| Issue #86: April 15, 2002
- The Tony Awards will be given out on June 2 at Radio City
Music Hall, which means the cutoff is May 1 for eligibility
— nominations to be announced May 6.
- Even though Dame Judi Dench has vowed to take some
time off you can still hear her voice (on tape) on the great
white way in the revival of Into The Woods. The Dame
is the voice of the Giant.
- British actor Simon Callow (Four Weddings and a
Funeral) returns to Broadway’s Belasco Theater on April
24 to star in Peter Ackroyd’s one-man play, The
Mystery of Charles Dickens.
- Composer Marvin Hamlisch is pretty busy these days
— now with Sweet Smell of Success on the boards
in New York. His latest work, with lyricist Craig Carnelia,
is Imaginary Friends by Nora Ephron, scheduled
to premiere this fall at San Diego’s Old Globe Theater.
Under the direction of artistic director Jack O’Brien
(The Full Monty), it is rumoured a Broadway opening is
expected in late 2002.
- What a difference an ocean makes!!! Even though the reviews
were good to mixed when it played on Broadway and subsequently
fizzled on the road, The Full Monty seems to have found
its audience — in London. The reviews were raves and now
if they can keep the houses full it looks like what the critics
call the “most acclaimed new musical of the season”
will have a long and happy life.
- Lots of doings downunder these days. Revivals of popular musicals
The Sound of Music, Annie and The Wizard of Oz
are on deck this season produced by SEL/Gordon Frost Organization.
They have also been signed on to stage the record breaking The
Producers. Dainty Consolidated Entertainment will produce
a one-year stint of Mamma Mia! at Melbourne’s Princess
Theatre. And The Lion King will make its premiere now
that Disney has opened its own office in Sydney to oversee the
mega-musical and its other property, Aida.
- Well spring has sprung in most parts of the world and that
means the theatre festival season is also just around the corner.
The festival circuit offers a wonderful cross-section of theatre
pieces and is a great way to introduce the art of theatre to
those who have not yet been converted. So check out your local
festival and support the community since this allows growth
within the industry.
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