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
Edgar Lansbury, the Tony-winning producer and younger brother of famed actress Angela Lansbury who guided the Broadway and big-screen versions of The Subject Was Roses and Godspell, has died. He was 94.
He died Thursday at his home in Manhattan, his son David Lansbury told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lansbury also produced the popular 1974-75 Broadway revival of Gypsy that starred his sister in a Tony-winning turn and worked on other films including The Wild Party (1975), directed by James Ivory.
Angela Lansbury, winner of five Tony Awards and star of Murder, She Wrote, died on Oct. 11, 2022, at age 96. His twin brother, TV producer Bruce Lansbury, died in February 2017 at age 87.
Lansbury’s first Broadway production, the intense family drama The Subject Was Roses, opened in 1964, ran for two years, and won a Pulitzer Prize and the Tony for best play. Written by Frank Gilroy and directed by Ulu Grosbard, it starred Martin Sheen...
He died Thursday at his home in Manhattan, his son David Lansbury told The Hollywood Reporter.
Lansbury also produced the popular 1974-75 Broadway revival of Gypsy that starred his sister in a Tony-winning turn and worked on other films including The Wild Party (1975), directed by James Ivory.
Angela Lansbury, winner of five Tony Awards and star of Murder, She Wrote, died on Oct. 11, 2022, at age 96. His twin brother, TV producer Bruce Lansbury, died in February 2017 at age 87.
Lansbury’s first Broadway production, the intense family drama The Subject Was Roses, opened in 1964, ran for two years, and won a Pulitzer Prize and the Tony for best play. Written by Frank Gilroy and directed by Ulu Grosbard, it starred Martin Sheen...
- 5/4/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
They were the box-office titans behind sumptuous period masterpieces. Yet underneath, reveals a new warts-and-all film, they were skint, stressed, prone to blood-curdling bust-ups – and ping-ponging between lovers
If you were asked to guess which prestigious film-making duo had spent their career scratching around desperately for cash, trying to wriggle out of paying their cast and crew, ping-ponging between lovers, and having such blood-curdling bust-ups that their neighbours called the police, it might be some time before “Merchant Ivory” sprang to mind. But a new warts-and-all documentary about the Indian producer Ismail Merchant and the US director James Ivory makes it clear that the simmering passions in their films, such as the Em Forster trilogy of A Room With a View, Maurice and Howards End, were nothing compared to the scalding, volatile ones behind the camera.
From their initial meeting in New York in 1961 to Merchant’s death during surgery...
If you were asked to guess which prestigious film-making duo had spent their career scratching around desperately for cash, trying to wriggle out of paying their cast and crew, ping-ponging between lovers, and having such blood-curdling bust-ups that their neighbours called the police, it might be some time before “Merchant Ivory” sprang to mind. But a new warts-and-all documentary about the Indian producer Ismail Merchant and the US director James Ivory makes it clear that the simmering passions in their films, such as the Em Forster trilogy of A Room With a View, Maurice and Howards End, were nothing compared to the scalding, volatile ones behind the camera.
From their initial meeting in New York in 1961 to Merchant’s death during surgery...
- 3/12/2024
- by Ryan Gilbey
- The Guardian - Film News
She’s the reason that rising female stars are often called “the It girl.” She starred in the first movie to win an Oscar for best picture. By 1930, she’d made in 45 movies in six years. By 1933, after struggles with men and mental illness, Clara Bow’s Hollywood career was over.
There’s been a surge of interest in the legendary actress who straddled the silent and sound eras this week after Taylor Swift revealed the tracklist for her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” The last song on Side D is titled “Clara Bow.”
A native of Brooklyn, Bow grew up in poverty and got her start in pictures after she won a contest sponsored by a magazine. Her prizes were “an evening gown, a trophy and a promise to help the aspiring young actress gain entrée into the film industry,” according to Bow’s biography from Turner Classic Movies.
There’s been a surge of interest in the legendary actress who straddled the silent and sound eras this week after Taylor Swift revealed the tracklist for her upcoming album, “The Tortured Poets Department.” The last song on Side D is titled “Clara Bow.”
A native of Brooklyn, Bow grew up in poverty and got her start in pictures after she won a contest sponsored by a magazine. Her prizes were “an evening gown, a trophy and a promise to help the aspiring young actress gain entrée into the film industry,” according to Bow’s biography from Turner Classic Movies.
- 2/10/2024
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Taylor Swift may or may not be aligned with the interests of the U.S. government (she’s definitely not), but she does wield immense cultural power. Every time the 14-time Grammy winner includes an obscure lyrical reference in her songs, it creates an opportunity for the nerds who recognize it to say something like, oh, “But do you know what’s really cool about Clara Bow?”
So … do you know what’s really cool about Clara Bow?
Until this week, Clara Bow was just another silent movie star whose career got reduced to a persona in popular culture (the hedonistic “It Girl” both in the movie “It” and in her real life). But now that her name is revealed as inspiring a track on Swfit’s upcoming album “The Tortured Poets Department,” expect Bow to become a sensation all over again, 100 years after her heyday.
New Yorkers have the chance...
So … do you know what’s really cool about Clara Bow?
Until this week, Clara Bow was just another silent movie star whose career got reduced to a persona in popular culture (the hedonistic “It Girl” both in the movie “It” and in her real life). But now that her name is revealed as inspiring a track on Swfit’s upcoming album “The Tortured Poets Department,” expect Bow to become a sensation all over again, 100 years after her heyday.
New Yorkers have the chance...
- 2/9/2024
- by Sarah Shachat
- Indiewire
Taraji P. Henson’s new overall deal at BET Studios is already paying dividends, with Henson in talks to produce and star in “Queenie,” a new series about Stephanie St. Clair, otherwise known as the “Godmother of Harlem.”
Adapted by Leigh Davenport, the series is based on the book “The World of Stephanie St. Clair: An Entrepreneur, Race Woman and Outlaw in the Early Twentieth Century Harlem” by Shirley Stewart. It tells the true story of St. Clair, who in the 1920s and ’30s was “the most profitable female ‘numbers banker’ in an illegal underworld run by the most vicious and notorious of men.”
“To put it too simply, all she ever wanted was to run and mind her own business. After all, she was a lady,” the series logline explains. “But when a greedy and violent mobster began encroaching on her territory, she stood in defiance, waging a war that changed Harlem,...
Adapted by Leigh Davenport, the series is based on the book “The World of Stephanie St. Clair: An Entrepreneur, Race Woman and Outlaw in the Early Twentieth Century Harlem” by Shirley Stewart. It tells the true story of St. Clair, who in the 1920s and ’30s was “the most profitable female ‘numbers banker’ in an illegal underworld run by the most vicious and notorious of men.”
“To put it too simply, all she ever wanted was to run and mind her own business. After all, she was a lady,” the series logline explains. “But when a greedy and violent mobster began encroaching on her territory, she stood in defiance, waging a war that changed Harlem,...
- 5/12/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
5Ringside Media, the investment arm of Newen-backed indie Ringside Studios, has taken a minority stake in Joy Gharoro-Akpojotor’s Joi Productions.
Joi Productions was founded by Gharoro-Akpojotor, and in 2020 received a BFI Vision award. Gharoro-Akpojotor, a BAFTA Breakthrough nominee, has had breakout hits producing Rapman’s “Blue Story” and “Boxing Day.” She is currently producing the BBC’s “Champion,” written by “Queenie” author and screenwriter Candice Carty-Williams. Joi Productions focuses on Black, queer and female-led stories. Joining Joy is Wildgaze’s head of development, Tom Hawkins.
Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of parent company Newen’s strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and the U.K. The boutique investment fund is making bespoke investments and partnerships with companies looking for the benefits of a larger international and domestic network. The companies will work closely with Newen Connect, Newen’s distribution arm.
Ringside Media has also invested in Fictionhouse,...
