The Tricky Part - 2004 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 4

Today we are talking to a tremendously talented triple-threat who has been seen by millions on screens large and small for most of her life and can now be seen weekly on Lifetime's hit dramedy series THE CLIENT LIST, the gorgeous and convivial Jennifer Love Hewitt. Discussing all aspects of her role as star and executive producer of the hit Lifetime series, now in its second season, Hewitt offers forth her candid insights into her character on the show as well as the larger issues being dealt with in the universe of THE CLIENT LIST. Also, Hewitt comments upon her impressive array of co-stars and guest stars, among them Broadway regulars Loretta Devine and Cybil Shepard, as well as clues us in on what we can expect from this Sunday's show. Most importantly, Hewitt gives us the 411 on her super-sexy and seriously impressive new music video promoting THE CLIENT LIST featuring her belting the SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE barn-burner “I'm A Woman” in showstopping - and heart-stopping - style, produced by AMERICAN IDOL's Randy Jackson and directed by famed photographer Matthew Roliston. Plus, in addition to an all access pass to THE CLIENT LIST, Hewitt opens up about her affection for performing and her plans to pursue more singing, dancing and theatre in the future, packed schedule permitting. Additionally, Hewitt offers up memories of lighting up the small screen in presence and song as part of A CHRISMAS CAROL, featuring a score by Alan Menken and Lynn Ahrens, as well as working with Marc Shaiman as a pre-teen chorus member on SISTER ACT 2. All of that, reflections on what I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER and PARTY OF FIVE co-stars she would like to have appear on THE CLIENT LIST, favorite movie musicals, KIDS, INCORPORATED memories, thoughts on singing more SWEET CHARITY sometime soon (especially following last year's smashing “Big Spender” music video) - and much, much more!

Once in a generation, if we are lucky, an extraordinary talent like no other arises - one who can ceaselessly, effortlessly caress the loftiest heights of comedy and drama onstage (and sometimes onscreen), while, simultaneously, imbuing musical theatre roles with the same skill set, plus a powerhouse, quintessentially unique and resplendent vocal instrument; and, of course, that indescribable 'it' factor, too - such is the tale of Broadway's grand dame, Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone is a part of that great pantheon of leading ladies of lore led by Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters - that is, musical theatre royalty. Taking a look back at many moments in her long and varied career thus far, LuPone candidly opines about a vast array of topics and opens up about many of the remarkable figures who have played roles in her astounding time spent on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - among them: Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Steven Spielberg, David Mamet, Ryan Murphy and many more. Most importantly, LuPone discusses various aspects of her ever-expanding new solo show upon which her sensational live album, FAR AWAY PLACES, is based - the songs, the stories, the themes, the collaborators and her future plans for the piece (such as her series of 54 Below shows coming up in February). Additionally, LuPone addresses appearing on GLEE, reflects on working with Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham on PARKER, shares her thoughts on her favorite films of the year, expounds upon what roles she would like to pursue and teases about her concert with David Yazbek and the debut of her new Carnegie Hall concert as well as a return to London where she made her mark with her Olivier-winning original Fantine in LES MISERABLES - all of that and much, much more!

piece by piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and The Barrow Group have announced that All The Rage, written and performed by Martin Moran, and directed by Seth Barrish, began performances on Saturday, January 19, at 7pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42 Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. The opening night was yesterday, January 30, and you can check out coverage from the opening below!

piece by piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and The Barrow Group have announced that All The Rage, written and performed by Martin Moran, and directed by Seth Barrish, will begin performances on Saturday, January 19, at 7pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42 Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. The opening night has been set for Wednesday, January 30, at 7pm.

piece by piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and The Barrow Group have announced that All The Rage, written and performed by Martin Moran, and directed by Seth Barrish, will begin performances today, January 19, at 7pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42 Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. The opening night has been set for Wednesday, January 30, at 7pm.

piece by piece productions, Rising Phoenix Repertory, and The Barrow Group have announced that All the Rage, written and performed by Martin Moran, and directed by Seth Barrish, will begin performances on Saturday, January 19, at 7pm at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater, 416 West 42 Street, between Ninth and Tenth Avenues. The opening night has been set for Wednesday, January 30, at 7pm.

