|
 |
STAGE TO SCREENS: Logan, Zanuck and Parkes of "Sweeney Todd," Plus "Atonement" Writer Hampton
By Michael Buckley
16 Dec 2007
Jerry Herman terms Edwards' hour-long documentary "a chance at longevity — for people, 50 years from now, to know a little about me and my work." In the film, Herman remarks that his music and lyrics "happen simultaneously," and acknowledges that he can neither write nor read music. He tells me that he knows "chord names and all the terminology trained musicians use. I know keys and I've learned the mechanics, because I had to find a language that I could use with my orchestrators. I end up — at least 95 percent of time — getting just what I heard in my head."
Continues Herman, "One of my teachers at the University of Miami was Robert Crawford, who wrote 'The Army Air Corps Song' [later the Air Force anthem: "Off we go into the wild blue yonder..."]. He told my mother, 'Don't inhibit [her son] at this point.' I use chords that are not traditional. He also said that I should discontinue music lessons. I benefited from that. There's a freer air about me when I sit down [to work]. There are no preconceived limitations; for the way I write, that's been a good thing."
Among those appearing in the documentary are Carol Channing, Angela Lansbury, Charles Nelson Reilly, Marge Champion, Arthur Laurents, Michael Feinstein, Fred Ebb, George Hearn, Phyllis Newman, Charles Strouse, Don Pippin, Jason Graae, Francine Pascal, Leslie Uggams, Miles Kreuger, and Ken Bloom. There is also some great home-movie footage (taken by Pippin) of the rehearsals of several Herman shows.
Extras on the DVD (a New Year's Day release on PBS Home Video) will include Carol Channing performing the complete title song of Hello, Dolly! at the White House for President Lyndon B. Johnson; "Dancing Shoes," from Herman's 1955 college musical; and "Before the Parade Passes By," performed by Herman and Merman — Ethel's last stage appearance was as Broadway's seventh (and final) Dolly.
Amber Edwards' expert, award-caliber achievement deserves many thanks from musical-comedy fans, especially people who admire "The Words and Music of Jerry Herman." States Herman, "I'm absolutely thrilled!"
*
|  | |
Cindy Williams
|
| photo by Aubrey Reuben |
"Daunting!" is how Cindy Williams describes the experience of making her Broadway debut last Tuesday in The Drowsy Chaperone. As Mrs. Tottendale, Williams, who won fame as Shirley Feeney in the sitcom "Laverne & Shirley" (1976-82), follows two other TV stars, Georgia Engel and Jo Anne Worley, in the role. "It's a lot of fun," says Williams. "I'm grateful that I get to perform it."
Her character has a running gag involving spit-takes. How does she enjoy them? "Talk to me in a year," responds Williams (dryly). Were there any relatives or friends in the audience for her first performance? "No, nobody. I don't like that. It makes me really nervous. I like them to come after a couple of weeks, when I feel free in the show, when I have a fun handle on the character, and feel relaxed." I remark that an actor once described taking over a part in a show was like "getting on a speeding train." Notes Williams, "That's perfectly put."
She tells me, "I was trained for theatre. That's what I always thought I was going to do. After college, I thought I'd be auditioning for regional theatre, and eventually wending my way to Broadway. It took me awhile. [Laughs] I got deterred along the way." But deterred (by TV) in a good way, right? "A wonderful blessing of a way," she admits.
Williams met Penny Marshall when they were teamed on a writing project. That led to Penny's brother, Garry Marshall, asking them to play two "fast" girls — Shirley Feeney and Laverne DeFazio — in the "Happy Days" sitcom. "A couple of weeks later, we got a call that they liked the characters and wanted to spin them off [on their own series]. The show was grueling; there was a lot of physical comedy, but it was great. It's great to go out there and make people laugh."
Though Drowsy marks her Broadway bow, Williams' previous stage work includes tours of Grease (as Miss Lynch) and Deathtrap, opposite Elliott Gould. "And in Canada," adds Williams, "I was in Moon over Buffalo." A play she'd "love to do" is Noises Off. "I saw it in London. Of course, that's if I can still move swiftly. [Laughs]."
Williams' two children are Emily and Zak — "both wonderful musicians." Before joining the Drowsy cast, she saw the show several times.
VARIOUS AND SUNDRY
Feb. 5, 2008 marks the two-disc DVD release of "Across the Universe," the Julie Taymor film set to the Beatles' songbook. Extras include a deleted scene, five featurettes, eight additional musical sequences, and Taymor's commentary...
"The Bucket List," which opens Christmas Day, is a winning Rob Reiner comedy-drama feature about friendship, love, and the pursuit of dreams, co-starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman. After a 20-year absence, Freeman returns to Broadway in the spring, appearing opposite Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher in Clifford Odets' The Country Girl, directed by Mike Nichols…
Broadway-bound in the Harvey Fierstein-John Bucchino musical, A Catered Affair, Tom Wopat informs me that he's playing the father in the fourth workshop of Catch Me if You Can, a Scott Wittman-Marc Shaiman musical version of the fact-based 2002 Steven Spielberg movie about a young con man. Playing roles originated by Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Christopher Walken are Nathan Lane, Christian Borle, and Wopat. MEMORABLE STAGE PERFORMANCES
Four-time Tony winner (and six-time nominee), the enchanting Audra McDonald is waiting for the writers' strike to end, in order to return to her TV series, "Private Practice" (ABC, Wednesday, 9 PM ET), which has been picked up for a second season. On Feb. 25, McDonald recreates her (most recent) Tony-winning role, Ruth Younger, in a sublime TV version of "A Raisin in the Sun" (ABC, 8 PM ET), about which I'll write in February.
I asked her what three stage performances (of other people) she most remembers.
Audra's Choices: "There are so many. It's very difficult to choose three. One, I played opposite every night: Zoe Caldwell in Master Class [Terrence McNally's 1996 Tony-winning Best Play, which also won Tonys for Caldwell (her fourth) and McDonald (her second)]. Next would have to be Barbara Cook in Concert. She's astonishing! She's able to communicate with an audience with such ease. It's a lesson [to watch her] every single time. Number Three: Simon Russell Beale as Hamlet, at the National Theatre."
Michael Buckley, a longtime theatre journalist, has written this column since 2002. He may be reached at stagetoscreens@aol.com.
Contact Us | Advertise | Privacy Policy
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
Copyright © 2008 Playbill, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
|
|
|
|
|