There’s been so much promotion for Peter Pan that it feels as if we’ve seen it already — and of course, we have, starting back in December, 1904, with the first stage Peter Pan, performed by Nina Boucicault in the United Kingdom. Why a woman in the title role? As an article in Slate recently explained, English law prohibited the use of minors under 14 on stage after 9 p.m. The title character has been played on stage by women ever since — Maude Adams on Broadway in 1905, the first of seven Broadway productions of the play by J.M Barrie; Mary Martin in 1954, the first to star in the musical version on Broadway, which has seen five revivals, most famously with Sandy Duncan, most frequently with Cathy Rigby. TV versions have starred Martin and Mia Farrow. The latest is (if you haven’t heard) Allison Williams, live this Thursday, December 4 on NBC.
Meanwhile, there are other developments of interest to theater lovers. An actor popular in London with the delicious name of Tam Mutu is finally making his Broadway debut. (He and Cush Jumbo must star in something together.) And Sting is returning to the stage. As anyone who watched the Thanksgiving Day Parade would know, Broadway is hopping. (And if you missed the performances, catch a couple of videos of them below.)
The Week in New York Theater Nov 23-30
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Sting will join cast of his musical The Last Ship Dec 9-Jan 10, as shipyard foreman Jackie White. “I’d show my ass in Macy’s if it’ll help our show,”
Satiric able-bodied actor’s guide to playing a disabled character (e.g. Be adorable) by Heather Dockray.
“Able-bodied actors who play people with disabilities are popular for one reason: they elicit our sympathy without provoking our fear.”
Comedy troupe Blogologues led by Alli Goldberg and Jen Jamula perform the Internet (Tweeter,Tumblr), verbatim
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After its Sunday night performance, @ChicagoMusical is now the 2nd longest-running show in Broadway history.
The 3,000 pounds of confetti dumped on Times Square New Year’s Eve will be full of wishes collected on a Wishing Wall in the area.
Those who can’t visit Times Square Wishing Well to write wishes in person on confetti can do so online
Dylan Baker and Judith Ivey will join Helen Mirren in Peter Morgan’s The Audience, opening March 8.
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The Hook, an “On The Waterfront” type drama that Arthur Miller originally wrote as a film, will be staged in UK next year.
August Rush, 2007 Robin Williams film about musical prodigy, is aiming for Broadway, with book and lyrics by Glen Berger, best known for Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark.
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Some 80 percent of the people we use come from theater programs or have a theater background~The Good Wife casting director Mark Saks
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ICYMI: At #Macysparade, @OfficialSting sings "Show Some Respect" from @LastShipMusical http://t.co/Gfkt39FWt1
— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) November 27, 2014
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Sounds underhanded RT @stagegrade What happened to StageGrade
Greg Redlawsk criticizes Actor’s Equity campaign to bolster Broadway union tours. I disagree with his article.
@GRedlawsk Put the blame where it belongs. Not on the union, but on 1. market forces, and 2. greedy producers.
— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) November 29, 2014
@NewYorkTheater I think it's a bit of all three. I do also blame the union for in this case seeming to place the blame on non-union actors.
— GR (@GRedlawsk) November 29, 2014
@GRedlawsk They are trying to respond to century-old anti-union tactics, divide & conquer, Grapes of Wrath, stage division.
— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) November 29, 2014
@NewYorkTheater At the expense of non-union actors who, I think it's important to point out (as I do in the article) aren't scabs.
— GR (@GRedlawsk) November 29, 2014
@GRedlawsk If in its campaign the union could be clearer what it's fighting for (& against), so too could you in your article.
— New York Theater (@NewYorkTheater) November 29, 2014
Holiday Gifts for theater lovers A guide to theater tickets, theater subscriptions, play scripts, cast recordings and new and cherished books about the theater, as well as souvenirs intended as tangible reminders of an evanescent experience.
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Emma Stone in Cabaret
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Casting announced for Dr Zhivago (opening April 21)
Tam Mutu will make his Broadway debut as the passionate doctor and poet, Yurii Zhivago, in this tale of intertwined lovers in the final days of Czarist Russia. Mutu, who has starred in London in “Les Miserables” and “Love Never Dies,” was to make his Broadway debut in Rebecca, but we know how that turned out. Kelli Barrett, who was Nessarose in “Wicked,” will play Zhivago’s paramour, Lara.
New York Theater November 2014 Quiz
