'The Showtune Mosh Pit' for September 29th, 2009

THE LATEST IN UNAUTHORIZED GOSSIP AND BUZZ

FROM THE HEART OF CHICAGO'S SHOWTUNE VIDEO BARS,

AND MUSICAL THEATER NEWS FROM CHICAGO TO BROADWAY

by Paul W. Thompson

Overheard last weekend under the

Sidetrack and Cattle Call showtune video screens:

The mosh pit was rocking on Monday night, as Sidetrack played host to Stef Tovar and cast members of "High Fidelity!" The star of Piper's Alley Theater's current musical offering (in its first major post-Broadway engagement) belted out the song, "Desert Island Top Five Break Ups," assisted by lovely co-stars Blair Robertson, Christin Boulette, Tuckie White, Maggie Chambers and Kelli Maier. Too bad they didn't do more! The actors stayed on and enjoyed the festivities (natch), and Tovar was spotted gamely tossing his napkins at the end of the "Titanic" clip. Inquiring minds want to know if he'll become a regular! And note that a video of the performance is available, if you know where to look. 

http://www.hifichicago.com/

This month saw the release of albums by two of the showtune world's biggest diva-icons, and fans of a certain age and inclination are thrilled! Barbra Streisand's "Love Is the Answer" studio album came out today in all formats (catch the unbelievable footage from her Village Vanguard performance!), and from the other side of pond comes word that Elaine Paige's album "Live," (a souvenir of her recent UK tour) is available now on iTunes. Let the repeat playings begin! And I hope I don't have to explain to ANYBODY what these ladies' credits are.......

http://www.barbrastreisand.com/us/home

http://www.elainepaige.com/news.html

There was news about diva-icon number three last week that is exciting fans of Chicago's Loop theater scene. March 2-7, 2010, Broadway in Chicago will present "An Evening With Patti LuPone And Mandy Patinkin" at the Cadillac Palace Theatre, as a special off-subscription bonus. So, we don't have to wait until next summer's Ravinia Festival appearances to see Patti tread the boards here! Mandy fans are happy too, of course. But tickets are currently available only with purchase of a full 2010 Broadway in Chicago season subscription. 

/article/LuPone_Patinkin_MAMMA_MIA_and_ANNIE_Featured_By_Broadway_in_Chicago_Series_20090923 

Well, the re-boot of "Fame" came out last weekend, and if we are not overwhelmed by the film, many mosh pit denizens are impressed with the dancing, and glad for the fact that this matriarch of the young performer/dreamer genre is in front of young wannabe artists once again. Perhaps it suffered with comparison to.........."Glee?" Aw, you knew I was gonna mention it again! I mean, come on-football players dancing to Beyonce, and word that Kristin Chenoweth will be singing "Maybe This Time?" I mean, come on!!!! 

http://www.generationfame.com/ 

http://www.fox.com/glee/ 

Broadway at the Emmys Department: The mosh pit can be excused for thinking that the first few moments of last week's Emmy Awards telecast was a showtune love fest. With Neil Patrick Harris (aka NPH aka Dr. Horrible) singing a new Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman song, and then the afore-mentioned Ms. Chenoweth winning the evening's first award (for "Pushing Daisies") we were in Broadway nirvana! Not sure what happened after that....... 

http://www.emmys.tv/

Broadway at the Grammys Department: Nominating Ballots for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards were mailed to voters earlier this month, and are due back soon. With no "Billy Elliot" cast album eligible, the field would seem to be wide open for the "Best Musical Show Album" award, though observers are hopeful that "Next To Normal" will be able to ultimately take the prize. Liza Minnelli's "Liza's At The Palace" was ruled eligible in the "Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album" category, however, so if nominated, Liza could be up against such artists as Willie Nelson, Amanda McBroom, Harry Connick, Jr., Tony Bennett or the twice-afore-mentioned Ms. Chenoweth. 

http://www.grammy.com/

Broadway at the Oscars Department: Not to be forgotten, Oscar could have another Rob Marshall musical grabbing for his statuette come next spring, just like our city's namesake tuner did earlier this decade. We are loving a certain starlet-studded musical more and more, with every released image or clip. "Go, 'Nine'!!!" Looks like team spirit...... 

http://www.filmofilia.com/tag/nine/ 

"Yeast Nation (the triumph of life)," the new rock musical by the writers of "Urinetown," has gotten good-to-mixed reviews at Chicago's American Theater Company. But it is rapidly taking on the buzz of a must-see, a "did you see it when it was here in 2009" kind of thing. Barbara Robertson (Madame Morrible from Chicago's "Wicked") plays, well, a yeast, as does everybody else!

http://www.atcweb.org/onstage/yeast.html 

And the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire is opening a certain mosh pit favorite this week-"Hairspray!" Directed and choreographed by the sure hand of local boy made good Marc Robin, and with a score by the afore-mentioned Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, the production will star Chicago favorite Ross Lehman as Edna Turnblad. Marissa Perry (Lincolnshire's Tracy Turnblad) played that role in the final Broadway company a year ago. Joining them from Chicago's "Wicked" will be Heidi Kettenring and Gene Weygandt, and with Hollis Resnik, E. Faye Butler and Bernie Yvon on board, among others......I mean, come on!!!! 

http://www.marriotttheatre.com/show.aspx?show=10

With Chicago's fall theater season well under way, and Chicago's fall weather apparently here as well, I bid you adieu for now.........and I'll see you under the video screens.....--PWT

"High Fidelity" photos:  Stef Tovar and Cast; Blair Roberston and Stef Tovar

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