Broadway Things That Make Me Happy March Edition

Here's a few things in the TheatreScene that make me really happy!

Tony-winner Turns Billboard Top 10 Artist
She was the surprise story at the Oscars (Thank you, John Travolta!).  She's (finally) back on Broadway headlining a BRAND NEW MUSICAL (See below)!  And now, Maureen Elphaba Adele Idina Menzel has become the first Best Actress in a Musical Tony winner to score a Top 10 hit in Billboard magazine.  Of course, that's old news.  But it makes me so happy that that hit song is a Broadway-style belty number, sung in the "Broadway" style, and still made the Top 10!  Score one for Team Broadway!

Tyne Daly is BACK!
As a kid, I loved Tyne Daly in Cagney and Lacey.  Even then, I knew she was a great actress.  Then I saw her on Broadway in Gypsy, and I loved her even more!  (Her performance remains among the top 10 I've ever seen.)  And, though I haven't seen her (yet) in her return to Broadway, Mothers and Sons, I am so thrilled to hear that she's (yet again) getting rave reviews!

Record-setting Event for BCEFA
Way to go, Broadway Backwards for setting a new record in funds generated - a tidy $423,182 - for Broadway Cares and The LGBT Community Center!  This is one event I have get to some year.  It kills me that I missed the legendary Patricia Morison, who at age 99, can still work a crowd.  And I would have loved to see Michael Berresse and Tony Yazbeck doing "Hot Honey Rag/Nowadays."  Plus, I'd walk through hot lava to see Andrew Keenan-Bolger do anything...

And Finally... A Flashback
Every time I see the new tagline for The Lion King, I smile. Felines really must have 9 lives.  Well, at least 2.  The current tagline sure resembles that other kitty show's tagline.  Makes sense... same company does/did the advertising for both!  History repeats itself.

Jeff
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Broadway Bares: Winter Burlesque Heats Up Frigid January (NSFW)

So, it was freaking cold in New York City last Sunday.  But it was steaming hot at the XL Club, not once but twice, that freezing night.  The cause?  Broadway Bares: Winter Burlesque "Calendar Girls" kicked off the 24th season of Bares events, and the result was $32,781 for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fight AIDS campaign.  This is, as my regular readers know, my favorite charity, and I love to promote their great deeds!

Christopher Sieber hosted the event, which featured 25 Broadway guys and gals in strips themed for each month.  Here, in pictures by K.T. Garcia and Dan Roberts is a very sexy 2014 calendar for your viewing pleasure.  I don't know about you, but I can't wait for November!

REMEMBER: This may be NSFW! Click the pics to make them, um... larger...

The Perfect Calendar Cover

January: What polar vortex?

February: Who needs chocolate?

March: I guess all leprechauns aren't small...

April/May: No wonder spring is so... wet!

It's true! June is bustin' out all over!

July: The perfect case for wearing
less in the heat...

August: Hot month, hot 3-some!

September: Back to school!  Teach me!

October: I'll trick or treat with
Daniel Robinson anytime!

November: So much to be thankful for...

December: Where were these guys when I saw Elf?

For more information and to get tickets for Broadway Bares 24 this spring, go to BroadwayBares.com or BroadwayCares.org.

Jeff
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Broadway Cares Ornament Puzzles #1

Happy Holidays, Theatre Lovers!

Since we are all busy - especially on the weekends - during the holiday season, I thought I'd give you some fun puzzles to do AND a great shopping idea at the same time!  Maybe you've seen these really amazing blown glass ornaments depicting 4 of Broadway's greatest actresses in their signature roles.  Broadway Cares' Online Store sells them HERE.  (Click on "Holiday," then click on "Holiday Ornaments.")  It's a great gift AND a great cause!

This week, my two favorite gals, Angela Lansbury as Mame, and Gwen Verdon as Sweet Charity.  Enjoy!

