Spring has a new Awakening

The possible puns on the title Spring Awakening are endless, as I am quickly finding out...

The Eugene O'Neill Theater is now showcasting a new billboard for the Tony winning musical. "Broadway actors...they're just like us!" raves Us Weekly! "They wear real clothes! They pose in awkward positions!"

(Click here to enlarge)

And they even signed it...how sweet! Things I notice: they look ridiculous. It's an interesting idea to have the cast in their street clothes...but what's up with those poses! They look more unnatural than if they were just standing there in their costumes chatting with one another! Also, I saw a swing in the role of Hanschen when I saw the show in May...where is he on this Billboard? With one male and one female swing who understudy most of the roles, you would think they should get recognition too (especially since the ensemble, who sit in street clothes among the audience onstage and pop up every now and again do!)! And I think some of their signatures are pretty funny...I'm not saying my personal signature is the best in the world, but it's cute to see their signatures and it definitely gives away the fact that most of them don't have much experience. The "thing" to do as a theater actor is to have a signature that resembles a violent scribble...some of their signatures look like that, but then you see full names carefully scribed in cursive, and big first letters with the rest of the name written inside them...I think I did that in middle school! And lastly, how long do you really think this billboard is going to last? It's funny enough to see the dated 10-year old photo of the OBC of Rent in front of the Nederlander...it'll be even worse to see these people 'au naturale' still hanging up on the wall even after they leave the show!

• Parents, lock up your children! Put away your valuables! Keep your pets indoors! Paris Hilton is out of jail. She got out at 12:01AM, amid a flurry of camera flashes from paparrazi. Paris is back! And so is my nausea.
• Isaiah Washington is set to do an interview with Larry King soon, so I'll definitely be chiming in on that. But he's also in talks to work for NBC on a new show. Apparently NBC is ok with being in the lowest spot in the ratings. And with Isaiah on their network, so am I.
• There have been a lot of deaths in the WWE world, both real and staged, and regardless of their nature, it all seems a bit strange to me! Most recently, wrestler Chris Benoit was found dead in his Atlanta suburb home, along with his wife and son. On Friday June 23, Benoit allegedly asphyxiated his wife and his 7-year old son the next day, before hanging himself.
• If Justin Timberlake, Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, or Matthew McConaughey want to take a lesson on keeping a relationship under wraps, they should look to the current slew of unkown Hollywood couples who have called it quits recently. The under wrapts couple with the highest profile who have recently split is Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon. While it is speculated that the two were even together in the first place (not to mention only speculated that they called it quits) and were only seen once in public together, the rumor mills have been turning over their breakup. In addition, Weeds stars Mary Louise Parker and Jeffrey Dean Morgan have broken up, as well as High School Musicals' Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens and Lost's Evangeline Lily and Dominic Monaghan. Um, did we even know these three couples were together? Very cute, but even together?

Broadway Headliners

• Universal Studios in Los Angeles will launch a weekly "Wicked Wednesdays" event on, you guessed it, Wednesdays. Featuring performances and autograph sessions by cast members of the musical, it is either an entertainment filler, or a desperate attempt to get locals to visit the park. You choose.
• The Off-Broadway hit In The Heights announced they are closing, but not Coram Boy style. More like Spring Awakening. The show is moving to Broadway! They don't know when, and they don't know where, but apparently they are going to do it. If that doesn't sound like an ambiguous upcoming flop, I don't know what does.
• Oklahoma is celebrating it's statehood centennial. How are they celebrating? With an all-star production of Oklahoma! starring Kelli O'Hara (an OK native) and Will Chase, duh!
• As if its empire wasn't big enough, Diney's High School Musical (which yours truly was in the west coast premiere of, thankyouverymuch) launched its national tour in Detroit. So far the announced venues are in the east and mid-east of the US, so the west coast will have to rely on cheesy children's theatre productions for now. No offense.
• The incomparable Kenneth Branagh has announced the principal cast for his fourth Shakespeare collaboration with BBC & HBO. The upcoming film adaptation of As You Like It will star Brian Blessed as Duke Frederick/Duke Senior, Romola Garai as Celia, Bryce Dallas Howard as Rosalind, Kevin Kline as Jaques, Adrian Lester as Oliver, Janet McTeer as Audrey, Alfred Molina as Touchstone and David Oyelowo as Orlando. Sign me up!

I have grown to hate this guy...

Isaiah Washington is now speaking out about being fired from Grey's Anatomy and is blaming T.R. Knight for blowing the situation out of proportion and insinuating that the homophobic slur Washington used to describe him was uttered in a derogatory manner.

Washington admits that he used the term during a disagreement with co-star Patrick Dempsey, but that he apologized and everyone went back to work. He claims he was not fired for making derogatory slurs, and claims he is not angry, but disappointed rather.

I think it's pretty safe to assume if you're considering filing a lawsuit, you're angry. He is trying to clear his name, but I feel he is only hurting his career more by dwelling on the subject. He has said in past interviews that he has multiple offers pending, so why doesn't he lay low for a few months and take some of those people up on his offer? Is he trying to get back on the show?

He also said in this interview that ABC fired the wrong guy. Is that because he is going to fight back, or was there someone else who got fired in his place? I don't care what his intentions were in using the word the first time (and apologizing apparently didn't do enough, because he uttered the slur again a few weeks later at the Golden Globes on national television), or even the second time, there is a certain conduct that is acceptable in the workplace. I think it's interesting that everyone on that show refers to their roles as a 'job.' Well if that's how Washington wants to look at it, he should be fired for even uttering the word, and having a disagreement with Dempsey. Word!

Spring Awakening no longer Totally F*cked

Spring Awakening has taken over the top spot in Billboard's list of top selling Soundtrack Albums. The top spot, rarely overcome by Wicked, was ruled by Jersey Boys for four weeks last year after their Tony win for Best New Musical. The top five includes:
1. Spring Awakening
2. Wicked
3. Jersey Boys
4. Curtains
5. Mamma Mia!

Paris a basket case (of mail)

Paris Hilton (yep, she's still in the slammer) reportedly gets more mail than any other inmate in the history of Lynwood Correctional Facility. As if that was surprising.

What's more, Hilton is expected to be released sometime next week (Monday), and her neighbors in the Hollywood Hills are flooding LA's councilman with angry phone calls, hoping that the paparrazi storm will subside and prevent the type of traffic problems and interruptions it did when she was carted off to jail (the second time).

Waaaaaaait just a cotton panty-flashing moment. What happened to a 45 day sentence? If Paris is released on Monday, she will have only served 23 days of that sentence. Ah, whatever. I can't care about Paris Hilton anymore.

But I will say this: After claiming that her 'dumb blonde' act was just that--an act--I am very interested in seeing what happens to the socialite in the future...maybe she'll open a school like Oprah did in South Africa, only instead of school uniforms, a yoga studio, and beauty salon, she'll offer see-through panties (what am I talking about? No panties allowed!), pole dancing classes, and free hair bleaches for everyone! Sign me up!

Hollywood Headliners

• Jessica Biel has rejoined Justin Timberlake on his European tour, after he sent her home because her booty was too distracting. Or something like that. Seriously, I don't know which one has the better booty...I'll have to research that one. Biel has been seen walking around Europe with Timberlake's mother. So are these two together, or what? And when is the sex tape coming out, 'cause I'll invest in that shit.
• Brad Pitt's mom visited Jennifer Aniston over the weekend. Brad's family claims that he and Jen are friends, so it's acceptable for them to be friends with her too. When was the last time you saw Jen and Brad hanging out together? I would kind of hold a grudge against my ex-hubby for leaving me for my costar and adopting half the orphans in the world and becoming even more of a super-couple than we were together. Call me crazy. Oh, and Angelina's pissed that her hubby's mother is hanging out with Jen. Can't Angie just snap her fingers and make people 'disappear' (if you know what I mean)?
• Scott Baio is 45...and Single. That's in italics because it's the title of his new VH1 reality show. Do I really need to bother making up a joke for this one?
• Kelly Rowan, otherwise known as Kirsten "Kiki" Cohen on The OC is engaged. To a billionaire. Not just any old billionaire, no. He's only the richest man in Canada, and the 10th richest man in the world, according to Forbes. Hey, Kelly, the show wasn't real. You don't have to marry the richest man you can find...but can I borrow $100?
• Apparently the Hoff's video of him attempting to eat a hamburger with the world's strongest beer goggles on didn't mean anything to the judge who granted him primary custody of his children. His ex-wife only has visitation rights every other weekend. Hey girls, I hear Angelina and Brad want 14 kids, put in your application now.
• Troubled actor Tom Sizemore allegedly broke down in tears at a court appearance after being escorted into the courtroom in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffs. Sizemore pleaded with the judge not to send him to prison for violating his parole from a 2004 crystal meth bust. He said drugs have grabbed him around the neck, but he won't do it again. I'm pretty sure that's what Britney said after she flashed her punane, but now she's flashing her girls all over town, so I don't know if Sizemore should really be trusted in this case...

