Rich Frank 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.

As Houston's major presenter of the performing arts, Society for the Performing Arts (SPA) announces a 2009-2010 season filled with engaging performances by the world's best musicians and dancers with an eye on affordable tickets. For the 2009-2010 season, SPA will pay particular tribute to the living legends of the American musical theater, world music and contemporary dance. Stephen Sondheim, the single most important composer/lyricist to work in American musical theater during the second half of the 20th century, headlines the season in an evening of conversation with New York Times columnist and former chief drama critic Frank Rich. The music of Hollywood and Broadway come to life with composer Marvin Hamlisch and actor Joel Grey in concert!

Long considered the essential magazine for professional not-for-profit theatre, AMERICAN THEATRE magazine (AT), published ten times annually by Theatre Communications Group (TCG), has been providing theatre professionals, students, advocates and audiences a comprehensive journal since April, 1984. At a time when coverage of the arts may be at an all-time low, the substantive and continuing contributions of AMERICAN THEATRE put it in a class of its own.

Guthrie Director Joe Dowling today announced casting for the three productions slated to headline the theater?s Tony Kushner Celebration. A company of more than 25 Minneapolis and New York actors will come together at the Guthrie from April through June to participate in a one-of-a-kind celebration the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright?s work. More information on the Kushner Celebration can be found at www.CelebrateKushner.com.

New York Times' Frank Rich's candid conversations with iconic Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim have become 'must see' events in various venues the two visit, they will be onstage at Verizon Hall in Philadelphia this weekend. There was a large amount of Sondheim news that across the BWW desks today so we created a little link round-up so you can catch up with them all!

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary, T. Schreiber Studio will present a production of Tom Stoppard's dazzling romantic comedy The Real Thing at The Gloria Maddox Theater, 151 West 26th Street, 7th Floor from February 19th to March 29th. Directed by Terry Schreiber, director of the Tony-nominated play K2, as well as The Trip Back Down (starring John Cullum) and Devour the Snow on Broadway, The Real Thing is Stoppard's multi-layered look at love, passion, adultery, and marriage. The full-scale, profession production will feature members of the T. Schreiber Company.

Boston Actors Theater presents Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll, Eric Bogosian's funny yet, bleak landscape of the Western world.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary, T. Schreiber Studio will present a production of Tom Stoppard?s dazzling romantic comedy The Real Thing at The Gloria Maddox Theater, 151 West 26th Street, 7th Floor from February 19th to March 29th.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary, T. Schreiber Studio will present a production of Tom Stoppard's dazzling romantic comedy The Real Thing at The Gloria Maddox Theater, 151 West 26th Street, 7th Floor from February 19th to March 29th. Directed by Terry Schreiber, director of the Tony-nominated play K2, as well as The Trip Back Down (starring John Cullum) and Devour the Snow on Broadway, The Real Thing is Stoppard's multi-layered look at love, passion, adultery, and marriage. The full-scale, profession production will feature members of the T. Schreiber Company.

Former New York Times chief theater critic, Frank Rich, who was once known as 'the Butcher of Broadway' appeared on The Colbert Report on Monday Night. Frank Rich became a New York Times op-ed columnist in 1994 after serving for thirteen years as the newspaper's chief drama critic. These days, he covers politics and also serves as an adviser on the paper's overall cultural news report. Two of his previous books are MUST-HAVES for theatre fans everywhere. Hot Seat: Theater Criticism for The New York Times, 1980-1993 contains a collection of all of his New York Times theatre reviews, which provide insight into thirteen years of Broadway including many of its big hits and misses. He is the also author of the childhood memoir Ghost Light, which is filled with many tales of the start of his love of theatre.

Tony Award-winning musical theatre composer-lyricist Stephen Sondheim, who last was represented Off-Broadway at the Public Theater with the recent musical Road Show, took part in a one-night-only event at Avery Fisher Hall on Sunday January, 18th. 'Stephen Sondheim: A Life in the Theater' featured Sondheim in conversation with former New York Times theatre critic Frank Rich. The celebrated pair engaged in a live, unscripted conversation, reminiscing about Stephen Sondheim's career, legendary collaborations, inspirations, his varied theatrical and cinematic resum? and some real surprises in regards to his personal likes and dislikes.

