Blast! is a Broadway production created by James Mason for Cook Group Incorporated, the director and organization formerly operating the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps. It was the 2001 Winner of the Tony Award for "Best Special Theatrical Event" and also won the 2001 Emmy Award for "Best Choreography".
When a big Broadway star like Bernadette Peters makes her way onto a national TV program, Broadway babies await it with abated breath. Yet, when a big Broadway star like Bernadette Peters appears on an actual musical TV series like SMASH, Broadway babies have reason to throw an all-out bacchanal - and, last night, they most certainly had a reason cause celebre. While GLEE has spoiled us with a plethora of guest stars from Broadway and Hollywood over the course of its three seasons - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Carol Burnett and Patti LuPone among them - the presence of two-time Tony Award-winner Peters - to say nothing of the forthcoming appearances by Norbert Leo Butz and Marc Kudisch - is a gift from the theatrical gods that instantly makes SMASH must-see-TV for the theatrically attuned among us (which, let's be honest, is most of us). Playing Ivy Lynn's blithely selfish and calculating former star of a mother, Leigh, Peters wrought every last ounce of bravado out of her bravura performance recreation of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from GYPSY - a show she famously starred in under the direction of Sam Mendes earlier this century - and made her thorny scenes with Megan Hilty blossom; her overall star turn giving the entire affair a cold, brusque but all-too-believable bloom - ice in veins all too tangibly real to feel. The tension was certainly thick for the first workshop performance of the show-within-the-show on SMASH, as well, but Hilty still managed to set fire to her scenes and songs - and McPhee shows considerable promise with her burgeoning pop music career (and next week's Ryan Tedder-composed "Touch Me" sequence seems certain to deliver on the sultry, sexy siren of song front as McPhee comes closer to getting the role of Marilyn). And, speaking of songs knocked out of the park for the umpteenth time by this all-star musical team responsible for SMASH, besides the slowed down grand slam ballad version of "Let Me Be Your Star" - given a bluesy Broadway belt only the very best, like Hilty, could possibly provide - we were also treated to a striking and wholly stylistically unique new Marilyn Monroe/Joe DiMaggio song in the form of the arresting "On Lexington & 52nd Street", another homerun to tick off on the perfect scorecard for songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman on SMASH so far; Will Chase's best (and, apparently, last) showcase. Film noir with a pulsating, almost atonal, steely and terse tinge, this is the sort of character number that seamlessly presents plot development and character exposition simultaneously in a purely, thrillingly theatrical manner and the type of dramatic and musical merging of storytelling SMASH excels at most of all, time after time after time after time. While "Everything's Coming Up Roses" was a strong cover of a classic Broadway barn-burner on account of Peters, "On Lexington & 52nd Street" expertly showcased the type of entertainment entity SMASH can ultimately be at its very best, firing on all axels - and how utterly enthralling in its layers of meta-narratives the real-life/showbiz soap saga that make it all come together it can fascinatingly be. Additionally, the workshop musical montage was the best example yet of how excitingly combustible and hot SMASH can really be when the boiler at its core is at full blast as it was sporadically last night in the appropriately titled "The Workshop" episode - almost always fueled by the simply spectacular songs for the show-within-the-show.
From start to finish, "blast" consists of creative, high energy routines that make every number equally mind-blowing. After an amazing opening act that boasts impressive choreography, the multi-tasking continues. I've always wondered how actors manage to burst into song after a long dance number, and a recent Broadway revival of Sondheim's "Sweeney Todd" captured my loyalty with its actors who both sang and played instruments. In comparison, "blast" surpassed all favorites. As I sat in my seat at Three Stages at Folsom Lake College on Sunday, the spectacular show blast me away. You might expect such strong offerings from the big opening number or bombastic finale to a show, but with "blast," every number is its own finale.
Winner of both Tony and Emmy Awards, BLAST! brings together 35 brass, percussion and visual performers in a unique explosion of music and theatre. Born on athletic fields across the nation, BLAST! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry and the energy of a world-class marching band. The performance is sponsored by Comstock Mortgage.
Winner of both Tony and Emmy Awards, BLAST! brings together 35 brass, percussion and visual performers in a unique explosion of music and theatre. Born on athletic fields across the nation, BLAST! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry and the energy of a world-class marching band. The performance is sponsored by Comstock Mortgage.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems.
Today we bring you a look at Jeremy Irons once upon a time. The international start of the big and small screen is also the Tony winning performer from The Real Thing and also starred on Broadway in Impressionism.
AMERICAN IDIOT is an absolute blast, a musical filled with energy and exuberance, both evidenced in the music and in the performances. There will surely come a time when it's considered a period piece, since it does take place in the recent past, focusing on the last Bush presidency and the wars on terror at home and abroad that consumed it. But it's still timely at this point, because people are still fighting overseas, and a lot of the same social and political issues remain unresolved. It's essentially Green Day lead singer/guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong's vision filtered through director Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening), who cut a lot of the book they wrote together to make this more of sung-through musical experience. This focuses our attention on Armstrong's lyrics, and they're strong and pointed enough to make this approach work like a charm. And, like Spring Awakening, the band is on stage and the lighting is positively eye-popping.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems.