Theater Headliners

• The current Broadway revival of Les Mis is seeing even more cast changes, as Chip Zien, the original Baker in Into The Woods steps into the role of Thenardier for 10 weeks on June 29. Also, Megan McGinnis (Little Women), a current ensemble member, assumes the role of Eponine, and Robert Hunt assumes the role of Javert. It's not normal for shows to have so many cast changes...is this like a 'Cats' or 'Fosse' that sees a lot of cast changes because of injuries sustained while dancing (Les Mis is such a monster of a show that people can't commit to it for a long time?). Perhaps the cast really ARE "The Miserable..." Plus, the all-star casting choices reminds me of a time in college when my friend Candice and I did an all-star "this would be horrible but SO funny" casting of Rent, starring Colm Wilkinson as Roger. It was hilarious! (I wish I could find that list somewhere)...
• Lord Of The Rings, the most expensive musical in West End History (at $25 million) officially opened this week to mixed reviews (go figure). A few reporters have renamed the show "Bored Of The Rings," while others say that it's the best interpretation of the Tolkein novels there could ever be. That ring better be made of PURE GOLD, 'cause $25 million is ridiculous, and the tickets cost almost as much!
• Starting next year, a new Tony Award will be given for Best Sound. You heard me right (get it? Sound? Heard? Anyone?), Best Sound. Separate awards will be given out for Best Sound Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Musical. Apparently it's important to distinguish the two. Come to think of it, I can't really think of many sound cues in the musicals I've seen lately. I wonder if the guy who caused the mic feedback in my ear when I saw Legally Blonde could be penalized.
• Tony Danza will assume the role of Max Bialystock in The Producers in Vegas in August, and is scheduled to remain in the show through August. Apparently, the creative team over at the show is desperate for a new celebrity draw, but they seem to be overlooking the fact that Danza was in the show when it posted its closing notice. Good news, Jersey Boys, you won't have to build a new theater in Vegas! One will be opening up for you shortly...

OMG!

Sara Bareilles is featured in the free single of the week on iTunes! Go download her free tune, Love Song! It's amazing...she's amazing!

Xanadu will not become Xanadon't!

All you Xanadu fans will think this is totally RAD!

Despite star James Carpinello's foot injury and canceled opening date, it was announced that hottie Cheyenne Jackson will assume Carpinello's position while he heals. Even though this pushes the opening date back a bit (the new opening is slated for July 10). TUBULAR!

It's her party, and she'll cancel if she wants to...

I was going to title this "...she'll drink if she wants to," but I figured it wouldn't make sense now that Lindsay Lohan has cancelled her July 2nd 21st bday bash at Pure nightclub in Vegas. Wait, what? Lindsay pass up the opportunity to be in a nightclub with her suspiciously ambiguous 'bottled water?' She'll be getting out of rehab soon. Let's see how much longer it will take for her to hop back on the party train!

Looks like she's takin' a hint from the Olsen twins...maybe she'll actually lay low for a change!

Hollywood Baby BOOM!

Just when you thought it was safe for celebs to jump in to bed together, we are reminded of its repurcussions...

Julia Roberts and husband Danny Moder welcomed their third son on Monday, Henry Daniel Moder (a surprisingly normal name next to their two-year old twins, Hazel & Phinneaus.

Tiger Woods and wife Elin Nordergrin welcomed a baby girl, Sam Alexis Woods, on Tuesday.

Also, laying low, is Keri Russel, who on June 9th, welcomed her first child with husband Shane Deary, River Russel Deary.

All this amidst rumors of Nicole Richie having the preggers (God help us all). Although I applaud Roberts and Woods for actually coming up with NORMAL names for a change (Apple and Moses, anyone?)

America's favorite toddlers are finally legal!

Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen turned 21 on Wednesday, June 13. We know these twins are business savvy, with their empire of merchandise, films, clothing lines, etc., but they may be smarter than we think.

Unlike many other young Hollywood starlets, the girls kept it low key by celebrating with a dinner party at the legendary Chateau Marmont. While the wine and champagne flowed all night long, this is much classier and mature than other starlets who, say, are planning a huge Vegas bash while they are still in rehab.

Paris update

Even though Paris Hilton was sent back to the slammer last week, she is still managing to get the special treatment. Since returning to jail, she has been housed in the medical ward (until Wednesday night, when she was moved back to the jail where she began her sentence), which costs $1100 per day to house an inmate, compared to the low hundreds of dollars it costs to house an inmate daily in the jail. In addition, Hilton's parents came under fire Tuesday after skipping the line to visit their daughter during lunchtime, causing other visitors to be sent away and asked to return later in the day. A recent KTLA report revealed the results of a study that looked at 1,500 similar cases to Hilton's, and the sentences they received. If Hilton remains incarcerated for her full 45-day sentence, she will have served more time behind bars than 80% of the individuals with her same offense.

Why Washington was fired from Grey's

From http://www.cnn.com:

Starring on one of TV's hottest series is an actor's dream, and Isaiah Washington fought hard to keep his role as Dr. Preston Burke on "Grey's Anatomy."
But after twice using an anti-gay slur, Washington was doomed to lose the biggest role of his career because of timing, a track record of volatile behavior and pressure within the industry.
While series creator and executive producer Shonda Rhimes wept when she got on the phone last Thursday to tell Washington he was out, the decision was a coolly calculated move by Rhimes' bosses at the network and ABC Television Studios.
His "pattern of behavior" represented a potential liability that was too much risk for the Walt Disney Co.-owned companies, a source close to the production said. The source was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
The operation to remove Washington, 43, was quick and neat. The studio declined to exercise his contract option for another season -- Washington would have earned about $2.7 million in salary -- and he was dumped shortly after the May finale.
With Dr. Burke conveniently written out of the show in the last episode, the move had to have been planned for some time.
The decision was made by executives including ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz, ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson and Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. ABC and the studio declined comment this week, but Washington said he was "saddened" by the outcome.
"I can only apologize so many times. I can only accept so much responsibility," he told EW.com in an interview published Wednesday. "... Isaiah will go on and do what I love to do. And I have to go about the business of letting people know what's written about me is not the truth." (Read Washington's side of the story)
Gay rights leader Neil G. Giuliano said Washington was caught up in changing attitudes toward anti-gay vitriol -- the same backlash felt by Ann Coulter after she derided John Edwards with the same f-word Washington employed.
"All of this is crescendoing, with people saying, 'Enough is enough,' " said Giuliano, president of the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
Hollywood's image as an unbiased haven for gays is overstated, Giuliano said. But he did field outraged calls from producers, writers and actors -- both gay and straight -- after Washington's remarks. Giuliano said he told the callers to make waves at the networks, and "I have good reason to believe most of those folks, who are not shy, made their feelings known."
One black gay activist sees the lobbying far differently. Jasmyne Cannick, a friend of Washington's, said the case reflected a division between Hollywood's powerful white gays and lesbians and those who are minorities.
"The ones calling for (Washington's) head are what I refer to as the gay Mafia," Cannick said.
There may have been more behind the decision than intolerant language. Bryan Birge, who was working as a costumer in 1997 on the police drama "High Incident," said Washington erupted in anger on the set and then grabbed him after Birge asked him to remove a magazine from his pocket for an upcoming scene.
"It was bizarre," Birge told The Associated Press. "The guy is less than easy to be around."
Washington, a Houston native who served in the Air Force, had campaigned vigorously to redeem his image. He apologized publicly, to his colleagues and to GLAAD. He filmed a public service announcement for GLAAD and the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network. He made a publicly announced donation to a favorite cause, help for the African nation of Sierra Leone.
"We did everything that was asked of us" by ABC, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Washington was undone by a spat last October with co-star Patrick Dempsey in which he used the epithet to refer to fellow cast member T.R. Knight. Washington issued a public apology for his behavior and "unfortunate" use of words, and media attention waned.
But in January, Washington reignited the furor during a backstage interview at the Golden Globes in which he denied having used the slur, then uttered it again.
Gay rights groups that had demanded Washington apologize say they didn't seek his firing and gained nothing by it. Those who might have jumped to his defense, whether co-stars or those taking interest in the plight of a black actor, were silent or measured in their remarks.
"If he's being let go because of that incident, I'm not sure the punishment fits the crime," said Vic Bullock, executive director of the Hollywood bureau of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. The NAACP has asked ABC for "further clarity," Bullock said.
Tavis Smiley, the national TV and radio talk-show host and author, said Washington's words cut too deep.
"As a society we are still grappling with the notion of forgiveness and redemption," Smiley said in an e-mailed comment. "What this incident shows us, not unlike the Don Imus matter, is there is some pain so deep, that an apology, no matter how sincere, just doesn't suffice."

