This week saw some beginnings — the New York summer theater festival season,
Real Raging Bull Jake LaMotta going thespian to thespian with Mike Tyson — but too many endings: the deaths of actor Ernest Borgnine, playwright Jack Richardson, costume designer Marty Pakledinaz
Monday, July 2, 2012
Michael Eisner (former head of Disney) to Julie Taymor (former Disney director): How did Spider-Man go so bad when Lion King went so well?
Julie Taymor: I never wanted to bring it to Broadway; I wanted to create its own environment.
New in the Fall: The Writer’s Room, a collaboration between the Manhattan Theater Club and Ars Nova One of 2 new plays this Fall at The Studio at Stage II: Choir Boy by Tarell Alvin McCraney (author of The Brother/Sister Trilogy)
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Tale of actor love: Jeremy Kushnier and Jenny Lee Stern met on the road, married, performed on road. Now they get to live in NYC… Jeremy just ended his run in Jesus Christ Superstar; Jenny is just beginning at Forbidden Broadway.
Lucky to be in NY, 1: John Lloyd Young, the original Frankie Valli in Jerseys Boys returns to role July 3 (tonight)-Sept. 30.
Lucky to be in NY, 2: Stage adaptation of The Exorcist, starring Brooke Shields, begins tonight at Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles
The Off-Broadway production of Rent will close Sept 9, after playing 450 performances. (Rent on Broadway played 5,124 performance)
Wednesday, July 4
I watch the fireworks
Thursday, July 5
Jack Richardson, a playwright compared to Albee who stopped writing plays, helped turn Elaine’s into writers’ hangout, dead at 78.
15 Summer theater festivals in New York City
Patrick Page, who as the Green Goblin was a universally praised bright spot in @SpideyonBway, is leaving the musical August 5
Out of Porgy and Bess since June 20 by doctor’s orders for “vocal rest,” Audra McDonald returns tonight to the show.
Friday, July 6
Real Raging Bull Jake LaMotta, 91, is beating Mike Tyson to the stage, w/ Lady & The Champ July 19 -29,Shepard Theater 309 E 26th
“Supreme Court decision to uphold Affordable Care Act good news for all artists.”-Actors Fund head.
Sunday, July 8
Costume designer Martin Pakledinaz, 1953-2012
Anything Goes ends its run. Cast member Raymond Lee presents a farewell video.
This is a bookend to his viral hit, Anything Goes: What Makes You Beautiful, the entire cast and staff of Anything Goes lipsynching the One Direction pop hit.
It makes being in a Broadway show look like a lot of fun.
Follow Jonathan Mandell on Twitter at @NewYorkTheater
