Ok - let's forget about "the Broadway" for a second.  Did you see ANTM last night? OMG.  Wait.  You don't know what that is?  America's Next Top Model.  The reality show where young girls compete to be picked by Tyra Banks as the "top model" (just like the title says).  I am addicted to reality television and ANTM is the pinnacle of reality.  Last night was the finale and it ROCKED!  I won't spoil it, in case you tivo'd it and haven't seen it.  If someone wrote America's Next Top Model: The Musical I would totally go see that.  No. No. I wouldn't.  Oh heck - YES I WOULD!  Enough of that.  I've got some important B'way buzz to get to.  First, as one commentor said yesterday, it ...

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Tumble outta bedAnd stumble to the kitchenPour myself a cup of ambitionYawnin, stretchin, try to come to lifeJump in the showerAnd the blood starts pumpinOut on the streetsThe traffic starts jumpinAnd folks like me on the job from 9 to 5For those of you that are headed to your 9 to 5 job or getting ready to head to work - here is a bit of news that might perk you up on this Monday morning.  The classic movie 9 to 5 has been made into a musical and it is taking its first steps towards "The Broadway" in a world premiere production at Center Theater Group in Los Angeles, CA.  You will have to wait a bit, it arrives on stage in September 2008, but the deal is done and it is coming your way.I a...

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The New York Times and Playbill.com have reported that the hit movie franchise and Academy Award winning film Rocky will be made into a Broadway musical.  The book will be written by Thomas Meehan (TONY Award winning best book of a Musical for Hairspray and author of the book for The Producers and Young Frankenstein).  Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, currently represented by Glorious Ones at Lincoln Center, will take on the lyrics and music.  It was also mentioned that Joe Mantello (Wicked and The Ritz) would possibly direct.While the score will be entirely new, the Rocky theme song (you remember it - sing it with me!) is expected to be a part of the show.I just hope that Sylvester St...

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One of the perks (well, a "perk" if you are a total theater geek like me) of seeing a lot of theater in NY is that occasionally you see a performer in a show before anyone knows who the heck they are and then one day they shoot to stardom.  To the untrained eye it looks like overnight success when in reality they have toiled away in multiple shows until they get that one big break.  I really love when I have seen a performer break through and become a big star; I remember seeing Lee Pace in a small production of a play called Credeaux Canvas at Playwrights Horizons ( a small off-broadway theater) before he went on to huge success as the new star of Pushing Daisies on ABC.   I also fondly...

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Last week was fairyly busy; Cyrano opening night and ton of shows in previews.  When the weekend rolled around I just wanted to "take a break" and get away from theater and theater chat.  I was going to take in a few movies and watch the marathon and escape the magnetic pull of "The Broadway"...it didn't quite work that way.FRIDAYFriday night we decided to check out Lars and the Real Girl.  The new movie staring Ryan Gosling and Emily Mortimer about a guy who gets a blow up girlfriend and the town bends over backwards to pretend it is real.  I loved it (I am a total sucker for this type of movie and my critical faculties fly out the window) but my movie companions were not so kind.  Lik...

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Which old witch?  The Wicked witch!  On October 30th, 2003 a Broadway musical was born and now 4 years later that green witch is still flying high!  Who would have thought that a musical prequel to The Wizard of Oz, which opened to fairly tepid reviews, would make it to its 4th anniversary.  The show is not just surviving, it is thriving - actually defying gravity (I can hear you groaning).  Wicked now has productions in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago.  There is a successful tour and international productions in London, Stuttgart, Tokyo and Melbourne.  There are cd's, dolls, books, posters, green monkey stuffed animals, sunglasses and life size dolls of Idina Menzel and Kristin ...

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I can't sing.  No, really, I can't sing.  Many people have confirmed this for me.  This, however, did not stop me from taking a lead role in a community theatre production of Godspell in St. Petersburg, FL.  I played the role of Judas and sang the opening notes of the show as well as the song "Its All for the Best" (with a lovely tap dance that accompanied it).  I was spectacular.  Spectacularly bad!  Like all tone deaf souls - I had NO IDEA and I thought I was brilliant.  I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the musical Godspell, which is why I am so excited about the announcement that it is coming to "the Broadway"Producers announced yesterday that Stephen Schwart'z music...

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Good Morning.  I am writing to you from sunny California (actually, it is a bit chilly here).  Yesterday I left the Big Apple and touched down in San Francisco for a little work/pleasure trip.  I am excited to explore this great city, eat s...

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