Sunday, January 28, 2007

Dreamgirls Headed for a Broadway Run

It looks likely that Dreamgirls is headed for Broadway the first revival since 1981 [Correction: Dreamgirls was previously revived on Broadway in 1987, running 177 performances at the Ambassador Theatre (June 28-November 29) ]. As you may know Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical, which opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway. The musical ran for 1,522 performances, and won six 1982 Tony Awards.

Show Broadway History:
It is based upon the history of Motown act The Supremes, Dreamgirls follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called "The Dreams", who become music superstars. It features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, and was directed by Michael Bennett, produced by Bennett, Bob Avian, Geffen Records, and The Shubert Organization, and choreographed by Bennett and Michael Peters. The original Broadway production, which won six Tony Awards.

The musical was adapted into a motion picture by DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures, and opened in limited release on December 15, 2006. The feature film version of Dreamgirls stars Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Anika Noni Rose, Jamie Foxx, Eddie Murphy, Keith Robinson, and Danny Glover.

Show Background:
Dreamgirls to craft a musical about Black back-up singers, which was given the working title of Project #9. Project #9 was had its beginnings as a project for Nell Carter. Playwright Tom Eyen and composer Henry Krieger first worked together on the 1975 musical version of Eyen's play The Dirtiest Show in Town. Carter appeared in the musical, and her performance inspired Eyen and Kriegerworkshopped for Joe Papp; Carter was joined at this time by Sheryl Lee Ralph and Loretta Devine, who were to play her groupmates. The project was shelved after Carter departed to appear in the soap opera Ryan's Hope in 1978.

A year later, Project #9 was brought back to the table, after catching the interest of successful Broadway director/producer/choreographer Michael Bennett. Ralph and Devine returned, and Bennett had Eyen, who was to direct, begin workshopping Big Dreams, as the musical was now known. Joining the cast at this time were Ben Harney, Obba Babatunde, Cleavant Derricks, and twenty-year-old gospel singer Jennifer Holliday as Carter's replacement (after Carter accepted an offer from NBC to star in Gimme a Break).

However, Holliday left the project during the workshopping phase, as she disliked the material and was upset that her character, Effie White, died at the conclusion of the first act. Eyen, Bennett, and Krieger continued to iron out the story and songs. Cheryl Gaines was at one point cast as a replacement for Holliday.

After two mildly successful workshops, Holliday returned to the project, now known as Dreamgirls. However, she found that the Effie character's role had been reduced significantly in favor of Sheryl Lee Ralph's Deena character, and Holliday eventually quit the project again. After acquiring funding from music industry mogul David Geffen and fellow co-financiers ABC Entertainment, Metromedia, and the Shubert family, Bennett called Holliday back and agreed to rewrite the shows second act and build up her character. (read more)

1-22-2007 Dreamgirls a Dream at the Box office
12-9-2006 Dreamgirls Christmas

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

First American Musical Q & A from the Times

I saw this in the times RSS feed and thought it would be something to share with all of you - it's a bit of interesting minutia from the theater world.

NY Times
post from today:

Q.
It’s a delight to see that “A Chorus Line” is back and doing well. Now, please tell me: What was the first American musical?

A. You can get an argument about this. Some purists, for example, may contend that the first modern musical was “Oklahoma!” or “Show Boat.” Others point to minstrel shows or even to an English ballad opera, “Flora,” presented in Charleston, S.C., in 1735.

But the most often mentioned ancestor of the musical and its predecessor, the leg show, is “The Black Crook,” which opened in Manhattan at Niblo’s Garden on Sept. 12, 1866.

According to Stanley Green’s Encyclopaedia of the Musical Theater (Dodd, Mead, 1976), the musical came about by accident. A French ballet troupe had been booked into the Academy of Music, but it burned down before the opening. Meanwhile, “The Black Crook,” a silly melodrama based loosely on Faust, was set to open at Niblo’s, on Broadway near Prince Street.

Not trusting the melodrama, William Wheatley, Niblo’s manager, hired the ballet company and combined it with the story line. The show ran more than five hours, but nobody seemed to care. The sight of 100 dancing girls was enough to ensure a spectacular run. If that weren’t enough, preachers denounced it from the pulpit for its suggestive songs.

In 1954, a Broadway musical, “The Girl in Pink Tights,” was based on the circumstances surrounding the original production.

Big production numbers and chorus girls — two vital Broadway features today — came into their own with “The Black Crook,” prompting some writers to label it the first true American musical comedy.

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

On Stage January 25 - 28, 2007 in the Mid Hudson Valley

This weekend on stage: we have two choices, I can tell you that Assassins is wonderful (review here) and The Heidi Chronicles is an interesting play. Grab a friend and see a show, it's the last weekend for both.


