? written and directed by Peter Hedges, who wrote the original source material. He's also the father of actor Lucas Hedges.

I posted this as a scoop a couple of threads ago.

by Anonymousreply 193September 6, 2024 7:33 PM

So it’s not a scoop.

by Anonymousreply 194September 6, 2024 8:16 PM

Lucas hedges who also had never seen a Michelle Pfeiffer movie or a Meryl Streep movie before co-starting with them both?

by Anonymousreply 195September 6, 2024 8:28 PM

This Lucas Hedges?

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by Anonymousreply 196September 6, 2024 8:31 PM

I see the tuchas of Lucas.

by Anonymousreply 197September 6, 2024 8:42 PM

That doesn’t rhyme FYI.

by Anonymousreply 198September 6, 2024 9:04 PM

Wasn't Lucas Hedges non-binary for a while?

by Anonymousreply 199September 6, 2024 9:42 PM

R198 = Stephen Sondheim

by Anonymousreply 200September 6, 2024 9:45 PM

[quote]That doesn’t rhyme FYI.

How about mucus?

by Anonymousreply 201September 6, 2024 10:17 PM

MJ, HK, & Juliet, pony boy all out tonight on the Broadway

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by Anonymousreply 202September 6, 2024 11:09 PM

Oh and Orpheus too

by Anonymousreply 203September 6, 2024 11:10 PM

Lucas Hedges gives a world class blowjob, or so I’ve been told by someone who would definitely know.

by Anonymousreply 204September 7, 2024 12:02 AM

He knows how to use his chest voice—in his throat.

by Anonymousreply 205September 7, 2024 12:23 AM

R202, that understudies website could be very helpful, but it would be nice if it somewhere listed the date of the performance its referring to, rather than just saying "today," so there would be no misunderstanding depending on when one logs on.

by Anonymousreply 206September 7, 2024 1:20 AM

Lucas Hedges broke my heart in The Waverly Gallery. He and Elaine May, not to mention Joan Allen and David Cromer, looked mortality straight in the eye without flinching. Those were two of the best hours I have spent in a Broadway theater.

by Anonymousreply 207September 7, 2024 2:56 AM

[post redacted because linking to dailymail.co.uk clearly indicates that the poster is either a troll or an idiot (probably both, honestly.) Our advice is that you just ignore this poster but whatever you do, don't click on any link to this putrid rag.]

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by Anonymousreply 208September 7, 2024 1:03 PM

[quote]Lucas Hedges gives a world class blowjob, or so I’ve been told by someone who would definitely know.

Hope it was Joe Alwyn.

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by Anonymousreply 209September 7, 2024 1:06 PM

Or, maybe, him?

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by Anonymousreply 210September 7, 2024 1:08 PM

It was probably Tommy Dorfman who is now a lesbian and married to a woman.

by Anonymousreply 211September 7, 2024 2:45 PM

Ick.

My bet is on R210–practice makes perfect.

by Anonymousreply 212September 7, 2024 4:53 PM

Kathleen Chalfant (an old favorite on these threads) won an award at the Venice Film Festival.

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by Anonymousreply 213September 7, 2024 10:59 PM

Patti LuPone found dead on the floor.

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by Anonymousreply 214September 7, 2024 11:23 PM

Wow! No theatre gossip in almost 24 hours?

by Anonymousreply 215September 8, 2024 8:02 PM

I think several of us must have been in mourning over Patti LuPone. Being dead on the floor and all that.

by Anonymousreply 216September 8, 2024 8:10 PM

Patti DIED??!?!?!????

by Anonymousreply 217September 8, 2024 8:11 PM

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red shoes

I got the red red red

That's what I said

Red Shoes

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by Anonymousreply 218September 8, 2024 8:14 PM

r214

I'll take Patti's version still... I don't get all the hype over Cynthia Erivo... she's good but not THAT good... she seems exhausting

by Anonymousreply 219September 8, 2024 8:16 PM

I was relieved when I saw the trailer for "Wicked." I was afraid that Erivo would insist on wearing that bovine nose ring of hers.

by Anonymousreply 220September 8, 2024 8:39 PM

Patti's version sucks. She just bellows with no understanding of the lyrics. Just her usual vocal masturbation.

by Anonymousreply 221September 8, 2024 8:52 PM

Not always,r221. She sang it brilliantly in the actual show (check out the original cast CD),

by Anonymousreply 222September 8, 2024 9:01 PM

Erivo is the quintessence of meh.

by Anonymousreply 223September 9, 2024 2:30 AM

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Achieve EGOT Status With ‘Only Murders’ Emmy Win:

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by Anonymousreply 224September 9, 2024 2:33 AM

LuPone vs Erivo is a true DL Morton's Fork.

No matter who comes out on top, the bitching will be endless.

by Anonymousreply 225September 9, 2024 2:55 AM

Waving through a window Waving through a window

Waving through a window

Waving through a window

by Anonymousreply 226September 9, 2024 2:45 PM

Any chance Table 17 will be making the move to Broadway. The Booth would be perfect for it.

by Anonymousreply 227September 9, 2024 2:47 PM

How dare you. [Italic] HOW DARE YOU! [/Italic]

by Anonymousreply 228September 9, 2024 2:49 PM

John Mulaney Sets Broadway Return:

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by Anonymousreply 229September 9, 2024 4:18 PM

Intervention in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...

by Anonymousreply 230September 9, 2024 4:20 PM

Michael McKean Joins ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ Broadway Revival With ‘Better Call Saul’ Costar Bob Odenkirk:

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by Anonymousreply 231September 9, 2024 6:19 PM

I guess Maybe Happy Ending is going to open after all?

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by Anonymousreply 232September 9, 2024 6:50 PM

It is. One of its co-producers closed a significant shortfall in the capitalization. But the show has no advance - what they have is not even enough for one week of sales, let alone an open run.

by Anonymousreply 233September 9, 2024 6:56 PM

R233, you sure seem to have lots of detailed information on their financing, or lack of same.

by Anonymousreply 234September 9, 2024 7:33 PM

r234, do you not realize we have lots of Broadway pros and insiders here at the DL?

by Anonymousreply 235September 9, 2024 8:47 PM

^^^....and also a lot of people who think they are, but aren't.

by Anonymousreply 236September 9, 2024 8:48 PM

Well, of course Broadway will dim its lights for James Earl Jones. He had a theater named after him, for chrissakes.

by Anonymousreply 237September 9, 2024 9:04 PM

Sorry your show is not selling, R234. And tell Jeffrey Richards "fuck you" from me.

by Anonymousreply 238September 9, 2024 9:45 PM

^^^I don't know where all that hate is coming from. I merely commented that you seem to have a lot of detailed info about that particular show. I didn't mean it as a negative, and I certainly have no dog in the race when it comes to that show.

by Anonymousreply 239September 9, 2024 9:49 PM

Not *my* idea of Norma...

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by Anonymousreply 240September 9, 2024 10:27 PM

People on Facebook are up in arms that Patti and Mia don’t stage door after the show.

I dare someone to shout “I am Not One of your FANS” at Patti as she rushes to her car after a show

by Anonymousreply 241September 9, 2024 10:55 PM

I'm still giggling over a FB Broadway Remembered page member going after Regina Resnik who she approached for an autograph as a young girl. After "signing illegibly" the young fan wanted to thank Regina who shut her up with a "We're done here!" and moved on before the poor young fan could get in another word.

Sad.

by Anonymousreply 242September 9, 2024 11:19 PM

R240. Sarah looks very happy and she's been showing up for performances. Is she sucking off stagehands before her entrance? Asking for a friend.

by Anonymousreply 243September 9, 2024 11:27 PM

Aurora Spiderwoman has become such a bore. I suppose the treasure trove of vintage material he deigns to share is running dry. I can see all the curtain calls I want on Instagram.

by Anonymousreply 244September 10, 2024 2:46 AM

Then you do that, r244.

by Anonymousreply 245September 10, 2024 4:43 AM

R244 it’s not Aurora’s fault. The trader community has become unbearable the last few years with “NFT” and then usually “FOREVER”

So you aren’t supposed to gift, trade or buy any more but just know that THEY have a recording that you want but CANNOT ever have!

by Anonymousreply 246September 10, 2024 9:48 AM

Unless you have a really big dick.

by Anonymousreply 247September 10, 2024 10:34 AM

Is that little Tim Draxl in SB?

by Anonymousreply 248September 10, 2024 11:39 AM

More wood for the fire…Jesse speaks out

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by Anonymousreply 249September 10, 2024 1:06 PM

r246 But it's not like Aurora ever did share his collection, is it? In fact wasn't he the original NFTer?

Agree with you in general about bootleggers though. Whenever challenged they get all high and mighty about how they bootleg to share the show with people who might otherwise not be able to afford to see it, but then limit distribution to other bootleggers.

by Anonymousreply 250September 10, 2024 1:14 PM

I fear I've been misinterpreted:

I'm not trying to say Aurora is a bad person, or that I don't appreciate his work and the videos he uploads. I simply find it annoying that he's more or less abandoned posting pristine bootlegs from the 80s and 90s.

As for the NFT thing (and the general toxicity of bootleggers), that has nothing to do with Aurora. When he was actively trading bootlegs with other collectors (40 years ago) no one had ever heard of "Not For Trade."

by Anonymousreply 251September 10, 2024 1:49 PM

Elf is playing a Christmas engagement at the Marquis.

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by Anonymousreply 252September 10, 2024 3:17 PM

Lear deBessonet is the new artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater.

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by Anonymousreply 253September 10, 2024 3:36 PM

Well, so much for LCT.

by Anonymousreply 254September 10, 2024 4:31 PM

Lear is completely worthless, but she certainly is failing upwards. If a white man was saddled with her paucity of talent he’d be Jerry Zak’s assistant.

by Anonymousreply 255September 10, 2024 4:32 PM

Lear’s tenure at Encores was erratic, to say the least. Maybe the worst Encores production ever with The Life, as reimagined/destroyed by Billy Porter. But she directed a swell production of Into the Woods.

by Anonymousreply 256September 10, 2024 4:43 PM

The Majestic is back, baby.

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by Anonymousreply 257September 10, 2024 6:04 PM

I hope that orchestra gets another rehearsal or two. More clams than a New England seashore.

by Anonymousreply 258September 10, 2024 7:58 PM

[quote]Lear is completely worthless, but she certainly is failing upwards. If a white man was saddled with her paucity of talent he’d be Jerry Zak’s assistant.

