A Live TV Version Of GREASE On Fox in 2015

In TV and movies, success always inspires imitation. So after the smashing return of live musicals to television with NBC's SOUND OF MUSIC last December, now other networks are getting in on the game. 

EW reports today that Fox is going to do a 3-hour live version of the classic 50s musical. The film version's John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John have always been the Danny/Sandy combo to beat. So it will be interesting what sort of casting craziness they try to spark some similar chemistry. 

Already, some suggestions out there in the Twitter-verse are Zac Efron and Taylor Swift. While that sounds good on paper, there might be that problem of acting which caused a lot of critical concern with the theatrical novice Carrie Underwood "playing" Maria in SOUND OF MUSIC. But then again, it's live TV so it's really all about the number of eyeballs they can get to the sets for a show that everyone knows backwards and forwards. Let the casting games begin!

The YANK! Cast Recording Is Now Available And It's A Classic

Last night, I went to the York Theater to celebrate the official release of the cast album for YANK!, a musical about gay soldiers in WWII written by my colleagues David and Joe Zellnik. (You can download it today via iTunes for just 10 clams!) From when I first heard about the idea for this show, I've been a big fan and I've seen it more than a few times, in it's many incarnations, from a reading in a rehearsal studio on 42nd Street to a beautiful production at the Gallery Players in Brooklyn.
But these did not prepare me for how amazing this recording is.

With rich orchestrations by Bway vet Jonathan Tunick and a jazzy Big Band sound, listening to these songs is now somewhat like discovering the old '40s era journal that kicks off the show's opening scene; these songs sound like a time capsule from a long lost past that is familiar yet strikingly different too. If you like your musical theatre old school, this show is like something from the 1940s except for the fact that it's memorable songs, especially the aching "Reme'bring You", are about two men who fall in love during WWII.

I was a supporter of the Kickstarter campaign that made this beautiful CD possible. Now that its available to the public, David and Joe are hoping that as this music gets out into the world, more productions of the show will happen and eventually the show will end up where it deserves to be--on Broadway. Hey...if the gays can play for the NBA, anything is possible!  :)

NBC Planning New Musicals After SOUND Success

NBC got a blockbuster audience of nearly 19 million people to watch the live broadcast of a musical last week. Given those spectacular numbers, they are already planning to do it again next holiday season. There's an article in today's TIMES saying that they've been getting lots of suggestions and have already narrowed it down to a few choices.

Though there was a cacophony of criticism about Carrie Underwood's performance as Maria, I just think it's great they are bringing the musical form back to television. I've always believed there is so much talent in New York theatre that could be presented in this way--hey, it worked pretty well in the 1950s and introduced stars like James Dean and Paul Newman to a national audience. In fact, SOUND OF MUSIC did the exact same thing with Audra McDonald last week.

Mainly known in NYC as an amazing actor/singer/Tony winner, Ms. McDonald is now a national treasure with her showcasing as Mother Superior last Thursday night.  It was a remarkable performance which was easily the highlight of the show and, during one of their songs together, actually made Carrie Underwood even better in her role (as many bloggers and critics have noted). I have seen her many times here in the city, most memorably in one of her first roles in CAROUSEL, and she is a truly incredible talent who deserves more attention on the national stage.

Neil Patrick Harris Is Hedwig!

After singing and dancing up a storm at awards show telecasts, Neil Patrick Harris will finally have a Broadway show of his own. He is starring in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH, which will make it to the Great White Way finally after a years-long off-broadway run, a feature film and countless productions around the world. The glittery/glam poster for the new show was released today and posted over on the Hollywood Reporter's website.

I saw the original show three times, with the show's writer/co-creator John Cameron Mitchell playing the lead and then Michael Cerveris and finally Matt McGrath. I even saw the show's first "workshop" production which happened at the infamous Squeezebox night at Don Hill's, where John took the stage in that feathered wig and started telling stories about being a East German/cross-dressing/babysitter. At the time, it was all kind of amazing, strangely funny, and somewhat baffling but when the band kicked in, Hedwig truly rocked and the crowd really roared.

