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The Broadway Pulse
The Broadway Pulse, maintained by BroadwayWorld.com's Editor-in-Chief, Robert Diamond, highlights the most interesting goings on in the world of theater - online and off... To submit materials to The Broadway Pulse, click here. Anonymity's guaranteed. Subscribe to RSS Feed 
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'A Man for All Seasons' Review Roundup
 Tonight, October 7th, 2008 A Man for All Seasons opened at Roundabout Theater Company. In addition to star Frank Langella (Sir Thomas More), the cast includes Hannah Cabell (Margaret More), Michael Esper (William Roper), Zach Grenier (Thomas Cromwell), Dakin Matthews (Cardinal Wolsey), George Morfogen (Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop), Patrick Page (King Henry VIII), Maryann Plunkett (Alice More), Michel Gill (Duke of Norfolk), Jeremy Strong (Richard Rich), Charles Borland (Jailor), Peter Bradbury (Steward), Patricia Hodges (Woman), Triney Sandoval (Thomas Chapuys) and Emily Dorsch.
For Newsday, Linda Winer writes that "If America had a national repertory theater, Frank Langella would be luxuriating now in the official ranks of theater royalty. Three decades after he oozed seductive grandiosity as the irresistible but trivial Dracula, the actor has grown beyond the implied vanity in his plumy voice and grand gesture. He is a precious anachronism, a throwback to a theatrical presence of more majestic times. With Broadway's first revival of "A Man for All Seasons" since its 1961 premiere, the Roundabout Theatre Company has tossed the hungry acting giant a big chunk of juicy sustenance. And Langella's gratitude becomes our own."
For Variety, David Rooney writes that "Langella's performance, however, is sufficiently commanding to overcome the role's limited dimension. The actor's effortless authority is softened by a playful sense of irony that makes it seem only natural he would toss off a cutting remark even while being sentenced to die. Humility is not a major asset in Langella's arsenal, but a shot of arrogance adds color to his More, and the penetrating assessments he makes of both friends and foe come through loud and clear, often without words."
Elysa Gardner, for USA Today, gives the show 3 out of 4 stars and writes that "In the end, only the leading man can ensure that Seasons sustains its subtle spark, and Langella is, happily, more than up to the task."
Ben Branley in the NY Times writes that "Is it heresy to whisper that the sainted Thomas More is a bit of a bore? Even Frank Langella, an actor who can be counted on to put the pepper in mashed-potato parts, doesn't find much variety in the monolithic goodness of the title character of "A Man for All Seasons," Robert Bolt's 1960 biodrama about More's road to martyrdom during the reign of Henry VIII."
Frank Scheck gives the show 3 out of 4 stars in the NY Post, and writes that "In the end, though, it's less the production and more its star that best deserves the title of "A Man for All Seasons.""
And, for the NY Daily News, Joe Dziemianowicz writes that "Whether it's 1530 or 2008, men who'll literally stick out their necks for their beliefs are rare, which gives "A Man for All Seasons" a timelessness. As an ethics lesson, it clicks, but far less so as a rousing, full-blooded drama."
Posted on: Wednesday, October 08, 2008 @ 10:09 AM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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13, the Musical Review Roundup
 13, the Musical opened at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theater last night and the reviews are in.
David Rooney of Variety writes "In case anyone missed the lesson learned from "High School Musical" and its endlessly multiplying spawn, kids these days are quite comfortable watching their fictional counterparts burst into song to express their feelings. So the target audience for "13" should have no trouble identifying with the characters onstage as they tunefully reflect on friendship, crushes, popularity, acceptance and tongue action. There's not much in this sweet all-adolescent tuner to engage anyone past puberty, but the other lesson of the Disney franchise is that a narrowly defined demographic is no barrier to success."
Michael Kuchwara for the Associated Press writes that "Like its young hero, "13," suffers from uncertainty and more than a bit of awkwardness as it tries to a tell a tween tale about making mistakes, growing up and taking responsibility."
USA Today gives the show 2 1/2 stars out of 4 and writes that "Thanks largely to these performances, 13 is, if hardly awesome (not even in the lesser sense of the word), an innocuous and sometimes touching diversion."
