Today's birthdays include James Gandolfini, Jack Warden, Robert Blake, Fred Willard, Frankie Avalon, Holly Robinson Peete, Jada Pinkett, James Marsden, Greta Garbo, Agnes de Mille, and Rossano Brazzi.

It's a Privilege to See Urinetown by Peter Filichia

Lost Musicals by Ken Mandelbaum

Four B'way Shows Threaten To Close Sept. 23 -- or Sooner

Mirren/McKellen Broadway Dance of Death Going Ahead With First Preview Sept. 18

After a Pause, Arts Companies Find Their Role by Stephen Kinzer
posted at 7:12 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Monday, September 17, 2001

Husband of Broadway's LaChanze Among Missing at World Trade Center

Ragtime and Piano Lesson Actor Tommy Hollis Is Dead

15th Annual Broadway Flea Market Moves to Sept. 30; Donates Portion to Tower Fund

West End Dimmed Lights Sept. 14 in Show of Respect

"Trainspotting" Author Writes Musical

Broadway Community Donates $50,000 to Disaster Fund; Theatre Folk Generous in U.S.

Buzz Lines: Passion, perserverance, and postponements in the aftermath of the horrific events of last week.

Coming at some point in the future:
- Nobody puts Baby in a corner! Not even at John Jay...

- What is Playbill Online reading these days?

- We'll never get to heaven, till we reach that day.

- Sh-K-Boom at the Village Gate for BC/EFA and WTC Fund. Oct 1.

- 2,869,920 minutes since April 16, 1996

posted at 7:46 PM by James Marino | Item Link

A Thousand Clowns To Shutter Sunday

If You Ever Leave Me... Leaves Town

The Rocky Horror Show to Close September 23
posted at 7:13 PM by the other James | Item Link

A. Scott Falk bring us this sad news:

Regarding Tommy Hollis, I am sorry to have to inform you that he passed away on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2001.


I work for Benjamin Mordecai (producer of August Wilson's plays), and our office received a call from Tommy Hollis's manager this past week telling us that Mr. Hollis had a fatal heart attack the previous Saturday.

posted at 1:42 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Staging Shakespeare, or Something Like It

A Briton Who's Mad About Musicals

Comedy That Starts in the Muscles

A Long Day in the Life of a 'Law and Order' Juror

THE ETHICIST: Seagull tix for sale?
Thanks to mrd71 at Talkin'Broadway for pointing out the link.

Arts Groups at a Tragedy's Center Try to Assess Where to Begin by Peter Marks and Carol Vogel
Arts groups with offices or works of art that were in and near the World Trade Center are trying to measure their losses and thinking about how to recoup.

When Repetition Is Helpful Rather Than Annoying
Since Tuesday's terrorist attacks, television has displayed the full range of its power -- to spook and calm, to inform and mislead, to offer hope and trigger tears.

City Opera, Trying to Recapture Its Concentration
The City Opera opened its season on Saturday with premieres of "The Mikado" and "Der Fliegende Holländer." There were complex and conflicting feelings among audience and cast members.

Dorothy McGuire, stage, screen star, dies at 85
Oscar-nommed thesp appeared in 'Gentleman's Agreement,' 'Tree'

Producers, unions meet on B'way future
Shows lost $3 mil in revenues due to canceled perfs
In the wake of the terrorist attacks, Broadway producers met with union heads Friday to broach the subject of possible concessions to help the industry weather a potentially troublesome theater season.

Stroman/Connick Thou Shalt Not Cancels First Week of Previews
The new Susan Stroman/Harry Connick Jr. musical blames lost rehearsal time due to WTC disaster

BON JOVI IS ALLY'S SURPRISE LOVER BOY
ROCKER Jon Bon Jovi is poised to replace Robert Downey Jr. as Ally McBeal's romantic interest on "Ally McBeal" this season.

There is a lot of concern around the internet regarding Tommy Hollis, who was the original Booker T. Washington in Ragtime. Comments on Talkin'Broadway, CASTRECL and private email, have asked if anyone knows his status. Please let us know if you have any information so we can pass it on. Thanks.
posted at 9:43 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Today's birthdays include Ken Kesey, David Huddleston, Anne Bancroft, Dorothy Loudon, Paul Benedict, David Souter, John Ritter, Rita Rudner, and Kyle Chandler.

You're a Grand New Flag by Peter Filichia

Opinions on Assassins? by Peter Filichia

Papp's Pirates by Ken Mandelbaum

CDs: Bayview British by Ken Mandelbaum

Let's Face It by Ken Mandelbaum

Monty Update by Ken Mandelbaum
posted at 6:44 AM by Matthew Murray | Item Link

Sunday, September 16, 2001

The Music We Love Can Heal Us by Richard Ouzounian
Richard Ouzounian, someone who I am very lucky to count as a close friend, happens to be a theatre person working in media in Toronto. Right now he is a major critic (Toronto Star - Theatre Critic), has his own radio show (CBC Radio - Say It With Music) and works in television (CBC Television - Stratford Gold). Aside from that he is an award winning playwright. And he has a beautiful family. When people ask me how I can hold a full time job, run a production company and produce BroadwayStars, I smile and think about people like Richard who do even more than me.

I encourage everyone to tune into his radio program today at 4PM (NYC time) by pointing your web browser to www.cbc.ca/audio.html ad pick Radio Two. It promises to be an uplifting reflection of the spirit within all of us, world wide.

