I missed Fantasia when she played Celie in "The Color Purple" on Broadway, but word was that she owned the stage. And that'd be totally unsurprising for anyone who remembers her seminal performance of "Summertime" during the season she won "American Idol". She'll be great performing Duke Ellington's music, and if she does indeed join this show, I will not miss her again.
Tupac vs. Miss Piggy: The Broadway Battle
Today it was announced that a non-biographical musical based on Tupac Shakur's music is headed to Broadway somewhere in the 2013-2014 season.
In a parallel universe, it's been announced that Disney is developing a Muppets show for Broadway.
These shows will not be competing for the same audience.
As far as I am concerned, bring on the Swedish Chef!
David Mamet does not want you to talk about his plays.
At least not in the venue for at least two hours after the play has ended.
That's a pity.
One of the best evenings I've ever had in a theater was a talkback of "Oleanna" at Trustus Theatre in Columbia, South Carolina. The show had clearly divided the audience in half, including the opinions of my own party, and the discussions that resulted were exciting and vibrant, the kind that only good work can generate.
This policy will not endear him to artistic directors or audiences. Then again, my friends who were in the audience for "The Anarchist" weren't endeared by the play he thrust on Broadway last year, and directed to boot.
Mamet's a great playwright. But there's nothing great about this new contract provision.
Aaron Sorkin is writing a Broadway musical.
Yep, he may be off the Houdini project, but the prolific Sorkin is already working on something else. And he may even return to Houdini.
Favorite moment of the 2013 Tony Awards
This pic is worth more than a thousand words.
