Monday, August 31, 2009

Can Mickey Save Spidey?


What a difference a month makes! Well, maybe.

At the beginning of August, the producers of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark announced a halt in production, due to a collapse in their financing structure. Tongues wagged - heck, they wagged when the show was announced and haven't really stopped - that this highly anticipated musical was on a fast track to dead-in-the-water.

With today's announcement that Disney was purchasing Marvel Comics for a whopping (though probably a bargain in the long run) $4 billion dollars, one has to wonder how long it will be before it is announced that not only is S-MTOTD back on track, but that Disney Theatricals would be on board. Of course, all of this is speculation on my part, but tickets go on sale to the general public on September 12. I bet we hear something before then.

Tongues will wag even more if this actually turns out to be the case. A lot of people are watching this one like a hawk. From the artistic side, it would be the great Julie Taymor's return to the stage since Disney's The Lion King (we'll forget her actual last effort, The Green Bird, a fast flop), and let's face it, if anyone can make Spider-Man work it would be her. Plus, the Rialto is looking for its next pop sensation-turned-Broadway-composer in U2's Bono and The Edge. Will their unique sound translate to Broadway gold? Will they join Sir Elton John in the winner column, or will they go the way of Paul Simon, last heard from with the flop, The Capeman? And on the business side let's not forget, that if the Mouse House joins this web of intrigue, it will come with built-in haters who are dancing down 46th street as we speak rejoicing in the (apparently premature considering the recent box office) demise of Disney's The Little Mermaid, which follows in the footsteps of another high flyer, Tarzan in the loser column for Disney.

I never understood the hate for Disney on Broadway, but that is another column...

For now, let's see how things play out for poor Peter Parker and Mary Jane. Personally, I hope it is a huge blockbuster that gets tons of teenage boys into a theatre for the first time, who end up loving it and become lifelong playgoers. With or without Disney, that would be real magic.


What do you think? Yes or no to Spider-Man? Leave a comment!

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Welcome to JK's Theatre Scene

I am totally new to this blogging thing, so please bear with me as I figure it out. And PLEASE, feel free to offer suggestions, give input, and of course, share your opinions! (I'm not even sure how you found this, LOL!)

Anyway, I know there are tons of Broadway sites, and I am probably going to end up being a lot like everyone else, at least at first. But I wanted to create a place where I could talk about my passion - theatre. Sure I like to dish and talk poo about this one or that one's performance, but I'd rather create a forum for informed theatre-goers to talk about that kind of thing. What I don't want is an endless debate over who is better Idina or Kristen, or why so-and-so wouldn't give autographs. I'm looking to discuss the points of similarity/difference between say, Alice Ripley's performance in next to normal, versus that of her understudy, and that kind of thing. I suppose that if you think you really know theater because you've seen Wicked fifteen times or because you are BFF's with Laura Bell Bundy, this probably won't be your kind of blog to read or participate in. (For the record, I've seen Wicked several times, and enjoy it. And my BFF is NOT Laura Bell Bundy, though I enjoy her very much.)

Even more, I wanted a place to celebrate it and have fun, too. Almost like the evil twin side of the theatre blog scene. I'm a gay guy - shocking, right? So it would be fun to talk about the hot guys (and occasional girl or two) that are on the boards anywhere in the USA. Sharing pictures and enjoying the "scenery," but also talking about their talent and stage presence. It would also be fun, I think, to talk about stuff like the CDs from shows, favorite memorabilia, stage door stories, etc.

So, if this sounds like it might be your cup of java, please stop by again and SHARE!

This feels like the first preview performance of In My Life - exciting and very weird!


Yours,

Jeff

P.S.: Be sure to answer this month's poll, below!

Saturday, August 1, 2009

HOT/HOTTER: THE POLLS: From the Beginning



The Broadway Boys Tournament is on!  Just like March Madness, different Broadway Boys will go head-to-head until we narrow it down to the hottest Broadway Boy of them all!  But we are not looking for the prettiest pretty boy!  We are looking for the guy who has a unique mix of talent and looks!

THE "FINAL FOUR"


KYLE COFFMAN                           HUNTER PARRISH

ALAN RICKMAN                             BOBBY STEGGERT



THE SEMI-FINALS: DOWN TO "THE ELITE 8"

ROUND 1:  Ryan Breslin vs Teddy Toye
                     Darren Criss vs Hunter Parrish

WINNERS:                         Ryan Breslin                           Hunter Parrish

ROUND 2:  Michael Esper vs Van Hughes
                     Raul Esparza vs Alan Rickman
                     
WINNERS:                         Michael Esper                          Alan Rickman


ROUND 3:  Mark Aldrich vs Matthew Risch
                     Adam Chanler-Berat vs Bobby Steggert




WINNERS:                        Mark Aldrich                          Bobby Steggert


ROUND 4:  Corey Boardman vs Matthew James Thomas
                     Kyle Coffman vs Rory O'Malley




WINNERS:       MATTHEW JAMES THOMAS         KYLE COFFMAN


THE ROAD TO "THE SWEET 16"

ROUND 1: Who is the HOTTEST "Jesus of Suburbia"?   John Gallagher, Jr. vs Van Hughes


Van Hughes vs John Gallagher, Jr.
Your Winner!
Van moves on to the next round!