Joi Productions was founded by Gharoro-Akpojotor, and in 2020 received a BFI Vision award. Gharoro-Akpojotor, a BAFTA Breakthrough nominee, has had breakout hits producing Rapman’s “Blue Story” and “Boxing Day.” She is currently producing the BBC’s “Champion,” written by “Queenie” author and screenwriter Candice Carty-Williams. Joi Productions focuses on Black, queer and female-led stories. Joining Joy is Wildgaze’s head of development, Tom Hawkins.
Ringside Media was established in 2020 as part of parent company Newen’s strategy to expand into the English-speaking scripted market and the U.K. The boutique investment fund is making bespoke investments and partnerships with companies looking for the benefits of a larger international and domestic network. The companies will work closely with Newen Connect, Newen’s distribution arm.
Ringside Media has also invested in Fictionhouse,...
- 4/7/2022
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Nehemiah Persoff, an actor who went from the uncredited role of a cab driver in On The Waterfront‘s iconic “coulda been a contender” scene to become one of the busiest character actors in television and film for five decades, died Tuesday at a rehabilitation facility in San Luis Obispo, California. He was 102.
Persoff had retired from acting in recent decades after suffering a stroke and other health issues. His death was reported to Deadline by a family friend.
Born in Jerusalem, Palestine, Persoff and his family moved to the United States in 1929, and after serving in the U.S. Army in World War II he relocated to New York to pursue a career in theater. He became a member of the famed Actors Studio in the late 1940s, studying with Elia Kazan, who would pay him a reported 75 to play the silent cab driver in Waterfront.
Persoff was also performing...
Persoff had retired from acting in recent decades after suffering a stroke and other health issues. His death was reported to Deadline by a family friend.
Born in Jerusalem, Palestine, Persoff and his family moved to the United States in 1929, and after serving in the U.S. Army in World War II he relocated to New York to pursue a career in theater. He became a member of the famed Actors Studio in the late 1940s, studying with Elia Kazan, who would pay him a reported 75 to play the silent cab driver in Waterfront.
Persoff was also performing...
- 4/6/2022
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Variety has selected its annual list of 10 Brits to Watch, an honor the publication has been bestowing since 2013. Honorees, which will be profiled in the Nov. 24 issue of Variety, include writers, actors, singers and other creatives working in all forms of media. Previous honorees include Sam Claflin, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jodie Turner-Smith.
Said Steven Gaydos, Senior VP Global Content/Executive Editor of Variety: “Never far from the center of global film and television creativity and accolades, in 2021 U.K. talent has reasserted its power and primacy with dynamic results. The recent Emmy awards were dominated by British wins across comedies and dramas and this year’s Fall Awards Season is packed with Brit contenders. It’s a perfect time for Variety’s annual 10 Brits to Watch, the must-read showcase for up-and-coming talents who are at the heart of the U.K.’s constant renewal and the replenishment of creativity behind the headlines.
Said Steven Gaydos, Senior VP Global Content/Executive Editor of Variety: “Never far from the center of global film and television creativity and accolades, in 2021 U.K. talent has reasserted its power and primacy with dynamic results. The recent Emmy awards were dominated by British wins across comedies and dramas and this year’s Fall Awards Season is packed with Brit contenders. It’s a perfect time for Variety’s annual 10 Brits to Watch, the must-read showcase for up-and-coming talents who are at the heart of the U.K.’s constant renewal and the replenishment of creativity behind the headlines.
- 10/7/2021
- by Jenelle Riley
- Variety Film + TV
BBC Drama Slate Features Series From ‘Rocks’ Writer Theresa Ikoko & ‘This Is England’s Shane Meadows
The BBC has unveiled its latest drama slate at a virtual event on Tuesday, pulling the curtain back on new series from Rocks writer Theresa Ikoko, This Is England creator Shane Meadows, and the latest female-focused drama from Killing Eve producer Sid Gentle Films.
Ikoko, who was BAFTA-nominated for Rocks, will adapt Nikki May’s soon-to-be-published debut novel Wahala, which follows three thirty-something Anglo-Nigerian women whose friendship group is infiltrated by the beautiful, charismatic, and super-wealthy Isobel.
Set in London, Isobel’s arrival creates mounting tensions, unravels bonds, and exposes secrets with shocking and tragic consequences. Ikoko said the series is “Big Little Lies meets Girlfriends” and will be an “amazing celebration of Nigerian British culture.”
Wahala is produced by Firebird Pictures, with founder Elizabeth Kilgarriff executive producing alongside the BBC’s Mona Qureshi. BBC Studios will distribute the series internationally.
The project was one of six series announced by BBC drama controller Piers Wenger,...
Ikoko, who was BAFTA-nominated for Rocks, will adapt Nikki May’s soon-to-be-published debut novel Wahala, which follows three thirty-something Anglo-Nigerian women whose friendship group is infiltrated by the beautiful, charismatic, and super-wealthy Isobel.
Set in London, Isobel’s arrival creates mounting tensions, unravels bonds, and exposes secrets with shocking and tragic consequences. Ikoko said the series is “Big Little Lies meets Girlfriends” and will be an “amazing celebration of Nigerian British culture.”
Wahala is produced by Firebird Pictures, with founder Elizabeth Kilgarriff executive producing alongside the BBC’s Mona Qureshi. BBC Studios will distribute the series internationally.
The project was one of six series announced by BBC drama controller Piers Wenger,...
- 5/18/2021
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
“Queenie” author Candice Carty-Williams[/link], “Everything I Know About Love” writer Dolly Alderton, “The Virtues” creator Shane Meadows and Michaela Coel are among the creatives delivering the next slate of dramas for the BBC.
Piers Wenger, drama controller for the BBC, teased a new project with Coel on Tuesday during a showcase of the Beeb’s upcoming drama offerings, though details were sparse. The “Chewing Gum” creator’s recent BBC collaboration, “I May Destroy You,” a searing portrayal of a woman rebuilding her life following her rape, has won international acclaim.
Other forthcoming dramas include Alderton’s adaptation of her popular autobiography “Everything I Know About Love” and BIFA-winning “Rocks” writer Theresa Ikoko’s adaptation of her forthcoming novel “Wahala.” (Details on all new commissions below.)
BBC drama has been on a steady clip of high-profile, critically lauded commissions in the last year. The public broadcaster recently topped the BAFTA TV...
Piers Wenger, drama controller for the BBC, teased a new project with Coel on Tuesday during a showcase of the Beeb’s upcoming drama offerings, though details were sparse. The “Chewing Gum” creator’s recent BBC collaboration, “I May Destroy You,” a searing portrayal of a woman rebuilding her life following her rape, has won international acclaim.
Other forthcoming dramas include Alderton’s adaptation of her popular autobiography “Everything I Know About Love” and BIFA-winning “Rocks” writer Theresa Ikoko’s adaptation of her forthcoming novel “Wahala.” (Details on all new commissions below.)
BBC drama has been on a steady clip of high-profile, critically lauded commissions in the last year. The public broadcaster recently topped the BAFTA TV...
- 5/18/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
Perry King has been hard-working actor for 50 years. Recently, he made his directorial debut with the feature The Divide, which he also stars in. King always dreamt of directing his own movie, and he directed The Divide with skill and honesty outside of the Hollywood system. His own Californian cattle ranch in El Dorado County served as a backdrop. The Divide, a good-natured, neo-Western, tells the strory of Jack, a rancher suffering from the onset of dementia. The feature was shot entirely in black-and-white, evoking Perry King’s favorite frontier dramas from his favorite classic Hollywood directors.
Perry King has been an acting legend since making his film debut as Billy Pilgrim’s son Robert in George Roy Hill’s remarkable Slaughterhouse-five in 1972. For the next decade, Perry starred in one memorable film after another: The Possession Of Joel Delaney (1972), The Lords Of Flatbush (1974), Mandingo (1974), The Wild Party (1975), Lipstick, Andy...
