Bits and Pieces for 08.08.10

SORRY FOR THE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH THE ORIGINAL POST OF THIS BLOG...

BE SURE TO VOTE ON THE CURRENT POLL!  IT ENDS ON SATURDAY!

 

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED THIS WEEK!

 

• July Poll: All American
• Best of the Decade: Best New Musical #3
• Trends of the Decade: The Internet Takes Over Broadway
• Best of the Decade: Best Revivals of Musicals, Part I
• Broadway Drinking Game: Belly Up to the Bar
• Fall Preview: The Scottsboro Boys and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson

 

COMING SOON

 

Another show has thrown its hat into the ring for the 2010-2011 season.  Frank Wildhorn's musical Wonderland: A New Alice. A New Musical Adventure will begin previews March 21, 2011, and will officially open on Broadway April 17, 2011.

 

Wonderland features a book by Gregory Boyd and Jack Murphy, lyrics by Murphy and music by Wildhorn. Marguerite Derricks is the choreographer, and will be directed by Boyd.

 

I hope he has better luck this time than his last show, The Civil War.  Read my initial thoughts on this show here.  At least here are some potentially large female musical roles.

 

CASTING NEWS

 

As the new seasons on stage, screen and TV get ready to start, casting news is coming in fast and furious.

From Gypsy to the Verge:

LuPone and Benanti reunite!

 

• Laura Benanti (Gypsy) has joined the aleady stellar cast of Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
• Boyd Gaines (Gypsy) has joined the starry revival of Driving Miss Daisy
• Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde) has been cast in CBS's How I Met Your Mother.
• Carol Burnett (Moon Over Buffalo) has joined the cast of Glee.  Idina, Cheyenne, Kristin and Jonathan are all confirmed to return, too.
• Robert McClure (Avenue Q) is the lead role in La Jolla Playhouse's world-premiere production of the musical Limelight: The Story of Charlie Chaplin.  The cast includes Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Jenn Colella (High Fidelity) , Eddie Korbich (The Little Mermaid), Ron Orbach (1776) and William Youmans (Grand Hotel).  The show has music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and a book by Curtis and Thomas Meehan (Annie, Hairspray).
• Joey Taranto, who made his Broadway debut in Rock of Ages, will succeed Constantine Maroulis and Mitchell Jarvis will also play his final performance as Lonny on Sept. 5. Starting Sept. 13, he will take over the role of Stacee Jaxx from James Carpinello, and he role of Lonny will be played by Jay Klaitz (Lend Me a Tenor).

 

COMING UP THIS WEEK:

• Best of the Decade: The Best Musical Revivals, Part II
• Best of the Decade: The Best New Musicals #2
• REVIEW: The New Cast of next to normal
• Virginia's Signature Theatre
• REVIEW: Signature Theatre's Chess

 

Happy Birthday to ...

08/01: Ashley Parker Angel (Hairspray)
08/02: Mary Louise Parker (Proof)
08/03: Martin Sheen (The Crucible)
08/04: Pamela Burrell (The Scarlet Pimpernel)
08/05: Jonathan Silverman (Broadway Bound)
08/06: Lucille Ball (Wildcat)
08/07: John Glover (The Drowsy Chaperone)