And, after the debacle of LCT's CAMELOT, it's astounding to me that the company would keep Bartlett Sher on in any capacity, let alone promote him.

by Anonymousreply 259September 10, 2024 8:10 PM

From that Jesse Green article:

[quote]In a way, all warhorses are fables, stories that are roomy enough to let artists of any era maneuver among their archetypes. Today, that often means a wider diversity than the playwrights imagined; what Leon calls identity-conscious casting is taken for granted in all of the fall’s revivals. If the actor playing Norma Desmond in “Sunset Boulevard” is Filipino-Russian-Hawaiian, like Scherzinger, then so is Norma. And if, in “Our Town,” one of the two main families is white (Richard Thomas, Katie Holmes and Zoey Deutch play the Webbs) and the other is Black (Ephraim Sykes, Michelle Wilson and Billy Eugene Jones play the Gibbses) then the play will necessarily consider what it means — to the parents and their children — when the children intermarry.

But....how will "the play" be able to "consider" this when the text obviously doesn't?

by Anonymousreply 260September 10, 2024 8:25 PM

On each? Literally, the text is silent. Show us where the text says “white.

by Anonymousreply 261September 10, 2024 9:13 PM

The text doesn't say "white," nor does it say "black," and of course there is absolutely nothing in the text that "considers what it means" when there is an interracial marriage, because Wilder wasn't writing about that. That's what I meant. What do you mean, R261?

by Anonymousreply 262September 10, 2024 10:09 PM

Visited Dublin last month. Saw Riverdance at the Gaiety (insert joke here, eldergays)…hey, it’s Riverdance. I did see a poster in the hallway for the upcoming Irish premiere of The Ferryman-it starts in January. No cast or director was listed on the poster, though. I also saw Dancing at Lughnasa at the Gate Theater. I’d seen the original cast in London twice and then on Broadway. This was a very solid tevival. The five minute tableaux complete with spooky music could easily been cut down to 45 seconds, though, Good acting and the guy who played the ne’er do well daddy of the kid had a very nice ass. So concludes my Dublin theatre review. Oh, wait, the full Irish breakfast at the Stage Door Cafe was fabulous and the waitstaff totally live up to their rep in terms of bringing the sass. I highly recommend it.

by Anonymousreply 263September 10, 2024 11:36 PM

The Lear appointment burned up my phone all day. Not one Broadway insider thinks she's a good choice. Her reputation for chaos and self-aggrandizement is strong. I'd heard stories through the years, but more today. This should be interesting.

by Anonymousreply 264September 11, 2024 12:41 AM

Someone on ATC posted:

Lear is not only unintelligent but lacks any artistic skill and is an absolute terror. She is abusive, immature, hateful, and mentally unstable. Anyone who has worked with or been around her knows this to be true and it’s only a matter of time before the people at LCT realize what a huge mistake they’ve made. She should be nowhere near musical theatre and go back to directing children’s bible theatre in a church basement.

by Anonymousreply 265September 11, 2024 12:44 AM

Because abusive, immature, hateful and mentally unstable people are exactly the type who should be in charge of children?

by Anonymousreply 266September 11, 2024 1:18 AM

[quote]Lear is not only unintelligent but lacks any artistic skill and is an absolute terror. She is abusive, immature, hateful, and mentally unstable. Anyone who has worked with or been around her knows this to be true

...she seems nice.

by Anonymousreply 267September 11, 2024 3:46 AM

Broadway Box Office:

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by Anonymousreply 268September 11, 2024 6:24 AM

I guess, with Lear, it remains to be seen if she would actually direct any LCT productions herself.

by Anonymousreply 269September 11, 2024 10:21 AM

Patti & Aubrey!

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by Anonymousreply 270September 11, 2024 10:21 AM

The name "DeBessonet" always sounds like French for "of bayonet," to me.

by Anonymousreply 271September 11, 2024 11:59 AM

The Encores! creatives and casts still do talkbacks after Saturday matinee performances. Does anyone know if they had the nerve to do one for THE LIFE, and if so, who showed up to talk? How did it go?

by Anonymousreply 272September 11, 2024 12:32 PM

R154 Wow, you saw them all?

by Anonymousreply 273September 11, 2024 12:54 PM

I have a question about colorblind casting. Does anyone else think it's weird that it's acceptable to cast someone of a different color to play a white character (sometimes it's a historical character), but at the same time, the age has to be appropriate? That is, you can cast a black woman as Rose Hovick, who was not black, but you can't cast a 75 year old woman as Laurie in Oklahoma. Isn't that ageism? Why does the age have to be believable but the skin color does not?

by Anonymousreply 274September 11, 2024 12:59 PM

Laurey’s character is defined by her youth. Rose’s character is defined by her drive, not her race.

by Anonymousreply 275September 11, 2024 1:17 PM

Liza's dream was defined by her father, but her drive was defined by her mother.

by Anonymousreply 276September 11, 2024 1:20 PM

Hey, leave me out of this.

by Anonymousreply 277September 11, 2024 1:21 PM

Come back to the Five and Dime, Lear deBessonet, Lear deBessonet.

by Anonymousreply 278September 11, 2024 2:27 PM

Lear likes to burst into tears. A lot. Good luck LCT.

by Anonymousreply 279September 11, 2024 2:27 PM

So she's a manipulative cunt that cries to get her way? Oh, joy.

by Anonymousreply 280September 11, 2024 2:29 PM

Is it Bossen-ay? or Bossen-ette?

by Anonymousreply 281September 11, 2024 2:45 PM

The correct French pronunciation would be BESS-uh-nay. I think she pronounces it that way, but I'm not 100 percent sure.

by Anonymousreply 282September 11, 2024 3:06 PM

R275 So they Rose can be played by a 14 year old who can exhibit "drive".

by Anonymousreply 283September 11, 2024 3:20 PM

Once you've cleaned out a few dead friends' or relatives' houses, you'll realize that all of this stuff is just crap. And no one wants any of it.

by Anonymousreply 284September 11, 2024 3:46 PM

Sorry! Wrong thread. (Although this could apply to my extensive collection of Playbills!)

by Anonymousreply 285September 11, 2024 3:46 PM

I want your Playbills R285!

by Anonymousreply 286September 11, 2024 3:53 PM

R283, I’m curious how many 14 year olds with drive have children in their teens and twenties. If the idea of a black woman (who has won six Tonys) playing Rose is so offensive to your fragile sensibilities, just don’t go.

by Anonymousreply 287September 11, 2024 4:13 PM

r287 are you the same queen who always tries to start a race-based tiff if anyone insomuch as mentions color? "Offensive to your fragile sensibilities" sounds familiar and tired.

As far as Gypsy is concerned, we should all wait and see what these creative people do. I worry that Sondheim, Styne and Laurents didn't [italic] write [/italic] a musical about race and probably wouldn't have ignored the subject if they had, but Wolfe is a smart man. TBD.

by Anonymousreply 288September 11, 2024 5:45 PM

[quote]I worry that Sondheim, Styne and Laurents didn't write a musical about race and probably wouldn't have ignored the subject if they had,

That's one of the major problems with this concept, sight unseen.

[quote]But Wolfe is a smart man. TBD.

No matter how smart he is or isn't, that doesn't change the excellent, overriding point you made above.

by Anonymousreply 289September 11, 2024 6:32 PM

Sorry, but the original text or authors is not the only consideration. What is Shakespeare’s take on Jews in Merchant of Venice? Portia and Shylock resonate very differently now than in his time, and it has nothing to do with what Shakespeare wrote, thought, or intended. It doesn’t mean we ignore the text or Shakespeare completely.

I can’t believe anyone is concerned about Audra McDonald as Rose for any reason other than how she will manage the belting. In fact, I can’t think of anyone else who could carry this role on Broadway who isn’t too young or too old. Would you really have us suffer through Sutton as Rose just because she is white?

This is almost certainly going to be an astonishing performance.

by Anonymousreply 290September 11, 2024 7:28 PM

I know Audra has six Tony's and she has a gorgeous voice but I think she's a lousy actress. Nothing to do with black or white. I just don't get her appeal. I also don't understand why Sutton Foster has a career so maybe it's me.

by Anonymousreply 291September 11, 2024 7:43 PM

Wilder didn't need to specify white because it was automatically understood. Wilder wasn't a drooling moron who belonged safely put away in a straight jacket in an institution far far away like the above poster R261. It was because he wrote Emily as a biological girl not a boy dressed as a girl because he identified as a girl. If the other family had been black it would be an entirely different play with very different concerns as somebody pointed out. The themes he was writing about would have had to have been chucked out the window.

by Anonymousreply 292September 11, 2024 8:09 PM

Just a reminder, anonymous message board users have no influence on producers. They're going to cast a show however they want it. Nobody's lamenting if you don't buy a ticket. I'm not at all interested in that production of Our Town, but I'm not going to think it will live or die on my approval.

by Anonymousreply 293September 11, 2024 8:59 PM

[quote]Sorry, but the original text or authors is not the only consideration. What is Shakespeare’s take on Jews in Merchant of Venice? Portia and Shylock resonate very differently now than in his time, and it has nothing to do with what Shakespeare wrote, thought, or intended. It doesn’t mean we ignore the text or Shakespeare completely.

I agree with all of that, but it has nothing to do with recasting OUR TOWN as the story of an interracial romance, especially not in a place and at a time where that would never have happened. R292 nails it above.

by Anonymousreply 294September 11, 2024 9:21 PM

[quote]especially not in a place

Grover's Corners is fictional, r294.

by Anonymousreply 295September 11, 2024 9:24 PM

What an incredibly strange post, R293. People can express their negative opinions on a show without assuming that everyone else is going to think as they do and refuse to buy tickets, or that the show will "live or die on their approval." How did your brain make that huge leap?

But P.S. I know several people who feel THE NOTEBOOK would have had a longer life if it weren't for the nonsensical "color-blind" casting, so I think that's only one example where at least some people did make their ticket-buying decisions based on casting.

by Anonymousreply 296September 11, 2024 9:27 PM

R295, I will now explain to you as if you were a child that while the actual town of Grover's Corners is fictional, it's supposed to represent a very specific kind of New England town inhabited by a very specific type of people (rather than a racially, ethnically, or nationally diverse group) during the early years of the 20th Century, Wilder was writing about universal themes but, in the case of this play, he chose to do so with a portrait of an extremely specific and immediately identifiable way of life.

by Anonymousreply 297September 11, 2024 9:33 PM

[quote]This is almost certainly going to be an astonishing performance.