I find it very interesting that Washington seems to be making himself out to be the victim here, saying "I can only apologize so many times, I can only go on and accept so much responsibility." It is a true judgment of his character to see that he said these things, leading me to believe that the only reason he apologized, went to therapy, and released the PSA with GLAAD is because he was trying to keep his job, not because he acknowledged he had a problem. He'll be missing that $2.7 million paycheck, no doubt.

Hollywood Headliners

• Television's Mr. Wizard, Don Herbert, died of bone cancer June 12 at his Bell Canyon home.
• The Real World: San Diego's Frankie (you remember her? the girl with the lip piercing, goth makeup and crazy hair) passed away at her mother's home in Michigan. Having suffered from cystic fibrosis (and leaving the house in San Diego prematurely because of it), the exact cause of death, while officially unkown, is believed to be from complications of her illness.
• After ten turbulent seasons, The Sopranos finally ended its run on HBO on Sunday, June 10. In one of the most controversial endings of a series in a long while, the Soprano family was seen sitting at a diner, where Tony Soprano selected "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey from a tableside jukebox. Tony looks up and sees someone apparently approaching their table, and the screen goes black for a full five seconds before the credits begin to roll. While this ending has provided loyal viewers with little to no closure on the series and its characters, the creators of ABC's Lost promise to not repeat this sort of ending. "We will not be ending with a blackout," said Carlton Cuse, referring to the black screen that delivered an unresolved ending to HBO's mob drama. "I'm not sure there is any ending that will satisfy everyone...Our hope is that the ending will be ... the logical conclusion of the story."
• Amidst controversy that he is the father of Melanie Brown's (aka Scary Spice) 2-month old daughter, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, Eddie Murphy has finally taken a paternity test. I don't know which is less-classy: the fact that Murphy is being so unsupportive, or that Brown named her kid Murphy Brown.

Theater Headliners

• Jake Gyllenhaal may be heading to Broadway in the fall. Pardon me while I swoon...The play is a political drama entitled Farragut North, and Gyllenhaal was featured in a private reading earlier this year. While Gyllenhaal has appeared onstage in London in Kenneth Lonergan's revival of This is Our Youth, Farragut North would mark his Broadway debut.
• The June 26th opening of Xanadu: The Musical has been postponed (with no alternate date announced) after one of the shows stars, James Carpinello, sustained a foot injury while rehearsing, you guessed it, on roller skates. Carpinellos understudy has stepped in for two performances, and there is no word as to the degree or length of the injury or recovery. Maybe Xanadu will turn in to Xanadon't.
• In a huge bloodbath of closing notices, Company (which won Best Musical Revival last weekend at the Tony's), Radio Golf (August Wilson's final play), and Mayumana's Be will all play their final performances on July 1. I know Company has been struggling at the box office, but I've never seen a show win a Tony and then close down a few weeks later!
• Andrew Lloyd Webber doesn't know how to take a hint. His new kitten, Otto, somehow succeeded in destroying the music he has written for the sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, brilliantly titled Phantom in Manhattan. That's right, I said Phantom in Manhattan. Guess it's his payback for Phantom to surpass Cats as the longest running musical in history. Or a hint to give up on the sequel. You pick.

Was I right, or was I right?

I think the people I watched the Tony's with got really sick of me predicting all of the winners. But truth be told, the amount of satisfaction I got from guessing (almost) every category correctly made me feel smart for a change. You know, on a topic not very many people care about...
Here's a recap of the winners:

Best New Musical
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening

Best New Play
The Coast of Utopia
Frost/Nixon
The Little Dog Laughed
Radio Golf

Best Musical Revival
The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade

Best Play Revival
Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
Talk Radio
Translations

Best Special Theatrical Event
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!
Kiki & Herb Alive on Broadway

Best Leading Actor in a Musical
Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains

Best Leading Actress in a Musical
Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk, Curtains
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik

Best Leading Actor in a Play
Boyd Gaines, Journey's End
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brian F. O'Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio

Best Leading Actress in a Play
Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Swoosie Kurtz, Heartbreak House
Angela Lansbury, Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical Thinking
Julie White, The Little Dog Laughed

Best Featured Actor in a Musical
Brooks Ashmanskas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle, Legally Blonde
John Cullum, 110 in the Shade
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
David Pittu, LoveMusik

Best Featured Actress in a Musical
Charlotte d'Amboise, A Chorus Line
Rebecca Luker, Mary Poppins
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains

Best Featured Actor in a Play
Anthony Chisholm, Radio Golf
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia (I thought Stark Sands)
Ethan Hawke, The Coast of Utopia
John Earl Jelks, Radio Golf
Stark Sands, Journey's End

Best Featured Actress in a Play
Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of Utopia (I thought Jennifer Ehle)
Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Dana Ivey, Butley
Jan Mexawell, Coram Boy
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia

Best Direction of a Musical
John Doyle, Company
Scott Ellis, Curtains
Michael Greif, Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening

Best Direction of a Play
Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
David Grindley, Journey's End
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
Melly Still, Coram Boy

Best Choreography
Rob Ashford, Curtains
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones, Spring Awakening (I thought Bourne & Mear)
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde

Best Score
Fred Ebb, John Kander & Rupert Holmes, Curtains
Scott Frankel and Michael Korie, Grey Gardens
Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, Spring Awakening

Best Orchestrations
Bruce Coughlin, Grey Gardens
Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening (I thought Coughlin)
Jonathan Tunick, LoveMusik
Jonathan Tunick, 110 in the Shade

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Christine Jones, Spring Awakening
Anna Louizos, High Fidelity
Allen Moyer, Grey Gardens

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Bob Crowley & Scott Pask, The Coast of Utopia
Jonathan Fensom, Journey's End
David Gallo, Radio Golf
Ti Green & Melly Still, Coram Boy

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Gregg Barnes, Legally Blonde
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Susan Hilferty, Spring Awakening
William Ivey Long, Grey Gardens (I thought Crowley)

Best Costume Design of a Play
Ti Green and Melly Still, Coram Boy
Jane Greenwood, Heartbreak House
Santo Loquasto, Inherit the Wind
Catherine Zuber, The Coast of Utopia (I thought Greenwood)

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Spring Awakening
Christopher Akerlind, 110 in the Shade
Howard Harrison, Mary Poppins
Peter Kaczorowski, Grey Gardens

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable, Coram Boy
Brian MacDevitt, Inherit the Wind
Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner, Natasha Katz, Coast of Utopia (I thought Coram Boy)
Jason Taylor, Journey's End

Isaiah (finally) gets the boot!

Isaiah Washington was officially released from his contract with Grey's Anatomy on Friday. The actor was informed by the show's creator that his contract would not be renewed. The speculation is that he was fired for his behavior, particularly surrounding his controversial homophobic slurs about co-star T.R. Knight

I think this is a long time coming. In fact, I think the writers purposefully had to leave his and T.R. Knight's plotlines open because the studio knew they would have to deal with this issue sooner or later, and chose to finish out the season instead of nipping it in the bud. On the show, Washington's Dr. Burke left his fiancee at the altar and disappeared with most of his possessions. Meanwhile, Knight's George O'Malley failed his intern exam, and now must decide whether or not to repeat his entire intern year.

It was also announced last week that Knight will be returning to the show next season.

Washington and his 'people' are criticizing the studio's decision to let him go even after Washington entered rehab, issued a public apology, and released PSA's for GLAAD. So, what, if he had gotten fired on the spot, he wouldn't have gone through all that? What a testament to his true character.

In a statement released by Washington's rep.'s, he says, "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it any more." Don't quite know what he is referring to, but I'm so glad his anger-management rehab is paying off.

Looking at the larger picture, especially with all this "special celebrity treatment" crap going on with Paris Hilton and the like, if Washington was to behave the way he has in any other corporate environment, he would have been fired long ago. He should be thankful that they kept him around this long, and instead of lashing out at ABC, should be looking at ways to revive his career, although I'm not sure it's possible at this point.

Paris is burning...

...or something like that.

I think it's safe to say that nobody could really get anything done in LA because of all the madness surrounding Paris Hilton. I know I ranted about her being re-assigned to house arrest (quite the punishment, given her mansion), and apparently the judge read my post about it because things just hit the fan afterward!

