A revival of Angels
in America, by Tony
Kushner, at the Neil
Simon Theatre, opens on Sunday, March 25. A
review will appear in my column after the
opening.
A revival of Lobby Hero,
by Kenneth
Lonergan, at the newly renovated Hayes
Theater, formerly the Helen Hayes Theater, opens
on Monday, March March 26. A
review will appear in my column after the
opening.
Gingold Theatrical Group's St.
Patrick's Day 2018 Golden Shamrock Gala was
held at 3 West Club, 3 West 51st St. Actress Martha
Plimpton and Tom
Viola were the honorees. Artistic Director David
Staller introduced many of the celebrities
who attended, like Tyne
Daly and Allison
Fraser, (photo
below) who posed for me with a mockup of George
Bernard Shaw, whose plays the Gingold
Theatrical Group presents. As I had to attend
Part 2 of Angels in America, I could
only stay for the lovely reception.
Pia Lindstrom and William
Ivey Long (photo
below) were among the guests at the American
Theatre Wing's 21st Annual Jonathan Larson
Grants recognizing emerging creators of
musical theatre at Jerome Green Space, 44
Charlton St. where the grantees performed. A
reception with delicious hors d'oeuvres and fine
wine preceded the presentation.
I received Something
Wonderful: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Broadway
Revolution,
by Todd
S. Purdom, 2018,
published by Henry Holt and Company. Every
theatre lover should purchase this book. The
composer Richard
Rodgers and
the lyricist Oscar Hammerstein
II produced
some of the finest musicals ever to appear on
Broadway, beginning with Oklahoma! in
1943 and ending with The Sound of Music in 1959.
Many were made into magnificent film musicals.
The writer
describes the background of the two brilliant
men, and tells about their successes and
failures. They were fascinating personalities,
and there is an honest assessment of their
personal life as well as their professional
life.
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I found it hard to put the book
down. I had to read every page, and I enjoyed
every minute reading it. Wonderful stars of the
age tell anecdotes about working with these fine
gentlemen, and I am thrilled to write that I
photographed many of them and became friends
with these stars whom I admired. Who can forget Ethel
Merman, Yul Brynner, Mary Martin, Julie Andrews and Stephen
Sondheim?
I recommend this book highly, and you will be
well rewarded reading and treasuring it. It will
be a splendid addition to your library.
New York City Center Encores! at 25 presented Grand
Hotel: The Musical,
book by Luther
Davis,
music and lyrics by Robert
Wright and George
Forrest,
based on the novel by Vicki
Baum,
with additional music by Maury
Yeston.
Although it had a checkered history, it finally
became a success on Broadway, when Tommy
Tune directed
and choreographed it in 1989. In this version, Josh
Rhodes directed
and choreographed it, and he rose splendidly to
the occasion. The cast, the singers and the
dancing is perfect. Tommy Tune would approve.
The story, about guests and staff of the elegant
hotel in Berlin, focuses on six main characters
and their problems. All are fine, but the
highlight is We'll
Take A Glass Together,
sung by Brandon
Uranowitz and James Snyder with
a magnificent ensemble. It richly deserved the
tumultuous ovation. I have never in 25 years
seen a poor production by Encores!, and I hope
to enjoy 25 years more. It is a New York
treasure. People who love musical theatre must
see their productions.
The 53rd Street library
presented Blow-Up, by Michelangelo
Antonioni, UK/Italy, 1967, one of the
director's best films, starring David
Hemmings as a fashion photographer, who
takes a photo in a park, which, when blown up, a
body of a murdered man appears. It is a
brilliantly colored film, and the acting by
a wonderful cast, which includes Vanessa
Redgrave and Sarah
Miles, is superb. It is also a view of Swinging
London, with beautiful young ladies, lots of
nudity, the influence of drugs, rock and
roll music and wild modern fashion for the young
ladies. It was the age of the miniskirt.
I enjoyed every minute of this marvelous film.
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