what's good / what blows in new york theatre
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
IF. I. WANTED. TO. BE AN. ACTRESS. I. WOULD. JUST. GO.....HOME.
If you've any connection to New York theatre...and a pulse....then you've already heard about CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, Annie Baker's send up/put down of my (and pretty much everyone's) first acting class ever, currently running at Playwrights Horizons. The play totally lives up to the hype and is this fall's absolute must-see. The twice extended run closes this weekend.
So many writers write plays about being writers (or temps), that writing a play about actors is like a total coup de theatre. After all, theatre games are the dark secret of the craft. So much so that the lovely lady sitting next to me was completely clueless as to what was going on. Like, literally, she had no clue what the characters were doing (and she wasn't alone). But even Meryl Streep played ZipZapZop at some point and she probably questioned its relevance too.
This cast is so tight. And this play is so awesomely familiar. I could say more but I feel like I've been talking about it all month. Just don't miss it. You'll be sorry. ¶ 4:42 PM 1 comments links to this post
If you've any connection to New York theatre...and a pulse....then you've already heard about CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION, Annie Baker's send up/put down of my (and pretty much everyone's) first acting class ever, currently running at Playwrights Horizons. The play totally lives up to the hype and is this fall's absolute must-see. The twice extended run closes this weekend.So many writers write plays about being writers (or temps), that writing a play about actors is like a total coup de theatre. After all, theatre games are the dark secret of the craft. So much so that the lovely lady sitting next to me was completely clueless as to what was going on. Like, literally, she had no clue what the characters were doing (and she wasn't alone). But even Meryl Streep played ZipZapZop at some point and she probably questioned its relevance too.
This cast is so tight. And this play is so awesomely familiar. I could say more but I feel like I've been talking about it all month. Just don't miss it. You'll be sorry. ¶ 4:42 PM 1 comments links to this post
30 PEOPLE I HATE....AND YOU CAN TOO.
So BroadwaySpace just put out their list of Broadway's 30 hottest young stars under the age of 30, and I'm glad cause lists like this help me to focus all my spite and bitterness on a select few, as opposed to just generally throwing it out there to the world at large.
What's nice is if you remove musical theatre from this equation, the list would be more like 5 Under 30, so there's that. And some of these people have gone on to larger stardom than B-Way, so I'd just wipe them off the list too if it were up to me.
But I'm also shocked at what some people have accomplished in their infancy. Is Alison Pill really only 23 years old...still? And Lin-Manuel Miranda is 29??
I need a drink. ¶ 2:38 PM 0 comments links to this post
So BroadwaySpace just put out their list of Broadway's 30 hottest young stars under the age of 30, and I'm glad cause lists like this help me to focus all my spite and bitterness on a select few, as opposed to just generally throwing it out there to the world at large.What's nice is if you remove musical theatre from this equation, the list would be more like 5 Under 30, so there's that. And some of these people have gone on to larger stardom than B-Way, so I'd just wipe them off the list too if it were up to me.
But I'm also shocked at what some people have accomplished in their infancy. Is Alison Pill really only 23 years old...still? And Lin-Manuel Miranda is 29??
I need a drink. ¶ 2:38 PM 0 comments links to this post
Thursday, November 12, 2009
I HAVE GREAT IDEAS AND EVERYONE SHOULD LISTEN TO ME.
Hey Universe, I'm just throwing this out there. I recently saw Kristine Nielsen in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER at the McCarter Theatre and damn she was amazing! She used everything in her usual bag, and yet it was fresh and hysterical when applied to a (sortof) restoration comedy. Let's say we get her in some huge high comedy revival up here in New York. Some SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, RIVALS or WAY OF THE WORLD or something (I'm not even sure there's parts for her in these plays, but you get my point). She'd rip it up and it'll be amazing.