Ben Brantley in the NY Times writes that "But mostly the characters never emerge as genuine individuals. Maybe that’s deliberate on the part of the show’s creators, to allow young audience members to project themselves onto archetypal personas. But if I’m going to revisit the worst years of my life, I need some fresh insights — or at least a sustained, authentic rush of the painful glory that is youth — to make it worth my while."
Michael Sommers in the NJ Star Ledger wrote that "A lively musical about growing up, "13" is the flip side of "Spring Awakening."
While the latter hit explores teen angst in dark, woeful terms, the attraction that premiered yesterday at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre is humorous and optimistic as its adolescents bounce along to a happy beat. "
Joe Dziemianowicz in the NY Daily News gives the show 2 out of 5 stars and writes that "Director Jeremy Sams creates some clever moments, including an amusing scene in a movie theater where the kids watch a horror flick. The pubescent crowd may find this new musical fascinating — but Mom and Dad will be left thinking about 13 better ways they could have spent their ticket dollars. "
Barbara Hoffman (Clive Barnes is off) gives the show 3 stars out of 4 in the NY Daily News and she says that "With a raw, rousing score by Jason Robert Brown sung by a cast of 13- to 17-year-olds, it's Sondheim for MySpacers - the perfect show for those too old for Disney, too young for "Spring Awakening," and too impatient to wait for a new block of "Wicked" tickets."
Posted on: Monday, October 06, 2008 @ 09:03 AM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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Could Producers Be Sniffing 'SMELL' for Broadway?
 David Pittu is in a league of his own. Over the past few theatre seasons, he has become a critics darling and has snagged two Tony Award nominations (LOVEMUSIK and IS HE DEAD?).
This talented actor has been a staple in the community, with a recent a rush to the front of character actors, exhibiting a wide range of abilities, including a unique voice as a writer.
We happened to catch WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING at the Atlantic Theater Company and it would seem obvious that if producers are sniffing around, that with XANADU vacating the Helen Hayes Theater, this could be an obvious tenant, with a very low weekly nut. It could also land Pittu multiple Tony nominations.
The format of this unique show is billed as a "play with vocal selections." Expecting camp, I was surprised by the depth and seriousness of much of the writing, done as earnest comedy. Also impressive, was Pittu's uncanny musical talent and delivery of the songs penned by his character, Jacob Sterling, and in reality penned by Randy Redd and Pittu himself.
If you haven't seen it, it's been selling out at the Atlantic Theatre Company and is scheduled to close on October 5th.
If I was to bet...I would suspect that this wouldn't be the end for this sweet "smell" of success.
 WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING began previews September 2nd, and opened September 10th Off-Broadway at Atlantic Stage 2 (330 West 16th Street). Due to high ticket demand following strong reviews, the limited engagement originally scheduled through September 28th, was extended through Sunday, October 5th, 2008.
The world premiere comedy is an absurd musical satire that charts the career of eternally up-and-coming (and fictitious) musical theater composer Jacob Sterling (Pittu). A rare, up close and personal visit with an artist of questionable gifts who performs from his songbook and shares his human struggle to keep musical theater alive and well in the 21st century. The show also stars the incomparable and equally gifted Peter Bartlett.
The new comedy also features Atlantic Acting School alumni Brandon Goodman and Matt Schock, and Jen Temen.
The design team for WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING features scenic design by Takeshi Kata, costume design by Martin Pakledinaz, lighting design by Matthew Richards, sound design by Jill DuBoff, projection design by Dustin O'Neill, and production stage management by Alison DeSantis.
The Off-Broadway staging of WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING is a testament to Atlantic Stage 2's mission to develop new works. It began as a short piece as part of the one-act festival 10 X 20, the inaugural production of the second stage theatre in 2006. This past June, an expanded developmental reading with David Pittu and Peter Bartlett was featured in the 11th annual Perry-Mansfield New Works Festival in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
WHAT'S THAT SMELL: THE MUSIC OF JACOB STERLING plays Tuesday through Saturday at 8:00pm, with Saturday matinees at 2:00pm and Sunday performances at 3:00pm and 7:00pm/. All tickets are $50.00 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, $55.00 Friday and Saturday, and are available by calling Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 (www.ticketcentral.com).
