Theatre North Carolina

What the What? N&O Reviewer Embarrasses Herself

A few days ago I posted a note about the tour of 'Grease' with American Idol winner Taylor Hicks coming to the DPAC. I love big Broadway musicals, but I just can't stomach 'Grease' or Hicks. Here's the link to that post 'If Schlock is Your Thing...'

Now as I have said many, many times... I don't do reviews. The reason I don't do reviews is because I don't feel qualified to do them...Well the N&O should feel the same way. I am absolutely dumbfounded by the review of 'Grease' in the N&O today. In a review titled "'Grease' loses pizazz" by Elizabeth Shestak the N&O puts another nail in the coffin of arts journalism, or at least in the coffin that was the Triangle's paper of record.

I have no issue with the fact that the reviewer didn't really like the show. I do have a problem with the fact that the review was based on the assumption that 'Grease" the stage musical is a remake of 'Grease' the movie. She starts the review:

If you see "Grease" at the Durham Performing Arts Center this week, do not go hoping to see the movie reincarnated right before you.

Duh... Sadly, Ms. Shestak did go expecting to see John Travolta and Stockard Channing and she was disappointed. OK, I might be over reacting. Most people will go the DPAC expecting to see a remake of the movie, but this isn't 'Dirty Dancing', 'The Full Monty' or 'Billy Elliot'. I think an arts journalist someone who writes about the arts, should be able to inform viewers of the difference between a stage musical based on a movie and a movie based on a stage musical. I was giving her the benefit of the doubt until I read this line...

Still, there's something about the nuance of the original...

And by 'original' she means Newton-John. Ugg...the movie was not the original Ms. Shestak. Please get your facts straight! If you want to compare the stage version to the movie feel free, just make sure you know what you are talking about.

Still think I'm overreacting... read this from her pitiful review...

For example, Danny is played by Eric Schnieder, who looks more like Adrien Brody from the film "The Pianist" than Travolta. Frankly, Dominic Fortuna, the actor who plays Vince Fontaine, the horny DJ, looks a heck of a lot more like Danny. And for some reason, Danny wears a striped polo shirt and loose, cuffed jeans with his T-Bird leather jacket, rather than the plain white T-shirt and tight jeans of the Zuko I suspect many were hoping to see.

But he can sing, and at times Schneider channels the silky Travoltan pipes of yesteryear. The whole cast has pretty decent vocals, though a few of the women sound a little too much like Disney characters than they do Stockard Channing, the film's original Betty Rizzo, or Newton-John.

Emily Padgett, who plays Sandy Dumbrowski (note the different last name than Sandy from the film -- was that really necessary?) is adorable at times, flitting between insecurity around the Pink Ladies and earnestly coquettish around Danny. But she holds onto the words a little too long during her solos and lets the vibrato linger.

I'm ill. I need to go lie down now...

If Schlock is Your Thing...

No offense to the beautiful Durham Performing Arts Center, but the thought of Grease with Taylor Hicks as Teen Angel makes me queasy. I love musicals, I even love over the top, campy, silly, sweet musicals. I'm not sure I've ever met a musical I didn't like, but Taylor Hicks makes my ears bleed. Just the same, if you are a fan of big musicals and can stomach Hicks, then go and enjoy! At least you can enjoy the gorgeous DPAC!

American Idol Winner TAYLOR HICKS is Teen Angel!

October 6 - 11

Durham Performing Arts Center

Nominated for 2008 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical

The one that you want is back! GREASE, Time Magazine’s 2007 pick for “#1 musical of the year,” is rockin’ across the country in this new production direct from Broadway.

Take a trip to a simpler time of poodle skirts, drive-ins, and T-birds. “Bad boy” Danny and “the girl next door” Sandy fall in love all over again to the tune of your favorite songs: “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and “We Go Together” as well as additional songs from the hit movie: “Grease,” “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “You’re the One That I Want.”

So throw your mittens around your kittens and Hand Jive the night away with the show that’ll make you want to stand up and shout, “A-wop-bop-a-loo-bop A-wop-bam-boom!” GREASE!

 

In Honor of Glee Tonight - Matthew Morrison Looking GOOD!

Nick Adams is Broadway Bares

Sunday, June 21, 2009 - New York City

Deconstructing: The Good, The Bad, and the Headache-y - Seth Rudetsky in Charlotte

Broadway funny man Seth Rudetsky deconstructs it all for you

OMG! I can't believe I haven't posted this yet! My bad. Seth Rudetsky will be in Charlotte tomorrow night and I will be there! It's one night only and I'm sure it will be unreal! Here are the deats. I've got my ticket already!  See you there.

