Edgar Lansbury, a Tony Award-winning producer and younger brother of actress Angela Lansbury, died Thursday at age 94 at his home in Manhattan, according to his son. No cause was given.
Peggy Gordon, who played in Lansbury’s Godspell, posted the news on Facebook.
“My huge adorable and adoring Godspell family, we have now lost our surrogate daddy, Edgar Lansbury. How blessed was he to live such a full, rich, wonderful life surrounded by people who adored him. Don Scardino says there will be a memorial probably this fall. Contact any and all of your Godspell family members from all ten original companies, plus London (hi Gay) and anyone else I”ve missed. Man, if Joe Beruh was waiting for Edgar with a cigarette in his mouth, I have no doubt Edgar made Joe stomp on it. Love never dies. It’s an energy that only transmutes into matter. That’s all of us.
Peggy Gordon, who played in Lansbury’s Godspell, posted the news on Facebook.
“My huge adorable and adoring Godspell family, we have now lost our surrogate daddy, Edgar Lansbury. How blessed was he to live such a full, rich, wonderful life surrounded by people who adored him. Don Scardino says there will be a memorial probably this fall. Contact any and all of your Godspell family members from all ten original companies, plus London (hi Gay) and anyone else I”ve missed. Man, if Joe Beruh was waiting for Edgar with a cigarette in his mouth, I have no doubt Edgar made Joe stomp on it. Love never dies. It’s an energy that only transmutes into matter. That’s all of us.
- 5/4/2024
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
“I’m quite a light and silly person in my real life, so this is much more the way that I am in friends,” reveals Aaron Tveit of his character in “Schmigadoon!” He portrays Topher in Season 2 of the Apple TV+ series, the leader of a hippie tribe with a penchant for parables. The role is a welcome departure from the emotionally wrought figures that Tveit is accustomed to playing. Instead, the musical world of Season 2’s Schmicago allowed the actor to be “as ridiculous as possible.” Watch the exclusive video interview above.
Tveit describes the sophomore season of the comedy series as “much bigger” than the first outing. This season pays homage to musicals of the 1960s and 70s, which covers a wide range of tones and styles. Plenty of time is spent in a dark, brooding atmosphere inspired by the likes of “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” and “Sweeney Todd.” But...
Tveit describes the sophomore season of the comedy series as “much bigger” than the first outing. This season pays homage to musicals of the 1960s and 70s, which covers a wide range of tones and styles. Plenty of time is spent in a dark, brooding atmosphere inspired by the likes of “Cabaret,” “Chicago,” and “Sweeney Todd.” But...
- 5/10/2023
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Things got darker in Season 2 of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio’s Schmigadoon! — while Season 1’s quest for a happy ending seemed almost too easy, any sort of resolution seemed impossible in the new environs of Schmicago. Yet this world was more appealing to the show’s central couple, Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) and Melissa (Cecily Strong). Josh found his place among a group of Hair-inspired hippies, becoming their leader by telling Godspell-like parables. Melissa became the headliner of the Cabaret-esque club, belting her heart out in the spotlight every night. Even though they were entangled in a murder plot in their final hours in Schmicago, they still found themselves on the fence about leaving once they were able to cross the Schmigadoon bridge back into the real world.
- 5/5/2023
- by Brianna Wellen
- Primetimer
Join in the cosmic cantata, and take a trip to Schmicago!
On Schmigadoon! Season 2 Episode 3, Josh gets groovy with the hippies, Melissa meets the residents of Quick Street, and Bobby razzle-dazzles the courtroom.
It's so consistently impressive how much they cram into 30 minutes and still come up with a coherent narrative.
Cinco Paul's cleverness with lyrics comes into play in every song here. He's got internal rhymes up the shoobie-doobie, and the double meaning of "The Worst Brats In Town" -- sausages and children -- is just too good.
On Quick Street, we have Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth as Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett... er, Dooley Blight and Miss Codwell, who is also Miss Hannigan from Annie.
Cumming leans into the melodrama of Dooley Blight, evoking more sympathy than menace. Vocally, both of them are at ease with the weird intricacies of the Sondheimesque score.
These are not the...
On Schmigadoon! Season 2 Episode 3, Josh gets groovy with the hippies, Melissa meets the residents of Quick Street, and Bobby razzle-dazzles the courtroom.