The Heidi Chronicles
January 26, 27 at 7:30 PM

January 28 at 2:00 PM

Pawling Theatre Company
Pawling High School Auditorium
Reservoir Road, Pawling, NY


Assassins
January 25, 26, 27 at 8:00 PM
January 28 at 3:00 PM


CENTERstage Productions
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308

Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Monday, January 22, 2007

Dreamgirls a Dream at the Boxoffice

Another dreamy weekend for Dreamgirls at the box office this weekend. One of my theater friends has informed me that I simply MUST go see this movie. She claims it is one of the best she's seen in a long while. So I hope to get to see in either later this week or next.

As you may know, the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture-Comedy or Musical went to the movie musical Dreamgirls. The movie remained in the top five highest-grossing films of the past weekend. Dreamgirls brought in $8,711,000 at the box office, making the film the third highest-grossing motion picture of the weekend. That's one place higher than the previous weekend, where the film placed fourth, bringing in $8,122,000.

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Assassins Review - Rhinebeck Performing Arts Center

This afternoon I ushered and saw Assassins - a Stephen Sondheim Musical with the book by John Weidman. It is a musical review like musical that examines the men and women who have attempted to assassinate U.S. Presidents. The style of the music varies widely, reflecting the different styles of music popular at the times of the events depicted.

The performance was very good. This musical has a difficult score, but the cast handled it beautifully. I didn't really feel like there were any weak points vocally and there were many high points, too many, in fact, to mention all of them. The set was well designed and the scenes flowed wonderfully. It had its funny moments - in fact more then I expected. The lighting at some points is a little dim, and the only other thing is some of the accents are so think they are difficult to hear. One thing I should mention is there is no intermission, and the running time was just under 2 hours.

History of the Show:
Assassins opened off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons on January 27, 1990, and played 73 performances. The cast included Victor Garber, Terrence Mann, Patrick Cassidy, Debra Monk, Greg Germann, and Annie Golden. Assassins opened in London at the Donmar Warehouse on 29 October 1992. The cast included: Henry Goodman, and, Louise Gold.

The musical was supposed to have its first Broadway production in 2001, but the show was postponed after the events of September 11, 2001.

Assassins received its Broadway debut on April 22, 2004. The Roundabout Theater Company opened the show on Broadway at Studio 54. After a limited run of 101 performances, it closed on July 18, 2004. The performance starred Neil Patrick Harris as the Balladeer and Lee Harvey Oswald, along with Marc Kudisch in the revised role of the Proprietor; it also featured Michael Cerveris as John Wilkes Booth, for which he received a Tony Award. The production was noted for a coup de theatre in which the Zapruder film of the assassination of John F. Kennedy was projected on the t-shirt of Lee Harvey Oswald.

The 2004 production won five 2004 Tony Awards for which it was nominated (Best Revival of a Musical, Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Michael Cerveris), Best Lighting Design (Peggy Eisenhauer and Jules Fisher), Best Direction of a Musical (Joe Mantello), and Best Orchestrations (Michael Starobin). In addition, Denis O'Hare was nominted for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, Marc Kudisch was nominated for the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Drama Desk Award, and the show itself was nominated for the Tony award for Best Scenic Design.

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Friday, January 19, 2007

Friday Tidbits

Two interesting theater tidbits ...

Guidestar a site that provides data from the IRS filings of all your favorite nonprofits. Ever wonder how well that nonprofit is doing?

and an excellent POV piece from playgoer that I'd like to bring your attention to: It addresses the director/production copyright issue that most recently surrounded Urinetown.

For more on the Urinetown situation (and other copyright issues) previously I've posted:
12-12-06 More Urinetown Legal Mess
12-04-06
Urinetown Copyright Fight Continues
11-28-06 More on Copyright and Theater

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Thursday, January 18, 2007

High School Musical 2

There is news that the Disney Channel has in the works High School Musical 2 and it should be airing in August.

As many of you may remember Disney's High School Musical started as a TV movie, and has branched out to several DVD versions, a chart topping CD album and a stage version of the play (locally it will be playing in tarrytown in Feb, and several groups are rumored to be doing the show this summer and fall)

And then they are planning a High School Musical on Ice. disneychannel.com/highschoolmusical.

I'm excited because it is good to see teens and youngsters getting into musical theater. Yes it is a show that is like candy (sweet, mindless and not-necessarily good for you), but then so is Guys and Dolls and Grease to name a couple of traditional musical theater titles. HS Musical actually deals with a few topics that face teens today.

Looking for High School Musical MP3's?


Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Mid Hudson Valley Theater Auditions

There are a lot of Auditions coming up in the next month or so ... grab a friend and go audition!!!