Sassy Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky does it all. He's a pianist and conductor, writer, actor, comedian and radio personality.

And, he's bringing his hilarious one-man multimedia show, "Deconstructing: The Good, The Bad, and the Headache-y" to the Northwest School of the Arts Auditorium for one night only on Saturday May 30 at 8:00pm.

Rudetsky deconstructs video clips of Broadway and pop culture, pointing out the "ah-mazing" (Patti LuPone in "Evita") vs. what's a vocal travesty (Madonna singing the same material).

Rudetsky, who wrote the novel "Broadway Nights" says, "after a few years of doing stand-up, I started adding little portions of videos and audio clips to my shows and they always brought down the house."

You can listen to Rudetsky's Big Fat Broadway on Sirius/XM Radio.

Theatre and comedy lovers shouldn't miss his mile-a-minute patter, as he riffs on "The Brady Bunch Variety Show," Madonna's vocal boo-boos, and 1980's fashions. In addition to his show at Northwest, Rudetsky will also lead a master class for students earlier in the day. Brava!

Deconstructing: The Good, The Bad, and the Headache-y
What: Broadway funnyman Seth Rudetsky's one-man show, deconstructing both Broadway's best and jaw-droppingly awful moments.
Where: Northwest School of the Arts Auditorium, 1415 Beatties Ford Road Charlotte, NC 28216
When: Saturday, May 30 at 8 PM
Tickets: $15 with discounts for students; call 704.293.4423

The Amazing Spider-Man!

I know I terrified a lot of people yesterday when I mentioned the rumor of a Spider-Man musical. Well, for better or worse it's happening. Both the New York Times and Variety are reporting that the show titled "Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark" is a go and will start previews in January of 2010. The rumors that Evan Rachel Wood will play Mary Jane are still circulating.

I love musical theatre.

I love comic book heroes.

I'm not sure I can love this, but I shall withhold judgment until I know more.

Julie Taymor (Lion King) directs. Music and Lyrics by Bono and The Edge...oh man, this is going to suck isn't it?

One piece of good news...Jim Stugess rumored to play Spidey!

   

Evan Rachel Wood: Juliet in Raleigh, Mary Jane on Broadway

As reported here first, Theatre in the Park announced today that Evan Rachel Wood will return to hometown Raleigh to perform as Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Here's the official word.

Evan Rachel Wood returns to her theatrical roots in Raleigh at Theatre In The Park (TIP), for a special engagement in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, starring as Juliet. Ira David Wood IV, Evan’s brother, will make his directorial debut with this production. As a native of Raleigh, Evan spent many hours on stage alongside her brother and her father, Ira David Wood III, Executive and Artistic Director of Theatre In The Park, and best known for his role as Scrooge in the Raleigh holiday classic, A Christmas Carol. Evan has chosen to return to Theatre In The Park after several Oscar nominated films, including Thirteen, Across the Universe, and The Wrestler. Evan will be joined on stage with her father, Ira David Wood III who will play Capulet, opposite Lynda Clark as Lady Capulet.

"Evan's first major role at Theatre In The Park was as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker," her father explains.  "Watching her work, there was no doubt in my mind that she was going to have an amazing career as an actress.  We're all deeply grateful that she and her brother came to us with this project.  It's always so important to come home and to give something back to the place and people who nurtured and helped guide you when you were just starting out.  It's going to be a wonderful production and I'm grateful to have been included."

Ira David Wood IV, an accomplished actor of TV, stage and film, last seen on stage as Malcolm in Shakespeare’s Macbeth at TIP, served as the assistant director of A Christmas Carol this past December, is thrilled at the opportunity to direct Romeo and Juliet.This production of Romeo and Juliet is scheduled for May 2009, specific dates to be announced. Hollywood and Broadway celebrities are expected to attend. Romeo and Juliet is a fundraising event benefiting Theatre In The Park’s Annual Fund for Arts and Education. Tickets will go on sale mid-March, prices to be announced soon. Watch the theatre’s website for updates.

The New York Times reports on the rumors that Wood has been cast as Mary Jane in Spider-Man on Broadway...Yes, they are making a Spider-man musical, sorry.

Asked on Sunday about “what’s going on with Spider-Man on Broadway,” Ms. Wood said: “Um, it’s been pushed, but it is still going, and I’m definitely going to do it.”

