What the Butler Saw is a farcical play by English playwright, John Kingsley “Joe” Orton. First performed in 1969, after Orton’s death, the play is about a doctor in a psychiatric home who tries to seduce the woman he wants for a secretary, and their attempts to hide an incident during the interview. The play was Orton’s attempt to revive comedy and farce in theatre at the time. Orton is remembered for his daring attempts to shock and amuse audiences; darkly farcical modern plays are known as “Ortonesque.” His first novel, Head to Toe, was published posthumously.
Today, BroadwayWorld is extremely proud to present an extensive conversation with the modern master of the musical theatre himself, Stephen Sondheim, all about the incredibly revealing and thoroughly riveting second volume of his complete collected (and annotated) lyrics (covering 1981-2011) - following last year's superlative FINISHING THE HAT - titled LOOK, I MADE A HAT. With ample insights pertaining to the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, INTO THE WOODS, ROAD SHOW, THE FROGS and many more, Sondheim and I also discuss some of his Hollywood endeavors - the proposed film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS, as well as the never-produced SINGING OUT LOUD and his Oscar-winning work for Warren Beatty's DICK TRACY - and his affection for - and process of adapting (in the case of WEST SIDE STORY, the CYMBELINE setting in THE FROGS and his recent scoring of the Public Theatre's production of KING LEAR starring Kevin Kline) - the works of William Shakespeare. Additionally, we discuss the upcoming Encores! revival of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, the currently-running revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters (as well as its brand new cast album), the West End transfer of the Michael Ball/Imelda Staunton-led SWEENEY TODD in the UK and much, much more!
People's Light & Theatre presents The Return of Don Quixote, by Kira Obolensky, freely adapted from Cervantes' Don Quixote of La Mancha. It closes October 16, 2011 on the Main Stage.
People's Light & Theatre presents The Return of Don Quixote, by Kira Obolensky, freely adapted from Cervantes' Don Quixote of La Mancha.
People's Light & Theatre presents The Return of Don Quixote, by Kira Obolensky, freely adapted from Cervantes' Don Quixote of La Mancha.
Hartford Stage's Board of Directors, under the leadership of President Paul Bourdeau and Vice-President and search committee chair Jill Adams, announced today the appointment of Darko Tresnjak as the Tony Award-winning theatre's new Artistic Director, succeeding Michael Wilson.
Court Theatre continues its 56th season with Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will close February 13, 2011 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.
The Castillo Theatre (Dan Friedman, artistic director, Diane Stiles, managing director) held the first full cast rehearsal today for Fred Newman's MR. HIRSCH DIED YESTERDAY, which runs Friday, January 21 to Sunday, February 20 with an official press preview on Thursday, January 20. Directed by Woodie King, Jr. (founder and producing director of the New Federal Theatre).
The Castillo Theatre (Dan Friedman, artistic director, Diane Stiles, managing director) held the first full cast rehearsal today for Fred Newman's MR. HIRSCH DIED YESTERDAY, which runs Friday, January 21 to Sunday, February 20 with an official press preview on Thursday, January 20. Directed by Woodie King, Jr. (founder and producing director of the New Federal Theatre).
Court Theatre continues its 56th season with Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will run January 13 - February 13, 2011 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.
Court Theatre continues its 56th season with Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will run January 13 - February 13, 2011 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.
Court Theatre continues its 56th season with Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will run January 13 - February 13, 2011 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.
Court Theatre continues its 56th season with Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell. The production will run January 13 - February 13, 2011 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Court Theatre announces the final selection for the company's fifty-sixth season, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, pending final approval from Mr. Albee. The production will be directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Court Theatre announces the final selection for the company's fifty-sixth season, Edward Albee's Three Tall Women, pending final approval from Mr. Albee. The production will be directed by Artistic Director Charles Newell.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
Rundgren, IU's ninth Wells Professor, will teach the middle two weeks of a four-week, one-credit hour honors course designed for a maximum of 25 Wells Scholars and Hutton Honors Scholars. The class commences in late October and finishes in mid-November. Co-teaching the class will be IU Professor of Music Glenn Gass -- whose relationship with Rundgren helped make the professorship possible -- and IU Distinguished Professor of Sociology Bernice Pescosolido, who was instrumental in helping to plan the course.
Gass, a professor at IU's world-class Jacobs School of Music, said he sees Rundgren's engagement at IU as the start of a trend in which legendary rock stars share their knowledge with a new generation. Rundgren, who performs frequently, gave a concert at Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University in Indianapolis on Sept. 11.
'Todd is a treasure trove of memories, knowledge, stories . . .,' Gass said. 'This class is a way for him to celebrate what he's done and allows him to share his experiences with students who really want to hear what he has to say.'
In addition to learning about the culture, politics and economics of the music business, from the 1970s through today, students will visit Professor of Anthropology Nicholas Toth at IU's Stone Age Institute to view some of the earliest tools used for making music.
'I think the students will love it. For us, the appeal of the class is really both Todd and Glenn,' said Professor of Physics Tim Londergan, director of the Wells Scholars Program. Londergan is a self-professed rock 'n' roll fan who has audited three of Gass' courses.