Jekyll & Hyde
January 28, 29, 2007 at 7:00 PM

County Players

County Players Falls Theatre

2681 W. Main St
Wappingers Falls, NY
Call: (845) 298-1332

Directed by: Anna Marie Martino
Production Dates:
May 11 - 26

_____________________

Deathtrap
January
29, 30, 31, 2007 at 7:30 PM

Pawling Theatre Company
Pawling High School
Reservoir Rd
Pawling, NY
Call: (845) 855-1965

Directed by:
Kirsten Edlund
Production Dates:
April 13 - 28

Needed:
2 Men: 40s - 50s
1 Man: 20s - 30s
1 Woman: 40s - 50s
1 Woman: 50s - 60s

_____________________

Dollface
February 11 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
February 12 7:00 PM – 11:00 PM

CENTERstage Productions
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck

Rhinebeck, 661 Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
For Further Information Call: David Forman, (845) 876-3088, ext. 12

Production Dates:
April 12 - 15
Synopsis: New Original Musical “Dollface” with songs by David Forman, Rob Hyman, Bette Midler and Johnny Gale and book by B.J. Sebring. ALL ROLES ARE OPEN.
Please be prepared to sing (accompanist will be provided) and dance. Readings will be from the script. Roles include Dolores (Dollface), (30ish, an aspiring comedienne), Victor (30ish, a cigarette magician), Pearlstein (50-70, a jeweler), Shively (35-45, a shady club owner), Yummy & Impy (two goons, should have some gymnastic skills,) Penelope (25-35, Dolores' friend, a seamstress), Mrs. Silberfarb (60+, Dolores' neighbor), Boyle (35-50, a dirty cop), Nurse Grout (ageless) and various ensemble and small roles.

ABILITY TO SING CLOSE HARMONY IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT!

_____________________

Bus Stop
Feb 10, 11, 2007 at 1:00 PM

Creative Theatre-Muddy Water Players

The Playhouse at Museum Village
Route 17M
Monroe, NY
Call: (845) 294-9465
______________________

No Sex Please, We're British
Feb 10, 11, 2007 at 3:00 PM

Creative Theatre-Muddy Water Players

The Playhouse at Museum Village
Route 17M
Monroe, NY
Call: (845) 294-9465

______________________
Princess of the Nile
February 10 1:00 PM
February 11 7:00 PM

CENTERstage Productions
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck

661 Route 308
Rhinebeck, NY
For Further Information Call: Lou Trapani, 845-876-3088, ext. 14

Production Dates:
April 6 & 7
Synopsis: To be presented at The CENTER in early April. Book, Lyrics, and Music by Barbara Rankin. Produced by CENTERstage and Barbara Rankin, Lou Trapani executive producer. A new Cinderella musical, especially for young people, set in ancient Egypt. Four principal men and four principal women, ages 16 and up, and an ensemble of merchants, townspeople, and courtiers, all ages.


Auditioners should prepare a song from any musical, bring their sheet music, and be ready to read from the script.

_____________________

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Interesting Theater Opportunity

So I got a call from a friend of mine - Someone I knew in High School and just recently reconnected with. We share a love of theater - I won't get into too many details right now (pending finalization of everything) but it looks like I may be assistant directing with this friend for a show next fall. A fun and funky show that I've always wanted to be involved in, but there are no parts in it that are right for me.

Directing has always been an area that I've wanted to explore. Gain some experience and experience something new. It looks like I'll be able to. Plus I'd really enjoy working with my friend.

The only holdback is the pending arrival of my first child. I may be unable to make it to auditions - depending on how things go in June, but I'm hoping that the fates and my baby will be kind and it will all work out.

Avenue Q to hit the Road

Avenue Q is going on a National Tour! The tour will start in August and is booked until July of '08. So Avenue Q maybe traveling to a city near you ...

Avenue Q is a Broadway musical, which was originally conceived by Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez. It opened off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in March 2003 (where it won that season's Lucille Lortel Award for Best Musical), and it has been on Broadway at the John Golden Theatre since July 31, 2003. It has risqué songs about racism, Internet porn, and the difficulties of life, yet all but three characters are portrayed by puppets. It surprisingly won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Musical as well as Tony Awards for Best Score and Best Book of a Musical, defeating the much bigger-scale, front-runner musical of the season, Wicked.

Also of Note that they are Auditioning for the tour: The roles of Princeton/ Rod,
Nicky/Trekkie Monster/Bad Idea Bear, Kate Monster/ Lucy T. Slut, Mrs. T / Bad Idea Bear/ Ensemble, Christmas Eve, Brian & Gary Coleman are auditioning in NYC on January 26, 27 & 28. For more details check out the listing:

Although I've not yet seen Avenue Q it is a favorite soundtrack to listen to, and my most recent CD acquisition (my husband surprised me for Christmas)

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

On Stage this weekend in the Mid Hudson Valley

This weekend, I think I'm off to see Assasins on Sunday. I'm looking forward to the show - I'll be sure to let you know how it is next week!