Perry King has been an acting legend since making his film debut as Billy Pilgrim’s son Robert in George Roy Hill’s remarkable Slaughterhouse-five in 1972. For the next decade, Perry starred in one memorable film after another: The Possession Of Joel Delaney (1972), The Lords Of Flatbush (1974), Mandingo (1974), The Wild Party (1975), Lipstick, Andy...
- 4/23/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: The Good Fight is getting a high-profile new cast addition for Season 5. Emmy and Tony winner Mandy Patinkin (Homeland) is joining the praised Paramount+ drama series as a series regular with a one-year deal.
Patinkin will play Hal Wackner, a layman with no legal training who spontaneously decides to open a court in the back of a copy shop. Against all odds, the court catches on, and the team at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart find themselves contending with judgements that mean nothing legally, but are honored by much of the entertained public.
This marks Patinkin’s return to television following his eight-season run as CIA vet Saul Berenson on Showtime’s Homeland, which landed him a Golden Globe nomination and four out of his seven Emmy nominations. Patinkin won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger on CBS’ Chicago Hope.
Coincidentally, Patinkin and The Good Fight star Christine Baranski,...
Patinkin will play Hal Wackner, a layman with no legal training who spontaneously decides to open a court in the back of a copy shop. Against all odds, the court catches on, and the team at Reddick, Boseman & Lockhart find themselves contending with judgements that mean nothing legally, but are honored by much of the entertained public.
This marks Patinkin’s return to television following his eight-season run as CIA vet Saul Berenson on Showtime’s Homeland, which landed him a Golden Globe nomination and four out of his seven Emmy nominations. Patinkin won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his role as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger on CBS’ Chicago Hope.
Coincidentally, Patinkin and The Good Fight star Christine Baranski,...
- 3/5/2021
- by Nellie Andreeva
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Mandy Patinkin has inked with ICM Partners.
Patinkin played CIA vet Saul Berenson on 96 episodes of Showtime’s Homeland, a role which landed him a Golden Globe TV supporting actor nomination and four out of his seven Emmy nominations. Patinkin won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the role of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger on Chicago Hope.
The Chicago, Ill. native cut his teeth in TV commercials and radio appearances before blazing a huge career on the New York stage playing opposite Meryl Streep and John Lithgow in the Arthur W. Pinero play Trelawny of the ‘Wells’. From 1975 through 1976, he also played Fortinbras, Prince of Norway and Player King in a Broadway revival of Hamlet, with Sam Waterston in the leading role. However, it was Patinkin’s turn as Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita opposite that won him a Best Featured Actor in...
Patinkin played CIA vet Saul Berenson on 96 episodes of Showtime’s Homeland, a role which landed him a Golden Globe TV supporting actor nomination and four out of his seven Emmy nominations. Patinkin won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for the role of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger on Chicago Hope.
The Chicago, Ill. native cut his teeth in TV commercials and radio appearances before blazing a huge career on the New York stage playing opposite Meryl Streep and John Lithgow in the Arthur W. Pinero play Trelawny of the ‘Wells’. From 1975 through 1976, he also played Fortinbras, Prince of Norway and Player King in a Broadway revival of Hamlet, with Sam Waterston in the leading role. However, it was Patinkin’s turn as Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Evita opposite that won him a Best Featured Actor in...
- 3/2/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Dena Dietrich, a character actress who appeared in numerous TV shows and on Broadway but was instantly recognizable as the face of Mother Nature from a popular, long-running commercial campaign for Chiffon margarine, died Saturday, Nov. 21 of natural causes in a Los Angeles health care facility. She was 91.
Her death was confirmed by SAG-AFTRA in a statement honoring Dietrich’s service as a former SAG National Board member for nearly a decade.
With an impeccable delivery and a lightning shift in mood from matronly sweet to thunderous anger, Dietrich first uttered what would become a classic commercial catchphrase – “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” – in 1971. The commercials, created by the D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles advertising agency, had Dietrich dressed in a diaphanous white gown and a daisy-chain laurel, test-tasting what she was sure to be her very own natural butter. Told by a narrator that she was actually eating Chiffon margarine,...
Her death was confirmed by SAG-AFTRA in a statement honoring Dietrich’s service as a former SAG National Board member for nearly a decade.
With an impeccable delivery and a lightning shift in mood from matronly sweet to thunderous anger, Dietrich first uttered what would become a classic commercial catchphrase – “It’s not nice to fool Mother Nature!” – in 1971. The commercials, created by the D’Arcy Masius Benton & Bowles advertising agency, had Dietrich dressed in a diaphanous white gown and a daisy-chain laurel, test-tasting what she was sure to be her very own natural butter. Told by a narrator that she was actually eating Chiffon margarine,...
- 11/24/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
“Cowboys and “Welcome to the USA” were awarded the top prizes at the 32nd annual NewFest LGBTQ Film Festival.
Top honors went to writer and director Anna Kerrigan for “Cowboys,” who took home the Grand Jury Prize for narrative feature, while director Assel Aushakimova’s “Welcome to the USA” won the Grand Jury Prize for international feature.
Director Posy Dixon’s “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” took home the documentary feature prize, and “Queenie” director Cai Thomas won for New York short.
The announcement was made today at the festival’s virtual award ceremony by NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director Of Programming Nick McCarthy.
The jury members — Rhys Ernst, Dino-Ray Ramos, and Isabel Sandoval; Whembley A. Sewell; Barbara Vasconez said, “We don’t often get to hear the stories of our trans elders through their own words, and to know that we have a living elder whose...
Top honors went to writer and director Anna Kerrigan for “Cowboys,” who took home the Grand Jury Prize for narrative feature, while director Assel Aushakimova’s “Welcome to the USA” won the Grand Jury Prize for international feature.
Director Posy Dixon’s “Keyboard Fantasies: The Beverly Glenn-Copeland Story” took home the documentary feature prize, and “Queenie” director Cai Thomas won for New York short.
The announcement was made today at the festival’s virtual award ceremony by NewFest Executive Director David Hatkoff and Director Of Programming Nick McCarthy.
The jury members — Rhys Ernst, Dino-Ray Ramos, and Isabel Sandoval; Whembley A. Sewell; Barbara Vasconez said, “We don’t often get to hear the stories of our trans elders through their own words, and to know that we have a living elder whose...
- 10/25/2020
- by Jazz Tangcay
- Variety Film + TV
This week, Dramatists Play Service's social media channel, 'Dps On Air,' features readings by Dps playwrights Michael John Lachiusa 'Hello Again,' 'The Wild Party,' 'See What I Wanna See' performing the song 'Dance While You Can' from his new musical 'The Gardens of Anuncia,' Kate Scelsa 'Everyone's Fine with Virginia Woolf' and more...
- 4/6/2020
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor and singer Nathan Lee Graham about Lena Horne's 1981 live album 'Lena Horne The Lady and Her Music.' They also discuss Andr De Shields, Billy Porter, 'Mame,' Robin de Jess, 'Showboat,' Angela Lansbury, 'Jesus Christ Superstar,' Judy Garland, Jenifer Lewis, James Brown III, Hal Prince, Susan Stroman, and Eartha Kitt. Nathan talks about social activism through art and how performers like Lena and Eartha have influenced his career. Nathan has starred on Broadway in beloved shows such as 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' and Michael John Lachiusa's 'The Wild Party.' He's appeared in the hit films 'Zoolander,' 'Sweet Home Alabama,' and 'Hitch,' and on TV shows such as 'The Comeback,' 'Absolutely Fabulous,' and 'Katy Keene.'...
- 3/9/2020
- by Ben Rimalower
- BroadwayWorld.com
Tami Neilson’s country-rockabilly-soul hybrid soars higher than the powerhouse singer’s black bouffant hairdo in “Queenie, Queenie,” an a cappella track backed by an infectious stick beat and a set of empowering lyrics. The song appears on the Canada-born, New Zealand-based singer’s new album, Chickaboom, which arrives February 14th and includes the previous release, “Hey, Bus Driver.”
