Archive for March, 2008
Rotten in Mexico City!
March 26, 2008 1:10 pm
Boy do I wish I were in Mexico City tomorrow night for the opening of Una Eva y Dos Patanes, the Spanish-language version of one of my favorite shows, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels! (I don’t know exactly how to translate that title, but it sounds better than “Sinvergüenzas Putrefactos Sucios,” which is what I got when I translated the Broadway title online!) Pictured above are stars Jacqueline Voltaire, Dario Ripoll, Alessandra Rosaldo, Eugenio Derbez, Shaula Vega and Eugenio Montessoro. Rompa una pierna, amigos!
I’m happy to share this bootleg video of a late night piano bar moment from the R Family spring cruise to Mexico of Wicked favorite Shoshana Bean plowing through 11 dream role songs—all written, naturally, for African-Americans. Wind her up and watch this girl go!
Postcards from Rosie’s Mexico Cruise: Day Seven
March 23, 2008 6:35 pmThe 1970s were king on the final day of the R Family Vacation spring 2008 cruise to Mexico. Afros, polyester and a lot of groovy beats kept the evening’s tribute to the music of the decade fast and fun. Check out some of the highlights. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Members of the company of the show pose backstage
with musical director Seth Rudetsky at center.
Julia Murney sounded terrific belting out a couple of Linda Ronstadt tunes.
Smaller cruisers who took the onboard Rosie’s Broadway Kids
classes during the week joined Kevin Chamberlin onstage
for Barry Manilow’s “Daybreak.”
Matt Zarley and Gavin Creel offered a gender twist
on the disco classic “Enough is Enough.”
Speaking of disco favorites, Shoshana Bean rocked “
I Will Survive” (and her hot green and gold dress!).
Former Mamma Mia! Las Vegas star Traci Lyn Thomas sang
“The Winner Takes It All” from that show.
Jimmy Smagula (and girls) crooned “Love Will Keep Us Together.”
Marya Grandy (The Great American Trailer Park Musical,
Les Miserables) sings out “Last Dance.”
Finale!
Who’s that masked man? Gavin Creel!
Postcards from Rosie’s Mexico Cruise: Day Six
March 21, 2008 5:33 pmEven though the Oosterdam started its journey back to San Diego, the action onboard was still in full swing on Day Six of the R Family spring cruise. Check it out for yourself. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
In the afternoon, Seth Rudetsky hosted a special onboard Chatterbox featuring two of the fabulous ladies who’ve played Elphaba in Wicked: Julia Murney and Shoshana Bean.
This talented bunch came together to sing kid-friendly songs for the younger set onboard. R Family honchos Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli O’Donnell frame the shot as Mighty Mouse and Wonder Woman
(it was hero dress-up night!).
Bean goes under the sea to sing “Part of Your World”
from The Little Mermaid.
Craig D’Amico belted out “Go the Distance” from Hercules.
Murney had her second Julie Andrews moment of the week,
performing “Do Re Mi” from The Sound of Music.
Jimmy Smagula delighted the kids with
Little Mermaid’s funny “Les Poissons.”
Kate Pazakis lent her stellar voice to
“The Colors of the Wind” from Pocahontas.
Seussical’s original JoJo and Horton, Andrew Keenan-Bolger
and Kevin Chamberlin, reunited for “Alone in the Universe.”
Gavin Creel performed the Kermit the Frog favorite “The Rainbow Connection” to a stageful of grateful kids.
A bunch of onboard members of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus performed a few songs as an opening act for..
…the ever-popular Jessica Kirson, who performed her
second comedy act of the week.
Members of the cast of Logo’s The Big Gay Sketch Show performed
a late live show in the Queen’s Lounge.
On the other side of the ship, Creel sang an act peppered
with show tunes in the piano bar.
Gavin and musical director Seth Rudetsky pose after the show
(Yes, Gavin sang “Moving Too Fast” and yes, it was amazing).
Spotted in the crowd: Nancy Dussault and Marya Grandy.
Postcards from Rosie’s Mexico Cruise: Day Five
March 20, 2008 5:06 pmPuerto Vallarta was the destination on Day Five of the R Family cruise. The popular resort town offered gorgeous beaches and sightseeing as well as a substantial gay scene. Good thing the boat didn’t leave until 2:30am, leaving cruisers plenty of time to party with the locals! Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Puerto Vallarta offered miles of beaches.
Mountains surround the town.
One of many immense sand sculptures on the beach,
this one depicting the Last Supper!
Uno… Dos… Tres…
Ahhhhhhh!
Onboard Broadway babies spotted along the malecon: Alvin Ing (Pacific Overtures, Flower Drum Song) and Yuka Tamara (A Chorus Line).
Back on the boat, Ant played an hour of dirty jokes…
…while many cruisers cavorted at local hotspot Club Manana.
In the center of the club was a pool (!), which Mamma Mia!
star Frankie James Grande took full advantage of.
Frankie in a tree.
Postcards from Rosie’s Mexico Cruise: Day Four
March 19, 2008 2:36 pmDay Four brought the Oostersdam right into the harbor of Mazatlan, Mexico, a hustling, bustling little city by the sea. It also brought us high-octane concerts from Sam Harris and Shoshana Bean with jaw-dropping vocals. Of course you can’t hear what I’m talking about on here, but at least you can see some of the fun. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
The beautiful cathedral that sits on Plaza Revolucion in Old Mazatlan.
The high-drama of the one, the only Mr. Sam Harris.
