Based on The Aviator by James Montgomery
America's Old Time Country Music Hall of Fame was established in 1976.' says Bob Everhart, the Director of the National Traditional Country Music Association, who was there when it started. 'We've been doing this for 36 years now. Doing it from the middle of a cornfield in the middle of Iowa, perhaps the most rural of all the States. Country music came from the country.
Today we lost one of the greats: the gentle giant of directors, Sidney Lumet. What a resume! Just to pick seven of perhaps the best known of the bunch, the bunch in question being over 100 titles strong: 12 ANGRY MEN, LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT, SERPICO, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK and BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD - the films spanning fifty years from MEN in 1957 and DEVIL in 2007 - it is clear to see why Lumet was one of the most cherished and celebrated directors in Hollywood, especially known for his tough, gritty New York stories and his pristine stage-to-screen transfers. For an excellent example of the latter (in addition to LONG DAY'S JOURNEY and the others) check out DEATHTRAP - based on Ira Levin's play, the longest-running thriller in Broadway history - featuring Michael Caine in one of his best roles and Christopher Reeve and Dyan Cannon in their finest performances on film. For an example of the former genre, look no further than NETWORK, containing one of the strongest screenplays ever penned, from the fiery and ferocious pen of Paddy Cheyefsky, and Faye Dunaway in her Oscar-winning performance for all the ages. As far as theatrical screenplays on screen, Lumet would be hard-pressed to even come close to the power, prescience and transformative brilliance at the core of the conceit of that film - yet he did just that; with his final, 2007 film no less. I am speaking, of course, of the underrated and riveting BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU'RE DEAD starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, with Albert Finney and Rosemary Harris. Taking an original screenplay that could just as well have been written for the stage - shades of 12 ANGRY MEN, DOG DAY AFTERNOON, NETWORK and SERPICO, certainly - Lumet made a bristling, biting brilliant work of staggering craft and ingenuity - all with verve, energy and drive of a man a quarter of his age at the time (80). His films were classics in his own time and, now, in his passing, they are just as timeless - if not more so. With each passing year, new layers of truth, beauty, sadness and soulfulness can be found in the countless frames in the innumerable unforgettable scenes in his many masterpieces.
On this very day in 1943, Michael DiFiglia was born in Buffalo, New York, and the world of Broadway would simply never be the same. Cutting his teeth with the accomplished choreography for A JOYFUL NOISE, PROMISES, PROMISES, SEESAW and COCO was merely the beginning of a career that would virtually rewrite and revolutionize the ways and means by which a director could yield ultimate control over a project. With COMPANY and FOLLIES, the later co-directing with Hal Prince, Bennett solidified himself as one of the most talented and brilliant choreographers of his generation and, shortly thereafter, proved with A CHORUS LINE that he was a master theatrical engineer with few, if any, peers. Worldwide success, Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize were just the gravy. Who else but Michael Bennett would then, or ever, receive - or should I say, earn - the credit "Entire Production Conceived, Produced and Directed by," besides him? While BALLROOM failed to live up to A CHORUS LINE in mostly every way, he soon after reinvented the wheel yet again with DREAMGIRLS in 1981. We never got to see his productions of CHESS and SCANDAL, both of which he was in the latter stages of developing at the time of his death in 1988. Broadway has never been the same since he's been gone. So, today, on the day following a glittering new production of COMPANY at Lincoln Center - with the complete dance sequence "Tick Tock" fully restored, now with five dancers - we take a tip of the top hat to the tops in taps, temerity and truthfulness onstage - the one and only Michael Bennett.
Frankie Valli…A true American pop music icon. His incredible career as a solo artist and with the Four Seasons has produced 19 top ten hits and sold over 100 million records worldwide.
One of my favorite mom friends just took her three boys to see their first Broadway show and was kind enough to write about the experience. I hope this account brings back memories of your 'first' as it did for me. (Peter Pan with Sandy Duncan circa 1980). Thanks, Julie, for your contribution to BWW Jr.
The Paramount Theatre and Aurora Civic Center Authority announced today the appointment of Jim Corti, the celebrated Chicago director, choreographer and Broadway actor as the first-ever Artistic Director in the Paramount Theatre's 80-year history.
Frankie Valli…A true American pop music icon. His incredible career as a solo artist and with the Four Seasons has produced 19 top ten hits and sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced the complete schedule for the screenings and programs that will celebrate the grand re-opening of America's only museum dedicated to film, television, and digital media.