It's so consistently impressive how much they cram into 30 minutes and still come up with a coherent narrative.
Cinco Paul's cleverness with lyrics comes into play in every song here. He's got internal rhymes up the shoobie-doobie, and the double meaning of "The Worst Brats In Town" -- sausages and children -- is just too good.
On Quick Street, we have Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth as Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett... er, Dooley Blight and Miss Codwell, who is also Miss Hannigan from Annie.
Cumming leans into the melodrama of Dooley Blight, evoking more sympathy than menace. Vocally, both of them are at ease with the weird intricacies of the Sondheimesque score.
These are not the...
- 4/12/2023
- by Mary Littlejohn
- TVfanatic
"Schmigadoon," Apple TV+'s musical series that parodies iconic stage productions of the past, is back for season two - but don't expect the Golden Age musical numbers from season one. Season two - which the show renames "Schmicago" - turns its attention to the darker and sexier musicals of the 1960s and 1970s. Those productions - like the reference for the new title, "Chicago" - feature sex, murder, trauma, and war, and often don't end happily. In the series, Melissa (Cecily Strong) warns Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) that she's not as familiar with the shows of this era, so if that's you, too, we've got you covered. These are the biggest musical references for "Schmigadoon" season 2, aka "Schmicago."
"Pippin" in "Schmigadoon" Season 2
The very first song of the series, "Welcome to Schmicago," is a parody of "Magic to Do" from the 1972 musical "Pippin," and the choreography is very similar,...
"Pippin" in "Schmigadoon" Season 2
The very first song of the series, "Welcome to Schmicago," is a parody of "Magic to Do" from the 1972 musical "Pippin," and the choreography is very similar,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Victoria Edel
- Popsugar.com
Are you ready to meet the dastardly denizens of Schmicago?
Schmigadoon! Season 2 takes us to a dark, seedy city inspired by the musicals of the 1960s and 70s.
Dove Cameron is already an icon in her own right, famous for her role in Disney's Descendents, Liv and Maddie, and a thriving pop music career.
In Schmigadoon! Season 1, she played the simple farmer's daughter Betsy. For Season 2, she is Jenny Banks, a role chiefly inspired by Kander and Ebb's anti-heroine Sally Bowles (made famous by Liza Minnelli in 1972's Cabaret).
Aaron Tveit is the Tony-winning star of Broadway's Moulin Rouge! and the big-screen movie adaptation of the mega-musical Les Misérables.
After playing Danny Bailey in Season 1, he's back as a rockin' leading man who is equal parts Jesus, Pippin, and Berger from Hair.
We caught up with Cameron and Tveit at a recent press junket to talk about their experiences filming...
Schmigadoon! Season 2 takes us to a dark, seedy city inspired by the musicals of the 1960s and 70s.
Dove Cameron is already an icon in her own right, famous for her role in Disney's Descendents, Liv and Maddie, and a thriving pop music career.
In Schmigadoon! Season 1, she played the simple farmer's daughter Betsy. For Season 2, she is Jenny Banks, a role chiefly inspired by Kander and Ebb's anti-heroine Sally Bowles (made famous by Liza Minnelli in 1972's Cabaret).
Aaron Tveit is the Tony-winning star of Broadway's Moulin Rouge! and the big-screen movie adaptation of the mega-musical Les Misérables.
After playing Danny Bailey in Season 1, he's back as a rockin' leading man who is equal parts Jesus, Pippin, and Berger from Hair.
We caught up with Cameron and Tveit at a recent press junket to talk about their experiences filming...
- 4/4/2023
- by Mary Littlejohn
- TVfanatic
Cinco Paul is the man behind the music of Apple TV+'s hit musical comedy Schmigadoon!
Paul co-created the series with longtime screenwriting partner Ken Daurio.
Paul serves as showrunner, songwriter, executive producer, and director of several episodes. He even won an Emmy for Schmigadoon! Season 1's rollicking number, "Corn Puddin'."
We caught up with Paul at a recent press day to talk about what went into the creation of Schmigadoon! Season 2.
How has the fan response impacted how you approached Season 2, or did you already know what you wanted to do?
Going into Season 1, I knew I wanted to do multiple seasons. My concept has always been [to] move through all the different eras of musicals.
During Season 1, when we were shooting, as I started to figure things out, watching the cast, I pulled Dove [Cameron] aside and said, "How would you like to be Sally Bowles next season?"
