Cyril Ritchard News

Two classic theatrical telecasts make their Blu-ray debut!

The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, is proud to present Broadway's timeless musical Peter Pan directed by Michael Schwartz for its 102nd  season in May and June of 2015.  

Casting is complete for the Mountain Play's 2015 production of Peter Pan, which will fly over the San Francisco Bay Area May 24 - June 21, 2015. For full details visit www.mountainplay.org

Having witnessed the stultifying, bloated NBC production of PETER PAN LIVE (what were the 'powers that be' thinking would hold a child's attention span for three hours, however padded with yet more Peter Pan plugs from Walmart?), I was reluctant to attend Playhouse on the Square's annual production of the James Barrie children's classic. I am probably one of the handful of reviewers to recall the 1955 NBC production (and later one as well) with the legendary pairing of Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard (whose fruity, overly ripe 'Captain Hook' would make Johnny Depp's 'Jack Sparrow' seem more like a white collar executive). As an IPad-free child inured to black and white fare, it hardly mattered that Mary Martin was, to put it politely, mature; that the production values were clunky; that the wires and 'Tinker' herself were glaringly apparent. In short, I was captivated. Yet, Martin possessed the kind of spunk and spontaneity that made us children believe (not to mention that she had the kind of singing voice that made her a legendary Broadway performer, as evidenced by SOUTH PACIFIC and SOUND OF MUSIC). She could make a child want to fly. Allison Williams, last evening's 'Peter,' lacked that optimistic boyishness (though she had the tomboyish Hilary Swank look 'nailed') and, despite having a pleasant enough voice, often seemed out of breath; but Chrisopher Walken, whom I like and who I initially thought would be inspired casting, seemed to have wandered in from a cocktail party hosted by zombies. His dancing made that of the Monster in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN seem as nimble as that of Fred Astaire. Despite the wonderful lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and despite the 'ear candy' musical score by Mark Charlalp and Jule Stein, those long, middle stretches in Neverland made me wonder if it would Neverend.

Pirates! Crocodiles! Mermaids! Magic! Relive all of the heavenly high-flying highlights of last night's PETER PAN LIVE!

VH1.com just unveiled a PETER PAN 'oral history' piece featuring interviews with original players Cathy Rigby, Sandy Duncan, Sondra Lee, Heller Halliday and more chatting about their part in the musical's legacy, their thoughts on NBC's upcoming live production and more.

Reserve your copy of the PETER PAN LIVE! soundtrack now!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Grinch' opens, Fox Valley bookends Christmas, new shows 'A Christmas Memory' and 'Christmas On The Air,' 'It's A Wonderful Life' times three, plus 'Nutcracker,' 'Nut Cracking,' 'Mary Poppins' and the latest on 'Peter Pan Live!'

Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.

The Alden in McLean will launch its 2014-2015 Classics of the Silent Screen series with a little-known silent film by 'Master of Suspense' Alfred Hitchcock. 'Blackmail' will be shown at 7:30 p.m. tonight, Oct. 22. Tickets are $12, $8 for Dranesville Small District 1A residents. The Alden is located inside the McLean Community Center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

The Mountain Play - 'A Great Outdoor Theatre Adventure' and the San Francisco Bay Area's most magical outdoor theater experience, is proud to present Broadway's timeless musical Peter Pan directed by Michael Schwartz for its 102nd season in 2015.

The Alden in McLean will launch its 2014-2015 Classics of the Silent Screen series with a little-known silent film by 'Master of Suspense' Alfred Hitchcock. 'Blackmail' will be shown at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 22. Tickets are $12, $8 for Dranesville Small District 1A residents. The Alden is located inside the McLean Community Center at 1234 Ingleside Avenue.

Today, Peter Pan producer Neil Meron has confirmed the news on Twitter, posting last night: 'welcome to #PeterPanLive Christian Borle @craigzadan @nbc http://www'

Deadline writes that stage and screen star Christian Borle is in final talks to join NBC's PETER PAN LIVE as 'Smee' and 'Mr. Darling'. Borle will return for the network special from executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron on December 4, following his role as 'Max' in last year's THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE.

It seems that Jesse Tyler Ferguson hopes to be a movie musical star in the near future. The Broadway vet and Modern Family star recently posted a video of his PETER PAN, LIVE! audition, via Instagram.

'Girls' star and classically trained singer Allison Williams has been cast as the iconic title character in NBC's Dec. 4 telecast of 'Peter Pan Live!'

The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse presents PETER PAN the high-flying Broadway musical with music by Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolf Green.

Chambersburg Community Theatre stages a lavish and lush PETER PAN. Hurry now to rescue Tinkerbell.

Brochu won multiple awards for 'Zero Hour' and returned this year with an autobiographical tribute to character actors, 'Character Man'.

As the result of her recent successful appearances at the Metropolitan Room, singer Peggy King will be joined by the entire All-Star Jazz Trio for her next show on Tuesday, April 29 at 7 PM. The award-winning group consists of Andy Kahn on piano, Bruce Klauber on drums and Bruce Kaminsky on drums and they have been performing with King for the past year, but this will mark their debut at the Metropolitan Room.