Sam poses with R Family co-horts Kelli O’Donnell and Gregg Kaminsky
After the concert, the very-funny Ross Mathews (of The Tonight Show) hosted a kid-friendly game show.
Amazing Race team Vyxsin and Kynt meet a new fan at the show!
The flawless Shoshana Bean took over the piano bar for a late concert.
Shoshana and piano man Jesse Vargas.
Postcards from Rosie’s Mexico Cruise: Day Three
March 18, 2008 7:10 pmOn Day Three (St. Patrick’s Day!), we landed in Cabo San Lucas, which from a quick spin on the pier seemed like very little. I’m sure the green-clad R Family vacationers who ventured out on the many excursions available got to see more of the area then we did! At night, the entire ship packed the kids to bed and headed to the Vista Lounge for a raunchy night of comedy! Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
The Holland America Oosterdam, our floating home for the week.
Cabo San Lucas.
Ant (center) of TV’s Celebrity Fit Club hosted comediannes
Julie Goldman of Logo’s Big Gay Sketch Show and
R Family favorite Jessica Kirson.
We’re particularly obsesed with the hilarious life stories of Kirson,
a former Broadway.com Fresh Face!
Reality TV stars onboard! Todd Herzog (center), who won
Survivor: China, sandwiched in the casino by The Amazing Race
fan faves Vyxsin (left) and Kynt.
Day Two of the R Family spring cruise to Mexico was a day at sea, which meant lots of sunbathing and socializing and two packed concerts by returning cruiser (and legit Broadway vet) Cyndi Lauper. The platinum-haired diva and career-long supporter of the gay community was a sight to be seen, delivering a moving set of favorites to a screaming crowd. Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Rosie and Cyndi backstage before the show.
The genuine friends will reteam this summer for
another “True Colors” tour around the country.
Cyndi takes to the stage.
Cyndi movingly directed much of her show to the gaggle of onboard kids who crowded to sit on the floor at the lip of the stage.
Two true-blue Cyndi fans: Danny Noriega and fellow TV star Ross Mathews (aka “Ross the Intern” from The Tonight Show.
Postcards from Rosie’s Mexico Cruise: Day One
March 17, 2008 11:11 amIt’s time for another R Family Vacations cruise, which means high-sea adventures with Broadway-caliber entertainment and an boatful of joyful gay and lesbian families and friends. Broadway.com is honored to have been invited on the latest trek to the Mexican Riviera, our sixth R Family cruise, and will bring your fabulous postcards of our adventures throughout the week! Photos by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Welcoming us aboard in unseasonably chilly San Diego was the R Family crew, decked out in the newest fun and fab R Family tees!
As is now tradition, the cruise entertainment kicked off with “Rosie’s Broadway Belters,” featuring a big opening number (an R Family redo of Legally Blonde’s “Omigod You Guys”!) starring hostess Rosie O’Donnell.
Sassy American Idol semi-finalist Danny Noriega was a
last-minute addition to the talent roster after Rosie invited
him onboard following his premature exit from the TV talent show.
The 18-year-old sang the same take on “Tainted Love”
that earned him so many fans on the show.
Shoshana Bean wowed the crowd by singing Wicked’s “The Wizard
and I” and “Defying Gravity” back-to-back flawlessly.
Proud gay dad (and partner to Broadway fave Seth Rudetsky) James Wesley sang the touching “Who Am I” from Les Miserables.
L.A.-based Broadway boy Matt Zarley belted out
“Those Magic Changes” from Grease.
First-time R Family cruiser Kevin Chamberlin sang “Solla Sollew” from Seussical, the show he starred in on Broadway alongside Rosie.
Julia Murney and Gavin Creel, who were on the very first R Family cruise in 2004, imagined what kind of baby they could make together duetting on “What Could Be Better?” from Baby.
For the finale, Gavin and Julia perfomed together again, as Creel showed off his moves “Supercalifragalistic,” which he sang
eight times a week in the West End Mary Poppins.
Rosie backstage with the full “Broadway Belters” cast and crew.
Gavin cozies up to two Elphabas: Julia and Shoshana.
R Family fan Sharon Gless (also a big supporter of PFLAG, co-sponsor of this year’s cruise) and good buddy Ro. Check out the shirt!
R Family co-founders Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli O’Donnell
in their cute company varsity sweaters.
Rosie and two fellow Seussical vets:
Chamberlin and Andrew Keenan-Bolger.
Entertainment Indeed
March 14, 2008 1:31 pm
En route to the R Family Vacations cruise, I was able to catch Dancing in the Dark, the new stage musical version of the MGM classic The Bandwagon at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. With a fresh new book by Douglas Carter Beane (The Little Dog Laughed, Xanadu) that dares to make sense of the classic-but-random movie, this show is clearly Broadway-bound and for good cause. It’s like every classic backstage Broadway musical swirled into one, with a pre-approved roster of hit songs (”That’s Entertainment,” “Triplets,” “You and the Night and the Music,” “That’s Entertainment,” etc. etc. etc.) and a top-notch cast of theater pros like Scott Bakula (welcome back to the stage, Scott!), Beth Leavel, Patrick Page, Mara Davi, Adam Heller and Sebastian LaCause onboard for the fun. Gary Griffin directs, and Warren Carlyle shines as choroegrapher. Could it make it to New York for next season, which is already littered with new musicals? Time will tell. After the show, we took the below snap of Beane and Bakula. Photo by Bruce Glikas for Broadway.com
Stage Notes
