BuzzSugar

Jan Brady Doles Out Retro Dating Advice in Off-Broadway Play

Colleen Barrett — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 14:15:25 PDT

There's nothing like retro dating advice to make us thankful our dilemma du jour is when to Facebook-friend a love interest. Old-school advice is politically incorrect, generally inappropriate, and at times totally useful.

Combine it with actress Eve Plumb, otherwise known as my favorite Brady progeny, Jan, and you have a just about perfect off-Broadway play: Miss Abigail's Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage.

The play is based off the same-titled book, written by advice columnist Abigail Grotke (not Dear Abby). She muddled through 1,000 relationship advice books from 1822 to 1978 to highlight the decent, the bad, and the worst romance, etiquette, and charm advice through the years. And now it's all hilariously packaged into this 90-minute play opening Thursday in New York.

Stay tuned, I'm going to go dig up some of this priceless advice and old-school us all!

Are You More Interested in Theater If a Big Name Is Involved?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:30:08 PDT

Theater casting makes big news when a high-profile actor is involved, such as today's news that Keira Knightley is set to make her debut on London's West End in the play Misanthrope.

I'm well aware that Broadway and the West End don't need movie stars to boost the caliber of talent in their productions, but people do seem to sit up and take notice when a movie star decides to take an onstage role. Remember when Katie Holmes boosted the notoriety of Broadway's All My Sons?

When I'm buying tickets, I usually choose based on the title rather than the name attached, but every now and then I can't help myself (like when Sarah Jessica Parker hit Broadway in Once Upon a Mattress). What about you?

Race Debate: White Director Revives August Wilson Play

TresSugar — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:10:00 PDT

Playwright August Wilson insisted that his plays about the black experience always be directed by an African American. But a white man is now directing the first Broadway revival of Wilson's plays since his death in 2005. Many black directors are concerned, if not outraged.

The Lincoln Center Theater selected Tony-award winning director Bartlett Sher to direct Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone," a decision that some say betrays Wilson's legacy.

The playwright's preference for black directors came from a belief that they best understood the African American experience and thus his characters. He also wanted his plays to offer high-profile opportunities for black directors often shut off from major projects. Despite these concerns, Wilson's widow did approve of Sher's selection.

Whether or not the Lincoln Center made the right decision, the controversy has started a dialogue about opportunities for black professionals in the theater and film worlds. Do you think Wislon's wishes should still be honored after his death, or is it refreshing to see people of any color interpreting his stories?

Source

Open House: Your Thoughts on Home Theaters

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 03:30:00 PST

Home theaters have almost become a requisite for Americans building mega-McMansions, and they're quite common in the homes of the Hollywood elite. Personally, I just find them excessive. And since going to the theater is one of my favorite pastimes, I'd never give up popcorn and Slurpees in favor of a leather La-Z-Boy, even if ticket prices are well above $10 these days. Woody Allen, on the other hand, favors the home theater. When recently asked by New York magazine if he still goes to the movies, he said, "I don’t, because I have this [gesturing to the screening room], and so it’s much easier for me to call up and say, 'Can I get a print of The Women sent over here?' and I can just come in here with a couple of friends on a Saturday night and see it." What are your thoughts? Would you have a home theater built if you could afford to?
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Announcing the Winners: The 2008 Tony Awards

BuzzSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:55:12 PDT

It was Broadway's turn in the spotlight on Sunday as the 2008 Tony Awards took over Radio City Music Hall. Whoopi Goldberg - in her Christian Siriano-designed dress! - presided over the ceremony, which saw In the Heights take home the award for Best Musical and August: Osage County named Best Play. To see a full list of the night's winners, just