Today, we bring you Tony-winner Jane Alexander, who starred in over a dozen Broadway shows including Honour, The Sisters Rosensweig, The Night of the Iguana, The First Monday in October, Find Your Way Home, 6 Rms Riv Vu, The Great White Hope and more. Alexander also served as Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts from 1993 to 1997.
Misshapen Theatre presents a show like no other - an evening of science fiction and fantasy theatre.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. Today, we bring you Karen Akers, who starred on Broadway in the original productions of Grand Hotel and Nine. Check her out in 1984 below!
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. Check out Phyllis Hyman (Sophisticated Ladies, 1981) - once upon a time!
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems.
We kicked off the series last week with Tim Curry, who starred in the 1982 Broadway production of Amadeus. Today, we bring you this risque shot of former Will & Grace costars Megan Mulally, Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems.
Previously, we've run columns with Tim Curry, former Will & Grace costars Megan Mullally, Sean Hayes and Eric McCormack, Sandra Bernhard, Barry Bostwick, and Patrick Cassidy. Today, take a walk down memory lane with this photo of a young Christina Aguilera.
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. This time, it's Barry Bostwick, who starred on Broadway in Nick & Nora (1991), The Robber Bridegroom (1976), They Knew What They Wanted (1976), Grease (1972), Soon (1971), Hamlet (1969), and Cock-A-Doodle Dandy (1969).
Welcome to BroadwayWorld.com's newest photo series 'Photo Blast From the Past'. Featuring some of the collected theatre gem's of BroadwayWorld's own senior photographer Walter McBride, the series will feature images from his archives of theatre and Hollywood related gems. Today, we bring you vintage Sandra Bernhard, who starred on Broadway in her own solo comedy show, I'm Still Here...Damn It! (1998).
Winner of both Tony and Emmy Awards, BLAST! brings together 35 brass, percussion and visual performers in a unique explosion of music and theatre. Born on athletic fields across the nation, BLAST! is a novel art form evolved from the showmanship of outdoor pageantry and the energy of a world-class marching band. The performance is sponsored by Comstock Mortgage.
Les Miserables will hit the big screen later this year, featuring an all-star cast including Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe tasJavert, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier, the opera-trained Mamma Mia! film star Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and Samantha Barks as Eponine.
Interested in a blast from the past? Check out this old ad from the early 1990s when the first plans to adapt the musical for the screen materialized .
First up is Tim Curry at the stage door of Broadway's Amadeus in 1982. Curry played Mozart in the production, which opened in 1980 opposite Ian McKellen as Salieri and Jane Seymour as Constanze.
Misshapen Theatre presents a show like no other - an evening of science fiction and fantasy theatre.
The young performers in Entr'Acte Theatrix' upcoming production of Godspell are hard at work preparing for their January 12th opening night at the Borland Center, but no one is complaining! In fact, the actors and the production crew are all having a blast. 'This show has made me remember how important it is to have fun not just in work, but in life,' enthuses Juan Gonzalez Machain, who plays Jesus in the show.
The young performers in Entr'Acte Theatrix' upcoming production of Godspell are hard at work preparing for their January 12th opening night at the Borland Center, but no one is complaining! In fact, the actors and the production crew are all having a blast. 'This show has made me remember how important it is to have fun not just in work, but in life,' enthuses Juan Gonzalez Machain, who plays Jesus in the show.
The young performers in Entr'Acte Theatrix' upcoming production of Godspell are hard at work preparing for their January 12th opening night at the Borland Center, but no one is complaining! In fact, the actors and the production crew are all having a blast. 'This show has made me remember how important it is to have fun not just in work, but in life,' enthuses Juan Gonzalez Machain, who plays Jesus in the show.
The drama is crazy high at McKinley High, Gleeks. Between the presidential race and Santana's sexuality being put on blast, and upcoming Sectionals - it's getting real!
Finn saves Santana from being suspended for two weeks - which would ultimately make her unable to compete in Sectionals, but there's a catch - a group assignment between the Troubletones and New Directions. Rachel worries about Kurt's future with the election on the horizon and the results looking more and more in Brittany's favor. Finn comes up with a lesson on Lady Music - songs by ladies for ladies, which are kicked off by Kurt and Blaine dedicating "Perfect" by Pink to Santana, who is less than enthused by the whole thing.
Summer is officially over, but that doesn't mean the end of independent events from Rooftop Films. Next Tuesday, October 11th, Rooftop Films, New York Magazine and the Andaz Salon Series will present an exclusive FREE screening of Joshua Gross' debut Feature, World's Best Dad. Enjoy complimentary snacks and spirits and join brothers Miles and Matt as they ride across America on a mission to steal their dead father's remains, build a home-made rocket, travel to the Nevada desert and blast his ashes into space.
Summer is officially over, but that doesn't mean the end of independent events from Rooftop Films. Next Tuesday, October 11th, Rooftop Films, New York Magazine and the Andaz Salon Series will present an exclusive FREE screening of Joshua Gross' debut Feature, World's Best Dad. Enjoy complimentary snacks and spirits and join brothers Miles and Matt as they ride across America on a mission to steal their dead father's remains, build a home-made rocket, travel to the Nevada desert and blast his ashes into space.
This week I had my first experience with the joyful adult visual fantasia known as Arias With A Twist; a madcap collaboration between puppeteer/designer/director Basil Twist and cross-dressing chanteuse Joey Arias that first hit town three years ago. It's an eye-popping blast.
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