Posted on: Friday, September 26, 2008 @ 02:49 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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Les Misbarack
 Wonder how they're blowing off steam at Barack Obama's National Headquarters?
The answer is, with a bit of Les Miserables aka Les Misbarack.
Click here to watch the hilarious and well put together video.
Let's hope that immediately after, they got back to work. :-)
Posted on: Saturday, September 13, 2008 @ 12:05 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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MUST WATCH: Every Little Step...A Chorus Line Documentary - Trailer & Donna McKechnie!
Debuting this weekend at the prestigious Toronto Film Festival was a new documentary called Every Little Step, a film tracing the history of Michael Bennett's A Chorus Line. The "buzz" on the film is FANTASTIC.
The forces behind it are John Breglio and Bob Avian, who shepherded the latest Broadway revival, which was a total success and paid back its investment. The documentary chronicles the process of casting the 2006 revival, along with the show's history and dating back to the original workshops with Bennett and the original cast. It could be easily stated that this show, in addition to all its other historic accomplishments, could actually be the first "reality show."
Tony-award winning actress, Donna McKechnie, who walked off with a Tony, as the original Cassie, just got back to New York from Toronto and was in the audience for the premiere. I reached her at home, and this is what she had to say about the film and her experience watching it:
"I can't wait until everyone sees this film. They did a great job putting it together and the audience reaction was stupendous. I was so nervous about seeing it for the first time at the Toronto premiere, but from the opening moments, I was in love.
The film is very exciting, funny and extremely moving. It's a great tribute to Michael, to dancers, and to all of us who have a dream and want to work hard for what we love. Every Little Step has the true heart of A Chorus Line...
It brings the experience that audiences have watching the show in the theatre -- to film.
It's a tribute to us ALL!"
Click here to see the exciting trailer...you'll see a lot of familiar faces - past and present.
A Chorus Line is currently on a national tour and certainly is one of the most exciting shows that you'll ever see LIVE on stage. Click here for tour cities and schedule.
Broadway has produced many legendary productions, but A Chorus Line and the story behind it remain special. Every Little Step captures the magic of the show by following the process of casting the 2006 stage revival. The concept is self-referential, given that the very plot of A Chorus Line is about casting a musical, but the filmmakers add another layer by examining how the original show was born when Michael Bennett recorded a group of dancers speaking in confessional mode. Fans of the show may get goosebumps hearing those audio tapes, while newcomers will discover what made Bennett (in the words of the finale song) "one singular sensation/every little step he takes."
This is the third documentary directors James D. Stern and Adam Del Deo have premiered at the Festival. Stern has built a prolific career producing film and Broadway shows, including The Producers and Hairspray. His participation afforded the crew extraordinary access behind the scenes and, for anyone who loves theater, Every Little Step is cause for hip-swaying, high-kicking celebration.
In auditions, we see performers giving everything they've got for songs like "I Can Do That" and "At the Ballet." We meet the original performers Donna McKechnie (who performed "The Music and the Mirror") and Baayork Lee (whose personality and short stature inspired the character Connie) along with the aspiring dancers who hope to revive those roles. Encountering so many talented hopefuls, it is mesmerizing to watch their different interpretations of each character. As part of the dialogue between past and present, composer Marvin Hamlisch reveals how the song known as "Tits and Ass" was almost cut in 1975, while thirty years later new singers out-vamp each other to make it their own.
But who will get the parts? The directors deftly follow the process to the end - the heartbreak of being cut, the exhilaration of being chosen. The result is one thrilling combination, every move this film makes.
For tons of BroadwayWorld.com coverage of A Chorus Line, click here.
For more on the Toronto Film Festival, click here to read about it in today's New York Times or click here to read about it in Variety.
Posted on: Sunday, September 07, 2008 @ 03:32 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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HURRICANE GUSTAV EMERGENCY RESOURCES
Just some ways that everyone can pitch in to help...
