My guess is that Ms. Patti LuPone (and the entire cast and crew of Gypsy) are feeling FANTASTIC today.  Nothing like being in a HIT show!   Nothing like taking on the role of a lifetime and knocking it "out of the park".  Nothing like having all the hard work, determination and talent pay off - like gang busters.  And there must be nothing like putting the debating and gossiping to an end!  Gypsy is back and it seems like the show is a SLAM DUNK!The Debate EndsIf critics had the final say, the "Great Gypsy Debate" would be over - finished - decimated, actually.  Because the critics have spoken folks and the response is unanimous; this Gypsy is a big huge Broadway smash hit and Patti L...

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Hollywood has made millions of dollars off of sequels; now it is the Broadway's turn.  Andrew Lloyd Webber has announced that he has written the music for a sequel to his smash international hit Phantom of the Opera and hopes to stage it in 2009.  Ok then.  We have had the movie-to-musical experience and the movie-to musical-to movie deal; now we can begin to squeeze more life out of shows by coming up with sequels.  This should get very interesting. Sir Andrew has been quoted as saying... "I've made a decision that I will do The Phantom of the Opera sequel. And I have met with a couple people today who have persuaded me to do it, who I will not reveal, but it's a very exciting day for...

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[UPDATE]Since I published this post (below) earlier today, it has been announced that Glory Days will open on the Broadway at the Circle in the Square Theater.  Previews begin April 22nd with a May 6th opening.  The announcement indicated that all four performers from the DC production would return to the show. FYI the show will NOT be eligible for the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League awards, but it is eligible for a TONY AWARD...let the predictions commence! [ORIGINAL POST]"What is the deal with the new musical Glory Days?"  This is the question on everyone's lips lately.  I have been asking it.  Wiggs123 has been asking it (in the comments section).  The WORLD has...

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First, let me get the equality question out of the way.  Yes!  Yes - we will do the "Girlz on the Broadway" very soon.  I just wanted to start with the guys because it seemed like the right timing and I didn't want to appear to be sexist by starting with the ladies.  We are having a "national conversation" about gender so I am sensitive to these sorts of things. Ok?  Ok.  Now, on the important topic at hand...(oh, fyi, the "z" on the end of girlz and boyz is to show you I am young and edgy. It's working, right?) A few announcements hit yesterday that will have the ladies (and gents) swooning on the rialato.  A bevy of attractive young men will be jumping into the Great White Way in a ...

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Frequent readers of this blog will recall that I have often done a feature which I like to call "Star to Be".   The title takes its name from the musical number "N.Y.C." from Annie in which a young girl steps off the bus from SmallTown, U.S.A. to take her crack at becoming a star.  The role is famously called "Star To Be" (a fun factoid is that the adult Andrea McArdle - the original Annie on Broadway - played that cameo role in the TV version of Annie).  So the title of this featurette is "homage" to Annie and all the young girls and guys who come to the Big Apple to try to become stars.Today I would like to focus your attention on an up and coming actor by the name of Michael Esper.  ...

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Woo Hoo!  Finally, it is spring.  Let's put on our tank tops and our flip flops and frolic in the wonderful spring sunshine.  Insert sound of screeching tires.  Wait - the calendar might say spring but it still @#$%...

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There seems to be more gossip/rumor surrounding that monster musical currently in residence at the Hilton Theater, Young Frankenstein.  Last week we discussed how there seem to be tons of empty seats when a spy for this blog (ok, a friend who went to see the show) recently attended a performance.  Then came news that the producers were eliminating all the premium priced tickets (which seemed a sure sign that ticket sales were sluggish).  Now comes news that other shows have been "scouting" the Hilton Theater as a possible location for a new show - Spiderman: The Musical.In yesterday's NY Post, Michael Riedel had a fabulously dishy column regarding this subject (I know the Mr. Riedel is an...

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A new production of the musical Gypsy with Patti LuPone is set to open this month on March 27th and no arrival on the rialto has received so much debate.  From changes to the show, to the leading lady, to the props, to the poster, to wigs - this show has been scrutinized intensely and the voices on each side of the debate have been loud and strong.  It seems that no one has a "mild" impression of the show.  They are either loving it or hating it.  So get your arguments arranged and your rebuttals in order - we are going to look into the Great Gypsy Debate.It all begins with the show - Gypsy is a truly beloved musical and one that many feel is the greatest American musical of all time.  ...

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That doesn't sound right, does it?  No - it wasn't some strange St. Patty's day ritual.  No - I wasn't holed up in some restroom hurling green beer after a night of revelry and merriment.  I can explain myself...in a minute. I had jamm...

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