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)

This at Playwrights Horizons

Despite cleverness that occasionally overshoots its mark, Melissa James Gibson's play This deftly maneuvers between striking themes which are rarely portrayed with the complexity in which they occur in real life. From Playwrights Horizons press notes, here's an idea of the story:

Jane is not okay. She’s a promising poet without a muse, a single mother without lessons to pass along. Her dating life’s a shambles, and her helpful friends are only helping make things more complicated. This bright, witty, un-romantic comedy captures the uncertain steps of a circle of friends backing their way into middle age.

That summary only skims the surface of this sad, smart, very funny play. Grief, loneliness, the intricacies of old friendships, career, dating, intimacy, aging, sex, parenting - many playwrights would find a significant enough challenge in intertwining just a few of these, but Gibson's characters exist amidst the whole mess, just as most normal people's lives are a daily negotiation of conflicting desires and realities and urges and responsibilities. Not only does Gibson thoughtfully explore these personal venn diagrams, she also manages to raise questions about race, gender, ethics and politics in personal ways that further the story. All of this rolled into an hour and fifty minutes makes for engaging, provocative theater. Though there are occasional missteps in the overuse of devices and flowery language that feel like road signs interrupting the natural flow of the storytelling, overall This packs a pretty powerful punch.

Playwrights Horizons has once again assembled an excellent cast, with Glenn Fitzgerald giving a standout performance as the droll and brazenly sensitive Alan, bittersweet sufferer of an ability to recall any conversation he's ever heard. Louis Cancelmi is also fantastic as Jean-Pierre, an alluringly no-nonsense Doctor Without Borders, who also happens to be French and smokin' hot. Design elements are uniformly strong, with Louisa Thompson's set conveying the subject matter's messy compromise and beauty.

(photo above by Joan Marcus. Eisa Davis, Darren Pettie, Glenn Fitzgerald, Julianne Nicholson and Louis Cancelmi are pictured)

Life is what happens when you're making plans to blog

So I've been a little busy, with not much time to blog. But just because I haven't been blogging does not mean that I haven't been paying attention. For example, how about Kelsey Grammer being cast in Fran & Barry's upcoming revival of La Cage Aux Folles? Fun Facts about Kelsey Grammer: He last tread the boards in the 2000 production of Macbeth, his recently axed sitcom Hank was his second failed series in two years, his first name is actually Allen, and he is a noted member of the Republican Party. I'm sure Broadway will embrace the poor sap though, because if nothing else, he's one jackass who knows how to make fun of himself.

I've been seeing a LOT of theater, so expect reviews soon for This at Playwrights Horizons and Ragtime. Neither show is perfect, but I still solidly recommend both. I also caught Finian's Rainbow recently, and was utterly charmed by the wacky musical theater throwback. It's Brigadoon meets Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, full of ridiculous whimsy and romance and quite a few gorgeous songs. I just started a youtube page where you can find a few worthwhile videos from the show.

I leave you with this. Happy Thanksgiving folks.

Mysterious and Spooky

I have a hunch that The Addams Family is going to be a massive hit. The beloved source material as filtered through the minds of Phelim McDermott and Julian Crouch is one of the most exciting prospects we've seen for Broadway in a while. Here is a little video of the cast at a shoot for Vanity Fair, enjoy! Previews start tonight in Chicago.