Have I Got a Girl For You! 1986 - Articles Page 36

Returning to the very same format that made him internationally famous - and, to many, infamous; with the same network that brought AMERICAN IDOL by way of POP IDOL to the USA - Fox; alongside the compatriot IDOL judge whose palpable rapport with him made them one of TV's unlikeliest couples - Paula Abdul; yes, indeed - with last night's grandiose season premiere of THE X FACTOR on Fox, Simon Cowell proved why he is one of the most powerful forces in the entertainment industry and why he is the sole reason to watch reality competition programming on any level. THE VOICE hasn't got a note on THE X FACTOR - and, most of all, IDOL is mere idolatry compared to the solid gold Buddha of Simon. THE X FACTOR delivered on its promise and hype - and how!

Today we are talking to a singular literary talent who has written for Broadway, Hollywood, television and film, but, besides her Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway debut, ‘NIGHT MOTHER, which opened on Broadway in 1982, she is perhaps best known as the Tony-winning book-writer for two particularly beloved musicals of the last few decades: THE SECRET GARDEN and THE COLOR PURPLE. Generously covering her varied career writing for stage and screen, Ms. Norman and I discuss her process, her passions, her many projects old and new, and, most importantly, the two premieres she has looming large on the horizon in the next year, both coming after her highly successful collaboration with Jason Robert Brown on THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN symphonic suite (available now on PS Classics) and the recent world premiere of her new play, THE MASTER BUTCHERS SINGING CLUB, at the Guthrie Theater: in addition to writing the book for Jason Robert Brown's musical adaptation of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, we also discuss her newest project for Theater For Humans which is focused on international women's and children's issues and the manner in which she will tackle the hot button topics of human trafficking and enslavement in it. Additionally, we touch on the bumpy Broadway road of THE RED SHOES and working with Jule Styne, NY versus LA, musicals versus plays, GLEE, WEST SIDE STORY at the Hollywood Bowl, playwrighting pal Teresa Rebeck, as well as much, much more!

Similarity is attractive: Bryne's law of attraction points out that the attraction towards an individual (or a stage role) is positively related to the proportion of similar attitudes shared by two or more persons. It's no wonder smash Broadway musical ROCK OF AGES' new leading man, Dan Domenech (who shares similar attitudes toward his new stage role), has been having the time of his life since he made his Broadway debut five months ago -- playing the part of Drew, a rocker wannabe from Detroit.

Singer/actress Nikki Blonsky truly embodies that notion of overnight success. Plucked from obscurity at age 17, then-newcomer Blonsky beat out hundreds of young girls from a nationwide open casting call to land the coveted lead role in the big-screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical HAIRSPRAY. On July 15-16, she will be slipping back into familiar territory as she joins MEN ALIVE: The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus for their 10th Anniversary Concert 'GREASY HAIRSPRAY' at the Irvine Barclay Theatre.

As has been speculated, Barbra Streisand may still play Mama Rose in a new GYPSY movie despite author Arthur Laurents' recent death. The sixty-nine-year-old legend was enlisted to play Mama Rose but then, Laurents decided not to go ahead with the idea, mostly because he didn't think another movie version was necessary, only to have seconds thoughts just before he passed.

Jennifer Richmond is one of the most fascinating people you could ever hope to meet. Seriously. She's smart and intuitive, to be certain, and her ever-inquisitive mind moves quickly from one subject to the next. In many ways, she is a modern-day Renaissance woman: She's good at very many things.

In celebration of their brand new recording, Quiet Please, renowned musician Steven Blier and celebrated vocalist Darius de Haas will present a special concert, featuring selections from the CD. The one night only event will take place on Thursday, April 28th at 8pm in the Merkin Concert Hall, located within The Kaufman Center (129 West 67th St.). Tickets, ($22 for orchestra, $18 for balcony, $11 for student/senior), can be obtained by calling 212 501 3330, or by visiting www.kaufman-center.org.

The high energy musical comedy Crazy for You closes April 17.

In celebration of their brand new recording, Quiet Please, renowned musician Steven Blier and celebrated vocalist Darius de Haas will present a special concert, featuring selections from the CD. The one night only event will take place on Thursday, April 28th at 8pm in the Merkin Concert Hall, located within The Kaufman Center (129 West 67th St.). Tickets, ($22 for orchestra, $18 for balcony, $11 for student/senior), can be obtained by calling 212 501 3330, or by visiting www.kaufman-center.org.