She said the music, by U2’s Bono and The Edge, is “incredible,” and also offered this response when one of the interviewers asked if she had wondered what a musical about a man/spider/super-hero would be like:

“I thought about it, and then I went in and heard the music, I listened to Julie (Taymor)’s ideas, and it’s incredible. You know, it’s the same reaction people had when ‘The Lion King’ was on Broadway.” Ms. Taymor’s production of Disney’s “The Lion King,” which opened on Broadway in 1997 and is still running, has proved to be a huge critical and commercial success; last week, it had the third highest grosses of any Broadway show, $1,144,776, behind the musicals “Billy Elliot” and the first-place “Wicked.”

Watch the interview.

Somehow, Someday, Somewhere - WEST SIDE STORY comes to Broadway

Awesome photos of the revival of WEST SIDE STORY on Broadway! Thanks Playbill.com

Coming to Broadway February 23!

Karen Olivo and company (Photo by Joan Marcus)


The Jets (Photo by Joan Marcus)


The Jets (Photo by Joan Marcus)


George Akram and Cody Green (Photo by Joan Marcus)


Josefina Scaglione (Photo by Joan Marcus)


Josefina Scaglione and Matt Cavenaugh (Photo by Joan Marcus)

Click here for more photos!

Is It Just Me?

Daniel Radcliffe got a picture hung at Sardi's. I say 'a' picture rather them 'his' picture because the caricature looks nothing like him. Thanks to JustJared for the tip.

Broadway's Hottest Men

OK, AfterElton.com posted a list of 37 (37? - Not 35 or 40...37) of Broadway's hottest men. I'm not a fan of long lists so I'm cutting this list down to 9 of Broadway's hottest men. You can click here for the other 28 and make your own judgments...

However, before we begin, one of those nine is so far above and beyond the rest that he must be singled out. Nick Adams is more than just talented, he's hot! I've added some extra fun photos of him!

Nick Adams received tons of publicity last year when he was asked to wear a hoodie (rather than a tank top) as Larry in A Chorus Line so that his spectacular body wouldn't upstage Mario Lopez, who had
joined the company in the role of Zach. No worries: All that attention led to photo shoots for several magazines and a job modeling 2(x)ist underwear. By the way, Nick is openly gay, so we're pleased to have him at the head of our hot list. Look for him next in Guys and Dolls.



Matt Cavenaugh created a sensation in 2004 when he seemingly came out of nowhere to win the title role in the musical Urban Cowboy. That show was a flop, but he went on to be featured in Grey Gardens and A Catered Affair. Matt will soon be back on Broadway as Tony in the hotly anticipated revival of West Side Story (see photo above.)

Gavin Creel received a Tony nomination for his role of Jimmy in Thoroughly Modern Millie and played Jean-Michel in the revival of La Cage aux Folles. He recently appeared as Bert in the London production of Mary Poppins, but he'll soon return to Broadway as Claude Hooper Bukowski in Hair.

Raul Esparza's Broadway roles include Riff Raff in The Rocky Horror Show, the Master of Ceremonies in Cabaret, Philip Sallon in Taboo, Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Bobby in Company, Lenny in The Homecoming, and (currently) Charlie Fox in Speed-the-Plow. This bisexual thespian is the best of the best.




Cheyenne Jackson was a standby for leading roles in Aida and Thoroughly Modern Millie before getting his first starring shot in All Shook Up.
That show didn't last long, but gay fave Cheyenne has remained
theatrically active ever since, most recently singing up a storm and
looking great in short-shorts as Sonny in Xanadu.



Tom Macy is poised to be a star in short order. In 2008, he scored Off-Broadway as Lance Speedworth in The Boy in the Basement and as Angus/Son of Macduff in the Roust Theatre Company's super-sexy production of Macbeth.




Matthew Risch was an ensemble member and understudy in the Broadway casts of Chicago and Legally Blonde, but he stepped up to the plate and took on the title role in the current revival of Pal Joeywhen original star Christian Hoff dropped out of that production
shortly before opening. The lyrics to one of the show's most famous songs describe Joey Evans as a "half-pint imitation," but as far as we're concerned, Matthew is the real thing.



Brian J. Smith drew gasps from audiences when he took off his shirt as Turk in last season's Broadway revival of Come Back, Little Sheba. He subsequently appeared Off-Broadway in Good Boys and True at Second Stage. Even if you haven't seen him on stage, you may know him for his gay role of Trey in the film Hate Crime.




Patrick Wilson's film career has blossomed over the past several years, but he keeps coming back to the theater, God love him. He very recently concluded a run in All My Sons, co-starring with John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, and Katie Holmes. Previously, he had Broadway leads in such shows as The Full Monty, Oklahoma!, and Barefoot in the Park.

>