Taking its inspiration from the eight outstretched arms of a Hindu goddess, the “Queenie, Queenie” video depicts Nielson having to use all those arms in a variety of ways, conveying the...
Taking its inspiration from the eight outstretched arms of a Hindu goddess, the “Queenie, Queenie” video depicts Nielson having to use all those arms in a variety of ways, conveying the...
- 2/13/2020
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Kirk Douglas, one of the last living survivors of the film industry’s golden age, has died, People reports. The actor, best known for his iconic role in Spartacus, was 103 years old.
Douglas is survived by his wife Anne and his three sons: Joel, Peter and Michael Douglas. Michael released a statement on Wednesday, which in part reads, “To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.
Douglas is survived by his wife Anne and his three sons: Joel, Peter and Michael Douglas. Michael released a statement on Wednesday, which in part reads, “To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the golden age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.
- 2/6/2020
- TVLine.com
Stephanie J. Block is the frontrunner to win Best Actress in a Musical at this Sunday’s Tonys for her dynamic embodiment of Cher in “The Cher Show.” However, Tony history is not on her side. You have to go back to 2000 to find a leading lady who won without her show at least being in contention for Best Musical or Best Musical Revival.
Heather Headley won for “Aida,” edging out Toni Collette (“The Wild Party”), Rebecca Luker (“The Music Man”), the late Marin Mazzie and future Tony record-setter Audra McDonald (“Marie Christine”). Collette, Luker, and Mazzie all headlined productions that competed for one of the top categories.
It was something of a shock when “Aida” was left out of the Best Musical category. Perhaps that snub built sentiment for “Aida” and its powerhouse star. Voters certainly disagreed with the nominating committee as the tuner took home an additional three Tony Awards.
Heather Headley won for “Aida,” edging out Toni Collette (“The Wild Party”), Rebecca Luker (“The Music Man”), the late Marin Mazzie and future Tony record-setter Audra McDonald (“Marie Christine”). Collette, Luker, and Mazzie all headlined productions that competed for one of the top categories.
It was something of a shock when “Aida” was left out of the Best Musical category. Perhaps that snub built sentiment for “Aida” and its powerhouse star. Voters certainly disagreed with the nominating committee as the tuner took home an additional three Tony Awards.
- 6/6/2019
- by Sam Eckmann
- Gold Derby
Toni Collette is set to join the cast of Rian Johnson’s murder mystery “Knives Out.”
The movie stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Lakeith Stanfield, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ana de Armas. Johnson will write and direct, as well as produce with Ram Bergman. Production is set to begin in November.
The pic from Mrc is a modern-day murder mystery in the classic whodunit style, infused with Johnson’s original voice that informed films from “Brick” to “Looper.” Craig will star as a detective assigned to solve the crime. Details about Collette’s character remain unknown.
Collette received raves for her performance in A24’s thriller “Hereditary.” The decorated actress scored an Oscar nod for 1999’s “The Sixth Sense.” She also received a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her role in the TV series “United States of Tara.” Collette secured a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006 for “Little Miss Sunshine,...
The movie stars Daniel Craig, Chris Evans, Lakeith Stanfield, Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ana de Armas. Johnson will write and direct, as well as produce with Ram Bergman. Production is set to begin in November.
The pic from Mrc is a modern-day murder mystery in the classic whodunit style, infused with Johnson’s original voice that informed films from “Brick” to “Looper.” Craig will star as a detective assigned to solve the crime. Details about Collette’s character remain unknown.
Collette received raves for her performance in A24’s thriller “Hereditary.” The decorated actress scored an Oscar nod for 1999’s “The Sixth Sense.” She also received a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her role in the TV series “United States of Tara.” Collette secured a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2006 for “Little Miss Sunshine,...
- 10/30/2018
- by Justin Kroll
- Variety Film + TV
Hereditary looks terrifying. If you can get past the shots of Alex Wolff bashing his face into his desk or that person who is literally on fire in the trailer, you might have said to yourself as a way of distracting from the terror: "Self, who is that lady playing the mom?"
The answer is Toni Collette. Still not ringing a bell? For shame! The actress has racked up nominations for Golden Globes, Oscars, and Tonys thanks to her versatile work over the years. Collette started as a comedy actor in the '90s, breaking out in the classic Australian film Muriel's Wedding (below).
Her big foray into horror came in 1999 when she played the mother of Haley Joel Osment's character in The Sixth Sense, which horror buffs (and film critics) will remember as M. Night Shyamalan's only really palatable film. For the role of a stressed and...
The answer is Toni Collette. Still not ringing a bell? For shame! The actress has racked up nominations for Golden Globes, Oscars, and Tonys thanks to her versatile work over the years. Collette started as a comedy actor in the '90s, breaking out in the classic Australian film Muriel's Wedding (below).
Her big foray into horror came in 1999 when she played the mother of Haley Joel Osment's character in The Sixth Sense, which horror buffs (and film critics) will remember as M. Night Shyamalan's only really palatable film. For the role of a stressed and...
- 6/10/2018
- by Melanie Moyer
- Popsugar.com
The wry, witty, and sophisticated Tony nominee Jane Summerhays swings by Shetler Studios to look back on her incredible career in such musicals as A Chorus Line, Me and My Girl for which she was nominated for the Tony, Lend Me A Tenor, The Wild Party, and what it was like to learn from artists like Barbara Cook, Wally Harper, and Mabel Mercer.
- 4/22/2018
- by Behind the Curtain
- BroadwayWorld.com
The Passion of Joan of Arc
Blu ray
Criterion
1928 / 1:33 / 81 Min. / Street Date March 20, 2018
Starring Renée Jeanne Falconetti, Eugene Silvain
Cinematography by Rudolph Maté
Written by Joseph Delteil, Carl Dreyer
Music by Richard Einhorn, Will Gregory, Adrian Utley
Edited by Carl Dreyer, Marguerite Beaugé
Produced and directed by Carl Dreyer
For over a century the story of Joan of Arc has been catnip to an army of filmmakers ranging from DeMille to Bresson. Surrounded by meddlesome producers and difficult divas, maybe those weary moviemakers saw something of themselves in the embattled heroine – but no director had better insight into God’s own rabble-rouser than Carl Dreyer.
90 years on, The Passion of Joan of Arc continues to astonish. Combining the grim-faced piety of Renaissance art with the unvarnished intimacy of depression era portraits, Dreyer’s 1928 masterpiece still has the power to transform the lowliest grindhouse into a cathedral.
In 1417 a trio...
Blu ray
Criterion
1928 / 1:33 / 81 Min. / Street Date March 20, 2018
Starring Renée Jeanne Falconetti, Eugene Silvain
Cinematography by Rudolph Maté
Written by Joseph Delteil, Carl Dreyer
Music by Richard Einhorn, Will Gregory, Adrian Utley
Edited by Carl Dreyer, Marguerite Beaugé
Produced and directed by Carl Dreyer
For over a century the story of Joan of Arc has been catnip to an army of filmmakers ranging from DeMille to Bresson. Surrounded by meddlesome producers and difficult divas, maybe those weary moviemakers saw something of themselves in the embattled heroine – but no director had better insight into God’s own rabble-rouser than Carl Dreyer.
90 years on, The Passion of Joan of Arc continues to astonish. Combining the grim-faced piety of Renaissance art with the unvarnished intimacy of depression era portraits, Dreyer’s 1928 masterpiece still has the power to transform the lowliest grindhouse into a cathedral.
In 1417 a trio...
- 3/13/2018
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Dorothy Arzner now has a permanent place on the Paramount lot.
On Thursday afternoon, the studio named an office building facing Production Park after the woman who directed Paramount’s first talking feature, 1929’s box-office hit The Wild Party starring Clara Bow. (Among Arzner’s other “firsts” was being the first woman admitted to the Directors Guild of America and the first film editor to receive a screen credit.)
