THEATRICALITIS

Lots of theatrical happenings have been popping.
Angela Lansbury got the STEPHEN SONDHEIM AWARD from the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Va.
She looked terrific in the photos.
HAIR opening in London was a big energetic hit.
Lee Roy Reams sold out at he Magic Castle in LA and Wowed "em
The Actors Fund Gala honored Annnette Benning, Kevin McCollum and Jonathan Tisch and was attended by many celebs, Jane Powell & Marge Champion included..both looking great!
The EQUITY GYPSY ROBE was transitioned from COME FLY WITH ME Kritine Bendul to ADDAMS FAMILY's Jim Bortelmann.
It is a terrific tradition and I was at many of these ceremonies over the years.
Hope you all are enjoying the beautiful NY weather if you are in the city.
It is the best time of year before the HEAT melts us into a cranky mass.
Have been asked to do a reading of LUCK a new musical by Mark Waldrop and BRad Ross in LA in May.
Am so looking forward to it.
Meantime auditions and
Trying to manage computer stuff.

ONWARD

XXXkeybored

A LITTLE NIGHT MAGIC

SEASON IN THE SUN

After a few days of Summer here in NYC we are back to a Springlike temperature???
What's up with that? Climate change abounds!
However the flowers and trees are popping and pronouncing the beautiful season of Spring no matter what the temperature.
Taxes are done and auditioning for projects is still an ongoing process.
Friends are out and about and enjoying the season on foot and on wheels.
One friend had a bike accident along the Hudson path. Bicycle traffic has become a thick and congested product of this city. I prefer not to think that eventually there will be more RULES constricting our cycling freedoms. But the more the congestion the more that might be in our restricted future.
My friend was bruised and battered but fine.
Cycling in the city is not like a smooth open ride in the country. SO be mindful of fellow cyclists especially on the now jammed paths. And let's not forget the pedestrians.
We have red the bad notices of THE ADAMS FAMILY and are sorry it isn't what we hoped. Especially with such a terrific cast.
I saw A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC and was mesmerized by veteran Angela Lansbury's ability to bring the audience into a magical place. She is truly a wonder and wonderful.
I saw the original and Glynis Johns was out that last preview. This time Catherine Zeta Jones was on vacation. I feel I am cursed to NOT see this show in any form with the original cast.
My opinion is that the Original 1973 was better mounted and staged. But this audience last Saturday night, perhaps not having my experience in 1973, was enthusiastic and applauded resoundingly at curtain calls.
I was also sad to hear such negative criticism of SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM.
One likes to keep their heroes and icons in a sacred place remembering the solid impact their original presence and offerings made
I saw COMPANY, NIGHT MUSIC and the astoundingly amazing FOLLIES in their original forms.
WOW WOW WOW
These productions moved the musical theatre forward an Upward. Innovative and provocative and set NEW standards of excellence in style and content and direction.
Bravo Hal Prince and Steve Sondheim and Barr / Woodward who had the foresight to be the Producers of this Historical piece...among other great theatre projects.
SWEENEY TODD, as far as I am concerned, is Sondheim's PORGY & BESS. It is thematically, musically and structurally flawless. I saw the original 2 times and found it fascinating on all fronts.
Having done the First national tour of SWEENEY and many other regional forms, I learned that it retains it's strengths and also makes the actors in it rise to its heights of excellence. Sometimes beyond what they think is their own limits.
I am not opposed to saving $$ on new versions of these shows as long as they retain the initial majesty and magic beyond the lure of "name" performers and "name" directors.
But the one thing I abhor is the tinny tiny sound of the new orchestrations. Listening to the original one becomes so aware that the orchestrations and the instrumentation voicing were such a MAJOR part of the success of the original productions.

Anyway...
I hope that we get to see more original shows that are s solid and innovative and provocative as what Sondheim and Prince gave us decades ago.

