Buone Feste!
Blake

Friday, December 18
GO→ When Nine opened on Broadway in 1982, it starred Raul Julia and won five Tony Awards, including one for director Tommy Tune and composer Maury Yeston. Today, Nine gets a full Hollywood makeover courtesy of Rob Marshall and a tasters choice of celebs including Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penélope Cruz, Nicole Kidman, Sophia Loren, Dame Judi Dench and Kate Hudson. (Opens today nationwide)

GO→ Martin Sheen, Olympia Dukakis and Ray Manzarek (of The Doors) will all be on hand for a benefit at for The Living Theater. Performances will follow cocktails, dinner and a screening of select scenes from the new doc Babbleonia featuring Al Pacino. (6pm, The Players Club, 16 Gramercy Park South, off of Irving Place, $60 plus your contribution to the theatre, tickets/info)

Saturday, December 19
GO→ Ave. Q former front man, John Tartaglia, joins the New York Pops and the Young People’s Chorus of NYC, for a special concert version of the holiday children’s classic, The Polar Express. This is a perfect event for those of you with kids (or mushy Christmas lovers such as myself). (2pm, Carnegie Hall, 154 West 57 Street at 7th Avenue, tickets from $9, info/tickets)

BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Matthew Broderick teamed up with his childhood friend, Academy Award nominee, Kenneth Lonergan, for The Starry Messenger, closing this Sunday.  Messenger follows an mid-life crisis stricken astronomy teacher, who contemplates the disappointments of his life, as well as an affair with a young nurse, played by Oscar nominee, Catalina Sandino Moreno. (The Acorn Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street, near 9th Avenue, call 212-714-2442 for tickets)

Sunday, December 20
GO→Tony winner Victoria Clark joins the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus for their annual holiday show. On the docket are carols and holiday cheer, and (what else?) show tunes! (3pm and 8pm, Town Hall, 23 West 43rd Street, between Broadway & 6th Avenues, info/tickets)

Monday, December 21
GO→ So You Think You Can Dance?’s “woo-hooing”, Mary Murphy, steps out from behind the judges table and onto the stage to join the cast of Broadway’s Burn the Floor. (Which currently includes other TV-turned-Broadway dancers, Maks & Kym from Dancing with the Stars.)  (Through January 10, Longacre Theatre, 220 w. 48th Street, for Playbill Club discount tickets, click here)

Tuesday, December 22
GO→ Barrow Street Theatre’s Our Town, which recently claimed the title of longest-running version of the play in its 71-year history, will welcome back David Cromer to the role of Stage Manager. Cromer, who also directed the record-breaking Thornton Wilder classic, earned rave reviews for his stripped–down/contemporary staging that puts the audience in the middle of the action. (Through January 3, Barrow Street Theatre, 27 Barrow Street at 7th Avenue, For Playbill Club discount tickets, click here)

GO→ Cult-classic King and Hairspray and Cry Baby visionary, John Waters, celebrates Christmas the adult-way, with a special holiday show that claims to “put the X in Xmas”. (8pm show is sold out, 11pm still on sale, B.B Kings, 247 West 42nd Street, $39.50-$100, info/tickets)

Wednesday, December 23
GO→ Celebrate the holidays with Charlie Chaplin at the Film Society of Lincoln Center as they alternately screen the Chaplin staples City Lights and Modern Times in a series called Charlie for the Holidays. ($9-15, The Film Society of Lincoln Center/Walter Reade Theater, 165 West 65th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenues, full schedule/tickets)

Thursday, December 24
GO→ Just because it’s the holidays, doesn’t mean Broadway shuts down. Check out Playbill’s Christmas Week Schedule for a list of shows that are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Now, if anyone knows how to do Christmas music justice, it’s the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.  And if anyone knows how to melt hearts , it’s Stokes.  Perfect combo!

On this WEBWAY WEDNESDAY: A taste of the holiday goodness airing on tonight’s special along with some other Mormon Tabernacle Choir Chirstmas favorites.  Now, if this doesn’t get you in the Christmas mood…nothing will!