I agree, but perhaps not in the way you're thinking.

by Anonymousreply 298September 11, 2024 9:38 PM

[quote]r297 = I will now explain to you as if you were a child

LoL, be as condescending as you wish, my point stands. Universal themes in a fictional town where race isn't mentioned. I don't see why you have a problem with diversity casting with this particular property.

by Anonymousreply 299September 11, 2024 10:05 PM

Must we have this argument EVERY week?

At least get some new material, constantly calling your interlocutors childish has gotten boring.

by Anonymousreply 300September 11, 2024 10:33 PM

Agreed, R300. It's beyond boring.

by Anonymousreply 301September 11, 2024 10:49 PM

I blocked r297 several threads ago. Life has been loverly.

by Anonymousreply 302September 12, 2024 12:36 AM

[quote]I don't see why you have a problem with diversity casting with this particular property.

Then you don't understand the play. There are lots of other plays that would be open to diversity casting, but not OUR TOWN. And it's certainly not open to casting where one of the two central families is white, the other black, and the romance of their children is depicted as interracial, because that's not remotely what the play is about.

by Anonymousreply 303September 12, 2024 12:49 AM

McNeal: I am curious how well this will do long-term. Very little social media impact and some of that sounds like people are disappointed by the trite story about bad AI. Also not much press compared to something much smaller like Oh, Mary!

Regarding LCT, If insiders are grumbling, then who should have gotten to lead LCT? Was someone more obvious passed over?

by Anonymousreply 304September 12, 2024 1:01 AM

The dreck that is being produced on Broadway today is abysmal. I'm an insider and my living and social life depend on it but I had to speak out. It was awful just before Covid now it's gone down the drain.

by Anonymousreply 305September 12, 2024 1:22 AM

Has there been any info on this new OUR TOWN as to what period it's set? Haven't read or seen in it in a long time but I'm not sure (with the most minor tweaks) it couldn't be set any time in the 20th or even 21st century and not necessarily in a particular New England-like town.

I really just don't get the stubbornness and meanness of some of the above posters who would deny this beautiful universal story to all people of color just because it wasn't presented that way originally.

by Anonymousreply 306September 12, 2024 1:27 AM

Because their bigotry is peeking out from under their caftans.

by Anonymousreply 307September 12, 2024 1:41 AM

Race, schmace, I say, race [italic] schmace [/italic] . Jim parsons sounds like the boringest least interesting Stage Manager casting imaginable. why not somebody actually dead instead. That would be a unique take. Anyone at all, just someone with more personality than mayonnaise. No, not mayonnaise. Miracle fucking whip

by Anonymousreply 308September 12, 2024 2:58 AM

And if Kenny is such a star fucker, call in some chits here. Tom Hanks returns to Broadway as the stage manager. Kathleen Turner. Danny DeVito. Matt fucking Damon. John Leguizamo. Dick Cavett even if he is 100 years old. Chip Zien. Joanna Gleason. George Wendt if he can still move. David Hyde Pierce. Absolutely anyone from the cast of West Wing. Just not boring bazinga boy. Iain Armitage. .

by Anonymousreply 309September 12, 2024 3:12 AM

[quote]Has there been any info on this new OUR TOWN as to what period it's set? Haven't read or seen in it in a long time but I'm not sure (with the most minor tweaks) it couldn't be set any time in the 20th or even 21st century and not necessarily in a particular New England-like town.

A tremendous percentage of the lines of the play would have to be rewritten for it to be set in any time period other than the very early years of the 20th century. If you don't know the play well enough to understand that, maybe you shouldn't comment.

[quote]I really just don't get the stubbornness and meanness of some of the above posters who would deny this beautiful universal story to all people of color just because it wasn't presented that way originally.

Because, again, you don't understand the play. What you're saying is exactly the equivalent of insisting that the story of A RAISIN IN THE SUN, which is universal in some ways, should not be "denied" to actors who are not African-American.

by Anonymousreply 310September 12, 2024 3:15 AM

That’s a laugh!^

by Anonymousreply 311September 12, 2024 3:34 AM

R311, be more specific or be silent.

by Anonymousreply 312September 12, 2024 3:50 AM

[quote]why not somebody actually dead instead.

I'm available!

by Anonymousreply 313September 12, 2024 3:51 AM

1. NOT exactky

2. NOT universal in the same way

by Anonymousreply 314September 12, 2024 3:51 AM

exactly!*

by Anonymousreply 315September 12, 2024 3:51 AM

Gawd, these threads have gotten so boring.

by Anonymousreply 316September 12, 2024 8:30 AM

What are a few of the absolutely unchangeable tremendous percentage of lines in OUR TOWN that couldn't be tweaked to apply to people of color or later than the early 20th century?

Educate me, r310.

I think there was a reason Thornton Wilder demanded his play be performed without a set.

by Anonymousreply 317September 12, 2024 11:45 AM

Of all plays, OUR TOWN seems to be the one least affected by colorblind casting. Yes, it’s set in a specific time and place, but its messages are so timeless and universal. If we can believe Emily and George are in their upstairs bedrooms by perching on ladders, it’s no more difficult to believe a Black or Asian using the suggestion of a New England dialect to suggest region and identity. It’s not a hyper-realistic play, for Chrissakes or a play about miscegenation!

by Anonymousreply 318September 12, 2024 11:48 AM

As opposed to Gypsy, which was written about a specific industry in a specific time with a specific kind of segregation.

by Anonymousreply 319September 12, 2024 11:54 AM

In fact, a black rose is a pioneer woman [italic] with [/italic] a frontier.

by Anonymousreply 320September 12, 2024 11:55 AM

Audra may be astonishing, but I got there first.

by Anonymousreply 321September 12, 2024 12:31 PM

[quote]Of all plays, OUR TOWN seems to be the one least affected by colorblind casting.

It depends on one's definition of "color-blind casting." I have read that, in the upcoming production, one of the families will be black and the other white, which leads me to believe we are actually supposed to see the CHARACTERS as black or white -- rather than seeing them as characters who just happen to be played by actors of different races, which would be the case if the two families were cast more diversely, e.g. with whites and blacks and maybe also Asians, etc. as members of one family.

[quote]It’s not a hyper-realistic play, for Chrissakes or a play about miscegenation!

Exactly. It's NOT a play about "miscegenation," because that's not what the playwright wrote, but now apparently it WILL be a play about that. In a way. But in another way, of course it won't be about that, because the script is not about that, even if the casting of this production is. The whole concept is enough to make your head spin.

by Anonymousreply 322September 12, 2024 1:34 PM

[quote]What are a few of the absolutely unchangeable tremendous percentage of lines in OUR TOWN that couldn't be tweaked to apply to people of color or later than the early 20th century?

A great many of the lines refer to various aspects of life in the early years of the 20th century in New England, and even the way the characters talk accords with that, because Wilder was intentionally writing in that style. There are also references to the time period, including an important reference to World War 1 that comes to mind. So it would require much more than "tweaking" the text for the play to be made to apply to people of color or for the action to be credibly taking place in more recent times. No, someone would have to do A LOT of rewriting, and if that were ever allowed, why even bother to do OUR TOWN?

by Anonymousreply 323September 12, 2024 1:42 PM

The musical "Grover's Corners" did change the time from before the first World War to before the second. But that's neither here nor there...

by Anonymousreply 324September 12, 2024 1:45 PM

Hollywood Is Heading for Broadway (and Off):

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 325September 12, 2024 1:54 PM

My “little Ivy” small liberal arts college in New England mounted a production of OUR TOWN in 2000 that featured a black George and, I assure you, the world kept spinning on its axis. Nothing in the text itself prevents it and there are no “revisions” that need to be made to accommodate such casting. I was the AD for that production and the director chose Asian-influenced music for the show and had the stage bathed in red during the wedding scene. It was stunning.

These race discussions frequently take over DL and really never get anywhere productive. I’d love to see how old and decrepit the most ardent and vocal detractors are. I always imagine them in their ‘70s with lots of white neck hair and sodden underpants. Unclench, grannies.

by Anonymousreply 326September 12, 2024 2:51 PM

[quote]The whole concept is enough to make your head spin.

Your head is the only one spinning, r322.

by Anonymousreply 327September 12, 2024 2:57 PM

So is Louise black too? Light skinned or dark skinned like her mama?

by Anonymousreply 328September 12, 2024 3:19 PM

Othello tix are $935? Are they fucking insane? This will be the most expensive dumpster fire in Broadway history.

by Anonymousreply 329September 12, 2024 3:34 PM

Joseph Papp was doing colorblind casting many many decades ago. But he was a smart producer who did not do it nilly willy just for the sake of it. He was a canny man of intelligence who wanted diverse casting but it had to serve the material just like a specific actor or costume must serve the material. This is why Broadway is so bad today. The canny intelligent directors are a thing of the very long ago past. Today it is a case of throwing shit on a stage and seeing if it sticks.

And a school production is a very different thing. We had a black female lead in Tom Jones in high school many more decades ago than I care to admit and nobody thought anything of it.

by Anonymousreply 330September 12, 2024 3:56 PM

There is a Rose in Spanish Harlem…

by Anonymousreply 331September 12, 2024 4:06 PM

Early predictions for tonight's reviews of The Roommate?

by Anonymousreply 332September 12, 2024 4:38 PM

Real women have curves, directed and choreographed by Sergio T and "produced" by Jack Noseworthy and the Weisslers. Hmmm.

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 333September 12, 2024 5:13 PM

Never look back, r330.

by Anonymousreply 334September 12, 2024 5:21 PM

Stop trying to make Sergio Trujillo happen!

by Anonymousreply 335September 12, 2024 5:41 PM

JLo had Trujillo fired from the Kiss of the Spider Woman film.

by Anonymousreply 336September 12, 2024 5:41 PM

[quote]the Kiss of the Spider Woman film

I wonder when they'll drop a trailer.

by Anonymousreply 337September 12, 2024 5:58 PM

[quote] Early predictions for tonight's reviews of The Roommate?

