Archive for January, 2008
Exit Interview: Elisabeth Withers-Mendes, The Color Purple
January 31, 2008 8:10 pm
Sure, a series of divas have excelled in the leading role of Celie (not Effie—thanks Alex and Matt!) over at The Color Purple, but I’ve always been particularly blown away with the stylings of Elisabeth Withers-Mendes as sexy Shug Avery. Sadly, tonight marks her last night in the show (despite an earlier announcement that she’d return for the final day of performances) so I sat down for an Exit Interview with the one-of-a-kind star, who will hopefully be back around these parts sooner rather than later!
Name: Elisabeth Withers (aka Elisabeth Withers-Mendes)
Job Title: Shug Avery
Company: The Color Purple
Date of Hire: June 13, 2005 (the day the workshop began)
What is your primary reason for leaving? The show is closing on February 24, 2008.
Did anything trigger your decision to leave? When I recently renewed my contract for the third time, I asked for a month’s leave during February. Days later, it was announced that the show would be closing.
What was most satisfying about your job? The solitude of my dressing room.
What was least satisfying about your job? The moods of the weather.
Did your job duties turn out to be as you expected? It was everything I expected and most of what I hoped for.
Did you receive enough training to do your job effectively? My cast, crew and director were the best teachers.
Did this job help you to fulfill your career goals? It was an awesome extension of what I love to do.
What did you like most about this company? The brilliant Marsha Norman
What has been the highlight of your time with the company? Getting through the tough times and being a stronger, more focused person because of it.
What did you learn from the experience of this job? You gotta love what you do!
What will you miss most about this job? My hats. I love my hats!
What are your future career goals? I am living my dream daily. The journey has been as wonderful as my ultimate destination. So I’m enjoying the trip!
Any other comments? Check out myspace.com/elisabethwithers. Be sure to pick up my current album It Can Happen to Anyone and world, look out for my second album!
First Look: A Catered Affair, The Poster
January 30, 2008 7:04 pm
There it is, the Norman Rockwell-influenced artwork for the upcoming A Catered Affair. As the show harks back to days when stories and characters actually meant something, I suppose it’s only appropriate that the poster for the show have such an old-fashioned spin. The drawing is by Charles Pyle. Since it’s not every day you get to see illustrations of your favorite Broadway stars, I’ve included some close-ups below. So why are they all perched on a taxi top? Go see the show and find out!
Matt Cavenaugh and Leslie Kritzer as the newlyweds-to-be.
Faith Prince and Tom Wopat as her folks.
Harvey Fierstein as Uncle Winston.
Fans packed into Virgin Megastore Times Square, giving Broadway sweetheart Idina Menzel a stellar turnout for her first CD singing and signing. The brunette beauty performed six full songs (including the first single, “Brave”) from her new Warner Bros. CD I Stand for the crowd as hubby Taye Diggs and her proud father watched from the sidelines. Sorry you missed it? Video is on the way! Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Idina takes to the stage.
A smile for the camera during the post-concert CD signing.
Awww! Hubby Taye gives her a smooch after the show.
At Last, Jerry Springer!
January 29, 2008 11:55 pmThe London smash Jerry Springer: The Opera, which was supposed to have landed on Broadway three years ago, finally made it to New York City by way of a two-night concert presentation at Carnegie Hall. Here are some advance snaps, both from the audience and backstage. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Harvey Keitel as Jerry Springer with the prerequisite Ku Klux Klan dance number!
Two highlights of the show: Seeing Max von Essen (left) in trannie garb and the fabulous Katrina Rose Dideriksen (right) as Shawntel, who rose the rafters with the song “I Just Wanna Dance.”
Keitel and musical director Stephen Oremus during the curtain call.
Keitel (right) and David Bedella, who won an Olivier for playing his dual roles in the original London production.
Jerry Springer co-author Richard Thomas and producer Jared Geller.
Castmates Sean Jennes, von Essen and Lawrence Clayton.
Emily Skinner, who starred in the concert, with director Jason Moore.
Spotted in the crowd: The View buds Joy Behar and Mario Cantone.
This Is the Moment
4:33 pm
OK, Wick-ies, or whatever you call yourselves these days… Time to get on the green and head down to Virgin Megastore Times Square for the big Idina Menzel album signing and live performance at 6:30PM. That’s right, her eagerly-anticipated Warner Bros. release (I Stand) is in stores today so get out and support a Broadway diva!
Photo Tease: Totally Honored
4:11 pmThe kids from Spring Awakening took their night off to watch themselves get spoofed by the Forbidden Broadway crew. Here’s an advance peek at the clashing of two very different shows. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Three Moritzs! Original star John Gallagher Jr., FB star Michael West and new Moritz Blake Bashoff.
Photo Tease: Mermaid & Moore
January 28, 2008 4:25 am
Clearly, the hottest Hollywood celebrities needed a new family show on Broadway to take their kids to! Julianne Moore is the latest A-lister to show up at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre for a performance of Disney’s The Little Mermaid. Of course, her mini-me Liv was in tow for a backstage visit with star Sierra Boggess. Photo by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Photo Tease: Phantom at 20
January 27, 2008 4:06 pmYet another milestone for The Phantom of the Opera! The cast and crew of the longest-running show on Broadway toasted the musical’s 20th anniversary on Saturday night in the penthouse of the Dream Hotel. Here’s an advance peek of the festivities.
Current stars Jennifer Hope Wills, Howard McGillin and Tim Martin Gleason.
Photo Exclusive: Meet Jane and Ralph
January 23, 2008 6:45 pm
Check out this adorable exclusive from the folks at A Catered Affair, which starts March 25 at the Walter Kerr: studio shots of the show’s young lovers, Leslie Kritzer and Matt Cavenaugh. The up-and-comers play Jane Hurley and fiance Ralph Halloran, two starry-eyed lovers in 1953 Bronx. How much do you love the taxi shot?! Photos by Jim Cox
Jersey Boys, Version 1.2
12:05 pmHere’s a first look at Broadway’s new Jersey Boys quartet: original stars Christian Hoff and J. Robert Spencer joined with new stars Michael Longoria and Sebastian Arcelus. Enjoy! Photos by Joan Marcus
The classic “around the mic” shot: Spencer, Longoria, Arcelus and Hoff.
The classic finale shot: Arcelus, Longoria, Hoff and Spencer.
Stage Notes
