Weekend Broadway.tv Classics

 

While in the grocery store checkout line, you may notice Cameron Diaz is on the cover of Vogue. In the cover story, Diaz talks at length about her green and environmental initiatives.  Speaking of green, we had the chance to speak to Diaz on the red carpet of Shrek the Musical this past winter. Diaz was there to support the cast on the opening night. Diaz told us that the entire cast is “…so accomplished and so talented.” We say the same about her.If you have the chance, pick up a copy of Vogue and read the full story on Diaz. In the mean time, check out the video above.

Video From Historic Visit

BROADWAY MAGAZINE –Last night, President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama attendend the Lincoln Center revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone by August Wilson. We have a bit of video to share. There are no pictures of President Obama, Michelle, nor the production (of course). We share this for those looking to experience a bit more of what this historic night was like from inside the theatre. Itwas an excellent performance, and an excitng night in Broadway history.

 Historic Broadway Visit

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – Very exciting to see President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle going to see a Broadway show. By seeing the revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, they couldn’t have picked a better show. We’re going to be there in the audience too tonight. If you follow BroadwayMagazin on Twitter, we’ll send a message or two before the show starts…and at intermission.

BROADWAY MAGAZINE: The upcoming arrival of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama at the Broadway revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone will no doubt inspire other leading politicians to attend shows on Broadway. Below is our list of some suggestions as to which current Broadway shows a particular politician might enjoy. Please join us and add to the list of recommendations, we’d love to have more…

Bill Clinton: The Norman Conquests

Nancy Pelosi: Mary Stuart

Newt Gingrich: Shrek The Musical

Ted Kennedy: The Lion King

Joe Biden: Rock of Ages

Dick Cheney: HAIR

George W. Bush: Exit The King

John McCain: Mamma Mia! of course

Hillary Clinton: 9 to 5 The Musical

Rahm Emanuel, Chief of Staff: Billy Elliot (Mr. Emanuel did train in ballet!)

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – A bounty of Broadway award booty is currently up for auction. Producer Jane Gaynor is currently selling a treasure trove of awards won by the musical Ain’t Misbehavin’. On the block are the Tony Award, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Award, plus quite a bit of other related material. There seems to be a trend here. Didn’t we just do this a little while back. What would Fats Waller say? Cash for your trash?!

Note: This is a stock photo of Tony Award used for this post. Ms. Gaynor’s Tony Award may not have blue sparkler’s shooting from it.

Broadway Arrival Of President Obama

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – The New York Times is reporting that President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama will be attending the 8 p.m. performance of August Wilson’s masterpiece Joe Turner’s Come and Gone tonight. The powerful revival has earned multiple Tony Award nominations, including one for Best Revival. From the article by Patrick Healy:

“The president and the first lady will be making a personal visit to New York tomorrow,” said Bill Burton, a spokesman for the president, who declined to elaborate on the schedule.

The Times cites three theatre insiders confirming that President Obama will be at the historic revival. Of course, we’ve talked about Presidential Broadway history and even featured President Obama’s Broadway connections in our Holiday Issue last December (read text here). We are excited to see that he is reportedly attending this landmark production. Good choice, Mr. President.

Broadway Magazine and Broadway.tv will be there to tell you about this historic performance. For our review from Mazall Sharp and Joe Turner’s Come and Gone Video, check out the show page. Also, check out Charles Isherwood’s reflection on the play from The New York Times.

 Conflict of Interest?

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – Producer Ken Davenport has been involved in recent Broadway hits like Speed-The-Plow, 13 The Musical, and Blithe Spirit. Now, he has founded an organization that will present theatre awards. Called “The Independent Theatre Bloggers Association” the group is meant to honor the best of all theatre by individuals who “see thousands of productions, and without being paid or prodded, they write about them.”

According to the release, Mr. Davenport founded the awards and organization “to provide structure to the quickly growing theatrical blogosphere.” Though it is too early to tell if he is able to tame the World Wild Web and you can’t fault the merits of the group’s winners (remember how the Drama Desk give “9 to 5″ 15 nominations?!), it seems as though there is a significant potential conflict of interest here.

What do you think?

Winners of the Ken Davenport Independent Theatre Bloggers Association Awards

BEST BROADWAY PLAY - Reasons To Be Pretty

BEST BROADWAY MUSICAL - Billy Elliot

BEST BROADWAY REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL - Hair

BEST BROADWAY REVIVAL OF A PLAY - The Norman Conquests

BEST OFF-BROADWAY MUSICAL - Fela!

BEST OFF-BROADWAY PLAY - Ruined

BEST OFF-BROADWAY REVIVAL (PLAY OR MUSICAL) - Our Town

BEST OFF-OFF BROADWAY PLAY - Universal Robots

BEST OFF-OFF BROADWAY UNIQUE THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE - Suspicious Package

 Dolly Parton’s Show Not Performing?

 BROADWAY MAGAZINE – The list of performances for the 2009 Tony Awards Broadcast have been announced, and it is a starry line-up. According to the release, the telecast will feature performances by each of the Tony-nominated Best Musicals and Best Musical Revivals, including: Billy Elliot, The Musical; Guys and Dolls; Hair; Next to Normal; Pal Joey; Rock of Ages; Shrek the Musical; and West Side Story.
Additionally, The Tony Awards will feature special performances from three touring shows – Jersey Boys, Legally Blonde The Musical and Mamma Mia!

These are great shows, but noticeably absent is Dolly Parton’s musical “9 to 5,” which is actually still playing, doing great box office, and is nominated for multiple Tony awards. For such a high profile show to be denied a prime broadcast performance spot on the Tony Awards is a curious thing. Last year’s Tony broadcast made room for Young Frankenstein, The Little Mermaid and A Catered Affair. While we don’t know why 9 to 5 is not on that list (perhaps they are performing somewhere else that night?!), it sure feels like a snub. Apparently, those looking to hear the rousing 9 to 5 chorus echoing in Radio City Musical Hall on June 7 will be sadly out of luck.

It seems to us that if you can find a place for the touring production of Legally Blonde, there ought to be a performance slot for 9 to 5. It’s enough to drive you crazy if you let it.

 Times Square Garden Party

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – About those Times Square beach chairs…UPI reports that people are rejecting them and that people are taking them. On Sunday, June 7, Broadway invites you to sit on them. As the rapid transformation of the old Times Square into the new Broadway Promenade continues, traditions are being born as traffic is dying. The latest entry is the simulcast of the Tony Awards live on the Clearchannel Spectacolor HD Screen in Times Square on Sunday, June 7th. Starting at 7:00 pm, fans can join up to 2,000 others in the new public space in Duffy Square to catch the entire ceremony…including the 1 hour pre-telecast of the Creative Arts Awards. Hosting the event will be Katie McGee from WCBS. Black tie optional…but please bring your trumpet!

WNBC Taxi Video Update

In this week’s Broadway.tv WNBC Taxi Entertainment video, our very own Andy Mansell asks people what they think of the traffic changes in Times Square. Times Square is called, the crossroads of the world and is the heart of the theatre district. Most people Andy spoke with say that the traffic changes will help Broadway ticket sales. That remains to be seen, but we can vouch that Times Square sure feels roomier!