Everyone will say the performers are great but the play is meh. The end.

by Anonymousreply 338September 12, 2024 6:35 PM

Any news on who else is in Gypsy besides Audra or is it now a one-person show like Andrew Scott's Uncle Vanya?

by Anonymousreply 339September 12, 2024 8:27 PM

Rumors right now are Norbert Leo Butz for Herbie, and the two younger Allies from the Notebook for Louise and June.

by Anonymousreply 340September 12, 2024 9:29 PM

[quote]the Kiss of the Spider Woman film

[quote]I wonder when they'll drop a trailer.

Into the garbage can?

by Anonymousreply 341September 12, 2024 10:11 PM

Norbert Leo Butz is in VLADIMIR at MTC starting previews in a week or so. I doubt he's Herbie.

by Anonymousreply 342September 12, 2024 10:39 PM

These rumors are saying he would do both. It would be a much better fit for him than Doolittle.

by Anonymousreply 343September 12, 2024 10:43 PM

So they're going as predicted with a dark-skinned June and a Louise who can "pass"?

by Anonymousreply 344September 12, 2024 11:24 PM

Other way around, r344. At least that!’s what the casting notice said. The rumor is Joy Woods as Louise and Jordan Tyson as June. The newsboys are initially black but then apparently get replaced with white kids, since Tulsa is white. I think Wolfe knows what he is doing.

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 345September 12, 2024 11:33 PM

I get it. The lighter June would be a more likely star, but once she runs off, Rose has to work that much harder to make her darker sister succeed.

by Anonymousreply 346September 13, 2024 12:09 AM

The Roommate curtain call is up on Instagram. Ronan and Patti's sons presented their moms with flowers. It was actually very sweet.

by Anonymousreply 347September 13, 2024 12:47 AM

It would have been sweeter if it had been Moses.

by Anonymousreply 348September 13, 2024 1:24 AM

Oops. I meant Mia's son RONAN ......

by Anonymousreply 349September 13, 2024 1:25 AM

Deadline reviews "The Roommate":

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 350September 13, 2024 1:35 AM

NYT:

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 351September 13, 2024 1:36 AM

[quote]I get it. The lighter June would be a more likely star, but once she runs off, Rose has to work that much harder to make her darker sister succeed.

As if GYPSY needs another whole subplot dealing with racism in show business laid on top of everything that's already happening in the plot and among the characters.

by Anonymousreply 352September 13, 2024 2:29 AM

What do you expect when you bring Audra and George together?

by Anonymousreply 353September 13, 2024 2:53 AM

Rose's Turn will deal with the shit a black woman had to deal with in the entertainment business like the nightmares Ethel Waters went through.

by Anonymousreply 354September 13, 2024 11:04 AM

Really? Can't wait to hear those lyrics!

by Anonymousreply 355September 13, 2024 12:14 PM

Max Cherns......verificatia of sizemeat?

by Anonymousreply 356September 13, 2024 4:23 PM

What's John Barrowman doing these days?

by Anonymousreply 357September 13, 2024 5:22 PM

Time?

by Anonymousreply 358September 13, 2024 5:30 PM

I think he's busy verifying Max Cherns sizemeat, r347.

by Anonymousreply 359September 13, 2024 5:32 PM

I want to hear more about JLo firing Sergio T.

Sergio's manager is something else. I bet her pussy caught on fire when he got canned.

by Anonymousreply 360September 13, 2024 9:16 PM

I thought Max Chems led to shrinkage

by Anonymousreply 361September 13, 2024 10:24 PM

Trujillo had been hired to choreograph the fantasy musical numbers in the Spider Woman film that, of course, star JLo. She was not pleased with his ideas and had him fired. End of story, r360.

Also, didn't that Trujillo-directed Real Women Have Curves musical get horrible reviews when it was done out of town?

by Anonymousreply 362September 13, 2024 11:01 PM

As I recall, David Cromer's (rightly) celebrated OUR TOWN eschewed period costumes and accents (until the famous reveal near the end), and that didn't stop the play's power from coming through -- for some, in fact, more so than ever.

by Anonymousreply 363September 13, 2024 11:36 PM

Bacon!

by Anonymousreply 364September 14, 2024 1:21 AM

David Cromer's "Our Town" was one of the best pieces of theatre I've ever seen. Absolutely stunning. Relatively obscure, average-looking Chicago actors who gave amazing performances.

by Anonymousreply 365September 14, 2024 2:10 AM

Our Town was one of the first real plays I ever saw, and I remember it totally devastating my 15 year old soul. That Cromer production managed to resurrect that child in a 35 year old body. With the exception of Cromer, none of those actors has had amazing careers, but the cast’s commitment to the play was incredible. I suppose, like Emily Webb, we don’t realize the wonder of something ordinary until it is well in the past. But that was really something to experience.

by Anonymousreply 366September 14, 2024 2:35 AM

I'm going to put this here because I don't know if there's an Emmy thread. I had some ABC thing on about Emmy Firsts that I was half-paying attention to and...Robin Roberts has turned into Barbara Walters. She's going for the...tears. Lovely reactions from Carol Burnett and Meryl.

by Anonymousreply 367September 14, 2024 3:50 AM

Speaking of sizemeat.....isn't Cromer in that club?

by Anonymousreply 368September 14, 2024 3:50 AM

What was the. “ famous reveal” at the end of Cromer’s Our Town?

by Anonymousreply 369September 14, 2024 4:17 AM

They were all at a Denny’s eating Grand Slam breakfasts.

by Anonymousreply 370September 14, 2024 4:25 AM

Spoiler Alert, r370!!!

by Anonymousreply 371September 14, 2024 4:31 AM

For R369:

The staging was entirely austere, even more so than what is suggested in Wilder’s preface to the play: costumes were not in period, no scenery apart from the usual tables and chairs, actors performed using their own accents (and as I saw the production in London, these were all different regional British accents), props were mimed, lighting changes were minimal and were used to light the space, rather than generate any theatrical effects.

And then, when Emily gets to go and relive her important enough day, a curtain upstage was pulled back to reveal a full recreation of the Webb family’s kitchen. The light in the window made it look like a cold February morning. Mrs Webb appeared in accurate period costume, talking in a New Hampshire accent, and preceded to cook real bacon in a real pan on a working stove.

It remains one of my most treasured theatrical memories. And like R366 above, I felt like it did something to my soul. I cried so much that the stranger sitting next to me offered me a tissue.

It was a superlative production; the kind that makes me wonder why anybody feels the need to bother trying to stage it any differently ever again.

by Anonymousreply 372September 14, 2024 7:20 AM

I have to wonder if David Cromer has resisted offers of more blatantly commercial material in his career. And for that I admire him. I think his only Broadway musical credit has been The Band's Visit.

But I wonder if he's been offered some of the star-driven Broadway revivals that Sam Gold often directs. Well, actually, he's directing George Clooney now, so we'll see how that works out.

by Anonymousreply 373September 14, 2024 12:28 PM

I can’t speak for whether Cromer considers himself a success. However, if he or Joe Mantello are attached to any project, I feel confident it will be really good. To me, that’s success.

by Anonymousreply 374September 14, 2024 12:51 PM

I'll be the party-pooper. I didn't like Cromer's OUR TOWN and I consider OT to be one of the greatest plays ever written. But I also loved the Spaulding Gray production, that many hated. OUR TOWN has its "gimmick" written into the play. No additional gimmicks necessary. I rolled my eyes so hard at Cromer's unnecessary addition (with bacon) because he didn't trust the play to work on its own.

Let's not forget he's also had some massive failures: Brighton Beach Memoirs and House of Blue Leaves to name two. Maybe he should stick to new works and leave the revivals to someone else.

by Anonymousreply 375September 14, 2024 1:50 PM

R372, your beautiful description of the coup de theatre in Cromer's OUR TOWN accords with my memory except for one detail: I don't remember noticing that the Mrs. Webb suddenly started talking in an obvious New England accent. Are you pretty sure about that? Maybe I was so overwhelmed by the effect in general that I didn't focus on that.

by Anonymousreply 376September 14, 2024 1:52 PM

Or as it's known in the Midwest U.S. - Are Town.

by Anonymousreply 377September 14, 2024 1:53 PM

Just read that Jason Alexander will be playing Tevye in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the La Mirada Theatre, directed by.....Lonny Price. So those are two huge, red flags flying over that production.

by Anonymousreply 378September 14, 2024 1:54 PM

Jason Alexander will give one of those performances that will be exactly as you know it will be.

by Anonymousreply 379September 14, 2024 2:05 PM

[quote] I cried so much that the stranger sitting next to me offered me a tissue.

MARY!

by Anonymousreply 380September 14, 2024 2:27 PM

[quote] Jason Alexander will give one of those performances that will be exactly as you know it will be.

For the people who like that sort of thing, this is the sort of thing that they like.

by Anonymousreply 381September 14, 2024 2:27 PM

I saw the production of Our Town with Fred Gwynne directed by Michael Kahn a long time ago in Stratford CT. I was completely overwhelmed at the end. I've had no desire to see the play since.

by Anonymousreply 382September 14, 2024 2:36 PM

[quote] Jason Alexander will give one of those performances that will be exactly as you know it will be.

He was pretty swell as Tevye in Jerome Robbins Broadway.

by Anonymousreply 383September 14, 2024 2:48 PM

I was underwhelmed with Cromer’s production. It wasn’t that earth-shattering to me, maybe because I’d done the play in high school. Also, I love bacon. But it seemed counter-intuitive to the ethos of the play. I mean, is it supposed to be like a Technicolor thing like The Wizard of Oz or like a George Bailey thing? I don’t understand what it adds to the play. But, y’know, he’s the genius not me. And he is incredibly talented and a good egg.

It should be said R375, his Brighton Beach Memoirs was loved by critics. There was just no audience for it or something. It was a financial flop but a critical bit. And audiences lost what undoubtedly wouid’ve been Laurie Metcalf’s great turn in Broadway Bound.

by Anonymousreply 384September 14, 2024 2:54 PM

R380 that happened to me when I saw Glenn Close in Sunset…but for different reasons….which are well known to her

by Anonymousreply 385September 14, 2024 2:55 PM

*critical hit

by Anonymousreply 386September 14, 2024 2:55 PM

R380, I was the guy sitting on the either side of you who said, “Jesus Christ. Rein it in, Mary. Haven’t you ever smelled bacon before?”

by Anonymousreply 387September 14, 2024 2:57 PM

The reveal seems pretty obvious to me. The point of the play is that we take life for granted so much that we practically sleep walk through it, missing all of the richness and details. The sudden shift to hyper realism (with smell effects!) made that insight jolting and visceral.

