A simple black and white backdrop with names like “Freddie Mercury,” “Rock Hudson,” and “Larry Levan” written across it, a gurney, some stools and a wheelchair were all that decorated the stage at the Walter Kerr Theatre last night, Oct. 18, at the 25th anniversary reading of Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart, produced by Daryl Roth as a benefit for The Actors Fund and Friends in Deed.
Joel Grey, who starred in the original version of the play at The Public Theater in 1985 after its first leading man Brad Davis was diagnosed with AIDS, directed the all-star cast that included the likes of Joe Mantello, Glenn Close, Victor Garber, Patrick Wilson, Jack McBrayer, Jason Butler Harner, Michael Cerveris, Michael Stuhlbarg, John Benjamin Hickey and Santino Fontana.
Describing what it was like to play Ned Weeks, the heart of The Normal Heart, during a time when the city was almost swept away by the emotional and political tsunami that was the beginning of the AIDS crisis, Grey remarked “[it] was akin to telling a story in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital.”
Somehow, 25 years later, that sentiment still holds water. A medicinal, empty feeling of sadness overcame many of us in the audience. Don’t get me wrong. It was a beautiful reading, with some amazing performances, namely from Mantello (as Ned Weeks), the prolific Tony-winning director who hasn’t acted on Broadway since 1993’s Angels in America. (more…)
GO (FREE)→ The great Carol Channing will make a public appearance in support of the release of her latest album entitled “For Heaven’s Sake,” a collection of the Tony winner’s favorite gospel songs including “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.” (6pm, Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle at 66th Street and Broadway, 
GO (FREE)→ The company of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater will take over Central Park’s SummerStage with a free show featuring two classic Ailey works and a piece by Ronald K. Brown—with music by Duke Ellington and Wynton Marsalis—that pays tribute to Judith Jamison, current artistic director of the famed dance troupe. (Central Park Main Stage at Rumsey Playfield, enter at 69th St. and 5th Ave., July 23 and 24, 8pm, 
GO→The kids from American Idiot take a break from the stage at the St. James Theatre and head downtown for a concert to benefit Broadway Impact, a group that mobilizes the theatre community and others to support equal rights for the LGBT community. (9:30pm, Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., $25-$100, .jpg)
GO→ Town Hall’s Summer Broadway Festival continues with All Singin’ All Dancin’, a show featuring some of Broadway’s up-and-coming choreographers and performers. This Broadway revue is said to be inspired by the work of legendary performers/choreographers like Fred and Adele Astaire, Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins and Bill Robinson. (8pm, Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St., btwn 6th and 7th Aves., $40-$50,
GO (FREE)→ The movie that helped introduce the hilarious troupe Monty Python to the world (and later, Broadway), “Monty Python and The Holy Grail,” enjoys a free, outdoor screening as part of the HBO Bryant Park Film Festival. One, two, five! (Begins at sunset btwn. 8-9pm, Bryant Park, btwn. 40th and 42nd Sts. & 5th and 6th Aves., 
GO→ Before there was Avenue Q’s Lucy the Slut, there was the original raunchy puppet, Madame. Madame, along with the late puppeteer Wayland Flowers, gained fame in the ’60s for their antics on TV shows like the “Andy Williams Show” and “Rowan & Martin.” Lady M returns to NYC to crack wise in her new show It’s Madame with an E, featuring Rick Skye at her side. (Through August 19, Feinstein’s at Loews Regency, 540 Park Ave., at 61st St., $33-$50 with food/drink min., 
GO→ Ever find yourself at home, jamming out to a little “Stone Cold Crazy” on your Guitar Hero and wonder, “I’m pretty good…I should have an audience!” Well, head over to “Rock Lives,” an open mic night where you can show off your Rock Band and Guitar Hero skills. Who knows? You might even find yourself some Wii-groupies. (8pm, Times Square Arts Center, 42nd and 8th Ave, 
GO→ Some of New York’s finest local reporters step out from behind the news desk and onto a stage. Sure, they can give us the weather and tell us the news…but can they sing? We’ll find out! On the docket to sing the standards are Fox 5’s Ernie Anastos and Dr. Sapna Parkih, CBS2’s Magee Hickey, Mary Calvi, Cindy Hsu, Hazel Sanchez, Kirstin Cole, Lou Young and John Elliot, NBC 4’s Pat Battle, Pix11’s Kaity Tong and Tamsen Fadal, My 9’s Harry Martin, and ABC7’s Sarah Wallace. Proceeds benefit the Children’s Miracle Network. (Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W. 42nd St., at 9th Ave., $75-$125 with $15 food/beverage minimum, call 212.695.6909 for tickets)
GO→ G
rey Gardens mania continues with Jeffrey Johnson’s show Edie Beale LIVE at Reno Sweeney, a recreation of Little Edie’s infamous 1978 cabaret act at Manhattan’s Reno Sweeney nightclub on 13th Street. Johnson debuted the act last Christmas to a star-studded audience which included Sandra Bernhard, Charles Busch and Grey Gardens filmmaker Albert Maysles. (7pm, Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., $20, 
GO→ Cheyenne Jackson, Michael Urie, Montego Glover, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Michael Feinstein, Michael Cerveris and other Broadway bigwigs join Frank Sinatra Jr. and host Liz Smith for the NY Pops celebration of the legacy and music of Frank Sinatra. (7pm, Carnegie Hall, 57th St. and 7th Ave., $55-85, 
GO→ Wesley Taylor spends his nights off from The Addams Family working hard to “sing in your face while you get drunk.” (I’m sold.) Wes Taylor and Friends teams Taylor up with some famous pals like, Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening), Mitch Jarvis (Rock of Ages), Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages), and Krysta Rodriguez (The Addams Family). (Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., $20, 
GO→ U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (one of the first openly gay members of the House of Representatives) will be a guest at “TalkOut Monday,” a series of post-show discussions about gay rights issues, following performances of The Temperamentals. Playwright Jon Marans will join Rep. Frank, who has been a consistent voice for the LGBT community in Congress and is also a founder of the National Stonewall Democrats. (New World Stages, 340 W. 50th St., btwn 8th and 9th Aves., 
GO→ Bernadette Peters signs her new children’s book “Stella is a Star.” Besides candy and Bernie, there will be a live raffle drawing to win a chance to appear onstage with Peters and her Broadway Barks co-founder Mary Tyler Moore. (3-5pm, Dylan’s Candy Bar, 1011 3rd Ave. at 60th St., $10/raffle ticket)
CLICK→ Lea Michele and Jeff Daniels unveil the nominees for this year’s Tony Awards. 