PBS will air the one-hour holiday concert tonight at 8pmET on New York’s Channel 13 and across the country on PBS affiliates. Check local listings at www.pbs.org — many affiliates will re-air the special on Christmas Eve.

Stokes and 360 Morman Tabernacle carolers singing “Sleigh Bells”

The story of the classic Christmas tune “Silent Night” told through the immortal voice of Walter Cronkite.

Ed Herrman (also included in the Stokes special) and “Longfellow’s Christmas”

Let Them See Theatre!
Blake

Friday, Dec. 11
GO→ Original Jersey Boy, Daniel Reichard, is pushing to end up on Santa’s nice list this year! His holiday concert (aptly titled Gettin’ on the Good List), celebrates the holidays with a special concert featuring some of the biggest names on Broadway including: Karen Ziemba, J. Robert Spencer, Shoshana Bean, Tituss Burgess, Cass Morgan, Marc Kudisch, Nick Adams, Sara Schmidt, Betsy Wolfe with Robert Ousley as Santa Claus. Rachelle Rak and drag star Sweetie will alternate the role of Mrs. Claus. (Through December 14, The Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre, $40-$80, 405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue, info/tickets)

WATCH→ Disney unveils its newest princess this Friday with The Princess and the Frog, voiced by Tony Winner, Anika Noni Rose. Other Broadway talents lending their voices to the animated flick include John Goodman (last seen in Waiting for Godot), Jennifer Cody (currently in Shrek) and Color Purple producer, Oprah Winfrey. Special engagements at Roseland in NY and Sound Stage 3 at Walt Disney Studios in LA feature an after-movie party for families equipped with Disney princesses from history on hand! (info)

Saturday, Dec. 12
GO→ TV’s house-fixing fixture from Trading Spaces, Paige Davis (last seen on Broadway in Chicago) is heading West to San Diego to star alongside her husband Patrick Page in the Old Globe’s version of I DO! I DO! The show first premiered on Broadway in 1966 with Mary Martin and Robert Preston as the original couple in question. (Through December 20, The Old Globe, 1363 Old Globe Way, San Diego, CA 92101, info/tickets)

SUPPORT→ The New York Philharmonic is kicking off its annual food drive with the Young People’s Concert and Kidzone Live!—an interactive event where kids can try out instruments and play musical games. Concertgoers are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items as a part of The Food Bank For New York City’s “NYC Goes Orange”. Food will be collected in the lobby and on the Grand Promenade of Avery Fisher Hall. (Kidzone starts at 12:45pm, followed by the concert at 2pm, Avery Fisher Hall,10 Lincoln Center Plaza, $11-$33, info/tickets)

Sunday, Dec 13
OPENING→ Five-time Tony Award winner Angela Lansbury and Oscar winner Catherine Zeta-Jones will take on the six-time Tony Award Winning Classic, A Little Night Music, written by Oscar and nine-time Tony Award winner Stephen Sondheim and directed by three-time Tony winner Trevor Nunn—whew, send in the award polish! (Walter Kerr Theatre, 219 W. 48th street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenues, info)

BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Rosemary Harris and Jan Maxwell end their royal reign at the final curtain call of the Kaufman/Ferber classic A Royal Family this Sunday. Tony winner John Glover, SNL alum Ana Gasteyer and Tony nominees Tony Roberts and Reg Rogers round out the blue-blooded brood. (Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenues, call (212) 239-6200 for tickets)

BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Lynn Redgrave, a member of a real-life theatrical royal family, will end her engagement of Nightingale, a play she penned about her maternal grandmother, Beatrice Kempson. (Manhattan Theatre Club-Stage 1, 131 West 55th Street, For Playbill Club discount tickets click here)

Monday, Dec. 14
GO→ This year’s “Broadway in South Africa Holiday Party” will feature performances from Wicked, The Lion King, In The Heights, Mamma Mia and Rock of Ages with a special appearance by Hairspray’s Nikki Blonsky and a live auction by our Playbill pal, Seth Rudetsky. (7-11pm, Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th street, between Broadway and 8th Avenues, $30-$75, info/tickets)