2010 was a year filled with all sorts of exciting BroadwayWorld interviews - here's some of this year's highlights!
Rochelle Slovin, Director of Museum of the Moving Image, today announced the complete schedule for the screenings and programs that will celebrate the grand re-opening of America's only museum dedicated to film, television, and digital media.
Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the full company of the new Broadway production of Anything Goes, starring Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as 'Reno Sweeney' and Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey as 'Moonface Martin.'
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is located at 237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) New York, NY 10036
NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree once again with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City on Tuesday, November 30 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT). The star-studded holiday special will feature performances by Boyz II Men, Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Charice, Sheryl Crow, Jackie Evancho, Josh Groban, Katherine Jenkins, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson and The Radio City Rockettes with a mix of current hits and holiday classics.The 78th annual holiday extravaganza will feature a tree that is 74 feet high, 40 feet in diameter and weighs a whopping 12 tons.
NBC will celebrate the lighting of the world's most famous Christmas tree once again with a live broadcast from Rockefeller Center in New York City on Tuesday, November 30 (8-9 p.m. ET/PT). The star-studded holiday special will feature performances by Boyz II Men, Susan Boyle, Mariah Carey, Charice, Sheryl Crow, Jackie Evancho, Josh Groban, Katherine Jenkins, Annie Lennox, Kylie Minogue, Jessica Simpson and The Radio City Rockettes with a mix of current hits and holiday classics.The 78th annual holiday extravaganza will feature a tree that is 74 feet high, 40 feet in diameter and weighs a whopping 12 tons.
THE PEARL THEATRE COMPANY (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director; Shira Beckerman, Managing Director) proudly presents Henrik Ibsen's passionate and haunting ROSMERSHOLM, adapted by Mike Poulton.
THE PEARL THEATRE COMPANY (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director; Shira Beckerman, Managing Director) proudly presents Henrik Ibsen's passionate and haunting ROSMERSHOLM, adapted by Mike Poulton.
THE PEARL THEATRE COMPANY (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director; Shira Beckerman, Managing Director) proudly presents Henrik Ibsen's passionate and haunting ROSMERSHOLM, adapted by Mike Poulton.
Shawn Wright recently wrapped two years in Toronto's JERSEY BOYS and is currently in London Ontario celebrating the genius of Stephen Sondheim in SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM on stage until Nov 6th 2010 at The Grand. The show also kicked off the 2010-2011 Mainstage Season for The Grand. Shawn spoke with BWW about his career, the show, and of course, Sondheim.
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is located at 237 West 42nd Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) New York, NY 10036
THE PEARL THEATRE COMPANY (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director; Shira Beckerman, Managing Director) proudly presents Henrik Ibsen's passionate and haunting ROSMERSHOLM, adapted by Mike Poulton.
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, under the leadership of Executive Director Stacie Burgua, launches its 2010-2011 Season with The Bad Horse Project featuring Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling October 15 - 30, 2010.
The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is San Francisco's premiere nightclub, offering the finest in world-class Cabaret, Jazz, Comedy and Popular music entertainment.
Whidbey Island Center for the Arts, under the leadership of Executive Director Stacie Burgua, launches its 2010-2011 Season with The Bad Horse Project featuring Joss Whedon's Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Once More, With Feeling October 15 - 30, 2010.
THE PEARL THEATRE COMPANY (J.R. Sullivan, Artistic Director; Shira Beckerman, Managing Director) proudly presents Henrik Ibsen's passionate and haunting ROSMERSHOLM, adapted by Mike Poulton.
Popular TV/ film/Broadway actor Monte Markham will play Antony in a scene from Antony and Cleopatra for CART (California Artists Radio Theatre) on October 9 at the Beverly Garland Hotel in NoHo at 1:30 pm. Markham is well known to TV/film audiences for his consistent work in TV series, MOWs and theatrical movies for the last 50 years. He is also producer/director of a series of acclaimed documentaries which have changed the face of Cable TV, since before the History Channel began. He started his Broadway career in 1973 co-starring in song and dance with Debbie Reynolds in the musical Irene, for which he won the prestigious Theatre World Award. In our interview he concentrates on his roots in and passion for theatre, and may I add with tremendous intelligence, wit and integrity.
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