Legally Broke

Looks like the touring case of LEGALLY BLONDE won't be spending their downtime shopping like Elle Woods. The salary according to a recent breakdown is $375/week. What a disgusting slap in the face to actors, and a gross abuse of the musical theater system which innately has a very large supply of actors and limited demand.

Tickets for the tour's next stop in Newark are currently are priced at $75 top. Do you think the ticket prices will decrease when the actors' salaries are less than unemployment? I doubt it.

eat it, lea michele

Sounds like Lea Michele was up to her usual diva antics at the Time 100 gala. Girlfriend's voice may sound great autotuned on Glee, but she is notorious for this kind of stuff, and needs to be told her name is not Liza goddamn Streisand. From Perez:

According to witnesses at the Times 100 gala, the Glee star spent the entire dinner hour making out with her BF at the table. She made no time for any of the other high-profiled guests and when legenday celebrity photographer Patrick McMullan came over to take a picture, their exchange went a little something like this:

Patrick McMullan: What’s your name?
Lea Michele: [Rolls eyes.] Sarah Palin.
Patrick McMullan: [Laughs.] No, really, tell me your name.
Lea Michele: Taylor Swift.
Patrick McMullan: Fuck you.

[Exits.]

What a delightful girl, with such sizzling wit! Eat it, Lea Michele.

Update: Daily Intel has more.

New Flava for ya Ears

Here's the first single from The Pass's EP, I like these guys' Bowie-esque ways, and the video is pretty rad...

joan!

Spring has sprung, and in honor of her opening at the Carlyle last night, I submit for your enjoyment, Leslie Uggams!

mullally OUT

Nikki Finke reports that Megan Mullally is departing the Broadway production of Lips Together, Teeth Apart. Looks like her and Joe Mantello weren't seeing eye to eye - Finke says "Mullally simply had had enough of the abrasive manner of director Joe Mantello." The comments on Finke's post are pretty fun, including some rather spirited Wicked defenders that don't normally crop up on DHD.

La Cage Aux Conservatisme?

In this week's issue of New York magazine, Kelsey Grammer discusses his upcoming Broadway turn in La Cage Aux Folles, and the implications of being a Republican playing a gay role. From Adam Sternbergh's profile:

“It’s a great story about any couple. They all have the same dynamic: a heterosexual relationship, a homosexual relationship, a man-with-dogs relationship. There are universal events that take place: the differences, the angers, the insecurities, the histrionics. You would call it, I guess, a male-female dynamic. This just happens to be two boys.” I ask him about La Cage’s relevance today, given the Proposition 8 fight in California. He says, “Oh, right. Of course. You know I wasn’t even thinking of that. Isn’t it funny?” On the subject of gay marriage in general, he adds, “Why is the government involved at all? If two men marry or two women marry, fine, go ahead—it’s not my issue. But when governments get involved, it just becomes more confusing.”

Well! First off, the government is "involved" in the gay marriage issue because it is a legal issue. But Grammer surely knows that, and is just tiptoeing, quite deftly, around answering the question. Also... "man-with-dogs relationship"?? Really!?

It's tricky: being a pretty big supporter of gay rights, I want to support La Cage, buy tickets, and encourage others to do the same. The message is wonderful, I am what I am, blah blah blah. On the other hand, I don't particularly feel like turning out to see Grammer, an out "Republican in Hollywood" (and in my opinion, gigantic douche), play this role. I'm not saying his politics should have kept him from being cast - that would be a terrible road to go down. But in the power-of-the-consumer sense, this issue is really, really important to me, and the idea of watching this guy play that role feels all wrong. Thoughts?

not sexy

(Photo by Joseph Marzullo)

Million Dollar Quartet

What can be said about Million Dollar Quartet? Where to begin? This is a musical experience that would cozily fit into the Vegas circuit, prompting smiles and nods of recognition from oldsters reliving the heyday of Elvis, Johnny Cash, et all. Alas, it does not fit so comfortably on Broadway.

There's very little story, and yet what little narrative the anemic book does provide is nonsensical. The cast, I'm sorry to say, can't provide the necessary energy and charisma to elevate the experience to the dynamite one-night-only event that the production insists you are witnessing. Instead it feels more like a warmed-over impersonator cabaret. Oh, and Hunter Foster is there to narrate, which unfortunately does not help matters. An icky feeling hangs over the whole affair, as if a producer saw Jersey Boys and thought they'd throw the same ingredients together and manufacture an easy money-making hit. They were mistaken.

As a friend lovingly dubbed these recent productions, "Guys & Suck," "Not-so-Brighton Beach", and now "Four Dollar Quartet" - is the Nederlander the new Biltmore?

"My One and Only"

Dee Roscioli rocks this gorgeous song by Katie Thompson.

My Little Pony Live: The World's Biggest Teaparty

I mean what kind of person would I be if I didn't share this with the world:

listen to ben sollee

His folk cello awesomeness has never sounded lovelier than on his new album Dear Companion. Yim Yames of My Morning Jacket produced it, and you can stream it free here.

easing on down the road

I'm trying to figure out how to describe this poster... suggestions?

Two Gentlemen of Lebowski

What if The Big Lebowski had been written by Shakespeare? Wonder no more, click here and read the entire screenplay, bard-style.

It was of consequence, I should think; verily, it tied the room together, gather'd its qualities as the sweet lovers' spring grass doth the morning dew or the rough scythe the first of autumn harvests. It sat between the four sides of the room, making substance of a square, respecting each wall in equal harmony, in geometer's cap; a great reckoning in a little room. Verily, it transform'd the room from the space between four walls presented, to the harbour of a man's monarchy.

Via Kotkke.

Riedel Rags on Ragtime

Michael Riedel has some not-so-nice things to say about the Broadway revival of Ragtime, which is set to close on Sunday. I wanted so, so badly to love this production, but it's hard to disagree with much of what Michael Riedel says (aside from calling the cast Maryland locals, which is untrue and just mean). In spite of the ways that Ragtime failed to be what many of us had hoped for, there is one silver lining:

At least cute little Bobby Steggert got something out of this disaster. As Mother's Younger Brother -- a character name that's as bloated and pretentious as the show itself -- he caught the eye of a Times reporter, who gushed that the actor has "career breakout potential."

True dat. If Bobby Steggert doesn't get a tony nomination, I will eat my playbill.

Psst...

I hear that American Idiot will soon be moving into the St. James. The theater will be vacant after January 17th, when Finian's Rainbow (sadly) ends it's run. Finian's is a terrific revival of an odd little gem, catch it if you can.

Update: gotta do a little Nikki-Finke-style "TOLDJA!" here: Green Day Goes Broadway With ‘American Idiot’ (via NY TIMES)