Archive for October, 2006
Photo Tease: Daphne & Raul, Six Halloweens Later
October 31, 2006 3:01 am
On Halloween 2000, Daphne Rubin-Vega and then-newcomer Raul Esparza were in previews with The Rocky Horror Show, playing out the sick incestuous relationship between Magenta and Riff-Raff (left). Six years later and both of them have taken their careers in bold directions—she offering a new spin on Fantine in the revival of Les Miserables and he exploring the leading role of Bobby in Stephen Sondheim’s ultimate bachelor musical, Company. On Halloween eve 2006, Broadway.com caught up with both bright stars on opposite sides of the city. Daphne offered up a concert at the Cutting Room in honor of her new CD on Sh-K-Boom Records, Redemption Songs. Raul, meanwhile, was celebrating the first preview performance of Company with his cast at Harmony View on 50th Street. Though they may have been apart, I bring them together in this Photo Tease.
Daphne sings for her fans and shows off her new CD.
Raul scares up a festive centerpiece.
From Shy Boy to Surfer Boy
October 30, 2006 11:04 pm
Who’s the real Jason Tam?! The mild-mannered Broadway up-and-comer who plays Paul in A Chorus Line or the red-hot surf hunk star of the TV show Beyond the Break? Hmm… Maybe somewhere in the middle? I found out about Jason’s side gig playing Kurt “Shoe” Shoemaker on the teen drama, which can be found on the new network called The N, while researching his On the Line video profile. Watch the video, which we shot in the Greenwich Village apartment he shares with some friends, and also find out about Jason’s Broadway debut as a kid in Les Miserables—and the time he had to go onstage in drag! Watch his video!
Exclusive Photo Peek: Mary Poppins
October 29, 2006 11:05 pm
Mary Poppins has landed on Broadway, taking residence at the New Amsterdam Theatre. The lavish Disney musical is now in previews, with an opening night set for November 16. Broadway.com is happy to present an exclusive sneak photo peek at the Broadway cast of the show. Above are Henry Hodges (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Michael Banks, Ashley Brown (Beauty and the Beast) as Mary Poppins and Katherine Leigh Doherty as Jane Banks singing the Act One song “Practically Perfect” shortly after Mary’s arrival at 17 Cherry Tree Lane. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Wicked gave back some love to the city of New York for the third year in a row earlier today with “Wicked Day,” the annual street fair that celebrates the mega-hit and its ravenous fans. Of course, Broadway.com photographer Bruce Glikas was there. Here’s a tease of our upcoming Photo Op.
Glinda and Elphaba, 2026 cast.
Left: A shaded Carol Kane, Wicked’s Madame Morrible.
Right: David Garrison, the Wizard himself, will see you now.
Left: Jenna Leigh Green, who plays Nessarose, with former Bare co-star Michael Arden, now performing three blocks away in The Times They Are A-Changin’.
Right: The ever-popular Matthew Morrison poses with a little blue friend.
Photo Tease: Donny and Marie at Sardi’s
October 28, 2006 3:59 pmIn many ways, I credit the showbiz stylings of TV’s The Donny and Marie Show for my interest in all things musical and theatrical as a child. So it’s been nice to watch both Donny Osmond and little sis Marie Osmond “make it” on Broadway over the years—he with his current extended gig as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast and she as a delightful replacement Anna in The King and I years ago. Last night, Marie came out to support Donny on the occasion of the unveiling of his Sardi’s caricature and was surprised with her very own! Broadway.com shutterbug Bruce Glikas was there for their historic moment.
An Osmond first! Donny and Marie on the wall.
The siblings show off Donny & Marie: Volume 1, a new DVD set which hits stores November 7. (I need this now!)
Donny’s B&TB co-stars Meredith Inglesby (who plays Babette), Mary Stout (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Sarah Uriarte Berry (Belle) and Jeanne Lehman (Mrs. Potts).
Stage Notes Video Extras: Having Fun with the Mamma Mia! Cast
October 27, 2006 6:23 pmLast week, I hung out with the cast of Mamma Mia! as they celebrated their 5th anniversary at Bar Americain. I chatted with everyone about why the show is a big success, blah, blah, blah… That video footage can be found here. But I also had a little fun, asking some off the cuff questions for some quirky Stage Notes Video Extras.
Question #1: What is your most embarrassing Mamma Mia! moment? (Original cast member Tina Maddigan is acting hers out below!) Click to watch!
Question #2: Who should star in the upcoming Mamma Mia! movie? (Current star Carolee Carmello has a special idea for how the producers can use her talents.) Click to watch!
Quoted: A Finger-Lickin’ Brit!
3:13 pm
Gavin Lee, now starring in Mary Poppins at the New Amsterdam Theatre, is a Dallas BBQ freak! In his Fresh Face interview with Katie Riegel, the uprooted Brit admits to an addiction for the chicken, ribs and fruity drinks restaurant, (perhaps too) conveniently located right across the street:
“I can’t get enough of Dallas BBQ! My favorite is baby back ribs. In England, they’re not normally very good. I like American home-cooked food. I like gravies. We don’t have white gravy. Janelle [Robinson] in the cast was telling me, ‘Oh I’ll take you up [to Harlem] to Mama’s home cooking place!’”
Welcome to New York, Gavin!
The Times They Are A-Changin’ opened last night at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. Bob Dylan, whose songs link a loose narrative in the Twyla Tharp musical, wasn’t on the RSVP list for the post-show party at Roseland, but the cast had a great time anyway. Here’s a tease of our Op. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Tharp kicks up her heel as she joins leads Lisa Brescia,
Michael Arden and Thom Sesma for the curtain call.
The leads arrive at Roseland.
(Hey Thom, can you get us a copy of that?!)
Left: Show stars Charlie Neshbya-Hodges, John Selya and Selya’s very lucky other half, Lisa Gajda. Right: Twyla & Thom.
At the carnival-themed party, Brescia won a new best friend!
Hey Michael, Twyla’s the only one who can lick the frosting!
Exclusive Photo Peek: Mimi le Duck
October 26, 2006 2:12 amI became a big fan of the French-flavored Mimi le Duck, currently in previews at New World Stages for a November 6 opening, during its initial run as part of the FringeNYC Festival a couple of years back. I haven’t seen the new off-Broadway incarnation yet (which reunites much of the Fringe cast, with the addition of the delicious Eartha Kitt), but these exclusive advance production shots landed in my InBox today. Check them out—and check out Mimi le Duck!
Annie Golden as Miriam (turned “Mimi”)
and Kitt as chanteuse Madame Vallet.
Eartha in full diva mode.
Golden in one of Mimi le Duck’s quirkier scenes.
Golden with onstage buddy Clay (played by Candy Buckley).
In the show, Miriam is inspired by the ghost
of Ernest Hemingway (Allen Fitzpatrick).
Confused? Just go see it!
Photo Tease: Southern-Fried Camp
12:38 amMy Deah, the high-camp Southern version of Medea by John Epperson (aka Lypsinka) opened last night at the Abingdon Theatre Company. Nancy Opel headlines a cast of eight as My Deah Hedgepeth, with Grease 2 legend Maxwell Caulfield as husband Gator. Based on these photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com, it seems that Maxwell continues his reputation for onstage shirtlessness intact with this latest gig! My Deah runs through November 12.
Opel and Caulfield onstage during the curtain call…
…and offstage out of costume.
Stage Notes
