DIVA TALK: A Chat With a Gal From Oz, Isabel Keating Plus "American Idol" Thoughts
By Andrew Gans
21 May 2004
"IDOL" THOUGHTS:
Well, it's down to two. Next week will determine the fates of 16-year-old Diana DeGarmo and 19-year-old Fantasia Barrino, who hail from, respectively, Georgia and North Carolina. Earlier this week, Hawaii's Jasmine Trias was eliminated from the competition. To be honest, Trias stayed longer in the competition than she deserved; she possessed a fine voice but, to me, never seemed to have any connection to the lyrics she was singing. Whether she was performing an upbeat dance number or a sad ballad, she tended to offer the same smiley rendition. And, as good a voice as DeGarmo possesses — the young singer sure can belt impressively — it's been Barrino who I've been rooting for since early in the competition. If the previously ousted La Toya London boasted a smoother, more controlled instrument, it's Barrino who is and was the star of the third season of the FOX-TV program. (I had hoped Jennifer Hudson, who was voted out much too soon, would make it to the finals; I think she would have grown to become a formidable opponent for Barrino.) As for the effervescent Barrino, though, I don't think she's given one performance throughout the past several months that hasn't been exciting, whether tackling Aretha Franklin standards, pop hits or Porgy and Bess's "Summertime." I've been constantly amazed by her ease on stage, her emotional connection to the material she is singing and her unique, textured voice. Plus, anyone who can shed a tear because of what she is singing — rather than how she sang it — impresses me. Barrino is an original, dynamic performer with star quality who is deserving of the crown "American Idol." That said, I also thought last season's Clay Aiken should have been awarded the top prize, so I won't be surprised if America hands the title next Wednesday to DeGarmo. . . Let me know who you think should win!
(By the way, Clay Aiken will join Heather Headley at Monday's Home concert at the New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street. Headley's Broadway Cares benefit concert will also include appearances by Norm Lewis, Adam Pascal, Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices. Call (212) 840-0770 for tickets.)
IN OTHER DIVA NEWS OF THE WEEK: Tony Award winners Patti LuPone and John Lithgow will be part of the June 7 gala benefit for the New 42nd Street, the organization responsible for the redevelopment of seven historic 42nd Street theatres. The benefit evening begins with cocktails at 6:45 PM in the lobby of the New Victory Theatre, 209 West 42nd Street. Lithgow will provide opening and introductory remarks prior to LuPone's 7:30 PM concert. La LuPone will offer selections from her acclaimed Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda concert, which features songs from Hair, Funny Girl, West Side Story, Peter Pan, Anything Goes and, of course, Evita. The one-night-only event concludes with a gala dinner at 8:30 PM at the New 42nd Street Studios, 229 West 42nd Street. Individual tickets for the benefit are priced $35 (show only), $50 (show only), $100 (cocktail reception and show only), $1,000, $1,500 and $2,500. Tickets can be ordered by calling Melissa Kalt at (646) 223-3082. For the show only, call (212) 239-6200. . . . It's been a busy week for those Wicked gals! Tony Award nominee Idina Menzel, who stars as Elphaba, will soon be seen on the silver screen. It was reported that the singer-actress will co-star in Robert Towen's "Ask the Dust," an adaptation of John Fante's novel. Colin Farrell and Salma Hayek head the cast of the film, which will be shot this summer in South Africa. Menzel will play Vera, who is in love with Farrell's character. The actress will miss performances of the hit new musical at the Gershwin to film the motion picture, although exact dates have yet to be specified. Menzel, as previously announced, recently extended her Wicked contract through Jan. 2, 2005. Her co-star, Kristin Chenoweth, will likely co-star in the feature-film adaptation of the classic TV series "Bewitched." The Tony-winning performer is currently in negotiations to play Marie, the nosey next-door neighbor to witch Samantha, who will be