By Andrew Gans
21 Mar 2008
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| Joan Rivers in A Work in Progress... |
| photo by Michael Lamont |
There is lots of buzz surrounding Joan Rivers: A Work in Progress by a Life in Progress, which is currently playing an extended engagement at Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse through April 6. The acclaimed production — which was penned by Rivers, Douglas Bernstein and Denis Markell and stars Rivers, Tara Joyce, Emily Kosloski and Adam Kulbersh — has scored a slew of rave reviews. Variety said, "[Joan Rivers] serves up a self-portrait that's a compendium of eye-opening views, insights and reminiscence….You bet it's funny, and in its best moments truthful as well." And, the Hollywood Reporter stated, "If anything, this might be the funniest show Rivers has ever put together. But it's also the most searching and revealing. Rivers takes us into areas she's only skimmed before, and she does it with the skill and audacity we've come to expect of her." Several New York producers have been out to catch Rivers' latest stage outing, and Rivers told Playbill.com, "It would be wonderful to bring the show to New York. Isn't it every actress' dream to be able to work at something you love right in your own hometown?" The Tony-nominated actress also joked, "I was all set to take it to Broadway with one producer — who shall remain nameless — until I found out that the Broadway he was talking about is in Newark, NJ!" Stay tuned for more. . .
Don't Quit Your Night Job — which was a downtown favorite at Joe's Pub before playing an extended run at the HA! Comedy Club — will return to the Zipper Factory March 27. The 11:30 PM performance of Night Job, described as a "late night happening of improv, music, sketches and stories," is scheduled to feature co-creators Dan Lipton (The Coast of Utopia), Steve Rosen (Spamalot), David Rossmer (Nerds) and Sarah Saltzberg (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as well as Randy Aaron, Derrick Baskin, Norbert Leo Butz, Sutton Foster, Jordan Gelber, Alexander Gemignani, Asmeret Ghebremichael, Rick Holmes, Andrea Martin, Charlie Pollock, Sandy Rustin, Christopher Sieber, Alicia Witt and George Wendt. The performance will benefit Wendy Wasserstein's Open Doors initiative. The Zipper Factory is located in Manhattan at 336 West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. Tickets, priced $20, are available by visiting www.thezipperfactory.com or by calling (212) 352-3101.
Academy, Tony, Grammy and Emmy Award winner Rita Moreno will play a brief engagement at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in April. The award-winning actress will play the posh venue April 1-5. Feinstein's at Loews Regency is located in Manhattan at 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street. For reservations call (212) 339-4095. Visit feinsteinsatloewsregency.com for more information.
With a Song in Our Heart is the title of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus annual gala, which will be held April 14 at Manhattan's Warwick Hotel. Comedian-interviewer-actor Scott Nevins will host the evening, which will boast performances by Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz McCartney and Sharon McKnight. The evening, which begins at 6 PM, will honor longtime Chorus friend and supporter Norman Hanson as well as R Family Vacations founders Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli O'Donnell. The Warwick Hotel is located in Manhattan at 65 West 54th Street. Tickets, priced $100, are available by visiting www.nycgmc.org.
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| Idina Menzel |
| © 2008 Idina Menzel and WBR |
Two-time Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara, who is currently starring in the Lincoln Center Theater revival of South Pacific, will perform in concert at Joe's Pub in May. The May 5 concert at the intimate cabaret located within the Public Theater will celebrate the release of O'Hara's debut solo recording, "Wonder in the World." Show time is 11:30 PM. Joe's Pub is located within the Public Theater at 425 Lafayette Street. There is a $30 cover charge and a two-drink minimum. For reservations call (212) 967-7555 or visit www.joespub.com.
Voices Remember is the title of an upcoming "intimate musical cabaret" that will benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Presented by "Secrets of Voice-Over Success" author Joan Baker, the Alzheimer's Association and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the April 28 fundraiser will be held in the residence of Ron Pobuda at 210 Central Park South on 59th Street. Among those scheduled to take part in the concert are Daphne Rubin-Vega, Norm Lewis, Kate Shindle, Phoebe Snow, Larita Gaskins, Nita Whitaker, Judine Somerville, Bobbie Eakes, Don Lafontaine, Joe Cipriano, Valerie Smaldone, Les Marshak, Rodd Houston, Sylvia Villagran, Bill Ratner, Cedering Fox and Steve Zirnkilton. The evening will begin at 7 PM with hors d'oeuvres and cocktails followed by the performance. To purchase tickets, priced $525, call (212) 269-0700, ext. 14. For more information about the Alzheimer's Association, visit www.actionalz.org.
Scott Siegel's Broadway By the Year series will continue April 7 with The Broadway Musicals of 1954. The concert, hosted by Siegel, will feature Little Mermaid co-stars Sierra Boggess and Sean Palmer as well as Emily Skinner, Noah Racey, Cheyenne Jackson, Kendrick Jones and Scott Coulter. Coulter will also direct the 8 PM performance, which will feature musical direction by Ross Patterson. Audiences can expect to hear songs from such musicals as The Pajama Game, Peter Pan, The Boy Friend, Fanny, The Golden Apple and House of Flowers. Town Hall is located in Manhattan at 123 West 43rd Street. Tickets, priced $45 and $50, are available by calling (212) 840-2824 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.com. For more information go to www.the-townhall-nyc.org.
And, finally, singer-actress Jil Aigrot — who voiced many of the songs heard in the Oscar-winning "La Vie En Rose," about the life of the late French chanteuse Edith Piaf — can be heard on a new CD on the LML Records label. Entitled "Words of Love," the 19-track recording features Aigrot's wonderful renditions of such tunes as "Mon Dieu," "La Vie en Rose," "Non je ne Regrette Rien," "Les Mots D'Amour," "Bravo pour le Clown!" and "La Foule." Visit LMLMusic.com for more information.
"Diva Talk" will be on vacation next week but will return Friday, April 4.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
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