By Andrew Gans
19 Dec 2008
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| Gay Marshall |
Gay Marshall, the dazzling artist who recently performed the songs of Edith Piaf to sell-out crowds at the Metropolitan Room, admits that the holidays are "usually fraught with agonizing shopping and travel and tricky family get-togethers, and I actually try to avoid them — which reminds me of the time my husband and I decided at the last minute to get away and spend them at a castle in France, even though the receptionist begged us to reconsider because their dining room was sold out New Year's Eve. She said that three times, followed by 'Are you sure you want to come?' We were sure.
"The location looked better on the map than on location. The actual castle was magnificent: the superb entrance hall, the huge stone walls, enormous regal room with one of those fireplaces that could house a family — and the price tag that was a fraction of the cost of the 57th St. Holiday Inn — but all around it were vast swamps surrounded by shopping malls. When we went scouting for a place to eat on New Year's Eve, all we could find was a plastic-lattice-laden pizza parlor. So we happily bought some cheese, bread and wine and drove back very carefully along the skinny roads over the quicksand. When we got back, there was an elegant table in the middle of our room set on monogrammed linen, with Limoges china, crystal glassware and champagne chilling in a silver bucket on a stand. We called down to say there must be some mistake, but no, they said, it was for us. They hoped we'd accept. So we got all dressed up to stay put, and I'll tell 'ya — it was really acceptable. Being served a luxurious ten-course gourmet feast by two discreet butlers in the privacy of our room was incredibly acceptable."
Marshall, who will most likely spend the holidays in New York with her husband, says she likes several "Christmas songs, especially the melody of 'It Came Upon a Midnight Clear' and 'Glooooooooooooooooria' (in harmony), but Tom Lehrer's 'Christmas Carol' and [David Friedman's] 'My Simple Christmas Wish' are pretty high on my list."
The singing actress, who recently released the wonderful "Gay Marshall Sings Piaf," says she is thankful this year for "my indescribably wonderful husband and the huge success of his photo expo at the National Arts Club this October hosted by gracious, generous, gorgeous Susan Sarandon; living in the Village and being in touch with old friends plus making new ones here; the good health of my family; Obama being elected; finally getting my CD out this fall; the renovated boardwalk from Christopher Street to Battery Park where I love to go; President Obama; and Stephen Colbert, who is maybe the funniest man on the planet; and oh, did I mention Obama?"
And what's in store for Marshall in 2009? "I'm always afraid if I talk about what I'm going to do it won't happen, but chances are pretty good that I'll be recording a new musical with some fabulous people in January, doing another CD of my own, and more club dates in the city with the great musicians I had at the Metropolitan Room in October. Then there's that TV series…"
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| Jill Paice |
Within the past year Jill Paice, the American actress of the West End and subsequent Broadway production of The Woman in White, starred in two new musicals — on different sides of the Atlantic. She was Scarlett O'Hara in the short-lived Gone With the Wind in London and played Elizabeth in the Signature Theatre's Broadway-aimed musical Ace. For the holidays, though, the former Curtains star will be "with my folks in Dayton, Ohio."
"Every year on Christmas Eve," Paice says, "my family drives around the local neighborhoods to look at the Christmas lights. I used to dread it as a kid, but now it's my favorite tradition. The tastefully decorated houses are beautiful, but I love the houses that have crammed every square inch of house and yard with blow-up Christmas cheer."
Although she doesn't make New Year's resolutions, the multitalented performer says she has many reasons to be thankful. "I've had a wonderfully, topsy turvy year," she says, "and I am thankful for the many lessons I've learned and the people I've met along the way. I am also thankful for good health, happiness, my lovely friends, Coke Zero, my Mac and 'The Office.'"
Paice, whose favorite holiday tune is "The Best Gift" from Barbra Streisand's "A Christmas Album," is currently performing in Irving Berlin's White Christmas in Detroit, MI, through Dec. 23, and "after that...only time will tell!"