Holding the world's record for playing the longest-running role in entertainment history, Erica Kane on ABC‘S ALL MY CHILDREN, is just one mere jewel amongst the scores in the fifty-year career crown tiara of television icon Susan Lucci. Having appeared on Broadway in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and performed in nightclubs across the country with Regis Philbin, she is certainly no stranger to the stage - and what could better define working actor than memorizing scripts for a new hour-long drama every day, five days a week, for forty-one years? Commitment to her craft, an intense love of performance, and an affinity for the expression of human emotion - as well as an instant likeability and irrepressible allure - are just a few of the many features that make up the impressive journey of two women - Erica, included - over the course of Lucci's compelling and personally revealing new autobiography ALL MY LIFE, in stores today - as well as our warm and candid discussion about it. From Broadway to Hollywood; New York to LA to Vienna; from Broadway stages, concert stages, cabarets, to screens large and small - and, also, to some of the strongest television films of all time (plus, some starry stories and DANCING WITH THE STARS tidbits, too) - see some of the reasons why she is simply known as La Lucci, just as any grand opera diva (soaps, stage or otherwise) should undoubtedly be.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2010/11 season with the splashiest, flashiest musical its stage has seen!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2010/11 season with the splashiest, flashiest musical its stage has seen!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2010/11 season with the splashiest, flashiest musical its stage has seen!

Today we are continuing our series of coverage of the offerings this Spring at The Public Theater with the playwright of the new LAB production, URGE FOR GOING, Mona Mansour. With topics ranging from the Palestinian crisis to Patty Hearst and the play, ME AND THE SLA, that it inspired; her Lebanese upbringing; her affection for John Waters; humble beginnings at the Groundlings leading now to the New York premiere of her first play at the Public, URGE FOR GOING; and more. Additionally, Mansour provides her insights into the culturally rich material at the core of URGE FOR GOING, her own family's reaction to the controversial material and what audiences can expect from the drama.

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2010/11 season with the splashiest, flashiest musical its stage has seen!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2010/11 season with the splashiest, flashiest musical its stage has seen!

The Maltz Jupiter Theatre is heading into the final show of its 2010/11 season with the splashiest, flashiest musical its stage has seen!

Christian Bale has just won a 'Best Supporting Actor' Academy Award for THE FIGHTER.

It seems like Molly Breen is either always onstage or backstage - whether she's acting, rehearsing, running lines, hanging out with friends - so, if you're looking for her, it's a pretty safe guess you'll find Molly inside a theater. With an enviable resume, which includes assignments with a host of theater companies, she moves effortlessly from one production to another, taking on a wide range of roles. She's equally at home onstage, in front of a camera doing film work or commercials, appearing in music videos and, generally, pursuing her dream of being an actress.

As we move into the second half of January (how time flies when you're havin' FUN!), I hope you are making plans to attend some of the upcoming performances that are happening in one of our California Central Coast live performance venues over the next several weeks!

As we move into the second half of January (how time flies when you're havin' FUN!), I hope you are making plans to attend some of the upcoming performances that are happening in one of our California Central Coast live performance venues over the next several weeks!

On Sunday January 16, songbird Nita Whitaker returned to Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's for a joyfully rousing concert full of great singing and indomitable humor. I am always thrilled when a cabaret exceeds my initial expectations. I had heard Whitaker sing on her website, so I knew I was in for a pleasurable evening, but what I got was a star-stature talent that must be experienced first hand. She is beautiful, very funny and a helluva scintillating singer.

As we move into the second half of January (how time flies when you're havin' FUN!), I hope you are making plans to attend some of the upcoming performances that are happening in one of our California Central Coast live performance venues over the next several weeks!

'How are you guys feeling tonight? Welcome to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. I'm sorry if I seem a little nervous, you guys...WikiLeaks is threatening to release all of my drunk texts. (So that's a little awkward)'

They say we've become a society anesthetized from violent images since the days when graphic television news footage from Vietnam helped spark the largest anti-war movement this country had seen up until that time.  But the video clips from Gaza shown in Pulitzer-winning journalist Lawrence Wright's solo piece, The Human Scale, are enough to test any playgoer's stomach.