Friday, December 11, 2009

Bits and Pieces for 12.11.09

Ahh... the weekend is upon us... the holidays grow closer... man, do I love winter!

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK

  • A new feature: Looking back at Broadway shows. Up first, The Mystery of Edwin Drood
  • DVD Review: Were the World Mine
  • My 100th Blog!
  • Shows I'm looking forward to this winter
  • Cast Recording Grammy Nominees
  • Looking Back, Part II: The Creatives Behind Drood
P.S.: I'm sorry that the Wednesday blog showed up on Monday. I have no idea why!


MEMPHIS STAR INTERVIEWED

This week, Playbill Online posted a great (and pretty lengthy) interview with the fantastic Montego Glover, star of Memphis. She gives some pretty good insight into developing a character over a six year period versus what it is like now that the show is complete. Sounds like there is a friendly love affair between her and co-star Chad Kimball. In every interview, they both just gush about each other. I can't imagine sticking with a show for six years and hating your co-star!

Anyway, here's the link:

http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/135010-DIVA-TALK-Chatting-with-Memphis-Montego-Glover

Enjoy!


A LITTLE NIGHT PICTURE

These pictures, by Joan Marcus, have me even more excited about A Little Night Music!

Sophisticated grace...

...timeless grace...


...and careful elegance.

SPEAKING OF MEMPHIS AND A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Just today, it was announced that A Little Night Music will be getting a cast recording on PS Classics/Nonesuch Records. It will be recorded in early January. And those sneaky devils over at Memphis went and did what they promised! The cast recording was done (apparently under the cover of darkness) in November and is available, as promised, before the end of the year! The drawback? As of now, it is only available at the Shubert Theatre or online at MemphistheMusical.com. Online it is $24.95, plush shipping and handling. Trust me! It is worth whatever they charge. Memphis will live in you from the time you hear it!

IS THE END NEAR FOR IN THE HEIGHTS?

Within the space of a week, the normally quiet and successful In the Heights made the theatre news twice. First, it was announced that Rodgers and Hammerstein (R&H) would be handling the rights to stock and amateur productions. Then, Wednesday, they announced the casting of High School Musical's Corbin Bleu as Usnavi for a run this winter. Either one separately might have raised an eyebrow or two, but together, it really has me wondering...

Generally, a show announces the holder of distribution rights as the commercial run nears an end. Exceptions to that rule are the mega-hits, which have run the National Tour course, but are still holding their own in New York. Examples of this include Beauty and the Beast, A Chorus Line, Cats and The Phantom of the Opera. And unless we are talking a Weissler show like Grease! or Chicago, stunt casting is usually a sign that times ahead are thin, and maybe this star can get us through a rough patch.

Don't get me wrong, I think Mr. Bleu has talent - most kids from the Disney machine do - but I think this is stunt casting in that his key audience -'tween girls and slightly older - aren't necessarily the same audience as In the Heights has been drawing. The girls should give a bump to the B.O. But there is also this to consider. Regardless of how old he really is, he looks very young and is associated with very young. Will audiences buy him as Usnavi? My first thought was his hormonally challenged, younger cousin. Or maybe Benny. But Usnavi!? Time will tell!

Comments? Leave one here or write to me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com

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