I pulled Aaron [Tveit] aside with,...
Paul co-created the series with longtime screenwriting partner Ken Daurio.
Paul serves as showrunner, songwriter, executive producer, and director of several episodes. He even won an Emmy for Schmigadoon! Season 1's rollicking number, "Corn Puddin'."
We caught up with Paul at a recent press day to talk about what went into the creation of Schmigadoon! Season 2.
How has the fan response impacted how you approached Season 2, or did you already know what you wanted to do?
Going into Season 1, I knew I wanted to do multiple seasons. My concept has always been [to] move through all the different eras of musicals.
During Season 1, when we were shooting, as I started to figure things out, watching the cast, I pulled Dove [Cameron] aside and said, "How would you like to be Sally Bowles next season?"
I pulled Aaron [Tveit] aside with,...
- 4/3/2023
- by Mary Littlejohn
- TVfanatic
Chicago – One of the better film treats of Easter weekend is “Godspell” (1973), the hippie musical based on the Bible gospels in the book of Matthew. Featuring Victor Garber as Jesus, the film is set in New York City of the early 1970s, at the same time the World Trade Center was nearly complete. The producers had a great idea … why not film a dance number on the top of the North Tower? So the ironic song “All For the Best” ends up there, and cast member Robin Lamont remembered her reaction in an interview with Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com.
“Godspell” began in Pittsburgh in 1970 as a staged thesis for a Masters Degree by John-Michael Tebelak. It had a whole different set of songs and was structurally different than the show that opened Off-Off Broadway in 1971. After rejecting the original songs, the producers hired composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”) to create the now classic soundtrack.
“Godspell” began in Pittsburgh in 1970 as a staged thesis for a Masters Degree by John-Michael Tebelak. It had a whole different set of songs and was structurally different than the show that opened Off-Off Broadway in 1971. After rejecting the original songs, the producers hired composer Stephen Schwartz (“Wicked”) to create the now classic soundtrack.
- 4/15/2022
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Prepare ye, for a Godspell mega-reunion Fifty years ago today, on May 17, 1971, a musical phenomenon opened off-Broadway. What began as a master's thesis project for Carnegie Mellon studentJohn-Michael Tebelak, would go on to entertain the masseson Broadway and off, in Toronto,multiple national tours, on the big screen and of course, eventually atregional and amateur theatres all over the world.
- 5/17/2021
- by Backstage With Richard Ridge
- BroadwayWorld.com
Chicago – Easter has just passed, and one of the film traditions during that holiday is the musical “Godspell.” This 1973 classic retells the story of Jesus from the Gospel of St. Matthew, through a group of hippie performers, including Victor Garber as Jesus. Robin Lamont sings the signature song in the show, “Day by Day.”
The one actor to go all the way through each iteration of the play – from its origins to Off-Off/Off Broadway to the the film version to Broadway – is Robin Lamont. Lamont was a student at Carnegie Mellon when a normal class assignment would connect her to the musical for six years. “Godspell” began in Pittsburgh in 1970 as a staged thesis for a Masters Degree by John-Michael Tebelak. It had a whole different set of songs and was structurally different than the show that opened Off-Off Broadway in 1971. After rejecting the original songs, the producers hired...
The one actor to go all the way through each iteration of the play – from its origins to Off-Off/Off Broadway to the the film version to Broadway – is Robin Lamont. Lamont was a student at Carnegie Mellon when a normal class assignment would connect her to the musical for six years. “Godspell” began in Pittsburgh in 1970 as a staged thesis for a Masters Degree by John-Michael Tebelak. It had a whole different set of songs and was structurally different than the show that opened Off-Off Broadway in 1971. After rejecting the original songs, the producers hired...
- 4/8/2021
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Broadway composer Drew Gasparini (The Karate Kid, The Whipping Boy) is launching a new podcast, Now We’re Talking with Drew Gasparini, in association with the Broadway Podcast Network.
The first three episodes of the series launch on Friday, January 15th, with guests Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice), Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill), and Colton Ryan (of the Apple TV+ series Little Voice). The podcast will be available every subsequent Monday from the Broadway Podcast Network and other podcast platforms.
“Have you ever wondered what Amber Ardolino’s nickname was in high school?...
