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

BuzzSugar — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 12:30:08 -0700

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?

Announcing the Winners: The 2008 Tony Awards

BuzzSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 23:55:12 -0700

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

Madonna Meets Blondie in Musical Version of Desperately Seeking Susan

BuzzSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 11:29:34 -0700

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 -0700

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

What to Netflix: New DVD Tuesday

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 06:30:00 -0800

It's Tuesday, so you know what that means - new DVD releases just in time for the Thanksgiving break! I've already shared some fresh music picks, but here are three movies to add to your Netflix queue for the weekend.

Funny People

Adam Sandler plays a comedian who tries to turn his life around and befriend a past love (Leslie Mann) after being diagnosed with a blood disorder; Seth Rogen steps in as his idealistic assistant. Both men turn in solid performances in Funny People, and there are laughs, even though this is way more serious than director Judd Apatow's previous work. One of my complaints in the theater was that it was much too long, but that's the good thing about DVDs - you can always hit pause and go back later.

The single disc version includes a gag reel and a feature commentary with Apatow, Rogen, and Sandler. (Normally I don't watch with the commentary on, but in this case, I might just tune in for their wise cracks.) The special two-disc collector's version is loaded with extras, including a 13-year old Seth Rogen doing stand-up!

68%

Two more DVD releases to check out when you read more.

Four Christmases

I love Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon, and while they don't necessarily have any sparks in Four Christmases, they still serve up a cute comedy. The pair star as a couple stuck visiting four sets of relatives around the holidays - his mom, her mom, his dad, her dad. And while it's not the funniest or most charming film that either actor has done, I still had a few laughs, especially thanks to the supporting cast of quirky characters (Jon Favreau and Kristin Chenoweth in particular). Even if it doesn't stack up against the classics in my holiday movie faceoff, it's worth trying if you're looking to get into the spirit of the season.

25%

Angels and Demons

Tom Hanks fans have Angels and Demons to look forward to. The actor is incredibly long-winded in the follow-up film to The DaVinci Code, but at least he's no longer sporting that ridiculous bouffant hairdo. This time, Robert Langdon tries to save the Vatican from an ancient group known as the Illuminati. Personally, I was bored by the first half when I saw the film in theaters, but the second part is actually fun - so if you catch it at home, you may want to fast forward a bit to get to the good stuff.

Special features include behind-the-scenes featurettes.

36%

Are You Excited About Avatar?

BuzzSugar — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:30:54 -0800

Rabid fans everywhere have been waiting for the release of James Cameron's Avatar literally for years, and now there are just a few weeks to go. Back at Comic-Con, I got a long look at the movie, and I have to admit it that I wanted more after 30 minutes of footage. On the other hand, many of my friends and co-workers seem disinterested in the project entirely, especially with so many other anticipated movies hitting the theaters in December (more on that later this week). Check out a new clip below, and tell me where you stand - are you excited about Avatar?

Movie Preview: Amanda Seyfried in Letters to Juliet

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:30:33 -0800

Amanda Seyfried's latest film Letters to Juliet looks like a mash up of her other work. First off, her character's name is Sophie, which brings Mamma Mia to mind, as does the romantic foreign locale. But even the title itself made me do a double-take - wait, isn't she already doing a book-turned-film about letters called Dear John?! Still, I'm not writing it off just yet. (No pun intended). I can be a sucker for a love story, even if it's a bit sappy.

The film follows Seyfried as an American tourist who discovers an unanswered "letter to Juliet" while on a trip in Verona, Italy. (The notes are left by visitors asking for help from Shakespeare's famous heroine.) She responds to the plea, and then sets off to find its author (Vanessa Redgrave) and reunite her with the man she left decades before. Of course, there's a triangle in there too, as Sophie begins to question her own relationship with her fiance (Gael Garcia Bernal) and falls for the woman's grandson (Christopher Egan).

The trailer pretty much gives away the whole movie, but this sort of storyline is usually predictable so I'll forgive the studio for it. Bonus for Taylor Swift fans: her "Love Story" is the theme song. The film doesn't arrive in theaters until May, but check it out and tell me what you think when you read more.