The judge summoned both Paris and Sheriff Lee Baca to report to court at 9AM Friday morning to discuss the reassignment. Apparently the judge ordered Paris to not be eligible for a pay-jail or house arrest alternative to her sentence. Therefore, Paris was at risk for going back behind bars, and Baca was also at risk for being charged with Contempt of Court.

After word spread that Paris would be reporting to court via phone (allegedly because the sheriff's office wasn't going to pick her up), the judge ordered a police car to pick her up. After a late start, Paris was escorted--in handcuffs--to the LA County Courthouse in downtown LA, amidst a mob of papparazzi. Once inside the courthouse, the judge sentenced Paris to return to jail and serve the remainder of her 45 day sentence (yes, he re-upped her sentence from 23 days back to 45), and they whisked her off from the courthouse back to the facility.

Ouch.

There have been many speculations about the "medical condition" that led to Paris being reassigned. From withdrawal from her meds to being a picky eater and not wanting to eat the prison hot dogs, it is difficult to speculate exactly what the problem was, but I think it's something having to do with her mental health (although she didn't need to be sent to jail for me to think that). The newest hypothesis, however, is that she didn't use the bathroom for the entire 3 days she was in jail because she was afraid a guard or attendant would snap a photo of her on the toilet. That's gotta be uncomfortable.

Paris recently released a statement declaring she would not be appealing the judges re-sentencing:
"Today I told my attorneys not to appeal the judge's decision. While I greatly appreciate the Sheriff's concern for my health and welfare, after meeting with doctors I intend to serve my time as ordered by the judge. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever done. During the past several days, I have had a lot of time to reflect and have already learned a bitter, but important lesson from this experience. As I have said before, I hope others will learn from my mistake. I have also had time to read the mail from my fans. I very much appreciate all of their good wishes and hope they will keep their letters coming. I must also say that I was shocked to see all of the attention devoted to the amount of time I would spend in jail for what I had done by the media, public and city officials. I would hope going forward that the public and the media will focus on more important things, like the men and women serving our country in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places around the world."

If that's not a carefully constructed statement by her rep's, I don't know what is!

Hopefully I won't feel compelled to write about anything Paris for at least 40 more days until she is released from jail. But Paris definitely doesn't know how to do anything quietly, so we'll see!

Hollywood Headliners

• Dina Lohan missed a family court date which concerned granting her estranged husband visitation rights to their 3 kids because she was preparing to visit Lindsay in rehab. The judge warned Dina not to miss any more court dates -- or else. Hmm, looks like Paris might have a cellmate after all!
• The third (and hopefully final) installment of Pirates of the Caribbean turned out not to have the staying power of Spiderman 3, after it was bumped from #1 at the box office after only week by the newly released Ocean's 13. Wait, people are actually going to see that movie? Talk about revenge of the triologies.
• This is somewhat old news now, but soap opera and Dangerous Minds actor Shemar Moore was charged with a DUI last week, adding to the ever growing list of celebs with the mark on their legal and driving record. And have I talked about Tracy Morgan too? Yeah, well now he has an ankle bracelet that detects if he drinks at all. Stylin'
• The Spice Girls are preparing for a reuinion tour. Apparently
• Pictures have surfaced on the internet of La Lohan and Nick Lachey's new arm candy, Vanessa Minillo, holding knives in seductive poses. Taken at a party in summer 2006, some photos shows La Lohan holding a knife to Minillo's throat, while others depict Minillo pulling La Lohan's tank top down and pointing a knife at her chest. Unfortunately we know the outcome of those photos, and it is nothing exciting.
• Kanye West recently celebrated his 30th birthday, but the party did not go off without a snag. The writing on his cake read, "Happy Birthday Kayne." Who's Kayne? When interviewed leaving his party, he responded to the misspelling saying, "Cake decorators don't like black people." Just kidding. It's his party, and he can crunk if he wants to!
• The Spice Girls are planning a long-awaited reunion tour, after finally able to get "Sporty Spice" Melanie C on board. Do I really need to make a joke about this?

2007 Tony predictions!

At long last (for me at least), here are my predictions for the winners of the 2007 Tony Awards. There are a few discrepancies in terms of who I think will win and who I think should win, and some of my predictions are shots in the dark, especially with the Play categories, but I'm givin' it my best shot!

Best New Musical
Curtains
Grey Gardens
Mary Poppins
Spring Awakening


Who will win: Spring Awakening OR Grey Gardens
Who should win: Spring Awakening


I think Spring will take it. It is the type of revolutionary musical theater that Tony voters love to swing for (like Avenue Q or The Lion King). But the material may be too risque for some voters, so the more conservative crowd will go for Gardens. Then again, RENT was very controversial, and it won in 1996, so I stick by my prediction that Spring will take the grand prize.

Best New Play

The Coast of Utopia
Frost/Nixon
The Little Dog Laughed
Radio Golf


Who will win: The Coast of Utopia
Who should win: The Coast of Utopia


While Radio Golf is August Wilson's final play and his last chance to win a Tony for a new work, and Frost/Nixon is a hit show all-around, nothing can beat Utopia's three-part series. The daunting nature of this show alone is enough for it to sweep the Play categories in my opinion. It is being considered as an entire series, not based on its individual installments. Therefore, if something else wins it will be a huge upset.


Best Musical Revival

The Apple Tree
A Chorus Line
Company
110 in the Shade


Who will win: A Chorus Line OR 110 in the Shade
Who should win: Company


A Chorus Line is by far the most popular show in this series, but it is a mere recreation of the original production. 110 boasts some impressive performances, but has gotten largely lackluster reviews. While Company's unique performer/musician duality is nothing new after last year's Sweeney Todd, I think it should still win in terms of the best recreation of a musical (even though it has already been revived on Broadway before).

Best Play Revival

Inherit the Wind
Journey's End
Talk Radio
Translations


Who will win: Inherit the Wind
Who should win: Journey's End


I think this show will win because of its creativity with having audience members onstage, as well as the performers (Brian Dennehy and Christopher Plummer). But I think Journey's End is more deserving of the title, possibly just because I read Inherit in high school and was bored to tears, and it just seems like a smaller yet more daunting project. Although the only play I've seen in this category is Talk Radio, it is not inventive and extravagant enough to take Best Revival (its main draw is its performers). So Inherit will take the prize, but Journey should take it.

Best Special Theatrical Event
Jay Johnson: The Two and Only!
Kiki & Herb Alive on Broadway

Who will win: Jay Johnson
Who should win: Kiki & Herb

The Tony voters will have to decide to give an award to a wooden puppet, or a drag queen. They will choose the puppet. I think in the case of Special Theatrical Event, the voters will side with a legend rather than new, fresh, unique talent.

Best Leading Actor in a Musical

Michael Cerveris, LoveMusik
Raul Esparza, Company
Jonathan Groff, Spring Awakening
Gavin Lee, Mary Poppins
David Hyde Pierce, Curtains


Who will win: David Hyde Pierce
Who should win: Raul Esparza


I think the prize could actually go to Esparza because he provides the strongest and most passionate performance (although Groff, the obvious underdog, also gives a passionate performance). But Pierce has so much hype surrounding his performance, I wouldn't be surprised if they go with him. While Curtains is up for 8 awards, I think this could be one of the only ones they have a good chance of winning.

Best Leading Actress in a Musical

Laura Bell Bundy, Legally Blonde
Christine Ebersole, Grey Gardens
Audra McDonald, 110 in the Shade
Debra Monk, Curtains
Donna Murphy, LoveMusik


Who will win: Christine Ebersole
Who should win: Christine Ebersole


I don't think there is any question that she will take this category. She's been playing the role for around 2 years now I think, and there has not been one negative review of her. She plays 2 women in the show who existed in real life, and to pull it off with such success is a big feat. Despite the amazing other nominees in the category, Ebersole makes the biggest transformation. I think the runner up would be Audra McDonald, but girlfriend already has 4 awards, so she won't be missing out too much on this one.

Best Leading Actor in a Play

Boyd Gaines, Journey's End
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Brian F. O'Byrne, The Coast of Utopia
Christopher Plummer, Inherit the Wind
Liev Schreiber, Talk Radio


Who will win: Frank Langella
Who should win: Frank Langella


Again, he has the most hype surrounding him, and for good reason. They brought the show over from London with the original stars, and he is getting rave reviews. O'Byrne deserves recognition for conquering the beast of the play for which he is nominated, and Schreiber also gives an amazing and raw performance. But Langella is a shoe-in.