I'm lookin' at you Roundabout. You won't regret it. ¶ 2:07 PM 2 comments links to this post
Hey Universe, I'm just throwing this out there. I recently saw Kristine Nielsen in SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER at the McCarter Theatre and damn she was amazing! She used everything in her usual bag, and yet it was fresh and hysterical when applied to a (sortof) restoration comedy. Let's say we get her in some huge high comedy revival up here in New York. Some SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, RIVALS or WAY OF THE WORLD or something (I'm not even sure there's parts for her in these plays, but you get my point). She'd rip it up and it'll be amazing.
I'm lookin' at you Roundabout. You won't regret it. ¶ 2:07 PM 2 comments links to this post
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
GODDAMMIT!
People. Can we just talk about the fact that Karl Miller is playing Prior Walter in ANGELS IN AMERICA right now at the Forum Theatre in D.C. and I'm not gonna get to see it?
Sadness. ¶ 2:34 PM 5 comments links to this post
People. Can we just talk about the fact that Karl Miller is playing Prior Walter in ANGELS IN AMERICA right now at the Forum Theatre in D.C. and I'm not gonna get to see it?
Sadness. ¶ 2:34 PM 5 comments links to this post
JACK BRISTOW'S RETURN TO THE STAGE
Somebody asked me this weekend what I'm excited about this season and I was hard pressed to come up with more than 2 shows that I'm all hot on. One being Annie Baker's THE ALIENS at Rattlestick in the spring, and the other being Noel Coward's PRESENT LAUGHTER starring Jack Bristow (aka Victor Garber). That conversation was sad, but it reminded me that Roundabout has $10 tickets to the balcony seats at the fucking first four previews of all their shows, and they're on sale right now!
Go to Roundabout's site and use code "ACCESS10". There aren't many left.
And after you've done that, please comment about something else I should be excited about....and tell me how to get cheap tickets to it too.
ALSO, I once ran into Ron Rifkin in the bathroom at RABBIT HOLE and screamed in his face. ¶ 10:29 AM 2 comments links to this post
Somebody asked me this weekend what I'm excited about this season and I was hard pressed to come up with more than 2 shows that I'm all hot on. One being Annie Baker's THE ALIENS at Rattlestick in the spring, and the other being Noel Coward's PRESENT LAUGHTER starring Jack Bristow (aka Victor Garber). That conversation was sad, but it reminded me that Roundabout has $10 tickets to the balcony seats at the fucking first four previews of all their shows, and they're on sale right now!Go to Roundabout's site and use code "ACCESS10". There aren't many left.
And after you've done that, please comment about something else I should be excited about....and tell me how to get cheap tickets to it too.
ALSO, I once ran into Ron Rifkin in the bathroom at RABBIT HOLE and screamed in his face. ¶ 10:29 AM 2 comments links to this post
Friday, November 06, 2009
NOT SO BROADWAY BOUND
What kind of idiot makes a deal with the NY Times for exclusive advertising? No ads in other papers and websites or email blasts. Michael Riedel reports that the BBB and BB producers did just that in exchange for bargain basement ads in a paper that nobody reads anymore. This explains why previews were a ghost town and the entire endeavor flopped miserably. Nobody knew about it.
The two shows in rep should have been marketed as a "theatrical event", Laurie Metcalf being the biggest name involved (albeit not a huge star but at least she spent 9 years on television) should have been in the forefront of advertising, and discounts for buying tickets for both should have been mentioned before you sat down in your seat. Instead we saw just another ho-hum revival with cartoon drawings of nobodies for advertisements and little mention of the coming (and ironically titled) BROADWAY BOUND.
If the Times meant to tout their influence with this deal, they clearly did just the opposite. They recently eliminated the regional sections (i.e. New Jersey Connecticut, Long Island and Westchester) cutting their theatre coverage in these areas and severely diminishing the Grey Lady's importance to theatre minded peeps in those areas. New Jersey, that's the heartland, and you're toast on Broadway if you can reach those people in the wide net of marketing you should be casting.