The Heidi Chronicles
January 19, 20, 26, 27 at 7:30 PM

January
21, 28 at 2:00 PM

Pawling Theatre Company
Pawling High School Auditorium
Reservoir Road, Pawling, NY


Assassins
January 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 8:00 PM
January 21, 28 at 3:00 PM


CENTERstage Productions
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308

Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080


Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Brewster Theater Company - Venue Rate Increase

A common enough problem today where there are a number of not-for-profit arts groups that are looking for a home. Brewster Theater Company is one of the most transient in the area - and one the venues they often use is the local school. Brewster Central School District has passed a policy that will result in a large rate increase. There is a meeting tonight, Tuesday January 16, 2007 - 7:30pm at the Garden Street School.

This rate increase would force the company to increase ticket prices by 50% to an average of $27 - $30 - which in this area is a lot for a community production.

They are hoping to get the board to re-evaluate this increase and will be initiating a petition to that effect.

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Grease: Are you the one I want?

The Grease revival that is scheduled to run on Broadway is undergoing an unusual casting process. The American audiences will get the chance to pick the leads. What kind of production will this lead to .... well unlike any other I think.

The preliminary ratings numbers for NBC's casting competition, "Grease: You're The One That I Want," indicate an average of 11.59 million total viewers. playbill.com

As of January 9th - there was 1.3 Million in sales after only two days of sales. The show doesn't open until July 24. Not sure what that proves other then the marketing of the show is going pretty well. I for one will reserve judgement on the quality and caliber of the actors until I check out the show.

I will say I can't imagine anyone who hasn't done any musical theater holding together for the typical eight shows a week schedule of a Broadway show.

One blogger who has weighed in on 'You're the one that I want' is playgoer

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

On Stage this Weekend in the Mid Hudson Valley - Jan 11 to Jan 14

There are several choices of shows this weekend in the mid-hudson valley. I need to get my schedule organized and see when I can go see these shows.

The Heidi Chronicles
January
12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 at 7:30 PM
January
14, 21, 28 at 2:00 PM

Pawling Theatre Company
Pawling High School Auditorium
Reservoir Road, Pawling, NY


Assassins
January 11, 12, 13,18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27 at 8:00 PM
January 14, 21, 28 at 3:00 PM


CENTERstage Productions
The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308

Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

On Stage in the Mid Hudson Valley January 4- 7, 2007

The first on Stage report of the year! Only one item that I've managed to find running this weekend, but I do know several of the performers and am certain it will be a good time.

C
avalcade of Magic

January 5, 6 at 8:00 PM
January 7 at 3:00 PM

The Center for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck
Route 308

Rhinebeck, NY
Call: (845) 876-3080

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

London Theater Museum to close January 7

The Theatre Museum in London is scheduled to be closed to the public January 7, 2007 it is due to a lack of financing for redevelopment. It is shaky when and where the collection will reopen. It is a tragedy that one of the world’s largest collections of documents and artifacts related to theater, dance, opera and other performances will no longer be available to enrich and educate the public.

The Theatre Museum was opened in its premises in Russell Street, Covent Garden, in 1987. It is a collection comprised of the theatre collections held in the Victoria and Albert Museum, notably that of Gabrielle Enthoven, and at Leighton House.

There is an online petition collecting names to save the museum on a website run by an organization called Guardians of the Theater Museum at theatremuseumguardians.org.uk

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Theater in the New Year!

Happy New Year! I've looked back on everything we've covered in 2006 here - I'm pretty pleased with the variety of topics we've covered and the increased response to it in the community.

The big stories of 2006 include everything from the staging or not staging of My Name is Rachel Corrie to Local Socially Conscientious Theater. From reviews of local productions to the fun we had onstage and backstage. Certainly a year to remember!

Now for 2007 - where will it take us?

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Plain Old Winter Garden

Cadillac didn't renew it's contract to keep it's name on the Winter Garden Theater. I've never been a big fan of corporate sponsored names - Pepsi Arena (the renamed Knickerbocker Arena) in Albany went from a historic regional name to a commercial entity.

I understand the marketing end of it and can see how it could be a great branding and PR opportunity for a company and I understand how theater and performing arts require sponsors to continue operations in the black, but I still find it a little disturbing the renaming of venues by sponsors. nytimes

Technorati tags: Hudson valley theater

Community Theater in the Mid Hudson Valley of New York. Information on shows, auditions, and our general adventures onstage, backstage and in the audience.