The naming ceremony began with a small reception in the Park with guests including Betty Thomas, Mimi Leder, Eleanor Coppola, Leonard Maltin, Paramount execs Wyck Godfrey and Liz Raposo plus Academy of Motion...
On Thursday afternoon, the studio named an office building facing Production Park after the woman who directed Paramount’s first talking feature, 1929’s box-office hit The Wild Party starring Clara Bow. (Among Arzner’s other “firsts” was being the first woman admitted to the Directors Guild of America and the first film editor to receive a screen credit.)
The naming ceremony began with a small reception in the Park with guests including Betty Thomas, Mimi Leder, Eleanor Coppola, Leonard Maltin, Paramount execs Wyck Godfrey and Liz Raposo plus Academy of Motion...
- 3/2/2018
- by Bill Higgins
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
BroadwayCon's Special Guest lineup continues to grow BroadwayCon hasannounced Ilana Levine You're A Good Man Charlie Brown, Julia Murney Wicked, The Wild Party, and Nic Rouleau The Book of Mormon, Legally Blonde have joined the Special Guest lineup for BroadwayCon 2018.
- 8/23/2017
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
There is a very niche swath of Broadway lovers and lesbians who will be over the moon to see Audra McDonald and Martha Plimpton share a seductive scene in “Hello Again,” a film adaptation of Michael John Lachiusa’s 1993 musical which released its steamy new trailer today.
Read More: Why the ‘Swiss Army Man’ Directors Backed the Psychedelic Comedy-Musical ‘Snowy Bing Bongs’
“Hello Again” tells ten love affairs set in each decade of the 20th century, following the sexual escapades of characters with names like The Whore, The College Boy, and The Young Thing. Lachiusa is best known for writing “The Wild Party,” which developed a cult following in the years since its Broadway debut in 1999. “Hello Again” is based on “La Ronde,” the 1897 play by Arthur Schnitzler which caused an uproar when it first played Berlin and Vienna in 1920.
Read More: ‘Dirty Dancing’ Review: ABC Musical Event Is Decidedly Not Worth Your Time
The movie stars six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, as well as similarly lauded theater actors Martha Plimpton, T.R. Knight, Cheyenne Jackson, and Rumer Willis. “Hello Again” is directed by Tom Gustafson from a screenplay by Cory Krueckeberg, the same pair behind the 2012 musical comedy “Mariachi Gringo.”
How many Broadway stars can you find?
Stay on top of the latest film and TV news! Sign up for our film and TV email newsletter here.
Related stories'Le Trou' Trailer: Jacques Becker's Nerve-Wracking Prison Break Drama Gets a Stunning Restoration -- Watch'To the Bone' Trailer: Lily Collins Stars In Marti Noxon's Deeply Personal Eating Disorder Drama -- Watch'God's Own Country' Trailer: A Taut Gay Romance With Verité Intimacy Set In The Yorkshire Countryside -- Watch...
Read More: Why the ‘Swiss Army Man’ Directors Backed the Psychedelic Comedy-Musical ‘Snowy Bing Bongs’
“Hello Again” tells ten love affairs set in each decade of the 20th century, following the sexual escapades of characters with names like The Whore, The College Boy, and The Young Thing. Lachiusa is best known for writing “The Wild Party,” which developed a cult following in the years since its Broadway debut in 1999. “Hello Again” is based on “La Ronde,” the 1897 play by Arthur Schnitzler which caused an uproar when it first played Berlin and Vienna in 1920.
Read More: ‘Dirty Dancing’ Review: ABC Musical Event Is Decidedly Not Worth Your Time
The movie stars six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, as well as similarly lauded theater actors Martha Plimpton, T.R. Knight, Cheyenne Jackson, and Rumer Willis. “Hello Again” is directed by Tom Gustafson from a screenplay by Cory Krueckeberg, the same pair behind the 2012 musical comedy “Mariachi Gringo.”
How many Broadway stars can you find?
Stay on top of the latest film and TV news! Sign up for our film and TV email newsletter here.
Related stories'Le Trou' Trailer: Jacques Becker's Nerve-Wracking Prison Break Drama Gets a Stunning Restoration -- Watch'To the Bone' Trailer: Lily Collins Stars In Marti Noxon's Deeply Personal Eating Disorder Drama -- Watch'God's Own Country' Trailer: A Taut Gay Romance With Verité Intimacy Set In The Yorkshire Countryside -- Watch...
- 6/21/2017
- by Jude Dry
- Indiewire
Frances Ruffelle is perhaps best known for originating the role of Eponine in Les Miserables. She's since done numerous other stage roles, produced several albums and represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, and will soon star as Queenie in The Wild Party, the opening musical of Andrew Lloyd Webber's revamped The Other Palace the show begins previews on 13 February.
- 1/25/2017
- by Marianka Swain
- BroadwayWorld.com
Frances Ruffelle is perhaps best known for originating the role of Eponine in Les Miserables. She's since done numerous other stage roles, produced several albums and represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, and will soon star as Queenie in The Wild Party, the opening musical of Andrew Lloyd Webber's revamped The Other Palace the show begins previews on 13 February.
- 1/24/2017
- by Marianka Swain
- BroadwayWorld.com
Tony and Grammy award-nominated Michael McElroy and Broadway Inspirational Voices released the sixth video in their 'Broadway Our Way'series today, featuring 'I Don't Need A Roof' from the musical Big Fish, with music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa multi-award winner, including Emmy, Outer Critics, and Drama Desk Awards Grammy, and Tony nominations for The Wild Party, The Addams Family, I Am Harvey Milk. Check it out below...
- 1/9/2017
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
As Michael John Lachiusa's The Wild Party will receive its first major London production at The Other Palace, playing from Saturday 11 February to Saturday 1 April 2017, with a press night on Monday 20 February. Directed and choreographed by 2016 Olivier Award winner Drew McOnie and starring Tony Award winner Frances Ruffelle, The Wild Party will be the inaugural production at The Other Palace, formerly St. James Theatre, when it reopens in February 2017 as the newest addition to The Really Useful Theatres Group and a home for new musical theatre.
- 10/7/2016
- by Marianka Swain
- BroadwayWorld.com
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley brings U.S. audiences their first look a London hit with theAmerican Premiere of the joyous musical revue The Life of the Party. Directed and co-created by David Babani, the Artistic Director of London's Menier Chocolate Factory, this rollicking musical journey celebrates the songs of Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish who takes the stage as a featured performer, along with a cast of Broadway and West End veterans, bringing to life a hilarious, uplifting, memorable evening. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below...
- 8/25/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Los Angeles actors, this week’s casting highlights have been chosen just for you! They include an upcoming production of Andrew Lippa’s “The Wild Party,” as well as two short films. Check out some of the awesome Golden State notices you may have missed this week! Andrew Lippa’S “The Wild Party”Director/producer, Quentin Garzon, is currently casting for a leading role in his upcoming production of Andrew Lippa’s musical, “The Wild Party.” The production seeks a union or nonunion actor to portray Black, who is “suave, handsome, in great shape; he is an enigmatic loner, smooth talking, and romantic.” The piece will begin rehearsing immediately, with a run slated for Sept. 9–Oct. 2 at The Complex in Los Angeles. “Hypochondriac”Two leading roles are sought for "Hypochondriac," a new web series from Dandelion Films. Depicting a woman “who thinks she has a new medical condition every episode...
- 8/19/2016
- backstage.com
TheatreWorks Silicon Valley will bring U.S. audiences their first look a London hit, when it presents the American Premiere of the joyous musical revue The Life of the Party. Directed and co-created by David Babani, the Artistic Director of London's Menier Chocolate Factory, this rollicking musical journey celebrates the songs of Tony Award-nominated composer Andrew Lippa The Wild Party, The Addams Family, Big Fish who takes the stage as a featured performer, along with a cast of Broadway and West End veterans, bringing to life a hilarious, uplifting, memorable evening. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below...