And dammit, I didn't get a chance to tell you how good BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS was before it closed faster than you can say...well..."it was good, go see it". But it really was good. Laurie's bravura performance will sadly not be Tony eligible and neither will anybody else's. Sucks mostly for poor Josh Grisetti who's BB perf will never even be seen.
I don't think this disaster means anything for the future or current state of Broadway. You can't blame folks for being wary of Niel Simon after that sucky revival of BAREFOOT IN THE PARK a few years back, but a good production could have changed all that. I read BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS in high school and had low expectations, but was surprised at how moving, funny and edgy it actually is (somehow I forgot that the two brothers discuss masturbating about their cousin).
Oh well, I hope lessons were learned and I'm glad I caught it while it lasted. ¶ 3:05 PM 3 comments links to this post
What kind of idiot makes a deal with the NY Times for exclusive advertising? No ads in other papers and websites or email blasts. Michael Riedel reports that the BBB and BB producers did just that in exchange for bargain basement ads in a paper that nobody reads anymore. This explains why previews were a ghost town and the entire endeavor flopped miserably. Nobody knew about it.The two shows in rep should have been marketed as a "theatrical event", Laurie Metcalf being the biggest name involved (albeit not a huge star but at least she spent 9 years on television) should have been in the forefront of advertising, and discounts for buying tickets for both should have been mentioned before you sat down in your seat. Instead we saw just another ho-hum revival with cartoon drawings of nobodies for advertisements and little mention of the coming (and ironically titled) BROADWAY BOUND.
If the Times meant to tout their influence with this deal, they clearly did just the opposite. They recently eliminated the regional sections (i.e. New Jersey Connecticut, Long Island and Westchester) cutting their theatre coverage in these areas and severely diminishing the Grey Lady's importance to theatre minded peeps in those areas. New Jersey, that's the heartland, and you're toast on Broadway if you can reach those people in the wide net of marketing you should be casting.
And dammit, I didn't get a chance to tell you how good BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS was before it closed faster than you can say...well..."it was good, go see it". But it really was good. Laurie's bravura performance will sadly not be Tony eligible and neither will anybody else's. Sucks mostly for poor Josh Grisetti who's BB perf will never even be seen.
I don't think this disaster means anything for the future or current state of Broadway. You can't blame folks for being wary of Niel Simon after that sucky revival of BAREFOOT IN THE PARK a few years back, but a good production could have changed all that. I read BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS in high school and had low expectations, but was surprised at how moving, funny and edgy it actually is (somehow I forgot that the two brothers discuss masturbating about their cousin).
Oh well, I hope lessons were learned and I'm glad I caught it while it lasted. ¶ 3:05 PM 3 comments links to this post
Saturday, October 17, 2009
RECORDING FORBUSH
Its not every day that Broadway stage managers make the papers. Keeping in mind that everybody's innocent until proven guilty, Michael Brunner SOUTH PACIFIC's current PSM, is innocent (until proven guilty) of secretly recording an actress undressing. Yikes.
The NY Post reports:
(and I'm altogether sorry for the title of this post) ¶ 7:07 PM 3 comments links to this post
Its not every day that Broadway stage managers make the papers. Keeping in mind that everybody's innocent until proven guilty, Michael Brunner SOUTH PACIFIC's current PSM, is innocent (until proven guilty) of secretly recording an actress undressing. Yikes.The NY Post reports:
"the 30-year theater veteran turned himself in for questioning after the victim -- and actress in the musical -- found an iPhone recording her Wednesday evening as she changed in a dressing room."If its true, I'm hard pressed to believe this was the first time. I also bet Lincoln Center is having an absolute meltdown right now. Such a classy establishment and successful production could do without this kind of scandal. On the other hand, there's no such thing as bad press...I'd kinda forgotten SP was even still running.
(and I'm altogether sorry for the title of this post) ¶ 7:07 PM 3 comments links to this post
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Just Shows To Go You interviewed Didi O’Connell about her current role in the unbelievably awesome CIRCLE MIRROR TRANSFORMATION.
