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SHOW REVIEWS CELEBRITY INTERVIEWS GOSSIP NEWS
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Copyright: May 20, 2001
By: Laura Deni
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ALANIS MORISSETTE SAVES
SHOW; BELLS' CHECKS BOUNCE; CAESARS BETS ON CELINE; SUNDANCE SELECTS
PLAYS; CHER CHECKS OUT THE SHOWS
SUNDANCE SETS THEATRE
PROJECTS
The Sundance Institute has chosen nine projects for its 2001 Theatre Laboratory July 9-29. The
three-week workshop offers playwrights, directors, choreographers, composers and solo
performers the time and support to develop new works or to explore new approaches
to existing scripts and adaptations, without the pressure of public production.
ROBERT REDFORD
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Founded by Robert Redford The Sundance Institute is a nonprofit institution dedicated to the
support and development of independent filmmakers, screenwriters,
Play writers, composers and other film and theater artists. Like other aspects of the Sundance
Institute, the Theatre Program identifies and assists emerging theatre artists; revives and
reinvigorates the creative energies of established artists; and encourages and supports the
development of new work from both.
The Sundance Theatre summer workshops produces plays at the 880-seat outdoor Eccles
Theatre and the 250 seat Alexandra Monroe King Stage.
The 2001 Theatre Lab projects reflect the wide variety of theater being developed in this
country today," says Philip Himberg, artistic director of Sundance's theater program,
in a recent news release. "These individuals represent both emerging and established artists, who
have challenged themselves to create work that is truly visionary and risk-taking."
"The Sundance Theatre Lab is unique because the development process is tailor-made to each
project's individual needs," adds Robert Blacker, the lab's artistic director.
The lab takes place in July, but the process is already well under way. "I have begun to meet with
the writers and directors who are coming to Sundance this summer to help them set realistic goals
and reassure them that they are the only judges of its success," said Blacker. "There are no public
presentations, so there is no pressure to show something before it is ready to be seen, or even to
complete a project that is at an early stage of development."
The projects selected for this year's Lab include:
Yiddisher Teddy Bears, a comic, vaudeville opera, with text and direction by Obie-award
winner Richard Foreman and music by Stewart Wallace ("Harvey Milk" and
"Hopper's Wife"), follows the exploits of a turn-of-the-century Jewish lothario who sets up a
business selling teddy bears that look like him.
Talk, by celebrated poet and spoken-word recording artist, Carl Hancock Rux, examines
the connection between art, race and history through a fictional symposium on the life of an
African-American novelist and political activist.
When Grace Comes In, by Heather McDonald tracks a 40-something U.S. senator's wife
at a critical juncture in love, marriage and motherhood.
Wintertime, by Chuck Mee, is a wild, Chekhovian farce that explores love and infidelity,
as four couples find themselves unexpectedly spending a weekend in the same country
house.
Making It, by Joe Hortua, a recent graduate of NYU's graduate writing program, takes
place in the kitchen and dining room of a Manhattan restaurant where conversations about the
American dream cross-hatch and interweave.
99 Histories, by Julia Cho, another recent graduate of NYU's graduate writing program, is
a play about a hip, young pregnant woman, who returns to her traditional mother's home to
re-examine her life by alternately burying and excavating her past in scenes that may be memory
or fantasy.
Yellowman, by monologist Dael Orlandersmith, is a two-character play that deals with
the relationship between a dark-skinned African-American woman and her light-skinned husband.
The play was first written at the 1999 Sundance Theatre Lab.
Switch Track explores family mythology through an African wedding ritual, in which the
prospective bride and groom trade personal stories and dreams. Barney Simon of the Market
Theatre, Johannesburg, will develop the piece through improvisations and personal histories from
her two actors.
The Past is a new play by novelist and screenwriter, Denis Johnson. In this homecoming
play set in California, a family tries to come to terms with the incident that tore it apart years
earlier.