Some people don’t like choices like that, which I get. But the acting was very focused and connected throughout. I remember really feeling for Simon Stimson, maybe because I didn’t understand his inner turmoil when I saw it in high school.

I also remember being fascinated by the women shelling beans in Act One. It must have been so well executed that I somehow reminder there being real beans.

by Anonymousreply 388September 14, 2024 3:08 PM

^remember

by Anonymousreply 389September 14, 2024 3:09 PM

beans

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 390September 14, 2024 3:37 PM

That smell of bacon instantly transported me to my childhood.

by Anonymousreply 391September 14, 2024 3:40 PM

Is the bare stage wall as the backdrop in Wilder's stage directions or did Jed Harris the play's first director come up with the idea?

by Anonymousreply 392September 14, 2024 3:44 PM

[quote]2) LuPone is still not a member of Equity and gleefully has not rejoined the union.

Patti LiPone is a FI-CORE SCAB and no union members should reward her by seeing this show, or treating her as anything but a SCAB.

SHAME ON HER!

by Anonymousreply 393September 14, 2024 4:09 PM

Can someone stage Cromer’s Our Town this evening so we can all see it and then we can all comment on the fucking bacon?!?

by Anonymousreply 394September 14, 2024 4:27 PM

The change to “reality” in the context of the dead coming back to life for a moment is what worked so well.

If ya wanna make an Oz-type analogy, the play was done in Technicolor and the coda was in sepia. A flip, if you will.

That smell and sound of bacon! In a small West Village theater —a brilliant set piece. And consistent with Wilder, all the way.

by Anonymousreply 395September 14, 2024 4:29 PM

R390 Glynnis was so good as Emily in that version.

by Anonymousreply 396September 14, 2024 4:31 PM

They changed the ending for no good reason, but the film version of the original Broadway show was a master class in character acting. William Holden was the twink of all twinks.

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 397September 14, 2024 4:34 PM

R393, can you or someone else please clarify? My understanding is that LuPone is able to appear on Broadway, even though she has quit Equity, as long as she continues paying her dues despite the fact that she has officially renounced her union membership. Is that true, or is it misinformation? Because if she IS still paying her dues, even though she is officially a non-member, does that really make her a scab?

by Anonymousreply 398September 14, 2024 4:37 PM

[quote]I'll be the party-pooper. I didn't like Cromer's OUR TOWN and I consider OT to be one of the greatest plays ever written.

Same here. Cromer was determined to remove the usual twinkly-twee qualities from the production, but in doing so managed to remove all of the charm as well. Hyper real life onstage is like real life, often full of charm and surprise. The bacon gimmick was a cute gimmick. I'm surprised to see it treated like the helicopter in Miss Saigon. It wasn't.

Having a mixed race cast is just producing the play as it never was. How can one be faithful to the author and text by introducing elements that never existed? Kenny Leon is a fantastic director and will get away with this, but the play everyone will be crowing about will not be Our Town, it will be "Kenny Leon's Our Town", and it won't need bacon.

by Anonymousreply 399September 14, 2024 4:51 PM

R375's take reminds me of classical music "fans" whose criticism of certain conductors is "They should let the music speak for itself. " The music can't, just as (pace Albee) the script of a play can't. If you feel that a director's (or an actor's) take on the material doesn't work, fine. But don't act as if an innovative/provocative theatrical choice *de facto* expresses mistrust in the material.

My (fairly extensive) experience of Cromer's work suggests that he very much understands and trusts his material and is simply looking for the best way(s) to show that understanding. True, most of his work that I've seen has been of new pieces, and true, HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES was an almost total misfire. But his STREETCAR at Writers Theater (outside of Chicago) was thrilling, including some bacon-esque choices (sure to induce pearl-clutching here) that for me made certain aspects of that great play even more vivid, indeed the best live presentation of that material I've ever seen.

by Anonymousreply 400September 14, 2024 5:19 PM

Can you read up thread? It’s all there.

by Anonymousreply 401September 14, 2024 5:26 PM

LCT version of the bacon scene(!)

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 402September 14, 2024 5:33 PM

R397: Don’t tou mean William Holden was the twunk of twunks? He was pretty when very young, and though callow, was always butch.

by Anonymousreply 403September 14, 2024 5:49 PM

Did anyone see Kate Mulgrew as Emily at the Bard? With the exception of Richard Backus as George, it looks like a fine cast.

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 404September 14, 2024 5:56 PM

I appreciate the comment about the Chicago actors made above. The New York Theater community has lost the thread of stage acting and credible performances and they're all just trying to get noticed for awards and Netflix. No one cares about ensemble work or the idea of craft. It's all this strange search for stardom. When I see plays in Chicago, I'm always struck how everyone is just as talented as the New York actors and they're there for the work. It has so much more integrity. Roundabout has become a joke as an example of this. It's like the Kenley circuit via Amazon Prime.

by Anonymousreply 405September 14, 2024 6:08 PM

R404-That production, to this day, remains the finest production of the play I've yet to see. Fred Gwynne was a remarkable Stage Manager and the direction by Michael Kahn was seamless and superb. Mulgrew was heartbreaking in Act Three. Kahn did some of his finest work up there. His "A Winter's Tale" was a revelation, and there's never been a better "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" in my lifetime.

by Anonymousreply 406September 14, 2024 6:19 PM

In Kenny’s version, at the end of the play, the mixed-race cast will all file out the stage door and, filmed by Jamie Lloyd, walk over to see the mixed-race Gypsy

by Anonymousreply 407September 14, 2024 6:25 PM

The acting in the old film version of OUR TOWN is uniformly excellent, including from William Holden and Martha Scott, BUT those two both look way too old for their roles by any standard. I was astonished to find that Holden was only about 22 when he made the film, but I think he looks at least 30. And Scott was actually about 28 at the time of the filming and looks that age at least. I think it's really important for the story that George and Emily look like late-teenagers.

by Anonymousreply 408September 14, 2024 6:35 PM

Speaking of Gypsy, I wish/hope they'd put Momma's Talkin' Soft back in. As Sondheim said in Finishing The Hat, June and Louise "are no dopes." (It was recorded as a bonus track on the LuPone revival CD.)

by Anonymousreply 409September 14, 2024 7:02 PM

[quote]They changed the ending for no good reason, but the film version of the original Broadway show was a master class in character acting.

The reason was to give it a happy ending and not have the heroine die at the end. That was fine for Broadway, but not for a movie in 1940.

by Anonymousreply 410September 14, 2024 7:20 PM

[quote]And Scott was actually about 28 at the time of the filming and looks that age at least.

Martha Scott had originated the role of Emily on Broadway.

by Anonymousreply 411September 14, 2024 7:22 PM

Except for the ending, the film is darn near perfect. The ages of George and Emily didn't bother me in the least.

by Anonymousreply 412September 14, 2024 7:44 PM

And of course, it has the great Copland score as well. Can't get better than that.

by Anonymousreply 413September 14, 2024 7:45 PM

[quote]the play was done in Technicolor and the coda was in sepia. A flip, if you will.

Don’t you mean it the other way around? The play was done in sepia and the coda was in Technicolor. The movie was as you describe above, in technicolor with a sepia coda (and opening).

by Anonymousreply 414September 14, 2024 7:47 PM

[quote]Martha Scott had originated the role of Emily on Broadway.

Who the fuck cares who originated the role?

by Anonymousreply 415September 14, 2024 7:49 PM

For Our Town fans, read Tom Lake by Ann Patchett whose main character is a young actress playing Emily. The novel is wonderful!

by Anonymousreply 416September 14, 2024 8:22 PM

Does it have 3/4's of a pound of bacon?

by Anonymousreply 417September 14, 2024 8:39 PM

R414 I meant what I said: inverse of the Oz conceit.

by Anonymousreply 418September 14, 2024 8:47 PM

[quote]The reason was to give it a happy ending and not have the heroine die at the end. That was fine for Broadway, but not for a movie in 1940.

But THE WHOLE POINT of OUR TOWN is that Emily dies young, that some people dying very young is a part of life. And of course there were many movies released before 1940 in which major characters die at the end or during the course of the action, even major female characters. GONE WITH THE WIND,, DARK VICTORY, CAMILLE, and LITTLE WOMEN are four that come immediately to mind.

by Anonymousreply 419September 14, 2024 8:58 PM

[quote]Except for the ending, the film is darn near perfect. The ages of George and Emily didn't bother me in the least.

Really? Especially given the fact that the film is hyper-realistic in terms of sets and costumes, it doesn't bother you to have much older-looking actors living at home with their parents and talking like teenagers about school, homework, chores and such?

by Anonymousreply 420September 14, 2024 9:01 PM

You know what bothers me? Better folks on here who spew bile IN ALL CAPS at everyone including filmmakers from 1940.

by Anonymousreply 421September 14, 2024 9:15 PM

Bitter, not better

by Anonymousreply 422September 14, 2024 9:15 PM

R404 Didn't you read my post where I said after the Kahn production I never want to see the play again? Maybe you've put me on ignore for some very stupid petty reason.

Anyway Backus was ideal. An important part of a magnificent group of actors. I will never forget in all my life his visit to Emily's gave at the end. It is seared into my memory.

by Anonymousreply 423September 14, 2024 9:49 PM

They should cancel until Mia is able to return which should be Thurs (5 days?)

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by Anonymousreply 424September 14, 2024 9:55 PM

Is Patti refusing to go on with the understudy??

by Anonymousreply 425September 14, 2024 10:02 PM

Understudy has probably not been rehearsed yet. Patti should probably quarantine just to be safe.

by Anonymousreply 426September 14, 2024 10:06 PM

R400, you’re right. Cromer’s production of Streetcar was great. The smell of bacon in that production reminded me of the first time I was raped. Genius stuff, that bacon. 🥓

by Anonymousreply 427September 14, 2024 10:19 PM

Though Joe Mantello can do great work, he's also come up with lots of stinkers including NINE TO FIVE, The Roundabout PAL JOEY and last season's GREY HOUSE.

by Anonymousreply 428September 14, 2024 10:22 PM

Quarantine is not five days any more. It’s when symptoms are improving for 24 hours without medicine. I don’t know what the current Equity protocol is, but the rest of the cast in this show is non-union talent.

by Anonymousreply 429September 14, 2024 10:24 PM

Mia's roommate will be down with COVID in 3,2,1...

by Anonymousreply 430September 14, 2024 10:25 PM

[quote]Who the fuck cares who originated the role?

