Oliver Reed News

If only for originating the title role in the longest-running and most successful musical in world history - THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA - which is merely one of the many impossibly impressive moments in a fifty-year career that truly defies description - Michael Crawford is known and loved the world over. From the Broadway and West End stage to the concert stage; the recording studio to the movie studio; performing everywhere imaginable - he has conquered it all. In a resume-spanning conversation that takes us from Broadway to Hollywood and to the stage of the London Palladium where he is now starring as the eponymous WIZARD OF OZ in Andrew Lloyd Webber's new theatrical adaptation of the classic film, Crawford and I take a look back at his many notable stage roles - among them, BILLY, BARNUM, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES and, most recently, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WOMAN IN WHITE - and he also generously shares stories and recollections of the esteemed figures he has collaborated with over the years, including Barbra Streisand, John Lennon, Oliver Reed, David Foster, Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Sarah Brightman and many more! Additionally, Crawford shares his insightful opinions on the state of theatre today and how it has changed over the course of his decades spent in show business, as well as looks ahead to returning to the concert stage following his departure from THE WIZARD OF OZ in the West End in February. So, catch Crawford while you can - and your little dog, too!

The premiere of a new Lady Gaga music video is always a cause celebre for entertainment lovers of any sort, but earlier today Gaga gave us a truly theatrical - and totally, wildly, adorably surreal - early Christmas treat of epic proportions in the form of the short film "Marry The Night". Part TOMMY, part David Lynch-ian fever dream, part throwback music video, with the rest unmistakably, unquestionably and undoubtedly all Gaga. Directed by Gaga herself, the "Marry The Night" music video puts into question the term itself - much like Kanye West's exquisite mini-movie musical treatment of eight of his songs from his Grammy-nominated opus MY BEATIFUL DARK TWISTED FANTASY in the form of the "Runaway" short film/music video from late last year - and, now, once again, Gaga has redefined not only the genre she is working in, but the entire music and theatre game itself. Daring, edgy, avant garde and more bizarre than anything you are likely to see at any multiplex this weekend - let alone on sweet, safe Broadway - the "Marry The Night" film is nothing short of Gaga firing on all axels - in this case, literally - and setting the stage afire with her fierce, determined conviction to following her own oh-so-idiosyncratic vision through to its ultimate - and oft-ugly; and, just as often, gorgeous - end. Actually, ends are what this video is about in many ways - from asses to hosannas. This isn't your mama's music video - or Madonna's, either (a trait which has been ascribed to Gaga videos past) - but what it is is the most over-the-top theatrical and unabashedly excessive - and best - music-related film of the year. Just don't call it a music video.

According to published reports, 'Tommy' director Ken Russell died in his sleep yesterday, November 27. He was 84 years old.

Today we are continuing our series on theatrically-related 2012 Oscar hopefuls with a look at the just-released trailer for David Cronenberg's new film A DANGEROUS METHOD starring Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen and Vincent Cassel. Based on a play about the friendship, lives and studies of scientists/philosophers/doctors Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung and how it pertains to a female patient, Sabina, penned by DANGEROUS LIASONS and ATONEMENT scribe Christopher Hampton, titled THE TALKING CURE, Hampton also penned the screenplay for this film adaptation, which also credits John Kerr's examination of Freud and Jung's studies and personal lives, A MOST DANGEROUS METHOD. Given the films R-rating, Cronenberg will evidently be given full reign to follow the story's explorations of the dark recesses of human psychology and how it manifests in our sexuality. While Cronenberg has repeatedly proven his prowess with intimate character studies in recent years with his superb string of dramas such as SPIDER starring Ralph Fiennes, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE with Viggo Mortensen and Maria Bello and, most recently, the unforgettable EASTERN PROMISES with Mortensen and Naomi Watts, A DANGEROUS METHOD is his first bid for Oscar gold this decade and for the first time in his forty year career he may finally be awarded for his cinematic legacy given this perfect storm of his idiosyncratic cinematic sensibilities married to charismatic lead performances by four of the hottest names in drama telling a story that only Cronenberg could tell this well - with a screenplay by one of the great playwrights and screenwriters of our age, as well. If the early reviews from the Venice Film Festival, where the film premiered earlier this week, and spellbinding images and scenes on display in the new trailer for the film are any indication of what we can expect from A DANGEROUS METHOD onscreen, this could very well be the film to sweep all the statuettes at the Oscars.

Gary Naylor sees swashes buckled and the triumph of all for one and one for all as three become four.

SWIMMING AT THE RITZ, a new play by Charles Leipart, begins a 4-stop UK tour on Monday, 14 March, at the Devonshire Park Theatre, in Eastbourne, playing through 16 March.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center's enormously popular 'FREE Movie Mondays' on the community plaza continues its series with a big-screen presentation of the 1968 musical OLIVER! on Monday, July 26. The film is based on the hit 1960 stage musical of the same name (and exclamation point) with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 1969, winning 6 statues including Best Director (Carol Reed) and Best Picture. OCPAC's screening of OLIVER! is co-presented with media sponsor KCRW.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center's enormously popular 'FREE Movie Mondays' on the community plaza continues its series with a big-screen presentation of the 1968 musical OLIVER! on Monday, July 26. The film is based on the hit 1960 stage musical of the same name (and exclamation point) with book, music and lyrics written by Lionel Bart. The film was nominated for 11 Academy Awards in 1969, winning 6 statues including Best Director (Carol Reed) and Best Picture. OCPAC's screening of OLIVER! is co-presented with media sponsor KCRW.

York Little Theatre will present the rock opera, Tommy, on July 17 - 26, 2009. Written by The Who's Pete Towshend and Des McAnuff, Tommy first premiered on Broadway in April of 1993 and ran for 899 performances. It won 5 Tony awards including Best Original Score, and 6 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations.

York Little Theatre will present the rock opera, Tommy, July 17 - 26, 2009. Written by The Who's Pete Towshend and Des McAnuff, Tommy first premiered on Broadway in April of 1993 and ran for 899 performances. It won 5 Tony awards including Best Original Score, and 6 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations.

York Little Theatre will present the rock opera, Tommy, July 17 - 26, 2009. Written by The Who's Pete Towshend and Des McAnuff, Tommy first premiered on Broadway in April of 1993 and ran for 899 performances. It won 5 Tony awards including Best Original Score, and 6 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations.

York Little Theatre will present the rock opera, Tommy, on July 17 - 26, 2009. Written by The Who's Pete Towshend and Des McAnuff, Tommy first premiered on Broadway in April of 1993 and ran for 899 performances. It won 5 Tony awards including Best Original Score, and 6 Drama Desk Awards including Outstanding Orchestrations.