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APPLAUSE,
APPLAUSE
FREDERICK WISEMAN
internationally acclaimed documentary filmmaker was inducted into the American Academy
of Arts & Letters last Wednesday. Wiseman is only the third director ever to be so honored - the
other two are Woody Allen and Martin Scorcese. Frederick Wiseman has made 31 documentary
films in his career, and is currently finishing one on domestic violence
On that same evening, The Last Letter began its North American Tour in Ottawa. The
Last Letter is a play adapted by Wiseman from a chapter of a famous Russian novel by Vasily
Grossman called Life and Fate which he directed to great acclaim last year at the world-renowned
La Comedie-Francaise, starring Catherine Samie, one of France's leading actresses and le
Doyen of La Comedie-Francaise. The play had a long and successful run in Paris last year at the
Studio Theatre of La Comedie-Francaise, and Ms. Samie won the Parisian Critics Prize as Best
Actress in 2000.
The Tour dates include; May 25-26 in Toronto; June 1-2 at Florence Gould Hall in NYC; June
6-14 in Cambridge; June 16-17 in Springfield; and June 22-23 at The Chicago Shakespeare
Theater on Navy Pier.
PHILIP J. SMITH president
of the Shubert Organization, will be honored with the Rodney Kirk Neighbor Helping Neighbor
Award at the 11th Annual Concert and Supper to benefit the Manhattan Plaza AIDS Project and
the Manhattan Plaza Foundation. Linda Stasi, Cy Coleman, Tony Randall, Marin Mazzie
and Andre De Shields will entertain. The festive concert and dinner takes place tomorrow at the
Westside Theatre, NYC
GORE VIDAL who has received
several theatrical nominations for writing The Best Man instructing his people to write
personal thank you letters.
OTHER PEOPLE'S
MONEY
BELLS ARE RINGING BOUNCED CHECKS
Those bells ringing were cast members inquiring why they paychecks had
bounced. Nobody was spared from the rubber including star Faith Prince. Producers quickly
covered the insufficient amounts and insist that the show is not closing.
ALANIS MORISSETTE saved
Jane Eyre from shutting - at least temporarily. The star, a friend of the composer, infused
$150,000 into the producing enabling it not to proceed with the closing notice that had been
posted - permitting it to stay open for an additional week. In doing so Morissette joined the ranks of Kelsey Grammer who invested in
Macbeth in which he starred with Diane Veona, at the Music Box Theatre, NYC and
Kevin Spacey who invested money into the off Broadway production of Cobb, as well as
the cast of Judgment at Nuremberg who gave up salary raises in an unsuccessful attempt
to keep their curtain up.
FIFTH ROW CENTER
Cher backstage with Siegfried and Roy after seeing
their show at the Mirage Hotel, Las Vegas.
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CHER
recently made her first visit to
Las Vegas as a "tourist" and
went show hopping.
Though she's been booked in Las Vegas since the late 60s, Cher told Siegfried and Roy that this
was the first time she has visited Las Vegas when not performing.
In addition to seeing the
Siegfried and Roy show at the Mirage, Cher also took in the shows at the Riviera hotel.
KIRK AND ANNE DOUGLAS
seeing One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest starring Gary Sinise as McMurphy the part
Douglas originated on Broadway in 1963 The famed 1975 movie was produced by Kirk's son,
Michael. The theater loving couple also caught The Producers, The Tale of the Allergist's
Wife and Follies.
RICH LITTLE AND ENTOURAGE
at the Scintas show at the Rio Hotel, Las Vegas.
CURTAIN DOWN
SEUSSICAL, THE MUSICAL closes
today after 194 performances and 34 previews. The production also goes down in the record
books as an expensive flop having lost more than $10 million.
THE SEARCH FOR SIGNS OF INTELLIGENT LIFE IN THE
UNIVERSE starring Lily Tomlin, written and directed by Jane
Wagner ends a successful seven month run at the Booth Theatre, NYC today. The solo
performance will have played 7 previews and 185 performances One of the more famous lines
in the play which has been used on everything from T shirts to plaques is said by Tomlin as Lynn
a person struggling to be a superwoman, who observes: - "If I had known what it would be like
to have it all, I might have settled for less."
