Yesterday, I had the exceptional privilege of conducting an InDepth InterView with legendary Oscar-winning Hollywood and Broadway legend Julie Andrews, star of films like MARY POPPINS, THE SOUND OF MUSIC; original TV musicals like Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA; and stage shows like the original productions of MY FAIR LADY, CAMELOT and VICTOR/VICTORIA. In our exclusive conversation we discussed everything from her favorite cast albums and theatre scores to working with Robert Wise on THE SOUND OF MUSIC and STAR! to ENCHANTED, THE PRINCESS DIARIES, SHREK and this summer's smash-hit Pharrell Williams/Neptunes-composed animated musical DESPICABLE ME. We also discuss plans for a US tour and the resounding success of her children's book series - even after all these years she still was at the top of the book charts and featured in the top movie of the week last week! Additionally, We also discuss her opinions on co-stars Russell Brand and Steve Carell, rock music in the theatre, GLEE, the Obamas, Sondheim, the Tony Awards and much more. Here is much more than a mere spoonful of the endless vat of sweetness - as well as generosity, beauty, elegance and class - that defines Ms. Julie Andrews.
On the evening of July 12, Jim Caruso's Cast Party was the place to be if you love seeing the most varied, extreme open mic in town! The First Lady of the British Musical Theatre, Elaine Paige, dropped in to see what all the hubbub was about, after hearing about the Birdland mainstay for the past seven years.
This week, we are taking a listen to two wonderful West End-related winners featuring the stars of two witch-related West End musicals - THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK and WICKED - courtesy of SimG Records: Caroline Sheen's RAISE THE CURTAIN and Annalene Beechey's CLOSE YOUR EYES. These two delicious divas-in-training have proven that they have the talent, skill and technique to entertain us for many years to come onstage, but just how well do their first solo album efforts showcase their considerable abilities? Singing everything from Sondheim, William Finn and Stephen Schwartz to Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown, David Yazbeck and Stiles & Drewe, as well as some Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman thrown in for good measure, there's surely enough to satisfy all with much more than mere morsels to enjoy. All of this appreciable merriment (and even a small sampling of 'Away In A Manger' courtesy of Mitchell) and formidable entertainment comes with mostly unadorned accompaniment, as well, giving these ladies a true chance to shine their clearest and brightest in a solo spotlight all their own!
The Tony-winning star of MISS SAIGON, Lea Salonga, will play the role of the Glamour Cat Grizabella in the international touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical CATS NOW AND FOREVER running on a limited engagement at the Tanghalang Nicanor Abelardo, Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP)from July 24 to August 15, 2010.
Last weekend, I had the exceptional privilege of conducting an InDepth InterView with 2010 Tony-winning Best Featured Actress In A Play: the luminous and winsomely witty film and stage star Scarlett Johannson. We talked about her work in the theatre on this year's highly-praised revival of Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, as well as her feelings on musicals, Stephen Sondheim, and growing up in New York, which then veered off into a considerable discussion of her film work and working with actors like Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr. and Penelope Cruz, as well as directors like Woody Allen and Christopher Nolan. Additionally, we discussed her love of musicals, her favorite shows, scores and cast albums, singing showtunes with Hugh Jackman, her thoughts on a Woody Allen musical, what Sondheim roles she would like to play, GLEE, and, of course, a detailed and descriptive discussion of the entire process of bringing BRIDGE to the stage. This is the complete InDepth InterView you have all been waiting for - of course, two sneek peek samples have gone up on BWW this week and have so far been quoted and reprinted in US WEEKLY, Perez Hilton and Oh No They Didn't, just to name a few, all of whom also reprinted her e-mail response to me. She is without a doubt one of the brightest stars of our age and it was a extreme privilege for me to help her shine some light on the more obscure corners of her career, as well as the highs - on Broadway, in Hollywood and elsewhere. Enjoy!
This weekend, I had the exceptional privilege of conducting an InDepth InterView with 2010 Tony-winning Best Featured Actress In A Play: the luminous and winsomely witty film and stage star Scarlett Johansson. We talked about her work in the theatre on this year's highly-praised revival of Arthur Miller's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, as well as her feelings on musicals, Sondheim, and growing up in New York, which then veered off into a considerable discussion of her film work and working with actors like Hugh Jackman, Robert Downey Jr. and Penelope Cruz, as well as directors like Woody Allen and Christopher Nolan. In this second sample portion of the forthcoming interview we talk about her love of musicals, her favorite shows, scores and cast albums, singing showtunes with Hugh Jackman, her thoughts on a Woody Allen musical, what Sondheim roles she would like to play, GLEE, and more. The complete InDepth InterView will be available next Friday, but here is another small sampling to curb your appetite until then. A special early-summer treat!