The Rundgren course is currently full with a waiting list, and course auditors/visitors, including IU students not registered for the class, cannot be accommodated.
During his stay in Bloomington, Rundgren will give a public lecture titled 'LONGHAIR: Todd Rundgren on the Beatles Effect' at 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in Ballantine Hall 013. He will also present a Halloween-night recital titled 'CLUSTER: The Birth of the T Chord' at 8 p.m. Oct. 31 in Auer Hall. Both are free and open to the public.
Gass said he asked Rundgren to talk about the Beatles both because of Rundgren's collaborations with various members of the band and because of the window it will provide into his own music. 'If it was going to be 'Todd talks about Todd,' he may have felt awkward,' Gass said. 'By asking him to talk about the Beatles, we can get more insight into his music, too.'
Rundgren's unique associations with the Beatles include a number of covers, participation in the Ringo All-Star Band and co-producing the power pop band Badfinger with George Harrison. When Harrison died, Rundgren did a highly acclaimed version of 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps' for a tribute album. In 1980, Rundgren and his then-band Utopia, did a loving sendup of the Beatles (Deface the Music) that Gass calls 'just genius.'
Rundgren is also a longtime Beatles fan who credits Harrison with inventing the 'lead guitar' player, Gass said. 'When Todd was in the band Nazz, he wasn't the lead singer -- he was the lead guitar player -- which in the 50s meant one of the backup musicians. Because of George, lead guitar now means you're one of the band's leaders.'
Glenn Gass
Print-Quality Photo
Gass initially met Rundgren in Hawaii, when Gass and his wife were on sabbatical for a year (and where they spent the past two summers). 'The kids start taking the bus together and the next thing you know, you're going to cookouts at Todd's,' Gass said. 'I quickly learned that everything they said about him was true. He's brilliant, articulate, really interesting -- and interested in things far beyond his own work and even his music. He's just a really engaged human being.'
Rundgren is also known for staying true to his artistic muse. 'He refused to take the easy way out,' Gass said. 'The easy way would have been to do five more songs like 'Hello, It's Me.' He paid a price for that, but in the long run, in 50 years, I think that's why he'll matter more than starts who may have had more hits.'
Rundgren was the highest paid producer of the 1970s, producing bands that ranged from the New York Dolls, The Band and Patti Smith to Meat Loaf, Hall & Oates and Cheap Trick. On Aug. 1, 1981 -- the evening MTV debuted with 'Video Kills the Radio Star' by the Buggles -- Rundgren was ready with his music video for 'Time Heals,' which premiered on MTV the same evening. Always a fan of technology, Rundgren made his music available through online downloads about 10 years before iTunes ('Everyone had dial-up connections then,' Gass commented. 'His fate is always to be just a few years ahead of his time.').
Gass said after the Beatles broke up, he was personally attracted to singer-songwriters like James Taylor, Neil Young, Carole King, Joni Mitchell -- and Todd Rundgren. 'Todd was always one of the best and most interesting performers. Even in those early albums, it was clear he wasn't just a singer-songwriter,' Gass said. At turns, Rundgren played with electric guitar or classical riffs, producing his own double album in 1972, on which he also played all of the instruments.
From the time he met Rundgren in Hawaii, Gass starting thinking of ways to bring the performer to IU. A confluence of events sparked by a Rundgren speaking engagement at DePauw University led to the IU professorship. DePauw's executive director of media relations, Ken Owen, is 'a huge Todd scholar -- Todd to him is like the Beatles to me,' Gass said.
'All of a sudden it went from being a day dream to being a real possibility, and now it's actually happening,' Gass said. 'He really can call himself Professor Rundgren. This is not a gimmick: He is the Wells Professor.'
About the Wells Professorships
The Wells professorships are made possible by gifts from the IU classes of 1941, 1942 and 1963. Previous Wells professors have included the Honorable Helen Suzman, a South African political leader (Class of 1941 Wells Professor in 1993), Sir Malcolm Bradbury, a novelist-screenwriter-critic (Class of 1942 Wells Professor in 1997), and Holocaust scholar Christopher Browning (Class of 1943 Wells Professor in 2003). The most recently appointed Wells Professors were Sir (now Lord) Timothy Garden (Class of 1941 Wells Professor) and artist Robert Colescott (Class of 1943 Wells Professor), both of whom taught at IU in 2004.
Victory Gardens opens its 2010/11 Season with Edward Albee's At Home At The Zoo directed by Artistic Director Dennis Za?ek. The production runs October 1 - October 31, 2010 at the Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Lincoln Park. The Press Opening is Monday, October 11, 2010, at 7:30 pm.
In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) will release a live recording of the concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.
In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) will release a live recording of the concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.
In honor of Margaret Wise Brown's 100th Birthday, The InterSchool Orchestra of New York (ISO) (www.isorch.org) in association with GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors) have announced a live concert based on Brown's two best selling children's books Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.
| 1970 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
| 1981 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
| 1989 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
| 2000 | Off-Broadway |
Off-Broadway |
| 2012 | West End |
West End |
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