The first three episodes of the series launch on Friday, January 15th, with guests Alex Brightman (Beetlejuice), Kathryn Gallagher (Jagged Little Pill), and Colton Ryan (of the Apple TV+ series Little Voice). The podcast will be available every subsequent Monday from the Broadway Podcast Network and other podcast platforms.
“Have you ever wondered what Amber Ardolino’s nickname was in high school?...
- 1/14/2021
- by Claire Shaffer
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: Broadway’s annual I Put A Spell On You concert-slash-party event to raise funds for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will go virtual this year due to the pandemic. The concert event, hosted by characters spoofing the 1993 film Hocus Pocus, will feature performers from such productions as Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, Waitress, Mrs. Doubtfire, Moulin Rouge!, Mrs. Doubtfire, Hadestown and West Side Story.
The year’s pretaped event will stream for free on Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 pm/Et at broadwaycares.org/spell.
Created by and starring actor Jay Armstrong Johnson, I Put A Spell On You will include performances, choreography, and what organizers are calling “over-the-top costumes and makeup, unmatched production value and a healthy dose of Broadway magic.”
Hosted by the Hocus Pocus-inspired “Sanderson Sisters”, the show will include takes on iconic...
The year’s pretaped event will stream for free on Thursday, Oct. 29, 8 pm/Et at broadwaycares.org/spell.
Created by and starring actor Jay Armstrong Johnson, I Put A Spell On You will include performances, choreography, and what organizers are calling “over-the-top costumes and makeup, unmatched production value and a healthy dose of Broadway magic.”
Hosted by the Hocus Pocus-inspired “Sanderson Sisters”, the show will include takes on iconic...
- 10/8/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The director of the Emmy-nominated documentary Love, Gilda says a previously unknown film script written by the late Gilda Radner could soon make the rounds in Hollywood.
“She left behind a screenplay which I have that nobody seems to have even known about,” filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito tells Deadline exclusively. “I’m actually working with my agents to see who would be interested in producing it.”
D’Apolito revealed some plot details to Deadline.
“It’s about a woman looking for love and she’s torn between these two guys. And then at the end she decides she just is going to be on her own. Not to sum it up in that sort of way, but it’s physical comedy,” she explains. “Hopefully once the word gets out [about the script]…her work can go on.”
Radner’s life and work—before, during and after her time as one of the original...
“She left behind a screenplay which I have that nobody seems to have even known about,” filmmaker Lisa D’Apolito tells Deadline exclusively. “I’m actually working with my agents to see who would be interested in producing it.”
D’Apolito revealed some plot details to Deadline.
“It’s about a woman looking for love and she’s torn between these two guys. And then at the end she decides she just is going to be on her own. Not to sum it up in that sort of way, but it’s physical comedy,” she explains. “Hopefully once the word gets out [about the script]…her work can go on.”
Radner’s life and work—before, during and after her time as one of the original...
- 8/10/2019
- by Matthew Carey
- Deadline Film + TV
Five years after Amazon’s award-winning series Transparent became one of the most visible dramatizations of trans life, the series will kill off its central character, Maura Pfefferman, in its feature-length musical series finale. The decision comes after the show fired actor Jeffrey Tambor, who played Maura, following allegations of sexual harassment, which Tambor denied. The episode will open with Maura’s death and focus on how her family makes sense of her death, according to Los Angeles Times. The finale’s premiere date has not yet been announced, but...
- 4/11/2019
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Need to catch up? Check out our previous Riverdale recap here.
One of Riverdale‘s core couples hit a major rocky patch this week — but are they done for good?
Things between Cheryl are Toni have been tense for a while, and they only get worse when Toni dumps on Cheryl’s idea for a mountain getaway. Cheryl bakes muffins as a peace offering, but is clearly hurt when she sees Toni performing “Call Your Girlfriend” with Veronica at the speakeasy. (Plus, she learns Toni’s been secretly giving Nana Rose money for rent.) So she shows up at the...
One of Riverdale‘s core couples hit a major rocky patch this week — but are they done for good?
Things between Cheryl are Toni have been tense for a while, and they only get worse when Toni dumps on Cheryl’s idea for a mountain getaway. Cheryl bakes muffins as a peace offering, but is clearly hurt when she sees Toni performing “Call Your Girlfriend” with Veronica at the speakeasy. (Plus, she learns Toni’s been secretly giving Nana Rose money for rent.) So she shows up at the...
