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Serving the Theatre Community since 1998

Issue #132: June 15, 2004

Broadway

  • The Tony Awards were handed out on June 6 and how refreshing it was that no one production dominated the awards as in the previous few years.  Also, some historical moments as well with Phylicia Rashad winning a Tony for best leading actress in a play for her performance in A Raisin in The Sun - a first for an African American.  Surprise best musical winner Avenue Q beat out favourite Wicked.  The hip, irreverent show also picked up Best Book and Best Music and Lyrics awards. Best play and best leading actor went to the Pulitzer Prize-winner I Am My Own Wife.  And delicious Hugh Jackman not only did a stellar job hosing but he walked away with the Leading Actor in a Musical Tony - or danced ala Peter Allen who he portrays in The Boy From Oz.
  • The Brooks Atkinson Theater will play host to the British import Democracy. Directed by Michael Blakemore, the curtain will rise when previews begin November 2.

Broadway On The Road

  • Speculation was made following the Tony Awards that Avenue Q, best new musical, may head out on tour with possibly a Toronto date, etc.  However, those rumors were put to rest when the producers announced that the funky puppet musical will forgo the traditional route and sit down in Las Vegas for an extended run.  Las Vegas moneyman Steve Wynn is working with the company to open next year on Labor Day in a $40-million theater built especially for the show.  Sure beats the bus and truck route!!!
  • Lisa Kron has stepped in for Joanna Gleason in The Normal Heart so that Gleason can begin rehearsals with Tony winner and sometimes alien John Lithgow in the upcoming musical Dirty rotten Scoundrels.  Those in San Diego will get a first look in September before the production heads to Broadway for an early 2005 opening.

Broadway Around the World

  • Holland based producer Joop van den Ende's Stage Holding company has landed the plum prize of producing future foreign-language productions of the Abba friendly musical Mamma Mia!.  How many ways can you sing "Dancing Queen?" - look for future productions to be sung in native lingo in Russia, Italy, France, Portugal, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Belgium, Turkey and the Czech Republic.  

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