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Peter Filichia, James Marino and Michael Portantiere talk about Aristocrats @ Irish Rep, Titanic @ NYU, The Apiary @ Second Stage, Melissa Errico: A Manhattan Valentine @ Birdland, Warrior Sisters of Wu @ Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, and The Lawrence Family Foundation honors Steve & Eydie with a generous endowment contribution to the Carnegie Hall Education Endowment Fund.
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Panel:
Peter Filichia | [email protected] | Facebook
PETER FILICHIA is a playwright, journalist, and historian with a number of books. His new book, Brain Teasers for Broadway Geniuses, is now available wherever finer books are sold. Peter also has columns at Masterworks Broadway, Broadway Select, and many other places.
The name is the problem, but the play is the thing
Michael Portantiere | [email protected] | Facebook
MICHAEL PORTANTIERE is a theater reviewer and essayist. He is the founder and editor of CastAlbumReviews.com. He is also a theatrical photographer whose photos have appeared in The New York Times and other major publications. You can see his photography work at FollowSpotPhoto.com.
54 Loves Cast Albums! 2nd Edition
March 7, 2024
People love cast albums! Join us as we celebrate more than 80 years’ worth of recordings of some of the most beloved musicals ever written, showcasing performances by honored musical theater veterans and rising stars in the second edition of 54 Loves Cast Albums!
Featured in the cast of our show will be Karen Akers (Nine, Grand Hotel), Jay Aubrey Jones (Cats, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), Gerard Alessandrini (creator of Forbidden Broadway, Forbidden Sondheim, etc.), Christine Pedi (a frequent star of the Forbidden Broadway series), Robbie Rozelle (A&R Director of Center Stage Records), and John Griffin and George Anthony Papas from the 2022 production of Guys & Dolls at the historic St. George Theatre on Staten Island. 54 Loves Cast Albums! will be co-hosted by Michael Portantiere and Charles Kirsch, with Matthew Martin Ward as musical director/pianist.
Matt Tamanini | [email protected] | Twitter | Instagram
MATT TAMANINI is a theatre, entertainment, and sports journalist who has been covering theatre for more than a decade. He is the news editor for TheStreamable, the co-managing editor for Land-Grant Holy Land, and is a host and producer for multiple shows on BroadwayRadio.
James Marino | [email protected] | Twitter | Facebook
BroadwayStars
Note: This week we had listeners join us while recording. These listeners are Patreon members who support BroadwayRadio. If you would like to join us in the future, become a supporter at Patreon.com/BroadwayRadio.
Pre:
Robb Johnston
Dimming of the marquee lights for Chita
Reviews:
PF: Aristocrats @ Irish Repertory Theatre, through March 3, 2024
Aristocrats, presented by Irish Repertory Theatre. Aristocrats is the second production in The Friel Project, a retrospective of the work of renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel, celebrating Irish Rep’s 35th Anniversary. Directed by Charlotte Moore (Two by Synge), Aristocrats began previews on Thursday January 11, 2024, with an opening night set for Sunday January 21, for a limited run through Sunday March 3, 2024, on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage at Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).
Set in Ballybeg Hall in County Donegal, Brian Friel’s Chekhovian masterpiece chronicles the decaying home of District Justice O’Donnell, where the family congregate for a wedding, but stay to attend a funeral. Friel’s tale of three sisters and their “eccentric” brother reveals the way in which the ache of one family becomes the microcosm for the ache of a society.
Aristocrats was first produced in March 1979 at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Irish Repertory Theatre hosted a revival of Aristocrats in 2009, directed by Charlotte Moore. The production featured John Keating, Geddeth Smith, Lynn Hawley, Orlagh Cassidy and Laura Odeh, and was described as a “first-rate revival” by The New York Times and praised for a “top flight ensemble” by The New York Daily News.
The cast of Aristocrats includes Roger Dominic Casey (Bent), Meg Hennessy (London Assurance), Tom Holcomb (Meet Me in St Louis), Colin Lane (Three Small Irish Masterpieces), Shane McNaughton (The 8th), Tim Ruddy (A Touch of the Poet), Danielle Ryan (The Cordelia Dream) and Sarah Street (Belfast Girls).
Aristocrats features scenic design by Charlie Corcoran (Endgame), costume design by David Toser (A Child’s Christmas in Wales), lighting design by Michael Gottlieb (Translations), sound design and original music by Ryan Rumery (A Touch of the Poet) & M. Florian Staab (Endgame), and properties by Nicole Rozanski (Andersson). Pamela Brusoski is the Production Stage Manager and Rebecca C. Monroe is the Stage Manager.