Anyway, I'm excited to see NPH take on this iconic role and bring his own spin to this now-legendary larger-than-life character. And also to see director Michael Mayer, known for his work on SPRING AWAKENING and the TV show SMASH!, breathe new life into this classic show and score. Hedwig takes her wig off the shelf and takes the stage at the Belasco on March 29, 2014.

An Extraordinary SUNDAY...In Paris

This weekend, I spent a lovely Sunday afternoon listening online to the broadcast of Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE that was performed last Thursday evening at the Theatre Du Chatelet in Paris. The broadcast is available on Radio France's website until May 25th and is well worth checking out. It helps to have a knowledge of the show, as this is only radio, but it's a remarkable recording of Sondheim's now classic show about the making of art.

This is a particularly extraordinary production  as it has a super-sized orchestra of more than 40 instruments. That's nearly quadruple the pit of 11 that the show was written for as a chamber musical. But, this being Sondheim, it certainly holds up to the upsizing, especially when it gets to the sumptuous and triumphant arrangement of the first act closing number. The show, which had an equally extravagant visual production, was taped live though there is no word on when it might be seen stateside. Hopefully, it will make it to PBS where it would make a wonderful bookend to the original production which made such an impression on me years ago when I first saw it on AMERICAN PLAYHOUSE, starring Bernadette Peters and Mandy Patinkin.

The Miracle on 42nd Street Xmas Video

So I know this video is not new...it made the NYC-viral rounds last year during the holidaze. But, cleverly created by two Bway gypies who've got spunk and pizazz to spare, it is so good that I wanted to share it here again. It truly fills me with the joy of the season. I mean Mariah Carey, jazz hands, and Santa-inspired unitards. What's not to like!

Wishing everyone the merriest of Christmases and a joyous, dance-filled New Years!  :)

ONE TERM MORE--Musical Video In Support of Obama

This has been making the viral rounds today, in support of Obama's reelection. It's called a musical parody but it seems pretty serious (including an odd cameo by Trayvon Marin), though there are a few hysterical/clever rhymes as well. Was this funded by a Democratic superPAC? Or maybe the actors just chipped in. Either way, it's well done and almost stirring too at the end.  That picture of Obama in Rosa Park's bus seat helps.  One Term More--to the barricades, Broadway!

Two Actors From WTC VIEW On Broadway

Lucas Papaelias, who played "Kevin" in my second feature film WTC VIEW, made his Broadway debut last night in the new musical ONCE.  ONCE is an adaptation of the musical film by the same name which came out to much acclaim (and even an Academy Award) back in 2006. Lucas, who is a talented musician in addition to being a fantastic actor, was in the original production of the show last fall at New York Theatre Workshop.  

Lucas now joins Michael Urie, who played "Eric", as the second cast member from my little indie film currently on the Great White Way! Michael joined the HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS last month, playing "Bud Frump" opposite Darren Criss and now Nick Jonas.  

It's a thrill for me as I've known both these actors for a while and it's so amazing to see them just keep getting better while also getting bigger and bigger stages on which to perform.  I met Lucas in 2000 when he starred in a one-act play of mine called SEX AND THE ONE ACT, which won best play at the CenterStage One Act Festival.  I met Michael a year later, after seeing him in a production of LOVE AND HAPPINESS at Barrington Stage Company. That show was directed by Andrew Volkoff who went on the direct WTC in it's Fringe festival debut and off-Broadway last year at 59E59 Theaters.  

Anyway, congrats to them both!  And if you're looking for great theatre this spring, I urge you to check out these shows.  

Coming to NBC....GLEE For Adults

So yesterday, I posted about PAN AM, which looked to be one of the more exciting entries in the new fall TV season.  Well, now I have seen what is easily the most awesome looking trailer for a new show since Fox started airing those enticing GLEE promos two years ago.  Apparently I'm not alone my enthusiasm as, after reading through the reviews TV upfronts last week, this was the most buzzed about show.