Today, in honor of the American premiere of ELAINE PAIGE: CELEBRATING FORTY YEARS ONSTAGE being broadcast on PBS this week is a sneak peek of an upcoming InDepth InterView with legendary star of Broadway and the West End, Elaine Paige. In this portion of the interview we discuss the writing of CHESS with ABBA's Benny Andersson & Bjorn Ulvaeus and lyricist Tim Rice, as well as her thoughts on contemporaries like Patti LuPone and, of course, originating the leads in EVITA, CATS, CHESS. We also preview her new album produced by Phil Ramone and featuring a duet with Barry Manilow. We also discuss the new song written for her by Stiles & Drewe for the concert.
The BBC hit comedy series 'Beautiful People' premieres its second season Saturday, June 12 at 10/9c on Logo. The six episode, half-hour comedy series, based on the memoirs of style guru Simon Doonan's childhood, shows that the path to fabulous never did run smooth, especially if you have one very quirky and dysfunctional family. For more information www.logotv.com.
The New York Times is reporting that EVITA is officially set for a Spring 2012 revival, produced by Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders, directed by Michael Grandage (who directed the recent London revival) and starring Elena Roger and Ricky Martin.
Elaine Paige, the 'First Lady of British Musical Theatre,' performs her greatest hits in celebration of her 40th anniversary in showbiz in the new PBS special ELAINE PAIGE: CELEBRATING A LIFE ON STAGE. The program takes the audience on a journey from Paige's beginnings in the musical Hair to performances from Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and many more from the West End to Broadway. Part of special programming airing on PBS in June, ELAINE PAIGE will premiere on Thirteen New York on Wednesday, June 9 at 8 p.m.
As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Claire Sweeney will star in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's TELL ME ON A SUNDAY at York's Grand Opera House on October 12, 2010. Jamie Wilson Productions announced today that the production will also tour the UK. Tour dates have been announced from August 30, 2010 to November 21, 2010. With an exclusive new song 'I Still Believe in Love', this is the definitive version of the classic musical for 2010.
Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group and Bill Kenwright present Monty Python's Spamalot: A new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez on their UK Tour from May 29th 2010.
A rare opportunity to see Andrew Lloyd Webber and Don Black's TELL ME ON A SUNDAY. Now remodeled for Claire Sweeney by the masters of musical theatre, with an exclusive new song I Still Believe in Love, this is the definitive version of the classic musical for 2010.
McDonald's Metro Manila customers, who order fast food online at www.mcdelivery.com.ph from May 15 to June 7, 2010, get the chance to win free tickets to Tony winner Lea Salonga's next big show in town - Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical spectacle 'Cats' at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP).
Elaine Paige, the 'First Lady of British Musical Theatre,' performs her greatest hits in celebration of her 40th anniversary in showbiz in the new PBS special ELAINE PAIGE: CELEBRATING A LIFE ON STAGE. The program takes the audience on a journey from Paige's beginnings in the musical Hair to performances from Evita, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Cats, Sunset Boulevard and many more from the West End to Broadway. Part of special programming airing on PBS in June, ELAINE PAIGE will premiere on Thirteen New York on Wednesday, June 9 at 8 p.m.
The BBC hit comedy series 'Beautiful People' premieres its second season Saturday, June 12 at 10/9c on Logo. The six episode, half-hour comedy series, based on the memoirs of style guru Simon Doonan's childhood, shows that the path to fabulous never did run smooth, especially if you have one very quirky and dysfunctional family. For more information www.logotv.com.
Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's production of Chess, running March 7-April 25 at No Exit Café, combines cabaret theatre and concert concept styles. Although the backdrop is international chess competitions with grand masters from the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War, the story is really about the woman in the middle.
Howard Panter for The Ambassador Theatre Group and Bill Kenwright present Monty Python's Spamalot: A new musical lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail by Eric Idle and John Du Prez on their UK Tour from May 29th 2010.
Logo, the entertainment network for gays, lesbians, their families and friends kicks off summer with the U.S. series premiere of 'The Jaquie Brown Diaries' and the return of Logo's original series 'Jeffery and Cole Casserole' and BBC hit comedy series 'Beautiful People.'
