By Andrew Gans
27 Aug 2004

DIVA TIDBITS

Good news, diva lovers — the wait is finally over! The sensational solo debut recording from Little Shop of Horrors star Ellen Greene, "In His Eyes," is finally on sale. Those interested in purchasing this terrific vocal recording should head to Greene's new official website, www.ellengreene.com. The 13-track recording is available for $20 (autographed) or $15 (unsigned) by clicking here. Last week I reviewed "In His Eyes," Greene's collaboration with musical director Christian Klikovits. That review can be read by clicking here.

During the recent Empty-Handed concert at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, Avenue Q co-star Jennifer Barnhart joked that although she is the understudy for the roles of Kate and Lucy, she never gets to sing "I Wish I Could Go Back to College" because Stephanie D'Abruzzo, who created those roles, "never misses a performance." Well, Barnhart, will finally get the chance to strut her stuff as the boyfriend searching Kate and the man-obsessed Lucy next month: On Sept. 7 (8 PM), 8 (8 PM), 10 (8 PM) and 12 (2 and 7 PM), Barnhart will fill in for the Tony nominated D'Abruzzo.

The North Shore Music Theatre — located in Beverly, MA — will be among the first regional theatres in the country to produce the hit Disney musical Aida, which ends its run at Broadway's Palace Theatre Sept. 5. Directed by Stafford Arima, the North Shore Aida will co star Montego Glover (recently seen as Lorrell in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera's production of Dreamgirls) as Aida with Brad Anderson (Hugh Jackman's understudy in The Boy From Oz) as her love interest, the ill-fated Radames. Completing the love triangle will be Seussical's Janine LaManna as Amneris. Also in the cast is John Schiappa, recently seen on Broadway in Assassins, as Zoser. Featuring choreography by Patricia Wilcox, Aida will play the North Shore Oct. 26-Nov. 21. Visit www.nsmt.org for more information.

Christiane Noll, who starred as Hope Cladwell in the tour of Urinetown, has landed the role of Mabel in the upcoming Goodspeed Musicals revival of Mack & Mabel. A spokesperson for Noll told me earlier this week that the actress will play the role originated on Broadway by Bernadette Peters. As previously announced, Scott Waara, a 1992 Tony Award winner for The Most Happy Fella, will play the other title character, Mack Sennett. The revival of Jerry Herman, Michael Stewart and Francine Pascal's musical will also feature Donna McKechnie as Lottie Ames, an actress-pal to the silent screen figures. For Goodspeed Musicals information, call (860) 873-8668 or visit www.goodspeed.org.

A host of theatre favorites will pay tribute to Cy Coleman at the annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) concert in Los Angeles. This year's concert, which benefits the Actors' Fund of America, will be held Nov. 6 at the Luckman Fine Arts Complex on the Campus of Cal State University Los Angeles. Among those scheduled to take part in The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman are Christine Andreas, Lucie Arnaz, Liz Callaway, Keith Carradine, Joy Claussen, Carole Cook, Tyne Daly, Tonja Walker Davidson, Nancy Dussault, Ilene Graff, Ken Howard, Bill Hutton, Jane A. Johnston, Jane Lanier, Michele Lee, Marin Mazzie, Rod McKuen, Brian Stokes Mitchell, James Naughton, Valarie Pettiford, Charlotte Rae, Alice Ripley, Chita Rivera, John Schneider, Christopher Showerman, Mark Smith, Sally Struthers, Lillias White, Patrick Wilson and Jo Anne Worley. Coleman will be presented with the Nedda Harrigan Logan Award during the evening, which will feature direction by David Galligan and musical direction by Ben Lanzarone. For ticket information, visit www.actorsfund.org.

Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.

"Diva Talk" will be on vacation next week, but will return Sept. 10.

(Look for a condensed version of "Diva Talk" in the theatre edition of Playbill Magazine.)