- 3/14/2019
- TVLine.com
Universal’s feature adaptation of the Broadway smash Wicked will open on Wednesday Dec. 22, 2021, the studio announced this morning.
Originally the musical was dated for Dec. 20, 2019, however, Tom Hooper’s Cats took over that date, and Wicked changed up its production schedule.
Stephen Daldry directs and Marc Platt produces. Wicked is based on the three-time Tony Award-winning musical, adapted from Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel by book writer Winnie Holzman with music by Godspell and Pippin maestro Stephen Schwartz. They are all working on the screenplay adaptation. Wicked tells the story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy dropped in.
During the Christmas Day five-day weekend, Wicked will vs. Avatar 3 opening on Dec. 17, and the untitled Disney live-action pic, and an untitled Warner Bros. animated feature. The untitled DreamWorks Animation pic originally scheduled for that weekend will be dated again at some point in the future.
Originally the musical was dated for Dec. 20, 2019, however, Tom Hooper’s Cats took over that date, and Wicked changed up its production schedule.
Stephen Daldry directs and Marc Platt produces. Wicked is based on the three-time Tony Award-winning musical, adapted from Gregory Maguire’s bestselling novel by book writer Winnie Holzman with music by Godspell and Pippin maestro Stephen Schwartz. They are all working on the screenplay adaptation. Wicked tells the story of the witches of Oz before Dorothy dropped in.
During the Christmas Day five-day weekend, Wicked will vs. Avatar 3 opening on Dec. 17, and the untitled Disney live-action pic, and an untitled Warner Bros. animated feature. The untitled DreamWorks Animation pic originally scheduled for that weekend will be dated again at some point in the future.
- 2/8/2019
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Broadway producer Ken Davenport, whose revival of the Caribbean-themed Once on This Island took the top Tony Award in its category last year, has obtained the Broadway stage rights to the life story of singer and activist Harry Belafonte.
Details – casting, creative team, production timeline – about the as-yet-untitled musical will be announced at a later date.
“Harry Belafonte is one of the most influential and respected Americans of the past century,” Davenport said in making the announcement. “I’m excited to be working with Mr. Belafonte to bring his powerful life story, about a son of immigrants who made a profound impact on the lives of Americans and millions of people around the world, to the theatrical stage.”
Said Belafonte in a statement, “The live theater opened up so many worlds for me as a young man. From the moment I saw professional actors on stage, I knew I could...
Details – casting, creative team, production timeline – about the as-yet-untitled musical will be announced at a later date.
“Harry Belafonte is one of the most influential and respected Americans of the past century,” Davenport said in making the announcement. “I’m excited to be working with Mr. Belafonte to bring his powerful life story, about a son of immigrants who made a profound impact on the lives of Americans and millions of people around the world, to the theatrical stage.”
Said Belafonte in a statement, “The live theater opened up so many worlds for me as a young man. From the moment I saw professional actors on stage, I knew I could...
- 2/4/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Let's hear it for he boys And boy did we hear 'em. We recently welcomed some of Broadway's most talented dudes to Broadway Sessions for a night full of testosterone and, well, um showtimes. Enjoy highlights from performances by Darren Ritchie Wonderland, Benny Elledge Waitress, Melvin Tunstall Beautiful and Corey Mach Kinky Boots, Godspell We also welcomed back past Rising Stars Jose Plaza, Melanie Sierra, Jessica Lieberman and Kate Corsaro.
- 5/7/2018
- by Ben Cameron
- BroadwayWorld.com
In an exclusive interview with Closer Weekly, Paul Shaffer reminisces on how he landed his Late Show with David Letterman and Saturday Night Live gigs. The 68-year-old admits his goal was to be a musician. "The first real jobs I got out of college were playing weddings, bar mitzvahs, topless clubs — anything available! Then on a fluke, I was hired to conduct Godspell [in Toronto in 1972] with some of the funniest people I've ever worked with. Many remain my good friends today, including Martin Short, Andrea Martin, Eugene Levy, Dave Thomas, and Victor Garber." And that's how he ended up in comedy. "We hung out incessantly and tried to make each other laugh nonstop. I was influenced profoundly by them — they seemed like they were having a better time than anybody I knew. They looked at everything through a comedic prism, and I started doing the same." Paul tells Closer. He landed SNL when Howard Shore,...
- 3/16/2018
- by Closer Staff
- Closer Weekly
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.