Off Broadway, Unnatural Acts is a well acted play about a "Secret Court" at Harvard in 1920, that made a group of undergraduates leave the school because they engaged in homosexual acts, with tragic consequences. Side Effects is a two character marital drama about a husband ( Cotter Smith), who is running for political office and a bipolar wife ( Joely Richardson), who is sabotaging his efforts. It is a joy to see Joely Richardson back on stage. The opening night party at 49 Grove attracted Joely's mother Vanessa Redgrave and daughter Daisy Bevan, Penny Fuller, David Greenspan, Aaron Tveit and others. Sex Lives of Our Parents is exactly about what the title states. Apparently, if a child sees her parents engaged in sexual intercourse, she will become neurotic, and the neurosis will pass on to her daughter. The multitalented Lisa Emery stars. The marvelous Miche Braden stars in The Devil's Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith, which Blues music lovers will enjoy. Joy Behar, Andre De Shields and Karen Ziemba gave her a standing ovation opening night.
All's Well That Ends Well in Central Park is a wonderful production with a superb cast, that includes John Cullum, Anne Parisse and Tonya Pinkins, with a very funny Reg Rogers, who steals every scene in which he appears. The Gala honored Gail Merrifield Papp, and Steve Martin, Martin Short, Liev Schreiber, Naomi Watts, Swoosie Kurtz, Mandy Patinkin, Kevin Kline, Audra McDonald and Chelsea Clinton were among the guests. The cast party afterwards in Belvedere Castle was a dessert and vodka, wine and beer event.
Inside Broadway 2011 Broadway Beacon Awards honored Brooke Shields, John Larroquette, Honorable Christine Quinn and Ofer Yardeni. Julie Chang was the emcee, Karen Ziemba performed, and Tina Louise and the parents of Lea Michele, Edith and Mark Sarfati were guests. It was a lovely event.
At a press conference at Lincoln Center, Nigel Redden, Director of Lincoln Center Festival, introduced Amon Miyamoto, director of The Temple of the Golden Pavilion, which will be performed from July 21-24. I intend to see it.
06-22-11 (L-R) Chairman of the Off Broadway Alliance Peter Breger.
Mark H. Dold. Carolyn Rossi Copeland. Mark St. Germain. Martin Rayner of "Freud's Last Session" at the Off Broadway Alliance Awards at Sardi's. 234 West 44th St. Tuesday afternoon 06-21-1106-22-11 (L-R) Chairman of the Off Broadway Alliance Peter Breger. Mark H. Dold. Carolyn Rossi Copeland. Mark St. Germain. Martin Rayner of "Freud's Last Session" at the Off Broadway Alliance Awards at Sardi's. 234 West 44th St.
Tuesday afternoon 06-21-11
|
I attended a rehearsal of Voca People, an unusual musical event of eight performers dressed like out of space aliens making vocal sounds with no musical instruments, in which they perform many popular songs. It certainly is a different musical experience.
The first Off Broadway Alliance Awards took place at Sardi's, and wonderful actors and plays received awards, including Charles Busch, Julie Halston, Tom Jones and Everett Quinton. Among the plays, Freud's Last Session was honored. Guest like Andrew Rannells, Lewis Cleale, Alison Fraser, Christine Pedi, Rita Gardner and Ashley Austin Morris were present. Chairman of the Off Broadway Alliance Peter Breger was the emcee, and a good time was had
by everyone.
A reception was held at Doyle New York on Al Hirschfeld's 108th birthday, where many of his possessions will be auctioned. Celeste Holm, Enid Nemy and Lynn Lane were among the guests, and David Leopold, the archivist of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, gave an informal tour of the exhibits.
Australian Consul General Phillip H. Scanlan gave a reception for the U.S. launch of the A Merciless Place. The author Emma Christopher spoke about her research, and read a selection from the book. It is a fascinating tale of English convicts being sent to West Africa in the eighteenth century, when it was no longer possible to send them to America because of the American Revolution.
A Gala dinner at The Pierre Hotel for The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award attracted HRH The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Miss America Teresa Scanlan, Lucie Arnaz, Kirstie Alley and Marilu Henner.
Actor Wilmer Valderrama was the center of attraction with runners in Rams costumes at Stride, The Ridiculously Long Lasting Gum first ever Running of the Rams event at Herald Square Pedestrian Plaza. I received two packets
of gum.
Gourmets will love the documentary El Bulli: Cooking in Progress about Ferran Adria and his three-star Michelin restaurant outside Barcelona, that we were invited to see at Wieden+Kennedy offices.. Unfortunately, according to the New York Times, the restaurant is closing this summer. The film opens at the Film Forum on July 27th.
Cinderella at ABT is a joy to see. Gillian Murphy and David Hallberg were superb, as always, and Kristi Boone and Luciana Paris were hilarious as the evil stepsisters. The audience was filled with gaily dressed young children, who shared in the delightful performance.
|