GO→ Director of BAM’s production of A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Oscar winner Cate Blanchett, Liv Ullmann will join The Paley Center on Monday for a discussion and screening of a documentary The Sealed Orders of Liv Ullmann. The film captures the director’s mentoring of young actors as they tackle the famous Tennessee Williams play. (6:30pm, $15-20, The Paley Center for Media, 25 West 52 Street, info/tickets)

GO→ Avenue Q’s Ann Harada (Christmas Eve) is back with her holiday cabaret Christmas Eve With Christmas Eve. Broadway pals on hand to help Harada ring in the holidays include: Raul Esparza, Andy Karl, Christopher Sieber, John Tartaglia, Norm Lewis and others. Proceeds benefit BC/EFA. (Jerome L. Greene Performance Space @ WNYC, 44 Charlton Street at Varick, $50-$75, info/tickets)

WATCH→ Our pal Nick Lachey is helping to fill the winter void left by Glee with a singing competition on NBC called The Sing-Off featuring a cappella groups from around the country competing for a recording contract. (8ET/7CT on NBC, info)

Tuesday, Dec. 15
GO→ Tony/Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth will join pop-sensation Il Divo for a special Christmas concert at the Beacon. The handsome quartet of divos will join the tiny diva along with the Opera Orchestra of New York on classics like “White Christmas” and “Silent Night”. (Through December 17, The Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway between West 74th and 75th streets, info/tickets)

Wednesday,Dec. 16
WATCH→ Dance sensation Groovaloo (currently playing at the Union Square Theatre) will join American Idol (and current tabloid) sensation Adam Lambert for the season finale of the hit-show So You Think You Can Dance. (8ET/7CT, Fox, info)

Thursday, Dec. 17
OPENING→ Part Two of the late Horton Foote’s three-part event, The Orphans’ Home Cycle (called The Story of a Marriage) opens on Thursday, with part three opening in January. Cycle, set around nine plays, is loosely based on the childhood of Foote’s father and the marriage of his parents. (Signature Theatre’s Peter Norton Space, 555 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues, info/tickets)

The show opened with a hilarious spoof on “So You Think You Can Dance” with a toothy Christopher Sieber as Nigel Lythgoe, the snooty British judge, Mary Birdsong as a “woo hoooing” Mary Murphy and Bernie Telsey as himself (who quipped “Ha!  They’re still looking for tap dancing boys for White Christmas!”)

Our very own Seth Rudetsky and Julie White served as hosts.  White was hysterical, continuously commenting on the phonetic spelling of names written out for her on her cue-cards (“Do they think that just because I’m from Texas I can’t pronounce ‘Prokofiev’? Is that something you put on a wound?”)

As for our Seth R. (disclaimer…some in-house flattery is about to go on), he was his usual amazing self!  Of course there were a few of his patented “deconstructions” which included one of Gypsy performer Gavin Creel (“Sustain then vibrato, Gavin!”), who had a funny onstage run-in with Seth: “You do know that I just performed and I’m standing right back there and can hear you, right?”  Seth also accompanied fellow Sirus host and NEWSical cast member, Christine Pedi, in her Angela Lansbury/Katharine Hepburn/Joan Rivers/Bernadette Peters inspired version of “I’m Telling You” from Dreamgirls.  And yes, Bernadette was there.

As always, laughs were aplenty, especially when the “Merry Men” of Chicago took to the stage for their top-prize winning parody of West Side Story’s “A Boy Like That/I Have A Love”. Ryan Lowe played a frighteningly good Anita. (Seriously, put a wig on him, and he could understudy Josephina Scaglione right now!) His fellow “Men” urged him to ”Stick to your own age, someone your own age.” When he fell in lust with a young Bye Bye Birdie-bound chorus boy.  His response: ‘‘too young for you, not for me!”  Funny ‘cause it’s true.

The kids from Bye Bye Birdie did a very cute tribute to the late Queen front-man, Freddie Mercury, who died from AIDS related complications in 1991. The skit featured Riley Costello falling into a dream sequence (but not before saying “Goodnight my John Stamos/Uncle Jesse doll”), and what I could have sworn was John Stamos himself in drag dancing alongside fellow cast members for “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

Another bunch of chuckles came courtesy of the cast of Superior Donuts who taught a Wolverine-d Hugh Jackman (played by Cliff Chamberlain) and a tuxedoed Daniel Craig how to ditch their charming Aussie/British accents to talk like real Chicago “coppas”.  “Here, now put on a stupid mustache” urged Michael McKean as he dressed up Sean Patrick Reilly as Craig.