played by Academy Award winner Nicole Kidman. That film will co-star Will Ferrell, Shirley MacLaine and Michael Caine. Chenoweth will depart her Wicked role after her contract is finished, July 18. . . . Marin Mazzie and Brian Stokes Mitchell, who have appeared onstage together in Ragtime; Kiss Me, Kate; and Man of La Mancha, will be part of PBS' upcoming "National Memorial Day Concert." This year's concert pays homage to all the Americans who have served our country with a special tribute to our troops in Iraq. Ossie Davis and Tom Hanks will co-host the annual concert, set to air on most PBS stations May 30, 8-9:30 PM ET; check local listings. . . . Speaking of Mazzie, she and husband Jason Danieley will appear in the Pasadena Playhouse's upcoming production of 110 in the Shade. The acting couple will star in the Harvey Schmidt Tom Jones-N. Richard Nash musical June 18-July 25. David Lee will direct the production, which is based on Nash's The Rainmaker. Due to previous commitments Mazzie and Danieley will miss performances June 26 (both shows), 27 (matinee), 30 (evening) and July 1 (evening). Tickets for 110 in the Shade are available by calling the theatre's box office at (626) 356-7529. The Pasadena Playhouse is located in Pasadena, CA, at 39 S. El Molino Avenue. . . . Little Shop of Horrors' Kerry Butler, who portrays the lovable but ditzy Audrey, will depart the company of the Jerry Zaks-directed production June 20. No replacement has been announced for Butler, although 'N Sync's Joey Fatone will begin performances as down-on-his luck plant-shop-worker Seymour June 24. . . . The original Audrey, Ellen Greene, who created the role of in the Off-Broadway and subsequent film of Little Shop of Horrors, is set to co-star in a production of Warren Leight's Side Man. Greene will appear in the Malibu Stage Company's mounting of the Tony-winning play beginning June 2. The production will play Friday and Saturday evenings at 8 PM and Sundays at 3 PM at the Malibu theatre, 29243 Pacific Coast Highway; call (310)-589-1998. The singer-actress is also heading into the recording studio in June to begin laying down tracks for a new solo recording. Among the songs Greene will record are Jane Siberry's "Love Is Everything," Queen's "You Take My Breath Away" and "Too Much Love Will Kill You," Tom Waits' "Rainbow Sleeves," Peter Allen's "Pretty Pretty" and "Continental American," Sarah McLachlan's "I Love You" and "I Do What I Have to Do," Nikka Costa's "Nothing," Paula Cole's "Throwing Stones" and Tori Amos' "Winter." She will also record the song "When Love Is Gone," penned by her musical director and husband, Christian Klikovits. Among Greene's upcoming concert dates are two shows at the San Francisco nightspot Martuni's, May 30 and June 20. She'll offer shows at 6 and 8 PM at the cabaret, located at 4 Valencia Street; call (415) 241-0205. Greene will also be part of the summer season at Provincetown, performing Aug. 19-31. . . . And, finally, two free outdoor concerts were announced this week. The third annual "Broadway Under the Stars" concert will be held June 14 in Bryant Park. The 90-minute toast to Manhattan marks the kick-off to the city's outdoor summer concert season. A host of Broadway stars to be announced shortly will take part in the evening, which includes songs from the musical theatre backed by a 35-piece orchestra. Montages of scenes from classic movies will also be shown on a giant screen in the park. Show time is 8:30 PM. Also, stars from nearly every show playing on Broadway will participate in the free "Stars in the Alley" concert June 2. The annual concert, held in Shubert Alley, will begin at 11:30 AM and will feature stars from A Raisin in the Sun, Assassins, Avenue Q, Beauty and the Beast, Bombay Dreams, The Boy From Oz, Caroline or Change, Chicago, Fiddler on the Roof, 42nd Street, Frozen, Golda's Balcony, Hairspray, I Am My Own Wife, Jumpers, Little Shop of Horrors, Mamma Mia!, Movin' Out, Rent, The Lion King, The Phantom of the Opera, The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wicked and Wonderful Town. Shubert Alley is located west of Broadway between 44th and 45th streets. Audience members should enter on 44th Street.
Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching!