Damn right.

by Anonymousreply 431September 14, 2024 10:27 PM

Is anyone on here connected enough to know what sales are like for cabaret after this weekend?

by Anonymousreply 432September 14, 2024 10:28 PM

Just look on Seat Geek. Not pretty.

by Anonymousreply 433September 14, 2024 10:32 PM

I think Cabaret needs a big star to place the emcee.

by Anonymousreply 434September 14, 2024 10:41 PM

And Adam Lambert ain't it.

by Anonymousreply 435September 14, 2024 11:01 PM

Adam Lambert is B List even on the Gay Celebrity Spectrum.

by Anonymousreply 436September 14, 2024 11:08 PM

[quote] With the exception of Richard Backus as George

Somethin' wrong with Richard Backus?

by Anonymousreply 437September 14, 2024 11:08 PM

Mia's not a kid. She shouldn't rush back to the show.

by Anonymousreply 438September 14, 2024 11:17 PM

Only on the DL could one ever expect to find anyone defending the incredibly bizarre, beyond-idiotic decision to rewrite the script of OUR TOWN for the 1940 film so that Emily lives, rather than dies, at the end.

by Anonymousreply 439September 14, 2024 11:18 PM

They really wanted an Emily franchise along the lines of Andy Hardy.

by Anonymousreply 440September 14, 2024 11:22 PM

I said I thought Backus was not a good choice based on his TV work where he always seemed fey. They tried on several shows to make him a leading man but he never made that jump.

by Anonymousreply 441September 14, 2024 11:23 PM

Mia deleted the tweet announcing she had Covid.

Why the secrecy?

by Anonymousreply 442September 14, 2024 11:39 PM

Maybe Mama's Talkin' Soft just doesn't work. You have to wonder why none of the subsequent revivals haven't included it.

by Anonymousreply 443September 14, 2024 11:39 PM

Can they do a "Manhattan Murder Mystery" repeat & get Diane to fill in for Mia?

by Anonymousreply 444September 14, 2024 11:42 PM

R443, I don’t think there is any need for the song. Act One already has eleven songs, Act Two only has four. The show is as close to perfect as they come.

by Anonymousreply 445September 14, 2024 11:50 PM

And here's the song Jule pulled out of his trunk and slowed down and that Steve wrote lyrics for, not knowing it had already been used before. The forrunner to Mama's Talkin' Soft. (This is the second song from 'Ruggles of Red Gap," the first being You'll Never Get away from Me..

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by Anonymousreply 446September 15, 2024 12:01 AM

There's no mention of today's cancellation or Mia's Covid on The Roommate Instagram page either.

by Anonymousreply 447September 15, 2024 12:12 AM

My understanding is that the phrase "trunk songs" applies to songs that were previously written but not actually used in previous projects, and neither of those songs from RUGGLES OF RED GAP fit that definition. It's astounding to me that Jule Styne tried to pass off not one, but two melodies from RUGGLES as new when he and Sondheim were writing GYPSY -- especially astounding since there was actually a cast album of RUGGLES.

by Anonymousreply 448September 15, 2024 2:56 AM

r448, you do realize Jerry Herman passed off two trunk songs that became It Takes a Woman and It's Today!

by Anonymousreply 449September 15, 2024 2:58 AM

"It's Today" is another example that amazes me, because there was a cast album of PARADE that clearly features the same melody. I didn't know that "It Takes a Woman" was also previously written. Was it used in a show?

by Anonymousreply 450September 15, 2024 3:28 AM

Similar to when CHICAGO needed Liza, they've called S. Epatha Merkerson to fill in for Mia in THE ROOMMATE.

by Anonymousreply 451September 15, 2024 3:41 AM

The melody "Show Tune" was indeed recycled into "It's Today," but not without changes ("Though it may not be anyone's birthday," etc. has a rather different tune than the equivalent section in the earlier song).

by Anonymousreply 452September 15, 2024 3:53 AM

Speaking of Broadway's answer to the Kenley Players, has anyone seen Yellow Face?

by Anonymousreply 453September 15, 2024 12:15 PM

A FB friend posted last night regarding Mc NEAL and RDJ: Well, that's 90 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

by Anonymousreply 454September 15, 2024 12:48 PM

If S. Epatha can't make it, I'm ready!

by Anonymousreply 455September 15, 2024 1:11 PM

I can play the banjo - and Patti can sing!

Well she sings like I play the banjo anyway.

by Anonymousreply 456September 15, 2024 1:42 PM

I can play the banjo and Patti can play the tuba.

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by Anonymousreply 457September 15, 2024 3:02 PM

For some reason, I get Neil Haskell and Haskell King confused.

by Anonymousreply 458September 15, 2024 3:31 PM

Understudy on for Mia’s matinee

by Anonymousreply 459September 15, 2024 4:43 PM

Hmmmm.......I heard my wish came true and I'm on today fro Mia!

by Anonymousreply 460September 15, 2024 6:12 PM

I'm available too!

by Anonymousreply 461September 15, 2024 6:16 PM

Interesting, the understudies.org site said the understudy was going on and then updated it to say Marsha is going on

by Anonymousreply 462September 15, 2024 6:36 PM

Marsha seems better suited to Patti's role.

by Anonymousreply 463September 15, 2024 6:40 PM

Leave it to Marsha to steal a role from an understudy

by Anonymousreply 464September 15, 2024 7:15 PM

Marsha Marsha Marsha!!!

by Anonymousreply 465September 15, 2024 7:33 PM

Marsha probably knows the part better than the understudy at this point.

by Anonymousreply 466September 15, 2024 7:33 PM

Step aside and let the 4-time Academy Award-nominee handle this.

by Anonymousreply 467September 15, 2024 7:37 PM

Can I get a refund?

by Anonymousreply 468September 15, 2024 7:59 PM

Go, Marsha! Love her. This is her Eve Harrington moment.

by Anonymousreply 469September 15, 2024 8:08 PM

On Broadway, a Covid Switcheroo: Marsha Mason in for Mia Farrow:

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by Anonymousreply 470September 15, 2024 8:12 PM

The name on ev'ry body's lips is gonna be ... Marsha!

by Anonymousreply 471September 15, 2024 11:00 PM

[Quote] The show has an understudy, Carol Halstead, but apparently opted to go with Mason, who is far better known, and whose own name recognition might help stanch cancellations by ticketholders hoping to see Farrow.

Was Halstead not ready? Did they pull the rug out from under her? Hello, Equity? Oh, right….

by Anonymousreply 472September 15, 2024 11:06 PM

Ultimately, it was not about Halstead being ready. The producers are facing a week of performances without Covid Mia and thus, hundreds, if not thousands of refunds. Marsha, being the associate director, thoroughly familiar with the script and A BIG NAME, was the obvious way to go.

by Anonymousreply 473September 15, 2024 11:22 PM

People are talking about Marsha Mason Older than autumn and twice as exciting

by Anonymousreply 474September 15, 2024 11:26 PM

jack, mia and marsha are all in their early 80s!

by Anonymousreply 475September 15, 2024 11:35 PM

And I'm in the ground.

by Anonymousreply 476September 16, 2024 12:03 AM

And I'm in the attic.

by Anonymousreply 477September 16, 2024 12:34 AM

[quote]jack, mia and marsha are all in their early 80s!

Marsha Mason is 82. Mia is a veritable spring chicken at 79.

by Anonymousreply 478September 16, 2024 12:50 AM

Jack O'Brien is 85. Not mid-80s.

by Anonymousreply 479September 16, 2024 1:35 AM

Sorry, I meant not early 80s.

by Anonymousreply 480September 16, 2024 1:36 AM

Fuck--I'm drunk. I meant early 80s!

by Anonymousreply 481September 16, 2024 1:42 AM

Deadline article on today's performance:

[quote]According to a statement put out by a production spokesperson following today’s matinee, both Mason and LuPone received standing ovations at the beginning and at the end of the performance. Prior to the performance, a spokesperson said Mason would perform at least partially with script in hand.

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by Anonymousreply 482September 16, 2024 2:10 AM

Unsurprising. Marsha Mason is great.

by Anonymousreply 483September 16, 2024 3:17 AM

Mia should be worried, since Marsha is a far better actor.

by Anonymousreply 484September 16, 2024 3:22 AM

Scott Eliott and Sharr White have been in a relationship for years. Has no one here known this?

by Anonymousreply 485September 16, 2024 3:34 AM

Sam Elliott? Has Katharine Ross commented yet?

by Anonymousreply 486September 16, 2024 4:30 AM

I thought Sharr was straight.

by Anonymousreply 487September 16, 2024 5:26 AM

R485:

I've never heard this till now.

by Anonymousreply 488September 16, 2024 6:13 AM

I hope Quinn Cummings doesn't do a cameo as a voice on the telephone.

by Anonymousreply 489September 16, 2024 2:36 PM

but it's not about Esther Williams dammit!

