By Andrew Gans
The international gigastar spot will be filled by the one-and-only Dame Edna Everage, who will return to Broadway in All About Me Feb. 19 at the Henry Miller's. The new show, helmed by Tony-nominated director and choreographer Casey Nicholaw, will be a Main Stem first for the multi-talented Dame: The Australian native has agreed to share the stage with cabaret veteran Michael Feinstein. One can only imagine the barbs that will fly forth from the Dame's mouth.
Also on the Broadway musical horizon: the dance-driven, Frank Sinatra-inspired and Twyla Tharp-helmed Come Fly Away, which begins performances at the Marquis Theatre March 1; the Chicago hit Million Dollar Quartet, which starts its run March 13 at the Nederlander Theatre; the new Green Day musical American Idiot, which begins rocking Broadway March 24 at the St. James Theatre; and the revival of La Cage aux Folles, which begins previews April 6 at the Longacre Theatre.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
08 Jan 2010
The starry revival of Promises, Promises also promises some true musical theatre excitement. The production, which begins previews March 27 at the Broadway Theatre, is led by stage and screen star Kristin Chenoweth, who will get the chance to wrap her rangy soprano around the Burt Bacharach-Hal David classics "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" and "Knowing When to Leave." The ever-busy Chenoweth, recently seen on screen in "Glee" and "Pushing Daisies," will be joined onstage by "Will and Grace" Emmy winner Sean Hayes, Tony winner Katie Finneran, Brooks Ashmanskas and Tony Goldwyn.
Kristin Chenoweth
On the cabaret front, the most exciting prospect is the return of Tony Award winner Betty Buckley to Feinstein's at Loews Regency. The inimitable singing actress, who draws from a bottomless emotional well, will begin a month-long engagement at the posh nightspot Feb. 2. Expect an evening of Broadway tunes new to Buckley's repertoire, including songs from Avenue Q, South Pacific and Nine. Following Buckley at the Park Avenue venue will be Ashley Brown (Feb. 14), Linda Eder (April 6-17) and Tony winner Jane Krakowski (May 4-15). The Cafe Carlyle will also feature a host of Tony-winning gals: Elaine Stritch (now through Jan. 30), Christine Ebersole (Feb. 2-20), Lea Salonga (March 9-27) and Sutton Foster (June 15-26).
Betty Buckley
DIVA TALK: A Mid-Season Diva Preview
Whether you get to a Broadway theatre or one of the city's many clubs, be sure to get out there and enjoy a live performance. There is nothing like it. Happy New Year.