Catholic Charities USA's Disaster Response Team has been deployed to the Gulf Coast ahead of Hurricane Gustav, ramping up efforts to respond to the potentially devastating storm. Once on the ground, the team will be working with the local Catholic Charities agencies in the region to preposition community resources sites. After the storm, these sites will provide water, basic food essentials, clean up supplies, personal care kits, and other items to meet the communities' recovery needs. To contribute to Catholic Charities USA's response efforts: Call (800) 919-9338
Direct Relief International, which provides humanitarian medical relief, is sending additional relief materials to complement its pre-positioned hurricane preparedness materials distributed in high-risk areas. In the three years since Katrina and Rita, Direct Relief has supported safety-net clinics and community health centers along the Gulf Coast with $47 million in medical material aid and $4.6 million in cash assistance. Direct Relief is communicating frequently with healthcare partners treating people affected by Gustav to deliver the most effective aid possible, both in the U.S. and in the Caribbean.
Hands on New Orleans is working with local and state agencies to prepare and ensure for a coordinated immediate response. Donations of funds to operate a volunteer reception center and to deploy an early responder team to meet immediate needs are necessary at this time; click here. To donate goods or products click here.
The Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF), is expediting funding to local agencies along the Gulf Coast to help with the mandatory evacuation ahead of Hurricane Gustav. Already, LDRF has helped the Lafayette Restoration Center move seniors and people with special needs out of New Orleans and to safety, and there are many more local organizations LDRF is providing emergency assistance to. You can help. Visit the LDRF website to find out how: to donate, click here.
Operation USA, an international disaster relief agency, is partnering with established networks of community health clinics which are working around the clock to anticipate needs resulting from a major storm with 15-30 foot storm surges necessitating the possible evacuation of millions of people. Operation USA is appealing to individuals, foundations and companies for money and appropriate relief supplies to enable it to respond effectively when Hurricane Gustav makes landfall.
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) requests for feeding capacity has now doubled from 310,000 meals per day to more than 600,000 as the Gulf Coast braces for the possibility of a Category 4 Gustav. Some 113 of 115 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief feeding units have been put on alert to mobilize along the Gulf Coast states a day or two in the wake of hurricane landfall. Several larger shelters are at ready in Texas where four Texas Baptist Men Disaster Relief feeding units have deployed. Other sites will be determined as landfall nears.
World Vision, an international Christian relief and development agency, has readied emergency supplies in Picayune, Mississippi, with several truckloads of additional goods on standby in Dallas, Los Angeles and other U.S. locations. The organization's domestic disaster response teams are also on full alert today, with expert staff prepared to deploy from around the country early next week should Hurricane Gustav prove destructive.
Posted on: Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ 03:55 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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BWW Twitter
 BroadwayWorld.com's offered a stripped down version of the site for wireless browsers and devices since year one. (It helped that I had a day job at the time AND one of the original Blackberry devices!). We're now proud to offer one of the latest wireless services, adding a BroadwayWorld.com Twitter feed! Subscribing will get the latest top stories (only the major news folks!) sent straight to the device of your choosing.
Twitter, is a "micro-blogging service" for which you can sign up to receive updates via their web site, instant messaging, SMS, RSS, email, facebook, etc...
For more information on Twitter itself, click here.
For BroadwayWorld.com's brand new feed, click here!
Posted on: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 @ 09:02 AM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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Sondheim Writes in to the NY Times
 Composer / lyricist extraordinaire Stephen Sondheim wrote in to the Sunday NY Times in respose to Off the Stage, What's Behind the Music, written by Susan Elliott on August 13, 2008. The original article discusses some of the "unseen heroes" of the musical theatre world, the orchestrators. Mentioning orchestrators from Russell Bennett (South Pacific) to Sim Ramin (Gypsy) to Doug Besterman (Young Frankenstein) to Bill Sherman and Alex Lacamoire (In the Heights).
 In his letter to the editor, available here, Sondheim takes umbrage at instances where orchestrators get TOO much credit, including the occasional insinuations that some of their work can cross the line into composition. He also takes on the downsizing of orchestras, noting that he "deplores" them, but does "understand the economics."