Robert Pattinson's Next Leading Lady Is Uma Thurman

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:25:01 -0800

New Moon hits the theaters today, and with it comes even more news about the future of Robert Pattinson's career: Uma Thurman has signed on to star opposite the heartthrob in the upcoming Bel Ami. Pattinson is George Duroy, a poor journalist who sleeps his way to the top in Paris, and Thurman will play the woman who eventually becomes his wife. Kristin Scott Thomas has also just signed on for the film.

Nicole Kidman's name was originally attached to the project, and I have to admit that I would have preferred to see her playing opposite Pattinson. Still, it should be interesting (to say the least) to see him in the arms of an older woman. Many of you aren't digging Pattinson's Remember Me costar Emilie de Ravin (check out the trailer here), but are you more intrigued to see him alongside one of Hollywood's seasoned veterans?

New Moon: Better Than Twilight

BuzzSugar — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:45:00 -0800

Let's be honest: for most of you, it doesn't matter what I - or any critics for that matter - have to say about New Moon, the incredibly anticipated sequel to last year's Twilight. The film started breaking box office records before it was even released, and audiences will flock to the theaters for weeks to come. On the plus side, a ticket to New Moon is a win even if you're not a Twihard - provided that you know what you're getting into.

New Moon is not incredibly acted, and it doesn't boast impressive dialogue or larger-than-life special effects. But it's not trying to be the Best Picture of the Year, so I can only critique it for what it is: a fantasy movie about a love triangle between a werewolf, a vampire, and a teenage girl. To see what I mean, just read more.

The movie picks up a few months after where Twilight left off. Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) is blissfully in love but she can't fight her insecurities about growing older than her perpetually seventeen vampire boyfriend Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson). All Bella wants for her eighteenth birthday is for Edward to change her into a bloodsucker, but a close call with his brother drives Edward to break up with Bella and leave town instead.

The drama following Bella's abandonment is everything we remember from high school heartbreak, from Bella's night terrors to the glazed over look in her eye. The anguish and pain are easily seen on Stewart's face, and her innermost thoughts are revealed to the audience through letters to Edward's sister Alice that will never be sent. After months of moping, Bella finally starts to open up to Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), a family friend. As Bella struggles to find hope in a life without Edward, her friendship is complicated by Jacob's romantic feelings for Bella and made worse when Jacob discovers that he's a werewolf (and an enemy to all vampires).

The surprise of the movie is Lautner's performance. We've seen and heard about those muscles countless times before, but he also packs enough charm and charisma into his Jacob that you truly see him as more than just Bella's unrelenting admirer / best friend. He presents himself as a viable suitor for Bella's heart, and it's hard not to root for him against Robert Pattinson's wooden (albeit handsome) Edward. Stewart and Pattinson have chemistry to spare in Twilight, but in New Moon, Bella's relationship with Jacob seems hopeful and comfortable while her scenes with Edward are mostly awkward and frankly not as much fun to watch.

The movie belongs to Stewart and Lautner, but their melodrama is balanced out by the characters who pad out the cast. Yes, we meet the wolf pack and the Volturi, but for the most part the Forks residents and beyond make for some much-needed comic relief. The downside is that while it's funnier than what you'd expect, not all of the laughs are intentional (a scene where Jacob's temper rivals that of The Incredible Hulk comes to mind).

It doesn't take more than a grain of salt to appreciate New Moon for what it is - a film that stays true to its origin and delivers the necessary elements to ensure that you'll be back when the next installment of the franchise comes our way.

Photos courtesy of Summit Entertainment

Gear Up For New Moon With All of Our Cool Content!

BuzzSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:30:36 -0800

New Moon's big release is tomorrow, and if you're not one of the many checking out a midnight screening, then you still have some time to kill before heading to the theater. While you're waiting, why not check out all of my posts about the film - it's the perfect way to get excited for the big day!

Before They Were New Moon stars	Are Spoilers Ruining New Moon?	New Moon's Werewolf Bar Mitzvah
Buzz interview with Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz	Who will have the biggest post-Twilight career?	Check out photos of the new cast members!
Test your New Moon trivia	Highlights from the New Moon soundtrack	What's next for the New Moon stars