"The game of being in a play is that you have to say all the words that are written down and then the other person has to say all their words that are written down and that’s the only rule. The fact that it’s been so thought out before we even rehearse makes the game like the Wednesday crossword puzzle instead of the Sunday."¶ 10:28 AM 1 comments links to this post
Friday, October 09, 2009
A MOVIE ABOUT A MUSICAL ABOUT A TRADEDY
Yesterday, I swang by the Moma to see 'After The Storm' a documentary about some Broadway types going down to New Orleans to produce ONCE ON THIS ISLAND with local kids in an effort to bring the community center back to life. I did not expect to cry three times in that dark screening room, but I did. Such a project would be great enough if it happened undocumented, but the many layers and deeper sides of the story that shine through in this film are a testament to the power of theatre and the different ways we can help in a devastating situation.
To this date, 'After The Storm' is the most revealing coverage of post-Katrina New Orleans I've seen. There've been many photos and aerial footage of the event itself on tv, but not much about the unforgivably slow reconstruction process or repercussions of an entire city living through such a traumatic experience. Most importantly...its children.
Hearing a teenager say he saw his first dead body at the Superdome or an 11 year-old breaking into tears before he can even speak about the hurricane is moving for sure, but the distraction, direction and purpose that comes from working on this project is more than I can put into words.
The film is making the festival rounds, but its playing at the Museum of Modern Art this weekend. Remaining showtimes are Saturday 10/10 @ 4:00 and Sunday 10/11 @ 5:00.
I double dog dare you not to cry.
Here's the trailer:
¶ 6:06 PM 1 comments links to this post
Yesterday, I swang by the Moma to see 'After The Storm' a documentary about some Broadway types going down to New Orleans to produce ONCE ON THIS ISLAND with local kids in an effort to bring the community center back to life. I did not expect to cry three times in that dark screening room, but I did. Such a project would be great enough if it happened undocumented, but the many layers and deeper sides of the story that shine through in this film are a testament to the power of theatre and the different ways we can help in a devastating situation.To this date, 'After The Storm' is the most revealing coverage of post-Katrina New Orleans I've seen. There've been many photos and aerial footage of the event itself on tv, but not much about the unforgivably slow reconstruction process or repercussions of an entire city living through such a traumatic experience. Most importantly...its children.
Hearing a teenager say he saw his first dead body at the Superdome or an 11 year-old breaking into tears before he can even speak about the hurricane is moving for sure, but the distraction, direction and purpose that comes from working on this project is more than I can put into words.
The film is making the festival rounds, but its playing at the Museum of Modern Art this weekend. Remaining showtimes are Saturday 10/10 @ 4:00 and Sunday 10/11 @ 5:00.
I double dog dare you not to cry.
Here's the trailer:
¶ 6:06 PM 1 comments links to this post
IT'S OPEN SEASON ON CHERRY JONES EVERYONE!!
Perez Hilton reported five minutes ago that Cherry Jones and Sarah Paulson are no more (meaning they broke up, not died).
Ladies, the Cherry orchard is now open for business. ¶ 2:53 PM 1 comments links to this post
Perez Hilton reported five minutes ago that Cherry Jones and Sarah Paulson are no more (meaning they broke up, not died).
Ladies, the Cherry orchard is now open for business. ¶ 2:53 PM 1 comments links to this post
Friday, October 02, 2009
"TELL EM LARGE MARGE SENT YA"
Oh heaven! Paul Reubens announced that Les Freres Corbusier's Alex Timbers and hot set designer David Korins (who's hot) have joined the creative team for THE PEE WEE HERMAN show, which is returning to popular culture this January. The show's also moved from the Music Box Theater (1300 cap) to the Club Nokia (2300 cap). With new creatives and producers, I'm putting this on the fast track to New York. I could even see a Broadway run if the landscape is right.
But don't quote me on that.