Best Leading Actress in a Play

Eve Best, A Moon for the Misbegotten
Swoosie Kurtz, Heartbreak House
Angela Lansbury, Deuce
Vanessa Redgrave, The Year of Magical Thinking
Julie White, The Little Dog Laughed


Who will win: Angela Lansbury OR Julie White
Who should win: Julie White


Julie White was hilarious in this play, but the fact that it didn't do so well in box office sales and popularity could end up hurting her chances. Lansbury, the icon, on the other hand, could take the prize regardless of what she does onstage. The woman could cough and they would fork over an award. And while Redgrave and Kurtz carried a show on their backs and Best reprises her role opposite a daunting performance by Spacey, White was almost the only good thing said about her show.

Best Featured Actor in a Musical

Brooks Ashmanskas, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me
Christian Borle, Legally Blonde
John Cullum, 110 in the Shade
John Gallagher, Jr., Spring Awakening
David Pittu, LoveMusik


Who will win: David Pittu
Who should win: John Gallagher, Jr.


David Pittu has gotten amazing reviews, and I wouldn't be surprised if he was chosen to represent LoveMusik in their wins. Ashmanskas is being nominated for a musical sketch comedy show starring a man who was not even nominated, Borle is cute and sweet in Blonde but not a total standout by any means, and Cullum is a legend performing in a lukewarm musical revival. Gallagher is the major underdog of the season, and while his performance is a bit unconventional, it is raw and emotional. He could very well be recognized, which would be great because he deserves it, but Pittu is a bit more middle road.

Best Featured Actress in a Musical

Charlotte d'Amboise, A Chorus Line
Rebecca Luker, Mary Poppins
Orfeh, Legally Blonde
Mary Louise Wilson, Grey Gardens
Karen Ziemba, Curtains


Who will win: Mary Louise Wilson
Who should win: Mary Louise Wilson


This seems like another shoe-in category. Wilson gives a standout performance, and for her to be able to stand out next to Ebersole means she's really good. She has been with the show since its inception and has been a major draw for the show. If there is some sort of upset, the award should go to d'Amboise, but may be given to Ziemba for their supporting performances and strong dance skills.

Best Featured Actor in a Play

Anthony Chisholm, Radio Golf
Billy Crudup, The Coast of Utopia
Ethan Hawke, The Coast of Utopia
John Earl Jelks, Radio Golf
Stark Sands, Journey's End


Who will win: Stark Sands
Who should win: Stark Sands


Sands is the standout in his play, and with the dark set, lighting, and material, provides a shining performance, and should be recognized for it. Both Crudup and Hawke deserve ovations for the monster of a show they conquered, but it was also a bit of an ensemble piece, so for one of the two to standout over the other and the rest of the cast is difficult. The two men from Radio Golf are supposed to be phenomenal, and one of them could very well take it, but it's always tricky when two people from the same show are nominated in the same category.

Best Featured Actress in a Play

Jennifer Ehle, The Coast of Utopia
Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Dana Ivey, Butley
Jan Mexawell, Coram Boy
Martha Plimpton, The Coast of Utopia


Who will win: Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy
Who should win: Xanthe Elbrick, Coram Boy


Elbrick plays a young boy who excels at the violin in a show that was applauded by critics but closed early due to low ticket sales. She will represent the show in the acting categories. The Utopia women face the same problems as the men...not sure if the men played different roles in the three installments like the women did, but the women will have to have one-upped each other in order to win the grand prize.

Best Direction of a Musical

John Doyle, Company
Scott Ellis, Curtains
Michael Greif, Grey Gardens
Michael Mayer, Spring Awakening


Who will win: Michael Mayer
Who should win: John Doyle


Mayer will win for directing the adaptation of the musical from the 19th c. play, with extreme contrasts from classical dialogue to contemporary musical performances. His ability to mold the young and vastly inexperienced actors for the show, as well as to develop it so fully over time will give him the reward. Doyle, having been awarded for the same style of adaptation at last years ceremony, will be overlooked for doing the same thing this year, but is equally deserving of the title.

Best Direction of a Play

Michael Grandage, Frost/Nixon
David Grindley, Journey's End
Jack O'Brien, The Coast of Utopia
Melly Still, Coram Boy

Who will win: Jack O'Brien
Who should win: Jack O'Brien OR Melly Still


O'Brien will (and should) be rewarded for his direction of the three part marathon play, but Still has been praised by her actors for her work in Coram Boy, so she may prove to take the prize for mounting the revolutionary play. She could be given the highest level of recognition the show received, since it was not eligible for Best Play.


Best Choreography

Rob Ashford, Curtains
Matthew Bourne and Stephen Mear, Mary Poppins
Bill T. Jones, Spring Awakening
Jerry Mitchell, Legally Blonde


Who will win: Bourne & Mear
Who should win: Bourne & Mear

Jones's modern and lyric choreography is unlike anything on Broadway, and definitely enhances the shows effective message. Mitchell's energetic choreography delivers in the same way as his Tony winning work on Hairspray. Ashfords grand choreography fits in perfectly with the traditional musical theater style of Curtains. But Bourne & Mear not only deliver with their lavish and complicated choreography in Poppins, they combine multiple styles throughout the show, from the ballet and jazz moves of the chimney sweeps to the contemporary 'Supercalifragi-however you spell it.'

Best Score

Fred Ebb, John Kander & Rupert Holmes, Curtains
Scott Frankel and Michael Korie, Grey Gardens
Laurence O'Keefe and Neil Benjamin, Legally Blonde
Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, Spring Awakening


Who will win: Spring Awakening
Who should win: Spring Awakening


Nothing compares to Sheik & Saters music and lyrics for Spring, and it actually embodies the essence of the show. Not only effective in its message, it is also the biggest draw to the show, and sums up the main element of the show. Grey Gardens also deserves the award, but its simplicity will cost it the prize.

Best Orchestrations

Bruce Coughlin, Grey Gardens
Duncan Sheik, Spring Awakening
Jonathan Tunick, LoveMusik
Jonathan Tunick, 110 in the Shade


Who will win: Grey Gardens
Who should win: Grey Gardens


The music in Grey Gardens deserves to be recognized, and honestly Best Score or Best Orchestrations could go to either Gardens or Spring. but I don't think one will get both. Spring deserves the Score award more than Gardens, so I give Gardens the Orchestrations prize.

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Christine Jones, Spring Awakening
Anna Louizos, High Fidelity
Allen Moyer, Grey Gardens


Who will win: Mary Poppins
Who should win: Mary Poppins


Even though Spring Awakening features a platform that raises out of the stage suspended by rope and furniture and decorations attached to the wall (including a chair 15 feet in the air which an actor sits on), and the set of Grey Gardens features an entire lush living room, and backyard, nothing can compare to the magic of Disney. Reminiscent of Beauty & the Beasts's castle advancing and retreating onstage, Poppins repeatedly constructs an entire house, complete with a 3 ton rooftop which flies in and out that the actors sit upon, a man who tap dances on the ceiling of the proscenium, and Mary herself flying out through the roof at the back of the mezzanine. If there is only one shoe-in this year, this is it.

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Bob Crowley & Scott Pask, The Coast of Utopia
Jonathan Fensom, Journey's End
David Gallo, Radio Golf,
Ti Green & Melly Still, Coram Boy


Who will win: The Coast of Utopia
Who should win: The Coast of Utopia


Just like it's actors and director, Utopia's creative team deserves major recognition for mounting sets for three separate installments of a trilogy. And while Coram Boy is revolutionary for the world of Plays, Radio Golf's set is unbelievably detailed, and Journey's End manages to transform the stage into a World War I bunker, Utopia and Poppins' Bob Crowley transforms the entire space, and in Utopia, does it threefold.

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Gregg Barnes, Legally Blonde
Bob Crowley, Mary Poppins
Susan Hilferty, Spring Awakening
William Ivey Long, Grey Gardens

Who will win: Mary Poppins OR Grey Gardens
Who should win: Mary Poppins

Although Grey Gardens and Spring Awakening's costumes stay true to the time period, and Legally Blonde's threads are as bright and flashy as its star and choreography (and I think a great deal of the ensemble's costumes are store bought), nothing can match up to the bold and intricate details of Crowley's work for Poppins. From jackets that are bedazzled with hundreds of hand placed crystals, to the inner silk lining of the jackets which never see the light onstage, Crowley goes for more than theatrical show...he completes the costumes and assists the performers in completely transforming into their characters.

Best Costume Design of a Play
Ti Green and Melly Still, Coram Boy
Jane Greenwood, Heartbreak House
Santo Loquasto, Inherit the Wind
Catherine Zuber, The Coast of Utopia

Who will win: Heartbreak House
Who should win: Heartbreak House

And interesting thing I recently found out is that hair and make-up achievements are summed up in the awards for Best Costumes. Therefore, Heartbreak House should win because of the intricacies of the period costumes, and also for the extravagant wigs.

