I was amused this morning when I got my daily 'BroadwayWorld.com Google Alert' to get something which I saw contained the keywords BroadwayWorld.com and lunatic. Who'd have thunk?
Diane Smith-Sadak, a director at Towson University in Maryland staged a production in RENT, in which she cut lines from the show creating an alternate ending. Changing the script is a violation of MTI (and all the other licensing agencies) contracts and copyright policies and the licensing organization learned of this violation from our message board. Rather than accepting responsibility for violating a contract that she has signed, Smith-Sadak noted to The Towerlight, the university newspaper that "It got to broadwayworld.com, and when it gets to broadwayworld.com, any lunatic with a screenname can spew any kind of garbage that they want. And they did," Smith-Sadak said. "It was clear that they didn't see our production, [but were] voicing very strong opinions."
Thanks Diane.
Posted on: Thursday, April 28, 2011 @ 08:33 AM Posted by:Robert Diamond
The Washington Post takes a look today at the upcoming movie-theatre broadcasts of MEMPHIS, THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST and COMPANY as well as the costs and economic models behind them (estimated at $1-4 million dollars) based on whether it's a one-off show, currently running full show, the venue, profit, not-for-profit, etc. What no one seems to know yet is if it'll be profitable as a filmed experience, but the capitalist in me says that if audiences flock to these 3, we'll be seeing lots more...
We were very excited to announce last week our newest feature designed expressly for the millions of monthly visitors (national, international, tri-state, and local) who make BroadwayWorld.com their first stop when deciding which shows to see. The new Pick-A-Show application offers individuals seeking Broadway show recommendations the ability to select from a variety of categories readers and ticket buyers have selected as amongst their most important including Family Friendly, Critical Picks, Word of Mouth, Star-Driven Shows, Limited Runs, Feel Good Musicals and Plays, Dramas and more, before spending their ticketing dollars. Upcoming additions include social networking rankings and other rich capabilities.
This exciting new feature is also available for mobile users on Broadway's first iPad Application and on our iPhone application . BroadwayWorld.com was also first to bring viewers high quality videos, web radio, Twitter watch, coast to coast theatre coverage, mobile access, interactive grosses, fan photos, 3rd party 'stage tube' videos, and lots more including the first theatre site iPhone app launched back in October 2009.
Now, the new companion iPad app, available free of charge in Apple's iPhone Application store has already been downloaded several thousand times in its first weeks of release, and features iPhone optimized versions of all of our videos, news, regional content from the site's 100+ theatre markets, photos, special offers, blogs, show listings, message boards, online wireless ticket sales and more. For other BroadwayWorld.com mobile applications, click here.
Randy Slovacek shares his memories of working with Kathleen and Rob Marshall at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, getting cast in the 1986 big National Tour of CATS and other well-written memories in a new blog post, here. Well worth reading.
Exciting news for fans of Hilary Knight's illustrations (and who's not?), who returned to do some Broadway drawings for Vanity Fair... Click here to view!
Well, it turns out that amongst those who sometimes fall asleep while doing their jobs are critics. According to the UK Guardian, Paul Taylor, the chief theatre critic for the UK Indepedent fell asleep at London's Old Vic theatre during the opening night of Terence Rattigan's Cause Célèbre. Taylor was unfortunately seated next to James McAvoy, husband to the play's star, Anne-Marie Duff.
For the full story and to read what happened next...click here.
It's the song that all of London is buzzing about from Cameron Mackintosh's new musical comedy BETTY BLUE EYES, based on the Handmade Film "A PRIVATE FUNCTION" by Alan Bennett and Malcolm Mowbray. It's also reportedly already headed into Liza Minnelli's act. BETTY BLUE EYES is the first original musical Cameron Mackintosh has produced in ten years. It started previews at the Novello Theatre in the West End on 19 March and opens on 13 April. Music is by George Stilesand lyrics are by Anthony Drewe.
Listen to the song below, and then check out our first pictures from the production here!
Though I've been complaining for weeks about being cramped into some theatre seats with a winter jacket in late March/early April, a Toronto production of Montparnasse at Toronto's Theatre Passe Muraille took it a bit too far in the opposite direction, with a (well attended) audience clothing optional performance. I'm all about getting non-traditional groups into the theatre, but nudists rarely come up in conversation. More importantly, what was done to clean the seats afterwards?
Talking in A CONVERSATION WITH STEVE MARTIN at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Massachusetts, the very funny man talked about his 2007 memoir - 'Born Standing Up' (which, is a great read by the way). According to the Worcester Telegram:
Referring to his 2007 memoir, "Born Standing Up," Martin candidly revealed he was inspired to write it by the musical "The Jersey Boys," which told the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons right before they made it. And, a successful entertainment career usually starts with talent, something the comedian said, seriously, he didn't have.
"I really had no talent at all. I didn't sing. I didn't dance," Martin said. "Having no formal talent actually made me original."
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Talking in A CONVERSATION WITH STEVE MARTIN at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Massachusetts, the very funny man talked about his 2007 memoir - 'Born Standing Up' (which, is a great read by the way). According to the 
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