I am notorious for not wearing proper winter clothes.  I like to leave the house in only a sweater or sports coat when down jackets and ski caps are necessary.  I think I must be trying to fool myself into believing that it is still Fall.  However, every year there comes a time when I can no longer pull the wool over my eyes (so to speak) any more.  That time has come.  I have busted out my big overcoat and my hat with the sides that flop down over my ears.  I surender to you, oh, Winter, I surender (what is that, Bixby?).

Well, it might be getting a bit chillier outside, but there is plenty of red hot gossip and news happening on the rialto.  I hope these tidbits warm you up - unless of course you live in Florida or Southern California - if that is the case...I'm not speaking to you.  Did I mention the cold weather makes me grumpy sometimes? 

Who Was That Guy in the Ski Cap?

The Chicago Tribune reports that Steven Spielberg was spotted at the Imperial Theater in NYC to see the hottest ticket on The Broadway - August: Osage County.  The reporter wonders if there might be a movie in the works.  He proposes a celebrity cast.  Who would you hire to star in the movie version?  Bring it on! Click HERE to read column.

David Icy Towards Clay

David Hyde Pierce (currently starring in Curtains) was asked by NY Magazine about Clay Aiken who is now in Hyde Pierece's old show Spamalot.  Click HERE to find out what he said.  No comment from me.

Winter Remedy - Wicked Hot New Album

Idina Menzel is more than just a green-faced witch.  She is a pop star.  Ms.Menzel has a new album that "drops" tomorrow (that is record lingo - I am very involved in the pop industry - and by "involved" I mean that I have i-tunes).  The new disc is called I Stand and the first single is Brave (you can hear it on her website).  She was at the Virgin MegaStore signing cds and also at the Today show, singing her heart out.  Possibly more interesting to everyone here - Ms. Menzel will join Josh Groban for  a concert performance of Chess on May 12th  and 13th  in London.  I think my heart stopped.  Idina + Chess = Mind Blowing!  Until then you can listen to her new cd!  Click HERE to check out Idina's website. 

De Palma Serves Up Frosty Dish

Monday night at Glimpses of the Moon I ran into Jack De Palma who works with Barry and Fran Weissler  (have you been reading Barry's Yahoo column?) as their Creative Development Director.  I [heart] Mr. De Palma - he is a true man of the theater.  He sees everything, knows everyone, has impeccable taste and can smell talent a mile away.  He was enjoying Glimpses when I spoke to him at intermission and we gossiped a bit.  He told me that the new Weissler show Dancing in the Dark was now gearing up for the pre-Broadway tryout in San Diego - rehearsals had just started.  They are very excited about the new musical.  Did you hear that Scott Bakula (tv show Quantum Leap) has joined the cast along with heartthrob Sebastien LaCause (Rocky Picture Horror Show on B'way)?   Jack also had some other juicy dish - but it was all strictly "off the record".  Darn!  Maybe I can get him to spill more later.

Cool Show.  Hot Cast.

Back in December I told you about a show called Vengence produced by a new company called stageFARM.  I thought that show rocked and now they are set to open a new show called U.S. Drag.  U.S. Drag is a new play Gina Gionfriddo (uber talented) about college grads on the hunt for love, money, meaning and a serial attacker.  This young hip company has gathered a great group of actors for this show, which premiers February 23rd.  The cast includes Tanya Fischer, Logan Marshall Green, Rebecca Henderson (who kicked it hardcore in Vengeance) , Lisa Joyce (also in Vengence, also kickin' it hardcore), James Martinez, Michael Mosley, Matthew Stadelmann and Audrey Lynn Weston (a downtown favorite and fabulous actress). Click HERE for more info.

No Snow, but Box Offices are Freezing

January is typically a slow month for ticket sales on the rialto, however the latest box office report has revealed an especially sluggish week.  Total sales fell an estimated $1.8 million dollars.  Shows hit particularly hard were Xanadu (after all those amazing reviews and it still doesn't seem to have "legs"), The Color Purple (showing why it has posted closing notice), Rent (ditto) and (DUCK!) Spamalot.  It looks like biz picked up during Clay Aiken's first week in the show, but this week it dropped more than $200,000.  (DUCK, again)  Wow.  That is a big drop!  I will keep all comments to myself and let the numbers do the talking. 

The bright spot - three shows picked up a bit for the past week November, A Bronx Tale (who knew) and the very well reviewed 39 Steps.  I would like to thank our friends at Variety for this data!

Do They Play Icicles?

Karen has a talk show.  Karen has a Broadway show. Karen has a band.  That's right Megan Mullally (who starred as Karen on the hit tv show Wil & Grace and is currently starring in Young Frankenstein on The Broadway) and her band Supreme Music Program are going to play a "gig" at a great place in NYC called The Zipper Factory on March 24th.  They have a new album called Free Again!  The band and album are described as eclectic.  Mullally provides the vocal, but everyone plays weird instruments such as; a cardboard box, a plastic egg, toy pianos and a harmonium (truth be told, I don't know what a harmonium is). 

I have got to go warm my hands over the fireplace.  Wait.  I don't have a working fireplace.  Well, maybe my powers of self deception can help me out here.  Keep warm and I will...

~ See You On The Aisle