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| Cover art for "Wish" |
Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, currently starring in Shrek the Musical, will release her debut solo recording Feb. 17, 2009, on the Ghostlight Records label. Entitled "Wish," the 15-track CD was produced by Joel Moss and co-produced by Michael Rafter. Executive producers are Kurt Deutsch and actress-singer Foster, whose original artwork is featured in the CD package. The complete track listing for "Wish" follows: "I'm Beginning to See The Light" (Duke Ellington, Don George, Johnny Hodges, Harry James), "Warm All Over" (Frank Loesser), "The Late, Late Show" (Murray Berlin, Roy Alfred), "Up on the Roof" (Carole King, Gerald Goffin), "My Romance"/"Danglin'" - (Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers/Maury Yeston), "I Like The Sunrise" (Duke Ellington), "Air Conditioner" (Christine Lavin), "Sunshine on My Shoulders" - (John Denver, Richard Kniss, Michael Taylor), "My Heart Was Set on You" (Jeff Blumenkrantz), "Flight" (Craig Carnelia) duet with Megan McGinnis, "Once Upon a Time" (Charles Strouse, Lee Adams), "Nobody's Cryin'" (Patty Griffin), "Come the Wild, Wild Weather" (Noel Coward), "On My Way" (music by Jeanine Tesori, lyrics by Brian Crawley) and "Oklahoma" (Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers).
Initial casting has been announced for the open-ended San Francisco engagement of Wicked, which begins performances Jan. 27, 2009, at the Orpheum Theatre. Teal Wicks (L.A. Wicked, national tour of Pippin) and Kendra Kassebaum (Broadway's Wicked, Off-Broadway's The Receptionist), will head the cast as, respectively, the green-faced, misunderstood Elphaba and the curly-locked Glinda. Wicks and Kassebaum will be joined onstage by Carol Kane as Madame Morrible and David Garrison as The Wizard. Tickets for the San Francisco production of Wicked are now on sale for performances through June 27, 2009; visit ticketmaster.com/wicked or call (415) 512-7770. Tickets are also available at the Orpheum Theatre Box Office (1192 Market at 8th Street).
Tony winner LaChanze, most recently on Broadway in The Color Purple, will go it solo Feb. 14, 2009, at the Highline Ballroom in Manhattan. LaChanze's Valentine's Day concert is scheduled for 8 PM; doors will open at 6 PM. Highline Ballroom is located in Manhattan at 431 West 16th Street. For tickets, priced $35, go to ticketweb.com or call (866) 468-7619. For more information visit www.highlineballroom.com.
"Brady Bunch" star Florence Henderson, who bowed on Broadway in Wish You Were Here, will bring her new cabaret act to Catalina's Jazz Bar & Grill in 2009. Henderson recently presented her act, which is entitled All the Lives of Me . . . A Musical Journey, at Feinstein's at Loews Regency is November. She is now scheduled to perform the evening Jan. 30-Feb. 1, 2009, at Catalina's Jazz Bar & Grill in Hollywood, CA. Show time each night is 7:30 PM. All the Lives of Me features songs from Oklahoma!, South Pacific, The Sound of Music and Annie Get Your Gun. The singing actress will also offer anecdotes about "a life on the boards of Broadway and the Brady set." Catalina's Jazz Bar & Grill is located at 6725 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood, CA. For tickets, priced $30 and $35, call (323) 466-2210 or visit www.catalinajazzclub.com.
Marni Nixon — who is perhaps best known for dubbing the vocal performances of such film stars as Audrey Hepburn (in "My Fair Lady"), Deborah Kerr (in "The King and I") and Natalie Wood (in "West Side Story") — will be part of a new revue at the Metropolitan Room in the New Year. Entitled MÉNAGE – Have Gown. Will Travel, the three-person revue will feature the talents of Nixon as well as Edd Clark and Sarah Rice (Sweeney Todd, Candide). Show times at the Manhattan venue are Jan. 18, 2009 at 4 PM and Jan. 21, 22 and 24 at 7:30 PM. The evening of song, according to press notes, celebrates "life, love, and the slings and arrows of the outrageousness of relationships. It showcases works by a variety of composers chosen from Stephen Sondheim, Ivor Novello, Nancy White, and Rodgers & Hart – and more." The Metropolitan Room is located in Manhattan at 34 West 22nd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. There is a $20 cover charge and a two-drink minimum; for reservations call (212) 206-0440 or visit www.metropolitanroom.com.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.
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