- 8/10/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
It’s not often that a primetime network TV show devotes three minutes of airtime to a “Les Miserables” sendup featuring hyper-specific references to Inland Empire utility politics. But it helps when you have the right people to pull it off.
Such are the sheer, nothing-else-like-it delights of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” the newest jewel in the CW crown. At the show’s center is Rachel Bloom, who in addition to being the show’s star and co-creator (alongside “The Devil Wears Prada” scribe Aline Brosh McKenna) is also one of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s” biggest fans.
When we spoke to Bloom, the talk kept turning toward the cast and crew that helps color this crazy, lovable slice of the TV landscape. From the writing staff to the songwriting team headlined by executive music producer Adam Schlesinger, she spoke about how it takes a village to raise a child (that occasionally sings therapeutic boy band parodies).
It seems like a nice added bonus that the people you’ve cast in these central roles get to have their featured moments. If you want them to grow, you can give them their own songs.
A lot of other people on our show, they’re Broadway people — they’re singers by trade. With the roles of Josh and Greg, we weren’t even necessarily looking for people who could sing. We were looking for the best actors. In the breakdowns, we were putting things like, “sing, rap, play guitar — we’ll write to your strengths.” Not in our wildest dreams could we have realized the kind of Renaissance men that we cast in both Santino and Vince — I mean, God, Vince has like three black belts.
Pete is a comedy/improv/sketch guy and would not consider himself a singer, but he has a really good voice. And he’s really in touch with his body. Vella is the same way. She’s a fantastic actress. She went to Juilliard, and I think with her training and with her natural abilities, she has the command over her voice. And so that was a really pleasant surprise for us when we realized, “Oh, we don’t have to Auto-Tune these people.”
It’s great that they’re all different kinds of voice types on this show, because you have Vince with more of a pop sound, you have Santino with the classic sound, you have Donna with the big Broadway belt, you have Pete with this twang, and then you have Vella with this like rock and roll thing that we’re so excited to write more for her. She sang at our cast party, we had a karaoke machine and she sang TLC’s “Waterfalls…”
Oh my God.
And it was so good! And Adam [Schlesinger] and I were watching her, and I was like, “We gotta write a ’90s song for Vella” and he was like, “Absolutely.” It was kind of like she was auditioning for us — except she was drunk and didn’t realize she was — and we never cease to be amazed and surprised with the talents of the actors we have on the show. It’s not what you hear about working with TV actors sometimes, where they’re afraid to be brave or they’re snobby or they’ll only film from 1 to 4:30 and then they’ll be in their trailer. We have such grateful theater people.
And people like Pete still get non-singing moments like “Having a Few People Over,” which probably wouldn’t exist if you were working with a shorter runtime.
Precisely. I really like that now, in any given episode, a lot of the time the second song is another character. And it’s about the B-story. That makes me really happy. I think that some of the most impactful storylines we’ve done come from exploring things like Darryl and [White] Josh. It’s funny because now they’re everyone else’s favorite couple, and I’m kind of like “They were my favorite couple first!” I was on set for their first kiss. I got to sit on set, and I was like, “Done! They’re my favorite couple, they’re the ones I root for. Don’t give a fuck about anyone else.” Next season we’re going to deal with them more.
One of my favorite moments was when you brought back the grocery clerk at the end of the season.
This is actually pretty great. We were writing the song “I Have Friends” and I had a rough draft written and I was brainstorming with Aline, our other executive producer, Erin Ehrlich, and our co-executive producer Michael Hitchcock. “I Have Friends” is all about those fun specifics, like “a janitor that lives in an Rv behind the school.” And Hitchcock just busted out “grocery clerk with half an eyelid,” and I was like, “Done. Yes.” There was something so B-52’s about it and when I think of B-52’s I think of this kind of like nasal voice, which made me think of my friend Ben, who I did stuff at Ucb with and was also on an improv team with our writer’s assistant Elisabeth [Kiernan Averick]. Before he even auditioned or knew we were thinking of him, we just started writing the lines in his voice. We had such a great deleted scene from Episode 3 of him and Pete just going on an improv run. It was one of the funniest things to watch all season, and hopefully we’ll release it on a DVD extra.
When you’re shooting scenes, it’s easy to toss lines in. Is there a lyric or musical moment that came kind of at the last minute?
For “Sexy Getting Ready Song,” the lyric “whisper your dick hard” originally was something else. We were in the recording studio, and Jack, who produced the song, was directing me and he was just like “Okay, this next take, I want you to whisper someone’s dick hard,” and I was like, “Jack! That’s a lyric!”
CBS hasn’t gotten into the live musical game yet. But if they do, is there a particular show that you’d like for them to do?
Well, I’m pretty indie musical theatre. So if they did anything Sondheim, if they did a live version of “Assassins” or “Company”? God, if you’re gonna do a live show, doing “Rent” would be just fun.
Would you want to be Maureen?
Oh, yeah. Yes, I’d want to be Maureen. [laughs]
I mean, anything Kander and Ebb. “Chicago,” “Cabaret.” For any Jewish comedian who can sing, I mean “Funny Girl” is kind of the ultimate, right?
As a big musical theater fan, do you have a go-to underrated show that, if someone was really digging deeper, you would point them toward?
For comedy, “Gutenberg! the Musical.” That soundtrack is amazing. It’s just such a great example of comedy musical theater that should be mentioned more. And “Light in the Piazza” is just brilliant. I love “Whatever I Dream” from “A New Brain.” Michael John Lachiusa’s “The Wild Party,” which I actually directed in college, is one of the most underrated musical theater scores. The way the genre changes as the show gets darker, it’s absolutely brilliant.
There’s another musical he wrote called “Hello Again.” The song “Tom” from Hello Again is just one of the greatest songs ever written in musical theater. “Tom,” “Safe,” and “Mistress of the Senator,” every song on “Hello Again” is a winner and I feel like no one ever talks about it.
Obviously, you have a deep love of musical theater and now have people asking for the sheet music to use for audition songs in the future. That has to be an exciting feeling.
Oh, it’s so exciting. If you could be in on all the emails! I am bugging people constantly because I want the musical theater kids out there to have sheet music and karaoke tracks! So everything that the fans ask, chances are I’ve already asked about 6,000 times. It’s really exciting for me to interact with fans because fans of the show are people that I would want to be friends with. This is a show that I would watch.
[Editor’s Note: IndieWire’s Consider This campaign is an ongoing series meant to raise awareness for Emmy contenders our editorial staff and readership find compelling, fascinating and deserving. Running throughout awards season, Consider This contenders may be underdogs, frontrunners or somewhere in between. More importantly, they’re making damn good television we all should be watching, whether they’re nominated or not.]
Stay on top of the latest TV news! Sign up for our TV email newsletter here.
Related storiesTV Creators Agree the State of Lgbtq Characters is Slowly But Surely ImprovingDaily Reads: The Genius of 'Girls' Lies in Its Unlikeable Characters, How 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Brought the Asian Bro to TV, and MoreDoes the CW Have a Season Two Problem?...
Such are the sheer, nothing-else-like-it delights of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” the newest jewel in the CW crown. At the show’s center is Rachel Bloom, who in addition to being the show’s star and co-creator (alongside “The Devil Wears Prada” scribe Aline Brosh McKenna) is also one of “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s” biggest fans.
When we spoke to Bloom, the talk kept turning toward the cast and crew that helps color this crazy, lovable slice of the TV landscape. From the writing staff to the songwriting team headlined by executive music producer Adam Schlesinger, she spoke about how it takes a village to raise a child (that occasionally sings therapeutic boy band parodies).
It seems like a nice added bonus that the people you’ve cast in these central roles get to have their featured moments. If you want them to grow, you can give them their own songs.