About credit given to Jason Carr, who won the Drama Desk Award for the orchestrations of the most recent Sunday in the Park with George, he writes
"As for Jason Carr, who won the Drama Desk Award for his deft reduction of Michael Starobin's thrilling 11-player orchestration to an ensemble of five, I'm happy for him, but the atmosphere and most of the extra instrumental lines and decorations were still Michael's. Six-elevenths of the award, at the very least, belong to him"
Well worth reading.
Posted on: Saturday, August 23, 2008 @ 05:28 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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The Buzz on SHREK
 So far the buzz on SHREK, which just began its out of town tryout (on August 14th) at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle is quite good. The show plays out there through September 21st, before heading to Broadway to begin previews on November 8, opening on December 14th.
Early reports on the show, some of which you can read right here on BroadwayWorld.com's Message Boards are as positive as they get these days (naturally, keeping in mind, that the show *IS* in tryout mode where anything can change on a daily basis - the whole point of an out of town tryout).
Even Michael Riedel has a hard time trying to find ways to knock the show in today's NY Post - and if that doesn't tell you a lot, I don't know what does! I do agree with him though that Neil Diamond's "I'm A Believer" will be missed - how could it not be?
Also check out a video from Seatle's Evening Magazine, welcoming the cast to Seattle. That lovable ogre is looking good (and reminding me of how I look in the morning pre-coffee).
Posted on: Wednesday, August 20, 2008 @ 08:50 AM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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Bryan Batt Interviewed About MAD MEN and More
Here's today's second entry about a talented Broadway thesp currently enjoying well-deserved success on the small screen. BroadwayWorld.com fave, and Broadway vet (La Cage aux Folles, Seussical, Saturday Night Fever, The Scarlett Pimpernel, Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Starlight Express and Cats) Bryan Batt was interviewed this morning by the CW11 news about his character on the show.
On the show, Bryan plays Salvatore Romano, the Art Director of the show's agency. Mad Men airs on AMC Sunday nights at 10pm. Click here to visit the show's official web site.
For more on the uber-talented Batt, visit his official web site here.
Posted on: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 @ 06:10 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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Kristin Chenoweth, Ellen Greene and Pushing Daisies
In a fun red carpet clip on ABC.com, PUSHING DAISIES stars Kristin Chenoweth and Ellen Greene talk about their excitement for the upcoming season of the Emmy nominated show. Click here to watch the video. If you haven't seen the show itself, you can catch up with full episodes online @ ABC.com. The next season premieres on Wednesday, October 1st at 8pm EST.
And ladies, Broadway misses you both.
For those not familiar with the show....
Grown up Ned (Lee Pace) puts his talent to good use by touching dead fruit and making it ripe with everlasting flavor. He opens a pie shop. But his gift leaves him wary of becoming close to anyone, as beautiful waitress Olive Snook (Kristin Chenoweth) finds out. His life as a pie maker gets more complicated when private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride) finds out about Ned's secret. Emerson convinces the cash-strapped Ned to help him solve murder cases (and collect the hefty reward fees) by raising the dead and getting them to name their killers.
Then Ned is handed the case that changes his life forever. His childhood sweetheart, Charlotte "Chuck" Charles (Anna Friel), is murdered on a cruise ship under strange circumstances. Her death brings him back to his hometown of Coeur d' Coeurs to bring Chuck back to life, albeit briefly, and solve the crime. But once reunited with Chuck, Ned can't bring himself to send her back. He helps her escape after her grieving aunts, Lily and Vivian (Swoosie Kurtz, Ellen Greene), former synchronized swimmers Darling Mermaid Darlings, think they've buried her forever.
Chuck becomes the third partner in Ned and Emerson's PI enterprise, but she encourages them to use their skills for good, not just for profit. Ned is overjoyed to be reunited with Chuck, the only girl he's ever loved. Life would be perfect, except for one cruel twist -- if he ever touches her again, she'll go back to being dead, this time for good.
Posted on: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 @ 01:08 PM Posted by: Robert Diamond |
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Light My Candle from Rent on 1996 Original Broadway Cast - Act I.
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Call Me When The Understudy’s On
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'A Man for All Seasons' Review Roundup
