“Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” is going to be one of the most prominent shows of the spring season on Broadway. Anika Noni Rose, Tony Award-winner, will be starring as Maggie the Cat in a production that also stars Terrence Howard, and Tony Award-winners James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad as Big Daddy and Big Momma.
Kristin Chenoweth is one of Broadway’s biggest stars. She can be headed to London to play Cunégonde in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide for the English National Opera. According to the New York rumors, Kristin Chenoweth will be staring with Toby Spence in Robert Carsen’s production, choreographed by the eminent Rob Ashford. It will result in 13 performances at the London Coliseum from June 23.
Delayed by the nineteen-day stagehands strike, the production of “August: Osage County,” playwright Tracy Letts’ funny drama made its official debut on Broadway in front of a star-studded audience. The drama is about an Oklahoma family confronting the demons of its past. The audience at the Imperial Theater on West 45th Street included the members of Steppenwolf ensemble Joan Allen, Gary Sinise, and Laurie Metcalf, as well as such celebrities as Angela Lansbury and David Schwimmer, Chicago Lookingglass Theatre Company co-founder of television’s “Friends.”
Now that the nineteen-day-long stagehands strike has come to an end it seems to be like in old times around the Broadway. Theatres are once more alive with the sound of music of the stunning performances, like “A Chorus Line,” “Curtains,” “Jersey Boys” “Spamalot,” and “Wicked” being among those shows that are back on the boards. “Chicago” is back again with Maxwell Caulfield in a tux and “Hairspray” with George Wendt in drag
Mama Mia is currently staged at Winter Garden Theatre and features such cast members as Carey Anderson, Carolee Carmello, Samanth Eggers, Veronica J Kuehn, Judy McLane, Gina Ferrall, Andy Kelso, Ben Getinger, Raymond J. Lee, Michael Mastro, Pearce Bunting, David McDonald, Bryan Scott Johnson. The story of Mamma Mia musical unfolds on a tiny Greek island. The whole musical is drench with fun and joy accompanied by 23 hit songs of the super group ABBA. Unforgettable, funny and simply enjoyable this musical is.
The gorgeous Jessica Alba has confirmed rumors that she is in talks to appear in a Broadway musical. She confessed she is terrified of treading the boards. The star of dozens of the popular movies (Good Luck Chuck being one the most recent) is now preparing to take the role of Karen in a revival of Speed the Plow, David Mamet’s play. This role was played by Madonna in the 1988 original version. The Hollywood actress recently finished filming The Love Guru with Mike Myers and Justin Timberlake, a film telling about ice hockey players.
Broadway strike talks resumed yesterday between the theatre producers and the union representing the stagehands. The spokesman for the union Bruce Cohen emerged from the negotiations Around 8:30 pm, saying that both sides were working very hard and that it would probably be a long night. As of 5:30 am, they were still meeting. The talks to end the strike were held at the law firm of Proskauer Rose. The city comptroller’s office said that the strike costs the city two million dollars a day, whereas officials from the League of American Theaters and Producers place the price much higher.
The negotiations that were held a couple of days ago concerning the ongoing Broadway stagehands strike didn’t produce any breakthrough. As a result, twenty-seven performances will remain closed through November 25, according to the statements of representatives from the League of American Theatres and Producers and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE).
Standing on a wooden platform in a rehearsal room that overlooks Times Square, Stanley and Snyder, backed by lovebird couples, get down to business with a dramatic ‘50s-style ballad worthy of Roy Orbison, though its lyrics are unlikely to have been broadcast on the radio in 1954: …It’s moist and it’s pink…Based on Waters’ ‘90 film starring Johnny Depp, “Cry-Baby” will open at the La Jolla Playhouse November 21 and will head for Broadway in spring.