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Kevin Adams, Spring Awakening
Christopher Akerlind, 110 in the Shade
Howard Harrison, Mary Poppins,
Peter Kaczorowski, Grey Gardens

Who will win: Grey Gardens OR Spring Awakening
Who should win: Spring Awakening

Grey Gardens deserves some sort of nod for its creative team, and given the other contenders in the category, Best Lighting seems it. Their use of gobos and mood lighting is effective in the contrast between the first and second acts. Spring Awakening, however, combines lighting effects for mood setting in the plot scenes, and effects reminiscent of a rock concert during the musical performance. Their contrasts could help Spring take the prize for this category as well.

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Paule Constable, Coram Boy
Brian MacDevitt, Inherit the Wind
Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner, Natasha Katz, Coast of Utopia
Jason Taylor, Journey's End

What will win: Coram Boy
What should win: Coram Boy

Coram Boy has the most dramatic lighting of all of these plays. The others attempt to fully transform the stage into the setting with the help of the scenic design. Coram Boy's lighting, on the other hand, excels beyond setting the scene and provides dramatic lighting and effects to give a very cinematic and grand theatrical look.

Paris is [on the] loose!

The U.S. legal system has given quite a slap on the wrist to Paris Hilton, who began her jail sentence 3 days ago. Early Thurdsay morning, they released her and ordered her to house arrest for the remainder of her 40 day sentence. In a press conference this morning, exact details about the reason for her release were not given, although medical issues were cited. http://tmz.com speculates that Paris would could not eat the prison food, and she was growing weak.

I don't know if I am more upset that she was released after only 3 days, or if she was released before the media frenzy surrounding her died down. I am so sick of hearing about Paris Hilton's hair extensions, color contact lenses, what she does and doesn't eat behind bars, etc. They are making her out to be some huge victim for being sent to jail for a traffic violation, when she had the choice to be in a low-profile jail, or go to the county jail. And she was in her own cell where she was in lockdown 23 hours out of the day and in the special area of the jail where she wasn't interacting with the general population. And now she's on house arrest (I can think of some worse houses to be in house arrest than Paris Hilton's). I'm sure she can have all the visitors she wants and do whatever she wants as long as she doesn't leave the hosue. So boo-hoo, Paris. Way to pay for your crimes.

T.R. Knight still not sure of his fate on Grey's

An article from http://www.tvsquad.com, thanks to my dear Nora:

At the end of the Grey's Anatomy season finale, many fans wondered if T.R. Knight, who plays George, would be returning to the show comes next season. Without spoiling it too much for those who still haven't watched the finale, George's future is left open-ended.

Gossip columnists like TV Guide's Michael Ausiello and E!'s Kristin Veitch have been leaking out information about George's future. Question is are those spoilers right? Especially when T.R. Knight claims that he still doesn't know what his future on the show is?

USA Today reports that while at a charity event, T.R. Knight revealed that he had yet to be told what would happen to George. The actor added: "It's all kind of in flux right now."

At the event, some of the other Grey's stars talked about Knight and Isaiah Washington's future on the show (Burke's future is also unclear at the end of the finale). Sara Ramirez, who plays George's wife on the hit series, said that it was an interesting choice the writers made to end the series with no clear path for both men. James Pickens Jr. likes how the finale ended as it gives fans something to look forward to when season four begins.

On the other hand, Justin Chambers claims that it would be a bad idea to not have both men return. "We need them," adds the actor. Does Grey's Anatomy really need T.R. Knight and Isaiah Washington? The show would certainly survive without them. The show could actually do best without Washington, who has brought loads of bad press to the series due to his behavior.

It's more than likely that T.R. Knight returns to the series. He may already know it. Shonda Rhimes, the show's creator, hates spoilers and it wouldn't be the first time a cast member is told to say s/he doesn't know something when s/he actually does. Rumblings say that Washington's future on the show is rather blurry.What's you take on this? Should George return?

Um, YES HE SHOULD! Aside from my adoration of T.R., George's plotline with Callie has become one of the more popular one's on the show, not to mention one of the most bearable. I merely groan every time something happens between George and Callie, rather than my violent dry heaving with Meredith and Derek. And as much as I hate the idea of new interns, George as a repeat intern could bridge the gap between the generations of doctors. Or, assuming they are going to try to introduce a bunch of new characters on the show, they could have George go to wherever it was he was accepted admission, and introduce more peeps over there. Oh wait, he was accepted as a doctor, wasn't he? Hmm. Well, I still think he should stay. He could just walk in and out of the shot the entire hour and I would still be happy!

Lohan's Law

Underage partiers hoping to pass with their boobs, flashy smiles, and fake ID's into Hollywood's hottest night clubs last weekend were met with nothing but a shake of the head from the bouncers this last weekend, and many blame it on La Lohan.

Since her DUI arrest, LA area clubs have been cracking down more than ever on underage drinking, naming the reason "Lohan's Law."

Season of finales

I have finally watched (most of) the season finales in my queue, and I feel confident enough to try some witty banter...

Grey's Anatomy~ OMG, how much does this show play with my heart strings? The characters I love may leave. The characters I hate are not only not leaving, but have their sisters joining the show. That's right, I'm talking about Meredith. If you were to tell me three years ago that I would become obsessed with a show where the main character reminds you of everything you hate about Renee Zelwegger, I would have told you to shut the front door. But low and behold, I am not only obsessed with the show, but I can't allow myself to eat during it. Not because I need to keep my attention on the action at all times, but because seeing Ellen Pompeo on the television makes me want to upchuck! And now her sister is coming into the picture. Grrreat. Apparently killing off her mother and step-mother, and having her father disown her isn't enough action for her. It truly is a Grey affair on that show.

I thought the plotline with the stranded climbers was particularly poignant (is the show really that predictable, or am I just getting smarter when it comes to television? The connections between the principals and guest stars are sometimes so obvious it brings on the same feelings of nausea as the character/actress mentioned above). And if George leaves the show, I am going to not only strike Grey's Anatomy, but ABC as a network (but now that Callie has been promoted to Chief of Surgery, I think he'll stick around). And I don't love Kate Walsh as half of the people in the country who are dead obsessed with her, I would much rather have her stick around than introduce a bunch of new interns to stir up even more drama (I think we're donig fine with the recent graduates, thank you ABC). And I hope that when Sandra Oh said, "He's gone," referring to Isaiah Washington, it means he left the show. It would make me extremely happy. Here's hoping they get their shit together over there this summer. Nobody asked for Grey's Anatomy: The New Class, but the way things are going, the ratings in the coming seasons may reflect the drop between Saved by the Bell and SBTB: The New Class. Huh, that joke sounded funnier in my head...

Ugly Betty~ Even though I don't like the elements of the telenovella they have been working in to this show (cue cheesy music), I cannot get enough of this show. Maybe it's America Ferrera. Maybe it's Ana Ortiz. Or Eric Mabius. Or Michael Urie. Or Becki Newton. Or Vanessa Williams (no, it's definitely not her). Or, dare I say it, all of the above? I only hope that Daniel and Alexis Meade are alright...bitch had it coming to her, though. I just hope it wasn't some excuse for Rebecca Romijn to get a nose job, 'cause girlfriend looks good! John Stamos, eat your heart out! The Betty/Henry plotline frustrates me to no end (is it just me, or is he probably really hot in real life?), I hope that Henry's cell phone works in Alberqueque or Santa Fe or wherever he went. But I have a feeling Betty will most likely put it off for a while, what with her sisters fiancee and baby-daddy being killed and all. He did die, right? I mean, he's not going to come back as Santina in two seasons?

Brothers & Sisters~ There is something about this show that kills me every time. I laugh, I cry, I feel like I am the honorary 37th member of the family. Maybe I see a lot of their relationship in my relationship with my family (Sally Field based her character on my mother, I don't know if you knew that. Who does that make me, though? Calista Flockhart? Oh lord.). Maybe it's just brilliant television (on the other hand, if I were Calista Flockhart, I would be marrying Rob Lowe as a California State Senator on the show, and Harrison Ford in real life. Things could be worse). Whatever the reason, I love it all. The cast, the characters, the relationships, the plot. It is such a fresh show, and I'm just glad I was turned on to it. The plotline with Justin going back to Iraq is heartbreaking (not as heartbreaking as that guy from Alias's baby dying) and all too poignant for what is going on in the world today (the show does an awesome job of working in current events...*ahem* WICKED *ahem*). But as brilliant as this show is, I would allow a brief moment of cheese and unrealistic plot twists so they can keep Dave Annable on the show. And if they are not going to keep Eric Winter with Matthew Rhys, can they at least bring back Jason Lewis? Does anybody even know what I'm talking about?