A lot of other people on our show, they’re Broadway people — they’re singers by trade. With the roles of Josh and Greg, we weren’t even necessarily looking for people who could sing. We were looking for the best actors. In the breakdowns, we were putting things like, “sing, rap, play guitar — we’ll write to your strengths.” Not in our wildest dreams could we have realized the kind of Renaissance men that we cast in both Santino and Vince — I mean, God, Vince has like three black belts.
Pete is a comedy/improv/sketch guy and would not consider himself a singer, but he has a really good voice. And he’s really in touch with his body. Vella is the same way. She’s a fantastic actress. She went to Juilliard, and I think with her training and with her natural abilities, she has the command over her voice. And so that was a really pleasant surprise for us when we realized, “Oh, we don’t have to Auto-Tune these people.”
It’s great that they’re all different kinds of voice types on this show, because you have Vince with more of a pop sound, you have Santino with the classic sound, you have Donna with the big Broadway belt, you have Pete with this twang, and then you have Vella with this like rock and roll thing that we’re so excited to write more for her. She sang at our cast party, we had a karaoke machine and she sang TLC’s “Waterfalls…”
Oh my God.
And it was so good! And Adam [Schlesinger] and I were watching her, and I was like, “We gotta write a ’90s song for Vella” and he was like, “Absolutely.” It was kind of like she was auditioning for us — except she was drunk and didn’t realize she was — and we never cease to be amazed and surprised with the talents of the actors we have on the show. It’s not what you hear about working with TV actors sometimes, where they’re afraid to be brave or they’re snobby or they’ll only film from 1 to 4:30 and then they’ll be in their trailer. We have such grateful theater people.
And people like Pete still get non-singing moments like “Having a Few People Over,” which probably wouldn’t exist if you were working with a shorter runtime.
Precisely. I really like that now, in any given episode, a lot of the time the second song is another character. And it’s about the B-story. That makes me really happy. I think that some of the most impactful storylines we’ve done come from exploring things like Darryl and [White] Josh. It’s funny because now they’re everyone else’s favorite couple, and I’m kind of like “They were my favorite couple first!” I was on set for their first kiss. I got to sit on set, and I was like, “Done! They’re my favorite couple, they’re the ones I root for. Don’t give a fuck about anyone else.” Next season we’re going to deal with them more.
One of my favorite moments was when you brought back the grocery clerk at the end of the season.
This is actually pretty great. We were writing the song “I Have Friends” and I had a rough draft written and I was brainstorming with Aline, our other executive producer, Erin Ehrlich, and our co-executive producer Michael Hitchcock. “I Have Friends” is all about those fun specifics, like “a janitor that lives in an Rv behind the school.” And Hitchcock just busted out “grocery clerk with half an eyelid,” and I was like, “Done. Yes.” There was something so B-52’s about it and when I think of B-52’s I think of this kind of like nasal voice, which made me think of my friend Ben, who I did stuff at Ucb with and was also on an improv team with our writer’s assistant Elisabeth [Kiernan Averick]. Before he even auditioned or knew we were thinking of him, we just started writing the lines in his voice. We had such a great deleted scene from Episode 3 of him and Pete just going on an improv run. It was one of the funniest things to watch all season, and hopefully we’ll release it on a DVD extra.
When you’re shooting scenes, it’s easy to toss lines in. Is there a lyric or musical moment that came kind of at the last minute?
For “Sexy Getting Ready Song,” the lyric “whisper your dick hard” originally was something else. We were in the recording studio, and Jack, who produced the song, was directing me and he was just like “Okay, this next take, I want you to whisper someone’s dick hard,” and I was like, “Jack! That’s a lyric!”
CBS hasn’t gotten into the live musical game yet. But if they do, is there a particular show that you’d like for them to do?
Well, I’m pretty indie musical theatre. So if they did anything Sondheim, if they did a live version of “Assassins” or “Company”? God, if you’re gonna do a live show, doing “Rent” would be just fun.
Would you want to be Maureen?
Oh, yeah. Yes, I’d want to be Maureen. [laughs]
I mean, anything Kander and Ebb. “Chicago,” “Cabaret.” For any Jewish comedian who can sing, I mean “Funny Girl” is kind of the ultimate, right?
As a big musical theater fan, do you have a go-to underrated show that, if someone was really digging deeper, you would point them toward?
For comedy, “Gutenberg! the Musical.” That soundtrack is amazing. It’s just such a great example of comedy musical theater that should be mentioned more. And “Light in the Piazza” is just brilliant. I love “Whatever I Dream” from “A New Brain.” Michael John Lachiusa’s “The Wild Party,” which I actually directed in college, is one of the most underrated musical theater scores. The way the genre changes as the show gets darker, it’s absolutely brilliant.
There’s another musical he wrote called “Hello Again.” The song “Tom” from Hello Again is just one of the greatest songs ever written in musical theater. “Tom,” “Safe,” and “Mistress of the Senator,” every song on “Hello Again” is a winner and I feel like no one ever talks about it.
Obviously, you have a deep love of musical theater and now have people asking for the sheet music to use for audition songs in the future. That has to be an exciting feeling.
Oh, it’s so exciting. If you could be in on all the emails! I am bugging people constantly because I want the musical theater kids out there to have sheet music and karaoke tracks! So everything that the fans ask, chances are I’ve already asked about 6,000 times. It’s really exciting for me to interact with fans because fans of the show are people that I would want to be friends with. This is a show that I would watch.
[Editor’s Note: IndieWire’s Consider This campaign is an ongoing series meant to raise awareness for Emmy contenders our editorial staff and readership find compelling, fascinating and deserving. Running throughout awards season, Consider This contenders may be underdogs, frontrunners or somewhere in between. More importantly, they’re making damn good television we all should be watching, whether they’re nominated or not.]
Stay on top of the latest TV news! Sign up for our TV email newsletter here.
Related storiesTV Creators Agree the State of Lgbtq Characters is Slowly But Surely ImprovingDaily Reads: The Genius of 'Girls' Lies in Its Unlikeable Characters, How 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' Brought the Asian Bro to TV, and MoreDoes the CW Have a Season Two Problem?...
- 6/13/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Today in 2000, The Wild Party opened at the Virginia Theatre now the August Wilson Theatre, where it ran for 68 performances. The Wild Party is a musical with a book by Michael John Lachiusa and George C. Wolfe and music and lyrics by Lachiusa. It is based on the 1928 Joseph Moncure March narrative poem of the same name. The Broadway production coincidentally opened during the same theatrical season 1999-2000 as an off-Broadway musical with the same title and source material. Its plot centers on a party - fueled by bathtub gin, cocaine, and uninhibited sexual behavior - hosted by Queenie and Burrs, whose relationship is disintegrating. The cast included Toni Collette making her Broadway debut as Queenie, Mandy Patinkin as Burrs, and Yancey Arias as Black.
- 4/13/2016
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Hard to believe it's been 15 years since "Bridget Jones's Diary" surprised the world with blue soup, ugly Christmas sweaters, an unexpectedly funny Colin Firth, a shockingly nasty Hugh Grant, and a stunningly perfect English accent emerging from Texan Renée Zellweger.
Since the film adaptation of Helen Fielding's novel hit these shores on April 13, 2001, the awkward but lovable "singleton" heroine has been a worldwide favorite, spawning a 2004 sequel and a long-awaited third installment, "Bridget Jones's Baby," finally due for delivery this fall. To celebrate the film's 15th anniversary this week, here are some behind-the-scenes facts you need to know.
1. Helen Fielding's worldwide bestseller started out as a series of columns in Britain's Independent newspaper that loosely fictionalized the romantic misadventures of Fielding and her thirtysomething pals. Fielding acknowledged that she lifted her storyline from "Pride and Prejudice." "Jane Austen's plots are very good and have been market researched...
Since the film adaptation of Helen Fielding's novel hit these shores on April 13, 2001, the awkward but lovable "singleton" heroine has been a worldwide favorite, spawning a 2004 sequel and a long-awaited third installment, "Bridget Jones's Baby," finally due for delivery this fall. To celebrate the film's 15th anniversary this week, here are some behind-the-scenes facts you need to know.
