On the Town With Aubrey Reuben
Where All the Stars Shine Brightly!
May 24, 2014
05-23-14
Winner Actor Bryan Cranston and winner/presenter Andrea Martin at
the 64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Theatre Awards at Sardi's. 234
West 44th St. Thursday afternoon.
05-22-14
American Ballet
Theatre (ABT)
presented Don
Quixote, music
by Ludwig
Minkus,
choreography by Marius
Petipa and Alexander
Gorsky. It is a
crowd pleaser, and Polina
Semionova stole
the show. She was
brilliant throughout
the evening, but was
simply magnificent
in the third act,
where she received a
well deserved
tumultuous applause. Marcelo
Gomes was
not far behind,
supporting his
ballerina
marvelously. The
entire cast sparkled
in this bubbly
ballet, especially a
delightful Nicole
Graniero (Amour)
and a versatile Luis
Ribagorda (a
Gypsy bandit) in
their scenes in the
second act. It was a
memorable night at
the ballet.
ABT offered a
program of three
ballets, the first
two with
choreography by Balanchine. Theme
and Variations,
music by Tchaikovsky,
was well danced,
especially by the
two leads, Isabella
Boylston and Andrew
Veyette.. Duo
Concertant is
a modern style Pas
de Deux, music by Stravinsky,
danced by Misty
Copeland and Eric
Tamm. The main
attraction was Gaite
Parisenne,
choreography by Leonide
Massine, music
of Jacques
Offenbach,
another bubbling
ballet with
outlandish costumes
by Christian
Lacroix. The
highlight features a
sparkling Can-Can by
twelve female
dancers. They
received a well
deserved ovation.
The Outer Critics
Circle presented
their 64th
Annual Theatre
Awards at
Sardi's. It is
always a wonderful
party. The winners
are announced before
the event, so they
are able to relax
and enjoy a
delicious dinner
before they accept
their award. Among
the winners, were
Outstanding Actor
and Actress in a
Play and Musical Jefferson
Mays, Bryan
Cranston, Audra
McDonald and Cherry
Jones. A
Gentleman's Guide to Love
& Murder was
the Outstanding
Musical and All
The Way Outstanding
Play. Billy
Porter, Andrea
Martin, Victoria
Clark, Terrence Mann and Shuler
Hensley were
the presenters. It
was a most enjoyable
celebration.
The New Dramatists
honored Susan
Stroman at
their 65th
Annual Spring
Luncheon at
the New York
Marriott Marquis. It
is always a festive
occasion with an
enormous number of
theatre celebrities.
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Some, like Karen
Ziemba, Marin Mazzie and Jason
Danieley, performed a
tribute to the honoree, and one
had the opportunity to mingle
with the stars during the
delicious luncheon. Among the
many, many guests, I chatted
with Jim
Dale, Tony Shalhoub, John Kander and Danny
Burstein. It is always a
marvelous event.
The Actors Fund hosted a book
launch for Lauren Pizza's Meant
to Be: The Lives and Loves of a
Jersey Girl at Sardi's. The
author is a charming lady, and I
am looking forward to reading
her memoir. Among the many
guests were Jano Herbosch, Joe
Benincasa and Michael Goldfried.
The author's talented daughter
and son performed a couple of
songs at the party. It was a
lovely event.
I have known Donnie
Kehr for
more years than I can remember; in
fact, in 1993, I attended his
wedding to Lisa
Mordente, Chita
Rivera's daughter, with Liza
Minnelli as
Maid of Honor. I have seen him many
times on Broadway, and attended many
of his Rockers
on Broadway concerts,
and was delighted to have lunch with
him and reminisce about his career.
We spoke about the film Jersey
Boys, which will open on June
20. In this wonderful film,
directed by Clint
Eastwood, Donnie reprises the
role of Norm Waxman, a tough,
mobster money lender, which he
played on Broadway. His scenes are
dynamite, and he is responsible for
sending Danny
DeVito (played
by Vincent
Piazza) into exile to Las Vegas,
and breaking up the originalFour
Seasons. The film is a great
version of the stage musical, with
splendid acting, a riveting story
and marvelous music. Every fan of Frankie
Valli,and, of course Donnie Kehr,
should see and enjoy it.
The 59th
Village Voice Obie Awards were
presented at Webster Hall. It is always a
lively occasion. Among the many winners, Estelle
Parsonsreceived a Lifetime Achievement
Award, Will
Eno the
Playwriting Award, and Marylouise
Burke and Johanna
Day Performance
Awards. Among the presenters were Harvey
Fierstein, Kelli O'Hara, Andy Karl and Lena
Hall. It is always a lively event.
A lovely
reception was held at Bonhams, 580 Madison
Avenue, to launch the new City College
Center for the Arts at Aaron Davis Hall.
Among the guests were Board
of Directors members City College Vice
President Karen Witherspoon, Stephen Byrd
and Lillias White, and Advisory Board
members Bonnie Comley and Stewart F. Lane.
The Actors Fund hosted a book launch for
Lauren Pizza's Meant to Be: The Lives and
Loves of a Jersey Girl at Sardi's. The
author is a charming lady, and I am looking
forward to reading her memoir. Among the
many guests were Jano Herbosch, Joe
Benincasa and Michael Goldfried. The
author's talented daughter and son performed
a couple of songs at the party. It was a
lovely event.
5-23-14 (L-R) Scott
Ellis. honoree Susan Stroman. John Kander. Debra Monk at the New Dramatists
65th Annual Spring Luncheon honoring Susan Stroman at the New York Marriott
Marquis. 1535 Broadway. Thursday afternoon. 05-22-14
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