UPDATE: PeeWee tweets now. ¶ 11:58 AM 3 comments links to this post
Oh heaven! Paul Reubens announced that Les Freres Corbusier's Alex Timbers and hot set designer David Korins (who's hot) have joined the creative team for THE PEE WEE HERMAN show, which is returning to popular culture this January. The show's also moved from the Music Box Theater (1300 cap) to the Club Nokia (2300 cap). With new creatives and producers, I'm putting this on the fast track to New York. I could even see a Broadway run if the landscape is right.But don't quote me on that.
UPDATE: PeeWee tweets now. ¶ 11:58 AM 3 comments links to this post
Thursday, October 01, 2009
HAIR OF THE DOG?
You'd think Piven would just avoid fish altogether for a while. Nope.
The Sun Times reports "the 'Entourage' star was seen Tuesday night chowing down on a lovely piece of whitefish at Gibsons".
Now that he's in the clear, I suppose he could roll around naked in flounder for all he cares. ¶ 1:54 PM 0 comments links to this post
You'd think Piven would just avoid fish altogether for a while. Nope.The Sun Times reports "the 'Entourage' star was seen Tuesday night chowing down on a lovely piece of whitefish at Gibsons".
Now that he's in the clear, I suppose he could roll around naked in flounder for all he cares. ¶ 1:54 PM 0 comments links to this post
I'M GUESSING LIZ LEMON WILL WANT TO GO TO THERE
Could this rumor be true that Thighmaster Cheyenne Jackson will be playing a "semipermanent" character on 30 Rock this season? If so, he'll be doing double duty with FINIAN'S RAINBOW. Fantastic. Cheyenne deserves some significant face time on the tv. But I don't know if I'd rather his character was gay or straight. An out gay playing straight is a big deal, but a hot gay playing a hot gay on an Emmy winning series is sort of a win-win situation too. I guess we'll find out later this week.
In completely unrelated news, did you hear about the boner in THE PIED PIPERS OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE?...well, you have now. Anyhoo, Upstaged interviewed the bonee and he explained how it all goes down backstage. I have to admit, his explanation made me say "wow".
That's all I'm saying. ¶ 12:32 AM 0 comments links to this post
Could this rumor be true that Thighmaster Cheyenne Jackson will be playing a "semipermanent" character on 30 Rock this season? If so, he'll be doing double duty with FINIAN'S RAINBOW. Fantastic. Cheyenne deserves some significant face time on the tv. But I don't know if I'd rather his character was gay or straight. An out gay playing straight is a big deal, but a hot gay playing a hot gay on an Emmy winning series is sort of a win-win situation too. I guess we'll find out later this week.In completely unrelated news, did you hear about the boner in THE PIED PIPERS OF THE LOWER EAST SIDE?...well, you have now. Anyhoo, Upstaged interviewed the bonee and he explained how it all goes down backstage. I have to admit, his explanation made me say "wow".
That's all I'm saying. ¶ 12:32 AM 0 comments links to this post
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
A-RING-A-DING-DING
Sometimes I just wanna kill people with cell phones. These two classy dudes handle it well, but you can see they're gonna lose their minds if this keeps happening during the run of A STEADY RAIN. I hope this cell phoner shit their pants.
And don't even get me started on video taping performances. ¶ 1:17 PM 3 comments links to this post
And don't even get me started on video taping performances. ¶ 1:17 PM 3 comments links to this post
WHAT MY MOM SAYS ABOUT JUDE LAW'S HAMLET
Mom: "Rocco, its me, I'm calling you from my seat at intermission. The is the best HAMLET I've ever......oh sorry, sorry....they're yelling at me. I'll call you later." ¶ 12:42 PM 0 comments links to this post
Mom: "Rocco, its me, I'm calling you from my seat at intermission. The is the best HAMLET I've ever......oh sorry, sorry....they're yelling at me. I'll call you later." ¶ 12:42 PM 0 comments links to this post