After Donuts wrapped, the real Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig (who raised an astonishing $1.5mil+ during Appeals) took to the stage to thunderous applause.  The notoriously shy Craig seemed to shed some inhibitions along with the handlebar mustache he promptly shaved after Sunday’s final curtain call of A Steady Rain. The two were having a lot of fun (even breaking into an impromptu rendition of Happy Birthday for Jujamcyn Producting Director and BC/EFA pres, Paul Libin, who’s turning 79 this month.)

And while the entire company kept us laughing throughout the 2+ hour presentation, the solemn moments were there too including a minute of silence to honor the great Broadway talent we lost as a result of AIDS.  In a rare moment of seriousness, Seth fondly remembered his mentor, musical director, James Raitt, who died at 41.

Another important moment was brought to our attention via a nifty Playbill insert courtesy of Broadway Impact which listed the emails and phone numbers of New York Senators who voted “No” to last week’s marriage equality bill.  And it just so happens you can find that info here! Wow, that is mighty convenient!

Backstage after the show, the love was palpable.  Gypsy always promises a good show, but this one topped them all.  BC/EFA walked away with over $4.6million, which will help continue all the wonderful social service work they do helping people stricken with this disease.

For info on all the great work and events BC/EFA does (led by our pal Tom Viola) log on to BCEFA.org.

Bravo to all the Gypsies!  See you at Easter Bonnett.

Midler was joined by Tony Winner Whoopi Goldberg, Miley Cirus, Lady Gaga and the cast from Sister Act.

Francois sez fas, flashe no do,
Blake

Friday, December 4
GO→ ‘Tis the season for seasonal theatre…especially for the tots! Axis Theatre Company brings back Seven in One Blow or The Brave Little Kid, its interactive winter show based on the classic fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. This year features a special filmed appearance by Blondie front-woman, Debbie Harry (yea, you know her!) Go on December 11 for a special benefit for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. (Through December 20, $12 adults/$6 kids, One Sheridan Square, east of 7th Avenue, call 866.811.4111 or click here for tickets)

Saturday, December 5
GO→ Before Michael Feinstein hits the main stem with a Dame named Edna, he’ll take to the main stage with a Gent named David. David Hyde Pierce will join the crooner for a series of holiday shows at the home that Michael built: Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency. (Through December 30, Feinstein’s at Loews Regency,
540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, 212.339.2095 or click here)

Sunday, December 6
BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig will close out the hugely successful run of A Steady Rain with a final benefit performance for New Yorkers for Children and NYCPBA Widows & Children’s Fund. (Schoenfeld Theatre, 236 W. 45th Street, info)

BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Sienna Miller and Johnny Lee Miller in Patrick Marber’s lust-filled adaptation of a Strindberg classic, After Miss Julie, also ends its limited run this Sunday. (American Airlines Theatre, 227 West 42nd Street, For Playbill Club discount tickets click here)

BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Brooding Brit, Jude Law, takes his final turn as the prince of darkness in Hamlet, closing this Sunday. (Broadhurst Theatre, 235 West 44th Street, info)

BEFORE IT CLOSES→ Julia Stiles and Bill Pullman in Mamet’s scandal plagued Oleanna, takes its final bow at The Golden. (The John Golden Theatre, 252 West 45th Street, For Playbill Club discount tickets click here)

OPENING→When God closes a Mamet door, he opens a Mamet window. David Mamet’s newest show Race will mark the playwright’s second show to open this fall on Broadway, and his directorial debut on the Great White Way. Opening this Sunday, Race stars Kerry Washington, James Spader, David Alan Greir and Richard Thomas. (The Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 West 47th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenues, For Playbill Club discounts, click here)

