By Andrew Gans
28 May 2004

GYPSY

This weekend, the critically acclaimed revival of Gypsy — starring two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters as Momma Rose — ends its year-long run at the Shubert Theatre. I just wanted to say thank you to Peters and the entire cast of the Styne-Sondheim-Laurents musical for a memorable year of theatregoing. I was lucky enough to catch the Sam Mendes-directed production five times throughout its run, beginning with the show's first preview and, most recently, two weeks ago. It was always a completely moving experience, an emotional journey through life's possibilities and disappointments, dreams realized and dreams unfulfilled. As thrilling as the performances were when the show opened, Peters and her co-stars somehow managed to continue to grow in their roles, finding more and more dramatic and comedic moments, while subtly shading and coloring their work. I have long been an admirer of Peters, thrilled by her performances in such musicals as Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, Song & Dance and Annie Get Your Gun; yet her work in Gypsy seemed to mark a new chapter in her career, completely shedding her endearing persona and fully delving into the psyche of the powerhouse that is Momma Rose. Her performance of "Rose's Turn" will remain one of the great theatregoing experiences, and I'm anxious to see what this formidable talent tackles next.

HEATHER HEADLEY

Singer-actress Heather Headley came Home this week to the New Amsterdam Theatre, offering a one-night-only concert Monday night to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS' Children and Families Initiative. The Aida Tony winner, sporting long hair and a wedding band, was in tremendous voice, opening her show with The Wiz anthem "Home," and the enthusiastic crowd welcomed Headley with a roar of applause. Headley's two-act concert seemed to chart her career: The first half focused on theatre songs, including tunes from Aida, The Lion King and Ragtime, while the second half featured pop tunes, including several from Headley's Grammy-nominated recording, "This Is Who I Am." There was also a heavy dose of gospel numbers as well as several guest artists who also shone in the concert directed by Graciela Daniele. Among the first act's highlights were three duets — "Sarah Brown Eyes" with Norm Lewis, "Written in the Stars" with Adam Pascal and "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" with Clay Aiken — as well as a jazzy "My Heart Belongs to Daddy," the A Chorus Line ballad "Nothing" and a belty "The Music That Makes Me Dance," dedicated to her new husband. Headley began the second act with the Aretha Franklin hit "Chain of Fools" and also offered a tribute to another of her vocal mentors, Gladys Knight, with "Neither One Of Us." She performed four tunes from "This Is Who I Am" — "He Is," "I Wish I Wasn't," "Fallin, for You" and "If It Wasn't for Your Love" — and also welcomed the Broadway Inspirational Voices under the direction of Big River Tony nominee Michael McElroy. A few gospel tunes brought the sold-out audience to its feet, and star Headley emotionally thanked everyone for following her through all the phases of her career.

"AMERICAN IDOL" THOUGHTS: PART II

As I had hoped, North Carolina native Fantasia Barrino was named the "American Idol" during the show's finale Wednesday night. It was a close race between Barrino and 16-year-old Diana DeGarmo, who demonstrated the power and range of her voice during Tuesday night's showdown. But it was Barrino who had consistently shown her star quality, even if a bit of understandable nerves seemed to diminish her usual enthusiasm during Tuesday and Wednesday night's performances. But the 19-year-old had won numerous fans (including myself) throughout the entire "American Idol" season, and she accepted the title as she wept onstage and her family did the same in the audience. It was an especially moving moment for the single mother, who somehow managed to get through what will be her new single, "I Believe," as tears streamed down her face. She also said afterwards — still evidently on an emotional and triumphant roller coaster — that now she will be able to take care of her two-year-old daughter, adding that single parents should follow their dreams no matter what obstacles they face. The young DeGarmo also showed amazing poise after the name of the "Idol" was announced, congratulating Barrino and thanking the crowd for helping her grow not only as a singer but also as a person. I look forward to following both of their careers.