Enough..this sounds like a Thesis

Hope you all are enjoying the less humid clime today and the foliage


Happy Cycling

XXX

keybored

AUTO EROTICA

SOME DESERT ROAD BOATS OF THE PAST

MORE SPRINGS

Janet Stanton & Mark Esposito display Oscar Logo
Jeff, Oscar and Jeff Bernstein of CHELSEA MARKETEERS at OSCAR at OSCAR'S
Snow on the Moutnains and Clouds

SPRING in the PALMS

BACK in NYC after many weeks in California.
Was in Both Palm Springs and Los Angeles.
I had never experienced rain or "weather" in Palm Springs. It was amazing to see the Desert washed with torrential rain and high winds.
And the Clouds that wafted over the mountains were sometimes beautiful and sometimes scary.
There is a great sense of those mountains protecting that valley of sand.
We worked on our house and I auditioned . That about says it all.
Had many meals with pals and enjoyed once again the company of Dear Kaye Ballard and Myvanwy Jenn and Kaye's talented potter cousin Paul Bellardo. I have known Paul since the 1970's when he had a very well known shop on Christopher Street. Paul had a show at he Gallery on Palm Canyon and I was so pleased to hear he had sold most of his glorious work. Paul is now in his mid 80's and as much a creative force as ever...He now paints and they sell as well. BRAVO!!
Pal Clark Bason and Mark Esposito and I enjoyed the 3-D ALICE IN WONDERLAND as well as many other discounted matinees . =0-) Something I wish they would reinstate in NYC theatres.
While out West:
I interviewed with the terrific people at the Indian Wells Theatre and hope to do something with them next season.
A stunning 300 seat theatre practically brand new. Fred Jandt and Heather Hundley treated us to a lunch in the "GreenRoom" and we discussed the business for a few hours which felt like minutes.
Keep an eye open for their new season . They are doing LITTLE DOG LAUGHED soon and that is the last show of this season.
Our house is coming together and all I can say is Thank God for IKEA and Costco and all the consignment and thrift shops that inspire ones internal decorator without draining one's assets.
Spent Oscar night at pal Oscar's.
Dr. Oscar Chamudes and his partner Jeff Bernstein run CHELSEA MARKETEERS (check out their website) and have great product and taste. I helped them set up their booth at the Modern Show at the Palm Spring's Convention Center. That was great fun to be around all that great stuff.
But at the Oscar gathering we had hoots and waaay too much food. The outcome of the Awards was interesting and although I appreciated HURTLOCKER I felt the innovations of AVATAR moved the Cinema forward many steps.
It was a joy to see Bullock step up to her place of honor with her great sense of humor and style. She has always had a spark that shone through even in things like the SPEED movies. =0-)
There were many terrific films and performances this past year . And it is fulfilling to know that good works are, if not Awarded then Rewarded with a nomination and recognition.

Back to the Desert.
The days were steadily heading toward Spring as daily the temperatures started in the 50's/ 60's and slowly crept to 70's 80's and on the day I left 90's!
We built a patio from scratch and that was not easy.We used Pave Stones from Lowe's and Home Depot.
It turned out beautifully and now we can enjoy the backyard...well at least in the afternoon after the Sun stops beating on it.
Although I was reluctant to leave the beautiful weather and spectacular mountain vistas, I was glad I had left on the very day the News reported that the Rattlesnakes were emerging from their Winter hibernation.
I recommend United Airlines for any West Coast travel. Even Coach wasn't terrible as the GOGO Wireless made Emailing and Computer work simple and the trip faster.
I was of course a bit envious of the many EMPTY Business class seats that were within my sites.
One of the PERKS of being out in Palm Spring was the yearly Auto Auction in the Parking lot of the Spa Casino. Great Beauties of the Automotive Past. LOVE those Stunners.
Actually one of the perks in general is that many people OWN these past Boats of the Road and one can see them sailing along the highways daily. A 57 T-Bird followed in my rear view mirror for a good mile and I was thrilled to see that gorgeous machine still vital and pert and as sassy as the day I remember seeing them as a young kid.
I have some auditions this week and hope to hear from the ones I had in California soon.

Another joy was that MENOPAUSE the MUSICAL was at the Anneburg Theatre and our SWEENEY TODD Colleague Dee Etta Rowe (also of Broadway's Original NINE ) was in it,. She is singing as gloriously as ever!! Her hubby Jim Ferraro was company manager so we got to enjoy them on and off stage. They are in Long Island this month with the show

Like everyone else I am about to start my Taxes and am now dealing with getting myself into the Medicare networks.

HAPPY PASSOVER and HAPPY EASTER to All.

ONWARD
XXXX
keybored