DOUBLE TROUBLE a
two-character spoof of 1940s Hollywood songwriters opened it's world premiere last Thursday at
the Goodsprings Opera House Norma Terris Theatre, Chester, CT with performances through
June 10.
Book, Music and Lyrics by Bob Walton and Jim Walton who also star. In this madcap musical
comedy set in 1940s Hollywood, songwriters Jimmy and Bobby Martin have just one day to
write the big number for MMG Studio's new movie musical!
The good people at Goodsprings present a variety of theatregoer enticements. Last Friday was
the First Friday Happy Hour where ticker holders had a preshow happy hour in the lobby with
free appetizers, wine, beer and cocktails at special prices.
Talkbacks! Audience response is a vital part of The Norma Terris Theatre. "Talkback"
discussions between the audience and creative staff give you the opportunity to actively
participate in the process of creating a new musical. "Talkbacks" take place on the following
Thursdays: May 24, 31, and June 7.
Sunday Sweepstakes Attend any Sunday at 6:30 p.m. performance and your name will be
entered to win a free prize, such as a book, novel or video relating to the musical, awarded
during intermission.
URINETOWN! by Greg Kotis
and Mark Hollmann, which opened May 6 and was to have closed May 28 has been extended at
the 120-space American Theatre of Actors, NYC until June 30. John Cullum stars. Ticket prices
have been doubled from $25 to $50. In late July the production, which started out as a hit of the
Fringe Festival, moves to the Henry Miller Theater NYC.
ST LUCY'S EYES starring Ruby
Dee transfers to the Cherry Lane Theater, NYC on July 12.
FOSSE Aladdin Theater, Las
Vegas NV May 22-26.
BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS starring Ann-Margret May 22-27 Fox Theater in Atlanta,
GA.
THE CIVIL WAR Fort Lauderdale, FL at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts - May 22 - June 3,
2001.
SOME LIKE IT HOT Tony Curtis
anxious to tour with Some Like It Hot, the stage version of the 1959 movie in which
Curtis starred with Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. Following in the footsteps of other actors
who have kept pace with the aging process by changing roles in a production they originally
made famous, Las Vegas resident Curtis, 75, will be case as an older character, Osgood Fielding
III. The play is slated to have a run in Las Vegas at the Aladdin Hotel next summer.
EAT THE RUNT was premiered
by Mefisto Theatre Company (founded by vonWaaden and Weil Richmond in 1998) in June, 2000
at Altered Stages, where it ran for ten weeks. In this play about how survival is an Art, an
applicant for a grants manager position at a museum is subjected to a series of surreal interviews.
Playwright Crozier based the comedy on the experience of imagining how to sabotage an
interview for an unappealing position in a museum. Casting nightmares drove Crozier to write
"Eat The Runt" as a play in which any role could be played by any actor no matter what their sex,
age, or ethnic background. The playwright had found that if a script contained specific and often
fascinating physical descriptions of the characters, it became impossible to cast--particularly if it
was being showcased in a small theater.
All of the actors learn all of the roles and allowing the audience to select the cast at the
beginning of each performance. The script never changes - there is no improvisation in Eat The
Runt, but the actors encounter a new dynamic in each scene at every performance. This
extraordinary acting challenge results in 40,320 casting possibilities and marks a theatrical "first."
Audience feedback from the developmental production indicated that rather than selecting the cast
by randomly drawing names to match actors and characters, it would be more fun to be actually
involved in the casting process. People wanted to see the actors audition for the roles and to vote
on who should play which character.
In this brand new production, each theater seat will be provided with a handset (about the size of
a TV's remote control) connected to a computer and video monitors on each side of the stage. This
Audience Response System (ARS) will serve as "voting machines" for the casting of the show
(No chad included!) Background on the actors and a description of the roles in "Eat The Runt"
will be projected on the video monitors while the actors "audition" for the audience prior to the
beginning of the performance.
