Today we have Part I of the BWW Exclusive two-part InDepth InterView with legendary stage and screen actress - and, bar none, the greatest Tennessee Williams actress alive - Tony-winning star, and a legend in her own time: Elizabeth Ashley! In this first part, we talk her early stage career from TAKE HER, SHE'S MINE directed by George Abbott and produced by Hal Prince in the 60s up to AGNES OF GOD opposite Amanda Plummer and Geraldine Page in the early 80s continuing to Tracy Letts' Pulitzer-prize winning opus AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY in 2007 - to say nothing of the central focus of our extended conversation: her most recent role playing the mother of twin sons named Otto (and/or 'otto') in Edward Albee's newest absurdist masterpiece, ME, MYSELF & I, which can currently be seen at Playrights' Horizons! From the grande dame of Williams, to life with Orson Welles, to living on the road (by choice), and a life in the theatre (no choice), Ms. Ashley is a fabulous, veritable walking, talking history of the American theatre in the last forty years and no one - I repeat, no one - can tell a story better than she can! From Mohammad Ali to Edward Albee, this interview has it all! She is one of the greats, onstage and off. There will never be another Liz Ashley and this first part is just half the reason why!
In my 30+ years of Broadway theatergoing there have been a few special moments that I know will stick in my memory forever. Michael Jeter dancing his giddy Charleston in Grand Hotel, is one example. Jerry Orbach, in 42nd Street, proclaiming 'musical comedy' as, 'the most glorious words in the English language,' is another. I witnessed the newest addition to my little list at Wednesday night's performance of Soul of Shaolin, when Yu Fei stood on the Marquis Theatre stage, lifted his left leg straight up in the air with his foot to the ceiling, then leaned over and hit the floor in a perfect split, groin first. He did it again at curtain call.
Wendy Kesselman's 'The Black Monk', which ran Off-Broadway from November 30th, 2008 through January 3rd, 2009, featuring Austin Pendleton, Elon Rutberg, Julie Craig, and Scott Robertson - under the direction of Kevin Newbury and musical direction of Chris Berg (with cellist Arthur Cook), will be making an original cast recording on Monday, May 25th, 2009. The album will be produced/engineered by Grammy Award winner John Kilgore. It will be released online in the fall exclusively on iTunes, and a record deal is pending.
Tommy Tune brings his show STEPS IN TIME for the benefit of the Summer Theatre of New Canaan to Stamford's Rich Forum on Febuary 7th 2009. Tommy Tune and the Manhattan Rhythm Kings present great Broadway show tunes performed and staged as only Broadway's most awarded Director, Choreographer, Dancer and Musical Actor can create descibes press notes.
Tommy Tune brings his show STEPS IN TIME for the benefit of the Summer Theatre of New Canaan to Stamford's Rich Forum on Febuary 7th 2009. Tommy Tune and the Manhattan Rhythm Kings present great Broadway show tunes performed and staged as only Broadway's most awarded Director, Choreographer, Dancer and Musical Actor can create descibes press notes.
Abingdon Theatre Company will celebrate its 16th Anniversary by honoring Austin Pendleton and Pamela Paul (former Co-Artistic Director) Monday, November 10, 2008 at Tavern on the Green, Central Park West at 67th St.
Abingdon Theatre Company will celebrate its 16th Anniversary by honoring Austin Pendleton and Pamela Paul (former Co-Artistic Director) Monday, November 10, 2008 at Tavern on the Green, Central Park West at 67th St.
South Ark Stage (Rhoda Herrick, Producing Artistic Director) has announced that it will present the world premiere of the new chamber musical The Black Monk, with book, lyrics and music by Wendy Kesselman. Under the direction of Kevin Newbury, the four-member cast features Austin Pendleton as the Monk, Scott Robertson as Igor, Elon Rutberg as Andrei, and Sarah Ziegler as Tanya.
Broadway's most celebrated showman debuts his new act 'Steps in Time: A Broadway Biography in Song and Dance' April 19-20 at the Reagle Players in Waltham, Mass.
Brent Barrett, known for his romantic presence and ravishing tenor has played many roles--but never before has he brought down the world's most famous chandelier