Premieres Artistic Director Paulette Haupt has announced that the company will present Inner Voices, an evening of three one-act solo musicals beginning tonight, November 10 at 8pm, at 30th Street Theater, 259 West 30th Street. The opening is scheduled for Sunday, November 18 at 3pm.

Premieres Artistic Director Paulette Haupt has announced that the company will present Inner Voices, an evening of three one-act solo musicals beginning Saturday, November 10 at 8pm, at 30th Street Theater, 259 West 30th Street. The opening is scheduled for Sunday, November 18 at 3pm.

Premieres Artistic Director Paulette Haupt has announced that the company will present Inner Voices, an evening of three one-act solo musicals beginning Saturday, November 10 at 8pm, at 30th Street Theater, 259 West 30th Street. The opening is scheduled for Sunday, November 18 at 3pm.

Bovim Ballet is back on stage in Cape Town with a return reason of QUEEN AT THE BALLET. One of the project-based company's flagship productions, this 'rock ballet' was first seen in 2004. A tribute to Freddie Mercury, the show delves into the life of the enigmatic frontman of Queen, using the timeless songs that Mercury introduced during his career at a springboard.

Looking Glass Theatre, celebrating almost 20 years of productions strengthening the voice of women in theater and the arts, presents the NYC premiere of Frankie Little Hardin's East of the Sun, West of the Moon, a new children's play directed by Naima Warden. See photos from the production, playing through May 20, below!

Last night, SMASH cast Marilyn Monroe in the big Broadway musical based on her life at the show's center. Or, did they? While Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) may have done whatever it took to make an impression on the show's lothario director, Derek (Jack Davenport), it was Ivy's long-standing friendship with the songwriting team of Julia & Tom (Debra Messing & Christian Borle) and the belief in her readily apparent talent by the lead producer, Eileen (Anjelica Huston), that really sealed the deal. So, where does that leave Karen (Katharine McPhee)? In the chorus, it seems - at least for now. The drama escalated and reached an early peak along with the crescendos of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's smashing "Twentieth Century Fox Mambo" showstopper - the musical highlight of the impossibly strong second episode - as the heated fully-staged and fully-choreographed audition gave way to a dream reality which finally showed us all out there in the audience what a Karen/Marilyn could potentially be: a true blonde bombshell to beat the band. Of course, nothing is quite so cut and dry as it may appear and Karen may get her chance in the spotlight on the actual Marilyn musical's stage after all. Yet, for the next few episodes at least, Ivy is the star of the show - and she is going to wring every last wiggle, coo and peck out of the role. Plus, who can put over a number in true Broadway fashion - as Marilyn Monroe, perfectly played, no less - than Megan Hilty? Did you hear her line in the newly envisioned 'Let Me Be Your Star'? In much the same way as Hilty with the Broadway pizazz, McPhee effortlessly puts over treacherously tricky pop songs with smoothness, sweetness and near-tangible sincerety and conviction. Which way will the score ultimately go - and, furthermore, what shall be of the show that contains it? Will the musical be more Norma Jean or more Marilyn, thus more befitting of Karen or Ivy, respectively? Who knows, perhaps there ultimately will be two Marilyns required - as was proposed in this very column last week at this time and seems the logical ultimate conclusion of the casting dilemma at the show's core. We will certainly have to wait and find out what happens next on SMASH and what the show ends up requiring of its incredibly talented cast of hoofers and stars-to-be. Plus, Nick Jonas, Uma Thurman and Bernadette Peters make guest star debuts in the next several weeks!

Three U.S. comedians of South Asian ancestry are heading to India for a 7-city tour in January, by invitation of the U.S. Department of State, as part of a goodwill program to promote better relations among diverse countries and religious faiths.

Three U.S. comedians of South Asian ancestry are heading to India for a 7-city tour in January, by invitation of the U.S. Department of State, as part of a goodwill program to promote better relations among diverse countries and religious faiths.

Three U.S. comedians of South Asian ancestry are heading to India for a 7-city tour in January, by invitation of the U.S. Department of State, as part of a goodwill program to promote better relations among diverse countries and religious faiths.

