Tony Timing Is Everything By Peter Filichia
In the last week, you’ve probably heard two words over and over. “Robbed” and “snubbed.” Yes, it happens every spring once fans hear the nominations for New York theater awards. The Tonys, Drama Desks, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World Awards all get many stage enthusiasts outraged when their favorites get few if any nominations. […]
One Night Only at the Mark Hellinger By Peter Filichia
Forty years ago this week, a revival of a smash-hit with a Tony-winning score opened. It boasted a Tony-winning actress and an Oscar-nominated star who was repeating his role on stage. And yet, OLIVER! closed after 17 performances. Who would have expected that Ron Moody, the stage and film Fagin, and Patti LuPone, inheriting the […]
SPRINGTIME FOR HIT SHOWS IN GERMANY (AND SOUTH KOREA) By Peter Filichia
Although FINIAN’S RAINBOW asks, “How are things in Glocca Morra,” let’s instead enquire, “How are things in Germany and South Korea? Where Broadway musicals are concerned, David Savran assures us that things are quite well in these two very disparate countries. Savran’s new book from Oxford University Press is called TELL IT TO THE WORLD: […]
THE OTHER DO RE MI By Peter Filichia
And speaking of Comden and Green – which I did last Tuesday – J2 Spotlight Productions will present their 1960 musical DO RE MI this week and next. Make no mistake: DO RE MI has nothing to do with THE SOUND OF MUSIC – although the sound of Jule Styne’s music complements Comden and Green’s […]
BETTY AND ADOLPH REDUX By Peter Filichia
Here’s a different slant on “There are no small parts – just small actors.” Mallory Portnoy and Nick Blaemire were lucky and talented enough to land the roles of Betty Comden and Adolph Green in one of 2023’s most acclaimed films: MAESTRO. There’s a tiny, tiny moment in the film where Comden and Green entertain, […]
