George Bush News

I just got back from Avery Fisher Hall, where Frank Rich was partaking in a fireside chat (sans fireside) with Stephen Sondheim. I scribbled down as much as I could from the 90 minute conversation. Some of the more interesting topics included the inability for most theatre critics to critique the music in a musical and the greater gratification Sondheim gets from composition than lyric writing because of the way language can restrict him from expressing exactly what he wants to say. ('There are very few lyrics that are perfect lyrics.') I wish there was more time to discuss his observation that Jerry Bock's music has the same edginess as Fred Ebb's lyrics and John Kander's outpouring of music matches Sheldon Harnick's elegant lyrics, giving great dramatic tension to the songs of both teams.

I somehow doubt that, despite Broadway's struggles in the current economy, Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez would be so cynical as to use the title of this entry as their new 'For Now' lyric in Avenue Q, but since it's only a matter of weeks before the sharply satirical children's educational musical for adults they penned with Jeff Whitty outlasts the current presidential administration, that infamous lyric, 'George Bush is only for now,' is about to be impeached.

PThe New York Times reports that a spokesman for the Broadway production of Neil LaBute's 'reasons to be pretty' revealed Sunday that the show's producers had beefed up the security detail at the Lyceum Theater following an incident at the Saturday evening performance.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee met today for the fourth time this season to decide the eligibility of five Broadway productions for the 2009 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards, presented by The Broadway League and The American Theatre Wing.

New York City Opera's acclaimed VOX: Showcasing American Opera series marks its 10 th anniversary on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington Square South) at New York University. New York City Opera's annual VOX series demonstrates the company's commitment to the development of American opera, giving a free-of-charge platform to new or previously unperformed American operas. The final excerpt presented on Saturday, May 2, will mark the 100 th opera presented by VOX.

The New York Post's Michael Riedel has a soild series of stories in his 'On Broadway' column today, the first is the happy news regarding Will Ferrell's 'You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George Bush'and the fact it has been playing to packed houses night after night.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment are thrilled to present the fourth production of La Mirada Theatre's 2008-2009 season of shows, the Southern California Premiere of TUNA DOES VEGAS, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard and directed by Ed Howard. TUNA DOES VEGAS will begin performances on Friday, April 17 (with a press opening on Saturday, April 18) and will run through Sunday, May 3 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue.

Though no longer Commander-in-Chief, George Bush's tenure on Broadway as a lyric in the musical AVENUE Q will continue, it has been announced by the Tony Award-winning musical's creators and producers.

Marion J. Caffey?s 3 Mo? Divas has been awarded its first PBS Television Special! After receiving rave reviews and playing to sold out audiences & standing ovations ?3 Mo? Divas (Smashing Musical Barriers)? will air nationally March 1st-10th and June 1st-15th (WLIW in NYC on March 10th @ 8pm - check local listings for exact dates and times in other areas). In celebration of the PBS Special, 3 Mo' Divas will also release their debut CD ?Smashing Musical Barriers? on March 1st and a Hi-Def & Blu-Ray DVD recording of the PBS special on May 12th.

New York City Opera's acclaimed VOX: Showcasing American Opera series marks its 10th anniversary on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place, at Washington Square South) at New York University. New York City Opera's annual VOX series demonstrates the company's commitment to the development of American opera, giving a free-of-charge platform to new or previously unperformed American operas. The final excerpt presented on Saturday, May 2, will mark the 100th opera presented by VOX.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, February 6, 2009.

Worried about the economy? Global warming? Flying? Prescription Drugs? Healthcare? Identity Theft? Off-shore Drilling? Aging? What George Bush is going to do now? Change and what it really means? You weren't, but you are now? Well, FST Improv is back to lighten your load and put Recess back into Recession! The 6th Season of FST Improv Begins February 3rd in the Goldstein Cabaret. Tickets are priced at an affordable $12! 'Every day when I read the paper (I am one of the remaining 10 in Sarasota) it seems that it is a little smaller and the news is bad,' says Director Rebecca Langford. 'At the same time I see hope everywhere I go. Things are changing and everyone can feel it. What is that change going to be? Well we don't know, but in Improv we have a great time guessing. This winter's show is really about finding the bright side amid all the sky is falling news. We might not be able to solve all these problems, but we can make fun of them. You know there is a reason they say laughter is the best medicine.' Taking what is right in front of them, in the form of audience suggestions, FST Improv creates characters and sketches on the spot. No one - not even the performers themselves - knows what is going to happen next. It is this element of the unknown that makes every Improv show unique - and what makes for some exciting moments onstage. The FST Improv cast is comprised of returning members including Christine Alexander, Andrew Bailes, Tim Beasley, Catey Brennan, Darryl Knapp, Angel Parker, Steve Turrisi, Chris Friday and Jim Prosser on piano. Rebecca Langford directs.

