Think about it: What if you were watching The King and I and when Anna and the King of Siam started to sing 'Shall We Dance' and they just stood there, it just wouldn't have much of an impact, would it? Or if all those budding chorus members in A Chorus Line just stood around and talked about dancing but never did even the most basic shuffle-ball-change...sounds pretty bleak, doesn't it? That's where choreographers come into the picture; they collaborate with the director, the music director and the cast members to create movement that elevates every musical comedy. Without them, the action remains stagebound and static. A choreographer allows your heart to soar along with the performers onstage, making musical comedy all the more compelling and transformative. These talented men and women created remarkable and memorable work in 2010 as First Night's Top Choreographers...
If theater audiences in Nashville and Middle Tennessee owe a huge debt of gratitude to the directors who helm the year's finest productions, you can only imagine how the actors lucky enough to work with those insightful, creative men and women must be! The Top Ten Directors of 2010 have resumes anyone would be proud to claim as their own and when you consider that they - year after year - excel at what they do, then you cannot help but be impressed by the breadth and depth of their abilities. Frankly, it boggles the mind. These are Nashville's best directors of 2010...
If you find yourself venturing outside of New York, and you want to see some really good musical theater, what should you do? Allow me to suggest a visit to my neck o' the woods: A trip to Nashville might provide you with exactly what you seek. After all, in a city perhaps best known throughout the world as Music City USA, what else could you expect but some exceedingly well-cast, well-produced, well-played and well-sung musical theater? We're lousy with exceptional singers and musicians and, as a result, musical theater is alive and well - and thriving - in Nashville. And here's my list of the Best Musicals of 2010...
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: ON STRANGER TIDES will land in theaters May 20, 2011. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Rob Marshall, this new episode from the legendary saga captures the fun, adventure and humor that ignited the hit franchise-this time in Disney Digital 3D.
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!
Ciaran McCarthy gives such a stunningly raw and beautifully nuanced performance as film director Guido Contini in Boiler Room Theatre's production of Nine that it would be easy to lavish praise on him and leave it at that. But he is surrounded by a cast of women (and one very talented young man) who are wonderfully cast and who deliver performances that match McCarthy's in intensity and artistry. In other words: Don't even think of missing this show!
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!
Tonight, 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 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, Brian DePalma and Christopher Nolan. In this sample portion of the forthcoming interview, in addition to speaking eloquently about the acclaimed revival and winning the Tony, Ms. Johansson was also gracious enough to address the 'Give The Tonys Back To Broadway' Facebook campaign controversy and her response is reflected here, as well as in the e-mail follow-up and further explanation I received from her just moments ago. The complete interview will be available next week, here is a small sampling to whet your palette. Enjoy!
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Walk of Fame Committee has announced the 2011 recipients of stars on the Walk of Fame. The nominees are in the four categories of Motion Pictures, Television, Recording, and Live Performance/Theatre.
Today, in honor of the DVD release of Rob Marshall's film version of the 1982 Tony-winning Best Musical NINE, Maury Yeston was gracious and generous enough to grant me a few hours in which I could ask him intimate questions about his life, career and the future of theatre itself. Not one to mince words, Yeston is a veritable font of knowledge and it became clear during the interview that he may be as gifted and talented in his educational and mentorship skills as he is as a two-time Tony-winning composer and lyricist. His stage musicals include two Tony-winning Best Musicals, NINE and TITANIC, as well as: IN THE BEGINNING, GRAND HOTEL, PHANTOM, and the forthcoming DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, as well as a full-length ballet of TOM SAWYER premiering later this year. From the handwritten letter sent by Katharine Hepburn to Frederico Fellini after seeing the workshop of NINE thirty years ago to this very day when NINE hits DVD, we will take a look at this magnanimous maestro's starry career in this inaugural InDepth InterView. Enjoy!
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Rob Marshall's film musical NINE on Blue-ray and DVD on May 4, according to Blue-ray.com. It is reported that bonus features will accompany the discs, including an exclusive interview with Sophia Loren, commentary by Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca as well as three music vidoes.
The Providence Performing Arts Center will end its run of A BRONX TALE, written by and starring Chazz Palminteri, at the Theatre from Sunday, April 18, as part of the Inskip Lexus Contemporary Classics Series.
The Providence Performing Arts Center is pleased to have A BRONX TALE, written by and starring Chazz Palminteri, at the Theatre from Thursday, April 15 to Sunday, April 18, as part of the Inskip Lexus Contemporary Classics Series.
Last Night, March 7, stars from all over the world came out for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood California. 'The Hurt Locker' won Best Picture and the film's director Kathryn Bigelow took home the award for Best Director. Jeff Bridges took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in 'Crazy Heart', Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for 'The Blind Side', Christoph Waltz took home Best Supporting Actor for 'Inglourious Basterds' and Mo'Niqe garnered the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Precious'.
Last Night, March 7, stars from all over the world came out for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood California. 'The Hurt Locker' won Best Picture and the film's director Kathryn Bigelow took home the award for Best Director. Jeff Bridges took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in 'Crazy Heart', Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for 'The Blind Side', Christoph Waltz took home Best Supporting Actor for 'Inglourious Basterds' and Mo'Niqe garnered the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Precious'.
Last Night, March 7, stars from all over the world came out for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood California. 'The Hurt Locker' won Best Picture and the film's director Kathryn Bigelow took home the award for Best Director. Jeff Bridges took home the Oscar for Best Actor for his work in 'Crazy Heart', Sandra Bullock won Best Actress for 'The Blind Side', Christoph Waltz took home Best Supporting Actor for 'Inglourious Basterds' and Mo'Niqe garnered the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 'Precious'.
Tonight, March 7, stars from all over the world will come out for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood California. Co-hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, the ceremony will be broadcast live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
Tonight, March 7, stars from all over the world will come out for the 82nd Annual Academy Awards Ceremony at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood California. Co-hosted by Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin, the ceremony will be broadcast live by the ABC Television Network beginning at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.