read more. BEST MUSICAL In the Heights BEST PLAY August: Osage County BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL South Pacific BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY Boeing-Boeing BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL Passing Strange, Stew BEST ORIGINAL SCORE (MUSIC AND/OR LYRICS) WRITTEN FOR THE THEATER In the Heights, Music & Lyrics: Lin-Manuel Miranda BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY Mark Rylance, Boeing-Boeing BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY Deanna Dunagan, August: Osage County BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL Paulo Szot, South Pacific BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Patti LuPone, Gypsy BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY Jim Norton, The Seafarer BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY Rondi Reed, August: Osage County BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL Boyd Gaines, Gypsy BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL Laura Benanti, Gypsy BEST DIRECTION OF A PLAY Anna D. Shapiro, August: Osage County BEST DIRECTION OF A MUSICAL Bartlett Sher, South Pacific BEST CHOREOGRAPHY Andy Blankenbuehler, In the Heights BEST ORCHESTRATIONS Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman, In the Heights BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A PLAY Todd Rosenthal, August: Osage County BEST SCENIC DESIGN OF A MUSICAL Micheal Yeargan, South Pacific BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A PLAY Katrina Lindsay, Les Liaisons Dangereuses BEST COSTUME DESIGN OF A MUSICAL Catherine Zuber, South Pacific BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A PLAY Kevin Adams, The 39 Steps BEST LIGHTING DESIGN OF A MUSICAL Donald Holder, South Pacific BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A PLAY Mic Pool, The 39 Steps BEST SOUND DESIGN OF A MUSICAL Scott Lehrer, South Pacific SPECIAL TONY AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT IN THE THEATER Stephen Sondheim REGIONAL THEATER TONY AWARD Chicago Shakespeare Theater SPECIAL TONY AWARD Robert Russell Bennett Source

You Asked: Should I Follow My Dreams?

DearSugar — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 06:00:00 PDT

Dear Sugar--

Ok ok, I know this is a pretty broad question, but I'm a 29 year old female (and I'm not getting any younger) who lives in Boston and has an office job. Needless to say... I hate it! I know I should be grateful for what I have and I definitely am, but I'm way too creative and passionate for this!!! I also don't have a degree either so it makes it even harder to search for a good job.

However I've always wanted to get into acting, I absolutely love it... I love the movies, I love the way they make me laugh and cry, especially because the actresses are truly amazing. I know this sounds crazy but I feel like given the right opportunity I'd be the right person for the job! (given the right job, ha) I know crazy right? But I wake up every morning and think about it. I watch commercials and movies and reenact them, and I feel this strange feeling in my heart and soul when I just think about the possibility of having a career that I love. I by no means want to be a Hollywood "starlet." I just want to contribute something and get something back in return. Am I wishing on a falling star? Could this really happen?

--The Girl Who's Asking For Too Much?

To see DEARSUGAR's answer

read more Dear The Girl Who's Asking For Too Much?-- You are a lucky girl and do you know why? You actually know what your dream is. You know what you want to do with your life. You know what will make you happy. Here's the thing - you don't want to wake up tomorrow, quit your job and run down the street screaming "I'm an actress!" Not yet anyway. Keep plugging away at your boring job (that pays the bills), and find ways outside of work to channel that creative energy. Local playhouses are always having try-outs for shows and 1-act plays, so give it a try. Get your feet wet in the theater river so you can see if you really like acting after all. If you do, you can sign up for acting classes and who knows, maybe you'll get discovered!! On the flip side, you may realize that you wouldn't want to do it ALL the time after all, but that a few hours a week may satiate your passion. I think it's awesome that you want a job that makes you happy. E. Jean said it best, "go work somewhere you will LURVE working". Money isn't everything, so if I were you, I'd follow your dreams. Source

Madonna Meets Blondie in Musical Version of Desperately Seeking Susan

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:29:34 PDT

I used to have a theory that girls who grew up in the '80s identified with either the punk style of Blondie's Debbie Harry or the slick sexiness of Madonna. Now, the two are colliding in an intriguing way: Madonna's 1985 comedy Desperately Seeking Susan is being made into a musical featuring the songs of Blondie. The project is set to premiere this fall in London.

No, Madonna won't be a part of it (an actress named Emma Williams will play the role of Susan, while Kelly Price will take on Rosanna Arquette's character, Roberta) - but Debbie Harry will be all over it. According to Playbill, "One Way or Another" and "The Tide is High" will be among the Blondie songs woven into the show, and Harry is writing a new song for the production.

Until I reread the plot summary, I didn't realize Roberta's last name was Glass - so I guess that explains how "Heart of Glass" will fit in. In case you've forgotten how the movie goes, here's Playbill's summary:

Roberta Glass, a suburban New Jersey housewife, escapes her humdrum life by reading the personal ads placed by Susan, a street-smart New York City drifter, and her freewheeling boyfriend Jay. Through a quirky twist of fate, Roberta and Susan unexpectedly swap lives and are plunged into a madcap world of jewel heists, magic shows and rock 'n' roll.

A musical theater version of this story certainly has the potential to be awful, but it's such a weird concept that I think it could turn out awesome. What do you think?

