Today we are talking to a two-time Tony Award winning lyricist and book writer who was responsible for the 2010 Best Musical winner, MEMPHIS, and who has since written the libretto of the Gershwin revue NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET and received a well-earned Tony nomination for his efforts; one of the show's ten nods - Joe DiPietro. In this concluding portion of our conversation, DiPietro and I break down the process of creating NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT and he comments on the starry cast - including Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, Judy Kaye and Estelle Parsons - and the process of collaboration in bringing the 2012 Tony Awards top nominee to the Broadway stage. Additionally, DiPietro fills us in on the future for THE TOXIC AVENGER and its tentative Broadway plans, as well as the upcoming West End mountings of MEMPHIS and, hopefully, NICE WORK - and, a look ahead to his next David Bryan collaboration, CHASING THE SONG, as well. Plus, a glance back at his work on I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE, F*CKING MEN and ALLEGRO and his favorite current pop acts.
Today we are talking to a two-time Tony Award winning lyricist and book writer who was responsible for the 2010 Best Musical winner, MEMPHIS, and who has since written the libretto of the Gershwin revue NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET and received a well-earned Tony nomination for his efforts; one of the show's ten nods - Joe DiPietro. Discussing the finer points of his many musicals with a special focus on the two currently running on Broadway - MEMPHIS and NICE WORK - DiPietro eloquently elaborates on the process of creating both shows and the challenges new musicals these days face on their developmental road to Broadway. Additionally, we discuss Montego Glover, Chad Kimball, Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, Judy Kaye, Adam Pascal and the many other talented individuals onstage and off who have participated in the two hit productions treading the boards eight times a week. Besides the complete 411 on MEMPHIS in Part I and NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT in Part II, DiPietro also opens up about his new musical endeavor with Bon Jovi and MEMPHIS composer David Bryan, THE TOXIC AVENGER, and its star, Constantine Maroulis - and don't miss my exclusive interview with Constantine all about the most recent Alley Theater iteration of the show, available here. Plus, DiPietro shares fond remembrances of shows past - I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, F*CKING MEN and ALLEGRO - and future - CHASING THE DREAM - and expresses his infectious enthusiasm for the theatrical arts in general by revealing his early theatre memories, favorite scores and general love for the art form. All of that and much, much more! In Part I, DiPietro and I analyze MEMPHIS and take a step-by-step look at its creation and the development of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical. Additionally, DiPietro shares his theatrical influences and the shows and scores that meant the most to him growing up. Plus, he shares his thoughts on GLEE, SMASH and the new movie musical era.
Last night, Broadway veteran Taye Diggs brought his mom to MEMPHIS to see friend Adam Pascal play 'Huey Calhoun'. Check out photos of Diggs with the cast below!
On May 15, the first National Tour of the Tony Award-Winning MEMPHIS arrives in Dallas to stay until May 27. The company just released a promotional video in preparation for the upcoming performances in Texas, which features Bryan Fenkart, Felicia Boswell, and an amazing ensemble of singers and dancers.
Mary Kay Yezerski-Bondoc, of the MEMPHIS wig department, recently did an eight-step video about how to properly take curlers out of a wig and style it. Additionally, this video gives a glimpse at the astounding number of wigs used in the show.
While it may look through its world through "rose colored glasses", MEMPHIS celebrates a time when race music was beginning to catch on with a white, mostly teenaged audience. It's a crackling, amusing, and fast-paced show (book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music and lyrics by David Bryan) that takes you on a musical journey through the eyes of young Huey, a wannabe DJ, who gets his wish, and may get his girl, if they can survive the glare of the fifties, when mixing of the races was against the law. Does this all sound heavy? Well it's not, not by a long shot. Instead, it's a bouncy and bluesy production that's easy to take and listen to. It's currently playing the Fox Theatre (through May 13, 2012), and there's a reason this show is so successful, it's just edgy enough to appeal to the jaded, and it lightens the tone of this historical racist behavior just enough to succeed with the masses.
Joe DiPietro, Best Book of a Musical for NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
'I gotta say, I'm a kid at heart with this stuff so hearing about my Tony nomination and 10 for the show just makes me feel about 12 years old again! It was thrilling morning. This afternoon I have a work session with my writing partner David Bryan, so that to me is celebration - getting to work on the next on! These nominations are a testament to Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara and all of the hard work everyone has put into the show.'
Bryan Fenkart, the star of the MEMPHIS tour, recently visited Schenectady and discussed his role as Huey. In this video, he shares how fun but tiring each performance is, how many cups of coffee he consumes, and racial inequality in the '50s.
California Musical Theatre announces the 2012-13 Broadway Sacramento season at Community Center Theater, featuring Tony Award-winning new Broadway musicals as well as heart-warming family favorites. Memphis, which won four 2010 Tony Awards and is still playing on Broadway, kicks off the season, followed by Peter Pan, starring Cathy Rigby, Rock of Ages, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, and multi-Tony Award winner Billy Elliot the Musical. The final show of the season is a Broadway Mega-Hit that can't be revealed until August due to contractual obligations. That show is a brand new production of one of the most beloved and popular Broadway musicals ever, and has been highly praised by critics and audiences alike throughout its wildly successful tour.
Bryan Fenkart, the star of the MEMPHIS National Tour, recently stopped off at a Baltimore TV show to talk about the significance of MEMPHIS today, how it reflects true radio history, how he prepares for shows, and more.
At last night's performance, April 4, the cast of MEMPHIS was treated to a special guest in Oprah Winfrey, along with students from her Leadership Academy for Girls in South Africa. After taking in the show, Oprah and the group greeted stars Adam Pascal, Montego Glover, and more backstage. Check out photos from the visit below!
Broadway San Jose, A Nederlander Presentation in association with Team San Jose, has announced its 2012-2013 Season, which includes the Bay Area Premiere of the Tony Award Winning MEMPHIS! The season also includes South Bay debuts of ROCK OF AGES, Tony Award-Winning BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL and GREEN DAY'S AMERICAN IDIOT. Also in the season are family favorites CATHY RIGBY as PETER PAN and BLUE MAN GROUP. Broadway San Jose's 2012-2013 Season begins October 23, 2012 at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts.
For the first time in 5 years, RENT alums, Daphne Rubin-Vega (soon starring in A Streetcar Named Desire) and Adam Pascal (now starring in Memphis'), reunited on television live. On this morning's episode, Adam and Daphne recalled their days in RENT and discussed their current projects on VH1's live, morning talk show 'Big Morning Buzz Live'.
Click below to check out their appearance!
J.L. "Lynn" Singleton, President of the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC), is pleased to announce PPAC's 35th Anniversary Broadway Season and welcomes Taco/The White Family Foundation as the NEW Broadway Series sponsor. The seven-show 2012/2013 Taco/The White Family Foundation Broadway Series includes the launch of the national tours of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN and ELF, along with MEMPHIS, JEKYLL & HYDE, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, SISTER ACT, and WAR HORSE.