1. Helen Fielding's worldwide bestseller started out as a series of columns in Britain's Independent newspaper that loosely fictionalized the romantic misadventures of Fielding and her thirtysomething pals. Fielding acknowledged that she lifted her storyline from "Pride and Prejudice." "Jane Austen's plots are very good and have been market researched...
- 4/12/2016
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
The Old Globe welcomes Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, making his musical directing debut with Rain, a sumptuous world premiere musical by one of the most significant teams working in theatre today composer and lyricist Michael John Lachiusa The Wild Party, Giant and book writer Sybille Pearson Giant. Based on the short story by Somerset Maugham, Rain will play tonight, March 24, through May 1, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Friday, April 1 at 800 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the stars in character, plus the full company, below...
- 3/24/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
The Old Globe welcomes Globe Artistic Director Barry Edelstein, making his musical directing debut with Rain, a sumptuous world premiere musical by one of the most significant teams working in theatre today composer and lyricist Michael John Lachiusa The Wild Party, Giant and book writer Sybille Pearson Giant. Based on the short story by Somerset Maugham, Rain will play March 24 - May 1, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Previews run March 24 - 31. Opening night is Friday, April 1 at 800 p.m. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the stars in character, plus the full company, below...
- 2/29/2016
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Brian d’Arcy James has quite a presence, dashing and charming, and lots of leading man talent. I first heard him sing alongside Idina Menzel on the cast recording of The Wild Party.
- 1/4/2016
- by Jazz Tangcay
- AwardsDaily.com
Happy Birthday, Mandy Patinkin Mandy Patinkin won the Tony Award for his Broadway debut in Evita and was again nominated for Sunday in the Park with George and The Wild Party. He also appeared on Broadway in Trelawny of the 'Wells,' The Shadow Box, The Secret Garden, Falsettos, and his solo concerts Dress Casual, Celebrating Sondheim, and Mamaloshen. Other theatre credits include The Split, Savages, Enemy of the People, and most recently The Tempest at Classic Stage Company. Mandy continues to tour his concerts Dress Casual, Celebrating Sondheim, Mamaloshen, and An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin.
- 11/30/2015
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Manuel here. Has it really been a year since the last time I gave thanks (not coincidentally with another pic of Ms Blanchett)? I feel as though I should be giving thanks in front of some sort of food, so imagine I’ve come with a full dozen donuts from Donut Time.
I’m thankful…
- For unabashedly queer Christmas flicks featuring fab ladies.
- For having had the chance to see over twenty-four films at the New York Film Festival (and having been in the same room as Kate Winslet!!)
- For Wiig, in all and every incarnation.
- For Joy and Joy (and consequently, Amy Poehler and Brie Larson).
- For all the delicious food on Please Like Me, a show you should all be watching!
- For Mad Men’s beautiful and perfect ending.
- For Twelve Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer, one of the greatest TV episodes this year.
I’m thankful…
- For unabashedly queer Christmas flicks featuring fab ladies.
- For having had the chance to see over twenty-four films at the New York Film Festival (and having been in the same room as Kate Winslet!!)
- For Wiig, in all and every incarnation.
- For Joy and Joy (and consequently, Amy Poehler and Brie Larson).
- For all the delicious food on Please Like Me, a show you should all be watching!
- For Mad Men’s beautiful and perfect ending.
- For Twelve Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer, one of the greatest TV episodes this year.
- 11/24/2015
- by Manuel Betancourt
- FilmExperience
The Dramatists Guild Fund just welcomed a slew of stars for their 2015 Gala, Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer, Darren Criss. Directed by Leigh Silverman Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish with Music Direction by Charlie Rosen, the event featured award-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, including Stephen Schwartz, Kirsten Childs, Gretchen Cryer amp Nancy Ford, Sheldon Harnick, Benj Pasek amp Justin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe amp Nell Benjamin, Steven Sater and Benjamin Scheuer.
- 10/28/2015
- by Walter McBride
- BroadwayWorld.com
TheDramatists GuildFund just welcomeda slew of stars for their 2015 Gala,Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars, which was hosted by musician and Emmy-nominated composer,Darren Criss.Directed byLeigh SilvermanViolet, The Wild Party, Chinglish with Music Direction byCharlie Rosen, the event featuredaward-winning playwrights, lyricists and composers introducing the stars who brought their work to life on stage, includingStephen Schwartz,Kirsten Childs,Gretchen CryerampNancy Ford,Sheldon Harnick,Benj PasekampJustin Paul, Laurence O'Keefe ampNell Benjamin,Steven SaterandBenjamin Scheuer.
- 10/28/2015
- by Walter McBride
- BroadwayWorld.com
Like the M34 bus, Michael John Lachiusa never disappoints for long: If you don’t enjoy one show, another will come by soon. At 53, he remains probably the most prolific of his cohort of theater composers, also writing his own lyrics and often his own books. In addition to his operas and song cycles and out-of-town experiments, eleven of his musicals have received full-scale New York productions, starting with First Lady Suite, at the Public, in 1993. By my taste buds, the results are delicious about half the time: I’m a fan of Hello Again, The Wild Party, and See What I Wanna See, among others. But even when I haven’t warmed to his work I’ve admired it; his intent is never less than to use the full resources of the genre, and his own questing musical voice, to explore serious themes. If the execution is sometimes unconvincing,...
- 10/22/2015
- by Jesse Green
- Vulture
Happy Birthday Marc Kudisch Kudisch was nominated for the Tony Award first for the role of Trevor Graydon in Thoroughly Modern Millie Drama Desk and Outer Critics nominations as well, and then for Baron Bomburst in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Outer Critics nomination as well. His other Broadway roles include The Proprietor in Assassins Drama Desk nomination, Jeff Moss in Bells Are Ringing, Jackie in The Public Theatre's production of The Wild Party, Chauvelin in the 3rd incarnation of The Scarlet Pimpernel, George Kittredge in High Society, Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, and Reuben in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
- 9/22/2015
- by Stage Tube
- BroadwayWorld.com
Dramatists Guild Fund President Andrew Lippa and Executive Director Rachel Routh announced today that the Fund will honor two patrons of the arts and philanthropists Lynne Greene, Group President, The Este Lauder Companies, Inc., and Louise Camuto, Chief Creative Officer of Camuto Group, at the nonprofit's Gala, Great Writers Thank Their Lucky Stars. Leigh Silverman Violet, The Wild Party, Chinglish will direct this year's gala held on October 26 at Gotham Hall.
- 7/31/2015
- by BWW News Desk
- BroadwayWorld.com
Working up your strategy for how to win the Hamilton lottery Fantasizing over the cute puppy you saw at Broadway BarksDidn't have time check in on all of the latest Broadway news Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'Highlights from this week include a first look at The Wild Party, Amazing Grace and Benedict Cumberbatchand so much more...
- 7/17/2015
- by BWW Special Coverage
- BroadwayWorld.com
Are you Team Lippa or Team Lachiusa? For theater types, the dueling musicals of The Wild Party — one by Andrew Lippa, one by Michael John Lachiusa, both somehow given their premieres in the spring of 2000 — provide an opportunity for personal branding and group identification that others may get from, say, The Hunger Games. Both derive from Joseph Moncure March’s seedy Jazz Age narrative poem about a gin-soaked debauch chez Queenie and Burrs, a vaudeville siren and her abusive lover. Both musicals use (to varying degrees) vaudeville itself as a framing device and a metaphor for the disjointed, sensation-oriented experiences that pass for their characters’ lives. And both musicals flopped, Lippa’s off Broadway and Lachiusa’s on, despite stellar casts and scores memorable enough to become quick cult items when recorded. But in almost every other way the two parties are entirely different, and for me the sensational mounting...
- 7/16/2015
- by Jesse Green
- Vulture
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