With one show leaving The Broadway, will another show find a theater to open in?  These are the things that are keeping me up at night.  Note: If you read all the way to the end of this post there is a little surprise.  Enjoy!

Ship Ahoy

The Seafarer announced yesterday that it will hoist anchor and ship out on March 30th.  Conor McPherson's play began performances on October 30th, 2007 with an official opening on December 6th, 2007 and played 19 previews and 133 regular performances.  The Seafarer stars Ciarán Hinds, Conleth Hill, Sean Mahon, David Morse and Jim Norton.  This is a bit of a disappointing end for this new play.  It opened to impressive reviews.  Ben Brantley had this to say:

"one of the finest ensembles to grace a Broadway stage in years uncovers the soul-defining clarity within the drunkard's haze. Five poker-playing Irish drunks, bumping into the furniture of an ill-kept house in Dublin on Christmas Eve, may not sound like your ideal people to spend the holidays with. But as unlikely as it sounds, "The Seafarer" may just be the pick-me-up play of the season".  

Even with this resounding vote of confidence from the NY Times the show never found it's sea legs - so to speak.  In a season filled with so many plays, I was worried that we might see a few of these gems exit too swiftly.  It appears that Laurence Fishburne will dock into the Booth Theater in Thurgood; a new play billed as a one man show about "the remarkable and triumphant story of Thurgood Marshall, who rose from a childhood in the backstreets of Baltimore to the Supreme Court of the United States."

Jumpin' on the [TOS]-Wagon

I find it almost impossible NOT to jump on the [TOS] to B'way bandwagon or [TOS]-wagon.  [TOS] is the hit Off -Broadway show Title of Show that everyone is talking about it.  I saw the show at Ars Nova (loved it!) and I saw it again at The Vineyard (loved it!), I bought the album on i-tunes (loved it!  In stereo!) and now just like all the other tossers (that's what they call their fans) I am getting excited about the possibility of a transfer to the great white way! 

Ok, here is the scoop.  [Title of Show] is written by Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen.  They wanted to write a show for the NY Music Theater Festival but they hadn't even started a few weeks before the deadline.  So these two guys wrote a show about two guys writing a show to send into the Festival (keep up with me here).  Thus the name - they started with the form and the first question was; "Title of Show?".  Clever, right?  The show was a big hit.  Audiences adored it.  Producers swarmed all over it.  Then came a encore performance at Ars Nova (this cool little theater space in NYC) and then an official full commercial run at The Vineyard Theater (where Avenue Q started).  The show also features Heidi Blickenstaff (seen in this blog as "Star To Be" and currently starring in The Little Mermaid) and Susan Blackwell - they are all wonderful.  The show is just these four talented kids, a piano and 4 chairs.  That's it.  Doesn't sound like a B'way show, does it? 

Well, the folks who produced Rent have been behind [Title of Show] for some time  and they feel very passionate about it.  As do Hunter, Jeff, Heidi and Susan.  They have practically been campaigning for a B'way transfer.  (Check out their hysterical "Title of Show Shows" HERE).  But, many insiders think that it would just be a bad idea to transfer this show.  Not enough broad appeal - they say.  Whose going to come see it - they say.  You can't have a hit show without flashy sets and costumes - they say.  Who is this "they"???  I must know. 

Despite these naysayers, things have heated up a bit lately.  When Spelling Bee closed there was talk that their theater, Circle in the Square, would be the perfect space for the show.  Then many have wondered how long Xanadu can make it (check out yesterdays post about their grosses) and lord knows the Helen Hayes Theater would be great for [TOS].  Then yesterday comes the announcement that The Seafarer is closing and the Booth would have been  a prime location for [TOS] were Thurgood with Laurence Fishburne not arriving after.  [TOS] wasn't quick enough on that one!

The rumors and gossip have been FLYING around town. The theater chatterati (those fans that post on message boards and chat rooms) have been abuzz for the past two days.  Will [Title of Show] come to Broadway?  I have GOT TO KNOW!

The show is really about daring to dream big dreams and it would be a very fitting denouement for this "little engine that could" to make it all the way to THE BROADWAY!  Ok, ‘nuf said.  Time for me to calm down. But, if the producers would like to call me and fill me in; they can email me at crazyaboutTOS@yahoo.com or call me at 212-TOS-2BWAY.  Either way you can get me.  Thanks! 

One Last Totally Unrelated Video!

You have to CLICK HERE and watch this.  This is possibly one of the funniest things I have ever seen in my ENTIRE life.  It is a group of NBC stars (Nell Carter, Charlotte Rae, Bea Arthur, Marla Gibbs and MORE) singing "We are a Family" from Dreamgirls.  This comes courtesy of Michael Musto's blog at The Village Voice.  You have to read his wicked commentary as well.  CLICK HERE NOW.  I am still laughing.

~ See You On The Aisle