Liza Minnelli Live a the Winter Garden. Image via Google.
Drugs. Bad hips. Worse husbands. You just can’t keep Liza Minnelli down. Even her long lost albums have a way of making comebacks.
After almost 40 years out of circulation, Liza Minnelli Live at the Winter Garden will be available next week on April 3 (and via pre-order now, exclusively through Masterworks Broadway) for the first time on CD and digital download. The remastered recordings capture her January 1974 Broadway concerts and include classic songs like “I Can See Clearly Now” and “A Quiet Thing”. According to the press release, the album “was quickly released by Columbia Records in April [1974], but had to be withdrawn from the market due to contractual conflicts over her performance of songs from the Cabaret film score, which were available on the then-current soundtrack album.”
Whatever else may be said about Liza, she’s a born entertainer, a talent that blazes through in her live recordings. Until you can get the album, want to see Liza in all her triple threat glory? Sit back and enjoy “Bye Bye Blackbird” from Liza with a Z. How many movie stars today could handle the complexity of this Bob Fosse choreography and do it with such joyful flair?
Get caught up with what’s on stage with our review round-up. And that vaguely hollow, clinking sound you hear at the end of each segment? That’s me tossing in my two cents…
Steve Kazee & Company in "Once". Photo by Joan Marcus.
The Oscar-winning indie romance, about a Dublin busker and a Czech immigrant making sweet music together, strums its way onto Broadway in a musical adaptation from edgy theater artists Enda Walsh (Penelope), John Tiffany (Black Watch) and Steven Hoggett (Peter and the Starcatcher).
“…feels as vital and surprising as the early spring that has crept up on Manhattan.” New York Times
“The show wins its standing ovations the old-fashioned way: with a love story, great songs, compelling characters and inventive stagecraft.” New York Post
“Once is a small-scale but warmly affecting show, crafted with profound respect for the power of music.” Hollywood Reporter
“The only major problem with the show…is that it overstretches its material.” Los Angeles Times
“In many ways, in fact, this Once is better than the original Once.” Associated Press
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 Evitawhen 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.
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.
The New York Times reports that the rumored stage version of Once, the indie film hit about a busker making music and finding love on the streets of Dublin, will make its debut in November. However, instead of aiming for Broadway, producers have decided to open it in a small scale production at New York Theatre Workshop. I was nervous about this property being turned into a musical given that the film is a favorite; it contains one of the most effective and swoon-worthy depictions of making music ever filmed when the lead couple performs an impromptu duet on the Oscar-winning “Falling Slowly”. So how would they possibly translate this quiet, wonderfully unassuming movie to the stage? Well, let us count the ways that the details of this announcement give me hope:
1. Just choosing to go with a small scale production says they’ve actually watched the movie. Once is about as intimate and “tiny” a story as one could imagine. A helicopter escape from Dublin or a chandelier dropping on the music shop are not necessary.
2. The irreplaceable composers (and stars) of the film, Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, are writing the score. They’re real life relationship may not have worked out, but their musical collaboration is singularly successful (listen to songs from their second album performing as The Swell Season).
3. The rest of the team is an indie all-star list: book by Enda Walsh (Penelope), direction by John Tiffany (the riveting Black Watch) and choreography by Steven Hoggett (Peter and the Starcatcher). I love big Broadway shows, but this is one time I don’t want to see the creators of Hairspray on the poster.
4. The set is described as being “a lot of empty space” and “reflects our aesthetic of prizing simplicity and theatricality.” See #1. It sounds like they’re heading for Brief Encounter territory (last year’s simply lovely Tony nominated romance) and that sounds just about right.
After the jump, watch some scenes from the film version as you listen to the achingly perfect “Falling Slowly”.
What do you do after you’ve been nominate for your first Oscar and the world is at your feet? Head to Off-Broadway. Or at least that’s what Jessie Eisenberg (The Social Network) is doing this fall. He will star in his self-penned play Asuncion, produced by Rattlestick Playwrights Theater starting October 12.
The producers of The Normal Heart are extending their “30 for $30″ ticket discount for all Thursday performances in June. Grab your old college ID and some Oil of Olay and head to the box office.
It’s summer in the city and June is about to bust out all over. Some of us are more ready than others…
Goodness, it’s been too long since I’ve watched this classic clip! There’s a lesson in it for all of us; when in doubt, act like you know what you’re doing. She’s awesome sauce.
And in that spirit, let’s take our traditional look back at the best posts of the past month–or at least the posts where we pretended we knew what we were doing.
And with the summer theater slumber approaching, don’t forget to get updates on when we’re posting by clicking that you “like” The Broadway Blog on Facebook.
We’re spanning the globe for some quick links and tidbits from the week in theater news:
Let’s start it out like a song with the announcement of New York City Center’s Encores! upcoming season, which includes the life-in-reverse Sondheim/Furth musical Merrily We Roll Along. It should be a must-see given that the show’s score is as tuneful and heartbreaking as anything Sondheim has ever produced.
Mark Rylance. Photo by Simon Annand.
You’ve got another chance to see the Holy Land…at least the theatrical kind. Producers announced that they are extending the run for Jerusalem, the invigoratingly epic new British play featuring an astonishing central turn by Mark Rylance. Tickets are now on sale through August 21.