Desperately Seeking Susan photo Source
Debbie Harry photo Source

"The Coast of Utopia" Makes History at 61st Tony Awards

BuzzSugar — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:16:30 PDT

With the series finale of "The Sopranos" on everyone's minds, last night's Tony Awards were a little bit overshadowed. That being said, the 61st Annual Tony Awards brought out some big names in NYC last night to celebrate all that is wonderful on Broadway. I myself was too wrapped up in the HBO Tony to catch most of the show, but I'm certain there was plenty of singing, dancing, sequins and fabulousness to go around. For the musicals "Spring Awakening" took home most of the awards, while Tom Stoppard's "The Coast of Utopia" set the record for Tony Awards won by a play in their history. Want to see who else won? Just

read more Best Play "The Coast of Utopia" Author: Tom Stoppard Best Musical "Spring Awakening" Best Book of a Musical "Spring Awakening" Steven Sater Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre Spring Awakening Music: Duncan Sheik Lyrics: Steven Sater Best Revival of a Play "Journey's End" Best Revival of a Musical "Company" Best Special Theatrical Event Jay Johnson: The Two and Only Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play Frank Langella "Frost/Nixon" Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Play Julie White "The Little Dog Laughed" Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical David Hyde Pierce "Curtains" Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical Christine Ebersole "Grey Gardens" Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play Billy Crudup "The Coast of Utopia" Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play Jennifer Ehle "The Coast of Utopia" Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical John Gallagher, Jr. "Spring Awakening" Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical Mary Louise Wilson "Grey Gardens" Best Direction of a Play Jack O'Brien "The Coast of Utopia" Best Direction of a Musical Michael Mayer "Spring Awakening" Best Choreography Bill T. Jones "Spring Awakening" Best Orchestrations Duncan Sheik "Spring Awakening" Best Scenic Design of a Play Bob Crowley & Scott Pask "The Coast of Utopia" Best Scenic Design of a Musical Bob Crowley "Mary Poppins" Best Costume Design of a Play Catherine Zuber "The Coast of Utopia" Best Costume Design of a Musical William Ivey Long "Grey Gardens" Best Lighting Design of a Play Brian MacDevitt, Kenneth Posner, and Natasha Katz "The Coast of Utopia" Best Lighting Design of a Musical Kevin Adams "Spring Awakening" Regional Theatre Tony Award Alliance Theatre, Atlanta, GA Winner Source

Modern Dance at the Oscars!!! Pilobolus Moves

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 14:12:17 PST

Did you see the cool moves of Pilobolus last night on the Academy Awards? They're a modern dance company that has been making sculptural and shape oriented dances for years. Well if you didn't catch the show last night, here's a video of their Oscar performances. Their athletic dance style combines the flexibility of yoga and the strength of weight lifting. Trust me, Pilobolus is unlike anything you've ever seen.

Interested in seeing Pilobolus perform live, check out their performance schedule. If you've already seen them, and they've inspired you to move, classes are offered through the Pilobolus Institute (most classes and workshops are in Connecticut where they are based).

Taking risks (like standing on someone's shoulders to make a shadow image of an Oscar statuette) and trying new things is considered good for your mental health. The brain and the body both appreciate a challenge. Plus dance, especially the way Pilobolus does it, really works you out and gets you strong.

So if you are interested in dancing, try contacting local dance studios and movement centers to find out about other classes that might help you to discover a new way to move, have fun and exercise.

Jennifer Aniston Rocks a Bra For a GQ Shoot With Paul Rudd

Katie Henry — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 07:03:51 PST

Jennifer Aniston wore a bra and a skirt to cover the March issue of GQ with her Wanderlust costar Paul Rudd. The issue, which is out on newsstands Feb. 21, was shot by Jen's pal Terry Richardson - see all the pictures of Jennifer Aniston in GQ. Jen and Paul's romantic comedy hits theaters on Feb. 24, though Jen, Paul, and her real-life love Justin Theroux will be side by side for Thursday's LA premiere. Jen and Paul chatted about their film in the accompanying interview, and she also addressed the joys of aging, not being pregnant, and how to make a marriage work. Here are highlights:

Jen on pregnancy rumors: "I’m not having triplets. Not having twins. Nor am I having one baby. [lifts up sweater and gestures to belly; it appears flat] I did not elope . . . You heard it here. I’m not knocked up now."
Jen on marriage: "It’s a growing, literally living thing. There’s going to be growing pains, there’s going to be awkward moments - your lanky phase, your pimpled phase. I think that’s the beauty of a relationship. But if the road starts to [Paul jumps in to say, "diverge"] and one person is growing this way and the other is growing that way . . . Sometimes that can happen and you can stay together, and sometimes you can’t."
On her 40s: "Forty’s great!! . . . Oh, my God, my thirties blew! Forties are great."