MP: Titanic @ NYU’s Iris Cantor Theatre (Friday, February 9, 2024 8:00PM – Monday, February 12, 2024 8:00PM)
Directed by Original Broadway Cast Member and NYU Professor Ted Sperling, The Steinhardt School production of TITANIC, the epic musical by Maury Yeston and Peter Stone, is sure to provide an evening of romance, adventure and intrigue on a grand scale. The first full musical production in the state-of-the art Iris Cantor Theater, this production will boast a cast of 30 singers, a full pit orchestra playing Jonathan Tunick’s original orchestrations under the baton of Dr. Justin John Moniz, and will take full advantages of all the design capabilities of this brand new venue. Reserve your tickets now for what is sure to be a sold-out event!
Encores will be presenting Titanic Jun 11 – 23, 2024!
PF: The Apiary @ Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theater, through
Second Stage Theater’s world premiere production of Kate Douglas’ THE APIARY, directed by Kate Whoriskey, has been extended one week and will now run through Sunday, March 3rd. Currently in previews, the production will officially open next Tuesday, February 13th at Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theater.
The play, which is the centerpiece production of Second Stage’s inaugural NEXT STAGE FESTIVAL, features Stephanie Crousillat (West Side Story), Lucille Lortel Award nominee Carmen M. Herlihy (Second Stage’s Bachelorette), Obie Award-winner April Matthis (The Piano Lesson, Toni Stone), Emmy, SAG, and Golden Globe award nominee Taylor Schilling (Orange is the New Black, CSC’s A Month in the Country), and Nimene Wureh, making her New York theatre and off-Broadway debut.
22 years in the future, two lab assistants hatch a plan that could change the world. All they need are a few volunteers. A raucous and provocative world premiere by Kate Douglas about sacrifice, ambition, and honeybees, directed by Kate Whoriskey (Clyde’s).
Melissa Errico photo by Michael Portantiere
MP: Melissa Errico: A Manhattan Valentine @ Birdland
Sondheim in the City Album
PF: Warrior Sisters of Wu @ Pan Asian Repertory Theatre, through March 3, 2024
Pan Asian Repertory Theatre (Tisa Chang, Founding Artistic Director), a pioneering force in the advancement of Asian American theater makers since 1977, is proud to present the world premiere of Damon Chua’s Warrior Sisters of Wu, which is the centerpiece of the groundbreaking company’s 47th season. Directed by Jeff Liu (Memorial) and featuring fight choreography by Michael G. Chin (Rashomon), Warrior Sisters of Wu is an epic play that centers on two Han Dynasty swordswomen who battle tradition to gain love, respect, and self-determination. Performances take place February 7 – March 10, 2024, at the Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T/New York Theatres (502 W 53rd St, Manhattan) with a press opening set for February 14. Tickets are currently on sale at www.panasianrep.org.
Adapted from the classic Chinese epic Romance of the Three Kingdoms and inspired, in parts, by Pride and Prejudice, Damon Chua’s Warrior Sisters of Wu follows the romantic exploits and comic misadventures of two young couples, pitting two strong female warriors against two high-ranking military men. The play highlights the profound changes taking place during the chaotic end-years of China’s Han Dynasty, where justice, power and gender equality were all up for grabs.
The cast for Warrior Sisters of Wu includes Dinh James Doan, David Lee Huynh, Vin Kridakorn, Michael C. Liu, Nancy Ma, and Kim Wuan.
Debbie Gravitte and David Lawrence photo by Michael Portantiere
PF + MP: Attended a private reception on Wednesday, February 14 in their Susan W. Rose Archives as The Lawrence Family Foundation honors Steve & Eydie with a generous endowment contribution to the Carnegie Hall Education Endowment Fund.
Coming up March 18th: A Toast to Steve & Eydie – Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall
Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme’ personified the astonishing staying power of the great American songbook with their humor and style. Join their son, Emmy nominated composer David Lawrence along with Tony award winner Debbie Gravitte as they celebrate the duo’s treasured style in a toast to Steve & Eydie. David and Debbie swing along to America’s standards with a 30-piece orchestra as they make their Zankel Hall debut on March 18th.
News:
PSA: You don’t have to line up so early for a Broadway show!
BBC: Queuing: Is it really the British way?
Next Week:
Oh, Mary!
Peter’s Brainteasers:
This may seem like last week’s question. But because I didn’t make it as clear or specific enough, here’s a clearer version:
So: A female character in a Tony-winning musical that opened in the ‘60s could be described as a teetotaler, deft, someone who doesn’t buy or bum cigarettes off anyone, intelligent, and musically literate – with an emphasis on the word lit-er-ate.
Michael’s Musical Moments
MELISSA ERRICO, SONDHEIM IN THE CITY
Music Opener:
“What More Do I Need?” from Saturday Night
Music Closer:
“Good Thing Going” from Merrily We Roll Along
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