Speaking of great performances, do you regret missing out on the divine Cate Blanchett in A Streetcar Named Desire? Learn your lesson and grab tickets for the Sydney Theater Company’s Uncle Vanya, starring the Oscar winner and making its only currently announced U.S. stop at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. in August. Tickets go on sale June 1 for members and June 10 for the rest of us.
Another movie-to-stage adaptation (this is like a free-association chain!) made news; The Pasadena Playhouse announced that it will be the home for a musical version of Sleepless in Seattle, June 2012.
The Drama Desk Awards were handed out and the Book of Mormon, War Horse and Anything Goes juggernauts rolled on. Three surprises worth noting: Norbert Leo Butz took Outstanding Actor in a Musical for Catch Me If You Can, Bobby Cannavale (The Motherf—-er with the Hat) beat out the blockbuster competition for Outstanding Actor in a Play and a limited-run Off-Broadway show, See Rock City, shockingly took the prize for Outstanding Book of a Musical from those seemingly unstoppable Mormon boys.
The long-rumored Broadway revival of Godspell is finally a go. It will play Circle in the Square beginning October 13 with direction by Daniel Goldstein and choreography by Broadway Blog friend Christopher Gattelli. With Wicked next door, they might as well dub the block Stephen Schwartz Way.
If I were a betting man (and I am if you get me near a church-picnic bingo table), I’d say the Outer Critics Circle just laid out a rock solid slate to mark off on your Tony pool ballot. Announced yesterday, the organization’s awards in major categories went to War Horse (Best Play), The Book of Mormon (Best Musical), Mark Rylance (Best Actor in a Play), Josh Gad (Best Actor in a Musical) and Sutton Foster (Best Actress in a Musical). The only wrinkle for us prediction junkies was their choice for Best Actress in a Play: a tie between Nina Arianda and Frances McDormand. It’s hard to guess which number will be called when you’ve got two great draws in the irresistible “star is born” newcomer and the beloved Hollywood star-power vet. My favorite win, though, was Laura Benanti’s well-deserved trophy for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for the much-maligned Women on the Verge of a Nervouse Breakdown; just thinking back to her hysterical turn makes me want to climb up on my folding chair and shout, “Bingo!”
Continue reading after the jump for the Obie Award winners and video of a surprise Broadway wedding proposal…
"The Importance of Being Earnest". Photo by Joan Marcus.
In the olden days (you know, like maybe five years ago), the only way you could see the latest Broadway hit at the movies was in a high class adaptation, opened up to make it feel less stage-bound and cast with big stars on an Oscar hunt. Now, thanks to the Metropolitan Opera’s innovative and highly successful The Met: Live in HD program, theater producers are packaging special screenings of plays and musicals, filmed live and then shown for very limited engagements at movie theaters. Tickets cost a fraction of Broadway seats and the quality of the filming is highly accomplished; a friend of mine actually called a recent screening of Danny Boyle’s Frankenstein, “live” from the National Theatre in London, his favorite theater experience of the year so far. So, ignore that slightly dubious feeling and grab your tickets now for these three blockbuster “stage to screen” engagements, currently scheduled for June:
The Tony-nominated revival of The Importance of Being Earnest, starring the glorious Brian Bedford as Lady Bracknell, quips its way into digital movie theaters beginning June 2. Tossing in a little added value with the bon mots, the screenings will feature behind-the-scenes footage hosted by David Hyde Pierce and an expert’s take on Oscar Wilde during intermission.
"The Cherry Orchard". Photo by Jim Naughten.
Did you get tickets to the star-crammed concert version of Company at the New York Philharmonic this spring? Neither did I. But now you can see Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert, Patti LuPone and more on the big screen and feel sorry/grateful for yourself. Sondheim’s boundary-pushing look at marriage and “being alive” beams into select movie theaters starting June 15.
London’s calling again with screenings of the National Theatre’s The Cherry Orchardbeginning June 30. Starring Zoe Wanamaker in a new adaptation by Andrew Upton (that’s Mr. Cate Blanchett to cinema buffs), this production is sure to be worth a look.
Born Yesterday's Nina Arianda. Photo by Carol Rosegg.
Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Nina Arianda. She made her Broadway debut last night in the revival of the classic Garson Kanin comedy Born Yesterday and, cue the trumpets and flashbulbs, a star is born. (Why does writing about theater make me sound like I’m wearing a fedora and smoking a cigar?)
Fresh from NYU, Arianda won raves last year for her role in the Off-Broadway play Venus in Fur,but this performance should kick her into the stratosphere. As the smarter-than-she knows gangster moll with a yen for gin (bottled and shuffled), Arianda is brash and funny yet also surprisingly touching, all while following in the incredibly daunting footsteps of the role’s originator, the Tony and Oscar-winning Judy Holliday. Ably supported by Robert Sean Leonard as the man charged with classing her up for the D.C. political scene, she is wonderfully present and alive in what could be just an extended dumb blonde joke. Whether off-handedly discovering her lingerie has a train (like a puppy startled by her shadow) or welling up at the thought of her hard-working father, she creates magic within this solidly entertaining though certainly old-fashioned play.
