I have been doing some extra postings this week because there is just so darn much happening in the city right now. Between The Summer Play Festival and Mamma Mia and Legally Blonde and Bailey and Autumn...there is just too much to contain in three days!  So I have given you a few bonus blogs!  Today I have a literal cornucopia of things to tell you about.  So sit back, warm up your mouse hand, flex your cursor finger and start scrolling to see what I have for you below. 

Actress Takes Infamous Madonna Role

When David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow opened on Broadway nearly 20 years ago it made a huge splash on the scene.  Much of the buzz surrounded one of the cast members, one huge pop star named Madonna - who was making her Broadway debut in the role of Karen the secretary.  It was all anyone could talk about.  "How dare she?"  "She is going to be terrible."  "She IS terrible."  Madonna survived the tsunami of criticism (clearly) and went on to star in many more movies, but no more plays on Broadway (after her chilly reception, I am not sure I blame her).  Note: Check out that pix of Madonna coming out the stage door after a performance in Speed-the-Plow in 1988.  Where is the flood, Madonna?  Huh?

When the 20th Anniversary revival production of Speed-the-Plow was announced the speculation regarding the casting of the three lead roles was rampant.  Since then Jeremy Piven of Entourage fame and Raúl Esparza have signed on to do the show; which left the pivotal role of Karen the secretary to be cast.  I had wondered if the producers might try for a bit of "stunt casting" - try to find someone that might fill the "controversial" shoes of Madonnna.  Might they cast a Jessica Simpson or a Ashley Simpson; perhaps someone like Tila Tequila from the reality show on MTV might get the show some press?  Nope, they have cast a legitimate actress.  It was announced this week that Elisabeth Moss from the red hot tv show Mad Men would join the cast of Speed-the-Plow.  Moss is making her B'way debut, but is no stranger to the stage.  Audiences may remember her from her performance in Playwrights Horizon's Franny's Way ( I do - she was brilliant) several seasons ago and her role as Zoey Bartlett (the president's daughter) on the tv show West Wing.  She is a great addition to the cast and I am now, officially, really looking forward to this show.

I Just Have to Say...

I really want to tell you about a show I saw this past weekend at the Midtown  International Theater Festival.  Each year this festival presents shows by emerging theater artists in venues across Midtown Manhattan (click HERE to see what they have going on).  The festival can be very exciting because you can really find some rare gems among the shows being produced.  I was fortunate to have a front row seat to a special and beautiful "gem" of a show.  On Saturday, after dancing in my seat for a showing of Mamma Mia, I headed to Midtown to catch a performance of Couldn't Say; a new two hander written by Christopher Wall.  The show, which stars the immensely talented Elizabeth Rich (a Chicago actress who I had the good fortune to see in Steppenwolf's production of The Cherry Orchard directed by Tina Landau) and the equally moving Brent Langdon, is quite simple; two actors and two chairs.  In this case, however,  simple equals simply lovely.  Rich and Langdon portray a married couple stranded in their car in a snow storm on a deserted stretch of highway in New Hampshire.  While they are physically close in proximity, we learn that the couple is emotionally divided over the loss of their son more than five years ago in an another highway accident. 

Through the course of the evening we watch these expert actors bring these nuanced and specific characters to life and we get to eavesdrop on their conversations as they try to navigate the rocky road map of their marriage.  Will they overcome the loss of their son and heal their relationship?  I can't say, you will have to see the play to find out.  What I can tell you is that if you check out Couldn't Say you will witness an intelligent, sensitive, funny new play performed by top notch actors.  You won't want to miss it.  Click HERE for more information on Couldn't Say at the Midtown International Theater Festival.

Reality: Take 2

Having successfully used the reality tv star "pool" to cast the original leads of the current revival of Grease; the producers are dipping back into the casting waters and have tapped Ashley Spencer and Derek Keeling to take over the lead roles in Grease.  Spencer and Keeling began singing and dancing their hearts out on "The Broadway" last night.  

Keeling and Spencer lost out to Max Crumm and Laura Osnes on the reality television program "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (Keeling came in second and Spencer was a finalist),  but sometimes losing can look a lot like winning.  Now that Crumm and Osnes are vacating their roles in Grease, it gives Keeling and Spencer and opportunity to make their marks.

Who knows, if Grease keeps up the strong performance at the box office, they may tap every contestant from the reality tv show to take over as Sandy and Danny.  I loved Austin.  I hope Austin can replace Keeling!  Grease producers - are you reading this?

Hot Ticket Alert

It is official, the new production of the musical Hair has become the single hottest ticket to get in town!  Call your boss.  Call your brother-in-law.  Call your friend whose Uncle has a babysitter whose father knows a man that works for the woman that sometimes cuts the hair of a lady who went to summer camp with the daughter of one of the guys who ushers the show...and ask him if you can get a ticket!  Oh, but money won't do you any good in this situation - because the tickets are FREE.  That is right.  The Public Theater is presenting a revival of the musical Hair in their Shakespeare in the Park series.  The musical began performances last night and will run until August 31st.

What is making this show so HOT?  Two words.  Jonathan Groff.  Yup.  The uber cute star of Spring Awakening is tackling a lead role in the musical that made Broadway history.  The production comes on the heals a very successful staging of the musical last summer (it wasn't a full production - just a special event staging) which was one of the hardest tickets to get LAST summer.  The director Diane Paulus has reunited most of the cast from that event and is fully mounting Hair this summer.

Like I said - the tickets are free, but you have to work for them.  Here is the skinny on the show....performances of Hair at Shakespeare in the Park are Tuesday-Sunday at 8 PM. Tickets are free and are available on the day of the performance (two per person) at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park beginning at 1 PM, or by entering the Public's online ticketing lottery at www.publictheater.org.  The word is that the line at the Delcorte was mass chaos yesterday and that people were lined up for blocks and blocks.  The on line system was in such demand that the system was clogged from about 30 minutes.  If you are desperate there are apparently people who will wait in line for you (for a small fee, of course) but that seems really wrong to me - so don't do that!  

Good luck getting tickets.  Oh, and if you have an extra one - give me a call! Please

More Disciples for Godspell

American Idol finalist Diana DeGarmo, In the Heights' Joshua Henry, Rent's Telly Leung, The Wedding Singer's David Josefsberg will join the previously announced Gavin Creel (Tony nominee for Thoroughly Modern Millie) for the upcoming Broadway revival of Godspell.

The eagerly awaited production of the Stephen Schwartz/John-Michael Tebelak musical, which will begin previews Sept. 29 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre with an official opening scheduled for Oct. 23. Daniel Goldstein will direct the production with choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Altar Boyz).

I love me some Godspell.  I can't sing a note, but I somehow got cast in the role of Judas in Godspell as a youngster.  I really loved doing that show and I have to say I wasn't half bad (ok, maybe I was half bad - my memory isn't so good).  I just think the show has a good spirit and isn't too too religious!  I am looking forward to a big B'way production of this tuneful show!  Oh, and I [heart] Gavin Creel, so I will definitely be covering the show for y'all!  

Bailey Bows on The Broadway

I have gone on and on about Legally Blonde over the past few days, but I just wanted to make sure you knew that Bailey Hanks will take the stage as the new Elle Woods in Legally Blonde for the very first time tonight.  We here at Two on the Aisle wish her all the luck in the world.  "Knock ‘em dead, Bailey!"

If you want to check out the video of Bailey singing "So Much Better" click HERE and if you want to buy the single click HERE.  

That is it for the cornucopia!  Have a great day and I will...

~ See You On The Aisle