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by Anonymousreply 490September 16, 2024 3:29 PM

THIS DAY IN BROADWAY HISTORY: In 1976, "Debbie" opened at the Minskoff Theatre.

by Anonymousreply 491September 16, 2024 3:59 PM

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by Anonymousreply 492September 16, 2024 4:29 PM

R492, R491, it was a huge flop. I remember her going on talk shows trying to justify its failure.

by Anonymousreply 493September 16, 2024 4:53 PM

I assume it did well on the road, r493.

by Anonymousreply 494September 16, 2024 4:56 PM

R494, I think it was done in the midst of one of Debbie's many money problems. Ironically, this was done only a few years after the highly acclaimed Gower champion Annie Get Your Gun in LA. That is what they should have brought to Broadway.

by Anonymousreply 495September 16, 2024 5:00 PM

AGYG was in 1977 so it came after the Debbie show. It was said to be an amazing production but Debbie didn't want to bring it to Broadway because she was afraid of having another flop. Big mistake.

by Anonymousreply 496September 16, 2024 5:07 PM

You know, in retrospect, Debbie really was a hot mess.

by Anonymousreply 497September 16, 2024 5:58 PM

But she was a *fun* hot mess.

by Anonymousreply 498September 16, 2024 6:18 PM

Not if you were her daughter, r498.

by Anonymousreply 499September 16, 2024 6:23 PM

What about me?

by Anonymousreply 500September 16, 2024 6:48 PM

Debbie Reynolds' one woman show was 77 and AGYG was 78 so it is correct that it was after. Ironically, it was for the LACLO but it was a huge box office and critical success. Champion's staging was said to be among his best and Reynolds gave one of her best performances. I don't know about the timing but I think Broadway was always itching for a hit revival. People might not have wanted to see her nightclub act but Debbie in a classic (Irene was not a classic) has appeal.

by Anonymousreply 501September 16, 2024 6:50 PM

Debbie also backed out of Gypsy with LACLO. Too bad she didn't do it because she was an excellent actress with the right material (see A Catered Affair). She certainly had the charm to pull off Rose.

by Anonymousreply 502September 16, 2024 7:52 PM

Did Debbie back out, r502? Source?

by Anonymousreply 503September 16, 2024 7:55 PM

I’m surprised Debbie backed out of Gypsy. Especially as Carrie’s fame grew…that role seemed to have fit her like a glove

by Anonymousreply 504September 16, 2024 7:58 PM

Gypsy with Debbie and Carrie would have been fantastic.

by Anonymousreply 505September 16, 2024 8:09 PM

What a treat it would've been to have a Debbie Reynolds Annie Get Your Gun cast album. I really wish Betty Garrett had gotten the chance to do AGYG though.

Betty Hutton was great fun in the movie, but I think only DLers would actually enjoy her performance in this day and age.

by Anonymousreply 506September 16, 2024 8:20 PM

There probably wasn't a window where Debbie could have played Dolly, was there? Even in the later years of the OBC, she still had some viability in Hollywood. And Carol already reclaimed it by the mid-'70s and never again let it go.

by Anonymousreply 507September 16, 2024 8:24 PM

Debbie didn't back out of Gypsy, LACLO went broke before they could do it. It was a great idea because AGYG was a huge success for them. Debbie did want Carrie for Louise but she was busy with promos for Star Wars and cocaine.

by Anonymousreply 508September 16, 2024 8:46 PM

Anybody know why Natascia Diaz left Cabaret?

by Anonymousreply 509September 16, 2024 9:50 PM

A friend saw the Champion/Reynolds ANNIE GET YOUR GUN from an excellent seat (front row, center mezzanine). He said that Miss Reynolds was unbearable -- cutesy shtick galore, her Zsa Zsa during "Moonshine Lullaby" (!), etc., etc.

At one point, when the turntable completed a revolution, our own Tammy did a "fake dizzy" (um, Debbie, you know that Annie didn't just experience that revolution, right?). My friend had had enough; he leaned forward and cried, "BOO! Get off the stage -- you're an AMATEUR."

by Anonymousreply 510September 16, 2024 9:54 PM

R509 wouldn’t you?

by Anonymousreply 511September 16, 2024 10:02 PM

So, apparently, Cynthia Erivo (SHUDDER!) has dropped out as the headliner of next week's New York Philharmonic gala concert due to a scheduling conflict, and has been replaced by....Josh Groban! I don't know exactly when Erivo dropped out, but it must have happened VERY recently. Hard to imagine what sort of scheduling conflict could be involved on such extremely short notice, but of course the kicker here is that I'm sure many audience members would rather see and hear Groban anyway. Good for him for stepping up to the plate.

Let the speculation begin regarding Ervio's real reason(s) for bowing out.

by Anonymousreply 512September 16, 2024 10:57 PM

Josh Groban is a corny joke.

by Anonymousreply 513September 16, 2024 11:27 PM

99/100 Phil subscribers would have preferred Cynthia

by Anonymousreply 514September 16, 2024 11:33 PM

99/100 Phil subscribers would have preferred Cynthia as long as they didn't have to look at her.

by Anonymousreply 515September 17, 2024 12:08 AM

Josh Groban has a fine voice and was a surprisingly good actor in The Comet

by Anonymousreply 516September 17, 2024 12:09 AM

Saw Erivo Saturday night with the SF Symphony. She was pretty great but the voice sounded pretty tired.

by Anonymousreply 517September 17, 2024 12:31 AM

R517 sorry, Idina…maybe you will have a cameo in the live action Frozen movie!

by Anonymousreply 518September 17, 2024 12:41 AM

I read somewhere that the Mexican performers who played Elphaba and Glinda onstage would be dubbing their original roles for the film. Is this for the songs, too? I thought there was only dubbing for songs internationally if it was an animated film like Frozen. I should think this might get tricky. So for the Swedish, Dutch, German etc. versions would they feel obligated to hire a Black performer to dub Erivo?

by Anonymousreply 519September 17, 2024 1:42 AM

No just a green one

by Anonymousreply 520September 17, 2024 2:18 AM

[quote]99/100 Phil subscribers would have preferred Cynthia

Assuming you're not joking, what's your basis for this statement?

by Anonymousreply 521September 17, 2024 2:33 AM

R509, the official story is “she asked to be let out of her contract”.

The truth lies elsewhere. She was universally loathed by the company, and she had finally gotten to go on for Bebe Neuwirth (she had advance notice, so she promoted it on social media relentlessly beforehand).

Perhaps she saw the writing on the writing on the wall for the show with the terrible word of mouth and the weak advance sales, wanted to bail, and management was only too happy to let her go.

She’s always been a royal pain in the ass, from Carousel to The Capeman to Seussical, three shows where she was such an insufferable Eve Harrington in her understudy roles that stage managers would go running whenever she approached them.

I’ve worked with her once, and she was on her best behavior, because it was a very high profile show.

But everyone else who’s worked with her says the same thing:

“Natascia is talented. CRAZY talented. And the crazy wins out every time.”

by Anonymousreply 522September 17, 2024 3:25 AM

I've worked with Diaz in D.C. She was no worse than anyone else.

by Anonymousreply 523September 17, 2024 4:03 AM

Everyone on this board keeps acting like this Cabaret is a flop and they're still doing $1.5 million a week. How is this a flop? Those aren't "weak sales."

by Anonymousreply 524September 17, 2024 4:04 AM

Advance sales for Adam Lambert are very soft, R524.

by Anonymousreply 525September 17, 2024 6:29 AM

Aren’t the weekly running costs for Cabaret astronomical - in the ballpark of well over a million dollars a week?

It also cost a ridiculous amount of money to stage this revival - between $20-25 million. I’m sure I read around the time it opened that it needed to be selling out and shifting a lot of premium seats for at least two years if there was to be any hope of turning a profit.

It can’t survive by merely being a soft hit.

by Anonymousreply 526September 17, 2024 12:16 PM

Brie Larson To Make West End Debut In ‘Elektra’ Directed By Daniel Fish:

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by Anonymousreply 527September 17, 2024 1:52 PM

Fish and Brie, an appetizing combo!

by Anonymousreply 528September 17, 2024 2:01 PM

[quote]Aren’t the weekly running costs for Cabaret astronomical - in the ballpark of well over a million dollars a week? It also cost a ridiculous amount of money to stage this revival - between $20-25 million. I’m sure I read around the time it opened that it needed to be selling out and shifting a lot of premium seats for at least two years if there was to be any hope of turning a profit.

Yes. I can't remember where it appeared, but someone wrote a great article that broke down in detail how many tickets CABARET would have to sell and how long it would have to run to earn back its investment, let alone begin to make a profit, And it was a REALLY long time.

Oh, wait....I think this was the article (see link), but you may not be able to read it without subscribing.

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by Anonymousreply 529September 17, 2024 2:07 PM

Such high praise, R523.

by Anonymousreply 530September 17, 2024 4:29 PM

Any word on how Marsha is in The Roommate?

by Anonymousreply 531September 17, 2024 4:30 PM

Until someone chimes in here, there might be some info on that in this thread, r531.

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by Anonymousreply 532September 17, 2024 4:46 PM

[quote] Debbie Reynolds' one woman show was 77 and AGYG was 78 so it is correct that it was after.

You’re off by a year. Her Broadway show was 1976, and AGYG was the summer of 1977, opening in San Francisco, then spending most of the summer in LA.

Fun fact: in the chorus of AGYG was Debbie Shapiro (aka Debbie Gravitte). She was in the chorus, but suddenly, early in Act Two, she was the solo vocalist for “Sun in the Mornin’. It was a little weird because it was out of nowhere. Suddenly this chorus girl was singing a bit number. (The song was moved to the top of Act Two because Champion wanted to make a big production number out of Old Fashioned Wedding in the party scene.) Debbie was very notable in her big moment, and it led directly to her getting the original cast of They’re Playing Our Song a year later.

by Anonymousreply 533September 17, 2024 6:18 PM

R533, another fun fact. There's a moment where Annie does her sharp shooting. They set it up and no special effects. Debbie stormed off the stage, slugged the stage manager and had him fired on the spot. He sued. My friend worked at the legal firm that represented Debbie and she came offstage and asked "what the hell happened to the lights" to which he responded "get away from me you fucking cunt". Hence Debbie's fisticuffs.

"Debbie Reynolds was sued for $1.1 million by a stage manager for “Annie Get Your Gun,” at the Music Center. in Los Angeles, for allegedly “assaulting and slandering” him backstage because of a missed lighting cue. Larry Fazio,the stage manager, maintained that the actress attacked him and said “Hey, stupid, you missed the cue.” Also named as defendants in the suit were Gower Champion,the choreographer, and the production company for the musical."

by Anonymousreply 534September 17, 2024 6:54 PM

Willemijn Verkaik singing “What I Did For Love” for an In Memoriam at a recent Dutch celebration of musicals. I prefer it to Nicole Scherzinger’s overheated rendition at this year’s Tony Awards.

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by Anonymousreply 535September 17, 2024 8:14 PM

Marsha Mason is back in the Roomate again tonight subbing for Mia Farrow.

I hope LuPone didn’t catch anything flying cross country attending the Agatha premiere in LA yesterday.

by Anonymousreply 536September 17, 2024 8:27 PM

R536. I hope she did catch something!

by Anonymousreply 537September 17, 2024 8:53 PM

Broadway Box Office:

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by Anonymousreply 538September 17, 2024 9:07 PM

Lea Salonga coming back to Broadway in a big role.

by Anonymousreply 539September 17, 2024 10:48 PM

[quote]Lea Salonga coming back to Broadway in a big role.

