Pat Cerasaro - Page 203

Since today is only a week away from Christmas Day, we are taking a special look at the absolute must-own Christmas- themed releases for the Broadway baby on your list. From Barbra Streisand to Sondheim, Raul Esparza to Liza Minnelli, Barbara Cook to Straight No Chaser - there's certainly a little bit of holiday cheer to cast some winter starlight upon even the saddest of Charlie Brown Christmas trees. Here are seven ways to make your holiday a little more sparkling and bright - and some cool Yule selections for how to change-up your Christmas tune listening for the last seven days until Santa Claus & Co. arrive late next Friday night!

Who has more style? More flair? More imagination? More sheer visual power in each and every frame of every single one of his films than the master of the modern movie musical - and director of the greatest Shakespeare film adaptation ever created, bar none - the fabulously talented and extremely entertaining film genius otherwise known as Baz Luhrmann. In this BWW World Premiere Exclusive InDepth InterView we talk everything from Broadway to Hollywood to Oz - with chairing this year's NYMF, Blu-Rays of his previous films, WICKED onstage and onscreen, GLEE, (the other) Oz, Lady Gaga, Kanye West, Beyonce, Andrew Lloyd Webber and much, much more in-between - so follow the digital yellow brick road to the cyber emerald kingdom in the wonderful world of Baz.

I recently had the honor of conducting an extensive interview with legendary stage and screen star - of films such as AMADEUS, TOOTSIE and more - best known in the twenty-first century for her work on the Broadway stage having created not one, but two Tony-winning lead roles in the 00s, in both 42nd STREET and GREY GARDENS - the riveting Christine Ebersole. In this exhaustive discussion we talk everything from starring alongside Angela Lansbury in Michael Blakemore's production of Noel Coward's timeless comedy BLITHE SPIRIT and how instrumental that experience was in her selection of material - as well as mindset, mood and more - for this sparkling new studio album, CHRISTINE EBERSOLE SINGS NOEL COWARD. We also discuss her extensive film and television work and what exciting events lie ahead - including concert appearances with Michael Feinstein and a special event at Carnegie Hall!

Today we are taking a look at a clip from the 2005 Tony Awards in which Hugh Jackman shows why he may very well be Hollywood's gift to musical theatre in a mesmerizing medley comprising myriad songs - nearly thirty - in a breathtaking arrangement by Michael John LaChiusa created especially for the Tony Awards.

Today, we are taking a look at a clip from the 1982 Tony Awards and one of that season's hottest and most acclaimed shows, the rightfully unforgettable DREAMGIRLS directed by Michael Bennett. In this clip we can surely see why Jennifer Holliday earned her Best Actress In A Musical trophy and why Michael Bennett's Tony-winning musical staging is so well-remembered to this very day. No musical looked quite like this before...

Today, we are taking a look at a clip from the 1984 Tony Awards and the original Broadway cast of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES which was that year's big winner, starring Gene Barry and George Hearn under the direction of Arthur Laurents with a score by Jerry Herman, book by Harvey Fierstein and produced by Alan Carr.

Today, we are taking a look at a clip from the 1993 Tony Awards with a special performance by that year's host, legendary star of stage, screen and the recording industry: Liza Minnelli along with Barry Bostwick sing an original song written especially for that year's elaborate opening production number 'Celebrate Broadway'.

Today, we are taking a look at a clip from the 2008 Tony Awards and a chilling performance by the trio of Tony-winning talents that won that year's Best Actress In A Musical, Best Featured Actress and Best Featured Actor: Patti LuPone, Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines in Arthur Laurents's lauded revival of his classic musical written with Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim, the spectacular classic GYPSY!

Today, in honor of the DVD release of Rob Marshall's film version of the 1982 Tony-winning Best Musical NINE, Maury Yeston was gracious and generous enough to grant me a few hours in which I could ask him intimate questions about his life, career and the future of theatre itself. Not one to mince words, Yeston is a veritable font of knowledge and it became clear during the interview that he may be as gifted and talented in his educational and mentorship skills as he is as a two-time Tony-winning composer and lyricist. His stage musicals include two Tony-winning Best Musicals, NINE and TITANIC, as well as: IN THE BEGINNING, GRAND HOTEL, PHANTOM, and the forthcoming DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, as well as a full-length ballet of TOM SAWYER premiering later this year. From the handwritten letter sent by Katharine Hepburn to Frederico Fellini after seeing the workshop of NINE thirty years ago to this very day when NINE hits DVD, we will take a look at this magnanimous maestro's starry career in this inaugural InDepth InterView. Enjoy!