Three years ago I posted a review emphatically praising the Prospect Theatre Company's developmental production of Jim and Ruth Bauer's The Blue Flower, calling it, 'a unique, intelligent and wondrously creative evening of musical theatre' that 'skillfully tackles the tricky business of mixing the art of musical theatre with the anti-art movement of Dada.'  A German creation born amidst the rubble of the First World War, Dada was an artistic, literary and theatrical movement that attacked the sensibilities of a culture that could send millions of young men to slaughter by celebrating anarchy and irrationality.

Today we are analyzing all aspects of last night's spectacular special presentation of the 25th anniversary of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA live from the Royal Albert Hall. This unprecedented full performance of the world's most successful entertainment staged specifically for this event was simulcast live to hundreds of theaters around the world, with Fathom proving yet again - LES MISERABLES, Sondheim's COMPANY and the Shakespeare's Globe Series, among many others, coming before - that they are the pioneers of perhaps the most exciting Broadway-related entertainment entity of the twenty-first century - live HD filming of theatrical enterprises. Over the course of the three hours of the complete musical as it has been performed on Broadway and the West End and around the world for twenty-five years, as well as a phantastic reception and encore featuring Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael Crawford, Sarah Brightman, Cameron MackIntosh and four famous Phantoms - Toronto's Colm Wilkinson, the West End's John Owen Jones, Australia's Anthony Warlow and the new incoming West End title player Peter Joback - PHANTOM 25 is the theatre event of the year. Yes, PHANTOM 25 may very well be the most exciting and engrossing live show ever filmed and the presentation was exceedingly superb in technical aspects - and, now, the mind boggles at how utterly brilliant and breathtaking the forthcoming Blu-ray will be based on last night's performance (November in the UK, February in the US). Capturing the comedy in an enjoyable and surprising manner while still containing the menace and horror that gives it a distinct bite in the musical theatre realm (from the original director of SWEENEY TODD, Harold Prince, no less), and, most of all, arousing the most passionate and carnal of emotions in any willing and ready viewer. And so much more. PHANTOM 25 is now the crowning jewel of the show's legacy - the mask on the eponymous master magician and musician's face that somehow manages to make him truly, finally complete.

Flesh eating zombies have taken over Britain and are multiplying as quickly as they kill. Survivors must rapidly find ways to endure in a world that offers little refuge. Cocooned in the safety of their 'Big Brother' house, fame-seeking contestants of this hit reality TV game show are safe and blissfully unaware-until 'eviction night,' when all hell breaks loose.

Flesh eating zombies have taken over Britain and are multiplying as quickly as they kill. Survivors must rapidly find ways to endure in a world that offers little refuge. Cocooned in the safety of their 'Big Brother' house, fame-seeking contestants of this hit reality TV game show are safe and blissfully unaware-until 'eviction night,' when all hell breaks loose.

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast for its upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, playing in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 20 - August 22, 2010 (press opening: July 27 at 7:00 pm).

La Jolla Playhouse presents its production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, playing in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 20 - August 22, 2010 (press opening: July 27 at 7:00 pm).

La Jolla Playhouse announces the cast for its upcoming production of A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Playhouse Artistic Director Christopher Ashley, playing in the Sheila and Hughes Potiker Theatre July 20 - August 22, 2010 (press opening: July 27 at 7:00 pm).

Today, we present the final section of the Sondheim Palooza for this week with a discussion of Sondheim's work in the last two decades. The shows themselves stand as solid proof that this is a composer/lyricist still at the absolute height of his abilities and at the top of his game, as we can very clearly hear in the scores for ASSASSINS, PASSION, THE FROGS and ROAD SHOW...

Rehearsing Consciousness will now be presented next Thursday, March 4th, at 8:00 p.m. The Insights & Revelations Performance Series, now in residence at The Emelin Theatre of Mamaroneck for the 2009/2010 season, announces the first show of the Spring 2010 season, February 25th at 8:00 p.m.

Rehearsing Consciousness will now be presented next Thursday, March 4th, at 8:00 p.m. The Insights & Revelations Performance Series, now in residence at The Emelin Theatre of Mamaroneck for the 2009/2010 season, announces the first show of the Spring 2010 season, February 25th at 8:00 p.m.