Angela Lansbury (48 pieces)

Gwen Verdon (90 pieces)

Before you go... (Click the blue links!)
Check out these reviews: 

• The Mystery of Edwin Drood
• A Christmas Story
• Scandalous

Check out these Broadway Babies:

• A Christmas Story's Erin Dilly (Ms. November)
• The Mystery of Edwin Drood's Will Chase (Mr. November) 
• Eric Sciotto (JKTS Chat) 
• Spencer Plachy (Face of the Future)

And DON'T FORGET!  Vote in this week's HOT or NOT: A Christmas Story Edition!  Click the show logo in the upper left corner of this blog, and be sure to complete BOTH parts of the survey!

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Jeff

I Love Broadway

You don't see sand bags in Times Square very often...

 A couple of months ago, I let my cynical side rule my thoughts - and this blog - when I had to admit that I was sick of Broadway.  I found that misery loves company, as several of you wrote in and Tweeted similar sentiments.

But leave it to a natural disaster to help you gain some perspective.  "Super Storm Sandy" rolled through leaving a path of death and destruction.  The very least of it was having a few performances cancelled on and off-Broadway.  And as it has over and over again, the New York theatre community has rallied for the latest cause, using their considerable talents to lift spirits, raise money and awareness.

Broadway actor Jacob Brent (Cats) took to Facebook (word spread all over the Internet) and got a group of performers together to sing show tunes in Times Square for all of the stranded tourists.  Annie's Lilla Crawford led a sing along to "Tomorrow," Broadway's signature song of optimism.  And the event collected donations for the Red Cross.  A win-win.

Jacob Brent (left)

Lilla Crawford (right, in pink)

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS donated a quarter of a million dollars to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, including setting aside a portion of the proceeds from the current fundraising drive (for the Gypsy of the Year competition), as well as money for the Actors Fund, The Community FoodBank of New Jersey, AmeriCares, and The Red Cross.  For more details, click HERE.

And the cast of Wicked and Evita's Max Von Essen used this week's #SIP to promote, respectively, a clothing drive and donating via text to the Red Cross.  A lot of shows that were able start back up offered huge discounts and even free performances for stranded tourists and native New Yorkers alike.

Leave it to theater people.  I love Broadway.

To contribute to relief efforts through The American Red Cross, click HERE.

Before you go...

...have you VOTED in this month's THEATRE POLL?  It is in the left column!
...have you VOTED in this week's HOT or NOT?  It's DROOD, PART 2: THE PRINCIPALS!  CLICK the show logo in the upper left column!
...have you ENTERED to WIN tickets and the OBCR to NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT?  CLICK that show's logo in the left column to enter by Wednesday, November 7!

...have you checked this week's INTERVIEW with CHAPLIN's WAYNE ALAN WILCOX?  He's a pretty amazing guy!  CLICK his picture in the right hand column to find out more!

Jeff

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Comments? Questions? @jkstheatrescene (Twitter); jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com (Email); or leave a comment below and check a box!

Broadway Bares 21: Masterpiece: Record-Setting Fun

WARNING!  SOME PICTURES ARE NOT WORK SAFE!

Congratulations to producer/creator Jerry Mitchell, director Josh Rhodes and everyone involved onstage and behind the scenes at Broadway Bares XXI: Masterpiece.  After pre-show fundraising, dozens of strip-a-thon pledge drives, and two sexy, action-packed performances, this artful event raised a record-setting $1,103,072 for the benefit of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.  The event which combined burlesque, striptease and the world of fine painting and sculpture, beat last year's record by over $87K! 

Here are some pictures and videos of the event:

The Broadway Cares "Preview" Video



CELEBRITY HOSTS AND GUESTS:

Baby, It's Beth Leavel!

David Hyde Pierce enjoying the, um, art!

Patina's other "act"!

BCEFA Supporter and Tony-nominee Judith Light

with founder Jerry Mitchell and a MAC spokesman.

MAC donated $200,000.00!

The Normal Heart's Jim Parsons and

The Book of Mormon's Rory O'Malley

BACKSTAGE WITH THE DANCERS

AND NOW, THE ART!

American Gothic Comes to Life!



Washington Crossing the Delaware

Featuring Joshua Buscher as the Father of Our Country.

Oh, Daddy!

AND MORE MASTERPIECES!

A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

The Last Supper

Photo by Chris Fore

Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!
Jeff
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