The Bachelor: Officer And A Gentleman~ I'm sorry. I failed with my commentary on The Bachelor. It's just one of those shows that doesn't catch my interest until the very end, and then if I get busy or, say, travel across the country for 10 days, I lose two weeks and before you know it, the show is over. Well, Officer Andy picked the last girl I would have picked for him to end up with (I thought for sure he was going to go for "Bevin the Blonde," but I guess she was just a LITTLE too desperate for him. Hell, she was desperate enough for her own season of The Bachelorette!). I think the only thing he could have seen in Tessa was the fact that she mumbles almost as bad as he does...they are probably the only two people in the world who can understand each other? And Andy hit the nail on the head when he brought the three finalists to Pearl Harbor for a romantic date. Nothing says romance to me like giving up the lei he just gave me to the girls to throw it in the water in rememberance of the victims ("Black Tears"=depressing, not sexy).

In poor Bevin's defense, she was definitely given the short end of the stick. She had the second meeting with the parents (so she was forced to compete with what they already thought about Tessa), and the first final date (so she wasn't the last thing on Andy's mind). She really put herself out there and ended up losing to the girl who could only tell Andy her true feelings through a letter and a dinky photo collage during their last date, and whose biggest compliment to him was, "I freakin' love you!"

Did an episode ever go by where Andy didn't take his shirt off? Not that I'm complaining, but he had a scary body!!

To give you an idea of just how ridiculous Andy and Tessa will be together, here is a transcript of their first encounter:
T: "I have a joke for you: 'Two muffins are put into the oven. One muffin turns to the other muffin and says, "It's hot in here!" And the other muffin screams, "Holy cow! A talking muffin!"'
A: Are we those two muffins?

I'm still trying to figure that one out.

Movie Musicals...past their prime

It seems as though more and more musicals based on films continue to leak through the cracks and hit the mainstream (which, along with Disney's role in reinventing Broadway and Times Square alike, is most likely the main contributing factor to the shift in focus from talent to spectacle on Broadway), despite the notion being a bit past its prime.

I recently read an article on http://www.playbill.com that announced renouned director Trevor Nunn will be helming a musical adaptation of Gone With the Wind. I couldn't help but groan to myself a little bit. I've also been reading about the development of John Waters' Cry Baby, which is having its out of town tryout at the La Jolla Playhouse, and moving to Broadway afterwards. I have enjoyed my fair share of movie musicals, but I do feel a bit sad that more original material is not being put out there.

Looking at a list of the 31 musicals on Broadway right now, 12 of them are based on movies of the same name, and 6 of them are based on real people and/or feature unoriginal music.

I look forward to the point where more original material is put out there, rather than adaptations of films and other unoriginal material.

Talk Radio

I am so happy that this was the last show I saw, because it was very inspiring. Completely different from any other shows I saw on this trip, it was so bare and raw.

The show is centered around Barry Champlain, a talk radio host in Cleveland Ohio, 1987. This entire production featured Liev Schreiber sitting at a desk with a microphone center stage, with a sound proof editing room behind him where characters came and went. Clocking in at only 1 hour, 40 minutes, we watched Champlain's life dissolve into a world of booze, drugs, depression, and loneliness as he pushed everyone in his life away.

The greatest thing about this production, not surprisingly, was Schreiber. His command and charsima onstage is uncanny, and I felt so priveleged to have the opportunity to see him live onstage. As he became increasingly inebriated throughout the show, Schreibers entire demeanor and physicality changed, until they switched the microphone back on and his character went back on air. His performance was so effective and captivating, I cannot imagine the show being as successful without him.

The supporting actors had fine moments themselves. Stephanie March (who I just found out is married to Bobby Flay) played the stations assistant, Linda MacArthur, who was in a sort of relationship with Champlain. Her desperation to be loved by him (or anyone, really) was palpable, and she did an excellent job of displaying her emotion on her face and her body for all to see. Michael Laurence played Stu Noonan, the producer of the radio show and Champlains close friend. Having worked together for quite some time on different shows at different stations, Noonan successfully interpreted his love/hate relationship with Champlain as a friend and a co-worker. His intenisty and emotion was strong and helped carry the secondary plotline. Peter Hermann played the hard-ass boss Dan Woodruff with such ease and confidence that, aside from Schreiber, he was the most believable character in the piece. Additional notice should be payed to the other members of the cast who, while they may not have had much (or any) stage time, provided the many voices of callers who interacted with Schreiber throughout the show.

The sheer simplicity and effectiveness of this show sets it apart drastically from everything else I saw on my trip. Blended with the execution of the stellar performances, I give the show an A. If you are in New York, go see it before it disappears for another 20 years.

Legally Blonde the...Musical?

ATTENTION: SPOILERS AHEAD

Yeah, that's right, I saw Legally Blonde. It was a Wednesday matinee on May 23, and the funny thing is that I saw it after having lunch with my friend Jenn who couldn't stop venting about how musical theater has strayed from talent and is now focused more on spectacle and spending as much $ as you can. Needless to say, when she asked me what I was up to for the rest of the day and I said, "I'm going to see Legally Blonde the Musical!" it was a bit awkward.

There is a lot of hype surrounding this show (man, I'm ALL about the hype with these show reviews, aren't I?), but I didn't go in with any expectations. It is Jerry Mitchell's long awaited directorial debut, he choreographed it as well, it received positive reviews from its San Francisco tryout, and its leading lady, Laura Bell Bundy, is the only non-legend nominated for a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. No pressure, Legally Blonde. None at all.

I was especially curious to see this show for Bundy and the choreography. And I certainly was not disappointed.

I was sitting in the second row of the orchestra, which should be billed as obstructed view at the Palace Theater because the stage is set so high that all of the actors were cut off at their shins. This reminded me of the time I saw 42nd Street from the first row of the orchestra at the Hilton Theater (then the Ford Center for the Performing Arts) and I couldn't see anyone's feet...and it's a tap show! Anyway, despite our obstructed view and my sore neck at the end of the 2.5 hour show (some of thos sets are monstrosities), I was particularly impressed by the ensemble and their abilities to carry out Mitchell's choreography with such vigor and ease. There was tap, Irish clogging, hip-hop, jazz, break dancing, ballet, and any other style you can think og! This show had it all. The opening of Act II, "Whipped Into Shape" is a number where everyone is jumping rope the entire song...while singing and dancing. And not like dinky little hops...we're talking fitness video, break a sweat, get totally winded rope jumping. Seriously, that shit is NOT easy! But they make it look so fun and easy...but I was constantly reminded of the fact that this is one of the biggest and most complex choreographers in the business...I was similarly impressed when I saw Hairspray, and I just felt really lucky to have seen the show for the choreography alone!

Speaking of the ensemble, DAMN were they gorgeous! They were the best part of the show. I read an interview with Laura Bell Bundy where they asked her if it's hard to carry a show, and she said she is actually the one being carried, and it's totally true! Their energy and talent with both their dancing and singing was incomparable...if there was a Tony award for Best Ensemble (hey, why doesn't that exist?), they would definitely take the prize.

Laura Bell Bundy was quite good as well. Not to undermine the size of her role with what I just said above, she really didn't leave the stage once throughout the show (I've done that before, and it's NOT easy!). Her character and demeanor was cute, spontaneous, and energetic, and she even was able to adlib and milk a joke when one of the mics had static onstage, passing it off as someone passing gas. She is very charismatic onstage and will have a long career as a leading lady. My criticism of her performance, however, is that she didn't really bring anything new to the character. I still had Reese Witherspoon's Elle in the back of my head while I was watching. They talk about the musical being more complex and exploring the characters more stuff, but I feel like Bundy merely imitated the character. But then, is there any other way to play Elle Woods? I don't know if it was her choices or the nature of the show that I had a problem with.

The supporting characters were fun to watch as well. Christian Borle brought a freshness and confidence to his slightly-nerdy hearthrob leading man. His voice is pure and strong, and I enjoyed listening to him when he sang. Richard H. Blake was able to convey his asshole side very well with his character, although there wasn't much room in the script for him to develop his character and allow us to care about him for what he was. Michael Rupert was capable as the law school teacher who eventually underestimates Elle's power and intelligence, Nikki Snelson was sadly upstaged by her own abs as Brooke Wyndham, Kate Shindle captured the bitchiness of the competition (with some MAJOR chops! Whew, that girl could hit some notes!), and Andy Karl was hilarious (and sexy) as the UPS Delivery Man. Orfeh, who is nominated for a Tony for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, impressed me with her vocal abilities, stage prescence and comedic timing, but I didn't feel like she was very electric. There is usually a supporting actor who holds the ability to steal the focus from the lead and take the show, and if anyone did that, it was either Kate Shindle or the Delta Trio. Speaking of the Delta Trio, they were one of the best parts of the show. Acting as Elle's conscience, Dequina Moore, Leslie Kritzer and Annaleigh Ashford were so spot on and hilarious as the featured sorority girls. I couldn't stop laughing at their tiny nuances (definitely a perk for sittig so close up).