Monday, December 7
GO→ The annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS “Gypsy of the Year” Competition is one of the hottest tickets on Broadway during the holiday season. This 21st year of “Gypsy” promises to be star-studded with the casts of Billy Elliot, Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Hair, Jersey Boys, Naked Boys Singing, Newsical, Mamma Mia!, Mary Poppins, Rock of Ages, Superior Donuts, West Side Story, Wicked, Avenue Q and In The Heights all performing. Also on the roster of participants include Bernadette Peters, Michael McKean, Julie White and our very own Seth Rudetsky! (The Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway, between 46th and 47th Streets, Monday, Dec. 7 at 4:30 PM and Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 2 PM, Tickets $20-$350, Call 212. 840.0770 or click here for more info)

GO→ In celebration of the upcoming Lincoln Center production One Evening (Dec 9-11), the 92 st Y hosts an Evening with Beckett, a reading by the production’s star, Tony winner, Stephen Dillane.  (8pm, 92 St Y at Lexington Ave., $10(under 35)-$19, click here for tickets)

Tuesday, December 8
GO→ Charles Strouse, Alan Bergman, Hal David, Paul Williams, Alan Menken and David Zippel collectively wrote some of the greatest tunes in the American songbook. On Tuesday, this distinguished group will perform their greatest classics in a performance called The Songs of Our Lives: Performed by the Songwriters Who Wrote Them. This one-night-only performance will benefit the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. The work of other famous LaGuardia alums like Cy Coleman, Ed Kleban and the second half of the famous Bergman writing team, Marilyn Bergman, will also be heard. (7pm, 100 Amsterdam Avenue at 66th Street, Tickets are $150-300, Call (212) 595-1301 or visit www.alumniandfriends.org)

Wednesday, December 9
GO→ The Museum of the Moving Image celebrates the film release of Tennessee Williams’ rediscovered screenplay The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond with a discussion featuring the film’s director Jodie Markell and stars Ellen Burstyn, Bryce Dallas Howard, Elaine Stritch and Eli Wallach. The panel will be moderated by Charles Isherwood, theater critic for The New York Times. (7pm, The Times Center, 242 West 41 Street, between 7 Avenue and 8 Avenues, $25 public/$15 Member, click here for more info)

Thursday, December 10:
GO (FREE)→ Tony and Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, Edward Albee, will join distinguished playwright David Henry Hwang and actor Francis Jue for a conversation and reading of Hwang’s newest play, Yellow Face, at the Drama Book Shop this Thursday. (5:30pm, The Drama Book Shop, 250 West 40th Street, info)

A few weeks ago, Michele (as prissy song bird, Rachel Berry) tore it up on Glee’s version of “Defying Gravity”, a song made famous by Menzel’s Tony-winning turn as Elphaba in Wicked.  Which then set the whole theatre-blogosphere atwitter with the hopes we’d one day see a “Menchele” duet.

While promoting his own TV-turn as Dr. Sam Bennett on ABC’s Private Practice, Menzel’s husband Taye Diggs told Fancast.com: “I know that she would love that.” He goes on to say, “They know each other, so we knew that [resemblance] existed far, far before the TV world did.” (and also because he’s not blind!)  “We are just so happy to see a lot of these theater kids get the opportunity to do some television work.”

Us too, Taye!  So listen up Glee Gods–bring these two Broadway babies together!

Read the full interview here.

Idina Menzel

Lea Michele

But Baldwin has been down on himself lately. In another interview with Men’s Journal, he said, ” I consider my entire movie career a complete failure.”

What?! What about Glengarry Glen Ross? The Hunt for Red October? The Cooler? Beetlejuice, for God’s sake!

It wasn’t too long ago that Baldwin made it all the way to Carnegie Hall to co-star in the concert version of South Pacific with Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell. Now he’s teaming up with Steve Martin to host this year’s Oscars, and with Marc Shaiman signed on as Musical Director, we’re sure to see some more of Baldwin’s musical chops.

So fellow Baldwinites, this Webway Wednesday for you.  An homage to Alec B. to remind both him and the rest of the world how awesome he is.

Come back to Broadway, Alec…we’ll show you a good time…we promise.

Glengarry Glen Ross: Mamet+Baldwin=genius.

The TV version of his Tony-nominted role as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Named Desire.

Someone start shining up the Tony making machine now…