I just got back from the gym.  Are you laughing?  Do I hear laughing?  Stop.  I may have forgotten where my gym was located for the past 6 months, but lately I have been making a real effort.  I do a little treadmill.  I step it up on the elliptical a little bit.  I took a "body architecting" class last week that left my triceps in agony for two days (that says less about the strenuousness of the class and more about how out of shape I am).  However, I could spend 24 hours a day in the gym and I still wouldn't have biceps like Mario Lopez.  Which might be a point in my favor if I ever wanted to appear on stage with Mr. Lopez, because apparently he doesn't like his ‘ceps to be upst...

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Hold on to your hat!  The Tonys are shaking some things up this year.  The nominations for this year's Tony Awards have just been announced and while the event is typically yawn-worthy, this year is a bit different.  The usually predictable gang of nominators has given us a few surprises. Shocker # 1: Conventional wisdom on Broadway had A Catered Affair snagging a nomination for Best Musical this year, but Cry-Baby has robbed them of their spot.  Cry-Baby (adapted from the John Waters' film of the same name), which opened to mixed reviews and sluggish ticket sales, has captured one of the coveted four spots for Best Musical giving them a priceless feature on the Tony Awards telecast wh...

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Will City Center's Encores! series transfer ANOTHER show to The Broadway?  This is the question on everyone's lips today after the star-studded concert production of No, No, Nanette played this past weekend in New York City and has one final performance tonight.Encores! certainly has a history of presenting shows that got scooped up by B'way producers for a long run on the rialto.  We currently have Gypsy with Patti LuPone and, of course, the granddaddy transfer of them all - Chicago (still going strong after 10+ years - thanks to the revolving door of B-listers and rock stars doing the show - ouch).  It seems that every show that Encores! does now is met with some level of expectation th...

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I love the word brouhaha.  I love to say it.  I love to type it.  It is just a good word.  The only thing better than the word brouhaha - is an actual brouhaha...and I've got one for you today.The Tony Nominations haven't even been announced yet and we may have a drama to outshine the Legally Blonde commotion from last season (you remember - they wanted to show a number on the telecast from LB even though it wasn't nominated - and all "heck" broke loose).  Well, now we have the Passing Strange Sex Scandal.  Well, "scandal" might be a strong word - perhaps "controversy" is more appropriate.Apparently CBS is readying a pre-Tony special that will air on the network on June  7th (ahead of...

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Wow.  That was quick.  The new musical Glory Days opened on Tuesday night and by yesterday afternoon the producers announced that it would be CLOSING.  The show, a last minute entry into the B'way season, transferred from the Signature Thea...

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Amidst the hoopla of the Tonys and the Drama Desks and the multitude of other awards handed out this time of year - comes a smaller but still extremely prestigious award; The Lucille Lortel Awards.  Yesterday the 23rd Annual Lortel Awards were presented to shows and performers that have displayed outstanding merit in the world of Off-Broadway theater.  The big winner yesterday was the musical adaptation of Elmer Rice's The Adding Machine.  The musical transplant from Chicago picked up four trophies when the winners were announced; including Outstanding Musical.  The new play by George Packer, Betrayed, picked up the Outstanding Play Award.Presenters at the Lortel Awards were Jeff Bowen ...

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This weekend I had a chance to see the testosterone filled new "all boy" Broadway musical Glory Days and the estrogen driven "all female" production of Top Girls.  I couldn't help wondering if there was a battle of the shows (and sexes) who would take who in the ring.  Might it go something like this?Welcome to the Broadway Smackdown!  In the first corner, wearing period costumes and crazy wigs we have the all female cast of Top Girls at MTC's Biltmore Theater.  In the other corner we have the Abercrombie ...

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Those devious, deceitful, underhanded, conniving, cunning, and crafty rascals over at The Roundabout Theater Company are having a grand old time this morning.  The reviews are in and it seems that the critics are in agreement; dirty and rotten is good ol' clean fun!  Last night The Roundabout's new production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses opened.  The revival of Christopher Hampton's hit play (later made into an incredibly memorable movie with Glen Close and John Malkovich) is making a big immoral splash with movie star Laura Linney in the lead role and British newcomer Ben Daniels challenging her in the male lead.  Directed by Rufus Norris with underhanded style, nefarious flair and yard...

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Hier soir je suis allé voir la nouvelle relance de Broadway Les Liason Dangereuses. Qu'une nuit !  Oh, forgive me.  My inner Francophile has emerged after my trip to see Les Liaisons Dangereuses last night at The Roundabout Theater Company.  After spending several hours with the denizens of pre Revolutionary France I suddenly can speak and write in French.  See what one night in the theater can do for you!  Oh la la.Per usual, I am exaggerating.  I don't know how to speak or write French, but I do know how to use freetranslation.com.  (I love that website - I often like to send emails to co-workers translated in to Russian or Japanese)!  While I am lying about my new ability to con...

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