Some random, non-theatre thoughs.
posted at 12:17 PM by James Marino | Item Link

Saturday, September 15, 2001

The Day Before Tuesday by Frank Rich

Snapshots of Their Lives With Family and at Work
CALVIN GOODING: Finding Love With a Haircut
LaChanze's husband

Lights on, Broadway Dispels the Dark by Jesse McKinley

Broadway Cares Donates $50,000 in Honor of Firefighters
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the charity at the heart of the Broadway community, is donating $50,000 in memory of the firefighters lost from Battalion #9, "The Broadway Firehouse."

BC/EFA Flea Market Moves to September 30
The 15th Annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Flea Market and Grand Auction, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 23 will now be held on Sunday, September 30, a BC/EFA spokesperson confirmed

Shows Shift Schedules Post-Tragedy
In addition to the change in Urinetown's Broadway bow, several other shows, both on Broadway and off, have announced adjustments.

Acclaimed Costumer Barbara Matera Dies at 72
Barbara Matera, who had a career spanning five decades making costumes for Broadway, opera and ballet, died yesterday at NYU Medical Center in New York City, a spokesperson confirmed to Broadway.com.

A Relit Broadway Sings Its Defiance
Companies lead audiences in Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" on first night back

NY Theatre Community Picks Up the Pieces
At a glance: Casualties, relief efforts, memorials, benefit concerts, support groups, cancellations, ticket refunds and exchanges, and more. Latest: BC/EFA donates $50,000 to "Broadway's Firehouse," which lost 14 men.

More Off-Broadway Theatres Reopen Sept. 14
The "frozen" zone has been moved south from 14th Street to Canal Street -- meaning all the Greenwich Village theatres can reopen

Rent Cast and Crew Help Victims Get Through Season of Hate
How the companies of New York shows are pitching in to help the relief effort

The Night the Lights Went On on Broadway by Peter Filichia

How a Cast Album Saved an Actor's Life Sept. 11 by Peter Filichia

Broadway Reopened on Sept. 13 With Curtain Speeches and "God Bless America"

Daily News Off-Broadway Critic, Don Nelson, Dead at 75

PBOL'S THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, Sept. 8-14: The Show Goes On

Broadway Costume Maker Barbara Matera Is Dead at 72
posted at 9:08 AM by James Marino | Item Link

Friday, September 14, 2001

We are not alone. The world grieves with us.
Thank you Karen.

Presidentially yours: "W" made an appearance on 42nd Street this evening about 7:50PM, albeit a short one. It was heart warming to see the reception that he received given the general opinion of him in NYC around election time. The President, regardless of what you feel about him and his policies, deserves the respect of his people. I didn't vote for him; I don't agree with him on most topics; but it was an incredible honor to see him again, this time on our home field. Lets hope he comes back in the future under different circumstances and catches a show or two.

Walked throught the theatre district this evening and saw all of the shows participating in the candle lighting at 7PM. Even houses that were not operating, like the Plymouth where Thou Shalt Not seems to be finished loading in, had massive candle displays in front of it.

Ran into Hank Ungar, who I happened to mention in this space a few days ago, and spoke to him briefly about the tragedy. He talked about the need, especially in times of crisis, for theatre and the teaching tool it provides. Hank was headed over to Urinetown from his office so I let him run. As he walked across 44th Street, I could not help but think that Broadway was in good hands for the future with people like Hank working on it.
posted at 9:41 PM by James Marino | Item Link

New York's Theaters and Museums Open in a Bold Resolve to Persevere by Jesse McKinley

Broadway Braces by Michael Riedel
There is growing concern in the theater industry that the attack on the World Trade Center, coupled with an already fragile economy, will put an end to the flush times Broadway has enjoyed for the past decade.

Looking A Gift Horse In The Mouth by Clive Barnes
Normalcy comes very slowly. For a tragic moment, this show was the only game in town. And, appropriately, it was free.

There are a lot of people emailing and posting to boards expressing concern about LaChanze's husband who worked in the World Trade Center. If anyone knows any information about this, it would be appreciated.

On The Scene - Broadway's Silent Tribute

Into the Woods Auditions Go on as Planned Sept. 16
James Lapine, who wrote the script and staged the original production, plans to put on a completely new version with a re-tinkered second act.

New Danny Kaye Musical Premieres in MD, Sept. 15
Danny and Sylvia: A Musical Love Story focuses on the relationship between Kaye and his songwriting wife, Sylvia Fine.

Even To The Edge Of Doom by Tom Lynch

The Night the Lights Went On on Broadway
The adage "the show must go on" got tested Sept. 13, and the actors of Broadway rose to the occasion. Peter Filichia reports from inside a Broadway theatre on the singing and tears on the night the lights went back on. Pictured: Old Glory flutters at the Times Square TKTS booth.

'Assassins' B'way bow delayed
Rehearsals were to begin next week

Off B'way shows wait to reopen
Shows wait for call from mayor's office
As of late Thursday afternoon, several Off Broadway producers continued to wait for word from the mayor's office regarding when their shows would be able to resume performances.

Holly Hunter Opens Bog of Cats Sept. 14-Oct. 7 at San Jose Rep

Aulis Sees Double With NY Premiere Two, Oct. 4-28

2000-2001 Jeff Nominees Include big, Hedwig, Hard Times, Lear and More

Assassins Postpones Broadway Debut

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again
- James Taylor's 'Fire and Rain'

posted at 8:10 AM by James Marino | Item Link