Worried about the economy? Global warming? Flying? Prescription Drugs? Healthcare? Identity Theft? Off-shore Drilling? Aging? What George Bush is going to do now? Change and what it really means? You weren't, but you are now? Well, FST Improv is back to lighten your load and put Recess back into Recession! The 6th Season of FST Improv Begins February 3rd in the Goldstein Cabaret. Tickets are priced at an affordable $12! 'Every day when I read the paper (I am one of the remaining 10 in Sarasota) it seems that it is a little smaller and the news is bad,' says Director Rebecca Langford. 'At the same time I see hope everywhere I go. Things are changing and everyone can feel it. What is that change going to be? Well we don't know, but in Improv we have a great time guessing. This winter's show is really about finding the bright side amid all the sky is falling news. We might not be able to solve all these problems, but we can make fun of them. You know there is a reason they say laughter is the best medicine.' Taking what is right in front of them, in the form of audience suggestions, FST Improv creates characters and sketches on the spot. No one - not even the performers themselves - knows what is going to happen next. It is this element of the unknown that makes every Improv show unique - and what makes for some exciting moments onstage. The FST Improv cast is comprised of returning members including Christine Alexander, Andrew Bailes, Tim Beasley, Catey Brennan, Darryl Knapp, Angel Parker, Steve Turrisi, Chris Friday and Jim Prosser on piano. Rebecca Langford directs.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, January 19, 2009.

The contest to replace the 'George Bush' line in the finale 'For Now' in the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q (on Broadway at the Golden Theatre and on national tour) resulted in over 2,000 entries from contest participants coast-to-coast in the United States, as well as from overseas in Brazil, Australia, Ukraine and Israel, to name a few. On Friday, January 15th, the winners were revealed in a special press event, the entire Avenue Q gang was there and so was BroadwayWorld! AVENUE Q -- which opened on Broadway in 2003 and six years later continues to entertain audiences on Broadway (at the Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45 St.), on national tour and in London's West End -- concludes with the musical number 'For Now,' which reminds us that 'everything in life is only for now,' including 'sex, your hair and George Bush.' The contest (conducted Dec. 22, 2008 to Jan. 12, 2009) invited the general public to submit suggestions for a new lyric to replace 'George Bush' as he will leave the office of President of the United States on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009 and forfeit his spot as a lyric in a hit Broadway show, as well.

With President George W. Bush set to leave office on January 20, 2009, the creators and producers of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q have announced four possible winners of their 'Only for Now' contest to replace the lyric in the show's final number, 'For Now,' which astutely observes that everything in life -- including 'George Bush!' -- is only for now. They picked four new potential lyrics, each will be given a test drive, they are; 'Recession' 'Prop 8' 'This Show' 'Your Mother-in-Law' The 'Only for Now' contest invited participants to enter their suggestion for a new person (not necessarily a political figure), place, thing, event, fad, etc. to be considered as a substitute for the soon-to-be-outdated reference to 'George Bush' in the musical's finale. The winning entry will be performed in AVENUE Q on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the day Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.

On Tuesday January 13, 2009 at 7PM, The Spotlight Cabaret presents State of the Union, a celebration of our nation and its foibles featuring a variety of original songs with titles like 'Alaska,' 'I Love You Rachel Maddow,' 'Black Friday' and 'Goodbye George Bush.'

On Tuesday January 13, 2009 at 7PM, The Spotlight Cabaret presents State of the Union, a celebration of our nation and its foibles featuring a variety of original songs with titles like 'Alaska,' 'I Love You Rachel Maddow,' 'Black Friday' and 'Goodbye George Bush.'

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, December 22, 2008.

'Avenue Q' is looking for some inspired help regarding President George W. Bush leaving the White House. You see he is not only leaving office, he's also exiting Broadway. 'For Now,' the closing number in the Tony Award-winning musical 'Avenue Q,' sings out that everything in life is temporary - even George W. Bush is 'only for now.' But change is coming to those lyrics. A contest that starts today Monday, December 22nd at noon will allow participants to submit suggestions for a new person, place, fad or anything else to substitute for the soon-to-be-outdated reference.