Among other rewrites, playwright Crozier has created the role of Casting Director, who will
guide the audience and the actors through the selection of the cast. Once the audience has voted,
the tallies will be projected on the video screens and the play will be performed with one of the
40,320 casting possibilities chosen by that night's audience. The introduction of the interactive
ARS to a live theater audience marks a theatrical first.
Matthew vonWaaden will direct. American Place Theatre Previews begin May 25. Opening night
is June 5.
WHO'S WHERE
DAVID CASSIDY
DAVID CASSIDY
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will help celebrate
the 2001 season opening of the Plaza at Harrahs' Reno, NV with a free concert on May 26.
Cassidy has had one of the most extraordinary careers in the entertainment business. Hailing from
a family of actors, mother Evelyn Ward and father Jack Cassidy, Cassidy first found TV fame
when he starred with his stepmother, Shirley Jones, in The Partridge Family. The show
made Cassidy a teen-age idol.
By age 21, Cassidy was the world's highest-paid solo
live performer and his fan club was the most popular anywhere on Earth, exceeding those of both
Elvis Presley and the Beatles. His musical success garnered multiple Grammy nominations and 18
of his recordings reached gold or platinum status, with four consecutive multi-platinum releases.
Cassidy will perform at 7:30 p.m. on the Plaza at Harrah's. May 26.
ALANIS MORISSETTE May 25-26 -
Los Angeles - El Rey Theatre.
TONY BENNETT May 26
Mohegan Sun Casino.
N' SYNCMay 24 in Atlanta, GA at
the Georgia Dome then on to Hershey, PA for a May 26 date at the Hersheypark
Stadium.
TONYA PINKINS Tonya Pinkins:
Mondays, May 21 and 28 and June 4 at Joe's Pub, New York.
BETTY BUCKLEY May 24 at the
Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston, MA.
PATTI LUPONE May 26 with the
Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra at Brown University.
DONNY OSMOND This Is The
Moment is a contemporary collection of some of Broadway's
greatest songs recorded
with a new style and sound, thanks to legendary music
producer, Phil Ramone (Elton John, Barbara Streisand, Bill Joel, Frank Sinatra). From the fresh,
jazzy pulse of Luck be a Lady to the rhythmic pop sensibility of Seasons of Love, May 22 Temple Buell Denver
Theater For The Performing Arts.
ANDREA MARCOVICCI at The
Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel, May 22 through June 26. Marcovicci's new show is
entitled Double Old-Fashioned: The Cool World of Cocktails and Cafe Society and
features Shelly Markham on piano.
KATHERINE HELMOND, JOIE LEE, HAYLEY MILLS star in The Vagina Monologues through June 24 at the
Westside Theatre, NYC.
HOWIE MANDEL Paris Hotel, Las
Vegas May 25-27.
CELINE DION set to be the main
attraction when Caesars Palace, Las Vegas opens their new showroom next year. She's set to play
200 shows per year. After taking time off to have a baby, and no record at the top of the charts,
that's a lot of seats to fill. The hotel may be hedging their bet hoping that her husband, Rene, who
loves to gamble, will drop a bundle in the casino.
THIS AND THAT
WOLF WALKING BACK POW WOW Gouldsboro, PA Kelley's Pocono Crest May 26th & 27th presented by
George Whitewolf Presents. An Authentic American Indian Event See Indians in full dance
regalia compete for prize money. Flute Playing, Hoop Dancing & Craftsmanship represented by
crafts people from varied tribes. Sampling of Indian foods including; Buffalo Burgers - Indian
Tacos - Frybread - Buffalo Stew - Wild Rice. Don't miss the Saturday night bonfire !!
Dance with the Indians !! See live Buffalo, Eagles, Hawks, Owls, Wolves. Special performances
by Aztec dancers. Everyone is Welcome. No Drugs or alcohol permitted. Pow-wow hours - rain
or shine Saturday 10 - 9 & Sunday 10 - 6 Educational activities and Hands-on events are planned
for children of all ages to learn the real truth about American Indian culture.
Next Column May 27, 2001
Copyright: May 20, 2001. All Rights Reserved. Reviews,
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