The cast and creators of “Glee” will Tweet with fans in a special “tweet-peat” airing on Sept. 4.
In anticipation of the Sept. 9 series premiere, Fox will re-air the “Glee” pilot that will include scrolling Twitter commentary at the bottom of the screen. Fans, or “Gleeks” as they have been dubbed, will be able to submit questions and later see them answered via Twitter.
Fox has also announced that a special director’s cut of the “Glee” pilot, including deleted scenes, will air on Sept. 2. The series, which centers on a high school glee club and its misfit members, stars Matthew Morrison (South Pacific, Light in the Piazza) and Lea Michele (Spring Awakening).
As the new Broadway season gets underway, Playbill.com presents a first look at the artwork that will adorn the Playbill covers for each new show. First up: two anticipated productions that both kick off Sept. 10.
Roundabout Theatre Company presents the first-ever Broadway revival of the 1960 musical Bye Bye Birdie at the newly reopened Henry Miller’s Theatre. The production stars John Stamos, Gina Gershon, Jayne Houdyshell, Bill Irwin, Dee Hoty, Nolan Gerard Funk, Allie Trimm, Matt Doyle and Jake Evan Schwencke.
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At the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, John Crowley directs film stars Hugh Jackman, a Tony winner for The Boy From Oz, and Daniel Craig in Keith Huff’s two-character play A Steady Rain. The production, which runs for only 12 weeks, concerns two Chicago cops who find their loyalties tested as a routine domestic disturbance call sends them on a harrowing journey.
Comic actors will celebrate the brilliance of actress Meryl Streep — and good screenwriting — in a sold-out Sept. 5 evening in which they perform monologues from her films. Streep Tease: An Evening of Meryl Streep Monologues Performed by an All-Male Company will be presented at Bang Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles.
“Some of the most beautiful, painful, thought-provoking, funny, emotionally resonant monologues in film history have been delivered by the incomparable Oscar winner Meryl Streep,” according to Bang’s website. “Tonight, they’ll be delivered by…men.”
The cast includes David Dean Bottrell, Roy Cruz, Taylor Negron, Steve Hasley, Sam Pancake, Eddie Sanchez, Mike Rose and Trent Walker.
Variety reports that monologues from “Out of Africa,” “Sophie’s Choice,” “The Devil Wears Prada” and more will be heard.
In 1961, Robert Preston had just finished on Broadway in the role of his career, Prof. Harold Hill in Meredith Willson’s musical The Music Man, featuring the iconic march “76 Trombones.” As part of President John F. Kennedy’s fitness initiative for school children, Willson wrote another march for Preston to sing, “Chicken Fat.” Thousands of kids across America would perform calisthenics to this song as part of their phys ed programs. The song was composed during the same period Willson was writing his other great march, “I Ain’t Down Yet” from The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and “Chicken Fat” sounds disturbingly like the love child of “Trombones” and “Ain’t.” The actual workout starts at 0:58, so get your tights and play the embedded video below.
So, who were all those theatregoers standing on 43rd Street between Ninth and Tenth Avenues around 4 PM ET on Sunday, Aug. 30?
Turns out, the matinee performance of The Marvelous Wonderettes was halted midway through. Several theatregoers told Playbill.com that they smelled smoke in the theatre. Fire trucks were dispatched, and the theatre was evacuated.
The performance was eventually canceled, although all theatregoers were told they could receive a full refund for the performance.
A spokesperson for the musical told Playbill.com that it was an electrical fire that took place during the first act. Nobody was injured, and performances will resume Monday evening, Aug. 31.
The acclaimed Marvelous Wonderettes plays the Westside Theatre.
“Entertainment Weekly” recently interviewed stage and TV star, magician and Tony Awards host Neil Patrick Harris and has posted to its website a few choice excerpts from a forthcoming magazine feature. The “How I Met Your Mother” star talked about his experience as a guest judge for a round of “American Idol” auditions as well his upcoming gig as host (and co-producer) of the Emmy Awards on Sept. 20, confirming that he will “probably” sing at some point in the telecast.
Here are a couple of quotes from the actor, who appeared most recently on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of Assassins:
On “Idol” auditioners who can’t sing:
They know the caustic judgment. And then they come out and they sing and they’re terrible. And they seriously think that they’re talented. They must be told that they’re terrible. They don’t need to be embarrassed. I would never tell someone that they’re ugly, or that they should be ashamed of themselves. But it’s now time for the family that’s always told them that they’re the best singer and that they could win it — it’s time to let them know that they should probably not audition for this show anymore. And I had no problem being the guy to say that.
On musical numbers during the “Emmy” telecast:
I love the ”So You Think You Can Dance” show. I love it. I think it’s some of the best hours on TV. I think those dancers are extraordinary and, more so, I think those choreographers are uniformly amazing. So I pitched bringing back some sort of dance element to the awards show, which had been done away with because it seemed tepid…And so I got two of who I think are the best choreographers on “SYTYCD” — Tabitha and Napoleon – to be involved in some movement elements.
For many who tread the Broadway boards, their first taste of the limelight began on the stages of community theatre. While this testing ground for talent has been a stepping stone for aspiring performers, it is also a way of life for those theatre lovers who devote their spare time to performing simply for the joy if it.
The Omaha Community Playhouse, now celebrating its 85th season, is one of such places. With ties to theatre luminaries including the Fonda family (Henry and Jane) and the Brando family (Dodie Brando, mother of Marlon) , OCP has been offering experimental and classic family fare since before the Great Depression.
To celebrate the legacy and local commitment of the time-honored playhouse, OCP music director Jim Boggess (music) and associate artistic director Susan Baer Collins (lyrics) penned a “Playhouse Anthem,” which captures the true essence of why we call it “community theatre.”
Here’s a look at the Omaha Community Playhouse Performers and the “Playhouse Anthem.”
For those who missed the live broadcast, here is Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell performing “The Impossible Dream” at the memorial service for late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy. The event took place at the JFK Library and Museum on Aug. 28.
Seven-time MAC Award-winning impersonator Tommy Femia will kick off his 20th season at Don’t Tell Mama Sept. 21 at 6:30 PM.
Femia will offer Judy Garland Live! twice a month through the end of 2009. On his Sept. 26 opening night, Garland (aka Femia) will be joined by Broadway favorite Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!).
Other guest stars to be announced will join Femia for his shows Saturdays, Sept. 26; Oct. 17 and 24; Nov. 7 and 21; and Dec. 5 and 19. All shows begin at 8:30 PM.
Christopher Denny and David Maiocco are the musical directors.
There is a $20 cover charge and a two-drink minimum per person (cash only). Call (212) 757-0788 or visit www.donttellmama.com.
Tony Award winner Brian Stokes Mitchell will perform Man of La Mancha’s “The Impossible Dream” during the memorial service for late U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy at the JFK Library and Museum on Aug. 28. The private memorial, to be held from 7-9 PM, will honor the life of the veteran Massachusetts senator and “his love of music, laughter and stories with friends and family he adored.”
In addition to a performance by Broadway favorite Mitchell, the service will include words from Vice President Joe Biden, Congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II, Senator Christopher J. Dodd, Governor Deval L. Patrick, Senator John McCain, Senator John F. Kerry, Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Mayor Thomas M. Menino, Senator John C. Culver and Caroline Kennedy.
Mr. Edward (Ted) Kennedy lost his 15-month battle with brain cancer Aug. 25. He served 47 years in office.