IN OTHER DIVA NEWS OF THE WEEK A concert version of Frank Wildhorn's Jekyll & Hyde will be presented June 25-27 at the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center in Marlton, NJ. Heading the cast of the concerts will be Robert Evan in the title roles with Kate Shindle as Lucy and Lauren Kennedy as Emma. Evan was the standby in the Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde, which features such tunes as "This Is the Moment," "Someone Like You" and "In His Eyes." The concerts are set for June 25 and 26 at 8 PM and June 27 at 2 PM. The summer series at the New Jersey theatre will also include productions of Miss Saigon and Noises Off as well as concerts with original Jekyll & Hyde co-star Linda Eder (Sept. 4) and Miss Saigon Tony winner Lea Salonga (July 16) plus an evening with Martin Short (Sept. 11 and 12). Tickets can be purchased by calling (856) 983-3366. Visit www.sjtheater.com for more information. . . . Mandy Gonzalez, who co-starred in the short-lived musical Dance of the Vampires, will kick off the new "Front and Concert" concert series next month. On June 14 Gonzalez will offer an evening of song featuring tunes from the worlds of Broadway, rock and jazz. Her Vampires co star, Max von Essen, will be the evening's special guest, and Gonzalez will relate stories about that ill-fated musical as well as her time spent touring with Bette Midler. Jamie McGonnigal directs the 7 PM performance. The "Front and Concert" series — the second Monday night of every month — continues in July with Bare cast members, and August will spotlight the talents of Gavin Creel and special guest Laura Benanti. The series hopes to present new and familiar theatre talent in an intimate setting. Steven Minichiello's Pink Room at Club Black is located in Manhattan at 605 West 55th Street. Tickets are priced at $15 and there is a two-drink minimum; call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com. . . . Three-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, nominated again this season for her work in the revival of A Raisin in the Sun, is set to premiere a new song cycle next month at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall. Commissioned by the Carnegie Hall Corporation, the cycle is entitled The Seven Deadly Sins and comprises seven works for the soprano and her musicians. Each of the pieces concerns one of the "seven deadly sins": envy, gluttony, pride, greed, sloth, anger and lust. McDonald will perform the song cycle June 2, 4, 8 and 10; show time is 8:30 PM. Ted Sperling will act as musical director and pianist with Rick Heckman on reeds, Peter Sachon on cello, Brian Koonin on guitar, Dave Phillips on bass and Dave Ratajczak on drums. The June 8 and 10 performances will be recorded for future broadcast on National Public Radio. Anger will be represented by Michael John LaChiusa's "The Christian Thing to Do"; envy by Ricky Ian Gordon's "Can You Look Me in the Eyes?"; gluttony by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens' "I Eat"; greed by John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey's "The Greedy Tadpole"; lust by Steve Marzullo and Mark Campbell's "Burning the Sauce"; sloth by Jeff Blumenkrantz's "My Book"; and vanity by Jake Heggie's "Blah, Blah, Me." Concertgoers can also expect to hear McDonald's renditions of "Unexpressed," "Stars and the Moon," "I Must Have that Man," "A Tragic Story," "I Won't Mind," "New Words," "Come Down from the Tree" and "The Light in the Piazza." Tickets, priced $48-$62, are available by calling (212) 247-7800 For more information about Carnegie Hall, visit www.carnegiehall.org. . . . Additional casting has been announced for the all-star concert performance of Mame Aug. 1 at the Hollywood Bowl. Joining the previously announced Michele Lee (Mame Dennis) and John Schneider (Beauregard Jackson Picket Burnside) will be Jean Smart as Vera Charles, Allyce Beasley as Agnes Gooch, Ben Platt as Patrick Dennis (age 10), Eric Sorenson as Patrick Dennis (age 19-29), Fred Willard as M. Lindsay Woosley, Michael Lee as Ito, Robert Picardo as Dwight Babcock, Lauri Johnson as Madame Branislowski/Mrs. Burnside, Cliff Bemis as Uncle Jeff, Monica Lee Gradischek as Cousin Fan, Tracy Powell as Sally Cato, Richard Israel as Junior Babcock, Susan Sullivan as Mrs. Upson, Alan Thicke as Mr. Upson, Jennifer Hall as Gloria Upson, Sarah Jane Nelson as Pegeen Ryan and the Mitch Hanlon Singers. The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra will be conducted by John Mauceri; show time is 7:30 PM. The Hollywood Bowl is located at 2301 Highland Avenue in Hollywood, CA. Tickets for Mame are available by calling (323) 850-2000. Go to www.hollywoodbowl.org for more information.

Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching!

John Dossett, Bernadette Peters (center), and Tammy Blanchard in Gypsy
photo by Joan Marcus

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