SMASH is a behind the scenes look at the making of a Broadway show.  That alone got my interest when I first heard about this show when the pilot was announced back in January.  But what makes it this truly extraordinary is the talent involved in putting it all together;  Steven Spielberg is the executive producer, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (CHICAGO, HAIRSPRAY) are the lead producers, playwright Teresa Rebeck (THE UNDERSTUDY, MAURITIUS) is the writer,  Michael Mayer (AMERICAN IDIOT, SPRING AWAKENING) is the director, and the music is by Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman (HAIRSPRAY).  Whoa.

The cast has Megan Hilty (who I saw in WICKED) and American Idol contestant Katharine McPhee as two talented ladies battling for the role of Marilyn Monroe in a musical about the icon's life.  And from the looks of this 5 minute trailer, which I have watched more than 5 times(!), this is gonna be great. The show will be doing original songs each week and the two that are featured in this preview are just fantastic, especially the last number.

The only drawback is, like GLEE, there's going to be something of a wait involved before this makes it on air.  The show is slated for January 2012 so that it can premiere after NBC's new hit THE VOICE. This is, of course, the same strategy employed with GLEE, premiering after IDOL. Let's just hope that ratings lightning will strike twice for this remarkable looking show.

Gay WWII Musical YANK! Announces Cast

Last fall, I posted about a new American musical called YANK!  Today they announced their stellar cast on Playbill.com for a production next month at The York Theatre.  Previews start Feb. 16 and tickets are on sale now. Also,  discounts are available if you join the YANK! fan page on FB. 


Bobby Steggert, who recently wowed critics in the "Ragtime" revival, is playing the lead, a young Army recruit named Stu who falls in love with another solider. I saw Bobby in this role a couple years back at the Gallery Player's production in Brooklyn and he was fantastic.  He's a true song and dance man (as they used to say) who's got charisma to spare...easily a superstar of tomorrow. Originally, he was not scheduled to be in the new YANK! but then "Ragtime" got cancelled and, as they say, a door closed but a window of opportunity opened.  :)  


There are a number of people from the Gallery cast returning, like Nancy Anderson and Tally Sessions who were also fantastic.  There's also some new "draftees" from the Great White Way, including actors from the recent productions of "A Chorus Line" and "Spring Awakening".  All in all, this is shaping up to be a great show....which, personally, I cannot wait to see again.  

A Gay World War II Musical

When people complain that there is a dearth of new musicals on Broadway, I usually tell them they are looking in the wrong place. In fact, there are plenty of new American musicals these days at small theatre companies (like Second Stage, where "Next To Normal" got its start) or local theatre festivals (like NYMF, which is currently going on now).

Last night, I got an interesting look at one of the most unusual and compelling musicals of the current season; the gay Word War II tuner "Yank!". The JCC presented the show's all-in-the-family creative team, brothers David and Joe Zellnik, as they sang a few selections from the tuneful score and talked about how they collaborated on their third stage musical.

Named after the Army's own newspaper written by and for soldiers during the war, "Yank!" is an old fashioned show with a new fashioned twist; a gay love story during wartime...with tap numbers! The story of "Yank!" follows a young inductee named Stu as he falls for another man in uniform named Mitch. Thoroughly researched, the show is based on the secret history of The Greatest Generation gays who, in many ways, laid the groundwork for Stonewall and the modern gay rights movement. Other than Allan Berube's amazing book "Coming Out Under Fire", these stories have stayed fairly hidden over the last 60-odd years. David Zellnik pointed out that in Tom Brokaw's bestselling book about the war, he didn't find one gay veteran to interview.

Thus "Yank!", like the soldiers it portrays, is on a mission not only to entertain but enlighten. And the show, which I saw in its earlier incarnation at the Gallery Players in Brooklyn, does just that. So if you're looking for a fun new musical, "Yank!" is definitely one to check out. It's happening at the York Theatre, with previews beginning February 16, 2010. Tickets are already on sale at their website so do yourself a favor....go see a real, live NEW American musical.