By Harry Haun
24 Nov 2008

	Charles Strouse, Sandy Duncan, Melissa Dye and Vanessa Williams, Joan Rivers, Christine Ebersole, Brian d'Arcy James and Danny Burstein, Sutton Foster, Sebastian Arcelus and Stephanie J. Block, Ana Gasteyer, Bob Martin, Beth Leavel and Shonn Wiley
	photos by Aubrey Reuben

Stars in shows soon to set down on Broadway were conspicuous. The Shrek contingent included Brian d'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, secret choreographer Rob Ashford, book writer David Lindsay-Abaire. No, James' lips didn't move during the show. He had played the Crosby part for three of the four years, but, coming down to the finish line, had to give it a pass in order to do the title role in Shrek, which bows on Broadway Dec. 14. "It's a great problem to have," he sighed. "I'm proud to have been in White Christmas — I did in it 'Frisco, Boston and L.A. — and it's a beautiful show."

The [title of show] cast — Hunter Bell, Jeff Bowen, Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff — had 100 percent attendance, plus their director, actor Michael Berresse, just back from wrapping his Russell Crowe-Helen Mirren movie, "State of Play," and looking surprisingly good for someone who had been shot 88 times. "Spoiler Alert," he flagged. "I get shot 11 times at the end of the film, but we had to shoot it eight times, so I was bloodied and constantly changing my clothes. I kill plenty of other people before I get my own." Like Roxie Hart once said of him: "He had it comin'."

The Monday morning of responsibility was at hand for the Minsky's company — 10 AM, to be exact — but that did not stop the personnel from partying to all hours. Namely, book writer Bob Martin and Beth Leavel. "Can't wait," said their fearless leader, director-choreographer Casey Nicholaw, about the start of rehearsal.

"I play Maisie, old broad, heart of gold — what a stretch, huh?" cracked Tony-winning Leavel, The Drowsy Chaperone herself, "except for the old broad part, yeah, yeah. She's fantastic. I can't wait to get to know her, and I get to sing some of the most beautiful songs, written by Charles Strouse and Susan Birkenhead. Great cast, too — Christopher Fitzgerald, Gerry Vichi, George Wendt." The company leaves Jan. 5 for Los Angeles and will world-premiere the musical at the Ahmanson Feb. 6.

Adding to the Drowsy trio of Nicholaw, Martin and Leavel were Troy Britton Johnson, the aforementioned Sutton Foster and, kicking the South Pacific sand out of his shoes, Danny Burstein. Next on Johnson's docket is Bound for Broadway, a program on upcoming Broadway songs that Liz Callaway will host Dec. 8 at Merkin Hall. "Cady Huffman and I are doing songs from the new Blake Edwards show, Big Rosemary. It's been kicking around for years, but Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison from Drowsy are in on the music now, and Blake is writing the book. The idea is that this big mob boss dies and leaves his business to a showgirl, and she runs the mob."

In the Heights Tony-winning choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler and Stephanie J. Block have already had their Ahmanson experience via 9 to 5 and were checking out the Marriott Marquis, where their show will land April 30. "It's going great," Blankenbuehler said. "We're taking a little break, a little breather, to get away from it for a little bit. Dolly [Parton, of course] has written some new songs for the show."

Also in attendance: Joan Rivers, Billy Elliot's Kiril Kulish, Jersey Boys' Sebastian Arcelus, "One Life To Live" star David Fumero, Raphael Ferrer, Melissa Dye, "Ugly Betty" star Vanessa Williams, Amanda Green, producers John Gore, Dan Markley, Marcy MacDonald and Sonny Everett (the latter with Blythe Danner), Clarke Thorell (who just returned to the role he originated in Hairspray, Corny Collins), lawyer Mark Sendroff, Seth Rudetsky, Paige Price ("We're finishing up Romantic Poetry at Manhattan Theatre Club, and I'm on all week for Patina Miller"), Avenue Q's Robert Lopez, Fran and Barry Weissler, Sandy Duncan (working "on a new Broadway show, basically it's a two-character musical with my friend, Ruthie Henshall") and Little Me hubby Don Correia, Christine Ebersole (taking her fashion tip from the title and looking like The Snow Queen), couturier Randi Rahm (who did the stars' party gowns) and designer Carrie Robbins (who did the show's costumes), James L. Nederlander (venturing an opinion: "Y'know, it's like riding in a convertible with the top down"), George Street Playhouse's David Saint (currently associate director of the Palace-bound West Side Story), director Guy Stroman (who is working on a new piece about Peggy Lee, made up of all Leiber and Stoller songs and starring Beehive's Laura Theodore) and Ana Gasteyer (who's also writing her own ticket, "a show about a fictitious Broadway dame").

Last but not least was "the first Phil," Lee Roy Reams, who originated the Danny Kaye role when the show first hit the stage in St. Louis. He was in high-camp mode.

"I'm leaving Brigadoon," he boomed, angling for the exit, "the miracle is over!"

The cast of White Christmas at curtain call.
photo by Aubrey Reuben

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