THEATER TALK goes Off Broadway to feature the creators of two of the hottest tickets in town, Sontag: Reborn at New York Theatre Workshop and Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812 at Kazino.
James Gandolfini, who is most known for starring in the HBO hit 'The Sopranos', earlier this week in Italy, according to multiple sources. He was 51. The cause is rumored to be a heart attack but no details have been confirmed. The actor was in Italy for the 59th Taormina Film Festival in Sicily, where he was set to join director Gabriele Muccino for a festival event. Below, we remember the stage and screen star.
On two separate broadcasts in the tri-state area this weekend, THEATER TALK celebrates master critic John Simon's 88 years with an interview, recorded on his birthday in May of this year, and pairs it with an encore interview with the late actor Richard Griffiths.
Today, Michael Riedel reports that in addition to upcoming productions of MISS SAIGON, BARNUM and a Broadway return of LES MIS that 'As if three shows weren't enough, Mackintosh is also planning a Broadway revival of 'Oliver!' Lionel Bart's chirpy old musical hasn't been seen in New York since a short-lived 1983 production starring Patti LuPone. It's said to be Mackintosh's favorite musical, and it's how he got his start in the theater. 'Oliver!' played the New Theatre in London in 1960, and a teenage Mackintosh got a job polishing the brass railing in the theater lobby.'
BroadwayWorld.com confirmed exclusively back in December 2012 that a highly anticipated revival of the mega-musical 'Miss Saigon' was in the works by producer Cameron Mackintosh with auditions taking place for the lead role of 'Kim' (a part created by Lea Salonga). Today, Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post that the show will open in 2014, likely in Mackintosh's Prince Edward Theatre (currently home to 'Jersey Boys'). Riedel also confirms our previous reports that directing the revival will be Laurence Connor, who also co-directed the revival of 'Les Miserables' that is now touring and which will hit Broadway in 2014.
The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns to Stage 72 (formerly the Triad Theater (158 West 72 Street) with its new edition, Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter tonight, June 17 at 7:30pm.
The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns to Stage 72 (formerly the Triad Theater (158 West 72 Street) with its new edition, Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, tonight, June 15 at 9:30pm and Monday, June 17 at 7:30pm.
This week THEATER TALK, features our annual Tony Wrap up, an AndrewAndrew report from the TONY Red Carpet and a discussion about J.B. Priestley's lost theatrical gem Cornelius. Co-hosted by Michael Riedel of the New York Post and producer Susan Haskins, this episode premieres Friday, June 14, 2013 at 1 AM (Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, and repeats in the New York metro area on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 12:30 PM, and Monday at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM.
In honor and anticipation of the Tony Awards ceremony this evening, June 9, CUNY TV will celebrate the Broadway theatre with an eight-hour marathon of 'Theater Talk,' 'ATW's Working in the Theatre,' and 'TimesTalks' programs from noon till 8 p.m. that day. Then the Tony Awards ceremony begins live on the CBS Television Network.
In honor and anticipation of the Tony Awards ceremony on Sunday evening, June 9, CUNY TV will celebrate the Broadway theatre with an eight-hour marathon of 'Theater Talk,' 'ATW's Working in the Theatre,' and 'TimesTalks' programs from noon till 8 p.m. that day. Then the Tony Awards ceremony begins live on the CBS Television Network.
The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns to Stage 72 (formerly the Triad Theater (158 West 72 Street) with its new edition, Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, on Saturday, June 15 at 9:30pm and Monday, June 17 at 7:30pm.
The 2013 Tony Awards are just four days away and still more names are being added to the list of those who will be honored this year. Michael Riedel writes in today's New York Post that Mayor Bloomberg will accept a special honor on Sunday night.
The 2013 Tony Awards are just over a week away, and according to the New York Post's Michael Riedel, plans are at last being finalized for the much-anticipated opening number. He writes: 'This year, no single show will kick off the telecast. Every Broadway show - and I mean every show - will be part of the opening.'
Two of Broadway's most articulate Tony Award nominees, director George C. Wolfe and actress Holland Taylor, visit THEATER TALK to regale co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins with tales of their careers and background on their current shows - Lucky Guy starring Tom Hanks, directed by Wolfe at the Broadhurst, and Ann, which Taylor wrote and stars in at the Vivian Beaumont.
Tony Award-winners Susan Stroman, Bebe Neuwirth, Cady Huffman, Kathleen Marshall and Karen Ziemba are set to present at the 31st Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards taking place on Monday, June 3 at 7:30pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Also set to present at the awards are Mary Testa, Christiane Noll, Harry Belafonte, Rex Reed, Michael Riedel, Anna Bergman, Lee Roy Reams, Dancing with the Stars' Tony Dovolani, Carson Kressley and Countess Lu Ann de Lesseps.
As time moves inexorably closer to the annual Tony Awards ceremony celebrating Broadway's best on June 9, THEATER TALK reconvenes its notable crystal-ball gazers Patrick Pacheco (The Los Angeles Times), Jesse Green (New York Magazine), and entertainment columnist Michael Musto to share their predictions about this year's big contests. Tony Predictions 2013, co-hosted by Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins, premieres Friday, May 24, 2013 at 1 AM (Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, and repeats in the New York metro area on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 12:30 PM, and Monday at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM.
So what actress was "like a block of wood"? Who was "overrated" and who was pigeon-toed? As the 2012-13 theater season winds down and Tony Award voters are rushing to all of the nominated shows, THEATER TALK invites drama critics Ben Brantley (The New York Times), Peter Marks (The Washington Post), and fledgling Broadway pundit Joan Rivers (Beverly Hills Courier) to weigh in with their opinions about the late-opening productions. The 2013 Season's End Critics' Panel, co-hosted by Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins, premieres Friday, May 17, 2013 at 1 AM (Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, and repeats in the New York metro area on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 12:30 PM, and Monday at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM.
THEATER TALK welcomes Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, creators of Broadway's hit Kinky Boots. The fun and revealing new interview premieres Friday, May 10, 2013 at 1 AM (Saturday morning) on Thirteen/PBS, and repeats in the New York metro area on CUNY TV* Saturday at 8:30 PM, Sunday at 12:30 PM, and Monday at 7:30 AM, 1:30 PM, and 7:30 PM.