Cory Michael Smith of "C*ck". Image via YouTube.

C*ck, the controversial new British import by Mike Bartlett, begins previews Off-Broadway on May 1 at the Duke Theater — but what exactly is C*ck? Well, first off, it’s an Olivier Award-winning play that tackles sexual politics in our post-gay world as a young man falls in love with a woman, much to his boyfriend’s displeasure. Secondly, it’s a show that is causing ripples because its title can’t be printed by some news outlets. In addition, and speaking from experience, it’s part of a phrase (“c*ck play”) that one should be very careful about googling; my browser history is still blushing. Try “c*ck play off-broadway” perhaps?

But don’t take my word for it, watch this video sneak preview as the cast and creative staff explain it all for you…

Read more…

Andrew Garfield & Finn Wittrock in "Death of a Salesman". Photo by Brigitte Lacombe.

It’s raining men in a drenched round-up of the week’s theater headlines:

• The superstar combo of director Mike Nichols, Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield’s arms (at least judging by the press pic) opened last night in a revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman to mixed and glowing reviews. And about those press pictures, what do you think of the arty/appropriate/cool/pretentious choice to release only black and white images for the 60 year old play?

• 

  Gavin Creel. Photo by Monica Simoes.

  Supporting the March 20 release of his new album Get Out, my imaginary boyfriend and double Tony-nominee Gavin Creel will perform two sold out concerts at Joe’s Pub March 19. For those of us who don’t have tickets (or who are barred from attending because of restraining orders), the wonders of modern technology will allow us to watch it all via livestream on the web, Monday night at 9:30.

• Remember the Ricky Martin video where everyone is dancing around in a sexy deluge? Well, it was like that (except not so sexy, I assume) on the stage of Martin’s revival of Evita when a fire safety mechanism misfired and drenched the stage after the first preview Monday night. The Tuesday night and Wednesday matinee performances were canceled for clean-up and a rehearsal.

• Thank the Gods! My current talent crush Denis O’Hare and partner in storytelling Stephen Spinella are getting an extra week of performances now that An Iliad has been extended until April 1 at New York Theatre Workshop.

• The Olivier Awards (London’s Tony equivalent) announced their 2012 nominees including multiple nods for Broadway bound shows like Matilda: The Musical, Ghost: The Musical, and One Man, Two Guvnors. In a Billy Elliot-style twist, two acting categories featured single nominations for multiple people sharing the same role: four young Matildas, two alternating Frankensteins…and a partridge in a pear tree.

• Thinking person’s Hollywood heartthrob David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck) will join Jessica Chastain in next season’s revival of The Heiress. This one is definitely getting interesting.

Image via www.legallyblondethemusical.co.uk

Perhaps that thing about Americans being hot for a British accent works in the other direction as well. The Society of London Theater handed out their prestigious Olivier Awards Sunday night and the top two prizes went to American works. Legally Blonde – The Musical was named Best New Musical and the MasterCard Best New Play award went to Bruce Norris’ Clybourne Park. (Do the producers and playwright get unlimited credit for a year?) Topping off the Yankee invasion, music theater legend Stephen Sondheim was awarded the Olivier Special Award and fêted with an all-star tribute lead by Angela Lansbury. Check out the Olivier Awards website for a full list of winners and pictures from the event.