CABARET: PERFECTLY MARVELOUS By Peter Filichia
Only ten days after it had opened, its original cast album was already in stores. Frankly, the first-ever pressing of CABARET would have arrived even earlier had the musical not opened on a Sunday. Back in the ‘60s, casts routinely recorded their albums on the first Sunday after opening. In those days, Sunday matinees were […]
A COMPLICATED WOMAN WHO LOVED GOLDEN AGE MUSICALS By Peter Filichia
Although the new musical trying out Goodspeed’s Norma Terris Theatre is called A COMPLICATED WOMAN, it could just as easily be titled A COMPLICATED MAN. That sounds complicated, too, doesn’t it? The explanation, though, is that the baby born to the Kenleys in 1906 had both male and female organs. Says Jeff Calhoun, who’s directing […]
ON THE TOWN’S SUBWAYS AND TURNSTILES By Peter Filichia
Does everybody get the joke in ON THE TOWN? That occurred to me last week at the uber-popular Ellen’s Stardust Diner. How popular? Pass by, and you’ll undoubtedly see a line longer than the ones once witnessed at FUNNY GIRL, FIDDLER and DOLLY combined. FUNNY GIRL comes to mind because Ellen’s, at Broadway and 51st […]
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 […]