Average Rating:
  • John Gallagher, Jr.: 7.92
  • Van Hughes: 8.02
Poll closed: February 3

ROUND 2:  Who is the HOTTEST "geeky" guy?  Nick Blaemire vs Adam Chanler-Berat

Adam Chanler-Berat vs Nick Blaemire
Your winner!
Adam goes on to the next round!

Average Rating:
  • Nick Blaemire: 7.32
  • Adam Chanler-Berat: 8.11
Poll Closed: February 10

ROUND 3: Who is the hottest Broadway Mormon?  Rory O'Malley vs Andrew Rannells


Rory O'Malley vs Andrew Rannells

Your Winner!
Rory goes on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Rory O'Malley: 8.08
  • Andrew Rannells: 7.85
Poll Closed: February 17

ROUND 4: Who is Broadway's HOTTEST sensitive cutie?  Bobby Steggert vs. David Turner

Bobby Steggert vs David Turner

Your Winner!
Bobby goes on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Bobby Steggert: 8.42
  • David Turner: 5.42
Poll Closed: February 24


ROUND 5: Who is Broadway's HOTTEST Finch? Darren Criss vs Nick Jonas vs Daniel Radcliffe

Nick Jonas vs Darren Criss vs Daniel Radcliffe


Your winner!
Darren Criss goes on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Darren Criss: 8.81
  • Nick Jonas: 6.84
  • Daniel Radcliffe: 7.03
Poll Closed: March 2




ROUND 6: Who is the hottest "Lyssie J" boy?  Teddy Toye vs Alex Wyse


Teddy Toye vs
Alex Wyse

Your winner!
Teddy Toye goes on to the next round!


Average Rating:
  • Teddy Toye: 8.19
  • Alex Wyse: 7.29
Poll Closed: March 9


Round 7: Who is the hottest "Leading Man"?  Raul Esparza vs Marc Kudisch

Raul Esparza vs Marc Kudisch

Your winner!
Raul Esparza goes on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Raul Esparza: 9.16
  • Marc Kudisch: 5.63
Poll Closed: March 16


Round 8: Who is the hottest "Spider-Man"?  
Reeve Carney vs Andrew Garfield vs Matthew James Thomas

Reeve Carney vs Andrew Carney vs Matthew James Thomas
Your Winner!
Matthew James Thomas moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Reeve Carney: 6.95
  • Andrew Garfield: 7.3
  • Matthew James Thomas: 8.29
Poll Closed: March 23




Round 9: Who is the hottest "CARRIE Cutie"?  Corey Boardman vs Andy Mientus

Corey Boardman vs Andy Mientus 
Your Winner!
Corey Boardman moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Corey Boardman: 9.05
  • Andy Mientus: 8.74
Poll closed:March 30


Round 10: Who is the hottest brooding Broadway boy?  Andrew Durand vs Michael Esper

Andrew Durand vs Michael Esper

Your winner!
Michael Esper moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Andrew Durand: 7.18
  • Michael Esper: 8.0
Poll closed: April 6




Round 11: Who is Broadway's hottest Replacement/Original (I)?  Corbin Bleu vs Hunter Parrish


Corbin Bleu vs Hunter Parrish

Your winner!
Hunter Parrish moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Corbin Bleu: 6.3
  • Hunter Parrish: 9.14
Poll closed: April 13


ROUND 12: Who is Broadway's Hottest "Silver Fox"?  Victor Garber vs Alan Rickman


Victor Garber vs Alan Rickman
Your Winner!
Alan Rickman moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Victor Garber: 5.15
  • Alan Rickman: 9.33
Poll closed: April 20


ROUND 13: Who is Broadway's hottest Original/Replacement, Part 2?  Thomas Sadoski, Justin Kirk, Matthew Risch

Thomas Sadoski vs Justin Kirk vs Matthew Risch

Your winner!
Matthew Risch moves on to the next round!

Average Rating:

  • Thomas Sadoski: 6.45
  • Justin Kirk: 7.91
  • Matthew Risch: 8.45
Poll Closed: April 27


Round 14: Who is Broadway's HOTTEST "Newsie"? (Part 1) Aaron vs Mark vs Ryan vs Thayne

Aaron J. Albano, Mark Aldrich, Ryan Steele, Thayne Jasperson
Your winner!  Mark Aldrich
moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:

  • Aaron J. Albano: 2.96
  • Mark Aldrich: 8.42
  • Ryan Steele: 5.60
  • Thayne Jasperson: 5.12
Poll Closed: May 4




Round 15: Who is Broadway's HOTTEST "Newsie"? (Part 2) Tommy vs Kyle vs Jess vs Ephraim


Tommy Bracco vs Kyle Coffman vs Jess LeProtto vs Ephraim Sykes

Your winner!  Kyle Coffman
moves on to the next round!
Average Rating:
  • Tommy Bracco: 6.71
  • Kyle Coffman: 7.94
  • Jess Le Protto: 7.0
  • Ephraim Sykes: 6.59

Poll closed: May 11


Round 16:  Who is Broadway's HOTTEST "Newsie"? (Part 3) Ryan vs Garett vs Evan vs Andy

Ryan Breslin vs Garett Hawe vs Evan Kasprzak vs Andy Richardson

Your winner!  Ryan Breslin
goes on to the next round
Average Rating:

  • Ryan Breslin: 7.81
  • Garett Hawe: 7.50
  • Evan Kasprzak: 7.43
  • Andy Richardson: 7.79



Poll Closed: May 18
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