You mean after she does the Sondheim revue with Bernadette, r539?

by Anonymousreply 540September 17, 2024 11:06 PM

[quote]Lea Salonga coming back to Broadway in a big role.

Louise?

by Anonymousreply 541September 17, 2024 11:24 PM

Tessie Tura?

by Anonymousreply 542September 17, 2024 11:32 PM

R540, Yes.

by Anonymousreply 543September 17, 2024 11:56 PM

Is it new or a revival, r543?

by Anonymousreply 544September 18, 2024 12:07 AM

She's doing Old Friends...which she did in London. So this isn't really "news"...

by Anonymousreply 545September 18, 2024 1:36 AM

This was announced months ago...Did we just wake up sweetie?

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by Anonymousreply 546September 18, 2024 1:36 AM

r543 said *after* that, r546.

by Anonymousreply 547September 18, 2024 1:51 AM

Photos: Get a 1st Look at Adam Lambert and Auli'i Cravalho in Cabaret:

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by Anonymousreply 548September 18, 2024 2:55 AM

That could be my Aunt Yetta playing the Emcee. What's the point of a hiring a "star" and then completely disguising him?

by Anonymousreply 549September 18, 2024 3:01 AM

r534's fabulous dish would seem to explain why Debbie Reynolds' AGYG never left LA.

by Anonymousreply 550September 18, 2024 3:02 AM

Your Aunt Yetta's a Fraulein Kost, r549.

by Anonymousreply 551September 18, 2024 3:06 AM

Marsha on for both performances today. No word on when Mia will be back.

by Anonymousreply 552September 18, 2024 11:42 AM

R534 is why I still come to Datalounge.

by Anonymousreply 553September 18, 2024 1:20 PM

So, which gets Smash? The Imperial or the Winter Garden?

by Anonymousreply 554September 18, 2024 2:41 PM

How long does it take to get over Covid? I got my 1st in 08/22 & day and 1/2 later it was over.

Mia needs to do 2 double shots of 100% Irish whiskey in the evening with decaf tea, fix her right up.

by Anonymousreply 555September 18, 2024 2:54 PM

Mia is 79 years old. She's not going to bounce back quickly and she needs to be careful.

by Anonymousreply 556September 18, 2024 3:15 PM

Think of (all those) children and their sick mother! Won't somebody please think of (all those) children?!

by Anonymousreply 557September 18, 2024 3:37 PM

The curtain call and megamix for the current Dutch revival of Saturday Night Fever. The dude playing Tony looks like a pint sized gay and the wigs are hilarious.

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by Anonymousreply 558September 18, 2024 3:38 PM

To be fair, Mia Farrow can’t really bounce much of anything these days, except checks

by Anonymousreply 559September 18, 2024 5:24 PM

SMASH to the Imperial. Denzel made a play for it, but didn't get it.

by Anonymousreply 560September 18, 2024 5:34 PM

Was there any consideration for Othello getting the Jones, seing as James played the role (or was that precisely why it wasn't going to happen)?

by Anonymousreply 561September 18, 2024 5:49 PM

Shailene Woodley, Zachary Quinto & Barbie Ferreira Heading To Broadway In ‘Cult Of Love’:

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by Anonymousreply 562September 18, 2024 7:25 PM

There must be NO work in Hollywood this year, because they're all coming to Broadway. Jesus...

by Anonymousreply 563September 18, 2024 8:49 PM

Any of you cunts have any info on Mia’s actual health?

by Anonymousreply 564September 18, 2024 9:05 PM

Does anyone actually want to see Smash? Hard to imagine.

by Anonymousreply 565September 18, 2024 9:08 PM

R564. It's very mysterious.

by Anonymousreply 566September 18, 2024 9:08 PM

Gypsy just posted on IG- “Some sweet news about Her is coming tomorrow. 🍬”. At first I was thinking Wonka but then remembered that Herbie sells candy so it’s no clue at all.

by Anonymousreply 567September 18, 2024 9:50 PM

“About Herbie”

by Anonymousreply 568September 18, 2024 9:50 PM

R563, the film/tv industry is really dead. Very little is being bought and made. The pig producers with the bucks blame Covid and the strikes, but they're starving the industry. And then, of course, there's AI.

So yeah, now theatre/Broadway is looking very appealing to actors. It's ironically a large source of income.

by Anonymousreply 569September 18, 2024 10:14 PM

[quote][R563], the film/tv industry is really dead. Very little is being bought and made. The pig producers with the bucks blame Covid and the strikes, but they're starving the industry. And then, of course, there's AI.

And also, of course, there is the scourge known as "reality TV."

by Anonymousreply 570September 18, 2024 10:16 PM

I forgot to mention streaming, and the roller coaster that's Netflix and Amazon and the like. Even podcasts are drying up, and/or being taken over by movie/tv stars.

by Anonymousreply 571September 18, 2024 10:16 PM

Are we going to see Dead Outlaw again?

by Anonymousreply 572September 18, 2024 11:17 PM

I’m calling Herbie as being

1) Danny Burstein

2) Brian Darcy James

3) Will Swenson

4) Andy Karl

by Anonymousreply 573September 18, 2024 11:19 PM

Will Swenson, R573???

by Anonymousreply 574September 18, 2024 11:41 PM

Just a hunch -- Rob McClure, who's leaving the Mrs. Doubtfire tour a month early.

by Anonymousreply 575September 19, 2024 2:12 AM

That would not be good. He’s specializes as the reigning king of flops.

by Anonymousreply 576September 19, 2024 2:14 AM

What’s the big announcement about Sherie Rene Scott tomorriw? Is she gonna stink up another show.

by Anonymousreply 577September 19, 2024 2:47 AM

It looks likely, from little shop’s Instagram. And somebody from Hamilton as her costar. Announcement tomorrow.

by Anonymousreply 578September 19, 2024 2:51 AM

Rob McClure is half the size of Audra.

by Anonymousreply 579September 19, 2024 2:54 AM

PLEASE tell me you're not suggesting Sherie Rene Scott as Audrey in LITTLE SHOP. Aside from everything else, she is 57 years old. And yes, I know Ellen Greene was even older when she reprised the role at City Center, but that's not QUITE the same thing, is it?

by Anonymousreply 580September 19, 2024 3:22 AM

The dialects in The Hills Of California are impenetrable. They ruin the entire first act. Laura Donnelly is tremendous, especially in Act 3. Sadly, this is no Ferryman. And who had the lousy idea to put this play about a domineering mother pushing her children into show business right next to the theater where Gypsy will be playing?

by Anonymousreply 581September 19, 2024 3:38 AM

The rumor is Sherie Renee Scott for Audrey, Nicholas Christopher as Seymour. She will definitely be an improvement from Tammy Blanchard (47) and Jinkx Monsoon (37), regardless of age. Crazy or not, she nails this kind of role.

by Anonymousreply 582September 19, 2024 3:51 AM

Who the hell wants to see some 57 year old broad playing a part written for a young woman?

by Anonymousreply 583September 19, 2024 4:58 AM

Rob McClure’s wife has left Doubtfire because their daughter is starting kindergarten, but Tob himself says he’ll be going back out with the show for six weeks ending mid-October - which would take him out of contention for Herbie.

My money’s on Danny Burstein.

by Anonymousreply 584September 19, 2024 5:03 AM

As the thread dies down, it's time for "September Song" from the Hustons.

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 585September 19, 2024 11:48 AM

And Anjelica's version ...

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 586September 19, 2024 11:49 AM

I thought it was definitely Butz for Herbie.

by Anonymousreply 587September 19, 2024 12:11 PM

Does Audrey in LITTLE SHOP always have to wear that bouffant platinum wig and heavy makeup? That’s why they can get away with casting an older actor as long as she’s kept her figure.

by Anonymousreply 588September 19, 2024 12:38 PM

[quote]The rumor is Sherie Renee Scott for Audrey, Nicholas Christopher as Seymour.

Nicholas Christopher gave a truly great performance as Sweeney Todd, but he would be ridiculous casting as Seymour. When will performers and producers realize that just because someone is super-talented doesn't mean they can play EVERY role? And in this case, the casting is especially hard to figure since Christopher is really not a name that can be expected to sell lots of tickets, like Darren Criss, for example.

by Anonymousreply 589September 19, 2024 12:43 PM

[quote]Does Audrey in LITTLE SHOP always have to wear that bouffant platinum wig and heavy makeup?

No, she doesn't, and neither of the Audreys I've seen in the current production looked like that.

by Anonymousreply 590September 19, 2024 12:45 PM

Danny Burstein just announced as Herbie in GYPSY.

by Anonymousreply 591September 19, 2024 1:20 PM

Not terribly surprising.

by Anonymousreply 592September 19, 2024 1:24 PM

R584, you are the winner:

Offsite Link

by Anonymousreply 593September 19, 2024 1:44 PM

Poor Audra with Broadway’s sloppy seconds. Been there, done that!

by Anonymousreply 594September 19, 2024 1:44 PM

After seeing Nicholas Christopher as Sweeney and then hear about his Jelly, I'm convinced he can do anything. However I hope this very hot, very good looking, very inherently masculine guy wont' spend all his time "playing" nerd, as opposed to just being Seymour. McClure and Feldman seemed to have been able to just [italic] be.[/italic]

by Anonymousreply 595September 19, 2024 1:46 PM

"Oh, Mary!" extends again through January 19th.

by Anonymousreply 596September 19, 2024 2:25 PM

Norbert Leo Butz is booked in Vladimir at MTC which doesn’t open till October 16.

by Anonymousreply 597September 19, 2024 3:12 PM

I think NL Butz is also physically too small next to Audra. Danny B is the better match.

by Anonymousreply 598September 19, 2024 3:16 PM

What sites do you use to get discount tickets in advance? I’ll be in NYC in early November and I’m hoping to see Oh, Mary (probably.no discount seats), Stereophonic and maybe one or two other shows. I used playbill.com and TodayTix in the past but I haven’t been to the theater in NYC since Covid.

by Anonymousreply 599September 19, 2024 4:21 PM

If you want the fairest prices, go to the show's official website and go to their official seller -- either Telecharge, Ticketmaster or Seat Geek. Anything else is a re-seller pretending and you'll pay more than you have to. Don't go near Broadway.com. Their fees are ridiculous.

by Anonymousreply 600September 19, 2024 5:35 PM
Theatre Gossip #570: The "September Song" Edition (2024)
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