All in all this show gets a B from me. While I was not moved by its emotional depth or anything, I had fun and enjoyed the show for what it's worth: A bubble gum pop musical with outstanding talent all around, and plenty of $ to shell out.

Spring Awakening

ATTENTION: SPOILERS AHEAD

If I surrounded Altar Boyz with a ton of hype before I saw it, it paled in comparison to the hype that surrounds Spring Awakening. I was anticipating this show to be such a huge and amazing experience that I even tried going to the show a day before I was supposed to (my tickets were for Monday night, but I headed over there on Sunday night instead). I just couldn't wait to see this show...but I ended up having to, and on Monday, May 21, I finally saw the show I was so anxious to see.

The brilliance of this show begins with the writing...definitely not the original play (oh boy, I'll get to that later), but the creative team for this production were so creative in their execution, and it is unlike anything I have ever seen on Broadway. The combination of the classic dialogue, costumes, and characters, blended with a contemporary rock/folk score, lighting, set, and vocals creates a unique and rewarding theatrical experience all around.

Many people are calling this show "RENT for the new generation," which in itself is a bit disconcerting to me because I was part of the RENT generation and it makes me feel old, as well as scared that the message of "No Day But Today," is dwindling and soon be forgotten altogether. Indeed, the show has the same bare and powerful feel that RENT has, but its true message speaks to the universality of the sexual awakening in teenagers, as well as the growing rift between youth and their elders (while I believe RENT's messages are universal as well, I feel like Spring is touching on a new subject that people have been dealing with forever with the relationship between youth and their elders, teen sex and pregnancy, suicide, etc., and RENT's universal message were more cutting edge and new).

Duncan Sheik's score is rockin' from beginning to end, although it does falter a bit in the middle due to plot developments (more on that later, also). His contemporary orchestrations, powered by the accompaniment and vocals provides a throughline like nothing of its kind, and makes the entire theatrical experience highly effective.
The thing that truly makes this show worthwhile is the talent that spills their hearts out 8 times a week. Two of the actors, John Gallagher Jr. and Jonathan Groff, are nominated for Tony's, and they are well deserved. Gallagher provides a heartfelt, disturbing, commited, and surged performances as Moritz, the doomed yet blissfully naive adolescent. And Groff's portrayal of Melchior is strong, sexy, and electric (although he has a spitting problem. Sitting in the front row of the orchestra, the only thing I could think of when he crossed downstage was "Please don't let him start to sing."). Unfortunately for the third principal, Lea Michele, whose heart-breaking and passionate performance as Wendla, was overlooked for a Tony nomination. Unlike the rest of the cast, Michele has been with the show since its inception, through countless workshops, readings and productions (now 20, she has been with the show since 14). And it is safe to say that in any other year, she would definitely be in the running for a Best Actress nod, but unfortunately with the divas on the Great White Way this season, this newcomer (well, relatively new) didn't stand a chance.

Although I feel most of the supporting plotlines were vastly overlooked and overshadowed by Wendla, Moritz, and Melchior's tracks (again, more on that later), the supporting actors helped carry this show along until the final blackout. They all had great pop/rock voices, especially Skylar Astin. His song, "Touch Me" is among my favorite in the show, and his raw and solid performance started the chills that continued through the end of the show.

Surprisingly, one of my favorite staging moments was at the opening of the show. Wendla sings a ballad while standing on top of a chair and exploring her body. The other girls join her onstage for an uptempo version of the same song, and it was the first point in the show where I thought, "Ok, I'm on board with this." And in addition to "Mama Who Bore Me" and "Touch Me," Melchior's song "The Mirror-Blue Night," when he is hoisted up on a platform and does an interpretive dance while hovering above the stage while blue lights descend from the fly system was really awesome to watch (it sounds really awful and cheesy right now...guess you had to be there).

And there's nudity. And sex. Lots of sex. Very graphic sex. With boobs and butts in the air.

With all this great stuff going on, it may be shocking to learn that there were some major issues with this show. While I haven't read the play the musical is adapted from, I think it is safe to say that most of the issues I have are with the story itself, and not this musical production. The supporting characters begin to have character developments and their plots are touched on briefly. Then, with the events of the Act I finale into Act II, all other characters and plots are put on the back burner except for that of the three principal roles. And seriously, Wendla, how could you NOT figure out how to make babies?? The guy who boned you was even tutoring Moritz on the damn stuff! And further, the show seemed to be ending on a really uplifting, proactive point, with Melchior deciding to 'stick it to the man' and fight for his beliefs and the memory of Moritz and Wendla. My interest was all of a sudden peaked again (it was dwindling throughout the second act), and I thought something interesting was going to happen at the end. Instead, the lights go black, come up, and everyone sings about Purple Summer. What the fuck is purple summer anyway? And although I couldn't speak higher of Sheiks score, the sparce plot apparently calls for dreary ballads that, while beautifully sung with conviction by Michele, were there to further the plot and nothing more. So while the show took off like a rocket musically, It reached a peak in the middle of the first act, and went downhill until the finale, with a tiny bump in the middle with the exciting "Totally Fucked" (which is fun to listen to, but gains a new sense of appreciation and humor when put into context with the plot).

Overall I'd give this show a B+. I wish I could give it an A-, or even an A, but the plot just made it too hard to stay with the show through the end. The plot was sparce and predictable, and even Sheiks songwriting couldn't save my mind from wandering and my attention to go from the plot to the actors, costumes, set, band, etc.

Altar Boyz

Finally getting around to reviewing the shows I saw in NYC...Altar Boyz was first. I saw the 8PM performance on Saturday, May 19.

I knew a lot about this show going into it, but had never seen it before. I own the soundtrack, have seen videos, and have auditioned for the show before. So I already knew all about the premise and a lot of the jokes that were coming my way.

I think I set the bar too high for the production, because I was a bit disappointed by what I saw. I suppose I was going to enjoy great performances, and it's not that the performances weren't great, they just didn't impress me as much as I wanted them to.

I saw an understudy for Mark, who I think is the funniest character out of the bunch, and I didn't think he was that great. He was really good considering he understudies half of the roles in the show (and with the choreography and vocals it's not even an easy feat to understudy ONE role), but I think I would have enjoyed the show much better if I saw the actor who plays him on a regular basis.

The actors who played Juan and Abraham had seemingly just joined the production from the national tour, since there were inserts in the program saying "The role of [Juan/Abraham] will now be played by ___" and the program still had the old actors listed. They were good in their own right (although I found Juan to be particularly hoaky), but Abraham stood out above most of the cast. His role is kind of cast in the shadows throughout most of the show, but then he "saves the day" at the end of the show, and begins the finale. I was quite impressed with the quality of his voice, and I wondered where it was the rest of the show!

I didn't like the guy who played Luke at all. Even though the role is supposed to be kind of dumber than the rest, and he is the kid in the boyband that does the rapping and breakdancing, I was not impressed by his acting, singing, or dancing talent. I guess I should give them all more credit than I am, however, because I thought they sounded fine as a group, just not solo.

The saving grace of this performance was Matthew, played by Kyle Dean Massey. Not only was he drop dead gorgeous and didn't appear to have one ounce of fat on his body, he was the most talented dancer out of the bunch, and definitely the best singer (which was especially evident in "I Believe," the finale). His acting was a bit cheesy, but so was everyone else's, so I dismissed it as the nature of the material. And I will also say he was also the most flamboyant one of the group, which is funny because Mark's character is all about being very out there and flaming! I was surprised to see the small credits he has to his name...lots of regional ensemble and supporting stuff. I'm glad he finally gets the opportunity to strut his stuff in a leading role. I did read that he is joining the Wicked touring company in June, though, so hopefully he will have more to do than just ensemble work.

All in all, I give the show a B-/C+. The cast was completely competent, but were unable to provide the Wow Factor for me. But with all of this said, the show itself is brilliant, and a lot of fun. I would definitely be interested in seeing the show again sometime and seeing how it compares.

Nelly vs. Idina

Is it just me, or do Nelly Furtado and Idina Menzel look very much alike???

Which is which?

I think it's the cheekbones. And the jawline. And the hair. And the eyes.