Former New York Times chief theater critic, Frank Rich, who was once known as 'the Butcher of Broadway' will appear on The Colbert Report on Monday Night. Frank Rich became a New York Times op-ed columnist in 1994 after serving for thirteen years as the newspaper's chief drama critic. These days, he covers politics and also serves as an adviser on the paper's overall cultural news report. Two of his previous books are MUST-HAVES for theatre fans everywhere. Hot Seat: Theater Criticism for The New York Times, 1980-1993 contains a collection of all of his New York Times theatre reviews, which provide insight into thirteen years of Broadway including many of its big hits and misses. He is the also author of the childhood memoir Ghost Light, which is filled with many tales of the start of his love of theatre. Rich is married to Alex Witchel, who also writes for the Times.

Former New York Times chief theater critic, Frank Rich, who was once known as 'the Butcher of Broadway' will appear on The Colbert Report on Monday Night. Frank Rich became a New York Times op-ed columnist in 1994 after serving for thirteen years as the newspaper's chief drama critic. These days, he covers politics and also serves as an adviser on the paper's overall cultural news report. Two of his previous books are MUST-HAVES for theatre fans everywhere. Hot Seat: Theater Criticism for The New York Times, 1980-1993 contains a collection of all of his New York Times theatre reviews, which provide insight into thirteen years of Broadway including many of its big hits and misses. He is the also author of the childhood memoir Ghost Light, which is filled with many tales of the start of his love of theatre. Rich is married to Alex Witchel, who also writes for the Times.

Caldwell Theatre Company 2008-2009 Mainstage Season celebrates its 34th Season in Boca Raton Play #1 Now - December 14, 2008 She Loves Me Musical Book by Joe Masteroff Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick Music by Jerry Bock Based on Parfumerie by Miklos Laszlo This blockbuster multiple award-winning musical is considered the most charming musical ever written. With a book by Cabaret's Joe Masteroff, and music and lyrics by the team that brought us Fiddler on the Roof and Fiorello!, She Loves Me is an enchanting love story. Georg and Amalia are two coworkers who bicker constantly but anonymously write each other through a Lonely Hearts column, and ultimately fall in love. With 25 show-stopper songs, She Loves Me is, as Frank Rich of The New York Times said, '... a continuously melodic evening of sheer enchantment and complete escape' and is, as TheaterMania writes, '... impossible not to love.'

For the first time, a comprehensive 4-CD box set encompassing the incredible career of Broadway's foremost living composer/ lyricist, Stephen Sondheim. The lavish box set features 81 tracks over four CDs, and includes selections from Sondheim's 19 Broadway shows, as well as songs from his film scores and TV specials. The Story So Far... also features 33 previously unreleased tracks and never before seen photographs from Sondheim's personal archive.

Gerald Schoenfeld, the Chairman of the Board of the Shubert Organization, perhaps the most well-known owner and operator of live-performance theaters in the U.S. died on November 25, 2008. His passing brought sadness tears to the Rilato yesterday, but with such a profound legacy behind him it wasn't long before he was paid tribute to by the theatre community and it's brightest lights.

'A Conversation with Stephen Sondheim and Frank Rich' will take place on Sunday, January 18, 2009 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall, and will feature a rare look into the mind of the most important artist to work in the American musical theater over the past half-century.

Rosalind Ayres directs a cast that includes Andrea Bowen, Matt Gaydos, Simon Templeman, Joanne Whalley and Matt Wolf when L.A. Theatre Works records Tom Stoppard's two-time Tony Award-winning play, The Real Thing, at the Skirball Cultural Center, November 12-16.

With a book by Cabaret's Joe Masteroff, and music and lyrics by the team that brought us Fiddler on the Roof and Fiorello!, She Loves Me is an enchanting love story. There have been multiple films based on the original story including The Shop Around The Corner, the Judy Garland musical In The Good Old Summertime and You've Got Mail.

Rosalind Ayres directs a cast that includes Andrea Bowen, Matt Gaydos, Simon Templeman, Joanne Whalley and Matt Wolf when L.A. Theatre Works records Tom Stoppard's two-time Tony Award-winning play, The Real Thing, at the Skirball Cultural Center, November 12-16.