Check out this awesome video of the cast of Seminar on Broadway including Broadway favs Alan Rickman and Lily Rabe
Posts Tagged ‘theater’
Favorite Tony Moments
We hope you enjoyed this year’s incredible Tony Awards. Here’s a look at some of our favorite videos from the night
Nikki M. James wins for Best Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Hugh Jackman and Neil Patrick Harris have a Tony Host-off
Frances McDormand’s Jean Jacket Loves the Beacon Theatre
Award Season
We are in the midst of Award Season! Lots going on. On Tuesday May 3rd, we will feature the Tony Award Nominations Announcement live on iBroadway.net/blog at 8:30 AM, EST.
Check back for details
We’re Just Saying
A Look at Broadway’s Ups and Downs during the week
Happy New Year! Broadway has seen a lot of changes, with the closing of nearly twenty shows. One thing that gives us comfort is that The Addams Family is not going anywhere.
Gypsy of the year, Broadway Cares’ annual winter benefit raised over 3 million dollars. The event was accomplished with a winning performance by Rock of Ages cast members, the legendary Carol Channing performing a great opening number, and Seth Rudetsky talking about himself.
Spider-man postpones opening again.
In a recent interview Rosie O’Donnell pleaded to the producers of the impending revival of Annie to cast her as Miss Hannigan. She later went on to mention others who could do a better job than her, including Mary Testa and Christine Ebersole. In other news, Mary Testa sent Rosie O’Donnell a muffin basket from her dressing room at Annie.
All Good Things Must Come to an End
Happy Holidays! Ok, so it’s not even December, but as many of you are traveling to NY or making plans to hang with friends and family during this festive month, don’t forget, it’s your last chance to see some great theater. There are over 15 shows closing in December and January that you don’t want to miss out on. So get your tickets fast, before it’s too late.
A Little Night Music (closes Jan 9th)
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson (closes Jan 2nd)
Brief Encounter (closes Jan 2nd)
Driving Miss Daisy (closes Jan 29th)
Elf (closes Jan 2nd)
Fela! (closes Jan 2nd)
A Free Man of Color (closes Jan 9th)
In the Heights (closes Jan 9th)
La Bete (closes Jan 9th)
Merchant of Venice (closes Jan 9th)
Next to Normal (closes Jan 16th)
Pee Wee Herman (closes Jan 2nd)
The Pitmen Painters (closes Dec 12th)
Promises, Promises (closes Jan 2nd)
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles (Closes Jan 9th)
The Scottsboro Boys (Closes Dec 12th)
Time Stands Still (closes Jan 23rd)
West Side Story (closes Jan 2nd)
Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (closes Jan 23rd)
Post Election Day Edition
Did you vote in the midterm election? Glad to hear. In celebration and hopes for the new political climate, we salute Broadway past and present devoted to the American Way!
Andrew Jackson was our seventh president of the U.S., most remembered for his support of popular democracy, support of slavery, and Emo music?
1776, the year of our independence and in true spirit, lots of political figures, singing their hearts out about voting yes to independence.
Why is George W. Bush the only one in his family to speak with a Texan accent? Thank you Will Ferrell
Christine O’Donnell may not be a witch (nor did she win any popular vote yesterday), but we couldn’t resist including this one as well.
The New York International Fringe Festival Starts Today
It’s here, everyone’s favorite downtown festival, The New York International Fringe Festival (FringNYC) featuring over 1200 performances from over 200 companies worldwide. With the overwhelming choices, we will be selecting a few to keep your eye on. Purchase a very affordable ticket, and find dates and times by visiting the show pages at http://www.fringenyc.org/
Just In Time – The Judy Holliday Story
Writer: Bob Sloan
Director: Bob Sloan
A fast-paced romp through the life of the Original Dumb Blond and one of the funniest actresses of all time. Featuring such exalted cohorts as Orson Welles, Katherine Hepburn, Comden & Green, Gloria Swanson, and Jimmy Durante.
open heart
joes & co.
Writer: Joe Salvatore
Director: Joe Salvatore
What’s it like in a gay relationship that allows for outside sexual partners? Find out through the actual words of men who shared their personal stories and thoughts on monogamy, fidelity, sex, and open relationships.
Picking Palin
A Family Affair Films
Writer: Stephen Padilla
Director: Stephen Padilla
How did a certain first-term, little-known governor from Alaska become the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential candidate? The better question is why. Find out in this FringeNYC World Premiere.
Julius Caesar: The Death of a Dictator
The Gangbusters Theatre Company
Writer: Based on text by William Shakespeare, Adapted by Orson Welles, with Music by Metallica
Director: Leon Shanglebee
Choreographer: Nicole Langevin
The Gangbusters Theatre Company bring their trademark Speed & Violence to Orson Welles’ adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic masterpiece. Set in a militant future and scored to the music of Metallica, this one-act production will punch you in the throat.
We will be featuring more shows next week!
Welcome to iBroadway – Broadway Goes Mobile!
We are excited to announce the release of the app you’ve all been waiting for. iBroadway is finally here! It’s the easiest, most savvy way to access all things Broadway, all via you iPhone and iPod touch. Watch exclusive videos, read from Theater’s top bloggers (more on that to come), get show listings, and be able to buy tickets all from your phone. To download the app, visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibroadway/id349362702?mt=8. It’s fast and free!
The Power of Movement and Silence
There are moments in theater that make a show go from good to extraordinary. For me, those moments happen when nothing is said, when a character is alone on stage and for that moment you are there with him or her in that world. Those moments rarely happen.
People applauded Frank Langella in Frost/Nixon for his drunken Nixon monologue (rightfully so), but for me the moment is when Nixon knows he is stuck in a corner and realizes that he has to admit his wrongdoing. There are no words, just Nixon and Frost on stage in silence, with Nixon’s face on the TV screens with the look of horror. That sent chills up my spine. A brilliant theatrical moment.
I had the opportunity to see Billy Elliot on Sunday afternoon. To be perfectly honest, I was never excited about this show coming to Broadway and I thought it would be just another tourist trap. I had seats in center rear mezzanine and to me seats far back can ruin a show. To my pleasant surprise, I loved it, I thought it was wonderful and although it’s very large (the cast is the biggest I have seen in a long time for a commercial production), it feels surprising intimate in the very large Imperial Theater.
To me what made Billy Elliot good was not the music (it was fine, but nothing to write home about), but the story, dance and lighting design. I haven’t seen the movie, but I just loved the story of Billy’s struggle to find himself in a narrow-minded community. The dancing was fantastic and the lighting design was amazing. Billy Elliot had two moments that, for me, made the show go from good to extraordinary.
Both scenes occur act the end of the acts (spoiler alert!). The Act One finale is a long sequence with Billy dancing alone while riots occur behind him. It’s a chilling moment that beats out any flying witches or crashing chandeliers. There’s no song, just Billy expressing his frustration through dance. The other moment occurs at the end of Act Two when Billy says goodbye to his best friend, Michael, who rides a bike to the spotlit center of the darkened stage. You do not see Michael’s face, he is alone, watching his friend achieve his dream while he is left behind in a community that is crumbling. In the silence it is just Michael and in a moment Billy runs up to embrace his friend, probably for the last time.